Week 24 of our new life

Monday, one of those days today.  Antonio came up this morning to measure for exterior blinds, good quality and what we are looking for only we have to have a downpipe moved to fit them in one corner. Waiting for quote.  Time to go for a spot of lunch then we have Nuno from World Telecom to try and sort out Wi Fi etc, two and a half hours later we were set up with Wi Fi and I have a new Portuguese phone number, only cannot use it just now as my phone appears to be still blocked so cannot change the Sim Card.  Strange because when we was in Glasgow in October thought all that had been dealt with and I had a text message to say so!! not sure what has happened will need to go on-line now to try and sort it out.  This will save me a fortune on phone bills plus I can use Skype so well pleased with that.  We had an hour left before the shop shut to go and get the tiles for the pool extension and sun terrace, had chosen them a couple of weeks ago but as usual Douglas wanted to wait, I am never quite sure what Douglas is waiting for!! anyway guess what there were not enough tiles left for what we needed, does that surprise me, No getting quite used to the fact that anytime I go back to get something it is never there, not sure what to do now guess will have to start looking again.  Have been back and forward to the house today but needed to catch up with Adrian, he has bought another builder in to help him and I had noticed today that there were jobs being done that had already been done!! not sure what this is all about, I am guessing that it is jobs that have not been done correctly in the first place.  This is becoming a pain in the A*** and I am getting more and more irritated, but by the time we got back they had finished for the night so will have to catch up with him tomorrow to see what is going on.  Also have to go and get more Hinges for the kitchen as we had not got enough, funny thought if you were told what to get then that is what you get!! obviously not here!!! I am going to become a builder and project manager or perhaps a mind reader would be more appropriate.
Tuesday, early start today to meet Mick and Pauline to take them around a few of the shops that we have found on our travels, they didn't buy anything but we managed to get two two seater outdoor cane furniture for one of the terraces, we are going to have 5 different spaces for seating areas so that means quite a bit of out door furniture, not all at once though, as and when I find it.  We then took them for lunch to Venepau in Almancil as they have never been there, think they enjoyed it!! Late afternoon back to the house to see what has changed today.  The Hob and Extractor have been fitted in the kitchen and the sink and taps, every time I go in the Kitchen I think Wow this is quite a big space LOL, the steps have been done in the Living Room and the false ceiling is going into the 3rd Bathroom.  David and Joao are laying the floor foundations for the pool extension and we gave him the lights for it and also pointed out where we want the electrical sockets. Things are coming together.

Foundations going in

How to get these from down here to up there

Dont use the step

Wednesday, Douglas was golfing today so I had a day all to myself, washing and housework to be done. Nice to do the housework without Douglas behind me waiting to hoover, managed to give it a thorough clean, as Douglas never thinks anything gets dirty.  Then I caught up with all my emails and Christmas shopping on-line, managed to get a few things and they are now on there way to Richards house ready for when I go back to wrap.  My day went really quickly.  Douglas didn't enjoy his golf today as much as last week, think because we are not settled in our own house yet and he is struggling with leaving me on my own, plus not used to having to travel over an hour just to play golf.  He is not sure yet as to where he will fit in on the golf circuit here, the one he is going to just now plays all over the Algarve where he is used to playing at one club and knew the course, whereas when he is playing here it is always at a different course and he feels under pressure to join the club, as he does not feel sure about it I think he should just wait and find his feet.  There are so many other things that we want to do and until we are settled in our home everything just seems to be up in the air.  It all takes time.  Was down at our house early this morning, David wanted to speak to Douglas, my words he is not here but I am the boss!!!  sorted out what was a minor thing anyway and the pool extension is going well.  Into the house. discussed with Adrian where we wanted the Shelves and Channels for the TV, this is ongoing as we have been through it a thousand times, so me being me made him draw it out on the wall, so now he is quite clear, just wait and see if it is what we get!!! Roger was getting on with the bathroom ceiling, and also he has put our wall art on the kitchen column, all I can say is WOW!! so pleased with it, and Ze has been digging out the pathway for around the kitchen extension outside, so the slabs will be going in shortly and also no rain will go into the kitchen, which was a maor concern with us, just because the way the ground was sitting, above the front door level rather than below it, now remedied.  My patience is being tested on a daily basis but also I am learning things about myself that I never knew, which at the end of the day can only be a good thing, mainly I am not as thick as I thought I was, and I know a lot more than I thought I did.  Tomorrow is another day LOL. Today I also got the printer connected to the Wi Fi so we can now print from Laptop, Phones, Ipad and Tablet, how about that!!
Thursday, today started with a very frustrated stressed Douglas, not sure why,  that is the way he got up, and it didnt really get any better.  It was out first Portuguese lesson today but before we went Douglas wanted to pop into the house, I didnt think it would be a good idea as when we go everything takes ages and there is always something not right, so I felt we would be late.  But!! we popped in, to find that Adrian was a panel short for the ktchen and then a Cornice short for the kitchen, he also wanted to go over once again the fitting of the shelves for the TV etc, NO NO NO how many times have we done this!!! needless to say it left us running late.  Arrived at our lesson just as it had started, which was not a good start, but never the less we got through it, but because the other people in the class are 3 weeks ahead of us, it was quite difficult to get into, but we managed, by the end we had done not too bad, whether it stays in our heads or not is something else.  We bought the book required so at least we can practice in between weekly lessons, although I think with everything else going on with the house it is going to be a struggle.  But we need to start some where.  At the end of the day everybody is in the same boat and are all learning just like us.  Roll on next week.  Then it was on to Guia to order the kitchen requirements, not in stock so ordered they are,  when they arrive is anyone's guess.  Whilst there we ordered tiles for the pool extension and sun terrace, could not get what I had originally wanted but like the ones we have chosen.  They will be in on Monday, next problem is how to collect 60sq metres of tiles!! Also bought shower baskets for in the showers, lucky enough we had discount to get so Douglas did not moan at the price.  By this time we were left with 10 minutes to get to Albufeira to meet Rigo regarding the pool table, we were 6 minutes late but that is usual for Portuguese so wasn't a problem.  The Pool Table is really nice, but Rigo now needs to come to the house to see if we can get it sited on the Sun Terrace, we also want the green cloth changed to Red Cloth, this is easy evidently!!!  So hopefully Rigo will visit the house on Sunday morning, we shall see.  After this Lunchtime had been and gone, and we needed to get to Almancil to pick up the Sky Box, The Blue Ray Player to take to the house to let Adrian and Roger see exactly what we are fitting in, we also had to talk to Alistair regarding the Wi Fi and if we have enough Ethernet Points on our router for our equipment.  Thank goodness Alistair offered us a cup of tea as by this time I was wilting and Douglas had not really come out of his stressed mode.  All became clear after a cup of tea and a chat and yes we have enough points etc etc, so we came away with the player, box etc to go back to our house and discuss with Roger and Adrian.  On the way back stopped at Venepau for a drink and then headed back to the house.  Adrian and Roger were just finishing, Douglas ran through the fitting of the boxes and then Adrian informed us that 'Bye the way' he doesnt have enough plinth for the kitchen either.  At this stage I just walked away and said we will have to go and order it on Monday.  8 days before we move in, still no radiators fixed in, electrics still to be done and more, is this really possible.  Having to put up with a bad tempered, stressed Douglas has been no fun today, but tomorrow is another day.

Learning Portuguese!!

Friday, busy day today unexpectedly, went to pick up our two seater sofas and got them in the car, on the way visited another shop and found two large tartan cushions, just had to have them and then found another two chairs for the terrace, which terrace I am not sure but got them anyway, lovely and comfy and they swivel and rock, LOL by the time we finished up and down transporting them home it was well past lunch time.  Went for Lunch and then went food shopping and finally got back to the house.  Adrian and Roger had left by this time but David and Joao were still finishing off the pool terrace wall, looking good. The Granite shelves have been put in the Living Room for the TV equipment, Hob, Oven and Microwave are fitted in the kitchen.  The gas man was up to check the boiler had been fitted correctly and he will issue a certificate once the radiators have been fitted, so that he can test them first. Douglas was in a bit of a better mood today thank goodness, didn't last long because I was spending!!.

New Wall going in centre

and to the Left

and to the Right

Saturday, decided today we were going to have a day off from thinking about the house or even going to the house.  There was a craft fair in Caldas de Monchique, so we took ourselves off to there.  What a beautiful place, we found the hotel that the craft fair was being held in, all local handmade items from, needlework, knitting, glass, leather, cards soaps etc, beautiful items that you just cannot buy, so bought a few things for unusual Christmas presents, Douglas grumping in his wallet again!!  Then we took a walk, such beautiful scenery and walks, thought it might be a nice place for a forthcoming wedding!! we found a bar, built into the hill, bricks and mortar, but such a lovely place, had a a large Pau E Chorizo (Sausage in Bread) and a Pastei de Nata (Custard Cake) absolutely melt in the mouth, washed down with a good cup of tea and a small beer, such a lovely place we will definitely be back to explore it more.  The days are still lovely and warm but as the sun starts to go down it is getting chillier, lucky we had our sweatshirts with us, but with only flip flops on our feet were starting to get cold.  Decided to head back and on the way stopped in at Albufeira to Charlies Bar, set right back from the strip and such a lovely bar, really friendly, another one to go back to, had a couple of drinks and then headed home.  A great day with nothing to worry about, we can do all that again tomorrow.  Settle down for the night and we will have our nightly game of scrabble of which at the moment I have only won 3 games, Douglas is a classic cheat at this as I do some really good long words and he finishes them with a letter on the end and grabs all the points LOL.  This is what happens with no TV to watch.

On Arrival

Having a stroll

Not our house!

Just a snack

Cosy surroundings

Original Bread Ovens

Rock Formation

Sunday, busy morning trying to clean and wash down the furniture although probably a but pointless as more dust will be created next week, trying to get things in order for us moving in next weekend.  Lit the wood burner to check that it was working properly, success a fire can be lit and works fine, still waiting for the flue to be sorted, but as long as I know it works we will have some form of heat.  Went out for lunch and had to put petrol in the car, alongside us filling up with diesel was a tractor, trying to imagine one of them in South Parks petrol station!!  Then off to Faro, wander around the shops, another birthday present to buy and then in to the cinema to see Captain Phillips.  This was a good film about the Somali pirates with Tom Hanks, kept you quite tense and on edge until the end.  Film finished about 9.30 so heading back, shops still open until midnight, also all the cafes etc and the mall was still very busy, amazing.
 Laughter line for this week:
I tried to login on my ipad, turns out it was an etch a sketch and I dont own an ipad.  Also I am out of wine.

Possible view for a Wedding?

Kitchen in Progress

Still in Progress

More Diesel please