Week 13 of our new life

Monday, it is going to be a much cooler day today, this will be quite good as it has been so hot lately and it is meant to stay cool all week, I can do cool which is actually still temperatures in the mid 70s, nice.  Off to Olhao today to see if we can pick up some pool tiles, we still have a leak in the far corner so the pump and filter are working overtime, very hard to get tiles to match but we need to get something, nothing found in Olhao, so back to the drawing board.  Finally remembered to buy compost for the Geraniums new homes.  Up to the house and Adrian is now tiling the family bathroom and Ashley is getting on with the outside painting.  Antonio did not come for the gates today, but he will be collecting them at 08.00am tomorrow morning, if they are still hanging when we go tomorrow I think I will scream.  Douglas is feeling a bit depressed going every day as it does not seem to be going as quick as we thought, but it is taking shape and perhaps going every day does make you feel as if nothing is happening, I am for ever positive.  Saw a sample of the Granite that we are having in the kitchen, we are hoping for a more Glossier version but not sure if that is possible, we will scout around and have a look ourselves whilst we are looking for everything else.  Got an appointment on Wednesday with Carlos about the internal doors, at last I hope we can get what we want.  Swam my 30 lengths this evening so that is my target for the rest of the week.  No swimming for Douglas today, he said its too cold!!!!  Spoke to Jwow about our pool still being Green, he has assured us nothing to worry about once he cleans it this week it should be back to normal, and we must try and get the tiles!!  Also thinking of getting a moped just to let me nip to the shops and back lol, Douglas thinks an electric scooter could be a good idea, don't fancy that as I would have to pedal lol.

Scooter

Trying it for size!!

Tuesday, up and out early today to try and sort out the pool tiles and granite. Headed into Sao Bras as we had 3 places to visit for the pool tiles, success on the 2nd one although we cant match exactly we have managed to get an alternative, which wont be too bad as it is only a corner and it will save a leak, so saving us money until we get the pool resurfaced which will be phase 2, Then it was on to Ferreiras to the Stone Yard, we found it eventually, and no, Gloss Granite is not an option, so we have a sample, now need to speak to Adrian as they come and measure and cut it when the kitchen is finished, also Adrian has a sample so we need to see if they are the same then we can decide.  We then went into Albufeira to the Riviera Coffee Shop for my monthly treat, still did not have a cake, but they have strawberry tarts and cakes that are to die for, I will have one eventually, we then wondered down the strip as Douglas wanted to visit Albertos which is where he goes for a beer when he was coming over to play golf.  His buddies will still come over to play golf so he will still get to go.  Didnt go to our house today as we have an early meeting there tomorrow, we thought we would wait, plus we had to get back for Antonio delivering water to Mick and Paulines.

Granite selected

Another morning of being up and out early, meeting Carlos about the doors, Yes think we have cracked it, now just waiting for the quote and a choice of handles, so have chosen Mahogany Doors and I think Porcelain handles, Carlos does all the frames as well so everything will match, he can also do the wardrobe doors but I said not to bother as Adrian had them sorted, but now thinking a good idea as then everything will match properly, Douglas is whimpering at the thought of the cost lol.  After meeting Carlos was feeling very positive again, only drawback is a five week delivery, still that takes us up to the end of the project, we hope!!!  Adrian has tiled the suicide bathroom floor and started on the walls, so that's good and Ashley has started rendering the walls in Guest Bedroom 1.  The gates have been collected but this has given us another issue as the right hand wall is near collapse, so we need to get that underpinned, well all in all so far we have been lucky as we have not hit any real big issues, so we need to try and get this one sorted rather quickly.  We have another builder coming on board on Monday as Adrian is behind schedule so the extension can be started for the kitchen, hopefully he will be able to sort the wall as well.  We picked up the tiles for the pool today, the plain ones match exactly it is just the patterned ones that do not match so hopefully in the corner it wont be too noticeable.  Also picked up the paint for the gates so we are going to go and paint them at the weekend.  Went into Santa Barbara for lunch and met Julian and Marcia, so had some good banter over lunch, also got an email from Jan and Phil so hopefully we will catch up with them shortly.

Favourite Doorknob

2nd Place

Suicide Bathroom

Guest Bedroom 1

Thursday, let Douglas get a long lie in today to make up for being up early 3 days in a row.  Then it was out to try some furniture shopping, found a lovely dining room table and chairs, but when we measured up it would be too big to go in the space where we want it, think it probably best to wait until house finished then go furniture shopping.  Am looking for beds for the spare rooms but no luck with those, although we did buy a Travel Cot, haha Eilidh and new baby will have a bed to sleep in but their parents wont LOL.  Up to house and good to see things happening, the suicide bathroom floor is tiled and half of the hall is tiled, bedroom 1 was mid way through having the floor cemented.  We had some rain today along with some rumbles of thunder and a tiny bit of lightening, lasted about 45 minutes and then back to normal.We were swimming while it was raining, very bizarre but very enjoyable Oh the joys!!!

Cement Going Down Bedroom

Cement Mixer at Work

Hallway to Paradise

Friday, spent the morning sorting out emails etc, and then went for Lunch to Almancil.  Then off up to house to meet up with Jwow and discuss the repair of the leak in the pool, gave him the tiles we bought and he had set to work while we were there, the pool is now back to half blue and half green!!.  The lads were still pulling up trees, and they had also put the geraniums into their new houses, well one, as they broke one pot so will now need to go and replace it.  Our gates and pump cupboard door and pool house door have been returned and replaced, 4 days Antonio took and job done, we are going to start painting them tomorrow.  Need to wait for electrics to go on gates as Adrian has to put the power in and also rebuild the wall.  Bedroom floor has been cemented and half the suicide bathroom wall tiles are up.

1 Happy Geranium

Restored Gate

Jwow at work on the pool

Saturday, early start today to do some painting at our house. I started on the panels around the pool and Douglas started on the gates.  Two and a half hours for me to do one panel and then I helped Douglas with the gate which took 6 hours, it was a long hot shift and I do admit to getting very crabby towards the end, the heat was so intense and the sweat was dripping off both of us in buckets.  But we achieved a very pleasing result.  Lesson learned for tomorrow we are going to go up earlier so that we can start painting while it is cool and then take a siesta during the hottest time.  We also found time to restore our lampshade, and found we need to shorten it so it does not hang too low from the ceiling in the Living Room.  It was nice just us two at the house.  Joaquim came to deliver some water, and Jwow came to repair the tiles on the pool, so Joaquim needs to come back tomorrow morning now to top up the pool as well.  Finally got back for a swim at 7.00pm and we both managed to do our 30 lengths.  Quote came in for our doors, and it makes sense we should get the same for the wardrobes in the two bedrooms, so Douglas is negotiating, fingers crossed as they are lovely.  It is the White Knight Festival in Loule tonight, everyone dresses in white and it is a Dancing/Cinema experience under the stars which goes on until 2.00am.

Me painting in the corner

Douglas at Work

Pool Repair Complete

One Red Gate

Sunday, a very early start today up to our house and painting for 8.30am, we were on a mission to finish off the panels around the pool and the other gate we finished at 7.45pm, by the time we got back to Mick and Paulines it was 09.30pm, we are both exhausted but pleased that we got them all finished.  Got our pool topped up today and yes no leaks so that was a good result also.  Jwow will be up tomorrow to give it a good clean.  Got a reply back about the doors and Douglas negotiations, seems quite positive anyway.
So the end of another good busy week, and things are at last coming together.
Another builder coming on board tomorrow so we will see what next week brings.  Slight hitch for the next couple of weeks as the road to our house is being closed, as the pipes are going in for Mains Water, there is to be a diversion of sorts but here in the Algarve who knows where that will lead to, haha will update you all on the next blog.

Panels finally completed

2 Red Gates 

Week 12 of our new life

Monday, today was a non event day for me, had a terrible headache all day, slept most of the day in our room with air conditioning on, think the heat has just got to me.  So much to do but not a chance of doing anything as no energy at all. :(.
Tuesday feel a bit better today thank goodness as quite a few things to do today.  Early start so early breakfast, Douglas had been on his wasp annihilation so there were quite a few bodies around.  While we were eating breakfast out came the ant army to carry the wasps away, amazing to see them at work, they carry the wasps away, don't know what they do with them!! Then it was off to Tavira to look at accommodation for September.  We have stayed in Tavira before when we have been on holiday and it is a lovely place.  We was to meet Sharron from Whitby who is renting out a mobile home, well this mobile home is something else, 3 bedrooms, kitchen, living room, 2 bathrooms and an extensive patio on a beautiful site with bar, restaurant, pool and various forms of entertainment, perfect for us for September, and believe it or not Douglas thinks us buying one would be an ideal opportunity for rental income, he is going to look at it anyway, no prompting from me on this.  Anyway we have decided we will rent it for September as it is only 40 minutes from where we live we will be able to keep an eye on things at our house also.  Happy with that on the way back we visited a Pottery/Garden Centre which we have visited before, we bought 2 plants for the garden to replace two of the trees that we have cut down, bougainvillea so we wil get lots of flowers from them and also bought 6 light shades typical algarvean, we are trying to make sure that although our house will be modern it is going to have algarvean features rather than Brit features, I think it will work, although all the Brits are somewhat surprised as they believe in everything "English" even some with carpets!!!  We then headed into Santa Barbara to sort out a Post Office Box, after having to supply much paperwork , and thankfully meeting Julian, Louise and Marcia in the Cafe who were able to help us out with the paperwork we finally got one, hopefully now we can receive post.  Frustratingly enough we are still trying to track down a parcel which should have been delivered to us on Friday and which we now think or hope is at the DHL depot in Quarteira, wont actually know if it is there until we go tomorrow.  We then went on to Victors another cafe near home and met Dower our neighbour so that was another couple of beers, finally got back to Mick and Paulines just in time for the Water Delivery.  6.00pm dying for a swim so done my 28 lengths, missed yesterdays swim so Douglas thinks I should double my lengths, don't think one missed day will too much harm.  Finished up with a lovely full moon and the thought of another early start tomorrow.

Working Ants dragging the wasp

August Full Moon

Wednesday, another early start, had to be up at our house for 9.00am to let the water man in, we need the pool filling up as it needs a good clean as it has not been used or otherwise it will start to go green, and once that happens we have had it, this filling up 2 houses with water is becoming rather expensive.  Then off shopping again, we needed to get the shower cubicle for the small bathroom, lights for the kitchen and 2 bathrooms, wanted halogen lights for in the ceilings to give plenty of light, a tap for the new shower in the small bathroom as when we bought the shower it didnt come with a tap, very strange.  We managed to get all that plus a Whirlygig for the garden.  Still have not managed to get internal doors yet and also trying to decide on what lights to have in the living room.  Finally collected my parcel that cannot be delivered, this is because the postman cannot spend his time looking for a house name, which we have but we do not have a street name so end of!! I hope our post office box works, when we go back to my dads I am going to send myself a letter to see if it works.  Actually I am going to send myself a parcel with decaf teabags and sun lotion in it.
Thursday, another early start today for me to get my nails done, Douglas hates early starts and as he s not letting me drive the car at the moment (as he says I need to practice!!) he needs to get up, this is something at the moment that we cannot agree on.  I prefer to be up and out and back early afternoon whereas he prefers to lie in and then go out when it is at its hottest (just does not work for me that). We then went for a drive to Alvor, which is another fishing village, it has a lovely beach, plenty of shops and restaurants and will be well worth another visit.  Found the cheapest Morgans Spice in the Algarve at 16 euros a litre, Smirnoff is only 13 euros, will be worth a trip to stock up when we finally move into our house. Problem is they close in November until March so would have to do a lot of stocking up.  Still trying to track down doors, have found another place in Almancil so we are going to visit them tomorrow.  August in Portugal is complete shut down until beginning of September due to the Portuguese taking their holidays, this is in line with all of Europe, maybe the UK should look into that, but it does cause problems when you want to try and buy anything non touristy.  Whilst having tea tonight Douglas has come up with another invention, a onesie made of mosquito netting, I quite agree with his ideas as long as he lets me take photographs, getting a bit worried though as his brain is working overtime with things that he wants to invent.  Today we finally got a full address for our post office box (how hard can this be) if anybody wants the address just let me know.  The postal system seems to be a bit of a joke, I sent our granddaughter a birthday present last week and it still has not arrived, I hope the card we sent for Sarah's wedding arrives on time as there was a few days difference.  It costs a fortune to post anything and for it not to have arrived after a week is a tad annoying, I will need to be more on the ball with future parcels.

Alvor Harbour

Seafood Restaurants Alvor

Friday, woke up this morning with no use of my right eye, got bitten last night and now my eye is just a mess and very sore, off to pharmacy to try and get something for it.  Then off to Almancil to track down a company that sells doors. Managed to get cream from the pharmacy for my eye, I think it will be a couple of days before it gets better though.  Finally tracked down the shop in Almancil only to find it has closed down, so not much luck there either, am in despair of getting any doors.  On up to our house, Adrian has come back refreshed from his break and has started putting the false ceiling in the bathroom.  Our pool is in a sorry mess and starting to go green, but Jwow is sorting it today so hopefully by tomorrow it will be back to normal, I forgot to get compost for the new pots so the poor sad geraniums are still waiting to get into their new home, but the garden is looking good and taking shape, the lads don't mess about anyway.  Also bought a typical algarvean antique light for our living room, it is in need of a bit of restoration so that is going to be our project for next week, we got it cheap too plus instructions on how to restore it so looking forward to doing that. Just hoping that when we hang it it doesn't bring the ceiling down.  Some good news at the end of today, we had a phone call from a company regarding doors, they sent us a link and if we make an appointment we can get doors sorted out, keeping fingers crossed.

Trees disappearing

One Swollen eye

Pool going Green!!!!

Saturday, woke up today with an eye twice the size and completely closed so its not going to be a good day, off to market for meat, fruit and veg, had to rely on Douglas to pick the best of the crops this week.  Then off to our house, the pool is still looking green even after a good clean yesterday, hoping that we are not going to have to completely empty it, will see Jwow on Monday to see what the solution will be.  The false ceiling has gone up in the master bathroom complete with lights, still to be painted. Out for a meal tonight to Ze Dias in Sao Bras, had a lovely meal Peru e Banan - Turkey with Banana, Douglas had a chicken and Prawn Kebab which happened to be at least 12 inches long stuffed with thick chunks of chicken and prawns on the side. a nice place to eat with a play park for children so will keep it in mind for when family/friends visit with children.

False Ceiling

Garden Rubbish

Plot 3

Sunday, we have decided is our chill out day, so I done the washing, ironing cleaning and even washed all the shutters.  Douglas helped mop the floors and then dismantled the new light-shade ready for restoration work to start.  Eye is a bit better today and at least it will open and I can see partially out of it.  This has been another good week, although not much has been done to the house as Adrian was off Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, hopefully progress will be more next week. Douglas has been killing Wasps with a vengeance and his fly swat is never far from his hand, he is also trying to talk to the owls tonight!!  We are both doing well with our swimming with me doing 28 lengths every day and Douglas 20, from tomorrow it goes up to 30.  Hopefully next week will bring us closer to getting our new doors and sorting out our pool.  Plus the thousand and one other things that we still have to do.

New Bougainvillea 1

New Bougainvillea 2

Week 11 of our new life

Monday, very hot day today spent a lot of time during the afternoon in the house trying to keep cool. Had to wait in for the water man to fill up Mick and Paulines Cisterna, had nearly run out of water.  Had a meeting with Antonio about our new electric gates he is going to start them 2 weeks today, we are also getting a new door for underneath the pool, as this houses all the pool pumps etc and a new door for the pump cupboard. Only downside of this is he galvanises the gates and doors and we have to get them painted, so Douglas has agreed that it is a job that we can both do together, oh joy I cannot paint to save my life.  Still electric gates will be good, and I am sure I can learn to paint properly.  Went in the pool tonight at 9.00pm and swam 26 lengths so that is my target for the rest of the week, sorry to say my Ab Challenge has finished, I found it very difficult to keep up with the amount of sit ups, crunches, and planks so will stick to my swimming and water aerobics and keep with the Mediterranean diet, I am sure the effects will show shortly.  We have booked to come back to Glasgow in October as Douglas needs to see the surgeon again for his eyes, we are only coming back for the one night so wont be a jolly this time.  Next week the process starts for us to gain residency over here, so that should be exciting.  Douglas made a prototype of his project, but he still has to work on the plans so it has been dismantled and will come back out at a later stage, sorry was not allowed a photo as TOP SECRET.

Pool House Door

Pump Cupboard Door

Gates

Tuesday, heat is catching up with me I think it seems to be relentless, note made for next year be away in August lol.  Bought a Beach Ball and tried to get a noodle for my water aerobics, couldn't get one so will try when we go a bit further afield tomorrow.  Paid the storage bill and need to try and arrange to get some stuff out as we added to our storage when we went back to UK in July, now realising that lights and things that we bought are in the storage facility, wont do any good there as Adrian will be needing them soon, blast a bloody palaver. Douglas did say stronger words but I am being polite.  Also waiting for our electric bill as the lawyer needs that for our residency, guess what we have not got that yet either. Today is the day for a few cheeky wee Morgans I think.  Never mind plus point I got my next Account transferred today so I can shop hahaha, just hope they find the address.
Wednesday, went shopping to Guia, trying to get Douglas to relax a bit and buy a few modern TShirts etc, did finally get him a Salmon one and a Beige one and a pair of Denim Shorts, wow he does suit them, but very strange he took not well after paying for them, honestly so frustrating shopping for him as he never likes anything and anything that costs more than a Euro is too expensive, wonder why he took ill today then.  Also shopped for Zoe, as it is her birthday on Tuesday and I need to get a parcel in the post, hope I have chosen well and she likes it plus it will fit.  Got word from the storage people we can go Saturday Morning to pick up what we want, at a cost of 50 Euros plus we have to get up really early to get there for 09.00am, another two reasons for Douglas to become not well.  Went to our house, a bedroom floor is nearly tiled and the primer paint has been started outside on the BBQ area and the Poolside area, what a difference it makes just with the primer, gets exciting as we see bits and pieces being done now.  Forgot that I have to shop for two big plant pots for my Geraniums, they are starting to flower and the pots are broken so need to replace them, it is amazing what a bit of TLC and Water is doing to the plants, thanks to Adrian who has taken it upon himself to look after them whilst he is staying at the house.  Lots of good pictures on Facebook of the
Grandchildren all ready to go back to school, lovely to see.

BBQ Area Prepared

BBQ Area Primed

Sad Geranium needing new Pot

Thursday quiet day today as we have a busy couple of days ahead with early morning starts, booked to go and see my dad for a week at the beginning of September, as my sister is going on holiday, will not make it to Scotland this time as too much going on with the house. Have got an appointment to go and see a mobile home in Tavira on Tuesday that we might use as our accommodation for the rest of September, this being homeless is not much fun, but it wont be for much longer we hope.  Still trying to find doors and having no luck, have emailed a couple of companies in Glenrothes so hopefully they will ship over here.
Friday, picked up our new car today, I was presented with a key and a leather key fob, Douglas just got given a key, he was most upset but hes not getting mine lol.  Slight panic when we handed the hire car back as we had forgotten the documents (you are supposed to keep them in the car at all times) we had to drive back to Mick and Paulines to get them, thankfully we found them easy.  Antonio was fine though and gave us a lift to the garage, panic over.  Went shopping for two new pots for my sad geraniums.  Up to the house, OMG the gardeners are getting along like a house on fire, big difference already, trees have been chopped down, big palm tree has had the chop and the front garden all the plants are now in the process of being shaped, wow well pleased.  Inside the house Adrian has started painting the bedroom, he is now going to be off Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday for a holiday so nothing will be done again until Thursday, I am getting tetchy now as time is going on.

Sad Geraniums new homes

Palm Tree Going Going.....

Attacking the front

Winter Firewood

Shape of things to come

Saturday an early start today so that we could go to Algoz to collect some things from our storage units, we have 3 large crates full of our stuff and we had to sort out the packages we wanted ourselves.  So Douglas was busy passing me packages to pile up until we found the numbers on the packages that we wanted, not an easy job glad it was first thing in the morning as it was nice and cool, but yes we managed to find them without having to unload the full crates, good to see that everything is intact anyway.  Once we finished that we went and had some breakfast and then went to do some food shopping.  Douglas has been translating recipes for me, but some of the names for things are really strange, Parsley is Salsa, Caster Sugar is Soup Sugar and the list goes on, but we are finding it a good way to learn. Then off we went to our house, it is nice to be able to be able to nosy around whilst the builders are not there, I think we make them nervous, we met up with Dower our neighbour and he took us to look at an apartment in the village with a possibility of renting it for September, it was very nice but a bit claustrophobic we think and also as there are 4 different apartments together there would not be much privacy, but we have not ruled it out yet.  We also found out today that the cafe where we get our post delivered is closing for two weeks holiday, so this pushes us into a decision on what to do about a post box, we have 2 options so need to make up our mind for Monday.  This also messes up our application for residency as we should be going next week but as we will get no post we will have to postpone until September which has a knock on effect on other things.  Never mind we expect to have some hiccups, just seems daft that we cannot have a postman that will walk up a hill to deliver mail (or even drive up come to that).

Storage Crates

Sunday, housework day today and then chill out for the rest of the day, started very early as it was going to be another hot one. Douglas didn't get up til late so by the time I got round to doing our room it was really hot, but Douglas did help, he stood behind me and fanned me while I mopped etc, very funny.  Desperate for a swim afterwards. Translated some more recipes this afternoon and caught up on my emails and phone calls to the family.  Been another good week, my cooking of local dishes is coming on a treat, I have made fresh tomato sauce from Mick and Paulines home grown tomato plants, it was great with Pasta they are going to come back to no tomatoes, Fish Kebabs with salmon, salted cod and pineapple and peppers and a Raspberry Bavarois which was fresh and light, using plenty of fresh garlic and herbs, vegetables and fish, plus fruit and freshly squeezed Oranges for Juice are just delicious, the amazing thing is I do all the prep first thing in the morning and then it takes only minutes to cook the tea, also use the BBQ a lot.  Cannot wait until I can use our own kitchen.

Week 10 of our new life

Monday, up bright and early today, washing done, cleaning done, let Douglas have a long lie.  Going to see the Carpenter about new internal doors, no luck he was out.  Up to our house,we needed to order water, managed to call Joaquim he will deliver 16000 litres today and 16000 litres tomorrow, great as we have not a drop.  Could always siphon off some of Mick and Paulines if necessary as we just topped theirs up on Saturday, this water business is becoming expensive between two houses.  Skip was collected today and we then had to meet Jwow the gardener, he is going to start at our house on Friday afternoon.  Started my 30 day Ab Challenge first thing this morning and finally swam my 24 lengths at 7.00pm.  Bought a book on 23 walks in the Algarve, some lovely walks in it to discover more about the Algarve, so hope to start them about September when it gets a bit cooler.  Researched How to make a Compost Heap and How to make a Compost Bin, so another project for Douglas to make the bin.  He is definitely going to be busy.

Skip ahoy

Skip to go

Tuesday, day 2 of the Ab challenge, do that first thing in the morning to get it out of the way, then wait til afternoon to do my swim, so far so good. Douglas is swimming as well now.  Pulled out the cucumbers for Mick and Pauline as they had not grown as expected, and planted my Ginger Root and Jacaranda Seed that Mick had given me before they went away, evidently it could take 10 years for my seeds to grow, well not as if I don't have the time to wait, will be interesting to see if they come up. Up to our house again today, met with the Carpenter regarding interior doors, this could take at least a month due to Portuguese industry taking their holidays in August, waiting for a quote but will try and source from the UK as well. Disappointing news regarding our external windows and doors, again due to holidays they will be delayed delivery until end of August as well so this means fitting hopefully 1st week of September. Adrian is still set for finishing at the end of September as long as nothing goes wrong, all fingers and toes are crossed.  The terrace was being attacked whilst we was there today, looking good, hahaha.  Douglas has an idea regarding tubular skylights for the new kitchen (seen them on Grand Designs!!!), so we now need to let Adrian know quickly about them before he starts blocking in. Our to do list is just getting longer.  We also discovered how to get our post, we need to buy a post box, get it cemented in on the main road leading to the lane to our house, we then have to go to the road and wait for the postman around about 12 noon, once he arrives we show him our postbox with our names on a piece of paper and he will issue us with a number, we get that number put on to the postbox and hey presto we will get our post delivered, we could always get a post box in the post office - Douglas is still reaching a verdict on that one. Very bizarre.  40,000 litres of water delivered to our house as we had not a drop left OMG.

Terrace going, going.......

Wednesday, Day 3 of the Ab Challenge done and still continuing with my swim and water aerobics, Douglas is managing 24 lengths also daily. Made a Pudim de Pao which is the Portuguese equivalent of Bread Pudding, very tasty, it is great to have the use of a fully equipped kitchen, cannot wait until the end of September.  Went out and about looking for doors, this is not going to be easy.
Had a light lunch in Faro and then had to go and buy a new Wireless Mouse for the laptop as my mouse gave up the ghost, think the weather was too hot for it. On up to our house to get my daily fix, master bathroom is now coming along nicely, the pipes for the sink have been moved so onward with the tiling, its looking good.  Ashley is working outside doing the rendering of the walls and the terrace is now being reconstructed, what a difference to outside already.  Confirmed with Adrian that a plug socket is required in each bathroom for a hairdryer/shaver etc (the norm over here) and double checked if I have the right voltage of lights for the suicide bathroom as we cannot have a false ceiling in there and I still want it to be bright, still not sure, he will connect one up so we can have a look.  Also need to go and buy a shower tap as the shower we bought for the small shower room did not come with a tap!!  Have decided not to go with tubular skylights as we do have 2 windows in the kitchen anyway and think that will be enough even though it is being extended.

Terrace ready for reconstruction

Rendering of walls

Douglas's quote to the builder today Perfect Preparation Prevents Piss Poor Performance, he took it well.
Thursday, getting a bit worried about Douglas, he has become something like the mad professor, he wants to invent things all the time and is making notes of projects he is going to do!! His first project is going to be a "keep safe from flies cover" to explain, Douglas has a bugbear with flies when he is sun bathing, they annoy the life out him, so he is creating a cover that will protect him and his sunbed from flies.  Unbelievably today we had to shop for the materials that he required to create this. This evening he decided to start on his creation, framework is surrounding his sunbed as I type, sorry folks he will not let me take photographs just in case someone wants to steal his idea.  Hopefully he will allow me to photograph the end result.  On a more sensible note after shopping for project material we shopped for a car, we have found a Toyota Rav4 that we like and are going for a test drive in the morning.

Possible new car

Friday, up early and out to test drive the car, a nice comfortable drive so we bought it, as we have a hire car at the moment we will wait until Friday to pick it up.  Off to the Insurance Company to get it insured, one hour later all paperwork done it is ours.  It is an automatic which Douglas thinks will make it much easier for me to drive as well. We will also get a moped eventually as back up and I would rather scoot around on that, at least I can get to the shop and back.  It is big enough for the golf clubs and to get family or friends with a suitcase in so just ideal, also 4x4 so will survive the roads we need to encounter to and from our house.  Insurance here is for the car only so family or friends can drive it if required.  Went to the Post Office to enquire about getting a Post Office Box, Douglas is not sure about the post box on the road, so Jury is still out as to what we do to get our post.  We have picked up the appropriate forms needed anyway. Met Julian in the insurance office, and then met Graeme and Fi in the Post Office so caught up on all the news as well.  Time now for a spot of lunch, then off to our house to meet the Gardener.  Met with Jwow (the Gardener) and discussed what we would like done immediately, as Ashley needs to get on with the preparation for the painting of the exterior we have to get some plants cut back or taken out completely.  Such a shame gone the Bougainvillea and Honeysuckle that was by the pool, this was done while we were still discussing the rest, by next week 4 big trees will have come out and I need to buy a couple of large pots to have the geraniums replanted as the pots are all broken.  Master Bathroom nearly finished, the shower needs to be moved down a bit and the bedroom floor tiling has now started. After all that back to Mick and Paulines for a swim.

New Car

Honeysuckle No More

Bougainvillea No More

Master Bathroom

Trees x 4 Coming out

New Car

Saturday, early start today for market day much to Douglas's disapproval, he does not like getting up early.  Got fresh meat and vegetables, also fruit and rolls, and fresh Tuna, then went for breakfast.  By 10.00am the temperature was 34 degrees. We went up to our house to see what had been finished yesterday, the gardeners had been really busy and got quite a lot cleared by the piles of plants etc left in the lower garden.  It is illegal at this time of year to make bonfires so it is difficult to get rid of garden rubbish, so at the moment as we will not be using the lower garden it will all be piled up there and then moved in the winter.  Pleased with the results.  There is a big difference also with the terrace having been knocked out, we like it like that and are going to see how we get on with it through the winter months before we make a decision on whether to put glass into it or not. We are now also trying to sort out accommodation for us for September which is proving rather difficult, we visited a camp site in Quarteira as we felt we might camp out for the month, but the only 2 bungalows they had left were very dreary and in the darkest corners of the site and the price they wanted was ridiculous for what it was, so not for us this one.  We do have the offer of staying with Mick and Pauline again for September, but feel that another month might be a bit too much, but we will wait and see as not a lot of options available at this time of year.  Spent the rest of the day lazily by the pool.  Nice to see we have Lizzy and her family visiting us now every evening, hopefully we will have them at our house too.  Highlight today Douglas got stung by a wasp, not much of a high light for him a high scream was more the case, after that he suffered in silence.

Lizzy

Sunday, washing and ironing all done, then a lazy day in and out of the pool, too hot to do much else, it has been a good week.  Great to have free reign of a kitchen thanks to Mick and Pauline, I have enjoyed creating some new recipes using local ingredients, the element of surprise for Douglas as he never knows what he is going to get for tea, also done a couple of BBQs and some baking.  Mick and Pauline are having a good time in the UK, sadly not having the same weather as us, still they will enjoy catching up with all their family and friends knowing that we are looking after their house.