20° in Nadadouro  16° in Portreath

Well autumn is definitely here.  Yesterday we spent the whole day in pyjamas as the wind blew a gale up the valley and tipped it down with rain.  It actually reminded me of the UK, and snuggly days, which was rather pleasant.

Today we visited our solicitor, Nuno, to read the contract we have drawn up for the builder.  We've set a fixed price and finish date.  It was exciting and daunting at the same time, not to mention feeling very grown up.  So on 1 November - 01.11.10 - we'll be knocking down our old little residence and making her bigger and grander.  

I feel sort of saddened about moving once more.  After just over a year in Portugal, i love our little house, it really feels like home, it has a great vibe about it.  Packing up all our much reduced belongings, downsizing to having even less.  I just feel slightly anxious about being uprooted again.  

The obvious upside is that our house will be just perfect in a few months and i'll never have to move again.  Yippee!!  Also we'll be living down our street, so we'll be able to overlook the build every day, which we're both relieved about.  I can't imagine taking my eyes off the place for one minute.  I feel so protective for her.

This picture of votive candles is from a beautiful chapel in Obidos - kisses and wishes to all  xx

22° in Nadadouro  17° in Portreath

Well we've got to our first anniversary.  We left the UK this time last year and the time has just flown by.  I still can't quite believe that we are here.  As i type i hear the ladies down our street shout at each other as if they couldn't stand themselves.  But their conversation finishes with a smile and a wave, so it's just their way really.  I just can't believe that i haven't worn socks since March! That's a whopping 7 months!  I love it here

Jacob has settled back into school.  It must have been the most difficult for him, but he's surpassed his own expectations and ours too.  We're such proud parents, especially as he is now really proficient in his new language.  We've signed up for classes and looking forward to being as fluent as the lad.

He's loving his golf and his new life on the Silver Coast.  He entered his first golf tournament yesterday.  He came 6th (out of 6), we prefer to say 6th rather than last.  Not only did he finish with a smile on his face, but he won an amazing golf bag in the raffle.  Well done son, that's something off the Christmas list!

Today i'm anticipating our showers.  They're on their way from the UK and of course really gorgeous.  Some kind friends of ours are coming to Portugal in October, and offered to bring anything over for us.  So they now have my other tap purchases, but i needed something to drool over before then.  We haggled with the bath company about delivery - i so didn't know you could do that - and for a bargain they are sending 3 showers over in 3 days!  As you can imagine, this is thrilling for me. x

18° in Nadadouro,  11° in Portreath

At long last i can write some good news.  Our planning permission is approved!  We've found a builder we can trust, unfortunately Sergio doesn't speak a word of english, but he will do in a few months.  Our fabulous architect, Jose, haggled him down to a nice round figure and we have a start date of November 1.  Another auspicious date for the Oduwole Lemm clan - 01.11.10 - i'm loving this.

Earlier in the week we talked to a heating/water engineer called Carlos.  After discussing boilers, systems, solar panels etc he gave us the go ahead to buy taps and showers.  OMG!!  i have waited for the time that i can actually start shopping again.  after the flurry of kitchen sinks and kitchen tap, no more spending for me.  But this week - hallelujah - it's shop shop shop.  In this country it's mandatory to install an accessible loo for disabled people which must include a bidet - much to my Dave's annoyance.  But i've found the most gorgeous suites and taps, as you can probably tell i'm in retail heaven.  Look at these beauties that i've purchased from ebay.

They have made me smile.  The bidet tap reminds me of my bunches somehow.  It took about half an hour to talk my Dave round to them (we have 2 bidets), but the sink taps with the wonderful swan neck spouts were an outright winner with Dave and Jacob.  Poor Jacob just thinks his mother's gone bonkers.  His view point is 'that tap's ok'.  Bless, the blissness of youth!

So next week we're off to lisbon to buy the sanitary ware, hopefully for a great price as it's made here in Portugal.  Then we have to move out of our little house for about 6 or 7 months while it gets transformed.  I just can't wait, this is one of the most exciting things i've ever done.

Other great news is Kevin McCloud is back on our screens, i love Grand Designs, my inspiration.

26° in Nadadouro  19° in Portreath

So we live near a beautiful old walled city called Obidos.  It used to be the wedding present from the King to his Queen - ah bless.  Now it's a mecca for tourists and holds lots of great events throughout the year.

We had a visitor the lovely Alice come to stay so we thought, like any respectable hosts, that we'd show her the sights.  Medieval festival it is then!

Not only did we eat off wooden plates, see jousting and too many wenches to count, but we found the stocks!  The kids loved the idea of me getting my head chopped off!  But who was that man in the tight leather pants!

We're definitely going there again  x

26° in Nadadouro  19° in Portreath

This week has been one of the noisiest of my entire life (music festivals excluded)!  Nadadouro is in festa mode.  This basically means lots of fire crackers, dodgy 'Pemba' music (sort of Euro pop goes folky), loads of drink and meat and late nights.  The bands start at about 11pm and finish around 3ish.

On Sunday, day 2 of the festa, i heard some band music coming from down the lane.  Ever curious i saw our neighbours down the street waiting for something.  I called Dave and we plonked ourselves outside to see what the crack was.  First came 6 women holding Our Lady, which looked awfully heavy.  Then a bishop underneath a canopy holding a gruesome looking crucifix - you've gotta love the catholics for drama - then followed by the band.  I snapped away at the procession and suddenly realised they were grinding to a halt - crap organisation from the padre i reckon - and were all staring at me, like i was on show.  Dave ducked back into the house like a coward and i was left standing there on my lonesome.  Not only that but then the whole village - tucked around the corner in their sunday best - started tromping past at a funereal pace.  The only thing of interest for them to look at was me - fitted out in cowboy hat and shades - awkwardly waving occasionally - saying 'boa tarde' and wishing i'd followed my hubby into the safety of viewing through the blinds!

Last week i saw all the neighbours painting their houses, we even commented about their pride and hard work.  Rubbish, they didn't want the whole village to turn their noses up at them.  Our house by the way is still hanging - really looking like poverty, peeling paint, a million shades from white.

I'll be ready for them next year!! x

19° in Nadadouro  19° in Portreath

At last we finally have our planning permission, so here comes the fun - trying to get quotes from builders.  This is never the easiest thing to do, even in your mother tongue!  Wish us luck, more updates soon.

15° in Nadadouro  10° in Portreath

Where has all the scorchio weather gone.  Not only is a northerly blowing a gale underneath my door, but it's the same all over Europe.  This wasn't how we were sold this on the brochure.  I suppose we could blame it on the volcano in Iceland.  Pretty feasible actually.  Especially as i don't really know what i'm talking about!

So shopping ...

Our project still doesn't have it's full permission to start digging up the place so my mind has wondered back to the kitchen plan.  I've only changed my mind about 6 or 7 times, so quite good really.  My Dave is so patient, especially when i announce i'm off to see Catarina, our friendly kitchen designer.  Not only does she speak brilliant english, she also has the same sense of humour as me, this really helps when from one day to the next i rely on my family and the tv for any sort of interaction!!  Yesterday was the final time i would see her.  Yes i have decided what goes where, etc etc, so now it all rests on the appliances!  I have just spied this gorgeous Smeg hob, which is extortionately expensive for a gas hob.  So i've been trawling the web looking for deals, making offers on ebay and determined to get it reasonably.  It's so gorgeous i really think we need it. 

I've been rushed off my feet at work lately.  I've just given a sweet little pocket-sized image makeover to our friendly pool designer Daniel.  I've designed a business card!  Thought i'd put it on the blog to show you that i'm not festering in our ramshackle little hacienda.   Creativity is still flowing - phew x