I can’t believe that this blog is still up. That wordpress are letting up keep this up and not complaining that we’re not using their service enough.
I guess since last summer, things have been a bit crazy, what with the build and work and visitors and moving and, and, and…
And then Trotsky died. He is in a patch under an olive tree and Loz has put up a monument to our dear departed cat. Miss him.
The builders have been in a week. I think they missed a couple of days as they needed a smaller truck (to the one they usually use as Rua da Fonte is too narrow for their big truck) to take away the rubble.
Anyway, the internal walls have all come down now, and the over hang in the patio is nearly down. There’s going to be so much light in that back corner now, but I think I was hoping for a bigger kitchen/diner.
Hey ho.
Internal walls gone
Overhang dismantled
It’s been a while since I wrote anything and that’s because nothing has been happening!
But, finally, 30 June, the builders arrived (delayed a day by rain!) and took down the roof. I was so anxious on the drive to the house that the builders wouldn’t be there, or that they had already found something to suck their teeth at… But no, all is well and going swimmingly.
Finally, work has started
Came back from Castelo da Vide last weekend, full of Altejanan ham & wine. Bliss. Walking in the morning and afternoons by the pool. Ces came over and we caught up. This was taken on the ramparts of the castle at Marvão.
Marvão castle
We also stopped off at Tomar’s Convento do Cristo on the way home. Amazing architecture…
Giant Belt!
I was at the garden briefly yesterday for the first time in what seems ages.
And everything is going gang-busters.
We have courgettes & tomatoes & runner beans. The beetroot I planted is ready to be lifted, so I’m going to roast it tomorrow and have it with goats cheese…
Courgetts
I planted out a packet of sunflower seeds about 6 weeks ago. Not being terribly au fait with seeds, I was dubious that anything would happen. But it has!
Lots and lots of sunflowers have come through around the garden and they are even following the sun.
I thought it might be quite fun to have a race to see which sunflower would be the tallest at the end of the summer. I’ve plenty of small people that this would be fun for, so took some pictures and sent them off to those that call me ‘Aunt Em.’
We were quite busy at the weekend, laying matting on the garden to stop the sread of weeds/make a path. Tiring work!
The builder saw it yesterday; was a bit surprised! Maybe it’s just the British way… Anyway, I think it will look great once there’s some gravel down.
The Builder’s meeting us on site this morning. Very excited. I do hope he will say that he’s going to start soon.
And our archaeologist (yes, we have an archaeologist!) says that she thinks just checking a pipe trench will be enough for the DRCC. The DRCC wanted a full archaeological survey, but what’s the point? We’re not digging foundations. I will be eating my words if we find a Roman mosaic under the kitchen!
We had a day off from work/gardening and went to the recently refurbished Machado de Castro Museum in Coimbra.
It has been shut forever, well, at least 5 years and is now gradually reopening with a new restaurant, gorgeous patio and is looking very good indeed.
We didn’t go in, didn’t have the €4 on us, but this is the view from the museum, over the dome of the Sé Velha!
Sé Velha, Coimbra
