Planting trees is something you just have to get on with especially when you are in your more mature years if you are going to enjoy them.  So we have been busy with this.   All our plants, trees or not, have to be bought in small pots because we can only dig small holes!  The soil is clay and stone - solid in summer and heavy in winter - but it does retain moisture and we have put in a small irrigation system to help things along.  So we have put in:

3 orange trees

2 lemon trees

2 avocados

2 figs ( 2 figs already on site)

2 olives

3 almonds


All have to take their chance - all an experiment.  We are 400 metres from sea level and it is very windy. We have bought the plants from the local markets so they should be used to the local terrain as they were brought up in it.    We have given them the best chance we can and we just have to wait and see.

The most unusual winter here same as most other places.   December it rained every day, January every other day and February it seems every third day.   All the dams in the Algarve are full after many years of drought and water problems in the summer so for everything there is a blessing!

Every morning these days we are finding evidence of wild boar activity the previous night.   The soil has been scrabbled up and some places look like a ploughed field.   All the rain has made the soil nice and soft for them so that they easily root around for the bulbs and insects that they love to eat.  Sadly they are hunted here and shooting can be heard most Thursdays and Sundays which are the hunting days.    This upsets us especially when we see groups of men hacking at their spoil with large knives.  However until and unless we become vegetarians ourselves we have no legs to stand on.

A Portuguese man only had one thing to buy in the local  DIY shop and I indicated to him he should go in front of me.  He was reluctant to do so and I told him in English which he understood that there would be an international incident if he didn´t and I would have to send in my army like Mr Blair.  He replied ´´Oh, that Mr Blair and that Mr Shrub``.   Think about it!!

We are learning Portuguese with a Portuguese teacher and progress is slow but encouragingly people are starting to understand us and we can pick out key words that they say.  In the beginning however it was like this:

First attempt was met with     `´good try´   in English

Second attempt was met with  ´´what are you trying to say?´ in English

Third attempt     In the paìnt shop   ´´ tinta contra humidade por favor´´ was met with ´´do you mind if we talk in English´´

Undeterred we are pressing on with the lessons as our neighbours in the valley do not speak any English and we would like at least to exchange the pleasantries of life with them.  Mostly those over 50 do not read or write either so that it not an option.   We have at times resorted to pictures but our artistic skills are not much better than our Portuguese at present!