http://www.quintaventura.com en-gb quintaventura.com 2010-2-23T00:00:00Z quintaventura.com http://www.quintaventura.com/page3.htm#59030 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 in3 orange trees2 lemon trees2 avocados2 figs 2 figs already on site2 olives3 almondsAll 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. 2010-2-23T00:00:00Z http://www.quintaventura.com/page3.htm#57515 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 2010-2-10T00:00:00Z http://www.quintaventura.com/page3.htm#58119 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. 2010-2-10T00:00:00Z http://www.quintaventura.com/page3.htm#58116 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 didn180t and I would have to send in my army like Mr Blair. He replied 180180Oh that Mr Blair and that Mr Shrub. Think about it 2010-2-10T00:00:00Z http://www.quintaventura.com/page3.htm#58114 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 180good try180 in English Second attempt was met with 180180what are you trying to say180 in English Third attempt In the pa236nt shop 180180 tinta contra humidade por favor180180 was met with 180180do you mind if we talk in English180180 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 2010-2-10T00:00:00Z