We’ve indulged ourselves lately by watching old episodes of The Good Life which was aired on BBC TV in the 1970’s. For anyone who is not old enough to remember this, it stars Tom Briers and Felicity Kendal and is set in Surbiton, south-western Greater London. The storyline centres around a draughtsman who decides onContinue reading “Living the Good Life!”
Author Archives: vinhadasalmas
Preparing to Lockdown
It is difficult to comprehend the magnitude of the current global pandemic when we are on the farm as we don’t really see anyone from day to day. In fact, apart from the farmer on the opposite plot coming twice a day to see to his sheep, we hardly see any passing traffic. Raphael sentContinue reading “Preparing to Lockdown”
24 little hours ..
What a difference a day makes! 24 hours ago we were wrapped up in warm coats and hats with the snow blowing down through the mountains and freezing our noses and ears. Today, is the complete opposite. The sky is blue, the sun is out and it’s a perfect day for pegging out the washingContinue reading “24 little hours ..”
… and we shall have snow!
Certainly not shorts and t-shirt weather today – even for a couple of hardy English Northerners. The wind was rattling around the plot blowing around everything that wasn’t fastened down and we received a message from the Hipwell’s letting us know that they had snow in Lourical. Definitely not what we were expecting, but weContinue reading “… and we shall have snow!”
The north wind shall blow ….
We were woken at 5.30am this morning by a really loud bang. Mark jumped out out bed, reached for the poker, and Wanda jumped on the bed frightened half to death and trembling. It was still pitch black outside but we could hear the wind howling against the door. The bang, wasn’t one of ourContinue reading “The north wind shall blow ….”
Starting to take shape!
The Ecositana team were on site bright and early, Setting our alarm clock has become a thing of normality now and we find ourselves once again looking forward to the weekend when we don’t have to get up in the dark. There seems to be something strange happening in our outside bathroom during the eveningContinue reading “Starting to take shape!”
Fording the Brook
over the past month we have been slowly but surely clearing the terraces and although time consuming and often heavy going, we are pleased with our results to date. Now that much of the overgrowth has been levelled, we can start to see the shape of our farm. The terraces meander across the Quinta, inContinue reading “Fording the Brook”
Happy New Year!!
When we woke this morning, the first day of a brand new year, we were blessed with a beautiful sunrise and the promise of a glorious day ahead. Living in one room with our kitchen, lounge and bedroom in a space 20 feet by 12 feet certainly does have its disadvantages without doubt. But onContinue reading “Happy New Year!!”
A new beginning
Working on our Farm!
Another early morning alarm call, another hard frost and another beautiful day. The builders arrived early to continue taking off the roof tiles and removing the wooden slats. A couple of friendly blokes. They declined our offer of hot coffee – we heard that the Portuguese think the way the English make coffee isn’t quiteContinue reading “Working on our Farm!”
Project Portugal 