Letter from Espargal: 26 December 2014

This isn't really a blog. It isn't even a diary. It's just pictures accompanied by a few thoughts because life has been running away with us.

Saturday my Ukrainian workers pushed the wall another ten metres down the road. I reckon that we have two working days to completion.

The next job is to angle the entrance to the field. At the moment it's too steep to allow access to anything other than serious 4-wheel drive vehicles.

Sunday we brunched at JL's with the gang once again. We had half-planned to attend a Christmas concert in Quarteira but the timing - 16.00 - was so inconvenient for our animal schedule that we decided against it.

I regret to say that I can't recall attending any concerts given by the local orchestra this past year. That's partly because the audience is so ill-behaved, talking and consulting mobile-phones, and partly because of laziness.

Monday we took May to lunch and visited a door and window manufacturer to talk about a new front door (of which more one of these days).

We also spent a lot of time thinking about our stray pups. They hang around Idalecio's driveway for most of the day. Jones goes down to feed them in the mornings and I in the afternoons. I mix a small tin of meat in with their biscuits and they can't get their little noses into the trough fast enough.

They are much more relaxed and will run around my ankles although only the white job (partly obscured) will allow me to touch him.

We also bumped into our friend and former neighbour, David Davies. He and I both bought Honda CRVs in the year 2000. I replaced mine in 2009 and he has just followed suit. Very smart!

Black isn't an ideal colour in the Algarve but it was the only colour available with the automatic gearbox he wanted. He's not complaining. In fact he's very pleased with himself.

I love the CRV. The only complaint I have is that it's heavy on tyres. I can barely get 30,000kms out of a set.

Tuesday Natasha came to clean and Roslan to paint. He has now finished with the gates and the railings - a fine job. Next come the timber beams on the upper north patio.

While they were hard at it, Jones and I rescued my trailer from its parking spot under a carob tree at the Dutch ladies. We keep it there as there's no level ground available at Valapena, making it a real nuisance to hook up. It took me an hour to clean the trailer up before we ran it up to Benafim to check the tyre pressures. It could do with a lick of paint but it's otherwise as good as new.

Roslan helped me load it with a double bed and mattress.

MARISA AND HER SISTER, ANA

I had been storing these in Casa Nada for Natasha. But as the flat she's bought came furnished and she has her own furniture to boot, she didn't want them. Indeed she's getting rid of stuff rather than acquiring it.

Instead we ran the bed out on Wednesday to the house where Ana and Marisa stay on the far side of Sao Bras; they're the sisters who run the dog sanctuary in Goldra.

I took a route along back roads through the hills for fear of being closely inspected by the traffic police. I think my load was legal but I didn't really want to find out.

I had gathered from Marisa that Ana's bed had recently given up the ghost. She was very pleased to have our old one.

When we arrived the 11 (and counting) dogs that the women keep at home (because the sanctuary is full) set up a terrific barking. They had to be shooed into the back rooms in order to enable us to carry the bed inside.

Christmas Day dawned sunny and clear after a few dull or misty mornings. I stopped during our morning walk to take this picture of Jones with the hounds. Along with our lot she is entertaining Poppy, the little dog belonging to neighbours who are away over Christmas.

While we're on the road, I keep two of our big dogs on leads. For the rest they run free through the mato (bundu, bushveld).

On hunting days - Sundays, Thursdays and public holidays - we take extra care. The hunters were celebrating Christmas by potting away in the valley below us.

Late morning we drove over to May's house to share mince pies and a glass of port with her. She was in good form.

Although I am not into Christmas presents I was moved by the two excellent bottles of whisky that she presented me with.

(I discover more whisky from good neighbours too! Almost makes Christmas worth celebrating!)

After Christmas supper Jones opened the gifts that we have received from friends and neighbours. We were touched. Thank you to all concerned.

My wife loves the special touches that go with Christmas; I wish, if only for her sake, that I could raise a little enthusiasm.

I just hate the stress, commercialisation and excess that go with it. Baby Jesus and mother Mary would get bowled over in the rush for bargains. And the three kings would probably get their pockets picked.

THE WHITE JOB PUSHING PAST THE BARRIER INTENDED TO KEEP THE PUPS AWAY FROM OUR DOGS

We talked about our three little dogs and how best to get the brown job to a vet asap without absolutely traumatising her.

The three are really independent and seem quite content with their present way of life. But it can't continue.

Apart from any other considerations, some of Idalecio's guests bring dogs with them.

This is the picture that we took (after much trial and effort) to send to my German niece, Anita, who has just been awarded her doctorate (summa cum laude) in something very complicated.

If you find these pictures rather overwhelmed with dogs, we are somewhat overwhelmed ourselves. So at least you are getting a true reflection of life at Valapena.

That's it until 2015.