The first thing to get half done was sealing the gaps in the fence through which the pups have been entering and leaving the property. Andrei and Slavic set about the task last Saturday morning, mixing cement and laying a stone and concrete base along the wire. They advised me that it was Andrei's birthday and that they would be working only half a day as they wanted to celebrate the other half. They'll be back to continue the task tomorrow.
Sunday we had a most welcome, brief and unseasonal downpour, all of 9mms. We had barely settled down to brunch at the Hamburgo when the rain came rattling off the windows and
On the way home, we came across two small owls in the oak tree avenue that leads back to Espargal. We stopped to watch and listen as the birds amused themselves and us for the best part of ten minutes. That was really special.
Sunday afternoon Jonesy joined her brother and Lucia at the beach before Lucia flew back to London to begin work again the following day. Llewellyn remained behind with the dogs.
Monday Carlos the vet arrived to inoculate our dogs and the strays. He had given us tranquilizing tablets with which to dose the orphans. We went first down to Idalecio's cottages where Llewellyn was waiting with his dogs. They had to be officially dewormed before their return to the UK - in accordance with regulations.
Next came the inoculations. We started out with the orphans but they proved to be anything but tranquilised and were having none of it. We gave up. There was no point in trying to chase them around the pen.
Next on our list of to-dos was May, who has been receiving treatment for severe eczema in her legs, caused by poor circulation. She gets regular visits from a nurse who rubs her legs with creams and binds them with crepe bandages.
The treatment leaves May semi-immobile on her sofa in the living room and disinclined to make the effort to feed herself. Barbara and other kindly neighbours have been ensuring she doesn't lack for food,
The nurse asked for new supplies of bandages and wadding, a duty that fell to us. The original materials had been supplied by the doctor. Preliminary inquiries at pharmacies indicated that these items were not widely available from retail outlets. Presumably, they were supplied directly by hospitals and clinics.
Tuesday Llewellyn departed early with the dogs on his long return journey to the UK - made even longer in fact when his technology failed him and he got sidetracked into Paris at evening rush-hour.
We set off mid morning on a search for May's bandages - without luck - followed by a visit to May herself. She wasn't a happy bunny but then neither would I have been with my legs wrapped up like an Egyptian mummy's.
The afternoon brought my regular physio appointment with Jodi in Alte; thence to a combined toenail-clipping and haircut session with Mary in Benafim.
Wednesday, after a brief early walk, I took the car into Honda in Faro for its annual service. I'd booked it in the previous week, making it clear that I would need the car back by lunchtime. No problem said the man taking the booking.
After dropping it off, I took Honda's useful shuttle into the Algarve Forum. At midday when the shuttle dropped me back at Honda, I found the car still parked where I had left it. The receptionist apologised. It had been a busy morning. They hadn't got round to it yet. She suggested that I email her directly in future to avoid the problem.
So I returned home, stopping en route at the local mechanic to book it in with him instead - as other expats in the village do. I will leave it with him just before I go to South Africa on the 30th.
LET'S TRY THIS WATER BOWL!
Natasha worked that afternoon. Jones and I went shopping. We seem to go through an enormous amount of dog food.
I helped Jones rescue a small lizard that had trapped itself in the downstairs bathroom. We secured it under a plastic vessel and took it outside. It vanished into the flowerbed, gratefully or otherwise. It was hard to know.
Thursday: Sparky was off colour and didn't want her food. Big worry! We couldn't make up our minds what to do next. Eventually we dropped off the dogs' passports at the parish office in Benafim for their new licences and went on to the pharmacy there in search of May's crepe bandages.
I'll keep it short: Benafim pharmacy to Salir pharmacy and Salir to the Loule orthopedic shop. Finally back to May herself.
Lunch - tomato and ham sandwiches accompanied by cold white wine - was served alfresco by Sophia at the cafe at Funchais. She makes the sandwiches with oreganum and olive oil. I can't tell you how good they taste.
DAWN
It's hot. The solstice approaches fast. The sun is up 06.15ish. It doesn't slip down behind the western hills again until nearly 21.00. We have to walk early and late. We limit ourselves to a 30 minute circuit. By the time the dogs get back, they are puffed out; so are we. The cool tiles offer some relief from the heat.
Sparky is brighter but still off her food.
(Our midnight skirmishes continue, she in full voice, I with almond-powered catapult)
To Loule to conclude some business: (Done!)
To Faro to exchange a new dud mifi (mobile modem) for a functioning one: (Done!)
To Sao Bras to stock up on baggy and olive oil (Done!)
To May to see how things are going (Done)
Home and blog………………
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