Every July, as temperatures creep up towards C40*, I dream of commuting to some cooler clime with all the animals until autumn brings relief. The principal obstacle to this dream is an appropriate win on the Euromillions; this week's prize of €4.13 doesn't do the trick.
Heat does not agree with me. It promotes trickling perspiration and itchy midriffian bumps, leaving me irritated and aggrieved. Such relief as is available can be found only in the bedroom - site of our sole air conditioner - or in front of the fan in the study.
The car thermometer was still registering C34* on Wednesday night as we returned from Loule's summer fair on the large cobbled square below the courthouse. These fairs have a certain sameness about them. One can dine at benches laid out around the restaurant kiosks, inspect the hopeful (often hopeless) handicraft, entertain the kids at the playground, listen to the amplified and agonised fado singer on the centre stage or simply watch the people watching people. The whole family comes - parents, children and babes - and often with dogs, which ours delight in meeting.
Several kiosks are run by needy associations that assist the council's disabled residents. We are familiar with the good work done by some of these on shoe-string budgets.
To support them we seek out a purchasable item or two at their stalls, inevitably something crafted by their wards.
This can be a challenge as the standard is not always very high.
It was on offer at €15.
The artist, a sufferer from epilepsy, was not present.
We were impressed by his efforts and happy to pay €20 for his work.
It joins several other disabled works of art on our walls, acquired at previous fairs and not easily distinguishable from the abled ones.
I had two girls and their mother busy unwrapping rifas for the best part of 10 minutes as they tried to associate the numbers with the prizes.
Most of my winnings I donated back to the stall, keeping only a decorated bottle and wrist-strap.
The restaurant provides good food inexpensively and manages just the right kind of "I'll be with you in a second" atmosphere.
The venue is popular with both locals and visitors, the latter especially in the evenings. The two waitresses dash about trying to keep everybody happy. It's not an easy job.
One can dine inside or out. We dined in. It was too hot out.
Barbara was pleased with the gifts that she received to celebrate the occasion. For my part, I gave her a nearly-birthday flower book about a month ago, a very nice one.
Her gifts included a set of greeting cards that had been prepared on the computer from photos that Llewellyn and Lucia took in the garden during their recent visit.
The photos really compliment the garden and the cards are superb.
She has a lovely spacious room with a view over the countryside. But she was unhappy at what she perceives as her exile and wanted to return home.
She didn't seem to understand why she was currently incapable of independent living. Barbara tried to explain as best she could.
My other stop was at the nearby arms shop to get a new supply of catapult elastics.. The assistant helpfully ripped the old snapped elastic from the catapult frame and siliconed a new one into place, advising me to allow the silicone to dry.
In spite of our extensive efforts to make the area escape-proof Sparky has been reappearing at the house, ever so pleased with herself, moments after being confined, leaving her frustrated companions to bemoan their abandonment. Until, that is, I raised the fencing at the most likely escape points.
My Ukrainian workers were back last weekend to continue cementing the base of the exterior fence that encircles the park. I hope they'll conclude the job on Saturday. The orphans now spend nearly all their time within the property, except when they join us and the official dogs on morning and evening walks in the "mato".
(Evening walks have been cancelled this month in view of the heat. We have a pee and poo stroll to the upper gate and back instead.)
Thank you to the many correspondents who wrote to express their sympathy at our loss of Raymond. We miss him so.
We have set up a solar lamp, one of Barbara's birthday gifts, in Mary's garden for his soul to inhabit. When we watch it flickering at night, we somehow feel his presence still at our feet.
He occupied a lot of space in our lives. Like Mary he will live on in our hearts.
We are giving some thought to October when our house-sitters are due down to look after the zoo. I quite fancy a cruise. Jones wants a quiet inexpensive holiday (i.e. no flights or cruises).
She likes the idea of a car tour around the Portuguese winelands and/or a visit to Barcelona. I'd like to go to Barcelona too. Google is working overtime. Maybe we can find a cheap wineland cruise that ends up in Barcelona.
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