Saturday: Spring advances apace even as the drought continues. On every side the almond blossom is extravagant, effulgent, quite overwhelming in its exuberance. The bees exploiting the flowers sound like the humming chorus. We left Slavic to spend the morning irrigating the fruit trees and Jonesy's garden while we ran Kerryn to the airport and then stopped at Loule hospital for my daily back treatment. Ouch! The treatment room is starting to feel like a second home.
Sunday: The hospital reception was almost empty. I wondered why people didn't get sick over the weekend. The duty nurse said the wound was mending at last and that, unless it bled through the bandage, I could skip a day. That was welcome news!
I persuaded Jones that a peek at the latest tablets at Mar Shopping might help to speed up my recovery. The new iPad is a beaut! Marina said they didn't have any models in stock but she could get one from the warehouse by Wednesday. Jones said I'd earned it.
Monday: While we were out walking I got a message from the store to say the iPad had arrived. Now, that was quick! We had to go into Loule anyhow for my English lesson. Might as well drop by.
Vodafone, just next door to the electronics shop, were happy to remove the data chip from my hotspot and insert it in the tablet instead. The new device is a little heavier than the iPad mini that usually travels around with me but more than makes up for its extra weight with its clarity and gizmos.
PET-FRIENDLY ESTABLISHMENT
During my English lesson we discussed new legislation that will allow the owners of commercial enterprises to declare their premises "pet friendly", whether in specific zones or in total (excluding areas where food is kept or served). This is a new idea for the Portuguese. My pupils found it hard to credit that French lady diners often had Fifi seated beside them in expensive restaurants and that lots of British pubs permit pets.
VIEW FROM MY BEDROOM WINDOW
Tuesday: To our accountants for a session with an investment adviser. I am deeply gloomy about the prospects for sterling and anxious to hedge our interests where possible. The UK currency looks set to go one way as the grim realities of Brexit sink in. The idiots! We came home via the hospital. I'm now greeted as a regular.
Wednesday: We returned from our walk to find Ono missing. It's the second time that he's wandered off. The old fellow is succumbing to feebleness of mind and body as he enters his 18th year. He can hardly see for the cataracts in his eyes and his hearing's not much better - not that there's anything wrong with his appetite.
Fortunately, he knows the surrounding hills well enough and found his way back home without mishap although not before we'd spent an anxious half hour searching for him. From now on he stays on a lead.
While Natasha set about the house, we lunched at a newly-established snack bar-restaurant (Janela da Serra - Window to the Mountains) at the foot of the church in Salir. Neighbours had recommended it to us. In the balmy spring sunshine we chose to sit out.
The proprietors have obviously taken great care with the decoration, both inside and out. As Catarina explained to us, the establishment specialises in small dishes known in Portugal as petiscos and in Spain as tapas.
It's not often that we dine alfresco on fried camembert and on salmon fishcakes, washed down with dry white wine, but Wednesday was an exception. We're impressed.
The only downside is the church bell that clangs painfully in one's ears every 15 minutes.
MOON BLOSSOMThursday: For the second day my expensive wifi-by-satellite internet connection is frustratingly slow. It's normally around 20mbps, with a guaranteed 2mbps if I exceed my monthly quota but I have barely a fraction of that. I phoned the suppliers to establish the problem. It emerges both that I'm over my quota (with a little help from visitors) and that the suppliers have failed to move me to the new contract, as requested and paid for.
We were briefly distracted by smoke arising from the hills behind Benafim as helicopters clattered overhead. Happily, it seemed to be extinguished quickly.
SOMBRE ORCHID
At the hospital, both day-duty nurses were keen to treat my back. I can't think when I last had such competition for my favours, however dubious. It's ironic, as I confided to them, that one has to be ill to enjoy their company.
Sufficient unto the day!
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