When a dozy dawn eventually rubbed the sleep out of its eyes this Thursday morning, we had no idea what a treat we were in for.
It was Marie who called at lunch time to say "Look up"! Wow! Jones rushed to get the camera. I alerted other neighbours.
The sky was full of big birds - scores of them, swooping, swirling, circling, wheeling, ducking and diving, with never so much as a flap of the wings
They are Griffon vultures, huge raptors that gather in the Algarve each October for their migration south.
After entertaining us for the best part of half an hour, the birds peeled off half a dozen at a time and headed south in a patchy line. What a treat!
It's a dull, somewhat showery Thursday as I write. There's a fire in the stove, as much for cheery company as warmth. At the end of last week the (background) TV packed up but, to their credit, the suppliers replaced the faulty digibox the same day.
AUTUMN SNOWFLAKES AMIDST THE LEAF-LITTER IN THE PARK
On Saturday morning Slavic and I took a pump and hose down on the tractor to rescue a neighbour whose septic tank was full to overflowing; family visitors were due shortly and the council honey-wagon was several weeks overdue.
CLOSE-UP SNOWFLAKES
"You and Slavic are my heroes," the grateful neighbour commented - the first and last time I'm likely to earn the accolade. As it happened, the honey-wagon turned up a day or two later to finish the job.
LUNCH ON THE LAWN AT QUINTA DO MOINHO
I left Slavic mid-morning to take Jones for an eye-test in Loule where, to our great surprise, we discovered Llewellyn and Lucia. They had motored down from Lisbon for a catch up following their arrival from London some weeks ago.
Accompanied by Douglas and Roxy - of course! Unlike our lot, their dogs are well socialised. For once Prickles didn't seem too put out.
Sunday evening we joined Mike and Lyn at the Wok in Loule for a "serve yourself as often as you like" meal. In truth, the array of food on display was excellent and most people did. The couple - bird lovers both - have been staying next door and will be most put out to learn that their return to the UK preceded the Griffons by just a few hours.
On Monday I invested in a couple of rodent traps in a bid to remove a creature whose patterings can be heard in the roof of Casa Nada. Each morning I check on the traps. So far the creature is keeping its distance.
On Tuesday, after the chimney sweep had called, we left the house to Natasha. That evening, Jonesy and I celebrated at a local restaurant over a special bottle of wine. This week marks 39 years of marriage - and that's to each other.
As ever the beasts have taken up much of the week. After our walks we have had to indulge in much paw-mud-removal, not a popular exercise. Between times we have collected several tubs of carobs for Armenio. We - mainly Jones - have also spent hours getting Casa Nada ready for house sitters this coming week.
LAST LOOK AT THE GRIFFONS
After handing the zoo over to them on Thursday we will take ourselves off for a six-day local break (interrupted by an exam in written and oral Portuguese on the Saturday.) So NO blog next Friday. Back in November.
Until then, FIM
No comments:
Post a Comment