SLOBBER ROCK
Some days, when we are too exhausted to take the dogs walking in the afternoon, we just amble around the park instead, always ending up at slobber rock. Slobber rock, up near the top gate, is where the dogs get their second treat. (The first is handed out in the dell near the bottom of the park.) Knowing what's coming, the mutts crowd around me in slobbery expectation, drooling generously all over my clothes - an experience not for the faint-hearted or the fashion-conscious.
That was the case on Thursday after a busy time with Slavic. It's the time of year when Jones is afflicted by hay fever. Her eyes water, her nose drips and her skin gets scratchy. It is not only she that suffers; poor Pally - making his way through the tall grass - explodes in a series of paralysing machine-gun sneezes. Eventually Jones feels obliged to pick him and carry him to the nearest path.
It was while exploring the terraces that I came across these three beauties, sheltering amidst the greenery.
Jonesy crouched down to take a close up. They're our second pyramid orchid discovery within the park - such glorious flowers! The season for orchids is virtually over but the late rains - more due this weekend - have helped to extend it.
Slavic spent much of the day strimming areas of our field close to the house, as the law requires.
I'm reluctant to plough our big field yet as the poppies and daisies are still so spectacular; I really need to wait for the last rains.
But we cut the grass around the solar panels and delivered two tractor loads to the Dutch couple with horses at the end of the road.
The early plums are have started to fall. Now that the fava beans have been exhausted, Barbara has focussed her attention on the plums instead. Some she turns into jam. Others she stews up and then freezes. They make delicious eating throughout the year, often as part of a yogurt, muesli and nut lunch.
Shelling the last picking of beans has fallen to me, my hair much in need of Fatima's scissors. This is the last of the crop.
The garden meanwhile, thriving on the late rains, has gone berserk. The plants have quite overpowered the paths. We've spent hours - with Slavic's help - cutting back the vines and ripping the morning glory out of the branches of surrounding trees. The creeper, for all its beauty, is a real invader, a coloniser of everything around it.
Which brings us to Friday afternoon. That's Mini that's staring hopefully up at me. She and I have both had a pleasant siesta on the bed. I am careful to cover my groin with my iPad after lying down as she tends to use me to trampoline across the bed. I spent much of the morning in Loule waiting for a non hospital appointment (that's one that you think you have but the hospital doesn't). I wasn't really sorry to miss it. The Covid-19 arrangements, with masked patients queued at the front door and scattered dismally around the car park, are quite depressing.
MALVA FLOWER
Portugal has announced a programme of gradual easing of Covid restrictions, foreseeing the stepped opening of various classes of business. Masks are obligatory in all interior public spaces - Jones takes hers off at the first opportunity - and social distancing is carefully practised. Restaurants will be permitted to open in the second half of the month, with customer numbers strictly limited according to space.
Midweek Jones instructed me to go outside to behold the last super moon of the year. I did. It looked much as usual, if a bit hazier, but at least I could honestly say that I'd seen it.
One afternoon, Marie presented Jonesy with these alstromeria flowers from her garden. I think they're lovely. They're also formed the flower bouquet that Barbara wore on her wedding day.
Come on guys! It's time for a walk.
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