This way.

A large neon arrow made up of a red pointed end and white tail, all mounted on a white wall.

Monday June 3, 2024 Newsletter letter

Monday June 3, 2024 Dear Friends, Welcome to the first newsletter of June 2024. Today’s letter will probably be brief (I say probably because I am still writing it!) as we are on the road for a couple of days. This time exploring the eastern Algarve - quieter (in terms of the tourism impact) and more nature. We arrived here yesterday and have been greeted with vast expanses of beach, mud flats, small boats (mainly fishing, a few pleasure), oyster farms, and grasslands.

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An Algarve morning.

A old bench with a jar full of water and some green leafed branches in it. Beside is a small cup and saucer with coffee in it. Beyond is a low gate between white concrete walls looking out to grasses and bushes.

This is one way to protect your car from the heat of the day.

A car parked on a cobbled street with terraced houses on both sides. The car is covered in a sheet to protect it from the heat of the sun.

😧 That moment when I think that I have lost my credit card and driving license, or they have been stolen. That’s when I see how I can loose all sense of sanity very quickly. ….
That moment, too many moments later, when I find that they dropped onto the floor of the car. 😮‍💨

😧 That moment when I think that I have lost my credit card and driving license, or they have been stolen. That’s when I see how I can loose all sense of sanity very quickly. ….
That moment, too many moments later, when I find that they dropped onto the floor of the car. 😮‍💨

Shapes and shadows by a pool of water.

A clear pool of water with water falling in from a small spout. Shades of blue and shadows

We returned home from Lisbon late last night. Keyed up from the drive home and hot because if the weather, I went for a walk. In the nearby park the fountain was running, offering cool air within its domain. I sat there and rested, watching it cycle through its colours.

I’ve returned there again today to cool off.

Yesterday’s exhibition. Portuguese architect Álvaro Siza Vieira at the Gulbenkian Museum. He is so prolific, even into his 90s, that I found the exhibition exhausting. Fascinating, inspiring, but exhausting.

A white background with the name SIZA in capital letters

🫠 Melting this evening (today). Today hit 34°C. The house is warm, at least upstairs (living area)…downstairs (sleeping) is cool. Windows open everywhere to catch any breeze that might want to blow through.

🫠 Melting this evening (today). Today hit 34°C. The house is warm, at least upstairs (living area)…downstairs (sleeping) is cool. Windows open everywhere to catch any breeze that might want to blow through.

Church, Vila Ruiva, southern Alentejo.

A black and white photo of a simple white church, a round tower on one side, steps leading up to it and a curved wall below and on the right

Spotted while driving through Vila Ruiva is southern Alentejo today. A little bit of searching online revealed this information on the insect zoo.

Cartoon drawings of insects on a wall, pointing to an insect zoo

🧰 I find it a joy when I discover a really good plumber, or electrician, etc. That person or persons feel like gold to me.

🧰 I find it a joy when I discover a really good plumber, or electrician, etc. That person or persons feel like gold.

I found this cage with Budgerigars in the Center of Alcácer. Next to it was a similar cage with pigeons. I don’t know what or who they were for? It has obviously been there for a some time - though how long, I don’t know?

A concrete hut with a caged front full of Budgerigars

🥵 It must be hot out there. There is no wind, and the air coming through the windows is cooking.

🥵 It must be hot out there. There is no wind, and the air coming through the windows is cooking.

The wind blowing through the grasses by the River Sado yesterday evening.

Monday May 27, 2024 Newsletter letter

Monday May 27, 2024 Dear Friends, It’s early morning here in Alentejo, the region of Portugal that our house is in. Outside feels fresh and cool, but that won’t last for long. After some cooler weather last week, summer appears to have arrived in Portugal and the days are heating up. Clear skies and sun. I have said it elsewhere, but there is a quality to the light here that I have not seen elsewhere.

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