8th May CASTELO BRANCO

We contacted the young couple (Leo & Erica) who showed us around the Monsanto properties to ask their advice about the buying process etc; they invited us to visit them this afternoon, after we’d been to view Donkey Quinta.

As we had some time to spare this morning we thought we would look into getting a dongle so that we could have our own internet access. Ha ha ha, the lady in the shop didn’t speak English (but she had a computer, so she used a translation programme), we were there for at least half an hour at one point all three of us were laughing our heads off at the absurdity of the situation and we still didn’t get it, she more or less told us not to bother as it was too expensive (or that’s what we thought she was trying to tell us).

DONKEY QUINTA: We spent ages there this afternoon measuring all the buildings and taking photos – we love it! The land is absolutely covered with wild flowers lupins, lavender, sweet peas I just can’t describe how pretty it all is.

Mountain backdrop to one of 'our' olive groves

Spot the donkey amongst the olive trees

The ground is covered in wild lavender

And the buildings; well ok they are block built, but they are BIG. The one we are going to turn into a house has three rooms (side by side) 22 x18.5 (living room with a sofa bed for guests), 21’ x 18.5’ (kitchen), 7’ x 12’ (boot room/utility) and another room (off kitchen) 20’ x 12’ (bedroom and bathroom, there are also another couple of smaller buildings, connected by the tumble down donkey shed, which could be added to the house. The other structure is well over a hundred metres away, and this has two rooms 16’ x 20’ (studio) and 14’ x 20’ (gym); this building is high enough to have a second storey which eventually could be a couple of guest bedrooms (accessible by an outside stair case) – we’ve got it all worked out! While we were there we saw a grouse who apparently is a regular visitor to the farm (the current owner feeds her).

We had a brilliant visit to Leo and Erica; their place is through the woods (horrible access), they have 20 acres, but no natural water source, and they are living the ‘good life’. They are completely ‘off grid’; they have a bore hole, solar panels and a windmill, solar heated hot water and a sawdust toilet – most of which we will have to have at Donkey Quinta; it gave us so much confidence talking to them, they are lovely generous people and were willing to share everything that they’ve learnt in the two years they’ve been in Portugal – their house also started life as a block built shed. So ....................... tomorrow we’re going to put in an offer on Donkey Quinta!

The weather has started to improve over the last couple of days and it’s beginning to get quite warm now.