23rd June CASTELO BRANCO

We had an easy morning; Brett dismantled the fence around the vineyard close to the house (ready for digging out the walkway behind the shed) and I pulled up ragwort (in the scorching sun). Then we went to our neighbours ....................

We arrived around 11.30 and parked the truck outside their gates; Ilda came along, with the keys to the gates, and ushered us through. We were shown around the quinta (they have a least one other, plus a casa in Castelo Branco). They have some lovely calves (they have more calves, cows and his prize bull whose semen he sells over the internet, we think that’s what he was saying, at the other quinta), sheep and lots of vines, olives and vegetables. We were then shown where we could park the campervan (under cover), with electricity and a bathroom opposite – the roof was too low for the van (about 9’, we need 10’). So then we were shown a couple of bedrooms, with ensuite bathrooms; we hadn’t got it wrong at all they were inviting us to either camp out at their quinta or stay in a bedroom, because we were their ‘comrades’. They also offered to look after our tools etc, at their premises, when we came back to Britain to sort out moving (which we intend to take them up on, we can leave the truck there).

We had lunch; first a homemade soup (a bit like Scotch broth), followed by salad (lettuce), bread (baked in their bread oven), warm rice (what’s that all about?), omelette (warmish and cut into strips), olives and cheese, accompanied with beer (Brett), wine (me & Ilda) beer & wine mixed (Jony). Dessert was cherries and a drink made from 3 parts grape juice and 1 part fermented something (some kind of spirit) – rather sweet, Brett enjoyed it.

We left about 4.30; as we were driving away Jony was practically leaning through the window saying “Brett, please you bring your caravan here”. It was all a little bit intense and uncomfortable; they don’t know us but they are being very generous/too generous (maybe it’s the Portuguese way?).

We checked on Gary; he has had his locks changed, so he’s feeling a little bit more secure; though he’s still grieving for his dog. He offered to come and prune our vines (for free) I suggested he came and taught me how to do it (which would be far more useful).

When we posted the blog this evening we did a ‘google’ search to find out what the yellow bird is that I keep seeing – it’s a Golden Oriole, and we’ve got one living on our quinta!