Welcome back to our blog and our journey to move to a new life in Portugal.
If you had read the previous post, we left you in the city of Worcester. We had the opportunity to travel a little thanks to our sons in-laws. It was great to catch up with them and we spent a lovely couple of nights at their place, house sitting their four dogs for a day while they were paying respects to an ancestor who fought in a WWII bomber squadron. So, we were left with The two older dogs (Molly and Maisie), who we have met before and we were recognized immediately. Molly always gets excited when Wayne appears! It was the first time meeting the two Staffies however (Ethel and Pako). It was fun getting to know them, and all their unique characteristics. Both are very loving dogs, with Pako having the more laid back attitude, and Ethel always wanting to be the centre of attention.
From their house in Tamworth, we headed back towards Worcester. We spent a night in a quiet rural area close to the city, but far enough out to feel quite isolated in the country. There, they have a static caravan in a leisure park. It was a lovely quiet nights rest before heading back to the small flat where we were staying with our son and his wife, and also our youngest son until he finds his own place. It is a lovely central location near to the beautiful cathedral, but next to a main road. The flat seems to be located on a main route from police, fire station and hospitals and at the exact point where they all switch on their sirens on call-outs! We are not used to the sounds of a busy city.
On a positive note, our son’s job hunting had gone well. He managed to find work fairly quickly. He also really enjoys being in Worcester and near his brother too. That particular news was reassuring for us also. Knowing he would be ok, and with a bit of luck and hard work he should be able find a place of his own soon. That will be welcome; with all five us in the small flat, it was, lets just say… ’cosy’!
We were really enjoying Worcester though. It really is a lovely city and has everything you could want in easy reach. We even found a Portuguese cafe, so it’s like a home from home, (apart from the city noise and the space).
It was lovely and sunny too, and to be honest a bit hot and muggy. We were getting reports of the extreme temperatures in Portugal, and the usual forest fires were happening again, so it seemed there was no escaping heat anywhere in Europe! The down side is that with special measures in place in Portugal, it probably means that building work has been put back.
A few days after our catch-up with the ’in-laws’, No.3 son drove us back once again, as they were hosting No.2 son’s birthday party. He was soon to be 30 years old (it makes you feel old!), his actual birthday was going to fall while he was on holiday the following week. He and his wife were off to Grand Canaria for a week. We were super grateful for being looked after and hosted once again by Frank & Lisa! They are so incredibly thoughtful and generous beyond comprehension! After the weekend at Tamworth it was back to Worcester once again. It made perfect sense for us to stay in Worcester while our son and his wife were away to take care of the flat, keeping it nice, clean and secure. It gave Netty the chance to do what mothers do best – deep clean and organization!
We took the opportunity to attend a regatta and fun day held at the race course in Worcester on a particularly hot day. It was organized by the Worcestershire Freemasons, of which Wayne is still a member of this province. It was great to bump into Bob Vaughn who was up to very recently the Provincial Grand Master. We took advantage of the shade of a large beech tree to watch some live bands, drink some cider and eat some ice cream. It was a shame more of Wayne’s old Lodge members weren’t there on the day, but because of the heat we didn’t stay too long.
We will close this blog here, just as the weather is starting to cool down, and fingers crossed we might even see some rain. It has been a strange period, as the rest of the country seems to be in chaos, with turmoil in politics, travel and employment! We are just plodding along trying to ignore all of that.
Thanks for dropping by. We hope to continue our journey with you all soon.
Our Portuguese Life 