Carrying on from our last post, we said we were off on some more house sits…
But let’s just go over our last week first. It was a bit disappointing to find little progress on the house, but one of the things about living in Portugal we have learned is that things happen differently than the UK. At least in our experience, but you just have to make the best use of your time to get the things you want. However, it doesn’t stop us from fulfilling our commitments. One important activity that needed addressing is cutting the grass and weeds on the land before the weather prevents us from using power tools and getting a fine for not clearing around the house.
Although we managed to transport the wood chipper to the land, we never got to finish the shredding. The day we started, we had some teething problems with the machine and it also broke my friend! Meaning he pulled some muscles lifting it into and out of his car. it takes two to lift and it’s really heavy, so continuing to move it was off the cards. however, we learned a lot about how to use the machine, and there was a lot of wood that needed to be processed to make it easier to use the shredder later in the year, so Wayne got to work with the chainsaw and loppers. We had forgot how much wood needed to be processed and it was really hard work. Plus the land needed another going over with the strimmer before we left and it was starting to get really hot. We managed to do most of the work before starting to get prepared for the next house-sits, but it was a reminder of how much work will be involved in getting the land looking good once we are in the house.
The architect and plumber turned up while we were working and were discussing some work to progress the rainwater pipes, so any news of progress is always encouraging. We also managed to purchase all the bathroom furniture and fittings and also most of the kitchen appliances while we were in between doing the land and other things. We were staying with our friends Bruce & Paula with the intent of house-sitting their place, but because Bruce was not full health, they cancelled and we ended up just staying with them being fed REALLY WELL!
We just stayed local and did as much as we could. There is always things going on around the area and on one particular trip into town, we noticed it was the hill race with all the rally cars, so had a good look around them while we were doing some shopping!
And so, off we went again, our first house sit was with some new friends we met a couple of weeks ago to see if we were a good fit for them. It turns out this couple (Americans, Vince & Cat) are really on our wave length and we look forward to spending some more time with them in the future. Their pets are all adorable and so well behaved. The two dogs are mature and so chilled. Our first afternoon was spent with Cosmo in Nazerè, down by the beach. We decided to have lunch while Vince and Cat got ready to leave. Cosmo was great to walk and enjoyed to stroll out. We ordered a shared toast lunch and were shocked by the amount that turned up! Wayne was surprised he got back up the hill after all that!
However, the trek back up the hill was so worth it. The house is situated in an area of Nazerè that we had not visited before and was only a two minute walk to the miradouro (viewpoint) that overlooks the town. It was a joy to take the dogs for their evening walk there and enjoy the views.
The only bit of news we had on the house was due to a miss communication about the house build. The builders had started to clad the middle portion of the house, and our friends sent some photos as they were passing by. The issue was that they were using polystyrene, and this was not what we had agreed to, but this is Portugal. One thing we have accepted and fully understand is that things are done differently here and mistakes happen. It is difficult to stay on top of everything all time and we just need to keep communication lines open all the time. Our ethos behind the build was to use sustainable materials and eco friendly methods and materials where possible throughout. Polystyrene is not the way we wanted to go, and the builder was quick to sort it out for us. They have to work incredibly hard to manage the work on top of all the other things they do, these things happen. But working together with the builders is the best way to resolve things. Nothing is insurmountable.
So we are back on the same page and moving forward with the build. We might have to check back more frequently however, just to ensure we are on the same page and to catch any issues early. We are still awaiting information regarding our solar and heating system specs. Crossed fingers there are no issues there!
Before we knew it, the two days sitting for the pets were over. Vince and Cat returned and it was time to get underway once again.
We use Trustedhousitters.com to organize our house sits, and love the travel & exploration that goes along with it. It’s so much fun and we have made some amazing friends along the way. And to emphasize that point we are returning to the next sit for the fourth time. ❤️. If you are asking yourself “will they continue to house sit once their house is finished?”, the answer is “hell yes!” It is such a rewarding activity, why would we want to stop?
Also, Annette is making great progress with her recovery from her broken arm. Although we still need to register for some professional physiotherapy, she is managing by following some online programs until we get back for a prolonged stay or finally move in to the house. Her wrist is still a bit swollen and her strength has not yet returned but slowly her flexibility is improving almost daily. She is doing great!
Now, onwards to the next adventure…
Our Portuguese Life 