Happy Birthday Paul!

Paul hit the big 40 on Saturday! (he said he was definately feeling his age on Sunday but that might have had something to do with all the wine?!)

We had a wonderful day- thanks to everyone for their best wishes and gifts.

We had a very laid back barby on the roof of the house and then retired downstairs in the evening and huddled round the new range.

new range

woohoo- the Esse arrived yesterday!

Paul and Les did a fantastic job of getting it down the stairs and in place (think it weighs something like 320kilos?!) and are both now enjoying a well deserved cerveja!

The stove is truly wonderful- thanks to our parents who have helped us get the dosh together for what we think will be a wonderful addition to Quinta Velagota.

Can't wait to get cooking!

2009

Happy New Year everyone!

We started 2009 with a nice walk by the river and came back for a barby (first one of the year!)

Yesterday we went to the beach and Paul went for a swim (mad fool!).

I tried to get the gruntyweasel in the sea but she wasn't having any of it- she did enjoy the giant sandpit tho!

Christmas at Velagota

Well it's been a bit of a 'porkfest'!

Christmas morning started with a soak in the hot-tub. Followed by our home-grown breakfast of fresh eggs, home-made sausages and bacon (and a bottle of bubbly!).

(the bacon has turned out a little saltier than we would have liked but it's all a learning curve!)

Pre-dinner drinks on the roof-terrace with pork-liver pate.

Then roast leg of pork, with all the trimmings, cooked in the new house!

Last night we had chinese style-pork ribs, with singapore-style noodles (with pork!).

Today we are having a sort of indoor barby with.... wait for it - satay style pork fillet.

You might be thinking we are getting sick of pork- but really we're not- it's totally fantastic!

Hope you all have had a wonderful Christmas- anyone fancy a cold pork sandwich let us know and we'll post you one ;-) xxx

newbies to Velagota

Terry and June

(P.s. our postbox has now been replaced- hope this one doesn't get pinched!)

kitchen

Paul has started work on the kitchen- so hopefully we will be cooking Christmas Day

Dinner in the house- woohooo! (no water connected, or heating or doors and only half the windows so far- but hey ho- you gotta start somewhere!!)

let it snow

just been for a 'marvellous' walk- the Serra is covered in snow- apsolutely breathtaking!

(again- look closely- you can see our house!)