Alison

🎶 “I’ve Got the Music in Me” 🎶

This week for Lens Artist Challenge the theme is Music, as you’ve probably guessed from the title!

My featured image shows the empty stage before the musical & Juliet started. I went with around 10 other ladies and we had a blast.

Over the years I’ve seen many bands or groups as we called them then. My first ever concert was going up to London to see David Cassidy. What an amazing singer he was. I was 14 and we were dropped off and picked up by my friend’s parents. My list of bands is too long to name here but I feel blessed to have seen them all.

I grew up mainly with Motown, from a very early age. Maybe I heard a song on the radio, but my parents were never fans. My first record was Viva Bobby Joe by The Equals. Which of course I played over and over.

Nowadays I am content to sit at home and listen, unless it’s an old favourite who is still belting them out. And so it was I went to see Billy Ocean last year. He was excellent and can still hold those notes. I enjoyed every minute and it only takes one person to stand up and then I’ll be the second, much to my friend’s embarrassment. Dance like no-one’s watching, isn’t that the saying.

A latin band playing with a latin mural in the background

A latin band playing in a bar in Bali. When they started playing a salsa tune I was up and dancing.

My two munchkins from a few years ago, I think it was me who needed the headphones.

Members of a military band in Bangkok enjoying a rest.

A small band in a restaurant in Melbourne, customers were happily clapping along with them. I like a restaurant with a band, it just adds to the atmosphere and gives the whole place a buzz. This place was off the beaten track and we were lucky to get a table.

A busker in London playing his trombone to cheer up everyone’s day. Some of these buskers are excellent, I always drop something in and stand and have a listen.

Thanks to Ritva for this opportunity to share our thoughts on music.

🎼 🎼 🎼 🎼 🎼 🎼 🎼 🎼 🎼 🎼 🎼 🎼 🎼 🎼 🎼 🎼 🎼 🎼

~ Harness the Power ~

Debbie from Travel with Intent has given us the challenge of power for this week’s One Word Sunday.

My featured image is three wind turbines seen from the window of the Eurostar. We were travelling through Beaulencourt, France. This would be titled Clean Power.

**“I hold the Power” – Comporta, Portugal**

䷡䷡ ䷡䷡ ䷡䷡ ䷡䷡ ䷡䷡ ䷡䷡ ䷡䷡ ䷡䷡ ䷡䷡ ䷡䷡

~ Buying and Selling around the Globe ~

This week’s challenge for Monochrome Madness is hosted by Margaret and the theme is Buying and Selling.

We stopped at Williams (also the name of the town) many years ago for a break on our way down South. Of course dear hubby couldn’t resist picking up a new sweater, made in Australia of course.

People queuing up outside the Prada shop in Bicester — Bicester, England

A spot of colour for this one. This is the shopping outlet in Bicester, England. Famous for high end shops like Prada for heavily discounted items.

Another one from Bicester. Here I am with my sister-in-law and my dear mum. As you can see we are all heavily laden having bought many items. A lovely day to look back on.

Taken in Corfu Old Town as we were sauntering down one of the small streets. I was intrigued as to how witches and ice cream went together. A couple inside the shop buying ice cream.

A scarf shop in Hyderabad, a merchant offering his wares. — Hyderabad, India

My son and his wife looking to buy gifts for friends back home. The shop owner patiently waiting for a sale. Maddy is not one for haggling, luckily Laurence learnt from the best – his own dear father.

Another pop of colour for this one. A buyer haggling for a better price with the seller. This was taken as we walked along this cobble stoned street in Gjirokastër, Albania. There are certain places where haggling is acceptable and even expected.

A shop front in Brick Lane. An advert for paper bags and other kind of paper. From decades before. — Brick Lane, London

This is from Brick Lane, London. The original signs are still up. It looks like an apartment now.

The last one also from London. I am standing outside my favourite perfume shop. Of course I couldn’t go in and not buy a bottle!

A fun challenge and a chance to wander down memory lane once again. I’m also linking to Leane’s Monochrome Madness post as Leane is the lady who started it all.

~ Exploring Harmony in Nature and Art ~

The Lens Artist Challenge this week is hosted by Ann Christine, the theme is Harmony.

My featured image is a mural from a suburb in Perth. Two women connected by a central beam piercing the moon. Cosmic energy working simultaneously with nature.

The two photos below are from the gardens at Monet’s home in Giverny.

A stream flowing through Monet's Garden in Giverny

“If you live in harmony with nature you will never be poor; if you live according to what others think, you will never be rich.” – Seneca

Each green leaf, plant, and moss blends harmoniously with each other.

A mural of a jazz player painted on the brick wall of a cafe in Paris. The intermingling colours working well together.

Two bronze statues one with a traditional Portuguese guitar, Rosso Lisbon — *“Adopt the pace of nature. Her secret is patience.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson*

Outside Rossio Railway Station, Lisbon

A bronze sculpture of a man playing a traditional Portuguese guitar along with his accompanying singer. You can just imagine the harmonious partnership.

This was a wonderful theme and I had fun looking through my archives. A great way to spend a grey Sunday afternoon.

🌿 🌿 🌿 🌿 🌿 🌿 🌿 🌿 🌿 🌿 🌿 🌿 🌿 🌿 🌿 🌿 🌿 🌿 🌿 🌿

~The Challenges and Joys of Moving Homes ~

We’re nearly at the end of a long process of putting a house on the market and buying a new one. Our house has been sold and we have also found a new one. It’s in the suburb where I’ve always wanted to live, so things are beginning to line up. After looking at so many houses it was getting difficult to remember which house was which. Mainly because nearly all the houses had been staged! Same furniture, same layout. Anyway we snapped up a beautiful house before anyone else had a chance. I was going to continue looking but as my dear hubby said, what is the point?

“Wherever you go, go with all your heart” – Confucius

So what’s next? Trying to simultaneously move out and in on the same day! Declutter more, pack up and organise movers. Saying this though our house is feeling empty after all the staged furniture has been removed and our own furniture is in storage.

Nothing has really sunk in yet though and we will all be very sad to leave our house after over 20 years. But new beginnings await and adventures are just around the corner. I’m looking forward to this next chapter and making our new house feel like a home.

“If you’re brave enough to say goodbye, life will reward you with a new hello” – Paulo Coehlo

I’ve been looking back at my photos over the years and have added a gallery of a few precious memories. My parents came every year for over 15 years, now sadly passed away and I miss them every day. As you can see they had to work for their board and lodging.

“If we were meant to stay in one place, we’d have roots instead of feet…” – Rachel Wolchin

~ What’s on your Bookshelf – August 2026 ~

It’s been a while since I posted what I’ve been reading, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t read anything! This post brings a thriller, a love story and historical fiction. Something for everyone.

Dervla McTiernan is a favourite author and I’ve enjoyed everything she has written. Her latest was no exception. Three Reasons for Revenge was a real page turner. Three packages sent to three different addresses with one connection. It’s up to Detective Judith Lee to find the connection. She had better act fast before it’s too late.

📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚

On a completely different note I absolutely loved Heart the Lover by Lily King. This was recommended by a friend, I had not come across this author before.

This one definitely has mixed reviews. You either love it or hate it, I looked at reviews after. Whether you don’t agree with the plot, it is beautifully written. The story revolves around three students. Sam and Yash who are best friends and our narrator who is tangled up in the middle. It is passionate, sad, happy and unbearable all at once. One of my favourites so far this year.

📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚

After I read quite intense books I look for something cosy and historical, there are plenty around too. I enjoy Georgian, Edwardian and Victorian period dramas. Although not always cosy, quite unsavoury times for many of the people who lived then!

I found another new author – Ashley Gardner. There is a whole series based on Captain Gabriel Lacey. Having just returned from the Napoleonic Wars, burned out and injured – he is looking for something to help fight his melancholia. He soon becomes interested in the fate of a missing girl. Leading him through the sordid underworld of street girls to the top echelons of society, he finds himself in frequent danger.

I’ll be going back to this series as this author writes well and keeps you guessing.

📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚

Joining Debbie from Deb’s World for Whats On your Bookshelf

~ A Little Bit of Everything – 2/8 – 10/8 2026 ~

It really has been a bit of this and that last week. We are now two home opens down and still no takers. The market has slowed down so we have been told. As the old saying goes “you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink”. I am very much enjoying the less cluttered space we have now and am getting used to the routine every Saturday morning.

Having decided not to cook on a Friday we have been making the most of going out to eat. We had a lovely dinner at a beachside restaurant overlooking the sea and in time to watch the sunset. My daughter and the munchkins came too. My 8yr old grandson went into fits of laughter after he handed me the seniors menu!

Last week it was just us, a romantic dinner for two at the golf club.

The weather last weekend was atrocious, not a good day for our home open. I sat in the car for a while scrolling away and looked up and saw this.

I joined a few friends for a quiz night at a local pub, our group was the oldest by a few decades. Although I was able to answer quite a few questions. I also managed to go to two zumba classes now that I have spare time. I made a cake and slow cooked a pork shoulder for pulled pork tacos. Treated myself to a mani and pedi.

A friend mentioned to me that she had a fantastic photo scanner, which scanned 40 photos at a time. So I went a bit mad and ordered one online. What a gamechanger! I have managed to scan and organise so many photos that have been lying around for decades in boxes. Just the sort of project I enjoy.

As my two boys were very unhappy about not being able to sleep on the couches anymore I bought them two new cozy beds.

We are lucky to see different kinds of birds fly through the garden, sometimes staying for a visit. Unless I sit out there camouflaging myself it’s hard to snap them. I normally stand behind a curtain and peep out.

This week I spotted two wood ducks and several rainbow lorikeet, disguising themselves amongst the lilipili.

I hope you all had a fabulous week too and found something to feel blessed and happy about.

Joining in with Thistles and Kiwis – This week’s small pleasures 😊

~ Sip, Sip, Hooray ~

Who doesn’t love fruit, it’s even better in a cocktail!

For Debbie’s One Word Sunday

~ Decluttering and Downsizing – Part II – From Chaos to Order ~

Since the last time I wrote about our lifestyle change things have moved on at a cracking pace. The renovations and cleaning have all been completed, with a few hic ups along the way. The more they did the more problems came to light. There goes the budget! Sometimes getting too friendly with your tradies is not a good thing, it then feels awkward bringing unfinished projects up.

We have made many trips to our local tip and charity shops. I have had sleepless nights thinking about what needs to be done the next day. Going from room to room and back again with half completed chores.

The last two weeks we have had movers in to take much of our furniture into storage and packed up all of our ornaments. I have successfully managed to sell many of our carpets and ornaments. A good lesson was learnt here, things are only worth what someone is willing to pay for them. I forgot to make notes of who was coming and when, which caused confusion. I persuaded one couple to take a different shelf unit instead of the one they came for! Resulting in them driving home with their boot open.

The staging company were next. They were here for two days bringing in many lorry loads of furniture, ornaments and bedding. I can’t say I liked some of the furniture but as I have paid now I had to let them do their thing. Say goodbye to control.

There are numerous plants, pots and cushions around the house. I have had to take photos of how the beds are made. Also must remember to chop the cushions!

A few photos below of the many cushions we have on the beds. I am tempted to open these bottles before we’ve finished.

Sadly my boys (Zac and Rufus) have had their noses put out of joint as they are no longer allowed on the sofas, which are a pristine white. These have been completely swathed in old sheets and blankets to keep them white.

Image gallery image — Not speaking to me

Finally we are done and we’ve gone live. We will be waiting with baited breath to see the reactions of potential buyers, although we will not be allowed in the house while this takes place. The transformation has been remarkable, and we hope that our hard work will pay off. The next chapter will now find us looking for a home that we loved as much as this one.

See you soon!

~ Postcards from Portugal – Alcantirlha and Silves ~

Following on from my trip to Milfontes, it was time to catch up with my brother-in-law and sister-in-law. My brother and his wife were also joining me for a few days in Alcantirlha. We were extremely lucky to be spending this time at Amendoeira Golf Club. The setting couldn’t be more perfect, situated in the hills of The Algarve and surrounded by almond, olive and carob trees. With green hills and vineyards as far as the eye could see, the view was perfect.

Amendoeira Golf Club

The resort was designed to look like a Moorish village with the villas coloured a warm browns and dusky pinks.

The resort was huge and to get to the clubhouse for breakfast you needed a lift (my brother!) or call for a golf cart. After breakfast we would swim in the warm pool where my other family lived and have long lazy lunches on the verandah and the garden. We also had delicious lunches and dinners out at the beach and surrounding villages.

Drunk the last drop – Better get another one

Silves

We had an afternoon out one day to the neighbouring town of Silves. I didn’t have a chance to go into the castle, but loved walking around the cobbled streets and alleys. Also browsing and buying local handmade goods in the cute gifts shops. We had a one year old and a 90 year old in the party so taking it easy was the main aim.

Silves was once the Moorish capital of this area and the castle dates back to the 7th century.

Street Scenes

Castle walls and archways

What a fabulous week it was, a happy ending to a sad beginning. Catching up with so many relatives was a blessing. Do I feel ready to leave, not quite, but many things await my return. A house to put in order and make ready for the market, not daunting in the slightest – haha who am I kidding.

Author: Alison

🎶 “I’ve Got the Music in Me” 🎶

Like this:

~ Harness the Power ~

Like this:

~ Buying and Selling around the Globe ~

Like this:

~ Exploring Harmony in Nature and Art ~

Like this:

~The Challenges and Joys of Moving Homes ~

Like this:

~ What’s on your Bookshelf – August 2026 ~

Like this:

~ A Little Bit of Everything – 2/8 – 10/8 2026 ~

Like this:

~ Sip, Sip, Hooray ~

Like this:

~ Decluttering and Downsizing – Part II – From Chaos to Order ~

See you soon!

Like this:

~ Postcards from Portugal – Alcantirlha and Silves ~

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

See you soon!

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this: