Who doesn’t love fruit, it’s even better in a cocktail!
Category: Travels
~ 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.
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.
~ From Mourning to Milfontes, Portugal – not so long ago.. ~
I recently travelled back to the UK to attend the beautiful send off for my dear mum. I have my brother to thank for arranging most of this. Although sad that she is no longer in my life, it was a lovely celebration of her life. At 93 my mum was ready to join my dad.
~ 1933 – 2026 – Jean May Ward ~
Seeing all my relatives, cousins, aunts and uncles come together was a wonderful experience. They all had separate tales to tell about my mum. Remembering her in such a way felt so special.
Visiting Vila Nova de Milfontes
We decided that it would be a good time to have a break from the stress of the last few months. So it was that we flew to Milfontes and The Algarve to relax and rejuvenate before parting. As he is now living in Milfontes, myself, my brother and his wife stayed at the house he is renting.
Milfontes is situated on the Alentejo coast. It sits where the Mira River meets the Atlantic coast. The estuary provides lovely calm beaches, great for families. The beach itself is ideal for surfers. It’s definitely a good place to visit for a quiet, non-touristy holiday.
Below are photos from his rooftop
Walking around on the first day I fell instantly in love with the quaint cobble stoned streets and pastel coloured houses. I could even hang washing out from my window. Milfontes has a calmness about it and the pace of life is slow.
Exploring the village and other surrounding towns
There was a fort just down the road – The Fort of St. Clemente. I am partial to forts, castles and any old buildings really. This one was extremely grand – in its day – sadly not open to the public.
Built by King Phillip II of Portugal to fend off marauding pirates. It overlooks the River Mira and the Atlantic Ocean.
Monument to the Aviators
This monument commemorates the 1924 Pioneering flight from Lisbon to Macau, led byu Brito Pais and Sarmento Beires. The first flight crashed in India, fortunately the crew survived but the plane didn’t. Not to be deterred, through Government and public donations they were able to make a second journey. They almost made it, landing just 800 metres away in China. They sailed onto Macau to a triumphant arrival.
Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Graca
Time for lunch and my long awaited grilled sardines and a glass or two of Vino Verde.
In the evening we drove up the coast to watch the fabulous sunset over the Atlantic Ocean.
The next day we drove to Sao Luis and then back to the coast. Graham was being very patient driving through the villages, when all he wanted was to dive into the water. As nice as it looked it was far too cold for me!
Sao Luis Church
There were many derelict properties in this village, but we noticed some were being readied for renovation. Maybe the council had received a grant.
We were tempted to put an offer in for this one and open up our own boutique hotel.
These two men had just laid down some food for all the stray cats that were living inside this old building.
Time for the beach and a drive across the Mira River to the coast.
Walking along the cliff top we spotted a few ospreys’ nests. This was the best I could do with my S24. It looks like an extremely large nest.
We finished the day at a beach bar overlooking the sea and seeing how long people stayed in. Enough just to cool down!
…. off to The Algarve soon …
~ Murals of Silves, Portugal ~
I’ve recently spent a week in Portugal and took these cute murals on the electric boxes in Silves yesterday. Very apt for Debbie’s one word Sunday
Also posting to John’s Cell pic Sunday
They really brighten up these cobblestoned streets.
~ An Autumn Visit to Healesville, Yarra Valley ~
After our first day in Melbourne had ended we were picked up by Laurence and Maddy for our weekend in Healesville. Situated in the Yarra Valley and just an hour’s drive North East of Melbourne. I had booked a two bed/bath house just off the high street. It was perfect for our two night stay. Healesville is one of many small towns/settlements in the Yarra Valley.
On our first night we had dinner at the Healesville Hotel. It had a cosy old world charm about it and the food was delicious. The next morning we drove into Healesville for breakfast, being Saturday everywhere was packed.
After finishing up we drove to Maroondah Reservoir Park. There is a 41 metre high dam wall offering scenic views. What I didn’t realise is that to see these views you had to hike up a steep incline. Using Laurence as a pack horse I wrapped my scarf around his waist and used him to pull me up.
The views from the top were worth it. Stunning autumnal colours in all shades of red, brown and yellow.
Maroondah Reservoir Park
Making our way up the Rose stairs, there was still a way to go. This pathway is paved with stones and brightly coloured roses line the edges.
“And all the lives we ever lived and all the lives to be, are full of trees and changing leaves” – Virginia Woolf
There are many picnic benches around plus gas and electric barbeques. The weather was definitely in our favour that day.
At the top
“Every leaf speaks bliss to me, fluttering from the autumn tree.” — Emily Brontë
Time for lunch now and we headed to Boat O’Craigo Winery. The name originates from a tiny place in Scotland where the owners’ ancestors came from. We were delighted with our choice. There were panoromic views from every window. We settled down to a charcuterie board and a bottle of wine. This winery is in the High Street, so within walking distance of hotels and apartments.
Boat O’Craigo Winery
Picturesque views as far as the eye could see.
Entrance to Boat O’Craigo Winery
With still a few hours left we headed off to another winery called Soumah. As it states on the website it has “the charm of Northern Italy within the provenance of the Yarra Valley”. It is actually located in Warramate foothills of Gruyere. As the temperature was still warm we sat outside and enjoyed another bottle of wine.
Soumah Winery
All too soon our little jaunt to the Yarra Valley was over. Sunday was a complete washout so we drove back to Melbourne earlier than planned. Venturing outside of Melbourne for a day or two is so easy. You can be somewhere completely different in just an hour.
“Wake up and Smell the Roses”
~ Attractions in Melbourne: From Churches to Gaols ~
We have just returned from a trip to Melbourne and Sydney. It was mainly to catch up with our son and daughter-in-law and visit friends. Having seen much of Melbourne already we had to come up with something different to do. We caught the tram into town which is now free, we stopped first for a coffee. You can’t beat the coffee in Melbourne. I saw from the maps that Melbourne Gaol was only a short walk away. I do like an Australian prison, so much history.
We popped into The Scots’ Church on the way and were surprised at the size inside. Built in 1874, a prominent example of Gothic Revival.
Just opposite was another church. In Central Melbourne there are 111 active churches.
Built between 1863 and 1866 in the Lombardic Romanesque style.
The Abode Building – noted for its cascading facade, standing next to Iglu Melbourne Central – student accommodation.
Melbourne has such wonderful architecturally designed buildings, each one very different.
Melbourne Gaol is a great place to spend a morning or afternoon. It’s full of interesting history and artefacts. In nearly every cell there is information of former inmates. The most infamous of all was Ned Kelly. He remains a divisive figure in Australia, regarded variously as a Robin Hood-like folk hero and symbol of national identity, or as a murderous villain. He demanded justice for the downtrodden and the rural poor. Wearing a handmade suit of bullet proof armour he evaded the police for years. Ned Kelly was eventually captured in 1880 and executed in Melbourne Gaol.
Here I am modelling Ned Kelly’s suit of armour. I simply couldn’t resist. Anthony looked on in amazement as I struggled to put this on.
The imposing entrance
Inside the cells, seems there is one inmate still serving time.
“Phrenology gained wide acceptance in the late 19th century, with the making of death masks becoming standard practice. The brains of hundreds of criminals were examined after death, as well as those of many eminent people. Eventually the results showed that most criminals had similar sized brains to other citizens.”
Science has definitely come along way since! These scientists should have had their own heads examined.
And that concludes our tour of Melbourne Gaol.
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~ A Relaxing Week with the Family at Hotel Nikko, Benoa, Bali ~
We decided to head back to the easiest place to visit outside of Australia, our home away from home, Bali. The munchkins were counting down the days from weeks ago. There are still a few red tape issues to enter Bali, eVisa, customs declaration and now a tourist tax. It would be great if they used the tourist tax to pay for better rubbish removal.
Normally around Easter Bali is bustling and busy, but with what is going on in the World right now, we noticed that the queues for immigration weren’t as long as normal. Also if you have little ones or you are over 60 you could go join a special line. It seems that everyone has this demographic!
Nikko Hotel Pool
We were staying at the Nikko Hotel in Benoa. It is situated on the beach and around 10 minutes by car to Nusa Dua. The cost was three times cheaper than Nusa Dua, where all the high end hotels are. Having left home at 5 am, we were checked in and by the pool 1.30.
I had requested adjoining rooms and happy to see this was granted. It meant that we could watch the kids when our daughter went to the gym or shops. I would say Nikko Hotel was 3.5 stars not the 5 as advertised! Not if the Conrad was anything to go by. It was very much old style Bali with a rustic charm. Solid wooden furniture and our bed was enormous. The bathrooms had been renovated, with separate bath and shower cubicle.
The swimming pool was fantastic with a sandy “shoreline” making for an easy entry. It was right on the beach with sunbeds facing towards the sea to catch the cool breeze. You could gaze for ages at the shimmering water and watch the various water sports in action.
There were always plenty of beds and who doesn’t love a swim up bar for happy hour.
Going on an adventure
There were always so many ships, tugs and cargo boats waiting to enter the harbour. Jet skis, banana boats, parachutes and hoverboards in were in action throughout the day, so never a dull moment on the ocean.
Benoa Beach, Boats and Mount Agung
We tried different restaurants every night enjoying the Balinese cuisine and friendly service. I felt sad for the Balinese people who tried to entice us into their venues, so many of the places were empty. Having just recovered from Covid and now to suffer another blow to their economy.
One restaurant in particular stands out for the munchkins, called Ketut. There were many iguanas on display who loved to be petted. After dinner every night they would go along for ice cream and a cuddle with the iguanas!
into our luggage
And the rest!
Don’t be koi now!
We were all very well rested and relaxed after a week here. Back to school on Monday and my decluttering awaits.
~ Views from the Eurostar – London to Paris ~
I’m joining Dan’s Fun Foto Challenge this week and the theme is views from or in public transport. I took the Eurostar a few years ago to join a friend in Paris for the weekend. It’s the ideal way to travel, avoiding those lengthy queues at the airport and not having to put all your liquids in a tiny bag.
I opted for lunch on board and was happily surprised by the food served and being waited on! It was such a comfortable journey and I would happily do it again.
Seems like I had the train to myself, but it did fill up!
Leaving St. Pancras
The windfarms at Beaulencourt
The Return Journey
Slightly blurred shots of the French countryside!
~ Monsoon Valley Winery, Hua Hin, Thailand – Dining with a View ~
During our stay in Thailand we headed out to the hills to have lunch at Monsoon Valley Winery. I was surprised that there was a winery here, never having been to one in Thailand before.
There is also an elephant sanctuary situated here and you can take a small minibus out to see them. We had left it too late to book a tour though.
Anthony and I were delightfully surprised by the magnificent scenery that surrounded us.
We were seated outside on the verandah and had a lovely view over the extensive vineyards. It was exceptionally hot though and I was still recovering from a flu virus! There was a fan nearby which I had positioned to blow on me.
Stunning views from our table on the verandah
The menu was full of delicious dishes and when they arrived did not disappoint. Starting with a charcuterie board followed by coconut flakes and dried shrimp in grape leaves and grilled prawns and pineapple fried rice. We enjoyed every mouthwatering morsel.
The Monsoon Valley Restaurant
What a wonderful way to wile away an afternoon, good company, great views and gourmet food. I would definitely recommend a visit if you are ever in Hua Hin.
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