Looking through my hotel window at the city of Bangkok
~ Birds of a Feather – Monochrome Triptych ~
I have to admit that I looked up triptych – the theme chosen this week by Elke. I also had a look at a few others for inspiration. Whether I’m on the right track or not, who knows! I’ve learnt something new anyway.
Cheeky cockatoos that I took on a walk around Lake Claremont on Saturday. They are quite a nuisance with their raucous squawking and incessant pecking but they are cute to look at.
Black Swans are native to Australia and you can always be guaranteed to see them swimming in the lakes and rivers. The photo of the white swans is from the River Crouch, Essex.
I took these photos recently on a walk along the river beach. An Ibis and Cormorants.
I think this type of photography needs more research from me. It’s not quite right so I’m determined now to work out image splitting.
Any tips would be welcome!
~ What’s On Your Bookshelf – January 2026 ~
It’s been a while since I contributed to this challenge hosted by Debbie @ Deb’s World, so with the new year just started I am once again joining in.
If you read Debbie’s post and I urge you to do so for some great recommendations, you will realise what a prolific reader she is. I like to think of myself as an avid reader and try to read two or three a month.
I have four to share this month, but I’ll come clean as some are from December also.
I was trying to clean up the virtual bookshelf on my iPad and either delete some old samples or get on with reading them.
So it was with this book, a fairly old one by Lisa Jewell that I hadn’t realised was unread.
“Melville Heights is one of the nicest neighbourhoods in Bristol, England. It’s not the sort of place where people are brutally murdered in their own kitchens. But it is the sort of place where everyone has a secret. And everyone is watching you. Tom Fitzwilliam, the local headmaster is beloved by one and all, including Joey Mullen, his new neighbour. Joey and her new husband have just moved in with her brother and his wife. Her obsession is taking over her life.” – Taken from Goodreads.
I read this in about two days and couldn’t put it down. Another great book from Lisa Jewell.
This author is fairly new to me and this is the second book by Liz Moore I’ve read. It’s hard to believe this book was written in 2016 as it deals with what is now ChatGPT and AI. Starting in 1980 and ending up in 2009 with flashbacks to 1920, 1940 and 1950. The story focuses on David and Ada Sibelius. David is a single father to Ada. He works in a computer science lab and Ada is “home-schooled”. He teaches her what he thinks is necessary. Years later when David is diagnosed with Alzheimers, his secrets come to light. This was a fantastic read, such a beautiful story and kept me guessing until the end. Highly recommend.
Michael Connelly is a favourite author of mine and this is his latest offering. Mickey Haller leaves criminal court behind for his first civil lawsuit. Coincidentally this book is also about AI and the moral and ethical dilemmas that go with it. Jack McEvoy is also a key player in this book. I like it when Michael Connolly brings characters together. This is still a gripping court room drama as he goes head to head with the powerful tech companies.
An excellent if harrowing read – not for the faint hearted. The story starts in 1987 with Cora and her small daughter, Maia, walking to register the new baby’s name.
“Seven years later, her son is Bear, a name chosen by his sister, and one that will prove as cataclysmic as the storm from which it emerged. Or he is Julian, the name his mother set her heart on, believing it will enable him to become his own person. Or he is Gordon, named after his father and raised in his cruel image – but is there still a chance to break the mould?“ Amazon
Quite stressful to read in parts but I still loved it and gave it 5/5 on Goodreads. Does Bear/Julian/Gordon try to live up to their name or escape from it? I enjoyed reading the different storylines. It is my book choice for book club this month and it will invoke much discussion.
A footnote here about What’s Been on My Screen.
The Night Manager – Series Two.
I’ve only watched two episodes so far. Maybe not as good as the first series and a tad overdramatic. But I will keep on watching, as Olivia Colman is in it.
HiJack – Series Two
One episode in and I’m already confused! But anything with Idris Elba in it I will watch. This series involves an underground train in Berlin. Hoping for clarification in the next episode!
Song, Sung, Blue – Cinema
Not technically on my screen but at the local cinema. I just loved this film. Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson deserve oscars, as does the screenplay and music. I had a vague idea before seeing it, I knew it wasn’t about Neil Diamond himself, just the music. A truly wonderful uplifting film.
~ To Market, To Market to buy a Fat Pig ~
Sarah from Travel with Me has challenged us this week on Monochrome Madness with the theme markets.
Markets have been around for thousands of year. Amazing when you think the concept has not changed much. People visit markets for a bargain, cheaper produce and fresh food. The oldest market still operating is The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul dating back to 1455. We have visited this market but I found it quite hot and claustrophobic.
I loved a market when I was younger and visited many London markets when I was working. Petticoat Lane, Camden Market and Roman Road to name a few. I was very much into vintage clothing back in the day and these were wonderful places to find antique items. Of course my mum was horrified when I came home with a black bin liner of old clothes.
Nowadays many of the stalls found at a lot of markets have items made overseas, as locally made goods cost so much more. Although you do come across some artisan markets but you won’t be finding a bargain there.
Girokaster, Albania – Perusing old army items
He did buy one of the white hats and wore it throughout our time in Albania.
Kruje, Albania
Sihanoukville, Cambodia – A lady sorting shellfish
Hong Kong – Dried Vegetable Stall
Hong Kong – Flower Market
Wanchai Street Market, Hong Kong
Central, Hong Kong – Looking for another hat!
Covent Garden, London
Night Market, George Town Penang, Malaysia
Anthony skipping right to the head of the queue and requesting a special order from the chef!
I realise I have the same title as Sarah, but I had already finished this post and thought it was quite original. Great minds as they say.
~ My Favourite Photos of 2025 ~
Tina from Travels and Trifles has asked us to post our favourites of 2025 for Lens Artist Challenge this week. It took me a while to look back and select just 12, one for each month.
January
A wonderful start to 2025 with my son Laurence marrying his fiancee Maddy. Such a happy day.
February
I took this in my garden, these little birds are usually hard to capture.
March
Also taken from my garden, most probably relaxing with a glass of wine watching the sky change colour.
April
Another from the garden! I did leave the house, I promise.
May
Somewhere in England
June
Cottesloe Beach, Western Australia
July
Zac on the pier, Nedlands, Western Australia
August
Cheeky Galah, Perth, Western Australia
September
The Munchkins, Kings Park, Perth, Western Australia
October
Comporta, Portugal
November
Leaving Portugal and returning to England
December
Sensory overload! Father Christmas arrived much to the delight of the munchkins.
Thanks for the memories Tina, this was a difficult challenge but happy I took part.
~ Last Blast from the Past Year (2025)- Alte, Portugal ~
Our flight back to the UK wasn’t until much later that day, so on checking out we drove to a village on the way to Faro. It was the pretty village of Alto. Before we arrived there Graham had a bee in his bonnet about wanting to swim by a waterfall.
We stopped at Queda do Vigario after seeing some beautiful photos. It was a fair walk down and also the photos were nothing like what appeared at the bottom. Anyway with the bit in his mouth off Graham trotted down the stairs. The water was murky and brown, with food floating in the pond. Not to be thwarted he jumped in. He didn’t stay in for long.
Views from the carpark at the top. I didn’t realise that the painted hillside was of the Portuguese Flag.
Satisfied he had achieved his goal, we drove onto Alte. We found a cute and scenic cafe where we had a delicious lunch. We came just in time as a few bus loads of tourists arrived shortly after.
Grilled cod with roasted garlic. The last fish dish I will be eating for a while.
Cobblestoned Streets of Alte
I could have bought many items from these artsy shops, but with my luggage limit on Ryan Air it was impossible.
Street Scenes of Alte
Ubiquitous Cats of Alte
More Magnificent Murals
There was a definite musical theme running through the village. The murals depicting instruments, players and dancers. Loving murals I was in my element.
As I was climbing up the stairs, these ladies were walking down. One of them stopped me and said I know you. She did look vaguely familiar, it was then it clicked. These were the lovely ladies who sat with me in a wine bar in Cascais watching the rain pour down. Miles from there we just happen to be in the same tiny village at the same time, spooky.
We couldn’t have asked for a better day to end this wonderful trip to Portugal. I will definitely be back to explore the towns, villages and beaches of this beautiful country.
On another note, a week after I returned to Perth my brother Graham fell seriously ill. He contracted a nasty virus in his arm muscle and apparently was close to losing his arm. Maybe it was the waterfall swim but they couldn’t find out what caused the infection. Happy to say he is on the mend now and he said the care was second to none in a Lisbon hospital.
Thank you for coming along on this glorious excursion to Portugal and wishing everyone all the very best for a healthy 2026.
~ Discovering Comporta’s Hidden Gems: Vineyards, Villages and Cavalos ~
Over breakfast on Sunday, we chatted about what the itinerary would be for that day. Graham had been told there were some wineries in the area. I looked a few up and asked the receptionist to ring around to check which ones were open. I was surprised to find out there was only one open, being a Sunday. We booked a tour and lunch and off we went.
As we were approaching Comporta we saw huge birds sitting atop chimneys, lampposts and buildings. Moving closer we realised they were storks. A real treat seeing a stork in the wild.
I tried to get closer, but you can guess what happened.
Before we arrived we stopped and admired the ricefields. At the time not realising they were ricefields.
Flocks of glossy ibis feasting on the rice
with water water everywhere
The winery was called Adega da Herdade da Comporta. It lies with the sea on one side and rice fields on the other. The views around are absolutely stunning. We had arrived at the perfect place for our Sunday lunch. We were given a fascinating tour, visiting the wine cellars and learning about the history. The wine tasting was at our table and the measures were more than generous. We were served lunch with all the wine thankfully.
I was definitely looking forward to tasting this wine.
The view from our guide’s office window
We all agreed that this place went above our expectations, although I think our lunch played a big part.
Our guide had mentioned a fishing village not far from the winery, she said we must go. So we did and what a fun find it was.
Cais Palafítico da Carrasqueira is a unique fishing village that sits on a multitude of wooden jetties on stilts. They zigzag along the muddy marshes with weathered huts standing on top. The huts are decorated in a myriad of ways all different. It is still a working village which was surprising, considering how rickety the small plankways looked. We spent quite a while here, all of us walking in different directions, daring each other to walk along the piers.
There was no-one around when we were here and I was wondering how the fisherman actually got to their boats.
A faded mural and some random numbers.
Let’s Pull Up a Seat and enjoy the view
Leaving just before sunset with the golden rays spreading slowly across the sea.
Before returning to our hotel we had another brief stop at an equestrian centre. It was just closing but the manager said we could still walk around. Being a horse lover Colleen was in her element. I’m happy there was fences between us.
I would have liked longer to long around as there were some fantastic memorabilia on display.
A fitting end to a perfect day. Back to the hotel for our last night in Porto Covo.
~ A Trip to Pena Palace, Sintra ~
My brother in his infinite wisdom decided he wanted to drive back to Lisbon from Porto Covo to see the Pena Palace. At least I would still have a chance to see this beautiful palace. Once again the rain poured down. Hopefully this would be left behind once we crossed the bridge.
A whimsical shot through the skylight of the car
This aqueduct was built between 1731 and 1799. Consisting of 35 arches and reaching 65 metres high. It has been classified a national monument. I love feats of engineering like this, and find it interesting to research the history.
Arriving up at the palace, Graham searched for a car park, thankfully dropping us off at the entrance first. He found one way down the hill. We were lucky with the tickets, as the next entry was just a 30 minute wait.
Heading into the palace itself, each at our own pace!
I’m happy to say that we did go back as Pena Palace is absolutely stunning. Especially now that the sun had made an appearance. The bright yellow of the walls against the blue sky was dazzling.
It really was a fairy tale palace
From above and below
An alcove made entirely of shells. You would be forgiven if you thought I had brush stroked the left photo! Instead it has been replastered, maybe waiting to be restored with shells.
Beautifully set dining table and a photo Queen Amelie and her two sons.
A few samples of the intricately tiled walls I came across. I was thinking bottom right for my bathroom and bottom left for the kitchen floor.
Majestic statue of a Moor
Some information on Pena Palace.
The castle stands on the top of a hill in the Sintra Mountains above the town of Sintra. On a clear day it can be easily seen from Lisbon. It is a national monument and is built in the style of 19th-century Romanticism. The palace is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The first building on this site was built in the Middle Ages. Construction of a chapel started after an apparition of the Virgin Mary. In 1493 a monastery was also built.
In the 18th century the monastery was severely damaged by lightning. It was the 1755 earthquake, occurring shortly afterwards, that took the heaviest toll on the monastery, reducing it to ruins.
Rebuilt in 1842 by King Ferninand it stayed in the Royal Family until 1899. Queen Amelie spent her last night here before being exiled after the Portuguese Revolution. Edited from Pena Palace, Wikipedia.
~ Holiday Fun and Festive Moments ~
This week Leya is hosting the Lens Artist Challenge. The theme this time is Holiday Fun. This could be keeping in the spirit of things with Christmas images or just your favourite holiday images. I’ve gone with some recent photos I’ve taken. I have been fairly busy with many different kinds of parties. I’ve been to a bookclub lunch, bridge parties, zumba and have an upcoming street party. It’s been so much fun, I haven’t yet found the time for any shopping.
Taken when I was back in the UK. We had a day out at a winter wonderland Christmas shop. I couldn’t believe the amount of decorations on sale. I’m happy I don’t have a colour scheme or any kind of theme as I wouldn’t know where to start.
I spent far too long on Canva with these frames, but happy to say I have more knowledge on framing now!
I’ve been a good girl, I promise
Our lovely hostess Shirley created this table for our bridge lunch.
Enjoying a glass or two after playing bridge all afternoon. We didn’t do well.
Cute shop fronts back in the UK
🎄 🎄 🎄 🎄 🎄 🎄 🎄 🎄 🎄 🎄 🎄 🎄 🎄 🎄 🎄
~Postcard from Porto Covo, Portugal ~
Arriving in Porto Covo around 8 pm we decided to eat in the hotel itself. I had a perfect room overlooking the sea. The restaurant looked to be first class and we weren’t disappointed.
We were staying here for three nights, and would be exploring the villages and towns nearby.
The next morning we had a delicious buffet breakfast together. Before setting off for the day I went for a walk along the cliff top.
I took the above photos sitting on the veranda. A man doing Tai Chi and a family of joggers.
Photos below of my walk along the cliff top. It was a beautiful walk. It went around in a loop to the back of the village. Alternatively, you could keep walking further along the top. There was a warning about the stairs being unstable down to the beach, so gave that a miss.
Top: Having fun posing with the sign – Bottom: Porto Covo Spa Hotel
What a difference a day made! The weather was beautiful on one of the days.
Photos of Porto Covo Village
The village of Porto Covo is picturesque and postcard perfect. I could easily visit here again, preferably in the summer months. We did eat out one night at a fabulous Italian Pizza place. On our third night we opted for the hotel again as the heavens opened as we were about to walk out of the door!
Also linking to Jo’s Monday Walk