Grumpy in Madeira

Bom Dia guys,

The dogs where very pleased with themselves this morning.

They had a unwelcome visitor during the night.

A resident who lives on the fruit that surrounds our Casa.

A BIG Rato!!!!

He WAS a big boy. I have seen him hop along next doors path a couple of times. They have an enormous amount of fruit trees.

At least he eats healthily, he’s not a sewer rat. He looks a little tatty were the dogs were entertaining him. I’m surprised Smokey didn’t eat him.

The dogs were probably in the kennel and he made the fatal mistake of having a look about.

A least my day can’t get as bad as his (I HOPE) 😬

The forecast is showers today. (Can’t have it good all the time.) So, no working in the garden today. We’re off out.

I need to pick up a registered letter from the post office.

Maria read the card that the postman left and it’s been left in the post office in Estreito village. Which is very close to us.

So all good!!!

We got to the post office at 11am. It’s only a little local place. It was packed, which put me in a good mood straight away. I’m not very patient 😡.

We waited and waited then we waited some more 😡.

The little old lady behind the counter was very friendly, chatting away to ALL the customers. 

I thought she must know everything about everyone.

While waiting, I went into a little world of my own. I was imagining her working for the Gestapo.

She would of made a good interrogator 😡. 

Maybe she did, she is definitely old enough.

We were there for nearly an hour 😡.

It was finally our turn, to my delight she didn’t ask us for our life story.

She got straight to the point. She said “IT’S NOT THIS POST OFFICE”.

Maria hadn’t read  all of the information on the card. My letter was left in an even smaller post office in the supermarket. 😡😡😡

The weather cleared up nicely, as it normally does.

We decided to go to buy MORE plant’s.

Of course we did!!!!

What else would we do???

We went to Cooperativa Agricola do Funchal. It is a big place. They sell everything for the garden. You can find Plants, Herbs, Fruit Trees, Compost, Fertilizer, BBQ wood and even young Chicks.

It’s a big place. Maria was like a dog with two wagger’s.

We bought a Bay Tree. Oregano plant. Fennel plant and tomato plants.

All got planted when we got back home.

For dinner tonight is something I’ve not had before.

Maria seen it online, so we’re trying it.

It’s my variation on an Indian egg curry dish Dhaba style.

INGREDIENTS:

Two tbsp Olive oil

Six or Eight boiled eggs, cooked and de shelled

Two medium onions, finely chopped

Four cloves of garlic, finely chopped

Two tsp Smoked paprika

Two tsp ground ginger

Two tsp cinnamon (canela)

Two tsp Garam masala

Two tbsp Indian curry powder, your choice (mild, medium or hot)

One can of coconut milk

500g plain yoghurt

A good squirt of Tomato purée

Salt and pepper

Half a tsp Turmeric

500g White Rice

METHOD:

Lightly fry the onions and garlic in olive oil until translucent

Add all the spices, paprika, ginger, cinnamon, garam masala and curry powder

Stir until everything is mixed well

Pour in coconut milk, stirring all the time

Add yoghurt, continue to stir until combined

Add tomato purée and salt and pepper

Add eggs

Simmer on low for 25 mins, stirring occasionally

Bring a saucepan of water to the boil. I use a rice stock cube in the water

Add half a tsp of turmeric and stir

Add rice and simmer until cooked

Serve with Nann bread and cold beer. Scrumptious!!!!

I wasn’t sure about making this at first but it turned out really lovely.

My day did turn out better than the Rato’s.