Grumpy in Madeira

Boa Tarde guys,

I know, I know, its been a long time since my last post and im very sorry.

I’ve been busy with the last bits of the house renovation and with Christmas and lots of visitors. I’ve been quite tired, Its hard work enjoying yourself.

Well lets start with Christmas time, the Island really knows how to celebrate. The lights and decorations are fantastic. It’s not just Funchal that makes the effort. All the towns and villages do too.

These are in Funchal, every tree is decorated with lights. There was also a giant Christmas tree that has a light show.

In Camara de Lobos, our village, it was spectacular too.

We even had a dabble at home !!!

It only feels like Christmas after a homemade mulled wine.

I even made a yule log.

The Firework display on New Year’s Eve is one of the best in the world. It ranks up there with Sydney, London, and New York.

The weather was great over Christmas. We normally get our winter weather from January to March. This was another reason I wanted to get the last of the renovation work done.

There is an old saying in Madeira that you can get all the seasons in one day. This saying is spot on. We had hail stones last week and then sunshine on the same day.

There IS one thing that loves the winter. Weeds !!!!!

What a nightmare, they grow like WELL !!! weeds. I had a job to do from Maria, just take out the weeds and turn the soil over.

JUST !!!!!!! OMG!!!!!!!

As you can see, I ended up with a full compost bin and a mountain of weeds piled up. It did look good after i finished though.

But I can honestly say……I hate gardening.

It’s not only us humans that feel the weather but the dogs and cat too. When the weather’s good, we hardly see them. They’re outside most of the time. When it’s not so good, then……..

And they sleep in some unusual positions too.

Bandit and Smokey both enjoy the sun. Bandit because I’ll have flip-flops on and he can do what he likes to do the most…..a foot-job, he will lick my feet until i have to stop him.

Smokey likes the sun so he can get up to no good, like ripping blankets from the kennel. He couldn’t argue this time that it was him.

Caught red handed (pawed).

The weather is still changeable. It was cloudy and drizzling when I started this post. Now it’s lovely and sunny.

CHEERS !!!!