We’ve been here a week and things are going pretty much to plan – in that we knew that things would go very slowly! We think we have all the necessary paperwork completed in order to get our shipment in and we actually have an address: basically our names followed by our village: Galega. That seems to be enough for the postman. We are having to wait on our architect to finish plans that should have been done weeks ago. Very frustrating but par for the course I expect. He promises they will be done next week after which we can start getting quotes for the work. Anyway, the main task for the week was to buy a pickup and we’ve done that – a Mitsubishi L200. It cost us almost 7000 GBP (year 2000) but we knew that cars are expensive here. It’s just what we wanted and has plenty of grunt.

Having another look at Casa Azul was a reality check. Despite it not looking too bad we now realise how much work we have to do but little idea of where to start. However, that’s what we are here for and we are up for the challenge. At least we now know what fruits we have on our land as everything is ripening at the moment: pears, apples, peaches, walnuts, blackberries, redcurrants and figs and soon enough we will have olives and oranges.

A first priority on the house was to clear the courtyard of roof tiles which we have done. It was then a difficult task to get the pickup into the courtyard so the next job is to widen the entrance. At the same time we need to demolish an unsightly brick pighouse in the garden. I think the knocking down will be easier and more fun that the building up.

The house that we have rented is fine. Nice views across the valley to forested hillsides. Just as well as I think we will be in there for longer than anticipated. It’s also very close to Casa Azul. Although it doesn’t have a washing machine, we have met a friendly English couple who live down the road and they are going to let us wash at their place – at least for a while. The woman who rented us the house lives nearby and she said we could use hers but she has just gone into hospital – she has terminal cancer! It seems there are already a few Brits living nearby. Enough to ask for advice but not enough to overrun the place.

We have also got an internet connection, of sorts. It’s a dongle that connects our laptop with the mobile phone signal. Only problem is the speed is snail-like and there is no chance of uploading or downloading pictures. Anything more than checking E-mails is therefore to be done at the nearest library which is in Penela – itself only 6 or 7kms away.

Apart from the essentials, the other main aspect of our first week has been a general acclimatisation and I think we have done that. We’ve been to a few local markets – every day it’s a market day somewhere. They’re quite small and notable for the fact that almost everyone is over 60. I think I am the only male on view not wearing a flat cap and Jackie the only woman without woollie tights. I guess a startling realisation of the differences between the ageing populations of Europe and the young populations of Asia which we are more used to.

Lunch here is still an important part of the day. At least an hour and a half and most of the shops seem to shut down – not a siesta it’s just that everyone is tucking in. All the local restaurants fill up not long after midday. Mainly with labourers piling into the staple of Portuguese cooking – bacalhau (salted cod). There are supposed to be 365 recipes for it. Vying with bacalhau in popularity is pork – great big fatty chunks of the stuff. Veggies are fresh but definitely play second fiddle – always spuds and perhaps a bit of greenery if you’re lucky. The fish is also fresh and delicious. The locals also fill up on the local wine at lunchtime and good stuff it is too. I hope they don’t use any heavy machinery in the afternoon.

Weatherwise it has been wonderful. Long warm days with plenty of sunshine. However we have had one wet day – perhaps a taste of things to come. Better get some fire wood collected.