Holiday food! Mmm

Abrigado Portugal!

He went as Lance and came back a rather tanned Pedro (the pool man!)! 

Back home now... sun kissed with plenty of splendid memories, 3 novels down, a couple of Pora braais, much swimming and gallivanting (indoors and out hehe). Our villa was just lovely, about a mile from the beach of Armacao de Pera... where we walked along the board walk and beach at night. 

Took loads of pics... hard not to in such a lovely place... from the ethereal light on the beach at sunset, to the cobbled little alley ways of Albufeira. We boated around the grotto caves in Lagos, loved wandering around Albufeira (bought the obligatory pottery platter!), Portimao, Porches and the quaint fishing village of Ferragudo. Saw the loveliest dogs in the latter. Even though some were strays, they were still well fed it seemed. 

Came back rested and tanned and happy. Now planning Italy (Venice/Verona/Florence/Sardinia) with a flourish! hehe

Abrigado Portugal!

Portugal

Portugal

Portugal

Portugal

Judy :)

Portugal

Boating in Lagos

Cliff Richards wine estate

We were very disappointed that Cliff wasn't there to greet us at his wine estate, Quinta do Moinho, in Adega Da Cantor (Winery of the Singer), in Guia. His wine, Vida Nova, a full bodied red wine, was okay, nothing special to be frank!

Portugal

Portugal

Sailing in the cave grottos

Cocktails on the beach in Portugal

Cocktails on the beach in Portugal

Portuguese Saffa braai anyone?

Villa Bella

We have arrived at our lovely villa in Portugal. Sweltering hot. Time for a dip methinks :)

Saturday morning brunch in Wombles

Having fun!

Africa to send troops, food parcels to UK as riots spread

ETHIOPIA. 

The African Union today adopted a unilateral resolution to deploy army troops and care packages to England as looting and violence spread from London to other major cities. Spokesperson Charity Khumalo said "We can no longer stand by while these savages tear themselves apart."

The AU, meeting today in an emergency session to discuss the ongoing rioting in the UK, has declared that they will do "everything in their power to help bring civilisation to England".

"It's just so sad, you know?" said Khumalo, speaking from the organisation's HQ in Addis Ababa. "Sitting here and watching them on TV while their society implodes. We cannot in good conscience remain idle and let it happen."

The AU has announced a range of initiatives that Africans can get involved with to help alleviate the misery of the English.

"For instance, we have launched an 'Adopt an English child' programme," Khumalo explained, showing journalists brochures featuring the faces of English kids. "If you donate a mere R50 a month, you can see to it that sweet little Johnny from Peckham receives a basic education, a pack of condoms and a pair of pimpin' Nikes."

Khumalo also said that the AU would be parachuting in dentists along with army troops as part of a 'Feel better about yourselves, Brits!' initiative.

"You can understand why they're turning on each other," the spokesperson told journalists. "You look in the mirror and you see teeth untouched by modern dentistry. It's heartbreaking enough to make anyone put a brick through a Starbucks."

The organisation also plans to air-drop care packages on major UK cities.

"Vegetables, mainly," Khumalo confirmed. "We're sending them vegetables and toothpaste."

The AU's flagship event, however, will be a star-studded rock concert to be held in Johannesburg, with all proceeds going towards the establishment of mobile libraries around the UK. Artists ranging from Mafikizolo to Steve Hofmeyr have pledged to perform at the show.

"As a humanitarian, it's the least I can do," Hofmeyr said yesterday. "I look at those photos of the adorable little beasts knifing each other in fights over looted X-Boxes and I want to hug them and give them a nice hot cup of Milo."

Meanwhile, the week's events have seen terrified South Africans in London and Manchester packing their bags for home.

"This country is going to the dogs, dude," said Werner du Preez, a gap-year student from Johannesburg. "I've been offered a nice little two-bedroom place in Hillbrow where I can feel safe again."

In National Media!

Delighted to have received my copy of the quarterly magazine, with the article re us in it!

My new mouse mat ;)

Travelling through America

My brother and his little family, and mum, are driving up from North Carolina to Gettysburg, then on to Niagara Falls and into Canada.

This is a beautiful photo at one of their stops. Wow, what a beautiful country.

We do love the States, hope to do one more decent trip there prior to heading back to SA for good.

My Photo Captions

Sent from iPhone, created using Photo Captions Premium

Sent from Jenniflower's iPhone

London riots

Okay, this is getting close to home. 

The police are defending the mall where we go to gym. We were there tonight and left when the security guys came in. 

Haven't felt this unsettled since the London bombings to be frank. Trying to forbid Lance from going to work tomorrow.. he works in Oxford Circus, prime shopping area... lots of goodies to loot.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14449675

Family reunion

We had a lovely family reunion yesterday, with my aunt Trish, Gary, Charlotte and Caitlin.

They live in Worcester, came down to Lindon for two days. We haven't seen them in about 14 years!

We made plans to get together at Christmas and then again when my mum is out from the States in February.

Carrot cake and chocolate cake

Organic vege crisps

Raspberries and blueberries

Bready mix

Mix of halloumi cheese, salmon with Philly cheese and cucumber, ham and lettuce, tikka chicken with lettuce. Variety of mini rolls and pumpkin and sunflower bread used for the sandwiches.

Yum!

Family reunion spread

Flowers from a client :)

Suns rays

Love this shot :)

The sun was streaming in and I loved this lighting... so nabbed a shot of the dear lad.

Emergency in the garden!

On a hot day...

We love watching our flower windmills when the wind picks up. It was 30 deg celcius today... a gloriously hot day

Tomatoes!

We have tomatoes! The kids have loved watching their strawberries grow, and now we have tomatoes too! We also have lemon grass, thyme, chamomile and lavender that we water every day, along with the flowers. Such fun to learn about all the herbs, fruit, vegetables and flowers!