Cascais

Well we have been here close to a week and enjoying it. Porto was cool in the way Sheffield could be cool with the knowledge that you are going to be leaving. Cascais however is like Beverly Hills. The marina is swish and I have been doing the laundry. Laundry is an issue, if you take all our filthy clothes to the cleaners (they don’t have self serve launderettes) It costs about £40 to do it. It does come back perfumed and ironed which is nice, but slightly lost on me and Gabriel who are affecting the grunge look. So this morning I filled a big bucket with hot water  (which takes ages) and hand washed our clothes. It’s a bloody work out I reckon you could start some kind of workout/laundry place where yuppies pay £30 a month to hand wash each others clothes) My arms and back are aching. Anyhow the clothes arnt a whole load cleaner but they smell better. In fact the marina has nice showers so we have all started washing again. When sailing other than your teeth and face you don’t wash its just too painful trying to steady yourself and wash but in port if you plan to go sightseeing the tour guides appreciate it. Last night we went to see a movie called Avatar. First of all the movies here are in English with subtitles which is great. I who do not like scifi thought it was brilliant its 3d but in a subtle way. While I am reviewing things I have just finished shadow country by peter matthiessen which is amazing.  

Next Day

Dawn (bless her soul) has taken the kids into Lisbon the see the aquarium which like every other aquarium is billed as biggest/best in the world. When they start showing us fish fingers I’ll get excited. Anyhow a day to myself.

Not that many people know but at birth like the Japanese they bind the feet of Portuguese males, don’t ask me why but shoe shops only go up to about a size 9. Anyhow today I went to decathalon the sports superstore and they had my size. My present shoes have holes in them, its just that without a car you do so much more walking and carrying. Anyhow I have a nice new pair of shoes. It has made my day.

We are preparing for Christmas, dawn is busy getting the last of the shopping done, she has asked me to wash the dishes and paid me a rare compliment. Dawn remarked that some of my  cleaned dishes were so clean you could nearly eat off them. Anyhow All have much happiness over the holiday season and a wonderful new year. Love Adam Dawn Hannah and Gabriel

Dawn

Hi everyone  I am still here but dont get time to get on the blog much, busy finishing the washing and the washing up after adam has been playing house! Planning to have christmas dinner with marina and james from NZ and have bought a nice big turkey from the local market, not sure it will fit in the oven though. Hope you all have a wonderful festive season and that the weather doesnt spoil anything- it all looks very festive on the few images we see of home. Looking forwards to the New Year and our new auto pilot with any luck we should be able to do some proper sailing (ie a few nights at sea) and get  somewhere warm at last. Love to everyone xxxx