Great piece full of humour and humility- keep going it’s been a superb effort and we hope to stay there one day - do you have a brochure or website we could look at ?
I often read or skim your posts (having had a similar but much more modest casa rural project 350 km further north) but usually I don't manage to leave a comment before your next post arrives as the DIY gets in the way. This one seems like my autobiography - weekly trips to L-M (console yourselves, it didn't exist 15 years ago), taking a whole day to get stuff and finding they have 3 left when you need 4. Even the vin de paille d'Arbois in the empties line up struck a familiar note.
DIY is a skilled undertaking and like gardening requires a lot of attention and organisation and you get better and faster at it. In rural Portugal it's there for life :). DIY is underrated, regarded as trivial, especially in Britain so may think it's a frustrating waste of time, especially when in competition with seemingly serious tasks like getting stuff through the "camara".
Your project and your network are pretty incredible and in your own words :
"compared to others in the area we’ve done things very quickly for Alentejo"
"We have achieved a huge amount against the odds" and of course "the place will never be finished" but a lot of fun in the meantime. The goal is the journey ....
Not sure when the last time we commented Alastair but must be three or more years ago when you were setting up shop. Great progress indeed Sir! and would love to call in on a yet to be planned cycle trip to Jerez.
All the same here in Bangers with another Shin the new PM; It all seems a bit deja-vu!
Great reporting as usual! Robert and Mallory Stockfis x
Great piece full of humour and humility- keep going it’s been a superb effort and we hope to stay there one day - do you have a brochure or website we could look at ?
Haven't checked in for a while ...you have made soooo much progress. Amazing! Almost there👌👏
Dear A and A
I often read or skim your posts (having had a similar but much more modest casa rural project 350 km further north) but usually I don't manage to leave a comment before your next post arrives as the DIY gets in the way. This one seems like my autobiography - weekly trips to L-M (console yourselves, it didn't exist 15 years ago), taking a whole day to get stuff and finding they have 3 left when you need 4. Even the vin de paille d'Arbois in the empties line up struck a familiar note.
DIY is a skilled undertaking and like gardening requires a lot of attention and organisation and you get better and faster at it. In rural Portugal it's there for life :). DIY is underrated, regarded as trivial, especially in Britain so may think it's a frustrating waste of time, especially when in competition with seemingly serious tasks like getting stuff through the "camara".
Your project and your network are pretty incredible and in your own words :
"compared to others in the area we’ve done things very quickly for Alentejo"
"We have achieved a huge amount against the odds" and of course "the place will never be finished" but a lot of fun in the meantime. The goal is the journey ....
Bernard, Marvão
Not sure when the last time we commented Alastair but must be three or more years ago when you were setting up shop. Great progress indeed Sir! and would love to call in on a yet to be planned cycle trip to Jerez.
All the same here in Bangers with another Shin the new PM; It all seems a bit deja-vu!
Great reporting as usual! Robert and Mallory Stockfis x
Looks amazing! I hope it's all worth it.