does “you were only supposed to blow the bloody doors off” have anything to do with the fruit machine? Or was it just your excitement at Rule Britannia?
Hey Shelley...haha...yes, I can see how that might comment might not have resonated with everyone! It's Michael Caine's most famous saying from the original 1969 version on the film The Italian Job (as opposed to the 2003 remake!). It's the theme of the fruit machine. It's as they're preparing for their big heist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_PX1cVuaVA
Friends are looking for volunteers to help with some landscaping and project finishing work on the coast of Alentejo. Ana’s a former diplomat, Alastair’s a former BBC journalist and they’re building an off-grid eco-luxe lodge in the countryside near Zambujeira do Mar. They need strong arms and experienced hands to help them in the last few months before they open up. There’s landscaping (tree planting, raking & seeding etc), path building, some painting and decorating and car park laying to be done...spreading sand, gravel, wood chips etc.
Oh my dears, how I wish we were in a position to down tools and get on board. Alas we are not. Rod had a stroke in November. Thank goodness, Rod is making excellent progress, it could have been so much worse. I have loved your blogs over the last few years, in turn they have left me exhausted, crying and laughing out loud. I can only pray that you do get all the help you need. You both so deserve this project to succeed. I am sure you will. With love, Annie x x x
Oh no! So sorry to hear that Annie...glad to hear Rod's on the up. Do send him a big hello from us. Once he's back to 100% do send him over (!) It would be great to see you guys here...once all the building madness is out of the way and all the "running the place" madness is in full flow.
How many pre 2017 £1 coins do you want? I came across a savings hoard of £500 in £1 coins in a cupboard that I had forgotten about, (what a nice surprise!). Anyway, I reckon I have at least £100 in pre 2017 and probably more. Let me know and I will sort them out. Looking forward to seeing you both soon.
We would love to come and help but as you know if we don’t keep the pressure on and eyes firmly on the ball in the North we will be who knows where soon 🤦🏼♀️😳
Now if Allan is every board we have a few bathrooms in need of refurbishing 🤣🤣🤣
Absolutely! I hope things are going well up there...we must have a catch up soon. I'm afraid Alan & Marge are far too busy down here in the Alentejo ;)
Unfortunately too old and infirm to be of help but enjoyed reading your blog, very funny, and God bless you for what you're trying to do! Just hearing about it made me want to go and lie down in a darkened room fanning myself with a copy of the Radio Times. Boa sorte!!
hi Alastair, another BBC News escapee here. A few of our mutual former colleagues suggested we swing by your place when we were in Portugal, but alas my Insta posts were a few weeks behind real-time and we had already moved on from the Alentejo by the time I got the messages. Anyway, we are full-time overlanders at the moment and I was wondering if you had shared these posts on any of the FB groups for so-called vanlifers in Portugal? There's a lot of people knocking around so you never know who you might find. I'm enjoying your blog and also planning on moving to Substack soon! For now we're on Insta @trailing_ivy_
Good luck with it all. After a few years abroad – some nomadic, some static – we feel some of your pain re trying to tackle logistics in an unfamiliar place. Poco a poco!
Paula - great to hear from you...thanks for getting in touch and I'm sorry we missed you. I'm writing a little blurb for Facebook that's a bit shorter for people to share, so if you don't mind posting it in one or two of your most suitable groups it'd be much appreciated! Thanks a lot...I hope you spent some time on our Alentejo coast...if not you'll have to come back...
hi again Alastair. I wondered if you had some top tips for the coast round your way. Might be coming for a short girls' trip and we're looking for good options. cheers!
Friends are looking for volunteers to help with some landscaping and project finishing work on the coast of Alentejo. Ana’s a former diplomat, Alastair’s a former BBC journalist and they’re building an off-grid eco-luxe lodge in the countryside near Zambujeira do Mar. They need strong arms and experienced hands to help them in the last few months before they open up. There’s landscaping (tree planting, raking & seeding etc), path building, some painting and decorating and car park laying to be done...spreading sand, gravel, wood chips etc.
Yes that sounds good. Can I slot in a mention of work-exchange nearer the beginning so it appears in the first few pars of text? In case people don't read on. It's a huge group so there could be some filtering to do.... or not. Hard to tell how many people are up for a work-exchange. We certainly really enjoyed the experience when we did a couple in South America.
does “you were only supposed to blow the bloody doors off” have anything to do with the fruit machine? Or was it just your excitement at Rule Britannia?
Hey Shelley...haha...yes, I can see how that might comment might not have resonated with everyone! It's Michael Caine's most famous saying from the original 1969 version on the film The Italian Job (as opposed to the 2003 remake!). It's the theme of the fruit machine. It's as they're preparing for their big heist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_PX1cVuaVA
Will you make a shorter blurb so it can be shared on Facebook? Wish Mike and I could come!
Will do! Thanks for the thought...hope you guys are well.
How's this...
Hey there,
Friends are looking for volunteers to help with some landscaping and project finishing work on the coast of Alentejo. Ana’s a former diplomat, Alastair’s a former BBC journalist and they’re building an off-grid eco-luxe lodge in the countryside near Zambujeira do Mar. They need strong arms and experienced hands to help them in the last few months before they open up. There’s landscaping (tree planting, raking & seeding etc), path building, some painting and decorating and car park laying to be done...spreading sand, gravel, wood chips etc.
Alastair has been writing about their adventure on a blog called Off-Grid and Ignorant in Portugal – this is the latest post which has a link to apply for 25 hours of volunteering a week in exchange for a place to stay. Check it out and get in touch with them if you might be able to help: https://open.substack.com/pub/alastairleithead/p/wheel-of-fortune?r=arta&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Thanks a lot!
Hey there - of course...there are loads of great spots - when are you coming?
Thanks a lot! Fingers crossed!
Oh my dears, how I wish we were in a position to down tools and get on board. Alas we are not. Rod had a stroke in November. Thank goodness, Rod is making excellent progress, it could have been so much worse. I have loved your blogs over the last few years, in turn they have left me exhausted, crying and laughing out loud. I can only pray that you do get all the help you need. You both so deserve this project to succeed. I am sure you will. With love, Annie x x x
Oh no! So sorry to hear that Annie...glad to hear Rod's on the up. Do send him a big hello from us. Once he's back to 100% do send him over (!) It would be great to see you guys here...once all the building madness is out of the way and all the "running the place" madness is in full flow.
Alastair,
How many pre 2017 £1 coins do you want? I came across a savings hoard of £500 in £1 coins in a cupboard that I had forgotten about, (what a nice surprise!). Anyway, I reckon I have at least £100 in pre 2017 and probably more. Let me know and I will sort them out. Looking forward to seeing you both soon.
Medwin
Sounds as always treasures found
We would love to come and help but as you know if we don’t keep the pressure on and eyes firmly on the ball in the North we will be who knows where soon 🤦🏼♀️😳
Now if Allan is every board we have a few bathrooms in need of refurbishing 🤣🤣🤣
Absolutely! I hope things are going well up there...we must have a catch up soon. I'm afraid Alan & Marge are far too busy down here in the Alentejo ;)
Knew they would be 🤣
Yes would be really lovely to see you both soon for wine & catch up
Slow doesn’t quite describe it here
Unfortunately too old and infirm to be of help but enjoyed reading your blog, very funny, and God bless you for what you're trying to do! Just hearing about it made me want to go and lie down in a darkened room fanning myself with a copy of the Radio Times. Boa sorte!!
Haha...you;ll definitely have to come and see us when all the building work's done...you can help us test some wine perhaps?
hi Alastair, another BBC News escapee here. A few of our mutual former colleagues suggested we swing by your place when we were in Portugal, but alas my Insta posts were a few weeks behind real-time and we had already moved on from the Alentejo by the time I got the messages. Anyway, we are full-time overlanders at the moment and I was wondering if you had shared these posts on any of the FB groups for so-called vanlifers in Portugal? There's a lot of people knocking around so you never know who you might find. I'm enjoying your blog and also planning on moving to Substack soon! For now we're on Insta @trailing_ivy_
Good luck with it all. After a few years abroad – some nomadic, some static – we feel some of your pain re trying to tackle logistics in an unfamiliar place. Poco a poco!
Paula - great to hear from you...thanks for getting in touch and I'm sorry we missed you. I'm writing a little blurb for Facebook that's a bit shorter for people to share, so if you don't mind posting it in one or two of your most suitable groups it'd be much appreciated! Thanks a lot...I hope you spent some time on our Alentejo coast...if not you'll have to come back...
hi again Alastair. I wondered if you had some top tips for the coast round your way. Might be coming for a short girls' trip and we're looking for good options. cheers!
Hiya, yes no problem, just alert me to it when it’s ready.
We actually spent most of our time inland, but really loved that. One day we’ll do more of the coast.
I'll post the blog on FB too, but how's this?
Hey there,
Friends are looking for volunteers to help with some landscaping and project finishing work on the coast of Alentejo. Ana’s a former diplomat, Alastair’s a former BBC journalist and they’re building an off-grid eco-luxe lodge in the countryside near Zambujeira do Mar. They need strong arms and experienced hands to help them in the last few months before they open up. There’s landscaping (tree planting, raking & seeding etc), path building, some painting and decorating and car park laying to be done...spreading sand, gravel, wood chips etc.
Alastair has been writing about their adventure on a blog called Off-Grid and Ignorant in Portugal – this is the latest post which has a link to apply for 25 hours of volunteering a week in exchange for a place to stay. Check it out and get in touch with them if you might be able to help: https://open.substack.com/pub/alastairleithead/p/wheel-of-fortune?r=arta&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Thanks a lot!
Hi Alastair, I've posted this on Van Life Portugal on FB. Good luck!
Yes that sounds good. Can I slot in a mention of work-exchange nearer the beginning so it appears in the first few pars of text? In case people don't read on. It's a huge group so there could be some filtering to do.... or not. Hard to tell how many people are up for a work-exchange. We certainly really enjoyed the experience when we did a couple in South America.