Sometimes we feel we are on a time machine whizzing along wondering where or when it is going to stop as each day follows another and month begets month. How often we have heard folks say "where does time go" or "I dont know how we had time to work" and those remarks could not be more truthful.

Our favourite spot for parking is at the rear of Lagos Marina when we need to go into town just looking at the millions of pounds in money in boats of all shapes and sizes makes you realise we may be in a recession but for some people it does not seem to have happend. On the quayside there are various vendors offering trips out to see the Dolphins or to visit the Grottos near Sagres and as you pass they call to you with their offer. The other day Kit floored a couple of them by answering that she had to spend her time watching me never mind Dolphins. I suppose you could say my 'street cred' went up a notch as they howled with laughter at her response.

We are getting about a bit more though a lot of time has been spent around the house getting things done but the other day we visited one of the nearby villages Almadina to have a look around and met Del and Carmen in the local Cafe having a coffee so we joined them. They have lived on the Algarve for some time and even have family who have also moved here so were able to give us a few pointers as to what to do or not as the case maybe.

One of our trips out saw us visit a sand sculpture exhibition, absolutely wonderful, the talent involved in some of the exhibits was just amazing and if I can find some time will put an album up on the page for your edification. Christmas past and our family was under the same roof for the festivities for the first time in 20years. Our Canadian grandchildren have changed a lot since we last saw them nearly five years ago.

The weather over the period from middle of December to middle of February is the worst we have seen in the 7 years we have been wintering over in Portugal but now in April it has improved and sunshine is with us more than rain so we can put the aqualungs and flippers away hopefully for the rest of the year.

Having sold the Rimor and decided to have two static bases, the UK and the Algarve we have found that the nomad effect has not left us and when we got the chance of a Mazda Bongo campervan we jumped at it. Inside layout was not what we wanted so we have spent the past 5 weeks re-furbishing it and altering the layout to our taste. At the moment we have a temporary arrangement as far as the bed goes but have been in contact with a Company in Sheffield who are going to do us a form of 'rock n roll' bed when we get back to the UK.

The volcanic ash problem had a knock on effect for us our daughter and husband will not be coming for their planned break with us this week, disappointing but then it looks like it may be a wet few days this week in any case

All for now hope to update the Blog regularly.

cheers, for now, Jack n Kit