A Message From Portugal
A Message From Portugal
Well it’s that time of year again when you take a couple of weeks off from the normal routine to try to reconnect with your wife and children ( long days and weekends at work undeniably meant little quality time with the family) and hopefully recharge your batteries.
This year is different. Having lost dad only 6 weeks ago, going on holiday seemed wrong and rather self-indulgent. In fact had friends not being getting married in Portugal, we may have decided not to go.
Having arrived here last week, I must admit that this is just what we needed. It has been a busy week toing and froing from the hotel where the beautiful wedding was staged back to the house in the sticks but has been filled with lots of fun with the kids and with friends. Its nice to be able to accept an invitation to play with the kids when they ask you to take them on a table football or a game of pool, rather than having to make an excuse that you have work to do, which we all know as parents more often than not leaves a discernible feeling of guilt. This lack of guilt is liberating.
What strikes me most though is how little we really need as humans to have a good life. The village that we are staying in has a church, an old derelict castle which my youngest has adopted as his own (he calls it Dylan Castle), one small very male dominated taverna, a small local shop with predominantly empty shelves and no lighting and a restaurant which rarely opens. That apart everyone is really happy and welcoming. We have been able to buy local fresh produce from the shop and although very basic, have enjoyed dreaming up lots of salads and barbecues and of course local wine ( not for the kids I must add).
Today is our last day at the house, tomorrow we are heading off to the South to catch up with other friends for a week. I will be sad to leave this unassuming yet therapeutic village but will look forwards to further adventures with the family.
Goodbye from Portugal,
Sat
