ROGER'S BACK! ROGER'S BACK!...

[Tarquin Thunderthighs lll]

yay

[Vulture]

Has it been a week already?

[Roger Kettle]

Well, thank you, Tarks---I missed you, too.
We got back around four this afternoon after a great week. We were staying in a place called Sao Raphael, just outside Albufeira. The sun shone most of the time and I ate quite a few olives and drank several cold beers. The fabulous beach restaurant I mentioned after last year's trip was as good as ever. On a couple of evenings, we sat outside on the balcony, eating cuttlefish, drinking wine and watching the sun go down on the ocean, forty yards way. As night fell, the lights of fishing boats began to twinkle on the Atlantic. That was around Drambuie Time. Magical.
I didn't write a single script, I laughed a lot and I never even felt like punching my daughter's boyfriend. I guess that's as good as it gets. Tomorrow, I start writing cartoons again for a living.
But that's tomorrow...

[Tarquin Thunderthighs lll]

Sounds every bit as good as Arbroath, but without the smokies.

[Max]

Doesn't seem like a week since you left but obviously is (or I'd really give up hope with airlines).
Sounds like an idyllic week Roger, the kinda thing I've done myself at the wee farmhouse in Bordeira.
When the builders have finally finished destroying my bank balance I may also find Portugal again.

Does anyone recall a TV programme called " A sharp intake of breath"?
Apparently based on the sound a builder... garage mechanic etc makes before they give you the bad news?

Heard that wayyyyyyyyy too often lately.  

[Mince]

Aw . . . we were having such fun . . .

[Roger Kettle]

Max, I remember the name "A sharp intake of breath" but not the content. Was it a sketch show?
Anyway, I recommend Portugal as a relaxing break. It's...er...well...relaxing. Now THERE'S a slogan for their tourist board.

[Diane CBPFC]

Glad you had a nice time and saw twinkling boat lights and sunsets.

Everyone here was mostly good while you were away this time.

[Roger Kettle]

Thanks, Diane. I really wanted to put you in charge while I was away but I thought that running TWO continents was a bit much to ask.
I see that the first snows hit Montana today---how is it above the border?

[Colin]

Well I hope Blackpool is just as good for me this weekend.


By the way, do you like my avatar and signature?

That question was put out to all.

I'm just back from the pub so I'm blabbering.

[Vulture]

Well I hope Blackpool is just as good for me this weekend.


By the way, do you like my avatar and signature?

That question was put out to all.

I'm just back from the pub so I'm blabbering.

Yes, but I get motion sickness very easily and....excuse me.. I just have to g..

[Joan]

Welcome back, Roger.  Glad you had a good time.  Everybody needs a good holiday now and again.  I'm still on a high from my UK holiday.  Good you didn't feel like punching the poor boy, and laughter really is the best medicine, which is why I come in here for my daily dose. 

I feel for you Max.  It's ten years since we built this house, and things need done, but I keep procrastinating, simply because I have no faith in finding a good tradesperson/people.

[Max]

Joan, my wee house is 135 years old and sadly I haven't really kept up with maintenance too much in the 20 years I've lived here.
Apparently my upstairs floor would really like to join it's brother downstairs, so I have joists to repair and new reinforced walls to build.
I can pretty much trust the builder (my son works for them) but the price is still rising, at least I don't have to worry about losing my money in a crashing bank. 

[Diane CBPFC]

Unless your money is in a piggy bank upstairs and the joists don't hold.

Roger we had some cement poured on Tuesday (only night this week it rained) - it seems everyone is trying to get last minute jobs done before it is too cold to work with cement so we had to wait two weeks to get it. Hubby was upset with the rain as he was down on his hands and knees making it all smooth. I told him that the little indents were good for a non-skid surface but he wasn't buying that spin. I would rather have some cement with pock marks than have to wait again till next May.

We are having a nice long fall this year with the leaves staying on the trees to make things pretty. It is Thanksgiving this weekend in Canada - I have apple and pumpkin pies and will cook a turkey - I also bought four trays of sausages in case my brother-in-law comes for the weekend - he likes his breakfast meats - after driving eight hours to get here, it is the least I can do.

[Joan]

We are having a nice long fall this year with the leaves staying on the trees to make things pretty. It is Thanksgiving this weekend in Canada - I have apple and pumpkin pies and will cook a turkey - I also bought four trays of sausages in case my brother-in-law comes for the weekend - he likes his breakfast meats - after driving eight hours to get here, it is the least I can do.

That sounds so lovely, Diane.  Makes me feel like jumping on a plane to join you!  Don't worry - absolutely no chance of that.  I know how quickly it can change as well.  A friend in Idaho sent us some pics this week - they've already had 6 inches of snow and the pics are of the snow on her flowering pot plants.  She was just about to mow the lawns when it started.  As she said, that's what they get for living in the mountains.

Meanwhile, we've already had a couple of over 30 degree days, some very pleasant sunny mid 20s days, and now it's gone nice and cool again.  We've also had a bushfire on one of those over 30 days just across the golf course from us.  Luckily, the local bush fire brigade managed to contain it, but I just hope it's not a sign of things to come.  We've been very lucky the last couple of years here - touch wood.