WAGS 21.10.2020 'Bubbles'

I will forego the obvious comment and just publish a picture of a male model, who although he looks rather like myself a couple of years ago but updated with masculine stubble, whose nickname, coincidentally enough, is 'Bubbles'!! Please don't ask me why!!

Yes, this Covid Pandemic has now reduced our group sizes to 5 members on a walk, and yes, it is a nationwide rule for at least 15 days, the Portuguese Government having avoided the complications of a different rule for every neighbourhood, depending on the 'R' number, the MP's party, and the perceived ability to obey any rules at all.

We had looked at the weather report for Wednesday with mixed feelings, partly happy because we need some water and the tail end of Storm Barbara was due to lash us!

Well unlike most Iberian arrivals, Barbara arrived early on Tuesday, dampened the ground round the reservoirs a little and swept out swishing her skirts early Wednesday, leaving the day reasonably calm and dry, which was a great disappointment to the gardeners,  a comfort to those hardy souls who were walking whatever the weather and had already been discussing Sprayway Trousers, Jack Wolfskin impermeable jackets. In fact Terry was prepared but sadly Becky didn't have the same enthusiasm (or Wolfskin) to continue walking. On Tuesday Peter Schroeder had reported 59 mm of rain and Lindsey had 27mm. I have no idea what we had in Lagos, but it was enough that I didn't have to help Myriam water the almost countless plant pots on the terrace.

The 4 person Lacobrigenses + Peter Bubble were not showing much enthusiasm, except those that had to walk dogs anyway. Myriam WhatsApped  'Getting my knees wet is not advisable at the moment.' John is still a bit grumpy at being coerced into joining the WAGS WhatApp group, and started with 'Ah so! Just as I feared', which was deliberately misunderstood by myself, interpreted incorrectly by Antje (who thought John meant we were Morons!) which drew a reply of 'No. Proliferations' from the said Victor Meldrew impersonator, so bitterly that he neglected the exclamation mark (or double exclamation mark) at the end. Of course, our humorous Frenchman (if that is not an oxymoron) philosophically asked 'Is proliferations', Matthew 14.6?'  After a long pause(by WhatsApp standards from 1201 to 1852)  John rewound to 'That bit is about the Dance of the Seven Veils' not proliferations! He clearly had not tuned in to the subtleties of French humour despite a long summer of demonstrations.

This is from a French local newspaper

Like a lot of things, the French sense of humour is quite culturally specific, it can leave many Anglophones generally baffled and has led to the French being labelled as rather humourless (although they disagree - a recent survey showed that seven out of 10 French people think they are funny.)

 and then they gave this video of a stand up routine which was classed as one of the funniest ever in France by their funniest current comedian (excepting Aristotle of course)

Fairly inoffensive but hardly anyone was rolling in the aisles.

Anyway all this is leading up to the gripping news that 2/5 of the Lagos Bubble braved the predicted elements and went for a 'passeio' in the urban environment. here is the proof:-

On the way round we came across a couple of giant machines, which I just had to take pictures of to demonstrate the interest in an urban walk. The first was on the Avenida where an unhelmeted, un safety-belted  and un-masked adept was sorting out the rotten centre of the trunk of one of the palm trees lining the promenade, that had been stricken by the Red Beetle.

Next as we made our way inside the city walls we found  some skilled builders rebuilding a historic set of houses, which needed preservation of their frontages, but a huge modern expansion behind. The skill of the driver in manipulating this cement pumping lorry into the narrow back street was a marvel.

The pumping lorry is behind this one and has yellow bracing legs which we had to duck under to get through.

Not a lot I can add, but don't examine the stats too closely and compare with those furnished by the Silves Bubble below, as our perambulation included a full 45 minutes in the Lagos Cannabis Store, which, for the first time was open as we passed.  

It was an educational visit as we had the franchise owner Carlos to ourselves.

 

But that, as they say - is another Story.

Here is John's contribution re the Silves bubble. We were 3rd choice to make up the numbers, and were thoroughly tempted by the thought of Hazel's delicious soup, but alas we were in no condition to even take on Hazel with her faulty spur, let alone the whole of John's ambitious threesome!

Here is the Silves Bubble´s report.

Hard to credit it, but the WAGS Silves Bubble found it difficult to muster the requisite five for their Wednesday excursion. Rod had already given his excuses; next Special Guest Invitee Ingrid pulled out, worried about the weather perhaps; and then the Frenchman known as Aristotle pleaded other commitments, which could have been a pity because he had expressed a desire for sopa de feijão asa afters, which was already being especially prepared for him. Invitations to two of the Lagos Bubble to come along for the sopa were not taken up, they preferring their own gourmet food. And so it was that only three of this particular bubble walked. Not even worth the trouble of a Starter photo.

But this one was taken to prove that we did walk.

The walk was taken at a gentle pace and was modest in length, because this was Hazel´s first serious outing on her custom-made insoles. Happily, she made it without problems. And the weather was excellent after the previous day´s downpour.

Time was taken to smell the roses.

and some modest hills were tackled.

The small band made it back to Casa Esperança at the stroke of mid-day and then Hazel announced that she had invited Yves and Catherine to join us for the sopa; but where on earth were they? Phone calls were made, and contact was eventually established. The Ferrer household had got it into their minds that the only place in the Algarve where one could possibly go for sopa de feijão was Dona Fernanda´s Retiro do Pescadores, and so that was where they were, sitting waiting for the rest of us to join them. Incroyable !

But All´s Well That Ends Well; soon a black turbo-charged Seat mini came hurtling up the track, making up for lost time, and we were able to sit down as a regulation Bubble of Five, to enjoy the Esperança version of sopa de feijão. If asked if Hazel´s sopa is better than Dona Fernanda´s, your reporter will use that weaselly House of Cards politician´s get-out: “I couldn´t possibly comment.”

Sufficient to say, it was absolutely excellent in its own right, as was the Apple Crumble (produce of Horta Esperança) which followed.

Maybe next week, the full permitted complement of five will be able to assemble, we might even try Retiro de Pescadores. Now, there´s an idea.

                                                A 1956 Vision of the Future

Thanks John, - me again.  I forgot to mention that after the storm had passed the western end of the Algarve we had a rare meteorological wonder, a double rainbow followed by a glorious complete hemispherical one. We captured it from our terrace.

But our photography was completely outclassed by Ingrid who took it from the other side as it were and entered this wonderful picture for Picture of the Year!

Thanks Ingrid we'll see you somewhere over the rainbow!

BPS.(Blog Post Script) After seeing my plea on the circulation mail for this blog, Antje and Chris , the other half of the Lagos Bubble contributed a line and a vid!

'No toasties afterwards and no company as our bubble was not ready- or maybe we were to early?,

A nice set of waves after Tuesday's storm.

Any more for any more?