![\"technology-free-not\"](\"http:\/\/www.jude.hanlon.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/IMG_7096.jpg\" "\\"technology-free-not\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\nA rain storm was threatening as we went around Silves castle and enjoyed the brooding skies over the surrounding countryside. We ducked into Rui’s for a fish-based lunch and by the time we emerged it was raining like it was the end of the world.<\/p>\n I must have not been a gardener last time we went to Caldas do Monchique, because I don’t remember the carpet of nasturtiums that was all over the place. I narrowly avoided having a full-in Granny moment, as one of my favourite pictures of my mum with Lily was taken here when we came to Portugal when Lily was a year old. Mum would have appreciated the nasturtiums as well. She used to put the flowers in salads. Bless.<\/p>\n We managed a couple of visits to one of my favourite restaurants as well. The boys like it because of the artwork, but I like the food (quite key) and the service – they always look after the children very well, and it’s definitely appreciated. \u00a0The place is Onze<\/a>\u00a0– well worth a visit if you’re in the area.<\/p>\n The high winds made for a lot of good wave-watching. I find being by the sea very restful, even when the waves are crashing into the rocks, so long as I’m a good distance away… In the picture below there is a 10-foot drop immediately behind Lily, caused by the choppy sea of the past few days. The sea that night was calmer than it had been for a while. And, I appreciate the colours are probably thanks to rampant pollution, but I really like. A lot.<\/p>\n We had a couple of awesomely warm days before I came back, so the front of my legs is nicely toasted. Fingers crossed the guys make it back OK – there are French air traffic controllers grumbling which caused switch-over problems last week.<\/p>\n So, I’m back in the UK and planning a plant-a-thon for this afternoon. It’s fair to say it’s a little bit nippy compared to Portugal. And not as sunny…<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I’m just back from our fourth summer-kick-start break in Portugal. The weather this year was significantly windier than in previous years – to the point where, having not “anchored” the ever-present inflatables in the evening, I ended up getting … Continue reading <\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n