Category: Life in General

  • Laundry Day

    Without sufficient electricity to run a washing machine, laundry day involves scrubbing the old fashioned way. But allow Leticia and Christophe to demonstrate an alternative approach ….                     For those who don’t recognise the scene, this is the river at Unhais o Velho where there are more »

  • What to write?

    I’ve not updated the blog for a while. Firstly because Jeroen has been off on his Straw Bale Course (which by all accounts was superb, but more about that some other time) and I’ve been really busy in his absence, but secondly because I’ve not been able to think of the right things to say. more »

  • Downsizing: Less is More

    I came upon this article on a site written by a friend of mine, and have asked his permission to reproduce it here as he’s expressed my own feelings about this downsizing journey that we’re on so well. Ian and his partner downsized to Asturias on the north coast of Spain 5 years ago. Take a more »

  • Oak Park Hates Veggies

    Good morning folks. It’s a bit cooler today, and we’ve been scrabbling around for warmer clothes and moaning about the weather. We moan when it’s too hot, and we moan when it’s too cold. I thought it was just the British who moan about the weather, but it seems that it’s an international failing 😉 more »

  • Merci, Les Pionniers de Limal

    Yesterday we sadly waved goodbye to our most recent group of Scouts, who made their annual camp here at Casalinho. I seem to be forever making excuses for not updating this blog, but it’s been a busy ten days! So a heartfelt thanks go out to the fourteen members of Les Pionniers de Limal, Belgium more »

  • The Perils and Pleasures of Pickup ownership

    We’ve recently become the proud new owners of a pick up truck. We were forced into it as our existing vehicle gave up on us, but every cloud has a silver lining and the pick up is far more practical for the sort of lifestyle we lead.     That’s just one of the loads more »

  • Casalinho on Facebook

    You guys are going to have to help me here, as I’m a complete Facebook novice! I’ve been trying to load a page for Casalinho but I need 25 ‘likes’ to secure it’s own URL. I’ve got 4 so far. All of you out there who have Facebook accounts, can you help me please? I’ve more »

  • Easter Bunny travels!

    There was a rumour a few days ago that the Easter Bunny had been spotted on the Santander ferry. Well it turns out that it was true. We didn’t see him, but the evidence was plain to see this morning.  

  • Miracles DO happen

    Jeroen was up in the forest cutting goat food last week when a white van drew up asking for me. Unbelievably, they had 21 telephone posts with them and proceeded to erect them all the way along the track. On Friday afternoon another white van appeared and attached our brand new land line telephone. You can’t see more »

  • Speed Cameras? You must be joking!

    It may be getting close to April 1st, but I’m not sure the guys who set up this speed camera on the track outside the farm realised that. What do you think?       It’s an old PC monitor with a radio balanced on top. The monitor lead is tied to the top of more »