port-chi-gal

yep, you're going to really hate me now, im in portugal. im on holiday with my friend mich from macc and two of her friends, sarah and amanda, both english, too (from L to R in the photo). they're really good fun and i havent had such a nice ladies holiday in i dont know how long. i must look like their german chaperone, however, the tallest of the three is seven inches shorter than me; i call them my little hobbits.

we are staying at mich's mum and dad's place in a golf resort, of all places, in a place called Lagos (LAgosh), which is in the algarve, darling... at the south of the country. it is beautiful; coastline on two sides and about fifty beaches to choose from which are all beautiful in their own way, although the water is damn cold 'cause it's the atlantic. we're swimming anyway.

we've been here for six days in our home which we have nicknamed the compound, due to the fact there is a disturbing lockdown process we go through when leaving the house and going to sleep. there are switches on every wall and these metal shutters slide up and down over the glass, rendering the inside pitch black, which is confusing when you wake up at eleven and it feels like it is three in the morning... anyway, so our daily routine consists of waking up around midday (i usually wake a little earlier and go for a swim in the resort's pool), drinking coffee on the terrace and then heading off to a yet-another-new beach for the afternoon, before coming back, eating cheese and olives, having a few drinks and chillaxing...

we have been out a few nights, friday, which was huge and very, very fun and we made some friends with some locals, who last night took us to a beach party and then out on the town (we were eating hot dogs with salad, sans dog, at three this morning). i also seem to be following the world cup teams around the place, 'cause saturday was the england vs portugal game, which we watched in a beach bar while eating piri piri chicken (which wasnt hot at all and i'm going to try somewhere else). it was a good game and our crowd was maybe 50/50 english-portugese (there are waay too many brits here), but of course, portugal won and the whole town erupted into this massive street party. we smiled bravely as people screamed happily into our faces and retreated hastily to the compound. we saw some disgraceful english on the way back which i wont go into, but yeah, it's been interesting and relaxing and a v nice break from, well, nothing, really. i have a great tan. :)

yesterday we shook things up a bit and played tennis in the morning, and i had a unfortunate blowout on my favourite pair o shoes (one of only two, cliffy, i need my boots. mum, can you send me more?)... still, there's a good action shot. im going back to london on wednesday for a week or so, then back to amsterdam to find a home and some work, which i need urgently now, but the good news is i got registered in amsterdam, my visa has been officially stamped and i am good to go. even more so after this delicious break.

i am feeling a little homesick here and there now, was talking to someone about sydney last night and got a distinct pang. huey is flying home on wednesday, back to sydney, so im miss him and NJ already and am just trying to steady my fetlocks for the next adventure. so keep those emails coming, faz favour, and tell me im being silly and that nothing's changed and it's all fine. g'arn. i dont know where i'll be for my birthday yet...

xxo

PS If the photos look a bit pose-y, it's cause they're meant to. i have been insisting that we take 'band shots', requesting the mood be dark, sultry... with mixed results as you'll see. i am pleased however with the readiness with which everyone has embraced the rockstar within. i got a dog in a shot last night; he's not in the band.