After the usual morning routine of getting up, you know tea and things like that, I sat down at the computer to check art supply places. I need some better watercolours to work with and bigger paper. I found an art supply in Lisbon that ships, but when trying to get an account, I don’t have a VAT code and they won’t accept my account without it. I have to go down to the tourist place in town and see how to get one. While at the computer and all of a sudden I hear a meow and the black cat jumped into my lap, so sweet talking away to me while I’m trying to type away on the computer. What a little darling he is, as he tucks his head into the crook of my elbow making himself at home.
When the tide comes in the sea it is so powerful it’s almost frightening when you’re close to it. Apparently the currents are really strong and there’s warnings everywhere about that. It is so beautiful. I’ve always been drawn to the sea. I don’t know what it is. My first experience was, other than crossing the Irish sea once, or twice a year as a kid, to go to visit my grandparents with my parents, when we took a trip to Barmouth beach in Wales, and I remember, being fascinated by the waves in the size of them. It took my father 8 hours to drive us there and I recall our excitement when we arrived. We were all clapping and shouting. All six of us in our Austin A30! I was 5 or 6 at the time.
In the evening I can hear the waves much stronger now than before. I suppose that ‘s why this area attracts the surfers so much. The waves are enormous at times. In August the population of the town swells in numbers with a massive music fest, the Festival Sudoeste. Other months it’s the surfers here. For me, I’ve come in the ideal time, the low months where the town is just a sleepy little fishing village.
