Week 7 - 25 April 2011

 

Monday: A subdued day. Danny’s first day back at school after Easter and he wasn’t impressed. I  made him grog muffins to calm him down.

Tuesday: The search for an authentic African drum. Tony had to take part in a drum jamming session in each drum shack, and ended up with more rhythm than Bob Marley.

Wednesday: Bongo wake-up call at 7am and Happy 39^th to me. Cachupa (bean stew) breakfast- they do put all sorts in it to bulk it up – green bananas, butternut squash, fingernails… kidding.  I forgot they put shredded coconut in it until I found my second chewy piece of fingernail. Lunch was Tony’s home-made banana loaf, saved by our friend Loite’s home-made ice-cream left over from Sunday. After a pool-side chillax we went for a burger and bacon sandwich for dinner at a beach shack. It’s run by a Brazilian family and the guy reminds me of my brother  - ponytail, tanned, big smile, everybody’s friend… a bum, but a lovely bum! The evening was just as good as sitting on a beach in Thailand. A perfect birthday.

Thursday: I woke with the energy of someone who has just had a birthday and wants to do things in life. So we Spring cleaned the apartment. We swapped our big double bedroom with their small 3-bedded room. We then had meetings with an importer and an accountant. I bet my family never thought they’d hear me say such mature words!

Friday: We watched the Royal Wedding – 9am kick-off down the aisle. We were really privileged to watch it at a beach bar, with a bottle of champagne in one hand, and scones in the other. It was an amazing and emotional day. It really made you look back at your own life, and wonder where your own Prince Charming disappeared to! One siesta later and we were ready for Friday night out. A fantastic day. Long live William and Katy!

Saturday: we headed for a lagoon beach about 30 mins walk away. We found urchins, crabs and shrimp. It was really beautiful. On the way, we walked past the local “superstar” singer’s house, which was a wonderful Little Mermaid palace version of Hansel and Gretel’s house. Slightly OTT, but I think I’ve sold it to you. Later, Tony walked home from a boys night at the pub, and got himself work teaching English to the local hotel security staff. When I say security, I don’t mean that the place is wild and crime-ridden, it’s just that hotels are all-inclusive and use the coloured wristband system, so these guys check your wrists. I’m trying to think of a way round their system, to get access to the restaurants, but maybe Tony can wangle something now.

Sunday: Happy Cape Verdean Mother’s Day! We’re planning on a bit of gardening today, and then we have a beach BBQ to go to.

What a bonanza of a week, and I like being 39 years old.  I’m drinking more wine than Soft Mick!

Week 6 - 18 April 2011

Week 7

We have come to the decision that the holiday is coming to a close, and we actually have to start earning some cash!

Tony is brilliantly teaching English to two children and their mum, but it isn’t a long-term career unless we decide to set up a school. He’s gaining some great experience, though.

I am as usual playing the housewife card and trying to divert all income-related responsibilities onto Tony. Kidding. I do delegate careers well, however.

This week really flew by as we are doing a lot of internet research into opportunities here. Unfortunately, when I get really into the inspirational genius zone, I need chocolate, so the Toblerones are disappearing fast. To stop me devouring all supplies, I’m asking all people who are reading this blog to email us with a multi-million pound guaranteed business idea.  Ta.

Aside from this, the swimming pool is officially up and running. My neighbour is a Czech ex-World swimming competitor. I’ve seen her swim, and reckon I could thrash her. Failing that, I could definitely beat her at an underwater handstand comp.

We’ve had some monster baking sessions in anticipation of next week’s birthday extravaganza (whose? mine? Oh my, I did forget). Anyway the last bottle of honey grog (whisky) we bought didn’t have any whisky in, and was just honey syrup, I think. The kids have really enjoyed “honey” muffins all week. Hic!

Best quote of the holiday so far … Daniel is pretty tanned and has gone blonde again. He turned around one day and in a worried tone said “I’ve got no eyebrows now”. (His face and hair now blends as one sunshiney light brown colour.)

It’s Easter Sunday in two days. Tony broke the Easter eggs he brought back from the UK and Holly saw the bag of Cadburys mini crème eggs we brought out at the start. The Easter Bunny was stuck for ideas until he saw a huge glamour box of 100 Chupa Chups in town.  Glamour.

Saturday was of course St George’s Day and we did celebrate in style. We said “Goodbye” to our  UK friends, and hope to see them again in the Summer. After that, we joined the rest of the English expats in our local British pub for pints of beer.

Sunday, we were woken up for an Easter Egg Hunt round the pool at 5.45 am. Our neighbours invited us for Easter lunch Cape Verdean style – 8 dishes followed by fantastic home-made ice-cream. Dinner was Czech-style at our neighbours i.e. basic food and lots of wine and fire-breathing whisky/vodka type shots, whilst they sat around laughing at us choking. 

Salut and Happy Easter to all!