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"Ola Madam!"
It was Calado's cheeky face grinning at me from where our three lads sat on the edge of the lounge floor, their legs dangling in nothing but air! He beckoned me over. I timidly approached them and looking over their shoulders I saw space; just the sky above and below their unsupported feet a sheer drop of at least a hundred feet to the shiny beach far below. Calado urged me forward pointing to the sprawling beach and then up to the vast expanse of wide blue sky. But all I felt was emptiness and a terrible giddy feeling that had me withdraw from the precipice to the back of the room.
Now, whilst mowing the lawns, all I could do was think of Jamie and that great drop to the beach from that back-less house and now as I worked I sweated not purely from labour but the fear that he would be okay. He was a daring young lad and if he started playing around !! I prayed hard that Hub would keep a good eye on him!

As I walked along the lane I spotted a blue and white van parked close to the open gates of the villa; on walking into the garden I was confronted by a very strange sight. A short stocky man in dark shorts, his rotund belly protruding from a blue and white striped vest was wandering up and down beside the swimming pool. I say wandering but it was like wavering as his feet shifted in zigzag unsteady movements along the pool's edge, as he dragged a large fishing net through the water. I stood witnessing this weird scene, trying to fathom out what on earth he was doing? The pool was very clear, there was no debris such as leaves and from what Janet had told us all that was needed was the usual chemical cleansing. I called out, "Ola! Bom dia!"
I must have startled him, as he physically jumped nearly toppling into the water. But he steadied himself, put his hand up to shade his eyes from the sun's glare, trying to focus on where I stood in the shade of the gazebo.
"Ah. Ola Madam!"

Again he swayed, trying hard to keep his balance, one hand gripping the net pole, then he shifted his gaze back to the fishing net, peering hard down into the shining water. I called again, "Problem Senhor?"
The way he swayed about I thought any moment he would fall headlong into the pool but he called back "Its ok madam" and gave me a lop-sided, wobbly grin then "Dinheiro!", patted his pocket, pointing to the water. Then he 'acted out' a little scene for me. He'd been walking along edge of pool, pulled out a large handkerchief from his pocket and all his coins had fallen into the water, coins he was now trying to retrieve with the aid of the fishing net. I didn't know whether to laugh or be angry! He was obviously the worse for drink and I was angered that he'd driven in this condition but he struck such a comical figure, prancing along the pools edge, acting this scene for me like some drunken ballet dancer, with a fishing pole that seemed twice his size, that I was having great difficulty in not bursting out laughing! He pointed at a few wet coppery coins lying on the patio and through suppressed giggles I said "Oh well done"! Then I beckoned him over to take a seat saying " Cafe Senhor?"

I wanted him sobered up, he was swaying unnervingly close to the waters edge and I didn't want a 'drowned' pool cleaner on my hands! He looked disdainfully at the large mug of black coffee I set before him, as if to say 'where's the brandy?' But after my stern look and brusque "Okay?" he started to sip the reviving brew. An hour later he had finished cleaning the pool and after retrieving a few more coins from the watery depths he went merrily on his way.
When Hub and Jamie returned that evening I related the story and of course they found it hilarious but I insisted that from henceforth Hub would have to be there in case Pedro made a habit of turning up for work pickled!

Our older son Jeff and daughter Lesley had been over for a short visit, it had been lovely having them to stay and we really felt like a family once more. Although young adults and leading independent lives they were still our kids and we missed them very much. During their stay we had a day at Silves; it was a first for Lesley and I wanted to show her the market, where we bought some fresh sardines and salad vegetables for our dinner that evening and of course she had to see the castle! Jeff had been before and he enjoyed telling his sister about the history of the castle and the crusades of the 12th century. They enjoyed there little holiday but all too soon it was over and after they had left both Hub, Jamie and me felt quite sad, lonely and not a little homesick!
 

Statue of the Crusaders in Silves

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