Algarve Incidents…..
Card Tricks
One afternoon, as we sat in our apartment in Lagoa, Hub said to me, We took the back route from Lagoa. This took us through some countryside and a certain twisty lane where Hub had to drive very carefully as sometimes we would meet a motorcycle or a truck coming the other way; and they always drove so fast! This road led us out to the railway station near Algoz and there we turned right which would lead us to the workshops. Then Hub unfolded himself from the van. At that, the driver quickly got back into his car and drove off at startling speed; in the process he carved up a truck full of workmen who began shouting at him. We couldn’t help but laugh at that. As we drove along the red dust track, up to the workshops, we could see Carlos through the large windows, busy at work on the lathe; but there was no sign of Joao or Calado. But as Hub pushed open the main door that led to the office, we saw Joao and Calado, sitting there at the desk, playing cards. Needless to say, after that incident, we often paid surprise visits to the workshops… |
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Joao drunk! | |
One night after Hub and Jamie had finished playing cards and Jamie had toddled off to bed, we sat and had a bedtime drink before going to bed ourselves. We were both sleepy. Hub had been busy at the workshops and I’d had a busy day on the garden doing lots of mowing and weeding so I was ready for sleep. But we’d had a swim in the pool in the garden I worked in and that was very refreshing. We had permission from the agent to use the pool which was good, especially on very hot days. |
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Suddenly there came a buzz on our intercom. Hub answered it. He seemed to be having difficulties understanding someone at the door but then he pressed the door button and let whoever it was in. “It’s Joao. He sounds drunk out of his mind!” I was very tired and said “Why did you let him in, in that state?” |
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But I unlocked the door and after climbing three flights of stairs, Joao was soon staggering through it. He made for the armchair and sank down into it. His eyes were glazed and he was stumbling over his words. “Ola boss, ola Madam. You told me to call in and say hello, so I am here” Hub wasn’t too pleased and replied “Yes I did say that but I didn’t mean bloody midnight!” Joao’s head was lolling about and he seemed really drunk. So, I went to the kitchen to make some strong black coffee. After a while he seemed to be sobering up a little. Hub then asked him how he had got to us. He replied that he drove here on his motorbike. I was astonished at hearing this; that he had driven his motorbike in such a drunken condition. Hub again was angry and said he could have killed himself or somebody else! But Joao didn’t take the slightest notice of Hub’s words. I made Joao a sandwich and he wolfed it down and after another cup of the black coffee he announced he was ready to go home. Hub told him he was in no condition to ride back on his motorbike and that he should leave it here; then come to collect it in the morning when he was sober. |
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No Roots!
I always liked to shop in the markets and often went to the fish market which was a short walking distance from our apartment. I had bought a large pot, beautifully decorated, which stood outside our apartment door and the idea came to me of planting it up with an eye-catching pant. Looking over this man’s plants there was one that immediately caught my eye. It was in a small clay pot but the leaves were really beautiful. They were a dark green, long and tapering but with a zigzag of yellow all the way along the long strap-like leaves. I immediately fell in love with it. When I asked the price the man said “Thirty escudos” I religiously watered that plant every day and the leaves remained looking gorgeous and I have to say I took a pride in that plant. I had been had! This wasn’t a plant at all. It was simply single stems of leaves held together in a clump of sandy soil. The strange thing was, the leaves never died. They remained looking fresh and lovely for a very long time….. |
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The Naked Truth..
We had just completed our very first job; some garden furniture for people who lived in the countryside. The boys had delivered the furniture but Hub hadn’t been with them. Hub had the address (This was before Jamie started at his school in Silves). The next step was to go to these people, give them the bill and collect the money for the work undertaken (though we always asked for a 20% deposit). Hub set off with young Jamie sat next to him. He followed the directions that he had written down on his note pad, turning left at the crossroad and followed the road out into the countryside. Hub turned up the dirt track, which seemed to go on forever and at long last he came to the main gates. As he stood waiting, he gave Jamie a thumbs up sign just as the door opened. What he saw made him take a step back and his face flush. It was a middle-aged woman but she was completely naked! Hub gulped and said he had come to collect the money for the furniture they had made. Without any sign of embarrassment she asked him to come in and went to fetch her cheque book. As he waited Hub, whose face was very red, stood looking around the sitting room. He saw a figure outside the French windows and that figure opened them and stepped inside. It was a man and he was completely naked too! But he was just as relaxed as the woman and told Hub to sit down while he was waiting. By this time Hub was feeling very awkward. These people didn’t have any inhibitions about their nakedness. Jamie spluttered “Dad, that woman’s naked!?” going very red-faced. |