Anticipation…

Hard to know exactly when the dream began.  Sometimes it feels like it was always with me.  Bored with my job, which nevertheless paid the bills, I watched season after season of ‘A Place in the Sun’, each week convinced that this was the place for me.  Perhaps not Benidorm, and never, ever a do-er upper, but almost anything else was fair game.  There was so much world to choose from!

Early on, I discounted Florida.  Too far from family, I rejected the notion of becoming a snowbird and, silly as it sounds, I hate alligators.  I am thoroughly European and, though I might want to wander further, my natural habitat was always going to be on our continent.  Italy was a front runner.  With all those delicious miles of coastline and inspiring culture, how could ‘La Dolce Vita’ be wrong?  There was the allure of Croatia and its island jewels.  Greece with its ancient history and azure seas.  France seemed logical.  I had A level GCE in the language, and that whole unknown country, almost on my doorstep.  The Canary Islands, a contender too.  A nomadic life between islands and an agreeable climate would always appeal.  One place I didn’t consider was Poland, though in retrospect it could have been an interesting choice.

Halkidiki, long years ago
Learning chess, in Austria
Studying icecream at Lake Garda
Madeira, a 60th birthday celebration
Wild waters at Porto Moniz, Madeira
Tiles as I knew them, before Portugal
Granada, of course

Portugal was quite low on the radar.  I’d never been, and knew little of it.  A week’s holiday swiftly changed that, and I came home the joint owner of a house.  Fortunately my husband loved it too.  The adventure of furnishing our home began.  Our first visit, 4 frantic days, was spent buying beds, a boiler and light fittings, and arranging for the fitment of a fireplace.  Two bright yellow, folding chairs doubled as indoor and outdoor seating.  The bare essentials of life.  We gazed in wonder at our ‘place in the sun’.  Tavira filled us with pleasure each and every time we ventured out.

Cacela Velha- if this isn’t heaven…?
Azulejos rule!
Ponte Romana, the iconic Tavira bridge
Further afield, red cliffs dominate

The years ticked by, and holidays came and went.  The love affair didn’t wane, and we began to hope for the day when we could make the Algarve our permanent home.  Dad died, and there were no longer any serious impediments.  The youngsters would be able to visit us whenever they chose.  Time to put the English house on the market.  Much scrubbing in corners (having first emptied those corners!) ensued.  No doubt about it- the house needed decorating.  Should we strip everything for that blank canvas look?  Or go out and enjoy a ravishing English summer, potentially our last.  I bet you know the answer!

Silly question, wasn’t it?  As summer wanes, we now have some choices to make.  With a few viewings but no serious offers at the moment, at the end of September we will fly out to Faro.  No point yet in emptying the house and driving down, with as many memories stowed in the car as we can manage.  We will need to come back, for at least a week or two, to keep an eye on the house, our old friend of 29 years.  The family are already booked to join us to celebrate another significant birthday in early November.  It would be rude of us not to be there, wouldn’t it?  Until then, we’ll keep on anticipating… and preparing.

All set to see Cathy off on her next great adventure, ours has yet to begin, but it’s getting closer.  Join her at Wander.essence for Anticipation & Preparation.  I hope you will love the path she has chosen as much as I do.  Wishing you safe and happy travels, Cathy!

135 comments

  3. Such an exciting time ahead although a house sale, especially a long-time family homestead, is always hard. Keep your eyes on the sunny prize ahead! As you know, I did a similar thing a bit over a year ago, moving out of our home of 26 years in the north to settle in the south – different continent but same idea! Best of luck with the remainder of the process!

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  4. Dreams are what we look forward to, memories are our wonderful past. Soon yours will come together in a new adventure. I know I will enjoy following along as you share what each day brings.

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  5. What a splendid spirit of adventure you have, Jo. All the best for this Sept ( here so soon!). From my limited experience of houses, the person who will really love your home is the one who sees past the decor, and senses the essence of what makes the house a home.

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    1. We’d like the house to go to someone who will love it Ann. It’s been a good friend to us. Who knows what the years will bring. I’m not looking too far ahead. Thanks for all your kind thoughts 😃😃

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  6. All the best for you and yours, Jo – I am sure it will be a fabulous new life – we are joining in whatever small adventures you start as well!

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  9. Good luck. We too are on the move, change of residence from New Delhi to Pune to our second home. It was tough leaving our extended families & set life discounting stays in Hong Kong and Oman . I am writing from aboard the train ferrying is across Central India & coastal hinterland. A new beginning in

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  10. “Bored with my job, which nevertheless paid the bills” — oh, you’ve described me very neatly there. I wish you all the best in the next chapter of your life (and a swift sell of the UK house!).

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    1. I was a single parent when my daughter was young, Karen, so there really wasn’t much option. Since then I’ve used her or my son, who came along soon after my marriage, as an excuse for not getting out of the rat race. It’s taken me so long to get here… thanks so much for your good wishes. 🙂 🙂

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  11. You’re blessed to have had so many years in a place you loved and now to be moving on to another place you love. If your memories are good (and sometimes bittersweet), that’s also a blessing. Can’t wait to move on with you and I’m happy you started your blog and I found it. I entered blogging very tentatively and it’s been such a joy.

    janet

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    1. Isn’t it strange, this world we’ve found each other in, and who’d have guessed how it would be? It makes me smile every day, Janet, and it’s the first thing I do every morning, after I make coffee. 🙂 🙂 Thanks so much for being a part of it.

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    1. Our son hates coming home and seeing the For Sale sign, Alison. It’s silly because he lives in Leeds with his lovely lady and no intention to come home, but all of his childhood/young manhood is wrapped up in that house. 🙂 🙂 Thanks a lot, hon.

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    1. That’s exactly right, Carol. There are a few problems to solve but no real hurry to get there. We’ve spent 2/3 months in the Algarve for the last couple of years. No reason why we can’t reverse that. We can’t afford to run 2 homes indefinitely but in the short term, we’re mortgage free and flights between the two are cheap. 🙂 🙂

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  18. And wishing you all the best on your new adventure. Even more so, wishing you luck with selling your property which can sometimes take so long one almost feels like giving up. I think you’ve done the right thing, finding the place you love first and moving in, your old home will eventually find someone to love it too. So, enjoy your life in Portugal – if Brexit allows you!

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    1. I’m not worrying myself over the Brexit mess, Mari. Who’d have believed it all? But sooner or later someone will get it sorted. Meantime there’s a life to live. Many thanks hon 😃😃

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  19. I’m thrilled to hear a little backstory on how the home in Portugal came to be, from a wish and a dream planted long ago! This is such an exciting journey for you and your husband, and the whole family, Jo. I hope the transition is smooth and simply as lovely and breathtaking as the Algarve. What joy!

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  20. It has been said that everyone could retire in comfort if they could sell their experiences for what it cost them. But your experiences are priceless, and thus, more fortunately shared than sold.

    Perhaps your best post yet, and may all the best be yet to come. 🙂

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    1. Thom, that is so kind of you to say. I do get great joy from sharing and from the friendships I’ve made here. Starting a blog was maybe even a better idea than retiring to the Algarve. Time will surely tell. Thanks so much for the support and great company. 🙂 🙂

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