Tues 1st Dec Cascais
Beautiful day today, but unfortunately a curfew again from 1pm. Went for a paddle at our favourite little beach, just round from the marina at the bridge. Paddling on 1st day of winter! Magic!!!
Wed 2nd Dec Cascais
Ian on Naomi leaving today for Lanzarote, helped him round to the fuel berth, met James an Luisa from Optimista, lovely couple, he is from the UK, Luisa is Portuguese and is expecting. Nick went to get all our photo copy documentations needed for our appointment tomorrow, then went to Auchan for the heavy shopping, beer, milk etc. I will get the rest tomorrow.
Thurs 3rd Dec Cascais
Joao came with Miguel. Appointments today to get our NIF number, 1 o’clock, and 1.15, got them no problem. Bought fluid, went to Auchan for shopping, and bought Christmas decorations for boat. Nick said not to rush back to boat, more problems with engine, which was out of engine compartment, and in the middle of saloon, Joao said engine didn’t have enough support at the back, told Nick he would have to change engine mounts every two or three years. Nick explained to him that just could not happen, he told him that it didn’t matter how much extra it cost, he wanted the job done properly, not unbalanced that mounts would constantly need replaced. Nick met me on way back from Auchan, got Chicken and chips, Joao now saying engine is ok, and secure enough with mounts. Also Nick has said he has installed the engine in a way that he (Nick) will not be able to change the oil filter when servicing the engine, Joao has assured him he will sort it, but Nick not happy about it. My Amazon parcel arrived, bought a fan heater, and rechargeable batteries with charger for fairy lights with my birthday money from Margaret and Anne.
Fri 4th Dec Cascais
Joao back out at boat till 5pm, more engine work done. Not much else happened. Very bad weather forecast for the weekend.
Sat 5th Dec Cascais
Lock down from 1pm. Horrendous day today. Non stop torrential rain, and gale force winds. Looked over the Christmas decorations, checked lights were working, charged up rechargeable batteries, and installed them in fairy lights.
Sun 6th Dec Cascais
Lockdown from 1pm. James and Luisa came for afternoon drinks. Late dinner, watched more breaking bad, then bed.
Mon 7th Dec Cascais
Everything shut today from 1pm as tomorrow is a holiday. Feeling a bit low today, missing the family, and would rather be at home for Christmas 😢. Weather not nice now, very overcast and cold at times. Tried to go for a walk, but just wasn’t in the mood.
Tues 8th Dec Cascais
Not feeling much better today. Went for a paddle at the bridge beach, and to get some small stones to weigh down the wee Christmas tree base pot. Seen an Octopus, was approx a foot long, was amazing! Missed the best part of videoing it by the time l got my phone out, but got a short clip of it just as it was going into hiding at two boulders. Paddle, and seeing the Octopus made me feel a lot better.
Wed 9th Dec Cascais
Joao was meant to come today, but couldn’t as he had to have a Covid test. If he’s positive, Miguel will have to have one too, and if he’s positive then there will be no more work done on the engine until after Christmas 😕.
Thurs 10th Dec Cascais Heard today Joao’s test result was negative, so he’s coming tomorrow. Nick went to Auchan for the heavy shopping (milk and beer etc), l went in the afternoon for the rest, then got chicken and chips for dinner.
Fri 11th Dec Cascais
Joao and Miguel at boat today and done some engine work, exhaust elbow hasn’t been delivered yet, so they left as it hadn’t turned up. Interesting evening tonight 🤔, Nick invited Louis aboard for a drink, he stayed for dinner, then it turned into a late (and interesting 🤫) evening 😝.
Sat 12th Dec Cascais
Not much happened today, both a bit tired after last night’s mischief.
Sun 13th Dec Cascais
A walk through the park, then a paddle at the beach by the bridge and the lighthouse.
Mon 14th Dec Cascais
Luisa lent her Mums car to Nick and we drove into Lisbon to collect the exhaust elbow. In the afternoon a wander up town for a few things, and got an Indian carry out meal on the way back.
Tues 15th Dec Cascais
Joao and Miguel here today to continue work on the engine installation. Fitted the new exhaust elbow as far as the gooseneck, put new bolts in the engine mount feet, and tightened them up, he aligned the engine without connecting the prop shaft, refitted the sump pump with the new extention pipe, and made a new mounting for it on the bulkhead, filled engine with fluids, and test ran it with the impeller removed. Coming back on Thursday.
Wed 16th Dec Cascais
Nick filled in all our online forms to apply for the new biometric residency card, we now have an app on our phones with our QR codes. I did some shopping at Auchen, while Nick washed the bedding, and got our applications for our biometric cards confirmation documents printed.
Thurs 17th Dec Cascais
Bad news today, Joao not coming today (yet again!), but the worst news is we are not only stuck here for Christmas, but new year too! If the boat comes out into the yard this Monday, we could end up being stuck in the yard longer running up a bigger yard bill due to Christmas and new year holidays (i.e less working days, so delays getting jobs done), it also turns out that most of the jobs that need done when the boat is out of the water, the yard are going to be doing, not Joao, which will be a lot more expensive, so looks like we are going to be hit with a far bigger yard bill than expected, how much we don’t have a clue, not even an estimate. We were hoping to at least get to the Algarve for New Year if we could have pushed for everything to be done. Saying both Nick and l are feeling a bit down would be an understatement 😞
Fri 18th Dec Cascais
Nothing much happened. Still coming to terms with the fact we’ll be stuck here for new year.
Sat 19th Dec Cascais
Had a lovely evening aboard Optimista with James, Liusa, and Luis. Liusa made a lovely Vegan meal.
Sun 20th Dec Cascais
Took a walk through a lovely valley park in the heart of Cascais today, goats and sheep with bells on. Then watched a load of Christmas bikers driving through the town in Santa hats and suits, hooting their horns and waving, they were escorted by the local police, great fun!
Mon 21st Dec Cascais
Nick went out on Daydreamer with Luis, l couldn’t go as l had to go to Auchen to get Nicks Christmas presents, a bottle of malt whiskey, sweets, and toiletries.
Tues 22nd Dec Cascais
Went for a sail on Luis’s boat Daydreamer.
Wed 23rd Dec Cascais
Margaret’s birthday, and gave Nick a Christmas haircut. Video called Margaret at Anne’s to say happy birthday.
Thurs 24th Dec Cascais
Rushed up the town in the morning before my shower to try and get Nick a tuk tuk car, also got him a Lisbon tram model. Went for a Christmas eve walk to see the lights, then had a lovely meal in the Gandhi Palace.
Fri 25th Dec Cascais
Christmas Dinner, turkey roll joint with walnuts, mushrooms, garlic, and prunes, stuffed mushrooms, and stuffed tomatoes, potatoes, green beens, and roasted parsnips and carrots, polished off with Christmas pudding and custard. Went for a Christmas day paddle, water very cold, and video called everyone.
Sat 26th Dec Cascais
Boxing day, beautiful day. Walked up to Boca do Inferno, had coffee and cake, was a lovely, warm day.
Sun 27th Dec Cascais
Out for a sail on Optimista with James and Luisa, Luisa’s friend came with her nephew.
Mon 28th Dec Cascais
Wet day, washing done, and boat cleaning. Went on the big wheel, and got chicken and chips.
Tues 29th Dec Cascais
Did the last (hopefully) shop before New Year, got soaked on way back. Duck rice for tea, then finished off the Christmas pudding with creme fresh.
Wed 30th Dec Cascais
Went to look at the hostel we are going to move into for a week when the boat is lifted out on Monday, I suggested it may not be a good idea with sharing facilities due to pandemic, but he seems keen to stay there. Went to a baby shop and bought a gift for Luisa and James baby boy, she is in hospital, but baby not arrived yet. Nick then went to Auchen for a few things.
Thurs 31st Dec Cascais
Hogmanay. Found out today from James that baby has been born, and both fine. Showered and washed hair for bells. Nick has also now decided that due to the virus its probably not a good idea to stay in the hostel due to shared toilets and kitchen facilities. He has booked an apartment near O’Neil’s pub, and the beach. Will be lovely to get a break of the boat. James and Luis brought in the bells with us on Avy-J, Luis’s friend came round with a massive parachute flare 🎉 to set off at midnight, but it spectacularly failed to go off 😂. Opened the bubbly, wished goodbye to a shitty pandemic year/2020, hoping 2021 will be better, but this new variant has different ideas on that, had a few more drinks with the boys before they called it a night, didn’t get to bed until 4.30, but had a great night.