November 3, 2023
I just wanted to say Hi and Bye for a while. I’m heading off for my surgery in a...
Health & Wellbeing
October 27, 2023
- Buçaco Forest Celebrations Family Grande Hotel de Luso (Resort & Spa) Health & Wellbeing Hiking trail Hotels Luso Mata Nacional do Buçaco Mountain Region Mountain Spa Natural Park Nature Portugal Religious Tourist Attraction Thermal Spa Tourist attraction
Hubby celebrated his 50th birthday in Portugal! I had elaborate plans for a mini vacation to Madeira and the...
October 12, 2023
- Aquadome H2otel Congress & Medical Spa Health & Wellbeing Mountain Region Mountain Spa Natural Park Portugal Serra da Estrela Termas de Unhais da Serra Thermal Spa Tourist attraction
Hubby treated us both to a much deserved Sunday Soulmate afternoon at a local mountain spa hotel as a...
October 9, 2023
We are officially no longer super dodgers, Novids or Covid virgins! After 3 ½ years of managing to dodge...
September 5, 2023
- Health & Wellbeing Leisure & recreation Miradouro (Viewpoint) Mountain Region Passadiços do Cerro da Candosa Tourist attraction
We enjoyed a lovely hike recently in Serra da Lousã so we decided to return to the nearby municipality...
September 4, 2023
- Castle Caves Forest Health & Wellbeing Hiking trail Historic Portuguese Village Insects/Wildlife Leisure & recreation Lousã Miradouro (Viewpoint) Mountain Region Nature Portugal PR2 LSA River Beach Schist Village Tourist attraction
Finally the Portuguese Summer heatwave temperatures reduced to around 30 degrees instead of 40’s so we decided to embark...
June 22, 2023
- Cartão Europeu de Seguro de Doença CESD EHIC European Health Insurance Card Health & Wellbeing Healthcare How to officially complain in Portugal Important information Livro Amarelo Livro de Reclamações Portugal Tábua
I had an absolute nightmare obtaining my CESD. I cannot begin to tell you how happy I am to...
June 16, 2023
- Health & Wellbeing Healthcare Medical Costs Medical Costs in Portugal Physiotherapy in Portugal Portugal
I had to source a private Physiotherapist here in Portugal due to the fact that I am a total...
June 7, 2023
- Health & Wellbeing Hiking trail Insects/Wildlife Leisure & recreation Megalithic Monuments Miradouro (Viewpoint) Mountain Region Nature Pedra da Sé Portugal PR2 TBU Roman ruins Sevilha Tábua Tourist attraction Waterfall
We really enjoyed the PR3 TBU trail so decided to embark on another local delight: PR2 TBU Caminho do...
May 4, 2023
- Arco da Moura Baloiço Health & Wellbeing Hiking trail Insects/Wildlife Leisure & recreation Megalithic Monuments Mountain Region Nature PR3 TBU River Beach Schist Village Swings of Portugal Tábua Tourist attraction Vale dos Gaios Waterfall
May Day/Labour Day = A well deserved day off work for hubby so we embarked on an awesome nature hike:...
April 12, 2023
- Baloiço Baloiço de Pendilhe Castro Daire Celebrations Health & Wellbeing Hiking trail Insects/Wildlife Leisure & recreation Megalithic Monuments Nature Orca de Pendilhe Portugal PR7 CDR Swings of Portugal Viseu
To celebrate our 8 year wedding anniversary I planned an awesome day trip to Castro Daire. We embarked on...
February 28, 2023
2023 is a whole new year to focus on my health and fitness. You may have read my previous...
February 3, 2023
We are now entering our 3rd year of growing flowers, fruit and veg at our little Casa Valhal garden....
December 31, 2022
Wow, what a year we have experienced! Time has flown by at lightning speed and I can’t believe that...
December 29, 2022
- Avião e Janela Penacova Health & Wellbeing Hiking trail Miradouro (Viewpoint) Mountain Region Nature Penacova Penedo de Castro Penedos da Carvoeira Portugal PR1 PCV Praia Fluvial do Reconquinho Tourist attraction
After all our tacky Christmas theme park adventures and bright sparkling lights of Portuguese cities it’s time to get...
December 2, 2022
I recently experienced one of the most terrifying health scares of my life! Saturday 26th November was a glorious...
November 16, 2022
This might seem like a bizarre post but due to the fact that I am more than a little...
November 15, 2022
- Bridges Cascata do Caldeirão Cascatas do Ribeiro dos Barrocais Forest Geopark Guarda Health & Wellbeing Hiking trail Historic Portuguese Village Insects/Wildlife Leisure & recreation Miradouro (Viewpoint) Mountain Region Natural Park Nature Passadiços Passadiços do Mondego Portugal Serra da Estrela Tourist attraction Waterfall
I have been eagerly and patiently awaiting the final completion of the Passadiços do Mondego (Mondego Walkway), located in...
November 8, 2022
- Coimbra Forest Health & Wellbeing Hiking trail Historic Portuguese Village Insects/Wildlife Leisure & recreation Moinhos da Aveleira Nature Penacova Portugal Tourist attraction Waterfall Windmills
All Saints’ Day fell on a Tuesday this year and hubby had a well deserved day off work so...
October 12, 2022
- Bridges Coimbra Forest Health & Wellbeing Hiking trail Insects/Wildlife Leisure & recreation Mountain Region Nature Pampilhosa da Serra Portugal River Beach Schist Village Tourist attraction Wells
Now that I am over the worst of my tooth drama I decided to make the most out of...
September 26, 2022
- Health & Wellbeing Healthcare Important information Medical Costs Medical Costs in Portugal Portugal Private Medical Costs in Portugal Surgery
Due to unforeseen circumstances (Wisdom tooth extraction drama) my private surgery had to be cancelled just 8 short days...
August 4, 2022
I meant to keep a track of all my medical (doctor, hospital and dental) appointments and relevant costs since...
July 11, 2022
- Cycling Cycling in Portugal Cycling Race Granfondo Health & Wellbeing Leisure & recreation Mountain Region Portugal Seia Serra da Estrela
Hubby is a keen cyclist and signed up for the Granfondo, Serra da Estrela which took place on 3rd...
July 1, 2022
- Cycling Cycling in Portugal Granfondo Health & Wellbeing Leisure & recreation Lifestyle Mountain Region Portugal
This post is written by hubby AKA Adrian. He thought it would be good to have a post on...
June 29, 2022
- Arouca Baloiço Forest Geopark Health & Wellbeing Hiking trail Historic Portuguese Village Insects/Wildlife Leisure & recreation Mountain Region Nature Portugal Portuguese cake Regoufe Mines Swings of Portugal Tourist attraction Waterfall
I love Arouca Geopark and the enchanted Serra da Freita with endless mountain landscapes and breathtaking viewpoints. It is...
June 23, 2022
When I embarked on my weight loss plan my main aim was to get fit, healthy and live a...
May 26, 2022
Get chickens they said, it will be fun they said! It took us a while to establish why our...
January 10, 2022
I can’t believe that this is my 3rd “From Seed to Feed” post! Well here we are another year...
December 31, 2021
Today is New Year’s Eve and our 2 year milestone, gosh time flies when you’re having fun. 2 years...
October 27, 2021
- Bridges Celebrations Forest Health & Wellbeing Hiking trail Insects/Wildlife Leisure & recreation Mountain Region Museu do Pão Natural Park Nature Portugal River Beach Tourist attraction Waterfall
We live very close to the wonderful Serra da Estrela natural park and it only takes 1 hour to...
October 26, 2021
- Bridges Celebrations Forest Health & Wellbeing Hiking trail Leisure & recreation Mountain Region Nature Portugal Roman ruins Tourist attraction Waterfall
I decided to plan an epic day trip for my hubby’s birthday. His employer gives everyone their birthday off...
October 5, 2021
- Bridges Forest Health & Wellbeing Insects/Wildlife Leisure & recreation Mountain Region Nature Portugal Stand Up Paddle (SUP) Boarding Tourist attraction Waterfall
We decided to visit the Artisan food and craft market in Penela which is a 1hr 15min drive each...
September 20, 2021
- Daughter's Summer Visit 2021 Desert Island Health & Wellbeing Insects/Wildlife Leisure & recreation Love Island Miradouro (Viewpoint) Mountain Region Nature Photo gallery Portugal River Beach Stand Up Paddle (SUP) Boarding Tourist attraction
I am over the moon to share this awesome day trip with you. After extensive research I found our...
September 14, 2021
- Daughter's Summer Visit 2021 Forest Health & Wellbeing Hiking trail Insects/Wildlife Leisure & recreation Lousã Mountain Region Nature Passadiços Photo gallery Portugal River Beach Tourist attraction Waterfall
The weather was pretty hot during Teanna’s 8 week summer visit so we didn’t embark on much hiking. To...
September 8, 2021
- Azenhas do Mars Cascais Coastal beach Daughter's Summer Visit 2021 Ericeira Harbour Health & Wellbeing Insects/Wildlife Leisure & recreation Lighthouse Miradouro (Viewpoint) Mountain Region Museum Natural Park Nature Palace Photo gallery Portugal Surfing Tourist attraction
Day 4 of our road trip takes us to the fabulous Cascais and Ericeira with a pit stop at...
August 18, 2021
- Daughter's Summer Visit 2021 Health & Wellbeing Lakes and Lagoons Leisure & recreation Leisure Zone Nature Photo gallery Portugal River Beach Stand Up Paddle (SUP) Boarding Tourist attraction
Stand Up Paddle Boarding (or SUP) is a hugely popular sport in Portugal along with kayaking and surfing. All...
August 17, 2021
- Castle Daughter's Summer Visit 2021 Forest Health & Wellbeing Hiking trail Insects/Wildlife Leisure & recreation Lousã Mountain Region Nature Photo gallery Portugal PR2 LSA River Beach Tourist attraction
I love hiking and we are spoiled for choice with so many different hiking trails in Portugal. Back in...
August 16, 2021
- Castle Daughter's Summer Visit 2021 Health & Wellbeing Hiking trail Insects/Wildlife Leisure & recreation Mountain Region Natural Park Nature Photo gallery Portugal River Beach Tourist attraction
I absolutely love exploring natural wonders and nature reserves in Portugal so I was very excited to visit Serras...
June 4, 2021
It’s been over 2 months since I reached my target weight so I thought I would do an update....
June 2, 2021
- Forest Geopark Health & Wellbeing Hiking trail Insects/Wildlife Leisure & recreation Mountain Region Natural Park Nature Passadiços Portugal River Beach Tourist attraction
The Passadiços do Paiva Trailhead is located on the left bank of the Paiva River, in the municipality of Arouca, district of Aveiro. I...
April 6, 2021
I thought that I would start another post for 2021 as my weight loss journey did not really happen...
February 11, 2021
I decided to start a new gardening post (From seed to feed) for 2021. If you have read my...
January 30, 2021
Curious clouds, serene sunrises, sensational sunsets, radiant rainbows, fabulous fog, mystical mountain mist and spectacular storms. I love Portuguese...
November 26, 2020
I have always wanted to try making my own body and hair products at home but have never really...
October 30, 2020
- City Park Health & Wellbeing Insects/Wildlife Leisure & recreation Nature Portugal Tourist attraction
Park Life On a recent trip to Coimbra we discovered two wonderful city parks. Parque Manuel Braga is a...
October 26, 2020
- Botanical Garden Coimbra Health & Wellbeing Hiking trail Insects/Wildlife Leisure & recreation Nature Poetry Portugal Self guided walking tour Tourist attraction
Mission and History of the Botanical Garden The Botanical Garden of the University of Coimbra, founded in 1772 by...
October 25, 2020
Termas de Luso (Luso Thermal Spa) Termas do Luso (Luso Thermal Spa) is located in the parish of Luso,...
October 21, 2020
Now that we have settled into Portugal life I thought it was about time I joined a class or...
August 11, 2020
Anyone who knows me will be aware that I have a severe fear of the dentist. This stems back...
June 19, 2020
My mindset is that I am living in Portugal so I will embrace the culture including food and drink...
June 13, 2020
Happiness comes from experiencing things not from materialistic stuff that is marketed to enrich your life but ends up...
June 5, 2020
I have way too much time on my hands at the moment hence why I’ve been researching Permaculture. Learning...
June 3, 2020
We have been here for 5 months now and considering I am out in the garden most days I...
May 27, 2020
We have started growing a lot of fruit and vegetables in our garden and I thought it would be...
May 4, 2020
Exposure to nature not only makes me feel better emotionally, it contributes to my physical wellbeing. Portugal’s nature is incredible and you...
May 1, 2020
Helen’s Weight Loss Journal I have been debating if to write this post for a while now but decided...
April 24, 2020
This post is not really Portugal related but something I feel I need to have a rant about. Not...
March 17, 2020
I used to enjoy my weekly jog in Bristol so re-started jogging in Portugal. It’s very hilly around here...
March 16, 2020
I used to get my hair done every 10 weeks at home, half a head of highlights, wash, cut...
March 15, 2020
I wear contact lenses, am very shortsighted and have astigmatism. I used to have my lenses delivered to me...
March 12, 2020
PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL OUR PAPERWORK PROCEDURES WERE CARRIED OUT PRIOR TO BREXIT DATE EXCEPT FOR EXCHANGING OUR DRIVING...