A whole month and a half without a chirp from me. How lucky can you get!? I had every intention of making this year far less hectic than the last 43, but alas it is not to be. This puppy dog is still chasing her tail with no end in sight. My TEFL English course has finally reached its long awaited end (I am now a bona fide English teacher!!) so I should have more time next month...but then the students arrive to be taught English. Sigh. Poor me.

I cannot begin to tell you how lucky I am to have found the wonderful Victoria Nursing Home that my parents now call home ASWELL as the wonderful staff there. Jana, the best nursing sister in the world, not only takes great care of my parents she also makes the most SPECTACULAR cakes in the world! Look at this masterpiece!!!

We had this super meal with the wonderful Jo and Michel - I doubt they used their computer to defrost the meat (see http://www.acookonthefunnyside.com/content/computers-defrosters-and-pork... ), but it was fantastic anyway. The starter was a modern fantastic version of a Prawn Cocktail that blows the 70's version out of the water and will definitely be posted later, so stay loyal folks. Well done and thank you both for the great company and a wondefrul meal!

“Home computers are the perfect thing for women who don’t feel that Men provide them with enough frustration.” Unknown*.
How do I get to combining computers, defrosters AND dinner you may quite rightly ask. This is actually quite new to me to, and I am thinking of patenting it, because it is such a damn clever idea. My well-worn-but-still-working computer, unlike my brand-new-one-that-wants-Euro379-to-continue-to-do-what-it-should-have-been-doing-all-along computer, overheats. It not only overheats, it gives your legs third degree burns before crashing and losing everything you’ve been working on, including my sanity.

This recipe comes courtesy of http://www.retrofoodrecipes.com/yorkshire_pudding.html All Yorkshire Pudding recipes are basically the same, so I see no reason to pretend I've come up with one myself. You can leave out an egg here, or add a drop of milk or cream more there, but it all boils down to the same thing. Just don't be afraid and give it a try!

Do YOU know the answer to this very poignant question? What the hell is she talking about being another. Allow me to give a loooong explanation. This past December I had the pleasure of meeting the wonderful Tony, my mate Sally's brother, and of having a super supper cooked by him. He was on holiday from Oz – you've got to really love your Sis to leave 35°C for 5°C – and very kindly cooked a lovely meal in a foreign kitchen where you a) can't find things, b)your sister washes things as soon as you put them down (so what if it was the cat food fork..), etc, etc. And just for added pressure, there's a world famous blogger invited. That's me by the way...

Seeing as I miraculously still have internet access, I am using the window of opportunity to post a second post immediately. That's more than I've managed in months! And seeing as I like the photo so much, here it is again...

I love fresh sardines and I don't think it's possible or even legal to visit Portugal without eating them at least once. We've had them grilled and fried, filleted and whole, with garlic and with garlic, and they were always good. They are normally quite easy to find and relatively cheap so give them a try right there in your own kitchen and bring a ray of Portuguese sunlight into your life!

(I apologize for the renewed delay in posting, but I have had no telephone or internet for 3 weeks and seem to be getting only a 30minute window in the morning - these first world countries...)

I personally think they could have served me dog biscuits dampened with a bit of dish water and I would have found it deevine, just because of the setting. Fortunately, they chose not to do so and the food, setting and company were all super.

I took this photo on one of my beach walks in January and arrived back home a few days later to this.

I was only gone 5 weeks and look what you people have done to the weather! Next year I'm not coming back before spring I tell you. We also arrived back to no water, no telephone and no internet. Might I mention that is ever so slightly displeasing to my tan.

Sorry to be ignoring you, but hubby and I are on holiday for the WHOLE month of January!! But as soon as we're back, I'll tell you all about it and you will be green with envy. Just as a little taster...it's 20C everyday where I am!