Wednesday 13th April

This morning your brother and his girlfriend drove us and their dog across the border into Portugal, to Campo Maior. A quaint little town, where we stopped for coffee and pastries, then on to the large lake, towards the west.
It is here that the pair of them go fishing or kite surfing, but today’s purpose was to find and collect wild asparagus.
This delicacy grows mostly at the base of trees, amongst brambles and prickly thistles.
Whilst dad and I walked down to the lake shore, with the dog bounding and running around like a mad thing, your brother and girlfriend were foraging for the elusive vegetable.
After about three quarters of an hour, they appeared with big grins on their faces, and were most pleased to have found a good amount of the tasty stems.
So, asparagus as a side dish it is, for the next few meals.

I think you would have enjoyed the walk; all that fresh air, and peace and quiet.

Missing you always.
Loving you forever.
Darling Angel son.

xxxxxxx

A gnarly old tree in the meadow

Thistle

View down to the lake

Meadow of wildflowers

Danko

Frankie Angel Bear amongst the meadow wildflowers

Frankie Angel Bear on top of the car

Dad and your brother enjoying a beer

Some of tonight's asparagus

Friday 8th April

After breakfast this morning, dad and I walked a mile and a half to the Corte Inglés (an up-market department store), for a Starbucks. A lovely stroll in the sunshine.

At twelve thirty, almost on the dot, your brother and his girlfriend arrived, picked us up from the hotel, and drove south out of Lisbon to a quiet beach area called Praia da Fonte da Telha. We had lunch and a few beers at a superb restaurant, then sat on the sand watching the kite and wind surfers. A fabulous way to spend a few hours.

I’m not sure you would have enjoyed this evening, though: probably far too late for you ~ we didn’t go out until eight thirty, sat down to order dinner at ten, and returned to the hotel just before midnight. Portuguese and Spanish people do eat late.
You would always have your dinner at six, on the dot. Such a hard and fastened routine for you. But it was what you had become used to.

Thinking of you every step of the way.
Love you so very much.
Missing you always.

xxxxxxx

The beach bar sandy seating area

A terrific setting for lunch

Dad, your brother and I

Smiling in the sunshine

Frankie Angel Bear on the sand dunes

A quiet spot