Just pack and go home

There, after friday we are back on negative temperatures

… that takes me a day to do in the office PC takes half an hour in my laptop at home

Shortly after I first arrived I went to a house party with some friends. It was the middle of winter. As usual guests contribute with drinks and/or snacks. We took beer. Unfortunately we had just bought it so it wasn’t cold. When I said this to the people in the party instead of the normal ‘put it in the freezer to cool faster’ that I would hear in Portugal they said ‘just put it outside in the garden, it will cool in no time’(!!!!) That’s something I wasn’t expecting! I supposed that thinking of it it makes perfect sense as it is very cold in the winter but it was weird to me anyway.

Later I was told that students who share accommodation, and therefore have limited space’ often put their stuff in a bag outside the window instead of the fridge. They only have to be careful so it doesn’t freeze in case it’s milk and yogurts and stuff

It has been surprisingly mild and pleasant in this part of England. Not much rain and temperatures in double figures. It’s starting to feel like Portugal (just need a bit of Sun)!! I’m not even wearing my feather coat anymore.

I hope I’m not speaking too soon and that it stays like this.

I was only disappointed with this film in one aspect: damn Texan accent! Didn’t understand half of it! But I suppose that is my problem, not the film’s

The half that I could understand led me to think that this is a masterpiece. Again a bit weird and very violent (it seems like this year starts with a great number of violent films but I’m not the romantic comedy type so I might be biased). Great performances, great sceneries, great story. One that I definitely want to see again (preferably with subtitles). One to add to the DVD collection.

The nomination for best movie is a fair one.

Very, very, very good film. OK, it’s a musical and sometimes it’s a bit annoying when they start the singing business, but the good thing is that you can understand everything even when they are singing and without subtitles

A bit weird (we are talking about Tim Burton here), very gory but very well made. Keeps you there and not look at your watch to see when it ends, which for me is a good indicator of the quality of the film,

Be warned, though, if you are easily impressed, especially if you are sensible to blood. There is loads! In fact more blood than the average horror movie. And it has some gross scenes and ideas behind it. Not scary at all though.

Loved it! Recommend it with caution.

E impressionante como estes tipos me levantam a moral em qualquer situacao. Sempre foi assim. Ha anos que e assim.

A ouvir Xutos tudo parece muito menos mau.

Obrigada Xutos

Depois de levar meses a ler o segundo livro da triologia Inheritance – Eldest (o primeiro chama-se Eragon com direito a filmezito e tudo) de Christopher Paolini, decidi virar-me para livros portugueses. Faz-me falta ler em português. Da para descansar um bocadinho.

Decidi que os livros que vou ler em português tem que ser de autores portugueses. Autores estrangeiros prefiro ler no original ou então estrangeiro por estrangeiro compro em inglês que e muito mais fácil de comprar e mais barato graças a Amazon, the Book Depository e outros sites.

Como não sei o que se anda a passar na literatura portuguesa (e porque, vergonhosamente, nunca li muitos livros de autores portugueses), pedi conselho ao meu pai. Digamos que tenho grande preferência por livros de fantasia com dragões, elfos, ou do tipo templários, idade media, etc. Gosto de livros que me levem a sítios impossíveis, imaginários, onde nunca irei sem ser através da imaginação. Nao e assunto que abunde na literatura portuguesa, pelo menos ate recentemente. Claro que já li outros romances de palcos mais ‘reais’, menos fantasiosos, mas já foi há muito tempo e, curiosamente, a maioria e de autores sul americanos (o que adorei os ‘Cem anos de Solidão).

‘Portantos’ la fomos nos a FNAC. Eu tinha que la ir comprar uns dicionários de Inglês-Português e vice-versa para mim e para o moço, que aqui por terras de sua majestade deixam um bocadinho a desejar. Sao metade do tamanho e corre-se o risco de levar com um Inglês-Brasileiro por isso aproveitei.

Encontramos os dicionários (ele ia tendo um treco com o preço- as únicas coisas que sao mais baratas em Inglaterra do que em Portugal sao livros e CDs), comprei um livro novo de um autor português (falarei dele quando o ler) e em casa o meu pai emprestou-me mais uns quantos da colecção dele.

Ainda bem que levamos malas grandes. Voltamos a Inglaterra carregados de cultura .

Escolhi um dos que o meu pai emprestou, um mais pequenino que o que comprei e muito grande e depois do Eldest prefiro algo que não leve meses a ler. E o conhecido Delfim, do conhecido José Cardoso Pires. Ja vou a mais de meio. E estou a adorar! E passado numa pequena aldeia nos anos sessenta. Historia a parte, estou a adorar a forma castica e familiar com que os personagens falam, os costumes, e acima de tudo a forma como o autor escreve, a linguagem descontraida, e podia continuar por aqui a fora. Enfim, muito bom! Vamos la a ver como e que acaba

Edit: Ja estou toda trocada com o inglês e o português. Já nao sei como se escreve em nenhuma. As regras sao muito diferentes… Ah, e os acentos, so cá estão os que o dicionário encontra…

For the second year (and I think it will become a tradition) we decided to spend Christmas with Russ’s family and New Year in Portugal.

Christmas was great just like last year. The usual divine food (diet on standby until January) and lots of presents!  And, of course, the most important, the people: lovely as always

The presents were great! I got a coffee tree so I can grow my own coffee, if I manage to keep it alive… I find it funny how I usually get presents related to coffee. It’s great! Although in this case I’ll have to wait a couple of years until the tree grows enough.

Russ got a great present as well although it’s for common use: An electric blanket!! I wonder how I managed to survive without it. Our flat is very cold and the heating is not the best but now… Now going to bed is a pleasure. It’s so good to jump in and find the bed nice and warm. Ahhhhh…

Also got a Rocks and Minerals book from Russ and a grow your own mineral set (just for fun), a therapy pillow and lots of other things. Very good!

We stayed for a week (the children were there for most of the time which was a bit odd for me- they are growing fast! But again I’m lucky that they are very well behaved and happy children so it’s not that difficult to be around them), came back home for a day and flew the next day to Portugal

We stayed in Portugal for 10 days this time. A bit longer than usual.

There were some works being done at my place so we had to stay at my dad’s. Fantastic! Not only it’s closer to everything, with a great view and a very pretty house, they also cook a lot better than we do

M. (my stepmother) was at home for the festivities but then she had to go back to the hospital. It is something I will not talk about much more because it’s too personal and difficult and a family matter.

I spent most of the time with with my dad and visiting my mum but I still had time to see all the closest friends. But most of the time was dedicated to the family. My priorities have changed a bit in the last few months. Instead of trying to see as many people as possible I focused on having quality time with the ones that matter the most: a handful of friends (the best) and my family. It was a lot more rewarding and relaxed

New Year was at Praca do Comercio with a live show and fire works. And then a visit to Bairro Alto for a few more drinks

We still had time to go shopping for a new coat (mine was too hot for the weather there) and for quite a few Pasteis de Belem Fatties! I also ate one of my favourite dishes, Cozido a Portuguesa, until I couldn’t move

Russ could tell you more about the Italian restaurant that my dad took us (twice) and it’s divine white chocolate mousse. If he ever writes on his weblog again 

And that was it. A very good holiday Nice and relaxing with the people we love. That’s how it should be

It was a very good long holiday. I really enjoyed it