WAGS 01.12.2021: The Budget Blog.

 

As I am still latibulating, and John was in sunny Edinburgh, there was a total absence of willing bloggers, so this streamlined , cut back report by Rod is all that is available, at present as he is rather beset with the organisation of the 25th event whose number of attendees is declining thanks to the latest Covid variant,

First of course a little music for your entertainment

Rod wrote:-

A very modest turnout for what was billed as a double header for Ingrid and Rod.  In the event we had one each; Hazel and Yves!    Having met up at the Cafe Chapim in Silves carpark we set off along a fairly well worn route along the opposite bank of the Arade from Silves town...well city to be correct.

The first point of note was the odd little hut beside the lane the previous occupant of which was the victim of an unexplained dastardly murder, has now been reoccupied by a family of itinerant immigrants. One might have thought Silves Camara could have done something better than that.  Not only that but a little further on another hut housing some electrical facilities has been similarly occupied. It is to be hoped this won't end in death by electrocution. It will soon be known as Silves Left Bank....well until you come to the other extreme a little further on that is... Quinta de Mata Mouros, now all painted anew for forthcoming wine events. From there little has changed ...the hotel, evidently called Tapada de Gramacho,  looks well kept even if not very busy. Then we came to the long time evolving vineyard and winery, This seems to be finally complete and in production... and furthermore bears the name of Arvad Wines.  I personally haven't tried them but they apparently employ the services of a most reputable winemaker so I will give some a go.

It looks as though the track out to the headland is becoming more and more private and a no- no throughway.  So back we went the same way.....not a great deal more to say therefore. Back at the Cafe Chapim Myriam was there to greet and entertain us. What we learned principally, whilst enjoying one of the best tostas around, was that "chapim" means not only "tit"...the avian variety that is...but also, probably not intended by the owner, a high heeled shoe!- Silves The Left Bank.

P.S. by JohnH.

Ingrid has , mirabili dictu, broken her own rule of never, ever, contributing anything that could remotely be called a Leader´s Report to the blog, by submitting the following picture via WhatsApp, along with this eloquent commentary:-

         "Silves walk last week some info for the interested."

Great stuff; she will be doing whole blogs shortly, I´m sure. As it is, I would be interested to learn what her device means by "Av.Pace 14.11" and if "Calories 751" refers to the number of bananas she ate while on that walk.

Meanwhile, if anyone is interested in Paul´s latest pet word (which he has used in his last two blogs so he must be quite proud of it), that word being "latibulate," its meaning according to a 17th century dictionary is  "privily to hide oneself in a corner." Its derivation is from the Latin "latibulum - a hiding place, den, lair." It has the same root as the more common English word "latent."

One presumes that the action of privily hiding is purely voluntary in Paul´s case.