Here at last!

Had a very pleasant gathering last night with our charming new neighbours, friendly young couple with a two month old baby. We invited them in for a glass of champagne to celebrate their baby Henrik and the arrival the previous day of Jonathan and Mari’s daughter Elise.(Nin’s first “proper” grandchild). At last and after various delays our day of departure has arrived. Up relatively early for final preparations, packing and cleaning.
Taxi arrived on time at 11. Luckily we had specified that we wanted an estate car. Just as well as we managed to fill it with three large bags, two folding bikes, two lots of hand luggage and ourselves, plus the very friendly Vietnamese taxi driver. Got to the airport in record time as the driver exceeded the speed limit all the way. Managed to get all the luggage and bikes checked in with a help of a very friendly check in clerk, middle-aged Brit who had lived in Norway for 25 years and who was pleased to see fellow Brits.
Not too long to wait for departure by the time we had cased the taxfree shop and had some lunch.
Plane was half an hour late taking off, and we arrived in Faro at quarter to six just as it was getting dark. Collected our not very large hire car and just managed to squeeze in all the luggage. Managed to remember the route to Tranquil Escapes. Met enthusiastically by Sue who was obviously pleased to see us( luckily escaped the attentions of garrulous John). However, did have sad news that John Ross, the oldest member of the boules group had died last week.
Found that Anita had been here and left large bag of fruit and a bottle of white port as a welcome back gift. It’s really good to back to a place where you know people and feel welcome. Also more relaxing than our sense of somewhat nervous adventure last year when we set off from the airport in the dark to find this place in the middle of nowhere armed only with Sue’s rather idiosyncratic instructions.
Went to next door restaurant to get dinner, but they were closed for food and only serving drinks, and clearly doing that under protest. Had to opt for another place nearby where we had been with the boules club last year. Ok dinner, very pleasant people (waitress we remembered from last year) and just in time as they were closing for a month the next day. Finding open restaurants in the Algarve at this time of year a bit of a hit and miss affair as many close for a month’s holiday in either January or February.
Back to unpacking chaos in flat, but postponed tidying until tomorrow.