I have been getting nagged for a few weeks now about getting the windows cleaned.
As I am not prepared to fork out the 120 euros the robbing bugger charges, I said that I would do them myself, hence the nagging.
As you will appreciate, this is a highly skilled operation which can only be done when the wind is in the right direction and also working as the sun moves from east to west. I therefore have to start in the morning on the est side and finish later in the day when the east windows are in the shade.
All was going well and I was being very careful so that I would leave no streaks. With only a couple of windows left, I felt my back twinge. Being ever so careful and wanting to finish off, I gingerly carried on.
By the side of one of the windows we have a terracotta garden clock and just as I was finishing the last window, I was suddenly attacked by a swarm of wasps, which flew out from behind the clock. In panic I moved suddenly, jolted my back and put a disc out. In the process of stumbling away harassed by wasps, I got stung 5 times, twice on the leg, twice on the arm and once on my chin, little bastards.

So no golf today as I can hardly walk.
It will be interesting tomorrow as I fly to the UK to collect the grandchildren to bring them back to Portugal for a few weeks while Lynette stays here to parrot sit.

I'm still not paying to have the windows cleaned, better luck next time when I will wear my back support, as for the wasps they are all dead, except for the ones making a nest in one of the birds house and the ones that a making a nest in the cracks in the walls and the ones .......................

Had special dispensation from Ayatolla Hodson today to play early before the rest of the field in the Wednesday Texas Scramble golf competition due to going to Cathy's birthday party later in the afternoon, (you must read the later blog on Cathy's party). This meant that we were first to finish and therefore, leaders in the clubhouse.
And there we stayed all day long right until after the last team came in and we were still leaders in the clubhouse coming first in the competition, winning a fantastic 20 euros for each member of my team and only just behind Tiger in the overall winners money list, awesome.

Had a grand day out this week on a canoe.
A number of us got together and hired a canoe on Thursday which sailed from Portimao and headed up the Rio Arade for an hour to Silves taking in the local sites, grotto's, a sardine factory flamingo's, hundreds of storks and a trip around the harbour.
We didn't have to paddle the canoe as it had its own engine with Cap'n Carlos and his cabin boy at the helm complete with his own Vuvuzela. All the wine we could drink was provided along with some water to kill the taste, (it wasn't so bad). Those smarter ones amongst us also took along some beer and some more favourable wine.
Once in Silves we stopped for a couple of hours taking in a late lunch at a local restaurant and of course some more wine.
Two hours later, we staggered back to the boat for the return journey and a little more wine.



This is Lynette convincing herself that she isn't feeling sea-sick.

Boat trip 16 euros each, restaurant bill 26 euros a couple, priceless.

I don't believe that I have mentioned buying myself a new set of golf clubs. My good friend Liz said to me sometime ago, that if your opponent has invested in new technology and you are still using equipment that is 5-6 years old, then you are potentially already shots down against your opponent. Well she has proven to be absolutely correct as I have invested in some new Taylor Made Burner clubs and woods. I have only used them 4 times, 2 of which were in competitions. The 1st time time I scored 39 points and was cut 1 shot from my handicap, the second time I scored 42 points playing from my new handicap and was cut a further 1.8 shots, I was bloody awesome.