January 2020. A news report ‘coming out of China’ advised of a new virus. Suggestions were that the virus was like the one that caused SARS. China rarely shares anything other than shipping containers. So, take note. Little did we know the impact it was going to have. Two years later, we still don’t know. …
Tag: Portugal
Measured approach, the “New Year wall” and challenging shopping methods
I find December a strange month. There is so much hype and expectation. The first three weeks are frantic. Rushing around to secure the elusive present. The last-minute Santa lists. Although at fifteen and seventeen, the list isn’t too long (it just changes all the time). In my retail days, I finished work after setting…
Learning Portuguese. My excitement, approach, challenge and determination.
Olá, bem-vindo ao meu blog sobre a aprendizagem de português. Hello, welcome to my blog about learning Portuguese. How do I start learning Portuguese? As someone who has struggled with languages (including English my mother tongue), I know that learning Portuguese is going to be difficult. But not impossible. My initial approach was basic. Really…
Understanding the realities of a simpler life abroad
Moving to Portugal with my eyes open and without rose-tinted glasses is essential. I’ve committed lots of time to plan and feel logistically prepared. In reality, that is the easy part. Planning the practical actions is my default position. But I need to ensure I focus equally on the stuff I can’t plan for. Feelings…
The “buy or rent dilemma” to secure a property for my D7 visa application
Following the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, moving to Portugal from the UK is more challenging. There is a process and there is a criterion. The list of criteria isn’t long, so it should be trouble-free. Easy. Simple. Famous last words. Reading and hearing other people’s stories regarding applying for the D7, some people experience…
Balancing my tactical planning with feelings and emotions
There is no stopping time. Days become weeks. Weeks become months. Every new month is one closer to my adventure beginning in Portugal. I’m following a road that has been travelled many times by other people. It’s not a straight road, but there are many milestones set along the way. I was born in Bath,…