Sunday 4th.
Back in Central Portugal 4th to 8th December to see our house now the building work is under way. We also wanted to experience what the weather is like in December. Quite naturally we decided to see the house before finding our accommodation. Being Sunday, the house was locked up but we could see that there had been progress. New roof tiles (see photos below) and work had started to restore the original back entrance. The old bathroom had been removed and some pipework installed for a washing machine. A neighbour saw us walking over the terraces of land trying work out exactly where the boundaries were and even though we speak little Portuguese and she speaks no English she managed to explain to us the extent of our land. We later found out, through Paulo the builder, that she grew up in the house from the age of 3 months and still lives in the hamlet. Wonderful.
Back in Central Portugal 4th to 8th December to see our house now the building work is under way. We also wanted to experience what the weather is like in December. Quite naturally we decided to see the house before finding our accommodation. Being Sunday, the house was locked up but we could see that there had been progress. New roof tiles (see photos below) and work had started to restore the original back entrance. The old bathroom had been removed and some pipework installed for a washing machine. A neighbour saw us walking over the terraces of land trying work out exactly where the boundaries were and even though we speak little Portuguese and she speaks no English she managed to explain to us the extent of our land. We later found out, through Paulo the builder, that she grew up in the house from the age of 3 months and still lives in the hamlet. Wonderful.
 Old roof tiles stripped off |  New roof tiles fitted |
We had booked a few days at Sammy's cottage in Salaborda Nova. This is the street sign showing the postcode and geographic coordinates. Great idea.
It was good that Sammy's cottage had a wood burner as it was quite cold when we arrived there at 5pm.
The cottage courtyard had an orange and lemon tree bearing fruit, although the fruit was very hard. Outside the front of the cottage were more orange trees, one of which had decent edible fruit.
Monday 5th.
We met with Fernando and Carlos, our Estate Agents at their office in Pedrogao Grande. My post had been going to their office and there was quite a bit, mainly from the bank. Fernando took us to the council offices to change our address on the fiscal number documents. He then took us to a local bank to open a new account in order to pay the water company. They would only accept direct debits from local banks and as I am with Sandander Totta in Avelar we needed another bank account. The problem was that I had not brought with me any proof of earnings documents. We were able to resolve this by opening a bank account in Susan's name with the occupation of 'domestica' (housewife)! No proof was required but for the first time in many years Susan had to give her parents details, we can only assume this is because we are not married. We were helped very much by Pedro Pliseiro at the Caixa Geral de Depositos bank who ashamed us with his very good command of English. We have learnt that if you ask the Portuguese if they can speak English they usually say no, or a little, but generally speak the language very well, we can only assume they interpret the question in literal sense!
We met with Fernando and Carlos, our Estate Agents at their office in Pedrogao Grande. My post had been going to their office and there was quite a bit, mainly from the bank. Fernando took us to the council offices to change our address on the fiscal number documents. He then took us to a local bank to open a new account in order to pay the water company. They would only accept direct debits from local banks and as I am with Sandander Totta in Avelar we needed another bank account. The problem was that I had not brought with me any proof of earnings documents. We were able to resolve this by opening a bank account in Susan's name with the occupation of 'domestica' (housewife)! No proof was required but for the first time in many years Susan had to give her parents details, we can only assume this is because we are not married. We were helped very much by Pedro Pliseiro at the Caixa Geral de Depositos bank who ashamed us with his very good command of English. We have learnt that if you ask the Portuguese if they can speak English they usually say no, or a little, but generally speak the language very well, we can only assume they interpret the question in literal sense!
We met Paulo the builder at the house and he showed us what progress had been made and discussed the work in hand.
The spiral staircase had been removed and would need to be broken up to enable it to be scrapped. A large space had been made in the lounge ceiling to take the new concrete staircase. The floor tiles in the second bedroom had been removed. This room will become the main bathroom. We agreed to have the outside terrace tiled and a railing erected around the edge. This is the roof above the kitchen and the tiling should prevent water penetration.
The spiral staircase had been removed and would need to be broken up to enable it to be scrapped. A large space had been made in the lounge ceiling to take the new concrete staircase. The floor tiles in the second bedroom had been removed. This room will become the main bathroom. We agreed to have the outside terrace tiled and a railing erected around the edge. This is the roof above the kitchen and the tiling should prevent water penetration.
Paulo gave us a card requesting us to collect a letter from the Post Office that had to be done by 6pm. We dashed off to Pedrogao Grande only to be told that we had to collect from the Post Office at Alvares, which meant going back past our house in the other direction. And they closed at 5pm! This came about because our property is situated south of the river, which is the Leira county border, but the village of Mega Fundeira is north of the border in the Gois council area. Anyway, we found the Post Office at 5.15pm and it was still open and the clerk spoke English. The letter contained confirmation of our property's area and showed the tax we are liable for.
Tuesday 6th.
Fernando kindly took us to the water company to register Susan's bank account. There was no outstanding payment to make. Back at the office, Carlos gave us the name and directions to a kichen supplier just off the IC8 on the way to Ansiao. As we had to pass near Avelar, where my bank has a branch, we called in to change my address and to try my newly activated bank card. This was finally achieved with the help of a portuguese customer who spoke English. The receptionist at the kitchen company was English, having lived in Portugal since she was 12. This was very helpful. Unfortunately, we had to postpone their visit to the property, suggested for Wednesday, as the builders were busy in the kichen area.
Fernando kindly took us to the water company to register Susan's bank account. There was no outstanding payment to make. Back at the office, Carlos gave us the name and directions to a kichen supplier just off the IC8 on the way to Ansiao. As we had to pass near Avelar, where my bank has a branch, we called in to change my address and to try my newly activated bank card. This was finally achieved with the help of a portuguese customer who spoke English. The receptionist at the kitchen company was English, having lived in Portugal since she was 12. This was very helpful. Unfortunately, we had to postpone their visit to the property, suggested for Wednesday, as the builders were busy in the kichen area.
At 2pm we had an appointment to see Claudia Vieira, the lawyer (advogada) dealing with our property. She has an office in Figueiro dos Vinhos. As you can tell from the photo, she is absolutely delightful and a joy to work with. She gave us the keys to the property and some more papers, before discussing cats with Susan, as they had established on previous visits that they are both cat mad!
We called back at the house but didn't stay too long as the builders were very busy. We did, however, collect some firewood nearby to use back at the cottage.
We were due to meet Paulo at 5.30pm at Macobolim, a builder's merchants in Villa Facaia. As we had some spare time, we visited the river beach at Mosteiro. It was quite deserted, as expected in December but a lovely place to come in the warmer weather. At Macobolim's, we chose tiles for the bathroom floor and wall, and the bathroom suite, plus tiles for the kitchen floor and walls. By accident, when looking for a letter box we came across some traditional Portuguese tiles - Azulejo's - that we have managed to incorporate in the kitchen. We think the builders merchants was pleased to get rid of them as the portuguese have modern kitchens nowadays.
We called back at the house but didn't stay too long as the builders were very busy. We did, however, collect some firewood nearby to use back at the cottage.
We were due to meet Paulo at 5.30pm at Macobolim, a builder's merchants in Villa Facaia. As we had some spare time, we visited the river beach at Mosteiro. It was quite deserted, as expected in December but a lovely place to come in the warmer weather. At Macobolim's, we chose tiles for the bathroom floor and wall, and the bathroom suite, plus tiles for the kitchen floor and walls. By accident, when looking for a letter box we came across some traditional Portuguese tiles - Azulejo's - that we have managed to incorporate in the kitchen. We think the builders merchants was pleased to get rid of them as the portuguese have modern kitchens nowadays.
At 8pm we met again with Fernando and went to eat at the restaurant Penedo with him and his wife, Claudia and their son Joseph Pedro. Fernando had arranged with the owner to open on an evening when she is usually closed and to provide Susan with a vegetarian meal. Unbelievable. Although we had invited Fernando and his wife out for a meal (this really represented our thanks for all he had done for us) he insisted on paying the bill. We are still in his debt.
Wednesday 7th.
Delivered the letterbox to the house and explained to the builders where we wanted it fixed. Then on to visit Castanheira de Pera, a very popular river beach with a wave machine. Nobody was there being December and 17c. but we could imagine how it would attract many visiters in the summer months. We had a coffee in town before heading back to Pedrogao Grande for lunch at the restaurant Palmeira where, by chance, was Fernando and Claudia. The owner speaks English and we had olives, bread and wine. Susan had an omelette and chips, I had a mixed meat risotto. We also had two coffees. All for 15 euros.
Before meeting Paulo at 5.30pm we took a run to the Cabril Lake and the dam area. More photos on the tab 'Photos Dec 2011'.
At Paulo's house we looked at kitchen styles before seeing his own kichen and liking that one best of all. We were trying to stay traditional without being old fashioned. Paulo will plan the kitchen and give us a price for installation.
Overall, we feel that it is all coming together as we want it to, with the support of Fernando, Carlos, Claudia, Paulo and his workmen.
At Paulo's house we looked at kitchen styles before seeing his own kichen and liking that one best of all. We were trying to stay traditional without being old fashioned. Paulo will plan the kitchen and give us a price for installation.
Overall, we feel that it is all coming together as we want it to, with the support of Fernando, Carlos, Claudia, Paulo and his workmen.
Thursday 8th.A national hoilday in Portugal, a saint's day.
One last visit to the house. No workmen there so we tried the keys and found only one that worked. New doors are required anyway at some future date as they are old and not draughtproof, and Claudia advised us to change the locks.
One last visit to the house. No workmen there so we tried the keys and found only one that worked. New doors are required anyway at some future date as they are old and not draughtproof, and Claudia advised us to change the locks.
We went via Figueiro da Foz on our way to Porto Airport. The temperature showed 20c in the car. As it was a Saints Day and a public holiday, there were a number of market stalls selling all sorts of things on a small beach road with many restaurants. We had a good lunch (another fine vegeterian meal for Susan) before heading off to the airport at about 3.30pm. On the A29 there are the new road tax cameras at various intervals and placed before each one is a sign with the amount of tax you will be charged for that section of road. We were told at the car hire office that we had to pay the charges by Tuesday or be fined.
As we won't be in Portgual to deal with this, we have once again called upon our friend Fernando to come to our rescue.
As we won't be in Portgual to deal with this, we have once again called upon our friend Fernando to come to our rescue.
RSS Feed