We’ve had a mixture of weather, with some rain most days but also quite a lot of sunshine. Yesterday was glorious, so we set off to find the gypsy market in Lagos, the next town. The gypsy market only takes place on the first Saturday morning of the month, so I was eager not to miss it.
We caught the bus from just outside the gates of the complex where we’re staying, and it took us meandering through tiny villages until we reached the esplanade at Lagos. Since everyone else was alighting there, we thought we’d be best to follow suit. Then we just tagged along behind the nearest group of walkers and fetched up at the market.
It was like all markets worldwide, so we bought a few items to take home with us and spent the rest of our day wandering along the esplanade, looking at the marina, drinking coffee, and treating ourselves to the most fabulous doughnuts from a street vendor. When we’d eaten, drunk and looked our fill, we caught the bus back.
The bus cost just three euros each for the return journey and was very comfortable. Plenty of room for Ed’s legs (he’s tall) and air-conditioned. We had a great day, and sunshine throughout.
Today is very showery, so we’ll probably go out for a walk later on. Meanwhile, I’ve had my swim (and jacuzzi, naturally) and Ed is busy reading.
I quite like this life.
Having a good holiday. On Tuesday – Ed’s birthday – we walked into the next village, had lunch (fish and chips – how British can you get? We couldn’t find any Portuguese food), walked back and rested for the remainder of the day.
Yesterday it rained on and off all day, so we slipped out between the showers for a fabulous, genuine Portuguese meal at a restaurant just down the road. Actually “slip” is an operative word, for Ed did precisely that on our return journey. There was a kind of slimy mud at the side of the road, he slipped on it and down he went. Since he’s six foot three and big with it, I was so afraid I wouldn’t be able to heave him up, but fortunately nothing was damaged and we reached home OK. Kept looking for signs of bruising, since the doctor put the fear of death into both of us by impressing upon us that we must return immediately at any signs of bleeding – because of the Warfarin – but happily, there was none. Not a bruise in sight.
Today has been gorgeous, warm and sunny with just enough breeze to keep us cool, so we walked the other way along the cliffs into that village, had a great lunch and walked back.
Would show you some photos, but have forgotten my Photobucket password or username or both, so you may have to wait until our return. Yet another senior moment….
We arrived safely despite the threatened storms coming up from Portugal – they didn’t materialise.
Fabulous apartment, with its own private garden complete with sun loungers, swimming pool and picnic table and chairs, these latter thoughtfully placed on the verandah but under cover, which hints at the weather Portugal has been having.
But the weather might have changed with us. Yesterday it was sunny and so is today. Ed and In spent most of yesterday in the local hospital for his blood test and results, and the consultant frightened us to death by telling us that Ed’s blood pressure was far too high and we must come in again next day or monitor it ourselves. Since we have no transport and the hospital is in the next town, I bought him a blood pressure monitor for his birthday, which is today!
Happy birthday Ed – his blood pressure is down this morning (probably shot up due to the four hours we had to wait at the hospital), so I’ve had a quick swim in the indoor pool and we’re going to walk to the next village (only twenty minutes away) and have a slap-up birthday lunch.
We have to visit the hospital again next week, but hope it’s just the two visits (couldn’t get any insurance for Ed, so it’s eating up our holiday pennies).
Watch this space! I hope to be back.
Well, it seems OK. Yesterday morning Ed visited the doctor again, who gave him the all-clear for the flight to Portugal. Since we leave at 7.10am from Stansted, and therefore have to be there at the ungodly hour of 5.10am (yes, there is such a time), we’re driving down to Stansted after lunch today and putting up at a B&B (well, a B anyway. Not sure we’ll feel much like the other B at 4.30am) and leaving the car there. They’ll transport us to the airport and pick us up on the way back.
So here we are – all set. I’m taking a little netbook with me, there’s free wi-fi, so as long as the tiny netbook doesn’t drive me demented, I’ll try and blog a bit while we’re there. Otherwise, see you all in a fortnight.
Oh, BTW, there are ghastly storms in Portugal at the moment! C’est la vie!
Late Monday evening, Ed felt a bit woozy – like you do sometimes if you get up from a chair too quickly. So we toddled off to bed, expecting everything to be all right by the morning.
But it wasn’t. He still felt dizzy, and had a bit of discomfort in his chest. Since we’re due to fly off to Portugal on Saturday (yes, wonderful timing, isn’t it?) we decided he had to see the doctor. We got an appointment yesterday morning and off we drove.
The doctor was wonderful. Checked Ed all over, pronounced “acute atrial fibrillation”, gave us a letter and sent us straight to hospital.
By the time we’d traipsed long corridors finding the right department, poor Ed was feeling grisly. Then we sat and waited while the nurse was busy with another patient with chest pain.
When she got to Ed and stood him up, his legs buckled. With that, about six people materialised from nowhere, got him into a side ward, stuck monitors onto his chest, thrust an oxygen mask over face, and sent me out. It was terrifying.
I sat outside in tears, whereupon somebody bustled up with comforting words and a cup of tea.
Anyway, they were all marvellous. Put Ed on a drip with some stuff to stabilise his heart followed by morphine for the pain, did endless tests, took a chest X-ray and ECG.
I had no phone or money with me, so when Ed was stable and much better, I came home and rang the family. Al came straight over and we drove up to the hospital again with an overnight bag for Ed.
During the time I was absent he’d be seen by three consultants, and when we got there, a cardiologist arrived. He was very reassuring. Said Ed’s heart had stabilised with the medication and everything else was fine. He put him on Warfarin because apparently the biggest risk with AF is stroke, and sent us home with packets of medication and a letter for our doctor. He said the Warfarin would need to be monitored, but that could be done in Portugal and as long as Ed is feeling all right by Friday, we can fly.
And all this for free. I LOVE the NHS!
He seems fine this morning. We have rung Portugal, who say there is no problem about getting Ed to a clinic, and they’re giving us a ground floor room. So hopefully, all will be okay.
Could do without this sort of excitement, though.
