On Tuesday I was up at the crack of dawn to spend the day at this engineering firm where Ardha and I were presenting as part of their Diversity Networking Day. It all went well. It was strange being holed up in there all day and then coming out at 430pm to 2 inches of snow and a blizzard!
Then wednesday morning we were up early again to drive to Gatwick for our flight to Porto. We left with plenty of time to spare and thank goodness we did because it turned into a nightmare journey as the M40 was shut for 2 junctions due to an accident, and Pete had to navigate a way around the small roads to try and get us there, which of course was what everyone else was trying to do as well. Basically we left at 0815, and last check in was at 1215, (should be able to do the trip in good traffic at just under 2 hours) and we launched up very stressed at 1205!!!!!! We really didnt think that we were going to make it. It was the quickest we have ever been through an airport... we were on the plane by 1235! Still we did make it and that was all that mattered. Vincent was so good as well on the near 4 hour car journey, even though he was sick at one point (we had to stop for a while to clear him up which of course didnt make our nerves any better!).
We arrived safely in Porto, where ther weather was just lovely all the time we were there, just a little bit of a shower on the Thursday but otherwise sunny and then on Sunday, so warm we sat outside in our t shirts.
Dad's new flat is just great (needs some touches... rugs, plants, mugs!!!!) and in a brilliant location close to shops, restaurants, and cafes. There's a good picture of Vincent sitting on telephone directories at Grandad's dining table to have his breakfast.
We had dinner twice at this lovely fish restaurant (we cant work out why it is not more popular as the food is great and very cheap) and lunch 3 times at Cafe Lua where Dad goes to watch the football. The owner and his wife loved Vincent and he got all kinds of treats like lollipops and chicken and rice one day (I think the owner's wife thought I ought to be giving my child proper food rather than just bits of mine!).
There's also a pictue of Vincent eating a very very sticky caramel dessert!
All that eating out has meant that Vincent has learned how to say 'cheers!' and does it everytime we sit down to eat now!
Pete set up a wireless router (which entailed a trip to a mall to buy it) and we took a trip out to a town about an hour's drive away on the Friday.
Pete didnt get to eat his plate of blood this time but did have something called a francescina twice which is this coronary on a plate (basically a sandwich of sausage, chorizo, ham and beef, covered in chese, topped with a fried egg and then smothered in a chilli sauce... nice!)
The flight back was fine, and we even had enough time at the airport this time for Vincent to have a play in the playground.
And we were home in under 2 hours from Gatwick on the Sunday night!
1 comment:
I remember being crazily clumsy when I was pregnant with Annalise. Andrew wouldn't let me drive from about 4 months on! Then, as I lost sight of my feet, I fell over so many times it was ridiculous! Including being 35 weeks pregnant and doing a remarkable arse over tit fall when I was bouncing around infront of my IGCSE class! Think the clumsies go with the pregnancy!!
Glad all is well though - the escalator experience sounds frightening.
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