#offlife

Even when the sun shines the pace of life in Portugal is slow as chilled honey. People sort of drift in and out of whatever is happening, and though very slow, things do eventually get done.

I have managed to get a pile of wood delivered as far as the highroad of my mountainside ridge. There is still another 200 meters to go of hauling to the site. I hear the guy with the tractor will be here "end of the day" but have no idea when that will be.

Its an incredibly beautiful day today, the sun is only too hot if you are directly under it and not moving. The air is chilly, the shade perfect. But I am antsy to get moving on the cabin. The weather will be sunny and hot for a few days but rain could return anytime and working with green lumber is conducive to rainy and wet.

M is on the train having flown in this morning. With some luck we may be able to get to work in the next day. It will be interesting to see how she handles construction.

The land is already starting to look overgrown again despite the charred hills of ash just a few months ago. Nature thrives in destruction, and its ability to rethink and regroup the environment is astounding.

For now the hillside is covered in beautiful tiny flowers of yellow, cream and violet. The fern is already returning though and the first shoots of bramble can be seen here and there, an enemy I will be doing much battle with over the coming years.