Happy chappies in the new kitchen !!!!

Well, at last, one year since arriving here I am now the proud owner of a new sparkling white kitchen. (I am using the term "I am" as it seems to be me who spends the most time in it!!!!!!) Rob's main attraction to this room appears to be the fridge and any cupboard which has finger food in it!!!

Because our kitchen is a relatively small room, we have chosen white to enhance the size and keep it looking light, it is north facing and is shaded from the sun. There is absolutely nothing traditionally "Portuguese" in it except for a few knick-naks and some small traditional vinho glasses (which are essential commodities in any event)!!!!!!

We have to say that the renovation work on this room has to have been a labour of love as we have had some arduous tasks to endure (we are not professionals in any sense of the word) but have managed to achieve most of the work ourselves, albeit a small amount of electrical work which although Rob did some of it the Portuguese wiring system is different to the English method so we thought it best to make sure all was correct with it. The hard work was all the prep work, the actual installation of the units was a joy and we have been pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to fit the Ikea kitchen. So now I am enjoying the benefits of a new working kitchen as I can get on with making my jams, bread, pastries, etc., etc., quite merrily without screaming blue murder as I had nowhere to put anything!!!!

I am posting a few pictures of the "old" kitchen ........




And some of the new ...............






OUR NEXT CHALLENGE .......

The last couple of weeks we have been back out into the garden picking up from where we left off last year. Even though we promised ourselves "time off" after the kitchen, we have been lured into more hard labour again as the weeds and grass are not pleasant sights so its been a case of "getting stuck back in" again. Also as the better weather is approaching (slowly) apparently the rainfall has been the worst this winter for 100 years and as it is time here to start getting planted up in the garden we have put off our "time off" for a few weeks when family start coming out to visit. Then, it is a definite rest period for us and cant wait for the pleasure of having family staying with us.