Christmas in Portugal

With the New Year came every intention of writing a little more regularly in my favourite creative space here on the blog. However last week I was struck down finally with a flu bug, the full works of high fever, sleepless nights, weak, hacking cough etc etc...still recovering but feeling a little more human today I wanted to do something for myself having worked throughout this bout of illness. Thankfully I work from home so wrapped in a sheepskin and blanket I soldiered on through...being self employed if you don't work you don't earn, which at this time of year with Christmas to be paid for is not an option..



We spent Christmas in Portugal with my family. I have my parents in their late 80s and my Mother not being in the best of health it is important to create as many long lasting memories with them and the rest of the family for Matilda. None of us know what tomorrow will bring so whilst we are all here and able this time of year, for me, is all about the family unit. Sadly the break began with a disappearing Ryanair flight and Matilda being sick but thankfully she was all better for Christmas Eve. We spent that day at my Sisters as it is also her birthday then Christmas Day was hosted by my niece and her partner. Both days we were fit to burst with the generous amount of food and wine consumed, typical of most Portuguese gatherings but taken to the extreme at Christmas.



At the end of the break we managed a couple of all important days to ourselves. We met the other half of roomtobreathe my dear friend Bea and her partner Pedro for a delicious lunch in Lisbon followed by coffee with my oldest friend Isabel and her family at the world famous Santini ice cream parlour. If there's one place you should visit in Lisbon on your next trip it's this place. The Ice cream is to die for! The following day we headed to the Lisbon Aquarium which I wrote about here a few years ago. Matilda didn't remember her last trip there so it was super exciting for her. Beautifully designed with a huge tank filled with all manner of sea life taking centre stage you can sit for hours beguiled by the slow movement of the fish gliding past.




Christmas went by in a flash and before we knew it we were back to the normal rushing around routine plus the invasion of the virus. Don't you just love this time of year?

How were all your Christmases?

Comments