First tooth!

I think it's finally happening... that all-important First Tooth is making itself known! At the moment it looks a bit like a pimple ready to burst (pardon the graphic description), but I think in the next day or two we will know for sure!

All of the signs have been pointing in this direction: widening gums, slight temperature increase (emphasis on slight: she went from 37.2*C to 37.4* the other night), unusual crying bouts... but none of the drooling or red cheeks we were thinking would be there... maybe they're yet to come.

I haven't managed to get a photo (yet), however I did manage to take one of her tonight when she was so sleepy she was literally falling asleep while feeding herself.

Unfortunately this was at about 19:00 and ended up being a power nap... but thankfully by 22:00 she crashed for good!

Summertime, and the living is easy: Cascais beaches and Tamera

Part #1: Cascais Beaches

The tourist season is well and truly upon us!!

The three of us headed out for a walk today along the beachfront and were confronted with every possible body type and bathing suit that could be seen on a beach!

Bathers (both the clothing and the people) were one thing, but the activities were another... apart from the obvious swimming and sunbaking, there are pedal-powered contraptions that a slide attached, which people then take out a safe distance before using as their own personal water slide. Genius.

There's also a lot of paddle-boarding going on, which has managed to escape my lens. I've taken a couple of lessons myself... something different to do, and quite relaxing when the water is still.

We're so looking forward to when Margaux is confident enough in the water that we can take her down to the sheltered pool, which you can see in the bottom left picture.


Part #2: Tamera

Tamera is an intentional community situated a couple of hours south of Lisbon. It defines itself as 'a school and research station for a realistic Utopia'. To learn more, go to their website here.

We were given a whistle-stop tour of the grounds and its facilities, as well as an overview of what is strived for within the community - ecologically, spiritually, academically, sustainably, and the relationships and interactions between everyone who lives there. It is a fascinating place, ecologically based around the principles of Permaculture, which we find very interesting and relevant.

In the above photo on the left you can see a lake that, in 2007 was a dustbowl. Through application of Permculture principles and design, they have managed to use the valley as a catchment area for the rainfall and have made it a year-round water supply.

On the left side photo I am standing next to an enormous sunflower plant. Incredible.

It was a very hot day and Margaux was a trooper - as we have come to expect and take for granted!

Summertime, and the living is easy: a visit to Fatima

Thomas and I decided to take Miss Maggie on a jaunt to one of the spiritual drawcards of Portugal: Fatima, which is a beautiful little town north east of Lisbon.

 

The religious history is that the apparition of an angel spoke to three little shepherd children 6 times in the year 1917. These apparitions culminated in the Miracle of The Sun, which was witnessed by 70,000 pilgrims, in October that year.

While the significance of that event shouldn't be dismissed, the place itself has become quite commercial in some respects. For example, people buy stacks of candles and throw them into an ever-burning pit of fire as a token of their devotion. It seems that saying a prayer and lighting a candle just doesn't cut the mustard these days...

(If you look closely, you'll see a woman wearing a red cap in the final photo holding a candle that is taller than she is!)

(Pardon the photo quality; I couldn't find anything decent).

The top photo above shows an amphitheatre that holds, well, tens of thousands of people. Down the left side of the main square there is a lighter coloured strip that you can see some people walking down.

This becomes relevant in the bottom photo because you can see here a man kneeling down with his arm around a boy's shoulder. Thousands of people every year shuffle on their knees from the top of that strip right down to the chapel (with the flat roof) in another act of devotion. Many people who are experiencing spiritual or physical anguish follow this path in the hope of salvation.

It was a very hot, but very fascinating day. Margaux enjoyed relative comfort being carried by Thomas, but even she was exhausted by the end:

More milestones...

I couldn't believe it: overnight (3 nights ago) Margaux suddenly went from communicating with incoherent musical sighs to communicating with proper babbling! It's complete with intonation and a variety of tones and noises. It's what's expected as a developmental accomplishment at about this age, but I was so surprised when it happened.

She's also getting staying very active in communicating her happiness via blowing raspberries, so we're getting a much more clear idea of what mood she's in.

I have no footage of this, but it's an important step nonetheless, so it gets a mention.



Speaking of important steps that deserve a mention, she's also started the crawling process... she now manoeuvers about on her forearms dragging her legs behind her, but every now and then she gets into crawling position and rocks back and forth. It's hilarious: it's like she warming up for a crawl!

We've begun the process of withdrawing things that look like they're about to be in the way - or extracting them from her mouth.



Finally, Margaux has started swimming lessons! Once I have some decent photos you'll get to see what it's like, but she's done awfully well. We've only had one lesson so far, at an indoor pool close to where we live. Actually it's in the most well-kitted-out gym/ wellness centre/ spa I've ever seen but I think we'll be focussing on the swimming pool for the mean-time!

She started off in a very distressed state, not wanting to be separated from my warm body or be floating in the free space of the pool. The teacher was very understanding and gave us some small steps to follow to help Margaux relax in the water. By the end of the lesson, though still not consistently happy, she had experienced all sorts of actions and will hopefully feel a bit more confident next time. Apparently it will take about 3 lessons before she is keen on attending. We shall see.

This has become a rather wordy post, I shall drop in a couple of photos... This is Margaux playing with her latest toy - a battery operated thing that twirls and says 'peekaboo!' and plays music and animal noises, depending on which buttons you touch. She is addicted to it, so I surround her with cushions and can then go and do two-handed things (like writing my blog)...

A purely Margaux montage update

It's high time Margaux had a post dedicated to herself. I take photos of her all the time, so here's a post to show them (her) off - it is a blog described as a life in photos, after all!

From the big photo clockwise: Feeding time at the zoo; resting on Dad's tummy; enjoying being in the water for the first time; finding a comfy position while I am exercising; spending time outside; taking a pause at Mums and Tots



Margaux has been developing some firm friends through Mums and Tots... here are photos of her with Finn (twice), Nina (on the left) and Ana (on the right).

She's been accomplishing all sorts of developmental milestones as well, which I'll detail in the next post... so keep reading!

Summertime, and the living is easy: Domesticity

We've all really been enjoying what summer has to offer in terms of weather and food... meaning we're busy gardening and cooking!


Part #1: Gardening

Our little planters, though they're not too sturdy as structures, are proving to be well worth their weight in edible offerings - and gorgeous marigolds... no prizes for guessing who insisted on those!
 
In the top row we have a pumpkin getting comfortable in the mint planter, tomatoes, basil, and a sneaky beetroot in the shade. The middle row is all about flowers: marigolds in the planters, lantana on the border, and a big oleander tree in the corner. You wouldn't believe it, but the bottom left photo shows a mix of parsley, carrot, and leek plants; then we have our wonderful strawberry giver, followed by our mini bay tree and thyme bushel. And just behind the thyme you can see a random cabbage flower... something Mum inadvertently planted (she just meant to poke the stem in the soil but it embedded itself quite nicely and is now a study plant) when she was here in December which has taken off, surprising us all!

Most of it was deliberately planted, however the pumpkin and a rogue tomato plant underneath the jasmine wall creeper are the result of providential composting!

While Thomas and I did our best not to get sunburnt, Margaux enjoyed some quality time in the shade...

 

Part #2: Making chutney



 

 

It was a clear case of having the ingredients, the inclination, and the time to invest in some solid preserves-making - which Thomas decided fit his definition of an enjoyable weekend...

 

Plum and Apple Chutney, August 2014:

 

 

The top row is all about preparation - including the aversion of onion-induced tears by wearing goggles (yes, I did get approval before adding that photo). The middle row is a before-and-after sequence of the chutney cooking; and finally we have the finished product!





Summertime, and the living is easy: Festas do Mar and time with the Janssens

The tourist season is well and truly upon Cascais - you can hardly hear Portuguese being spoken against the crowd of English, French, and German speakers!

The beaches are packed, the streets are bustling, and there is a perpetual queue outside Santini's - the best ice-cream shop in town...

 

 

 



Santini's... and yes, it's worth it!

Every year Cascais celebrates the Festas do Mar (Festival of the Sea), which means the beaches are packed with towels and sunburnt tourists, there is a live DJ performing fairly constantly, there are nightly concerts, and a couple of designated areas that house temporary markets.

The atmosphere is buzzing and alive, and it's great fun to immersed in - which we did one afternoon recently with Marjolein and Tim Janssen, plus their kids Fen (2 years old) and Bo (3 months old).

The weather was glorious, the company was superb, and the drinks were cold... all in all, a very pleasant way to celebrate it being Saturday.

Vegemite! Oh, and sitting up...

I've made the bold move to introduce Margaux to Vegemite for breakfast. Ah, Vegemite; that Australian black gold.

I was slightly surprised - although of course I shouldn't have been - that she took to it immediately. Usually with the foods we give Margaux she will play with the taste and texture in her mouth for a while before gobbling it up... with Vegemite there was a couple of seconds of hesitation and then in the hatch it went!

Oh, I spoke slightly too soon... I'm trying to type this and supervise breakfast at the same time, and Maggie just got a dollop of Vegemite where I had unevenly spread it on the bread. Not impressed. Still she's trooping on with the next piece...


As for the other significant event in Margaux's life, she's definitely a sitter-upperer these days!

At the moment I prop her up and she sits for as long as she deems appropriate, the she falls backward and giggles, turns herself over, and continues with the donuts on the floor I mentioned earlier. I think she will feel like the shackles have been removed once she gets crawling!

Andancas - an International Dance Festival

Before I write about the Andancas Dance Festival - which is pronounced as An-dance-as, as there is a squiggle under the 'c' that I can't type with my keyboard - I have an important milestone of Miss Maggie to share: She is now sitting up, though briefly, unsupported! At the moment it lasts about 20 seconds before she topples relatively gracefully sideways but she's working those abs like the little champion she is.

And she's definitely on the way to crawling... currently she does little donuts on her tummy on the floor as she tries to change direction, which is very cute for me to watch but entirely frustrating for her. We may have to start toddler-proofing the house soon, which I imagine will frequently be a case of trying to close the gate after the horse has bolted... she will eat or pull out something we hadn't even considered would need to be protected! We shall see.

As for this post's title...

Thomas and I decided to introduce Maggie to festivals by spending last weekend at an International Dance Festival in Evora called Andancas, which had been going since the previous Sunday. It was filled with workshops of traditional dances from all over the world: African, swing, salsa, Scottish... you name it, it was there! Following each workshop the music was added and the participants performed whatever it was they had learned. Brilliant stuff.

Margaux kept Thomas happily entertained while I attempted some of the solo dance options (I didn't feel too comfortable asking a perfect stranger to dance a rather intimate salsa with me)... thankfully, however, we have no photographic footage to bear witness to that!

There was also the usual festival atmosphere: craft and clothing stalls (do you like my new skirt in the top right photo?), and principally vegetarian fare being served up by a variety of vendors. It was also very dry and very hot - which made me quite pleased we weren't camping!

We all loved it and are keen to explore more festivals (maybe even camping there) in Portugal and beyond.

A Water Baby!

Well, this is going to be a short but significant post: after Margaux's reluctance in the water at Corsica I was developing hesitations as to whether she would enjoy the swimming pool (and, more importantly, given where we live) the sea.

My fears were partly allayed at Mums and Tots on August 5th, when she happily dipped her toes into the pool water and then entertained herself inside a lovely inflatable swimming ring provided by Valeria!

Hooray! Now we just have to brave the beach...

A visit from Helen and Mark Randell - all the way from South Australia!

On August 3rd we were pleased to be able to welcome Uncle Mark and Helen in Lisbon. Luckily for us, they had stopped in Portugal on their 5-week tour of some of Europe (culminating in a steam-engine themed tour in England, which Helen has a few reservations about... I can't think why).

After spending a couple of days touring some choice cities in the country, they concluded that they had allocated far too little time to seeing Portugal. Well, they'll just have to come back!

We principally split into two halves - the men talking geology (with Margaux - being carried by Thomas in a front-pack - soaking it all in, I'm sure), and Helen and I having an in-depth natter, which I haven't had the opportunity to do before.

We spent a lovely late afternoon wandering around Old Cascais, followed by an aperitif at our place, and then on to dinner at 5entidos. The restaurant's name is Cinco Sentidos (5 senses), and this is how they spell it - it's not an odd typo on my part!

It was a simply splendid evening - which we would love to do a variation on when they decide to explore more of the delights this country has to offer.

Vive La Corse! Keeping it in the family

This holiday in Corsica marked the first time that the three Bouchery cousins really got to know each other. Technically they'd met twice before (at Christmas and then at Marie and Scholastie's wedding) but they were all too young to appreciate it.

They had such a ball together!

Margaux had quite a few 'firsts' on this trip, the best one of which was laughing while not being specifically entertained. This video captures it best:





Hippolyte was bouncing around like a jack-in-the-box from the time he woke up until he collapsed, but when he was around Margaux he was like a different character. He was so calm, kind, and patient with her - stoically standing there while she pulled his hair, poked his eyes, and explored his face with her hands. He would lie there on the carpet with Margaux and just watch her or gently interact with her. It was beautiful to see.

Josephine and Margaux also enjoyed each other's company, even if it was a little more tentative from both parties. I think they were both curious about the other, and where each of them fit in this collection of people staying in the house. Josephine was also a bit camera shy - even though she was the resident fashionista!

They all had a great time together, in their various combinations of playing together:

Hippolyte would occasionally crash - as the left-hand-column depicts!

All of the mothers also enjoyed spending time with Miss Maggie. Unfortunately I don't have a photo of Scholastie with Margaux, but she was a keen aunt as well.

It was a truly unforgettable holiday... and until we return, Vive La Corse!



Vive La Corse! Special times with a special friend

One of the best parts of our trip to Corsica was being able to spend some quality time with Imogen, a friend from Australia who works far too hard in London.

She arrived a few hours ahead of Margaux and me in Corsica and became our official chaperone for the next 3 days... starting with the chaotic drive following Jean-Paul from the airport to the house.

Together we had a most amazing time. She, Margaux and I shared a gorgeous bedroom that looks out on to the wilderness of Corsica, as you can see in the photos below.

It was great to see her wind down and get some solid sleep - in fact, Immy managed to sleep through some of Margaux's wakefulness in the night! An educated guess tells me she loved being at the Bouchery residence... she would wake every morning with the same (understandably) awe-inspired wonder at the house and its surrounds:

 Clockwise from the left: The view from outside our bathroom; outside our bedroom; and from the deck next to the infinity pool

On her final night with us, Imogen cooked the most magnificent feast - including a fruit salad (topped with grated chocolate) that made Hippolyte's eyes widen with delight.

It goes without saying (and yet I'll say it) that Immy adored Margaux - and Margaux warmed to her immensely. Im was behind the camera most of the time, but I managed to get a couple of shots in!

 We took advantage of the cooler mornings and went for a couple of delightful walks through the bush. Margaux absolutely loved being in the front pack, unsurprisingly.

On Immy's last day with us, she and I decided to go out for lunch together - with Margaux, obviously. We had a most wonderful meal at Siesta... I'm not one for taking photos of food (unless it's fruit salad with grated chocolate on top), but this one was worth it!

It was a perfect way to end a glorious holiday together. Until next time... wherever that may be!





Vive La Corse! Water, Water Everywhere...

Part 1: The pool

Let me introduce you to the Bouchery infinity pool... Heaven for kids and adults alike!

Clockwise from top left: There's the infinity pool, and then there's the view from the infinity pool!; Hippolyte made the most of the floating toys; he reluctantly agreed to sun protection; he had an absolute ball with Immy; Josephine much preferred Mamu's arms to splashing in the water.


This was Margaux's first proper venture into the water (apart from dipping her toes in on Rottnest) and she was not too keen. As I said before, bath-time has always been a favourite, but I think it was the temperature difference and the lack of boundaries that upset her.

Clockwise from top left: happily contemplating the water from the comfort of Scholastie's lap; a series of three photographs of her swimming experience: crying in the pool, much preferring to be taken out of the water, all snuggled up to Mum later on; feeling contented in the arms of Pappy.

We tried the pool for a second time later in the week, with Scholastie having much better success than me at getting Margaux to enjoy herself. She got Margaux in up to her underarms but all became too much after that. Next time, Gadget, next time...

Part 2: The beach

From the infinity pool to the infinite sea, we experienced it all. Well, Margaux didn't get too close to the water, but she enjoyed watching Hippolyte collecting the most beautiful rocks from the water. His scavenger hunting has a purpose: he and Mammy like to decorate the gardens with the most beautiful ones he finds.

Josephine didn't venture too far from her towel, either... let's let the pictures do the talking:

We managed to fit in another trip to the beach during our stay - this time we managed to time it with an aperitif, although it wasn't a complete co-incidence...

Part 3: Having a bath in a boat

The Boucherys have figured out that the best way to have a bath in Corsica is to combine it with an inflatable toy. Let me demonstrate with a couple of discreet photos:

Vive La Corse! The welcoming committee

Oh Wow. What an A.M.A.Z.I.N.G holiday!!

Marie and Scholastie had invited the three of us to spend time with them at Jean-Paul and Rita's house in Corsica when they were going (with Hippolyte and Josephine, of course!) for their summer break.

Thomas and I decided the best plan would be for Margaux and I to join Marie and Scho, while he headed off to France to look at another potential property and meet some useful people in that regard. We also thought it would be a good plan for me to invite a friend, and I was very glad when Imogen (a friend of mine from the WASO choir) was willing and able to take up the challenge!

Immy arrived in Corsica a few hours before Margaux and me, so she met us at the airport with Jean-Paul - who had made the 1-hour trek to the airport for the sole purpose of guiding us back to their house! Good Lord, the Corsicans drive like they have nine lives... and are up to number 7.

Poor Miss Maggie screamed her head off for the last 15 minutes from hunger and exhaustion (it had been a 5-hour layover in Marseille), so we were all very happy when we arrived! We were warmly greeted by Rita, Marie, and Scholastie - and with a little trepidation by Hippolyte and Josephine.

Rita quickly got the hang of feeding Margaux...

Since Mammy and Pappy (Rita and Jean-Paul) were only going to be with us for a couple of days, I decided to leave Margaux in their capable hands for a few hours while Immy and I settled in.

Everyone spoke English with us, which, as usual, I was very grateful for. I tried with French but it was longwinded and badly expressed, so the general consensus was the English would be better.

Onward, devoted reader... in the next post you will discover the infinity pool at their house!