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Back to School

As the new school term begins peace and order return to the farm – in theory….

I was so looking forward to having a bit of time to myself and the Boy King was really looking forward to seeing his friends and teachers again, so it was with great joy that we climbed the steps up to school on Wednesday morning.

I picked him up at lunchtime as agreed – just a half day to start with – and just happened to mention that I hadn’t been able to get a doctor’s certificate yet only to be told that he couldn’t come back to school until I had got one. They have had to be extra strict this year due to the Swine Flu epidemic.

This was a disaster as the local doctor is on holiday for another week or two and I dread to think how long I will have to wait until we can get to see him. So off we went to Caldas to the Montepio. This is a useful place to know about, it is located in the centre of town near the bus station and you can just turn up and see a doctor without an appointment. Obviously there is a charge, I was quoted €40.

Bearing in mind that the Boy King would never forgive me if he couldn’t go to school the next day, I gritted my teeth and decided that broke as we are it was money well spent. So off I went to the multibanco to draw out the last of our cash. Now, I might have been a bit flustered and I was rather distracted trying to decide if I was doing the right thing, but somehow I managed to enter the wrong pin number, three times and, of course, my card was swallowed up. Gone!

We went to the park instead……

Whilst the Boy King was causing havoc on the slide I had a brain wave and called Dr Barbara, the German doctor who writes an occasional blog for Silver Coast News. She was able to help and suggested that we came the next morning.

The Boy King took to her immediately and was very happy to sit on her lap while she checked his heart and lungs and looked in his ears. She even let him listen to the stethoscope and he heard his own heart beat which he found very amusing. With the certificate signed he was happily back at school by lunchtime. Phew!

It was the first time I had met Doctor Barbara and I have to say that it was truly a pleasure, she is such an interesting person and does wonderful emergency aid work overseas. Have a look at her blog, (when she has time to write one).

The other event for us this week is the arrival of my parents from England. This time they have come by car and ferry and brought not only a car full of goodies for us but also my Aunt! We love seeing them all but due to our rather limited accommodation they are staying elsewhere, so we will have to make do with meeting up in various places every day.

Finally, I should mention Roly the pig. It is now almost three weeks since Miguel carried out the artificial insemination but I have severe doubts about whether it has worked. She seems to be showing signs of coming into season and is therefore probably not pregnant. We have yet to have it confirmed by Miguel but I am not too hopeful. So, we’ll just have to try again, how disappointing.

The pig and the chickens are all very happy at the moment as this time of year is bursting with a surplus of delicious food. They are currently feasting on figs, peaches, apples and pears. Egg production isn’t very good though, so I’m seriously considering playing some music to them. Apparently, it has been known to have good results…..

Jake our lovely dog has managed to stay safe all week, and seems to be quite happy to do so. Thank goodness, we have had quite enough drama in that department.

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