The Saga of the Shepherds and the Grapes.

Nov 06, 2010 14:00

I promised this story some time ago and forgot to post it.

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portugal

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Comments 23

kat_lair November 6 2010, 16:18:55 UTC
Jamie was a bit bemused by the press in the kitchen. (So was I!) - And I! :D

Also amused by this account, though it sounds stressful too...

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moth2fic November 6 2010, 16:37:46 UTC
It was stressful! I thought I needed a definitive version online before anything else happens...

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byslantedlight November 6 2010, 16:38:14 UTC
Eeeh, nothing goes smoothly, does it... I guess I can see that it might be upsetting to have someone take away something that had been abandoned for ages, and so they've been using, but... it sounds like they were a bit more savvy than that, what with the whole lawyer thing...

Fascinating to hear about your olives and grapes and presses and so on though, how fab!

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moth2fic November 6 2010, 16:45:56 UTC
It was the thought of them being upset, and maybe relying on the olives and grazing, etc. that prompted us to be charitable in the first place. We should have known better! Village gossip says they will try almost anything to get a profit from things that are not theirs. Nothing downright illegal like burglary but definitely skirting the edges. But you can't know that sort of thing till you move in, and at first you want to give people the benefit of the doubt, etc.

We hope to get help, maybe some of it paid and maybe some in return for holiday accommodation (this is where you come in...), to make the vines etc. at least profitable for our own use and hopefully looking a little more cared for. The grape juice is yummy.

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byslantedlight November 6 2010, 16:49:24 UTC
It's so hard to know who's genuine and who's on the make... I hate the thought of being suspicious of everyone, but it so often seems to turn out that I should have been... At least it sounds like they're well-known for it (not that that's a good thing in itself, but it's a kind of backing for you guys, I guess...)

(this is where you come in...)
Heeee! I'm liking the sound of that!

ETA - Your lj's looking a bit gorgeous, btw!

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moth2fic November 6 2010, 19:03:23 UTC
Yes, it's sort of reassuring to know we're not alone...!

You mean the art deco sailing theme? I had it in another colourway for a while then it started looking too summery and I found this version. It fits with my constant ferry travel! It's just one of LJ's standard themes - you can find it under themes:travel. I do rather like it!

But it isn't as good as my Firefox 'persona' which is a Pros picture courtesy of Cloudless!!! Do you use Firefox?

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dreamersdare November 6 2010, 20:49:43 UTC
Holy hell. This makes me really glad I've never, um, bought a house in portugal (although, if that's your house on the pic it looks awesome)

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moth2fic November 6 2010, 22:49:01 UTC
The house is awesome and will be even more awesome when it's fully refurbished. It's currently habitable but in need of TLC.

And you know, I could tell you similar tales from the Yorkshire Dales...and even from the wilds of Greater Manchester.

I think most of our problems in Portugal stem from the fact that we haven't quite moved in. We're here a month, there a month on a kind of see-saw. It makes for problems both there and here!

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dreamersdare November 7 2010, 00:06:27 UTC
I was thinking that the whole 'one foot in each country' was probably not helping with the whole issue. After all, when you're not there, who is going to tell them no?

I assume the icon is the house again, yes? It looks like something out of a fantasy novel :)

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moth2fic November 7 2010, 15:21:58 UTC
It feels like a fantasy novel. Sometimes I have to pinch myself. But I'll be happier when I'm completely immersed in the fantasy and not to-ing and fro-ing. All the travelling feels like the worst kind of quest fantasy...

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sc_fossil November 6 2010, 21:00:03 UTC
What a mess with sheep and shepherds and such. Your property and house, however, are gorgeous!

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moth2fic November 6 2010, 22:51:13 UTC
Yes, they are, aren't they!! What with shepherds and internet and so on things have been rocky and I'm tired of travelling to and fro on a monthly basis. But it will be worth it in the end.

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margaret_r November 7 2010, 06:52:26 UTC
'Tis indeen a saga! It sounds like the Shepherd and his sheep (and the Shepherdess) have got away with far too much for far too long - especially if they were creeping around your balcony at night!!!!

Hope you get it all sorted on the next trip.

Loved the pics:)

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moth2fic November 7 2010, 15:39:34 UTC
Well, I really hope it wasn't them at night. There are other explanations e.g. the nightjar that feels we have stolen his nesting place, but still comes to hunt insects. Colin thought I'd been dreaming but I wasn't asleep and I was really frightened.

They will continue to get away with their not-quite-illegal behaviour as long as they target absentee landowners who don't want the hassle of a court case.

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