It has been an absolute whirlwind since the end of August. August 29 we were in Coimbra for our visa meeting with the Immigration Service. With only a minor hitch, it went fine. We both received our cards within a few weeks, and now, at least, don’t have to carry our passports for most official identification situations.
Coimbra is a charming town, bustling and busy. It houses Europe’s oldest university, which sits at the top of the very steep hills that characterize the city. You can’t walk more than a couple of blocks without having to turn up hill. We actually took a cab to the top, and then walked down. It was steep enough coming down that my knees were wobbly by the time we reached the bottom.
Here is the very proud card holder (oops, card upside down). The only real problem is that our tax numbers were not included on the back of the card. This is something that is used for virtually every transaction, every day. Unlike the US SSN, someone finding your tax number won’t allow them to steal your identity. It provides a record of the amount of VAT tax you pay to the government throughout the year, and can add up to some deductions when you file taxes here.
The next milestone happened the following day when we went to the closing on our new home (apartment). We have become friends with the previous owners — such very nice people. They even gave us a ride to the closing, which was held in AlcobaƧa, about a 20 minute ride away.
This is a snap of the dining room as the owners were packing up. It now looks quite different with half of our belongings covered with plastic and the floors covered to protect them during painting.
This is actually looking at the other end of the same room as if your back is toward the windows.
We are now betwixt and between, waiting for the few renovations to be done in the new apartment (we are getting a new kitchen and lots of painting done). Each time our contractor gives us an update, we are 3 weeks to the finish line. We aren’t worried. We have a least on our rental until the end of January.
FOR THE LOVE OF WOOL
I asked my friend, Zelia Evora, to design a contact card for me (I really can’t call it a business card) that would reflect my ongoing romance with knitting, wool, and all things textile. I love that she chose my red glasses as distinctive. Zelia always sews something into her designs, and the stitching at the side reflects my heartbeat. In my case, it is somewhat erratic, that too being distinctly me.
This is the full-size print she made, that is now framed and on the wall. Her husband assisted with shrinking the image down to card size, and adding the graphics.
I find textiles wherever I go. A few weeks ago Bruce and I took a bus ride to Nazare, on the ocean, to meet some people for Sunday brunch. Nazare is best known for its beaches and spectacular waves and its funicular. We were lucky to get a ride up and down that day, since it was closed thereafter for inspection. There had been a horrible accident with a funicular in Lisbon, and now all of them need to be carefully checked against failure.
It was really great to see this man still plying the craft of net making. He might be making market bags now, but his careful, even stitches reflect his long-term ties to the sea and the tools of the fisherman’s trade. I stayed back a bit behind so that I could watch without disturbing him, and his fingers flew, making stitch after stitch and band after band of color. It was really impressive to watch a master at work.
I am so far behind on my knitting that I hesitate to say how little progress I have made. I just finished the final edit of an article for the Scottish Yarn Journal about the Scottish Home Industries of the Victorian era. That will be published in the upcoming issue, and fortunately for me, the socks that were inspired by my research on the Home Industries has been pushed to the next issue for lack of space. That still gives me a little more time to finish the pattern and knit the samples. I am at the toe for the child size, and now have to size up for a medium and large adult version. All are knit in fingering (sock-weight) Scottish wool.
Here is a reminder of that sock. I actually have progressed to the toe decreases, so maybe I could even finish today!
Out and About in Caldas Da Rainha
I continue to be enchanted by our little town. The market is a never-ending source of inspiration and beauty, and the public art is something to smile about every day.
So let me get back to my needles for some real progress, and until next time, try to stay calm, and above all, practice your art and craft with joy.
The red glasses on your new card are so you!!
Enjoy your adventures your knitting will be waiting for you.
Isn’t that the truth! I really think that Zelia completely “gets” me in the portrait. She told me that when she sat down to carve the block, she did it all in one go from start to finish, and didn’t make any revisions before she made the test print. She said she had never done that before, but she just somehow knew exactly what to do. I found that really touching.
I’m so glad to see how much happiness you’ve found in your new home. Looks like every day brings something new.