Last photo from Portugal

[LissacFrance]

One of the benefits of having someone who lives in Lisbon taking you around is the info you receive. The magnificent statue on top of the pillar has nothing to do with the name at the bottom. Long story but basically the statue was made in Holland for a Leader of some country in South America but, before it was delivered he`d been thrown out and did not want to pay all the costs. Result the boat carrying the statue stopped in Lisbon and sold it to the highest bidder. Hence the very tall pillar so that no-one can see who it is.

New theme coming up shortly.

[sassy59]

Great story and photo. Thank you. Xxx

[Damon1864 Volunteer]

Lovely photo and a great story thank you for sharing. Have a good night and take care 😊 Bernadette and Jack 🐕 xxxxxx 🌻🌻

[Alberta56]

Lovely story and photo. i would have wanted to buy a big bunch of flowers. xxx

[Ergendl]

Love that story! Brought a real smile to my face.

[Stratos20]

Ha ha love it 😊

[Izb1]

It looks like a lovely place, so glad you enjoyed the trip and had the benefit of an informed tour x

[LissacFrance in reply to Izb1]

Since moving to France, 33 years ago, we have met some amazing people, who have invited us to places we would not have visited. My wife has had 2 trips to USA, me only 1. We`ve been to Norway, curtesy of a European Diplomat. We`ve had lessons in Portugal by retired Head of the Armed Forces. My wife has taught English via the internet to students as far apart as Russia and Brazil. We bacame friends with a Professor of Linguistics, who survived bombings in Afghanistan only to repeat the experience in Lebanon.

[Cloudancer in reply to LissacFrance]

Wow!Your experiences would make a wonderful book x

[LissacFrance in reply to Cloudancer]

I wrote a short book a few years ago for the family which was a recollection of my mum`s stories. I keep meaning to do an update on the family before all our collective memories are no longer trustworthy, and before we all disappear. My mum lived to be 103, she didn`t want to be too old and thought 104 was definitely old. But since then I`ve lost brother-in-law, his son and my sister all with cancer. You forget that when you have an elderly parent, the rest of the family are also getting older, obviously not the case with nephew with brain cancer at 50 years old. You have to make the best of each day.

[Cloudancer in reply to LissacFrance]

You are so right,- many of us think that we have more time left than we actually do,especially with illnesses that give a finite view of survival.Forget which oriental philosopher wrote something along the lines of" the strongest memory is weaker than the palest ink".

Enjoy updating your memories .

[LissacFrance in reply to Cloudancer]

Updating will be easier once I`ve found copy of original. Hope it is somewhere on an external harddisk. I`ve changed computers several times as well as moving house twice since my first writings. I`ve even managed (somehow) to lose family bible which weighs about 2 kg!!

[Cloudancer in reply to LissacFrance]

Our family Bible also got mislaid all records lost now will never suss out which Hercules was married to which Elizabeth in 1740!!!!Enjoy your research and hope that the elusive hard disk thingamebob re appears

[LissacFrance in reply to Cloudancer]

Hopefully I can get hold of a hard copy, I printed about 10, from my niece. I can then scan it and convert back to word doc. Or I could use my brain and rewrite the original "Sheffield, the birthplace of family and friends". In the meantime I`d better get some food on the go. Wife has gone down to the caravan, waiting for physio to turn up.

[Izb1]

How fabulous, all adds to the rich tapestries of life x