Atlantic coast in the north of Portugal, 2021

Our friend Joe enjoys one of the best views of Lisbon from his apartment in Cacilhas.

Note the tiny blackbird, enjoying the sunset.

At Adamastor, Parede August 2021

Modern life. Staring into a screen instead of taking in one of the most beautiful Western European capitals.

Palacio Marques Pombal, Oeiras 2021

Lunch in the square, no cars. Oeiras, 2021.

Marques Pombal palace and park. Newly renovated fountain. Oeiras, 2021.

Connecting a cartridge the right way.

Milfontes

Detail from house in Parede

Detail from house in Parede

Detail from house in Parede

Clinging to the cliffs on the western edge of the continent of Europe.

I love a nicely laid table. This one in the Hotel Albatros in Cascais. And, yes, those are fish knives and forks.

Sunset. Again.

The quayside cranes dominate the west-facing view.

A colourful seafront in Trafaria.

Some very nice places to eat in Trafaria.

We hatched a plan to live in Trafaria, across the river from Lisbon. It didn’t survive the week we spent there. The packs of feral dogs barking through the night were a factor.

Japanese family enjoying the cherry blossom. Cold early spring day.

Minolta Hi-Matic

One Sunday morning we trudged through virgin snow on the outskirts of Moscow to visit a craft market. It felt like a scene from Dr Zhivago.

Olympus OM-2

Olympus OM-2

The first lockdown was lifted and we visited some old haunts. Cafe Versailles is one of the best patisseries in town. Here is Clare enjoying lunch.

Nokia 7.2 Snapseed

Usually impossible to get a seat on the terrace at this old-fashioned cafe in central Lisbon. During the first lockdown we had three waiters arguing over who would serve us. When we were served we had the best gin & tonic I have ever had. Just Gordons, with regular Schweppes served over ice and lemon in a balloon glass.

Fujifilm X100

We visited this small town north of Porto on the strength of an article in Monocle. The article highlighted the mid-century architecture of the second-homes built for the elite from the wealthy towns of the north during the 1950s and 1960s. It is indeed a charming town, good for cycling and eating fish.

Nokia 7.2 Snapseed

We were in Geneva on business. Clare took a photo on her phone. It came out dark and gloomy, but came to life when I cheated and “watercolourised” it.

We once owned a weekend apartment in Wimereux. Makes me happy just thinking about it.

Highly recommended if you need a break from Portuguese or bland international cuisine. Authentically Austrian sausages and schnitzel, washed down with Gruner Veltliner or Austrian beer.

Notice the copy of Bob Dylan’s latest album propped nonchalantly on the chair next to Clare. I’d just bought it in FNAC. Very properly they don’t give out plastic bags. The disc (discs it’s a double) was shrink wrapped so I just carried it out like that. It got home unscathed and it’s fantastic late-period Dylan. His best in years, no question.

Nokia 7.2 Snapseed

Before the pandemic affected the north of England, but with an appropriate sense of foreboding.

Nokia 7.2 Snapseed

Nokia 7.2 Snapseed