Preparations for the opening of the Christmas market in town are going well by the looks of it
All the chalets are up on the main square and the ice rink is up but not yet ready to freeze.



🌲🎄🌲 Looking forward to it all 🌲🎄🌲

🍂🍂🍂
Quite a typical autumn day here, not necessarily cold but fairly windy. Of course as a result leaves are blowing away from the trees and settle all over the ground and in the pool. A daily sweep is certainly not enough to clear it all. I fear it will take weeks before we are rid of them.
🍂🍂🍂
I have read a number of articles on the subject and “copied & pasted” them and fed the results to ChatGPT to make a summary for a blog post. I tend to agree with the analysis.
▫️Introduction:
In the wake of recent attacks by Hamas on Israeli civilians, it is crucial to analyze the underlying factors that led to these acts of violence. Contrary to popular belief, these attacks were not driven by religious animosity but rather by the ongoing occupation and settler colonialism in Israel/Palestine. By examining the power dynamics and historical context, we can gain a deeper understanding of the situation and work towards a just and lasting resolution.
▫️The Fallacy of Religious Motivation:
It is important to dispel the misconception that Hamas’ attacks on Israeli civilians were rooted in antisemitism. While these attacks were undeniably wrong and violated international law, they were not driven by hatred towards Jews. Instead, they were a response to the oppressive conditions imposed by the Israeli occupation and settler colonialism.
▫️Power Dynamics and Occupation:
In Israel/Palestine, Jewish people, particularly white Ashkenazi Jews, hold the majority of power. Jewish Israelis are the occupiers, while Palestinians are the occupied. The Israeli government exerts control over every aspect of Palestinian life, including restricting access to education and healthcare, demolishing homes, and imposing collective punishment on Gaza. These oppressive measures have fueled resistance from Palestinians, who seek to challenge their occupiers, regardless of their religion.
▫️Hamas’ Stance on Jews and Zionism:
Contrary to popular belief, Hamas has explicitly stated that their conflict is not with Jews as a religious group but with the Zionist project and the occupation of Palestine. They reject the persecution of any individual based on religious or sectarian grounds. It is crucial to understand that the conflation of Judaism and Zionism is a deliberate tactic employed by the Zionist movement, not by Hamas or the Palestinian people.
▫️The Danger of Misrepresentation:
The misrepresentation of antisemitism and the portrayal of the attacks as an assault on all Jews serve a specific political agenda. These distortions not only distract from the fight against real antisemitism but also hinder efforts to address the urgent need to stop genocide and resist U.S. imperialism. It is essential to differentiate between legitimate criticism of Israeli state violence and instances of antisemitism to prevent the silencing of voices advocating for Palestinian freedom.
▫️The Urgency of the Situation:
Israel’s actions in Gaza, including the targeting of entire families, are part of a long-standing campaign to remove Palestinians from their land. These policies are not driven by a concern for Jewish safety but rather by a desire to secure maximum land with minimum Palestinians. It is crucial to recognize that supporting Israel’s actions does not make the world safer for Jews; instead, it perpetuates the cycle of violence and oppression.
▫️Conclusion:
Understanding the motivations behind Hamas’ attacks on Israeli civilians requires a nuanced analysis of power dynamics and historical context. By recognizing that these attacks were not driven by religious animosity but by occupation and settler colonialism, we can work towards a just and lasting resolution in Israel/Palestine. It is essential to differentiate between legitimate criticism of Israeli policies and instances of antisemitism to ensure that the voices of those advocating for Palestinian freedom are not silenced.
🍉🍉🍉

Not experiencing much novelties or improvement in the treatment of my Diabetes Type II
Today November 14th is World Diabetes Day and I would have hoped for some announcements.
The only improvement over the past few months is that my Free Style Libre captor communicates automatically with my phone. A signal with the glucose reading is sent every minute. I have set up alarms for both high or low readings and I can react accordingly.
🇵🇹 Autumn holiday time 🇫🇷
Up early, too early in fact. Breakfast is not being served yet. We do not have too much time as we must get to the airport to catch our flight back to France.


Very foggy this morning but thanks to the Sat Nav it is easy to find the way to the airport, not so for the needed petrol station and not so for the car hire return spot. We are nevertheless a couple of hours ahead of our flight time when we enter Terminal 2.
The flight is smooth even when passing over the Pyrenees before landing in Toulouse


We are home in no time
End of a very pleasant holiday
Day by Day
🇵🇹 Autumn holiday time
Received a too early phone call from France a short while ago. They obviously did not know I was in Portugal and that we have 1 hour’s difference.
Not a problem actually since today we depart the Algarve and make our way to Lisbon. Might as well try and reach the capital city around lunch time.
Arrived in Lisbon at 13:00 🕐 on the dot. Just in time for a drop of lunch.

Before heading back to the very pleasant hotel for a rest.

Later in the evening go for a walk. Last time I was in this area was 4 years ago.



Before settling down for a drink

A short bite to eat in a place I patronised before. It is a delight watching how they carve these legs of ham.


Then it is bed time. Early start tomorrow.
Day by Day
1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 6 – 7 – 8 – 9 – 10 – 11 – Home
All 📸 here
🇵🇹 Autumn holiday time
Last full day in the Algarve
Brilliant weather this morning

Such a nice day that plans have been changed and we are off to the beach (Praia do Ancão) a mere 6 km away.



Unfortunately the beach restaurant “The bold Octopus” was closing down for the season and therefore not opening at lunchtime as they were due to host a charity event later in the afternoon.
So after a drive around we are back at the Clubhouse for a drink and a sandwich.

Very relaxing afternoon at the villa and get ready to go out for dinner. I believe there will be 11 of us around the table.
Day by Day
🇵🇹 Autumn holiday time
Not much planned for today apart from meeting up for lunch. Reservations have been made at Maria’s Beach Restaurant.
So this morning we take it easy and stay at the villa.

Much better weather today compared to yesterday. Nice to sit outside on the terrace. Il only there were none of these pesky 🪰 flies.


Short trip with an Uber to the beach for an excellent setting and lunch




Back to the villa for a rest / nap and hit the Club House for a couple of Dry Martinis 🍸 in the evening.
Day by Day
🇵🇹 Autumn holiday time
Will go and explore the western Algarve region when I am ready and finished my morning tea.
We head off west and in no time at all we are in Albufeira. First stop is in the shopping mall where all the Xmas decorations are up.



Then we head for the old town centre. Almost got stuck with the car in a very small street which abruptly ended in a cul de sac. Turning the car around is a bit of a challenge. Difficult to find a parking spot in the old town and we end up at the top of a steep hill and walk down to the main street for a spot of lunch.

I am not too impressed with Albufeira, it is very much a tourist town and if I may say so not too well off tourists. The grey weather and the few drops of rain does not help.
We walk up, with difficulty, back to the car and head for Portimão. I follow ocean sailing races and this place is a regular stop before the boats race across the Atlantic. I am hoping to see nice things in the marina.

Unfortunately the weather is getting worse and we head back to the villa in Quinta do Lago. It is not long before we are back in the Club House and the bar where we meet most of the gang. Four of them (2 cars) are heading back to France the next day.
On the way home I bump into 2 other friends who insist I go to their villa for a cocktail.
Not sure at what time I got home and straight to bed
Day by Day
🇵🇹 Autumn holiday time
Good morning world

Off to the shopping malls and outlets before lunch.



I might have a glass of wine (or more) at lunch time so it is sensible to order a taxi / Uber to get to the restaurant where we are to meet up with L & C.


Very pleasant lunch, seafood 🦞 for me



The ride back was in an Uber and the driver French Portuguese. Bumped into some of the gang heading to the Club House so I joined them for a drink.

A nap back at the villa and a very quiet evening is the plan.
But of course plans are there to be changed and therefore it was back at the Clubhouse for a few drinks 🍸 and watch a salsa 💃 demonstration.
Day by Day