People can often have patterns in their lives, and one of my life patterns is that I’ve always been drawn to strong women. I’m not just talking about the iconic trinity of Judy, Barbra, and Madonna. My admiration for women of substance stems from my beloved sister, Carole. She is resilient, beautiful, and optimistic, despite life’s challenges. Carole inspires me and leaves a lasting positive impact on the people she meets.
I wonder if there have been strong women in your life, and if so, which one would you say has had the most influence on you? Also, have you let them know how much you appreciate the impact they’ve had on your life over the years?
I was back at Faro Airport. This time to say farewell to my latest visitor, Dorothy*, a woman of substance if ever there was. She had been both a colleague and friend to me in the UK. Other colleagues often quipped, “Derek is a friend of Dorothy!” As Directors of the UK’s Tax Authority, we travelled together to every major city across the four nations. Dorothy taught me the true meaning of leadership. We were inseparable both in the office and during nights on the town.
One night in Dundee, I found a karaoke bar where even the taxi driver warned us not to enter; the word “rough” doesn’t capture it! When I returned from the bar, I found Dorothy being approached by a man (note to the reader, she is happily married). To my surprise, in an effort to fend off his advances, she told him that we were married.
When he inquired about our occupations, Dorothy, now fully in character and wisely considering the venue, replied bizarrely, “We own a bathroom fitting company.” The man responded, “Great, I’m looking to have a new bathroom installed!” Just then, fortunately my name was called for karaoke, and I took to the stage and announced, “I’d like to dedicate this song to my wife, Dorothy.”
As I was heading back from the airport to Monchique, I received a call from my friend Caroline. I had nicknamed her “Crazy Dog Lady” as she collected dogs the way some women collect shoes. She was also rather fond of a glass of wine or two (you know the type). Caroline had moved to Portugal with her husband, who had unfortunately died not long after. Although she could have returned to the UK, she chose to stay, even though her house was isolated on the mountain. I admired her strength and grit to see things through. Caroline was also the person who had identified the farmhouse that I wanted to buy.
Caroline mentioned that she and her friend Brenda were planning to go for lunch and then shopping in Praia de Rocha the following day. She asked, “Would you like to join us?”
Since I had never been to the resort and was eager to see new sights, I responded, “Absolutely!”
The next day Caroline arrived at the farmhouse and introduced me to her friend, Brenda. Originally from Scotland, Brenda had bought a house in Monchique with her husband, but he had returned to the UK. Now single, she lived alone on the mountain, just like Caroline. Brenda clearly enjoyed the sun; her skin was tanned and weathered. With her short hair and tomboyish demeanour, she exuded an air of toughness. I quickly realised that I wouldn’t want to get on the wrong side of her, as to avoid the whip of her tongue.
She smoked continuously with, you know, those special cigarettes with a distinctive aroma. In fact, she had a permanent cloud of smoke around her head that resembled a halo. She also had two dogs that followed her everywhere. They were either very obedient or enjoyed the fumes in her orbit!
As Brenda lit yet another cigarette, she asked “Would you like to have one?” I replied, “No, thank you, I’ve never been a smoker.” In that moment, Brenda surged toward me, wrapped her arms around my waist, and pulled me close as she pressed her lips against mine. The kiss was long and passionate, igniting a sensation of giddiness that I’d never experienced before. I kissed a girl, and I liked it!
Brenda pulled back slightly, a teasing smile on her lips. “You’re feeling that buzz because of the fumes from my ‘special’ cigarette,” she explained. With a glint in her eye, she asked if I’d be interested in repeating our intimate encounter. I found myself grinning and replied, “Yes, but make it fast!”
“Don’t worry,” Brenda said with a wink, “I’ll buy you a ‘Kiss Me Quick’ hat when we hit Praia da Rocha!” And with that, we were on our way.
Our first stop was an “all-you-can-eat” Chinese restaurant, but I was concerned it would be a buffet. I’ve never been fond of buffets; the food is usually lukewarm, and you can’t be sure where the food has come from or how many people have been breathing or coughing over it. Honestly, if God had intended for us to eat from trays, why had humans invented plates? Fortunately, the restaurant offered table service, and the food was delicious.
Then it was time for shopping. Caroline and Brenda seemed to know where they were headed, so I followed closely behind them. To my surprise, when we reached our destination, it turned out to be one of those shops where the window display left little to the imagination, and only adults were allowed inside.
As soon as they entered the shop, the women became immediately captivated by the merchandise. When I asked Caroline what they were hoping to buy, she cryptically replied, “Single ladies get lonely at night on the mountain.” After making their purchases (batteries included), the shop assistant mentioned a promotion for a new lipstick that was said to make your lips tingle. I declined to try it, thinking it was like buffet food: you never know where it’s been!
However, Brenda decided to participate in the trial and carefully applied the balm around her lips. Suddenly, she again leaped toward me and kissed me intensely. After pulling away, she asked, “Did I make you tingle?” I replied, “Not in the slightest.” And with that, our brief fling flickered to an end!
It was time to return home, and since Caroline and I had been drinking wine, Brenda kindly agreed to drive us on the treacherous road back up to Fóia Mountain. Brenda is an unusual driver; in fact, she drove like Lewis Hamilton on steroids.
Upon arriving home and feeling grateful to be alive, I decided to spend the night on the sofa watching one of my favourite films, La Vie en Rose. This film tells the story of another strong woman, Edith Piaf. As I watched the movie, I reflected on all the women of substance in my life, as well as the new experiences I had that day. So, I made a promise to myself to explore new places and try new things in Portugal because, after all, isn’t it better to live life with no regrets? As Piaf herself famously once sang, “Non, je ne regrette rien!”
* Dorothy Brown CBE is now the Chief Operating Officer of British Red Cross. Charitable donations can be made at www.redcross.org.uk/get-involved/donate for their current appeals.
