Smokin’ shoes and positive news
“Do you really want to smoke our shoes?” ask the stars of the show this week, who are quick to point out, to confused would-be customers, that “hemp is the
A Year in Monchique 2 – Wildest dreams, wildest nightmares – August 2018
Inevitably, there are moments in all our lives when important events occur. We could probably place these into two categories. The first ones are internal. I love the phrase ‘You
Classical music choices for Christmas 2024
Enjoyable seasonal music Two recently released recordings could make for rewarding listening during the 12 days of festivities which celebrate the birth of Christ. The first is aptly titled “Music
Euthanasia: the right to death with dignity
On November 29, the British Parliament resolved by votes of 330 to 275 a motion to alter, in a very restricted manner, the law which relates to assisted dying. For
Off Grid and Ignorant in Portugal: Real people – and how they do things
I’ve recently realised we don’t live like real people. When real people have a problem, they call someone – a workman, an expert, a master technician, Ghostbusters, or whoever it
London Calling November 2024: Making a good impression
Possibly the most famous French Impressionist artist, Claude Monet painted some of his finest works of art not in France but in the UK capital. Monet was fascinated by sunrises
Portugalidade – A cultural treasury of traditional song, dance and poetry
Folkways Recordings is the non-profit label of the US Smithsonian Institution. Over the past century, it has collated into one archive a vast variety of sounds collected from global sources.
Live as you dream?
I think we can safely say that Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS) has now given way to Trump Arousal Syndrome, as the psychotic spotlight moves from the “lefties losing it”, to
Anxious, my ar…mpit!
In conversation with a dear Portuguese friend recently, I was triggered, or more accurately re-triggered, by mention of a YouTube video that you too may have had a reaction to
Portugalidade – Contemporary female artists
Wikipedia merits the inclusion of only 22 Portuguese women painters in its listing. A reading of their biographies indicates the social divisions which frustrated so many of their endeavours. Those










