Starters

As it's Mike's 66th tomorrow, decided to ring Tiago and see what the score was for eating at Sem Fim. The expat gathering hasn't happened since we left, but he said he'd love us to go - we'd have to reserve a table, and that they now close at 11pm. It's a huge old olive oil mill, so loads of space, but we were actually seated outside on the verandah, as were the few others there. Everyone wears masks till you've ordered, and sanitizers as you enter or leave. Impressed with the small kids who all automatically put on their masks whenever they left their table. And we watched one of the waiters sanitizing the whole table and all the chairs after one family left.

Anyway, it was wonderful to have our first meal out since a rather weird one (because they'd just found out they had to close that night for lockdown) in a place in Manchester, after Julia and Tom had driven off to get legally married the night before their last-minute wedding.

Padre Luís also ordered us to Monsaraz for a masked coffee at a separate table, after their lunch together, said he had to at least see us. Really very kind, as they then had to drive straight back to Mourão for the book launch they'd come for. It was over 40C (104F) - we ordered a glass of ice to pour our coffee over. The main thing for us is not to go into Mourão for 14 days, so felt OK about meeting elsewhere.

Also took the PG Tips Eileen had asked for. She told us more about the outbreak in Reguengos - two more died today. Another woman who died two days ago was 42, mother of three under ten, and her husband is in intensive care. Still, as she said, if everyone obeys all the rules, we'll be OK.

Also watched all three livestreams from our church today - feels very different watching them from here. 

Gratefuls:
- seeing people today, albeit masked and separated
- Alentejano food
- feeling connected to our church