May Day May Day

The Gnome is back, yesterday was May Day , the Workers day off. Traditionally the food to eat today ,THE SNAILS, told by Pedro you must boil them slowly and for a very long time, but surprisingly they are very nice. We are off to Gabi´s luckily Gabi does not like them. Its a B-B-Q. Before we go, take out the Archway, move the three Fir trees back towards the Kerb as far as possible. Moved the Bouganvillae, the Jasmine and a few other little plants to begin the Patio extension. Barbie, Kebabs, Pork, Chourico, Pepper, Onion, Belly Pork, Fish, Sardines, Cappaurcho, Beaker and Squid. All with Salad, Boiled Potatoes, Barbied Peppers and Broccoli. Of course Red and Green wine, followed by Liqueurs. Have a lovely time chatting, playing with little Phillipe, 3 hours at the table eating and drinking. Today the beginning of the extension to the living room Patio, extending out 2 metres and along 7 + metres across, will double the the size of the patio. Top of the earth out, irrigation sprayers and pipes moved, waiting for delivery of hardcore. Its here, talk of the Devil and he always turns up. all systems go. Well 6:30, all looking well good, working day 8:30 till 6:30 GOOD GNOME DAY.

Flat tyre

Gnome disaster today ,went to go down into Gnometown for the fresh rolls for lunch, flat front tyre on the cycle. Off in the Gnomemobile instead, back for lunch, then wheel out, tyre off, bit of a struggle, oops bent one of Grandma Gnomes dinner forks, no sign of puncture thro tyre or in tube. Blow up the tube & into pool, working around tube not a single bubble, wait a mo, theres 1, 2, 3, ah they are coming from the valve area, yeh sure enough right on the join of the metal valve cap to the rubber of the tube, problem solved, off to Gnomecycles for a new tube. 4 €´s not bad & its a Michelin. Give the tyre a good clean, do i use soap to make it easy to get on? Well me oh my, tube on, half inflate it, easy peasy, slips on like a glove, MUST HAVE CLEANED IT WELL. Inflate fully, valve cap on, quick ride up & down the road PURFECT, good end to the Gnomes day HOORAY!!!!!!!

Birthday Gnome

Oh what a GNOMESOUS DAY, 2 songs from the little GNOMES, GRANDGNOME & MINIGNOME, waiting for the Gnomepost, YIPPEE hes here 12:45, Gnomepostman nearly fell off his bike with the weight of the parcel, then he asked Grandma IF SHE WAS ALAN !!!!!!! Of course she said yes, so he gave her the parcel & waved goodbye. Can´t wait to open it, desperate to see whats inside, here we go 1st one from Grandgnome, beautiful GNOME HANKY the one & only i have ever had with a delicious WHIRLY POP & a wonderful handmade card, QUICKLY ON TO THE SECOND 1 WHO COULD THIS BE FROM, AHHHH!!! Its from Minignome, a beautiful personalized card & a SUPERGNOME teeshirt, wait whats this a lump inside, NO ITS, YES Ú´HAVE GUESSED IT, ITS A GNOMEOUS BAG OF MALTESERS, gnumy, gnumy, gnumy of down the bottom of the garden with those then. Last but not least prezzie no 3, the card with Great Grandad Gnomes picture on the front, so on with the Magic, another prezzie to open from Gnome Filha & Filho, YAHOO! its the 2 KINGS TEE SHIRT, GNOME ON THE RANGE, OH NO ANOTHER LUMP, yippee Cowboys its ONLY ANOTHER BAG OF MALTIES, have to be careful they don´t melt around the old campfire. Well 12 cards later , 1 bag of MALTIES GONE, ( ITS BEEN SO LONG SINCE IÁV SEEN THEM) OOPS JUST SPIED THE LAST 1 IN THE CORNER OF THE BAG, SURE THAT TASTED BETTER THEN ALL THE REST!!!! having a Gnomeous birthday, thanks to all & sundry xxxxxxxxxx

Gabi`s New Salon

Change of name & address for GABRIELLES, now opened, @ GABI´S Rua Alexandre, Hereufano, 18 R/C, AREIAS S. JOAO, ALBUFEIRA.

NEWS FLASH

101, yes 101 flowering pansies passed the TON, only about 50% of the plants flowering at the moment, not bad @60 cents for the packet of seed. Pansies on sale at the Gypsy market @ €1 each, a lovely border of colour. ORANGE TREE IN FULL BLOSSOM, could be a busy time ahead. LOVELY view from the bottom of the garden.

UPDATE Sunday new total 126 flowering pansies

Bottom of the garden

Just thought I would let the rest of you share my bottom of the garden with me. As you can see the colours are beginning to bloom, brightening my days & the passing Gnomes. Hidden in the warmth of the soil there are more favorites to blossom. Already had a crop of 26 Clematines, now awaiting the fruits of the Orange tree.

Mercedes or Euro?

Mercedes day again, needed new top hose & Fuel return pipe, so thought may as well change the antifreeze/water at the same time. Mercedes, engineering for you there are 2 blanks on the bottom of the Radiator, 1 is the tri-star emblem of Mercedes the other a screw bung for removal to drain off the water, but will it work!!! will it unscrew!!!!!, HAVE FAITH, ye doubters, piece of cake, out flows the yellowish/reddy water straight into the bowl, now Engine plug out drain off the Engine. Handbook says 11 litres, that sure is a lot of water, off with the top hose on with the new, PURFECT!!!!! BOUGHT 15 LITRES, as it was on OFFER AT €5:99 FOR 5 LITRES INSTEAD OF €9:99, OH LUCKY ME. Now down to the nitty gritty ( Mercedes or Euro) one of my new friends has left the bottom of the Garden, perhaps it was too busy, sunny or whatever. He has moved into Mr Spiders old place, Wooden Hollow, in the car ramps under the terrace, next to the Mercedes. Such a little Gnome Gecko, i don´t know which name suits him best, perhaps someone out there can help select his name for him, take a peek at the photos to see the size of him, yes the coin acuttally is a 1€uro piece, awaiting your comments, off back into garden tiding & weeding got 2 White & 4 Purple Ice plants to put in as well, Gnomeuos Good Friday to everyone, may you all have a sunny Easter.