My much-vaunted Grand Opening of the Carvalheira Archery Range was today. After great expense, and the splendid support of neighbours, the day itself turned out to be a fairly low-key affair.

Let me re-phrase that, it’s been a total flop.

Fatima, down at Miranda’s Town Hall, had promised me support, but neither her nor any other council officers attended. In fact, I’m beginning to wonder just exactly what she was promising, when I spoke to her last week.
Maybe my study of Colloquial Portuguese should be broadened in
scope to cover local Portuguese expletives.

Two of the neighbours did turn up, but appeared to misunderstand the purpose behind my fixing of balloons onto the target, and insisted on pawing these until each one burst in turn. Also, once I began my shooting display, they decided they had more important things to do, and left quite abruptly.

I blame the rain. Yes, I said rain. It’s taken 23 days, but it’s finally tracked me down after following my trail all the way from North Shields.

There was a warning. Last night outside the cafe in Tabuas, I had to jump onto the table to stop it taking off and making an unscheduled landing somewhere over in Penela, it’s attached umbrella suddenly animated with a gust of wind appearing from nowhere.

Joaquim came out to clear up the mess of broken glass, looked up at the sky and said simply:
“Chuva – amanha.”
He was dead right.

The Range

The Grand Pavilion