"The Mother of Invention!"

"Who thought of this carnival theme?" It really is a pig, and even the most fervent dresser-uppers were complaining from the day of announcement!Greyrocks was stumped. and the collective brain got stuck on the Jimmy Buffett song:

Einstein was a Surfer

but we didn't think there would be enough fans to make that worthwhile! 

When the carnival poster was published (late of course) the problem was clear to see:- the artwork showed stereotypical scientists/inventors dressed for another theme - including the ever-present Pirates!

We didn't see much of the marching troupes, but they did apparently get a flash of inspiration and turn out with gleaming cogs and wheels! Mere mortals produced a run on lab-coats, shortage of which led to a price-hike in the Chinese shop!

"Matron, heal thyself!"

After a long session with Professor Google, and determined to avoid insulting both women and male geeks, Ruth came up with Florence Nightingale:- both a statistician and pioneer of nursing practice! Unfortunately preparations faltered in the days before the Big Night when she was laid low by an unfortunate combination of streaming cold, strained back, stomach pain and a scratched cornea. The last of these reached crisis on the day itself, and being a weekend necessitated a visit to the private clinic for treatment. The eye-patch was thought by some to be an "obscure" reference. We did the usual and ate at the American to have some sort of seated view. This year the first two floats arrive almost too early, bearing the Queen and the Drag Queen. They were beautiful, but completely off-theme! The rest arrived much later, bearing drunken Mad Scientists and so on, but the most creative and humorous feature  was a "Trump wall" with US flag, graffiti and a whole load of drunken Mexicans! Right on! There were also some left-overs from St Patrick's Day and the Rugby World Cup!

Bob rose to the occasion with customary nonchalance by wearing hi Goan shirt - and when challenged said he was an Indian faith-healer, offering to lay his hands on certain people! Almost as sexist as the guy in the Rock dressed as a  surgeon in scrubs with the message
"I ain't a gynaecologist, but I'll have a look!"

Behind the bar Claire and Jules were Doctors Smith and Jones with Super Mario faces and hair!
Not a bad evening in the end! At least it didn't rain!

For the "Sardine" burning next evening we went to the Marquesina for the lobster we missed out on in Cabo Verde. Very nice, and we got some sense of the fireworks. Afterwards we looked at the charred remains of the giant fish on the town beach and realised things have changed in the years since we last followed the procession and had a proper view. The framework was about twice the size we remember! And then Carnival was over for 2017!

Purging, Pumping, Petitioning & Pokes from the Past

Between the return from Cabo Verde and Carnival Greyrocks has been busy with largely sensible but uninspiring activities, and the female half has frequently been on the paracetamol!

Having arrived home on Valentine's Day we went out for a very pleasant meal. knowing that the wine consumed would be that last for at least two weeks, as next day would be the start of a Grand Detox. This was needed to reboot Ruth's weight loss campaign which had not been operational since the operation, festivities and holiday away, with alcohol being probably the main culprit. Bob also needed to get some better data from various medical tests. It wasn't fun, many early nights took place, whilst evenings and afternoons in bars almost disappeared, so that friends didn't even realise we were back! The proof was there, however, in Bob's results and on the scales, so after the appointed period we eased up and are trying to go for "quality over quantity!" with the "MoTh" regime of two days per week booze-free.

 The first difficult test had been on the second full day! As we were walking out for the Valentine's meal and walk past a restaurant near the harbour there was a frantic bashing on the window from inside. Out ran a man shouting "It's Bob and Ruth, isn't?" We recognised him as father in a family of four from Up North that was on Christmas holiday for several consecutive years at the old Dunas Caleta complex along with us about twenty years ago! Ruth couldn't remember his name - but offered that of his wife. Now it's ex-wife - but nonetheless we agreed to meet him (and the new one) two evenings later at El Sombrero! This was a real "blast from the past" session: catching up on the careers and love-lives of the three kids, retirement reality and plans, travel experiences and only a brush with Brexit issues to mar a great evening. A gastronomic retro experience too, as they had chosen a place Greyrocks used to visit fairly regularly in tourist days but had gone off the radar. Ruth shared a "witches hat" with fillet steak. As you can see, punters hang portions on the table-top contraption and cook to taste. The juices drip down into the rim where julienne vegetables wait, thus making a tasty broth! The meat was of very high quality and we decided we should return here!

Another bizarre encounter with the past had happened whilst we were in Cabo Verde. Chloë called us to say that she had just been visited by a cousin of Bob, who lives in Wales and was dropping in on the off-chance. He had had no idea until recently that Bob existed:- his own father never having known that his older brother had married. We sent an email and have heard back some of the family history on that branch, and so genealogy may be dragged off the back-burner, where it has been for a year or so!

Instrument of Torture!

Meanwhile, there was a sudden dramatic development with Ruth's knee. There were two remaining ore-paid physiotherapy sessions to attend after the holiday. These went well given a three week break. She could do the exercises properly and without too much pain, the exercise bike was a success if the saddle was high enough, and the "mobilisation" had resulted in equal flexibility in the two knees. Ruth turned up for the next appointment bearing serious money for a month of sessions, and was told to save her money! It would be better to join the gym attached for just 35EUR and come and go at will. She was introduced to three pieces of equipment in addition to the exercise bike, and was shown what to do with very light weights. Thus at her advanced age Ruth began "pumping iron"! Unfortunately one of the procedures completely crocked her on the second visit, so that one has been getting a wide berth, and she has to go back to the clinic side for the bike as the grown-up ones have defeated her too! As yet she can't manage a real bicycle either for some reason, so "Watch this space" as time runs out.

Finally Greyrocks got very cross one Saturday morning! No "Sounds of the Sixties" on BBC Radio 2! We have been listening to the programme for many, many years, and the decision to axe Brian Matthew caused fury, and the signing of a petition! The replacement:- earlier in the morning and with the ghastly Tony Blackburn - just won't do! Sometimes we have a sudden realisation that we are getting past our "Best Before" date!