Catch Your Dreams Before They Run Away
In a post on 27 April, Daydreaming, that I thought was a bit more recent, I mused on places I was daydreaming about, one of which was northern Portugal. There was an article in the Guardian today about the joys of going to a local cafe in a Porto as it emerges from lockdown. I enjoyed reading it, though not without a hint of melancholy, and I dropped the author, Oliver Balch, a note on Twitter
I’d love to get back to northern Portugal with enough time to take trains out into the surrounding area (I don’t drive). Guimarães was our taster last time; add in the food, wine and people, it’s perfect.
He replied quite quickly:
I hear you, I hear you. Northern Portugal is a real gem. Try Viana do Castelo, Braga or Amarante next time … all accessible by train or bus.
— Oliver Balch (@OLIVERBALCH) May 19, 2020
Amarante (via Visit Portugal)
So, like an idiot, I googled Viana do Castelo, Braga and Amarante and now want to go back even more than I did previously. Despite all the current talk about easing up restrictions and ending lockdowns, I’d be surprised if a week in Portugal, travelling, will be possible until late 2021, either in terms of the practicalities of travel or the cost (although I guess there’s plenty of time to save up). Also, by then the Brexit bullshit is likely to have hit the fan bigtime, which won’t help.
In the meantime, there’s always Portuguese wine.
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I managed to spend quality time today knocking some random fragments of writing into some sort of shape. It isn’t especially good, but it gives me something to build on. My interest now isn’t so much in writing something decent but getting into the frame of mind to write fiction at all. If I can write something, then I can come back later and edit/revise it to my heart’s content until it is a more worthwhile read. I already have just shy of 50,000 words written and am quite happy with them, it’s the second 50,000, that have to dovetail with the first, that are the problem.
If that sounds a bit sketchy, I’m OK with it: I made some sort of progress today.
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I mentioned doing something to my foot on Sunday night. I hadn’t planned to go out today, but ended up dropping down to the shops briefly. I wore a pair of my old running shoes and I’m pleased to say there was no problem. I don’t plan to walk much tomorrow, but I’ll have another try on Thursday and see what happens.
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Music: sometimes I have to think about what I’m going to post here, but I had no problem today, except to decide whether to go with Dick Gaughan or Melanie.
Melanie, from one of my favourite LPs.
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