Quinta das Abelhas

Started this morning with a phone call from our friend Ann saying her partner had been in an accident on his way to work. He’d phoned to let her know he was OK, going for x-rays, and could she go and get their stuff out of the van. So off I went to give her a lift into Tabua to try and salvage their belongings. Went to the bridge where the crash happened (he’d skidded on the wet road, lost control, and crashed into the railings on the bridge) only to find that the van had already been moved. Finally located the van at the rescue yard, a very frightening sight when we saw it, the whole passenger side was completely crushed and mangled. He was so lucky to get out. Even luckier was that their son (who was going to be with him) wasn’t in the van as there’s no doubt he would have been killed. Then went to the local hospital to find out what was going on. He’d had 10 stitches in his head and been taken to Coimbra for x-rays. The doctor who’d seen him said he was in pain and bruised down his side, but she didn’t think he’d broken anything. Dropped Ann off at home to wait for more news. Spoke to her later and found out the hospital had rung her to say he’s broken a bone in his leg and was about to be operated on. So tomorrow I’m taking her to hospital to visit him. Horrible morning and now feeling emotionally and physically drained. Poor Ann, sitting at home now not really knowing what’s going on.

On a lighter note, the builders arrived as promised this morning and brought (with the help of Andy & James) all the bricks down into place ready to start work tomorrow. They also put hardcore (granite ‘offcuts’) into the foundations.

This afternoon we had to go out and sort some more things for Ann - returning dvds that had to go back, one of which had been lost in the crash, so we had to explain that; and do a bit of shopping for ourselves. Meanwhile James dug us a pit for the new compost toilet and collected 3 samples of soil to test for making cob/adobe.

So many things that didn’t get done today - washing up, clothes washing, making the xmas pud that I soaked the fruit for yesterday. And they won’t get done tomorrow either as we’ll be in Coimbra most of the day. Oh well, some things are more important.

Stumble it!

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