I've lost the plot

[JanB]

There is a coffee morning, a gardening club, a book club, a table tennis club and heaven knows what else here near Ourique. Also an e-mail thingy that locals (mostly English) can sell stuff or spread rumours A lot of the English shop on Friday and I made a mistake - once - of going to Pingo Doce on Friday. This is where a lot of them sit outside the cafe, next to the supermarket and the Chinese whispers start.

I've avoided them like the plague since we moved.

Chatting to Lucy this afternoon she went to a coffee morning a few months ago and she and Jan have persuaded me to go to the next one. Jan has lived here for 16 years and has never been either but Lucy's description about the whole things made us think we should experience it at least once.

Once will do, we're going next month

What have I let myself in for?

[TheOstrich]

Ah, the scandal!

[Kaz]

Yikes!! An "ex-pat" bitch fest, by the sound of it

[Ally]

My idea of hell.

[JanB]

My idea of hell.

And mine

But Lucy had so much fun, people taking themselves so seriously, she found it hilarious. As we three share the same type of humour, I'll try it.

Cue much shock from a few people who know me

Lucy was being lectured by some-one about horses, as she obviously had got a few things wrong. As an ex-Olympian, who had her own yard, she and another horssey person here, loved it.

I'll report back. I know it's going to be as bad as I'm expecting