Time is running away with us here at Donkey HQ. I can’t quite believe it’s been three weeks since we arrived. It feels like only yesterday. And Christmas is now upon us.

We’ve had another action packed week. Well, as action packed as it gets for us!

Music has featured again with a trip last weekend to see a saxophone player at Moagems, a funky café in Aljezur.
We were left home alone with Kerstin, our roomie and fellow volunteer, to look after the donkeys whilst Sophia took a road trip with a friend for a week accompanied by two of her long eared companions, Kiko and Xico.

We waved them off but met them the following day to hand over Florin, Sofia’s dog.

Florin loves to trek with the donkeys but he couldn’t stay at their planned overnight accommodation for the first night. He really wasn’t impressed he’d been left behind and had to be put inside for the afternoon lest he followed in the donkey’s hoof steps.

We took a quick side trip to Odeceixe beach for a spot of yoga and a swim before meeting up with the donkeys.



Meanwhile back at the ranch I tried my hand at some clay modelling on Mimi’s legs. Mimi is a natural victim. The other donkeys don’t like her and can be mean to her, the dog sometimes snaps at her legs and even the wasps and flies have a good old go at her legs causing open sores. To combat this she has clay slathered over her lower legs to try to stop the flies getting at them.
It seems to do the trick.

Even though Mimi seems to be a natural victim in the animal world she most certainly isn’t when it comes to people. You have to watch her. Give her an inch and she’ll take a mile. And she can move when she wants to. Despite the ungainly look of her she’s quick and you do have to keep one step ahead of her. She’s so friendly and cheeky that you can’t help but love her though. We’ve taken her for a walk a few times and once she’s stopped looking for Romano and gets into her stride she’s a pleasure to take out.

Meanwhile away from donkey care we’ve discovered the woodburner has space in the top to cook a few baked potatoes.
It’s a real treat having a woodburner here and we love our evenings by the fire. All the other rooms are freezing mind!
Kerstin flew back to Germany to spend Christmas with her family so we couldn’t let her go without cooking a traditional English meal for her. Toad in the hole, mash and onion gravy washed down with a bottle of Prosecco. Pastel de natas followed accompanied by homemade Medronho schnapps. Perfecto!

Christmas is much more low key here than in the UK but there are signs around the town that it is alive and well.


It must be Christmas. We had a surprise present tied to our front door earlier by our friends who are staying at the campsite outside Aljezur. Thanks Di and Chris 🙂 Proper job!

Tim is playing some Christmas music on his clarinet in the room next door whilst I write this. So, I guess it’s time then for a bit of mulled wine and to say thank you to all of you who read this blog. We wish you all a very Happy Festive Season wherever you are.
More news from Donkey HQ next week.
Saùde!
Feliz Natal e Feliz Ano Novo!