Louise Winters
@louisewinters.bsky.social
Mostly busy joyfully being alive. Rest: nudging past terror of getting it wrong.
Apparently, he's in Portugal ...
October 5, 2025 at 10:11 AM
Apparently, he's in Portugal ...
Tea and a marvellous Eccles cake made by Dawn, a professional baker before she moved to Portugal. All in aid of fundraising for the Bombeiros.
October 4, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Tea and a marvellous Eccles cake made by Dawn, a professional baker before she moved to Portugal. All in aid of fundraising for the Bombeiros.
A Portuguese variant of Battenburg cake?
September 23, 2025 at 8:21 PM
A Portuguese variant of Battenburg cake?
Challenging myself to get out for a walk in the nearby National Woods several times a week.
There's a good 40 minute hill climb from my home to the back of the park, with amazing views. Lots of birds too.
Today I'm feeling myself expanding, guided by the tall trees.
There's a good 40 minute hill climb from my home to the back of the park, with amazing views. Lots of birds too.
Today I'm feeling myself expanding, guided by the tall trees.
September 16, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Challenging myself to get out for a walk in the nearby National Woods several times a week.
There's a good 40 minute hill climb from my home to the back of the park, with amazing views. Lots of birds too.
Today I'm feeling myself expanding, guided by the tall trees.
There's a good 40 minute hill climb from my home to the back of the park, with amazing views. Lots of birds too.
Today I'm feeling myself expanding, guided by the tall trees.
May your toenails always sparkle in the sun ...
September 14, 2025 at 8:04 AM
May your toenails always sparkle in the sun ...
This evening I was invited by a friend to a private cocktail party, so I put on a dress I love, felt really good about myself, and had a fab time with my husband and a dear friend.
I was worried I wouldn't meet people and make friends here. I needn't have.
I was worried I wouldn't meet people and make friends here. I needn't have.
September 12, 2025 at 10:43 PM
This evening I was invited by a friend to a private cocktail party, so I put on a dress I love, felt really good about myself, and had a fab time with my husband and a dear friend.
I was worried I wouldn't meet people and make friends here. I needn't have.
I was worried I wouldn't meet people and make friends here. I needn't have.
Proof that my lemon drizzle cake transcends national boundaries.
Made that this evening & stayed up 'til past midnight, to celebrate with our local bar owner (midnight, cos his birthday is today, Tues and he's closing the bar for hols once they leave tonight)
Made that this evening & stayed up 'til past midnight, to celebrate with our local bar owner (midnight, cos his birthday is today, Tues and he's closing the bar for hols once they leave tonight)
September 8, 2025 at 11:26 PM
Proof that my lemon drizzle cake transcends national boundaries.
Made that this evening & stayed up 'til past midnight, to celebrate with our local bar owner (midnight, cos his birthday is today, Tues and he's closing the bar for hols once they leave tonight)
Made that this evening & stayed up 'til past midnight, to celebrate with our local bar owner (midnight, cos his birthday is today, Tues and he's closing the bar for hols once they leave tonight)
It's been months since I made a cake, most unlike me. So today I'm celebrating making a pear, ginger & lemon cake, from Bee Wilson's book The Secrets of a Cooking
August 3, 2025 at 6:35 PM
It's been months since I made a cake, most unlike me. So today I'm celebrating making a pear, ginger & lemon cake, from Bee Wilson's book The Secrets of a Cooking
Last night's unexpected entertainment in my new home town of Tomar - the festival of car stereos. I loved it! I also breathed in too much exhaust.
July 20, 2025 at 8:26 AM
Last night's unexpected entertainment in my new home town of Tomar - the festival of car stereos. I loved it! I also breathed in too much exhaust.
Coffee in my favourite cafe in Dymchurch, where the lovely Joe prepares coffee for husband & I as soon as he sees us, INCLUDING always using these particular, stunning, cups & saucers. Now that's knowing your regulars' order ...
June 15, 2025 at 8:58 AM
Coffee in my favourite cafe in Dymchurch, where the lovely Joe prepares coffee for husband & I as soon as he sees us, INCLUDING always using these particular, stunning, cups & saucers. Now that's knowing your regulars' order ...
I'd utterly had enough of today, but now getting to sit in a sun trap, hearing birds and the odd sheep and revising my opinion.
Sometimes really, really appreciating a sliver of joy/sun/loveliness is enough.
Sometimes really, really appreciating a sliver of joy/sun/loveliness is enough.
June 11, 2025 at 5:31 PM
I'd utterly had enough of today, but now getting to sit in a sun trap, hearing birds and the odd sheep and revising my opinion.
Sometimes really, really appreciating a sliver of joy/sun/loveliness is enough.
Sometimes really, really appreciating a sliver of joy/sun/loveliness is enough.
Afternoon coffee in Lisbon, after walking from Estoril to Cascais. Meia de leite for the win!
May 31, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Afternoon coffee in Lisbon, after walking from Estoril to Cascais. Meia de leite for the win!
Drinking ginjinha in Lisbon, it's 34 degrees here!
May 30, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Drinking ginjinha in Lisbon, it's 34 degrees here!
No poetry this Sunday morning, just black coffee
May 25, 2025 at 9:25 AM
No poetry this Sunday morning, just black coffee
Inua Ellams, the collection is called 'The Actual'
May 18, 2025 at 10:38 AM
Inua Ellams, the collection is called 'The Actual'
Coffee & a Portuguese sweet ('doce') this morning, at Willi's bar, a cafe that is open pretty much any time I walk past - when walking to the office and when coming home after an evening out. It's very much a locals place.
May 18, 2025 at 9:22 AM
Coffee & a Portuguese sweet ('doce') this morning, at Willi's bar, a cafe that is open pretty much any time I walk past - when walking to the office and when coming home after an evening out. It's very much a locals place.
Awake for sunrise this morning, can't see the sun yet as there's hills in that direction.
May 7, 2025 at 5:37 AM
Awake for sunrise this morning, can't see the sun yet as there's hills in that direction.
Back from hols and back to work. Rainy and grey 'til about an hour ago, then sun, so I finished work early to find a bench in the sun.
Something I like about #Portugal in Spring is that when the sun comes out, it's immediately, gloriously warm.
Reading "Quartet in Autumn" by Barbara Pym.
Something I like about #Portugal in Spring is that when the sun comes out, it's immediately, gloriously warm.
Reading "Quartet in Autumn" by Barbara Pym.
May 5, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Back from hols and back to work. Rainy and grey 'til about an hour ago, then sun, so I finished work early to find a bench in the sun.
Something I like about #Portugal in Spring is that when the sun comes out, it's immediately, gloriously warm.
Reading "Quartet in Autumn" by Barbara Pym.
Something I like about #Portugal in Spring is that when the sun comes out, it's immediately, gloriously warm.
Reading "Quartet in Autumn" by Barbara Pym.
My (unintentional) hunt for the strongest coffee in Portugal continues. This media de leite (literally "half milk") is a strong contender.
It may be half milk in volume (though also, it may not) but definitely not half milk in flavour.
It may be half milk in volume (though also, it may not) but definitely not half milk in flavour.
May 2, 2025 at 11:34 AM
My (unintentional) hunt for the strongest coffee in Portugal continues. This media de leite (literally "half milk") is a strong contender.
It may be half milk in volume (though also, it may not) but definitely not half milk in flavour.
It may be half milk in volume (though also, it may not) but definitely not half milk in flavour.
Today I discovered pastel de nata ice cream.
April 10, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Today I discovered pastel de nata ice cream.
Car snacks in Spain (heading for north border & Basque country)
March 13, 2025 at 10:10 AM
Car snacks in Spain (heading for north border & Basque country)
Day off, started with a very Portuguese breakfast. Black coffee & a tosta mista. Yum! Bonus points for a view into the city park from the cafe.
February 21, 2025 at 9:52 AM
Day off, started with a very Portuguese breakfast. Black coffee & a tosta mista. Yum! Bonus points for a view into the city park from the cafe.
Toilet doors in Amsterdam cafe. I suspect this will make @emmachaplin.bsky.social chuckle ...
February 15, 2025 at 9:15 AM
Toilet doors in Amsterdam cafe. I suspect this will make @emmachaplin.bsky.social chuckle ...
At a friend's 60th birthday party in Amsterdam and a very polite young man with a camera asked if he could take a photo of me and said my boots are amazing. This has made me smile. They are very fabulous boots. (This is my photo)
February 15, 2025 at 12:09 AM
At a friend's 60th birthday party in Amsterdam and a very polite young man with a camera asked if he could take a photo of me and said my boots are amazing. This has made me smile. They are very fabulous boots. (This is my photo)
Visiting my father-in-law in his care home today and made sure he had a phone call with his granddaughters. I went full Christmas with the pudding deely-boppers, hoping to make as many people smile as possible (including me!) #JoinIn
December 25, 2024 at 4:13 PM
Visiting my father-in-law in his care home today and made sure he had a phone call with his granddaughters. I went full Christmas with the pudding deely-boppers, hoping to make as many people smile as possible (including me!) #JoinIn