Hi, I'm Helen
Welcome to my blog and my home 'Casa Valhal' in Portugal. I hope you enjoy my adventures x
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Casa Valhal
March 23, 2020
  • By Helen
  • Home

CASA VALHAL (Living the dream)

Welcome to Casa Valhal, a rustic 3 bed schist house, located in the village of Vinhó, a few minutes...

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March 21, 2020
  • By Helen
  • Portugal

WELCOME TO VINHÓ

Welcome to our little village of Vinhó which is situated in the parish of Vila Cova de Alva, in...

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February 20, 2021
  • By Helen
  • Celebrations Death Photo gallery Tribute

A TRIBUTE TO MY AMAZING MUM

6 years ago today my amazing mum passed away at the age of 66. I lost my hero and...

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February 16, 2021
  • By Helen
  • Celebrations Gastronomy Portugal Recipes Religious Celebration

CELEBRATING SHROVE/CARNIVAL TUESDAY WITH GF PANCAKES

Today is not only Shrove Tuesday but also Carnival Day in Portugal so we are celebrating with Gluten Free...

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February 11, 2021
  • By Helen
  • Garden Health & Wellbeing Insects/Wildlife Nature Portugal

FROM SEED TO FEED (OUR FRUIT, VEGETABLE AND FLOWER GARDEN DIARY) 2021

I decided to start a new gardening post (From seed to feed) for 2021. If you have read my...

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February 1, 2021
  • By Helen
  • Gastronomy Portugal Preserves: jams, jellies, marmalades and curds Recipes

LEMON CURD

As well as too many oranges we also have too many lemons, well my neighbour does anyway. I’m tried...

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February 1, 2021
  • By Helen
  • Gastronomy Portugal Preserves: jams, jellies, marmalades and curds Recipes

MARMELADA LARANJA

The weather has been really wet and windy recently which has resulted in so many oranges falling off our...

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January 30, 2021
  • By Helen
  • Clouds Health & Wellbeing Nature Photo gallery Portugal Sky art Weather

SKY ART

Curious clouds, serene sunrises, sensational sunsets, radiant rainbows, fabulous fog, mystical mountain mist and spectacular storms. I love Portuguese...

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January 28, 2021
  • By Helen
  • Car IPO Car maintenance costs Important information Portugal

OUR CAR’S FIRST IPO (MOT) IN PORTUGAL

In Portugal the equivalent of a MOT is called an IPO (Inspecção Périodica Obrigatória). It’s an annual inspection for...

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December 31, 2020
  • By Helen
  • Celebrations Lifestyle Portugal

OUR 12 MONTH MILESTONE

Today is New Year’s eve and our 12 month milestone. It is really weird to think that we have...

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December 27, 2020
  • By Helen
  • Celebrations Christmas Portugal

CHRISTMAS EVE, CHRISTMAS DAY AND BOXING DAY IN PORTUGAL 2020

My family Christmas was cancelled just hours before my children were to board the plane from Bristol to Porto....

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December 13, 2020
  • By Helen
  • Celebrations Christmas Gastronomy Portugal Religious Celebration

CHRISTMAS IN PORTUGAL

Celebrating a Covid Christmas This is going to be our first Christmas in Portugal. Easyjet cancelled so many of...

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December 8, 2020
  • By Helen
  • Celebrations National Public Holiday Portugal Religious Celebration

DIA DA IMACULADA CONCEIÇÃO

Immaculate Conception Day (8th December) Today Portugal celebrates its National public holiday: Immaculate Conception day otherwise known as the...

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December 1, 2020
  • By Helen
  • Celebrations National Public Holiday Portugal

O DIA DA RESTAURAÇÃO DA INDEPENDÊNCIA

Restoration of Independence Day (1st December) Today Portugal celebrates its National public holiday: Restoration of Independence Day. Portugal commemorates...

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November 26, 2020
  • By Helen
  • Course Health & Wellbeing Portugal

NATURAL BODY CARE COURSE AT QUINTA DO COBRAL

I have always wanted to try making my own body and hair products at home but have never really...

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November 1, 2020
  • By Helen
  • Death National Public Holiday Portugal Religious Celebration

DIA DE TODOS OS SANTOS (ALL SAINTS’ DAY)

Today (1st November) is All Saints’ Day and a National Public Holiday here in Portugal. All Saints’ Day is...

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October 31, 2020
  • By Helen
  • Celebrations Halloween Portugal

HAPPY HALLOWEEN (O DIA DAS BRUXAS)

Halloween is not widely celebrated in Portugal and will never have as strong a tradition as the U.S.A or...

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October 30, 2020
  • By Helen
  • City Park Health & Wellbeing Insects/Wildlife Leisure & recreation Nature Portugal Tourist attraction

A DAY TRIP TO PARQUE MANUEL BRAGA AND PARQUE VERDE DO MONDEGO

Park Life On a recent trip to Coimbra we discovered two wonderful city parks. Parque Manuel Braga is a...

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October 28, 2020
  • By Helen
  • Death Important information Portugal Wills

MAKING A WILL IN PORTUGAL

Where there’s a Will there’s a relative (ha ha) We made U.K wills a few years ago before we...

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October 26, 2020
  • By Helen
  • Botanical Garden Health & Wellbeing Hiking trail Insects/Wildlife Leisure & recreation Nature Poetry Portugal Self guided walking tour Tourist attraction

A DAY TRIP TO JARDIM BOTÃNICO AND PENEDO DA SAUDADE (COIMBRA)

Mission and History of the Botanical Garden The Botanical Garden of the University of Coimbra, founded in 1772 by...

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October 25, 2020
  • By Helen
  • Celebrations Health & Wellbeing Hotels Leisure & recreation Portugal Thermal Spa

A BIRTHDAY TRIP TO TERMAS DE LUSO

Termas de Luso (Luso Thermal Spa) Termas do Luso (Luso Thermal Spa) is located in the parish of Luso,...

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October 21, 2020
  • By Helen
  • Circus/Aerial skill classes Health & Wellbeing Leisure & recreation Portugal

AERIAL SKILLS

Now that we have settled into Portugal life I thought it was about time I joined a class or...

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October 19, 2020
  • By Helen
  • Animals Convent Forest Hiking trail Hotels Insects/Wildlife Leisure & recreation Mountain Region Nature Portugal Tourist attraction

A DAY TRIP TO MATA NACIONAL DO BUÇACO

A snipet of History Buçaco National Forest is an ancient, arboretum in Luso, a protected area located in Serra do...

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October 12, 2020