Snowbirds and Heat

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Post by Guest »

Yes, but many of those Portuguese families have been working in Canada for 15 or 20 years and suddenly they are illegal. Its typical that politicians bring out the Johny foreigner card just to pull votes.
shameful
heini
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Post by heini »

another example how a discussion about snowbirds wanting more heat in their accommodation can be derailed. :?
SHOWWWIE
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Post by SHOWWWIE »

Yes.

I thought I was writing about customer service issues, many of which, I thought I made it plain, are issues everywhere and certainly in North America too.

An offhand comment seems to have been taken as a national slur or something. Is that how wars start?

We enjoy Portugal, the Portuguese, and the many people of other nationalities we meet in Portugal. And we wouldn't keep coming back if we didn't enjoy the experience for the most part. And yes, we love to tour and learn about Portugal, not to mention buy books by Ellie and others recounting their experiences in Portugal. Many of those stories tell of quaint customs and special characters.

We enjoy the adventure of seeing how others do things and learning from the experience. At the same time, whether as one Canadian to another or not, surely we are free to scratch our heads figuratively about how some things are done sometimes - as I'm sure many visitors to Canada do too. It doesn't mean "if they don't like it they should stay home" does it?

Someone rightfully took me to task about the availability of cough syrup in supermarkets in the UK. The problem I experienced was access to cough syrups containing the cough suppressant DM. These are available off the shelf most everywhere in Ontario. I could not find it on the shelves anywhere in the UK and was told that I would have to speak to the pharmacist to obtain something similar. He told me that nothing like it was in fact available in the UK - where DM is apparently not approved for use.

Anyway, sorry for any offense.

Back to the thread. :-)
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Post by Ellie »

No offence taken by me SHOWWIE from your comments I assure you..and my post about buying headache pills, cough syrup in UK was done in lightheated manner :)
It was Hoser that wound me up! He was the one making cracks!
Heini, thats the way it goes on here at times..as Bruxhy has said before, its like a conversation in a pub, or wherever, it will go off at tangents.
I was surprised at Hosers remarks about most of the open fires being 'useless' ..Ive never had a problem..the ones Ive had in Monte Dourado apartments have been just fine :wink:
Sandie

Post by Sandie »

Bruxinha wrote:
pm wrote: If you are cold put a pullover on and stop whinging.
You sound like my dad, pm. His other favourite is, "Get some meat on your bones." :D

I think there is a middle way here. The point of going to another country is to experience something different and so I don't have time for people complaining about the food and having to have an English breakfast and stuff like that, but I think being uncomfortable and cold, isn't nice. Most Portuguese don't go in for heating because of the cost but will tell you it is because they don't like it. I think decent heating is the thing I miss most in the winter.

In most Canadians' defence. The ones I know seem to make great efforts to tour the whole of Portugal and learn and read about the history etc. Sundance and I were talking about this the other day i.e. how the Canadian visitors show a lot more interest in the country than most of the other visiting nationalities.
Have lived here over 10 years and during the winter have my log fire going in the living room. We have shutters on all our windows and these are always closed as soon as it starts to get dark. A lot of people with shutters do not close them and you will be surprised of how much heat you lose with not doing so. When we go to England which is always in the winter my children love the fitted carpets and of course end up sitting in t-shirts because of the central heating. They are not used to the central heating and therefore end up with bunged up noses. We always turn the heating down and in their rooms turn it off. One thing central heating is not good for you and my children very rarely have colds.
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Post by Bruxinha »

I did say "decent heating" and not overpowering heat. :D Most people in the UK have the central heating on far too high, it is overbearing, especially in the bedrooms. It is awful to sleep in such a stuffy atmosphere. By being warm and comfortable, I didn't mean wearing a vest and shorts indoors but not having to wear a coat in most restaurants and people's houses in Portugal would be nice. :wink:

I get really wheezy in places with carpets because I am allergic to dust mite, so prefer wood block floors and a few rugs. Maybe the carpets are a problem for your kids too.
Guest

Post by Guest »

From the latest news today it seems that the Earths temperature is going to rise by 3 degrees which is a lot!!!!

Hundreds of millions will die from hunger because of climatic changes as desertification spreads due to global warming as we emit more and more gases into our atmosphere.

Maybe the Portuguese have the right idea about rejecting central heating, as they use their own oldfashion but greener ways of keeping warm? Something that many of our softer western societies have forgotten?

However there was a positive note along with this news. It has been discovered that the fragrance sent out by pine trees in pine forests acts on rising temps and can help slow down the climate change. So maybe we should all think about planting more pine trees?
Been a beautiful day here. Perfect April weather. A long brisk country walk and working and digging the garden soon warmed me up. Central heating turned off! Body heating working well...
It really was, as Browning wrote :
'Oh to be in England now that Aprils there', today :D
nite all ..ellie
p.s. Hope you're keeping warm Hoser? :wink:
Bruxinha
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Post by Bruxinha »

Looks like I might be asking Finn Pete if he has a few spare rooms then, Ellie. Want to join me in Finland? :D Do they have wolves there?

By the way, I admit it...I'm soft. :lol:
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Post by Dalcassian »

Hey Gabby,
As recently as in 1995, Finland had 140 wolves. Now there are only about 100. Last year frail pups were born in six dens in Finland and from a further two just across the eastern border with Russia. It does not sound like much to boast about, but it was a record.
Taken from http://www2.hs.fi/english/archive/today/090200-03.html
Are these the type of Wolves you are looking for in Finland? :wink:
Bruxinha
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Post by Bruxinha »

That was an interesting article, Dalcassian. I am sure Ellie will be interested too. I thought they did have wolves but maybe I had heard somewhere that they were dying out there. I will quiz Finn Pete on whether he is scared of wolves, as he is due out soon.

Have a good weekend. :D
SHOWWWIE
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On pillows and sanitation

Post by SHOWWWIE »

My wife points out the she buys the pillows for sanitation reasons more than the fact they are so thin.

When we do motor trips overnight in NA, we take along our own pillows.

We take bleach cloths and try to sanitize the remote control, doorknobs etc.

On planes, we do the same thing, wiping the tray, arme rests, etc with bleach cloths. It seems to have helped. I used to get a cold every time we travelled. Now, only about half the time. :-)

Gee. Maybe this stuff should go in the FAQ's? :-)
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Post by maddi »

I just came up with a really funny line which if we were all sat in a bar - we would roar with laughter but no matter how I type it and how many smilies I put in it still has the potential to come across wrong - so I am chuckling away to myself here :)

Maddi :)
Guest

Post by Guest »

Showwie that seems a bit hyper to me. Made me think of that guy Howard Hughes who walked around with kleenex boxes on his feet?

We have to encounter germs to toughen us and build up our immune system dont we?

Though if youre astmatic I can understand you being careful.
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Post by Hoser »

Right on Showwwie. Everyone who has gone to school knows you pick up germs from what you touch or inhale in the air around you. Hot or cold living quarters does not give you a cold. The air temperature may either promote it or suppress it.

Now I have realized why the locals will not stand out in the sunshine but rather stay in the cold shade. Misinformation.

It would also be nice if people who coughed and/or sneezed would cover their mouths. The way people share their germs, it will not be long before we will follow the Asians and wear surgical masks tp protect us.
Guest

Post by Guest »

One wonders how you survived so long.
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