In the spirit of "nothing about us, without us", here's a conversation with Roxy, a Venezuelan living in Portugal, in Europe since 2008. The mainstream news narrative is one thing. Speaking to real people having real experiences, who share from a personal POV, is another level. Thanks to Roxy for her bravery and openness. And to Juan in Spain from yesterday. too. This is one of what I hope will be many conversations with our diverse community of immigrants in Portugal, speaking of and from their native culture, and speaking of their life in Portugal.

Jim Matthews, a native of Birmingham, spent his formative years holidaying in the picturesque coastal town of Polruan, in Cornwall. Though my acquaintance with him was brief, Jim’s departure on November 18th, 2016, left a void, yet he allowed me to share this beautiful poem with the world: a testament to his depth of insight and literary prowess. Emily, the bookworm Emily is audacious, yet kind and adoring, Loves to go searching, tunnelling and boring. She’s not at all shy or easily embarrassed, Shocked, frightened, overawed or harassed, For she reads D.H. Lawrence, all of his sleaze, “Piano,” “Sons and lovers,” “Ulysses.” Looks through dictionaries in search of a word, Polyandry . . . polyglot and others as absurd. She nibbles at peers in boring “Debrett,” Worms her way around the “Bloomsbury set,” And sleeps between sheets, seldom read, A Shakespearean sonnet beneath her head. In the mornings she’ll greet the new day, Wrapped in a witty Oscar Wilde play, Feast on Coward, Eliot and Sassoon, A Shropshire Lad in the afternoon; “Then wander lonely as a cloud,” Reciting Wordsworth thoughtfully, out loud. She’s fished with J.H. Hartley, Understand timetables . . . but only partly. Has sailed away with Darwin and Cook, Reads chairman Mao’s little red book, Kubla Khan, the golden bough. “The friendly bombs that fell on Slough” And Granchester, “where waters fresh Lean to embrace the naked flesh.” Sometimes, when reading late at night I imagine Emily all loving and bright, Sharing my pages, consumed with passion, Wearing the latest illustrated fashion, Learning together when thoughts entwine, My fingers caressing her lovely book spine.

Portuguese 'word of the year / palavra do ano' has been announced 👇as we welcome some lovely new and interesting members here 😊 Kate, who's rocking the leader board and joining us regularly on the morning show 🙏 (likes wine & IKEA) Anouk, my lovely neighbour in Sao Martinho and quiz whiz 🤔 Duncan, who very kindly gifted us the 'Community Guide to Planning a Home Solar Energy System in Central Portugal' 🌞 Anna, our writer and poet-in-residence (esp. for "people who don't like poetry"!), get her book from Amazon (or ask in person) 😎 And, Sérgio, who can help us with mortgages and home purchase finance here in Portugal. He's among us as another 'expert-in-resdence' 🏡 Please say "Olá!", todos... Attached also, a bit of fun and some linguistic support!

Find out more about @Anna Alcott in the clip attached and hoping she'll be our poet-in-resdence too 😊

Thanks @Bob Wenger for popping in. 3m:10s - First reading: Bifanas, Francesinhas and other affairs of the flesh 9m:25s - Second reading: The Portuguese Paradox