God works in Mysterious Ways

We delayed leaving Coimbra (pronounced queenboro), due to the inclement weather, it was either spend another night traipsing up and down them feckin stairs or take a flier and head off to our next destination Fatima, which by our reckoning was not too far away. Regrettably we chose to ask a local bus driver a question relating to the direction in which Fatima lay, before we knew it he was programming the sat nav and advising us not to stay in Fatima due to the high costs. Well, of course I was happy to stand aside and let him carry on, he’d used those magic words TOO EXPENSIVE. Unfortunately a BIG BIG MISTAKE , we finished up in the middle of nowhere having bypassed Fatima. We eventually stopped off at a place called Torres Novas, well off the beaten track, but managed to find a very nice hotel which as it turned out was owned and run by a British woman and her Portuguese husband, they were indeed a splendid couple and really made us very welcome, in fact, so welcome we spent two nights there the 11th and 12th. What was slightly unsettling, the woman owner was from Stoke,(not a problem in itself but she supported the Potters - just an inhouse joke for Anns bro Pete and two daughters,who are Stoke City fanatics). But I guess I had the last laugh cos Stoke were playing B’ham that weekend and the Blues won!! Hehehehe.

We visited Fatima on Saturday and experienced the wonders of Fatima - prayer and belief, a truly humbling experience, and one we will remember always; We even attempted confession but sadly there was no English confessori hearing confessions at the time –Phew, a close encounter. We watched in awe at people who walked on their knees (no b.s.), for a distance of what must have been at least 300 metres, praying for their own personal intentions, we experienced the presence of God all around us and a feeling of great trust. Needless to say we made our own intentions and placed our own trust in Jesus - so all our M.E. friends watch out.

We left Fatima and headed for a place called Bathalia; What I’m about to share with you next Ballinger Bob will find difficult to believe, but literally 10 miles down the road from Fatima in the arse end of nowhere, there was a motorbike show similar to the NEC but on a smaller scale. What an amazing co-incidence, one of my prayers was answered at Fatima!!!! We spent the rest of the day wondering around the show and really enjoyed the event. We sat on numerous bikes and played about, it was great fun; but Mr Ballinger, I have to report,no purchase or bartering was entered into. Having said that, I think we may have converted Ann (see pics).

As we left the show it was astonishing to see the number of motorbikes just outside in the car park all parked up like dominoes and Tony had to somehow get out without knocking one of them down and creating carnage, but hey one of Ann’s prayers was answered for we emerged unscathed out of the car park.

We got up Sunday morning to face a deluge of wet and windy weather, not a great prospect ahead of us as we were heading out for Lisbon approx 120 kms away. We decided to wait and attend the midday High Mass, blimey knock me down with a feather if the ole Bishop wasn’t there himself. It turned out that he was giving Confirmation to the youngsters of the parish and every man and his olive grove was there – it was a lovely service. We said our goodbyes to The Hoteliers Ann & Arthur and headed due South (Specifically for Mr Wilkie), destination Lisbon and this time no bloody bus driver to mess the with the sat nav........


We will update you on how our romantic weekend  panned out – lol . That’s all for now folks

Luv to all
The Easy Writers  xxxxx