Photos photos photos

 

We arrived at J's eldest son's house and were warmly welcomed. I was shown to a bedroom and I think J' had a bedroom too. The two sons were probably bunked up together.

What I remember mostly about all the family visits was the abundance of photos, not only on display but album and videos. In fact o matter what we were doing J's son would leap up,grab his camera and start videoing.

Every single family we have visited started with looking at the photos on display and they are many. Next outcome the recent albums. Then the older albums and finally the boxful from under the bed or from the attic. The worst was when we arrived at Sao Vicente at 6 o'clock in the morning after an overnight coach journey. As you can imagine we were both shattered. All I wanted to do was sleep but of course Jocara was rejuvenated by seeing her son and his wife and her new baby granddaughter for the first time. We were given breakfast first, at least but then I couldn't believe what happened next.

First of all the photos on show, then the most recent albums. I though that that was enough for today. Then Jocara took photos of the baby sleeping in her playpen, having a bath etc. Then the real fun began. Wedding photos, whole albums of "honey money". Just as I was about to suggest a nap, a video of the wadding was shown. Oh well I though this can't be too bad can it ? Perhaps half and hour at the most. No way. It was at least 2/3 hours long if not more. We even had lunch while the video was running.

Then the mother in law arrived and suggested that we should watch the birth of the baby! No really, you videoed the birth. Oh yes! Every boring contraction and I mean every minute of the birth. of course it did not end with the birth oh no. The arrival of every visitor, the first attempts breast feeding and yes the second and third. The first bath in hospital. the first this the first that. They should video me, I might die of boredom whilst watching then they would have birth life and death on the same video. Thank Christ the child is only 7 months old.

The best and worse thing happened next. The sister's son Philip was sitting on my right and is training to be a lawyer . Jocara's sister is sitting on my left with a big box. Christ not more photo's I think. No, no not photos this time- baby clothes. Apparently they had been worn by J's son and then by the afore mentioned Philip. She held each one up and handed it to me, every single garment in the box. Tiny vests, nighties, rompers and hats the lot. She even handed the christening shawl to me. Each garment had been carefully folded and kept for forty years.

Now the christening! So it continues while we have tea.

Just when I thought I couldn't be more bored we were given the privilege of seeing the rushes. A mini, and I mean mini camera was set up. About twenty people strained to watch and listen to the day so far.

In the middle of the holiday we visited J's niece. I will write about this visit in more detail later.

J's niece had recently had twins, and guess what? Of course we went through the same scenario in double take. First of all the displayed photos were rather larger than the others as Rosa was a professional photographer. Then out came the albums and finally the videos of both births.

There was one compensation of staying with Rosa. She was ultra rich and had a personal cinema. It was like a lounge with a cinema size screen. I had the privilege of a private screening of "Frieda" a film about Frieda Karlo.