Praia dos Caneiros

Today was a trip to the beach finally, and to a beach that we have been to before.  When we were there before, we had explored the rock pools.  My son got cold feet, not literally, which was a shame as he did not get to see as many of the creatures that are there which my daughter did instead.  So far he has told my mother that I told him to leave, but my daughter remembers that he got scared.  It was great looking at the different animals that we found and later we are going to look up more of them on-line.  They are knackered at present and I have got them watching a DVD, Wreck-It Ralph which my son has said is more scary than Star Wars!  A great film that I think shows that team work is important and that while some people may do jobs that no one likes, those jobs are important anyway.

Restaurante Rei das Praias

Evening all, and for the kids, another day at the pool. But, we did sort of visit the beach, having a trip to a restaurant that we went to before back in early May on more than one occasion.  The view from the restaurant is amazing as it overlooks the beach and the food is terrific as well.  Like most good food, it takes some time to arrive, which is an issue if you have children, but ours are quite good when they have been kept occupied.  My daughter is a fan of sea food and loved sharing a large dish with my wife, my son like me is not a fan of that and while I had steak (and loved it) they altered one of the dishes that they made to suit him.

Anyway, they are in bed now and we might go to the beach properly tomorrow.  Did not get to watch the Arsenal game, we won, but have had a few injuries and no players coming which means that I am dreading the weekend as we play the scum then.  I have already warned work that I might be ill afterwards...

If you've ever lost your iPhone, take solace in the thought that maybe - just maybe - some mouse family now has a flat-screen TV.

Today resulted on no trip to the beach, but it was one of the best days yet.  My daughter had bought herself a snorkel and some flippers after making a friend on holiday who had the same and loved them, so when at the local supermarket my son spent some of his holiday money to get a set.  The kids love them, that and some toys to play in the pool resulted in a very enjoyable day for them, and therefore all of us!

Steve McManaman: "Gareth Bale needs to embrace the Spanish way". With his record for diving, it appears he's already done that.

Evening all, again a day at the pool.  I am not going to get to watch the football tonight.  We heard an interesting discussion where one husband was trying to convince his wife to eat somewhere that he could watch the match.  Words relating to poo and hole were used to describe one of the places that he wanted his wife and baby daughter to visit for this!  The wife is getting better, but my daughter has now hurt her ankle!

The facts about the need for the Affordable Healthcare Act

As some of you are aware, I make a few posts on Yahoo Answers! of which some are based on dispelling the myths, lies and half truths spread by the far right.  In addition to this, I also like to make balanced posts about the US healthcare system.

The only reason I got into this was due to the lies that those on the right in the US have spread about the NHS, and then I guess, I got a bit carried away.

But back to the point, here are some points on the need for health care reform in the USA and some facts about the nature of the reforms.

FACT - Insurance companies in the USA before the reforms pushed up prices, did not pay out claims when they should and bought or blackmailed politicians
FACT - PER PERSON the USA spends more on healthcare than any other nation onthe planet
FACT - Obama debated his healthcare plans before he was elected in 2008
FACT - the chance of a child under five of dying in the USA is greater than industrialised nations with universal health coverage
FACT - Obama was elected to bring in change
FACT - Obama wants to stop insurance companies from screwing America and Americans
FACT - The reforms Obama wants work in the Netherlands and Switzerland

Let me know if my facts are wrong, but please provide proof.

In a strongly worded statement the UN warns Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, if you use Chemical weapons again, we will be forced to hold another meeting.

The kids have had a great time today. They have again used the pool, and used the pool and also made use of the kids club that is here. My wife unfortunately is still ill but appears to be getting better. So I took the kids to the local supermarket for supplies for dinner tonight.  Not that it was anything special, but trying to get the kids to eat can be fun.  Still, it was a relaxing day.  I did not get to watch the Arsenal game which was a pity and I do not think that I will get to watch it tonight either.  It was good to hear that we won again and I hope that this is the begining of something good.

What is surprising on the world stage is the way that the world stands by while murder continues in Syria.  There is no doubt that both sides are bad and the choice is between what is felt to be the least worst side.  Not that it helps that the rebels are not just one group but loads.  I guess while Russia and China side with Assad, all we can do at present is to pray for a quick and just end to the violence there.  It is interesting that no one is taking action against Syria for having chemical weapons, something that Syria never agreed to not developing, but still something that in my view makes that nation one which should be shunned by all.

José Mourinho - "I'll walk if Chelsea don't win trophies." Stephen Hawking- "I'll walk if Arsenal win trophies."

The kids have had a great day in the pool today.  It has been hot enough for us to be in the pool and enjoy it, though as my wife was not that well, we were not able to stay there as long as the kids would have liked.  There are two pools here, a smaller paddling pool and a larger one.  The last time were were out here, it was warm, but not hot enough for the pools to be warm.  That is not the case now.  While the pools are still cool, with the heat they quickly dry off.  The trick is also to make sure that they are not too tired.  So far, I have managed to pace them by taking one into the pool at a time.  There is a bit of complaining at the end of the turn each has, but I think that is the only complaint that they each have.

Thanks to the joy of WiFi, they have not been able to stop me keeping up with Arsenal, and it was good to hear that they won on Tuesday.  You never know, the season may not be over already and who knows, we may even be able to land a player or two!