Blackberries, Book-Surfing and Badgers

An unfocused update today! It's been a month since last post. Had some time back in the UK and it was good to regroup and refresh.

Blackberries

A month is the longest I've had back in the UK since moving to Portugal. The first thing back I noticed was the blackberries! They're everywhere in Devon and for me one of the most typical thing of the English countryside!

It's good to change environment when you get the chance!

It lead me into thinking what else I missed from England (outside of friends and family). Hot baths, cream teas, charity shops, English breakfast and footpaths!

Nothing huge. Nothing that can't be experienced in a short trip back!

Book Surfing

I've also discovered a new hobby when back in the UK, which is Book Surfing. This is the process of scouring charity shops of a town to find bargains and opportunities of secondhand books. I've been slowly restarting my book collection after getting rid of many things pre-covid and during covid so have lots I'm looking out for.

In the UK every town has charity shops, full of second-hand items others don't want, including many books. Exmouth is a town of 35,000 people and has 10 charity shops with books. Many of these can be found for £1 (1.15€) and many bargains are to be had. One £1 was the entire trilogy of Lord of the Rings in one book.

It's something to look for each time I'm back in Devon.

Badgers

One thing that's kept going is my English gaming group, in it's current form since during Covid.

We have an ongoing joke or theme about Badgers, as a codeword, as monsters, pets and even a least one badger-kin character. Badgers are an iconic part of the British countryside!

Thus I've been considering adding Badgers to one of my gamebooks as a major theme. So when I came across one in Exmouth, in the darkened street, I took it as a sign.

Badger Briar (or some variation such as Badgerstone Briar) will be the name of my first gamebook!

Finishing Up

Back to regular life in Porto, full of pastels de nata, portañol and rain.

How was your September?