@Michael e Catharine Whitby 😍

Yesterday's show... - Spring tease & storm naming rant — Carl opens with "Bom Dia Alegria," mourning the brief spring sunshine (jackarandas teased) before Storm Samuel (and possibly Terz) arrives. Rants on naming storms after people ("global whining"—why humanize disasters that destroy lives? Suggests rude names like "Bastard" or "A-Hole" instead of triggering names like Christian). - Community check-in & quiz aftermath — Shout-outs to regulars (Matty, Tuck, Coach, Pete, Gemini/Sarah/team); recap of last night's San Martin do Porto culture quiz (Go-Go Girls won with bottle of Espumante; great food/booze/atmosphere). Carl's voice raspy from "school night" beers (Coral stout draft—post-quiz high). - British Tuga's fire-tracking site — Praise for British Tuga's new real-time fire tracker (fogosagora.pt): Rural/urban fires, resource deployment, extra data layers. Built post-last-year chaos; Carl calls it a fantastic community contribution—hopes to interview soon. - Unique Portuguese words — Follow-up on colloquial gems: "Chulé" (foot odor); "Kafuna" (running fingers through loved one's hair—romantic cuddle); "Saudade" (homesickness/sadness). Carl teases more for Raquel/Nuno quiz. - Storm prep & consumer deals — Pingo 20% off €50+ (includes alcohol—prepping bonus); ties to Civil Protection's 72-hour autonomy push (food, water, power, meds). Carl/Matty/Tuck banter: Practical (sales stocking) vs. humorous (air storage jokes, zombie bows/arrows). - Mouse update & household chaos — Rodent saga continues: Humane trap ignored (mouse pooped on it—insult!); washing machine hoses burst during search (leak fixed, new parts). Theories: Warm appliances = rodent hotels; cats/dogs useless (ecological imbalance). - Guest Raquel & Nuno (Win Insurance) quiz showdown — Live Portuguese culture quiz: Kafuna (cuddle); Coriander = "Coentro"; Custard tarts from nuns/monks egg whites (sustainability—yolk sweets); Kafé (chicken soup with unlaid egg—blood sausage variant); Escudo decimal = "$" cifrão. Raquel edges Nuno 3-2; sporting banter (Benfica vs. Sporting—5-0 win over Norwegian "dentists/firemen" team). - President & cultural quirks — New President António José Seguro ("safe/insurance"—perfect name); spotted shopping (chips/book—man of the people); prefers not living in pink Belém Palace often. Carl jokes selfies with him (everyone has one). - Roman garum & food history — Global Food Quest Instagram praised (Cacilhas ferry, Roman stone vats for garum—rotten fish sauce, 6-month fermentation, stinky empire export). Ties to Portuguese sustainability (no waste—unlaid eggs in ka). - Overall vibe & close — Fun, competitive Wednesday: Quiz laughs, word love (kafuna!), storm warnings, fire tracker praise, mouse drama. Carl teases ongoing prep chats; thanks Raquel/Nuno ("Portuguese BFFs"); ends with outro. Community engaged (quiz votes, storm jokes); feelgood energy with cultural depth & humor. Full episode on YouTube/Spotify/Apple under Good Morning Portugal! channel.

@Kate Bygrave's marvellous memes, now in a single handy thread! *seasonal service 😉

I am looking into Starlink, battery packs, solar panels, wind turbines, inverters, stoves etc, etc and will share my information here. Ultimate aim is to be able to broadcast Good Morning Portugal! when mains grid power and standard internet are down.

Yesterday's show with @Melinda Waddell... - Sunny spring opener & community vibes — Carl starts with "Bom Dia Alegria," enjoying glorious sunshine (jackarandas teased); early shout-outs to regulars (Matty, Tuck banter on preparedness; Welsh Jackie in Alicante; Coach heading back; Pete's mouse theories). Highlights Portugal Club notes, new WhatsApp highlights channel (Lydia's idea for quick recaps), and viewer quiz excitement in San Martin do Porto tonight. - Preparedness PSA & 72-hour autonomy — Civil Protection (Proteção Civil) urges families to stock 72 hours of essentials (water, food, meds, power, hygiene) for crises (wildfires, floods, blackouts). Carl/Matty/Tuck debate: Practical (buy on sales like Pingo's 20% off €50+); humorous (air storage jokes, zombie bows); skeptical (government shifting responsibility after taxes; "hopeless for best, prepare for worst"). - Storm TZ incoming — Rain/thunderstorms forecast late Tuesday through Saturday (IPMA: south/center/Algarve/Alentejo hardest hit; north better). Follows wettest February in ~50 years—Carl reframes as "600 days of weather" tourism pitch (300 sun + 300 rain). Enjoy spring sun while it lasts; ties to ongoing roof/mold recovery stories. - Mouse saga update — Carl's ongoing rodent drama: Humane trap ignored (mouse pooped on it—personal insult!); disturbed washing machine hoses causing leak (quick fix, new parts). Theories: Warm appliances = rodent hotels (lint nests, crevices); cats/dogs useless; three cats + two dogs = ecological imbalance. Viewer tips: Mongoose solutions, stop feeding cats. - Sauce & Roman fish sauce chat — Follow-up on iconic sauces: Garum (rotten fish sauce, fermented 6 months—stinky export from Comporta/Cacilhas). Global Food Quest Instagram praised (ferry to Cacilhas, Roman stone vats/tanks). Carl: Romans shipped garum empire-wide—smelled like "chulé" (foot odor, per Vítor yesterday). - Commemorative €2 coin & consumer deals — Hilarious fake €2 coin meme (petrol pump design—fuel prices satire). Real deals: Continent 15% off (app code); Pingo 20% off €50+ (includes wine/alcohol—prepping bonus). Food basket at record high; President urges action (inflation vs. wages). - Guest Mel on body/mind/spirit prepping — Deep discussion: Shift from "but" (division/dismissal) to "and" (nuance/multiple truths). Examples: Grateful for medical advances + skeptical of motives/safety; love natural therapies + accept allopathic for emergencies. Ties to broader intolerance rise (age, opinions, "stupid people"); empathy needed (trauma victims/perpetrator families); call out bad behavior kindly (men protecting women, no shaming). - Conspiracy & lived experience reflections — Carl/Mel: "Conspiracy" label oversimplifies (corporations/govts collude—proven); focus on real experience (not detached theories). Epstein files as wake-up (horrific elite acts + neighborhood issues); both/and mindset (protectors vs. perpetrators; not all men + real risks). Prep purpose varies (flood/fire vs. apocalypse); start small (microgreens, basics); ego check (conditions change—learn continuously). - Tolerance, aging & cultural shifts — As we age, tolerance often drops (time-wasters, disrespect); practice "and" (multiple truths) over reactivity. Carl: Focus changes us (CS Lewis: prayer changes me); community strength in tough talks without banning/censorship. Mel: Cultural norms > laws (Portugal hugs vs. butt-squeeze); men call out men; support victims locally. - Overall vibe & close — Thoughtful Tuesday: Sunshine joy vs. storm prep; mouse laughs vs. deeper empathy/tolerance talks; practical deals + philosophical "and" mindset. Carl teases ongoing prep chats; thanks Mel; ends with outro. Community engaged (Tuck/Matty debates, viewer tips); feelgood energy with real nuance on hard topics. Full episode on YouTube/Spotify/Apple under Good Morning Portugal! channel.