Driving a Cat to Portugal and Building a House When We Get There by Paul Francis

While waiting to board a plane for our annual holiday, my wife and I exchanged a few words, Me: 'Where's Faro?' Wife: 'Portugal.' Little did we know, that fleeting conversation would lay the blueprint for our future.

Soon, the allure of Portugal would not only inspire our next holiday destination, it would beckon us to transform a passing fancy into a permanent address in the sun-kissed hills of São Brás de Alportel.

Amidst our major life decisions, the laughs, the frowns, the ups and downs, Marli (our much loved cat, who was prone to car sickness) takes centre stage. From her early years in Slaithwaite, Huddersfield, UK, to her sunlit retirement in Portugal, Marli's journey mirrors our own, from idealism to realism, (with pit-stops at Bafflement, Bliss, Disappointment and Delight).

Follow our tale from whimsical date-night daydreams to the concrete steps of buying land and building a home in a foreign country. This narrative isn't just about relocating- it's a candid and humorous exploration of love, hope, challenges, and the sheer unpredictability of life. We had a dream, we had each other, and we had Marli. What could possibly go wrong?