Central Portugal, in the year of Covid 2021. Fiona's choice of Portugal over England for her Forever Home is a surprise to her former Arabian Gulf work colleagues Claire and Sharon, both of whom are pandemically locked-down in the UK. Via social media, Fiona corresponds and converses at length with her two friends, who are divided over the wisdom of living in post-Brexit Europe. Challenged not just by Covid, but by rural life, inclement weather, and frozen fingers, Fiona - originally a city dweller - recognizes that she may have made the wrong decision and stands to lose face.
Fiona has many unspoken questions. Will her Forever Home be her home forever? Are there important lessons to be learned from the Portuguese? If there is something she doesn't like about Portugal, should she go back to where she came from? Why are the LazyBoys lazy? Should she let FairWeather Visitors into her home? Is she Living the Dream, or is that a figment of her imagination? Where can she buy warm jumpers, and when will it stopping raining?
With insights contributed by her knowledgeable local friend Joan, Fiona notes the complexities of the Portuguese character, as well as the foibles of Portugal's foreign residents and visitors. Over the course of the year, with far too much time on their hands, all four women exchange past and present anecdotes about life and human nature, reaching conclusions that are sometimes objectionable, but often profound.
Portuguese Pastoral is a gripping tale of assimilation, immigration, greener grass, unsolicited opinions, frenemies, influencers, and even - to a certain extent - sheep and chickens.
'Candid, controversial, cautionary: Portuguese Pastoral is the book you will hate to love.'
'Portuguese Pastoral is the ultimate moving-to-Portugal self-unhelp book.'
