We are leaving Samora Correia and it hurts.

It’s a very ordinary Portuguese town but in the four years we have been here we have bound to the community in way that has never happened before.

We are writing a full article and hence will keep this brief.

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Yesterday we went to our gym for the last time and saw a few of the regulars. They are our friends—our community.

I used DeepL to translate a message I wrote for them and went round and showed it. There were tears.

“Sorry my Portuguese is so bad and have to resort to a translator program. The news is this is our last day at the Dream Gym as we are moving home week to Foz do Arelho, close to Caldas da Rainha. The gym and its community has changed our lives. We will miss everyone and hold you all fondly in our memories.”

The middle top locker was mine. Occasionally it was occupied but 90% of the time it was free. I will miss that locker. I will miss my friends.