Dec08/Jan09 East Algarve Magazine

FREE VILLA REAL · TAVIRA · CABANA S · OLH Ã O · S Ã O BR Á S · MONCARAPACHO · CASTRO MARIM M A G A Z I N EEast Algar ve Tavira What’s new Out & about WIN! Dec 08/Jan 09 gChristmasifts&food Our guide to buying gifts online plus Festive food Gardening survivorsSummer apedicurerelaxing New licenseTouristlaws EXPLAINED! Eastalgarve_Issue1.indd 1 27/11/08 15:25:55

CO-ORDINATORADVERTISING

Page

Susan Purvis Richard Bassett Snr. Katie Bassett Railton

BRING THIS ADVERT FOR A FURTHER 20% OFF ALL PLANTS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN PRICED TO SELL! kitchengarden

The QM garden centre has been going through some changes... New owners, New look and New approach! We are now stocking a fantastic range of gifts, cards and craft ideas, jigsaws, books and much, much more at prices we feel are new to the Algarve! We would love to see customers past, present and new to come and experience our changes and value for money!

PHOTOGRAPHS Gordon

Susan Purvis CONSULTANT Arne Jakobsen the Great Dane PRINTED BY Litografis-Artes Graficas Lda, Ferreiras will be issued copies for distribution, along with retail outlets. All rights reserved. Except for normal review purposes, no part of this magazine may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher. Every care has been taken in the preparation of this magazine, but the contents are only meant as a guide to readers. The proprietors of this magazine are publishers not agents or sub agents of those who advertise therein. The publisher cannot be held liable for any loss suffered as a result of information gained from this publication ...to the brand new East Algarve magazine. We hope you ag ree the time has come for the East of the Algarve to have it’s ver y own media, a way of communicating and adver tising to the local community. Our aim is to produce a free bi-monthly magazine for the Eng lish speaking community. We are looking for your suppor t with any issues or questions you may have with relevance to your par ticular area in the East Algarve. If you have any interesting stories or infor mation about your town we would love to hear it and pass it on to our readers. Likewise if there is anything you would like to know or would like to see a feature on we’re happy to help. If you would like to contact us please email info@eastalgarvemag.com or if you are interested in adver tising with us please see details on page 32. ve 2

GIFTS CARDS UK IMPORTERS

Eastalgarve_Issue1.indd 2 27/11/08 15:26:00

DISTRIBUTION Advertisers

Welcome...M A G A Z I N EEast Algar

Come and share a glass or two of mulled wine & mince pies on the Saturday 13th December from 10am until 4pm

FARMFORMERLYSHOP

ARTPUBLISHER,EDITOR&DIRECTOR Richard Bassett CO-ORDINATORSEDITORIAL

CONTENTS 4let us know your thoughts 5WHATS’S ON What’s happening in and around the East Algarve. 6NEWS Get up to date on the latest East Algarve news! 8TAVIRA TOWN WALK Join us in a stroll around the beautiful city of Tavira. 12 PEOPLE FOCUS Explore Tarans glass workshop and home 15INTERIOR DESIGN Tips and advice from Panache Interiors 18SHOPPING Internet shopping ideas and books for Chrismas 20PROPERTY The latest local property information and legislation 26ENVIRONMENT Rising fuel costs plus local interest article on Cork 30GARDENING Summer survivors 34FOOD & DRINK Festive cuisine 39CLASSIFIEDS Business services and general classifieds30 282229 8 Page 3 22 Eastalgarve_Issue1.indd 3 27/11/08 15:26:16

Page 4 email

Dear East Algarve I think the atmosphere at the market on Saturday in Olhão is great. A bustling area where all the local characters pass through, but Olhão itself appears such an untidy place. The graffiti scrawled anywhere and everywhere makes the place look bad. I have complained about the worsening situation in Tavira by using the official camara site but unfortunately got no Is there a department in the camara who deals with this, and what do they actually do A concerned resident Your chance to let us and our know your concerns and an opportunity to help.

Postal Address: EN270, CXP797A, Fonte Bispo,

readers

Your views TAINÁ’S FUN PARK Birthday Parties Gifts & surprises we’re waiting for you Weekends & Holidays in the fire house Vila Real de San Antonio Tel 914 487 450 / 965 362 105

bestTHELETTERTaviraOFMONTHEachmonththeletter,whetheritbethemostinteresting,funnyorinformativewillwinafantasticprize!Thismonthwearegivingawayarelaxingpedicure,sogetwritingandyoucouldbeourlucky Eastalgarve_Issue1.indd 4 27/11/08 15:26:19

Dear East Algarve Our family spent their holidays with us this summer in our new house. I was reading a list of the health and safety rules to which villas have to comply when they rent out in summer. Two on the list, which I thought were a bit over the top were marking glass doors to avoid people running into them and fencing around the Withinpool.

2 hours of their arrival, one of my very exicted granddaughters ran into the sparkling clean patio door trying to get to the pool and ended up with a bloody nose. Then within a half an hour my Dear East Algarve We have recently moved to the tavira area and have a very lively 20 month old little girl. Does anyone know where there’s a place at a Nursery in the area? Shane, Tavira grandson had a very lucky escape in our pool. I still have nightmares about the pool incident as there were adults around the pool but no one noticed his difficulty. A fence or a cover wouldn’t have prevented that accident as we were all using the pool area at the time. We have heard about the tragic cases, but how many near misses do we not hear about? Realistically what can we do, anybody know anything that does work? Sue, São Bras(name and address supplied) info@eastalgarvemag.com

What’s on TAVIRA 13th December Procession of Santa lucia 16th & 23rd December Tavira music academy’s children’s choir. 06,13 & 23/12 Mercado da Ribeira 19th December Happy day concert with the gospel choir, Misericórdia 20th December Choral gospel, the Lisbon Grego riano and the Tavira choir, Psalyte chorus, Carmo church 21.30 28th December Boot sale, Quinta Fonte do Bispo, near Sta Catarina, Tavira Until 31st December Land and people exhibition by Kärsti Stiege Sto Estêvão 31st December New Years Eve Party, Quinta Fonte do Bispo tel 281 971 484 New Years Eve celebration, Praça da Republica Until 17th January 09 Exhibition last lines by Margarida Palma, Galeria Palace Until 1st June 09 Tavira Heritage of the Sea, Galeria Palace Your guide to what’s going on in the Eastern Algarve area. If you would like to advertise your event free of charge please email us info@eastalgarvemag.comon MARKETS Loulé Every Saturday of the month Estoi 2nd Sunday of month Moncarapacho 1st Sunday of the month Quelfes 4th and 5th Sundays of month Tavira 3rd Saturday of month Vila Nova de Cacela 3rd Sunday of month Castro Marim 2nd Saturday of month Sta Catarina 4th Sunday of month LOULÉ 7th-8th December Festival of Our lady of the conception, Quarteira 31st December NY concert & firework display, Praça do Mar 22.00 V.R.S ANTÓNIO Every day until 24th December Artificial snow storm, Praça Marquês de Pombal 20th - 21st December The chocolate house, this Christmas’s musical, The Glória football club at 15.00 31st December New dimension music group 30th and 31st December Dance music, DJ Miguel Maravalhas, zona poente de Monte Gordo 22.00 ESTOI 20th December Opening of the Estoi nativity scene. Page 5 New year ........................................ Jan 1st Mardi Gras ..................................... February 5th Good Friday .................................... April 10th Anniversary of the Revolution ....... April 25th Labour Day ..................................... May 1st National Day................................... June 10th Corpus Christi ................................ June 13th Municipal Day ................................ June 24th Festival of St Peter ......................... June 29th Feira de Boa Morte ........................ Aug 1st Assumption Day ............................. Aug 15th Festival of St Francisco ................. October 4th-6th Republic Day .................................. Oct 5th All Saints Day ................................. Nov 1st Festival of St Martin ...................... Nov 11th Independence Day ......................... Dec 1st Feast of Immaculate Conception .. Dec 8th Christmas Day ............................... Dec 25th 2009 BANK HOLIDAYS AND FESTIVALS Here’s your handy cut out & keep guide to the 2009 bank holidays and festivals (holidays in red), compliments of East Algarve magazine. DID KNOW?YOU This Christmas and New year THE TOP THREE NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS ARE: 1 Increase exercise 2 Be more conscientious about work or school 3 Develop better eating habits Eastalgarve_Issue1.indd 5 27/11/08 15:26:23

Page East6 to West Green track extends across the East Algarve! Algarve’s EcoVia is a proj ect which was originally planned for completion Nov 2007. Despite deadline exten sions the project in certain areas is far from completion. Community financial invest ment is due to cease at the end of this year. The objective of the project was to have a green track extending 214 ki lometers from Sagres to V.R.S. Antonió. Passing through nature reserves, woods and countryside and the coastline. In fact the East Algarve mu nicipalities with the exception of Olhão have completed their work. The problem in Olhão is the linkage point to Faro is on private land. During the time of Caesar, the Romans created a new port, some 7 km from Tavira, named Balsa. Balsa became a big town, in fact much bigger than Tavira

News

Did knowyouthat...

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Ryanair Boosts Local Trade Good news for Faro Airport and winter tourism as Ryanair announce new flights Ryanair has announced new Winter flights to Faro from Glasgow, Liverpool and East Midlands Airports in addition to the existing routes from Dublin, Shannon and London Stanstead. These extensions of services significantly highlight the appeal of the Algarve to UK citizens. Also, the decision by Formula One bosses to host a Test Event in the region’s new Autodroma International Race Circuit in December will raise awareness and bring in a lot of new visitors to the Algarve; many will want to see the Mc Claren that Lewis Hamilton will be defending his championship in next year. Just as Gatwick, Luton and Stanstead all became London Airports, Ryanair has altered the name of Faro Airport to Faro-Huelva Airport. Huelva is just across the Spanish border, less than an hour’s drive along the A22. Faro is in fact closer to Huelva than Seville, the closest Spanish airport, and the traf fic is far less congested along this stretch of motorway, so the cross-border association is not as strange as it seems. In these days of internet search es, this change should have a positive influence on the aware ness of these benefits to trav elers, and any increase in the number of passengers opting for Faro instead of Seville will have a knock-on effect to the lo cal economy: car rentals, shut tle-bus, overnight hotel stops and hopefully they will spend just a fraction of their time and money here in the East Algarve. Who knows, if vendors make it inviting enough, they may stop here next year.

Note: the East Algarve magazine is launching a sister web site that will focus on promot ing this region and we welcome your cooperation in expansion due for completion in 2012 is a restoration project which will include the consolidation of the coastline, environmental restoration of degraded areas and of the riverside area and valorisation of cultural heritage, It is a program which includes 12 beaches, 48 kilometers of maritime coast and 57 kilome ters of river banks and an in vestment of 87 million euros.

In your own interest - get the message out: The East Algarve is the place to be! “Quality and good pric ing is key to remaining a sought after destination be cause the current economic situation has opened the eyes of many buyers who want a certain quality of life as well as a safe investment”. So says Muriel Muirden, the director of ERA commenting on the results of a survey on residential tour ism market demands that was revealed earlier this month. Portugal as a whole is expected to be affected by the downturn in residential tourism because of the global economic crisis. Residential Tourism refers to tourists who own property in Portugal. A significant percent age of Eastern Algarve owners rent out their properties and only use them on an occasion al basis. In addition to these owners, expat residents and many who are in transition, semi-resident in Portugal, are feeling the ef fects of the recent weakness of the UK£ versus the €uro in their pension receipts and in the val ue of their remaining assets in their home countries. The consensus amongst re cent purchasers who selected the East Algarve points to a complex series of factors for their decision to move here: the cost increase in fuel; health factors for the retirees; the cost of homes with relatively large grounds for small-holdings; low - if not free - water sup plies; a long history of good relations with the Portuguese; and most significantly; fear of the unknown when considering ex-eastern block or new EU member countries as an op

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The upshot of all of this accord ing to Muriel Muirden is that “We are going to have buyers who are much more attentive and who really evaluate price in relation to quality”. The message to Ex-pats and residen tial tourists is to “In your own interest, get the message out, the East Algarve is a wonder ful location for holidays, sports ventures and retirement”.

Add to this list the traditional at tractions of: great golf courses; superb beaches; an unbeatable selection of resort attractions all along the coast; and very few, if any traffic problems.

U-turn The EU finally use a common sense approach The EU Commissioner marks a new dawn for curvy cucum bers and the nobbly carrot by allowing member states to sell fruit and vegetables regardless of their shape and size in their ongoing attempt to streamline and simplify EU rules. Rules still apply for 10 types of fruit Lets promote the East Algarve!

Page 7

It also involves the participation of five Algarve Town Councils: Faro, Loule, Olhao, Tavira and Vila Real de Santo Antonio. One of the plans is to prohibit motor traffic on Faro Island except for certain resident and access for deliveries. Another plan is to re move all buildings on the Islands of Ramalhete, Cobra, Coco, Al tura, São Lourencço and De serta. This is to allow the natural flora and fauna to recuperate.

The arch of Porta de D Manuel shows the royal coat of arms of King Manuel 1st, also known as O ContinueVenturoso.uphill, passing the Tourist information office on the left, you will now be facing the magnificent 16th Century Misericórdia Church. The detail of the facade shows a renaissance portico, an image of Our Lady of Compassion with Saint Peter and Saint Paul at either side, and both Royal and City coats of arms. The interior of this church is worth a closer inspection. Note the impressive gold altar, the woodwork painted to give a marbled effect, and the decorative glazed tiles which depict the works of the sisters of mercy. Previously a charitable service, many of these good works are still carried out today by the Sisters of Mercy, employed by the local community. On leaving the church, turn left, and proceed uphill. Pass through a small square. At the end, look right and you will see the River Gilao. Turn left, proceed up hill, until you see house number 34. This is an excellent example of a traditional Portuguese house. Note the Moorish style wooden door, with a grille structure to allow air flow into the house, without allowing prying eyes to look upon the women inside, strictly forbidden by their religion. The chimney, windows and their dressing are also in keeping with tradition. You will see examples of this detail elsewhere in Tavira, but unlikely to view them all in one house, and in such good condition.

Susan Cliffe takes us on a walk about Tavira town and points out a few interesting facts and landmarks in this beautiful City.

Tavira town walk

Start your walk from the Roman Bridge. On your right, note the beautiful blue and white glazed tile plaque, dedicated to the courageous men of Faro and Tavira who defended the bridge during the political revolution of 1383 – 1385. Cross the Praca da Republica with street cafes on the right, the monument commemorating the Great War of 1914 – 1918 in the centre, and The Town Hall behind the monument.Turn right into the Rua da Galleria. The steps will lead you through the original gates of the city. Note the holes where the cross bars once were positioned.

About town

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Photographs by Gordon Railton

At the top of this street Ballana Is Anna is the Nossa Senhora da Graca Convent. This building dates from the 16th century and was on the site of the former Jewish quarter. The church with a beautiful baroque facade and the cemetery remain. It is being renovated into a pousada. This is a state run hotel in a restored, ancient building of high historical interest. Bear left, and you will approach the entrance to the Tower of Tavira, a former water tower of the Alto de Santa Maria which has been developed into an camera obscura. This is a must see point. Using a series of mirrors and lenses it offers unusual and spectacular views of the town, and also a most interesting commentary by a very knowledgeable, enthusiastic guide. There is also a small cafe here. Leaving the water tower, proceed across the square. You will see the church of Santa Maria do Castelo on the left. This church originated in the 13th century from a mosque. Rebuilt following the earthquake of 1755. External features are a gothic doorway and window and the station of the cross on the outer facade. Internally you will find the stones marking the tombs of the seven knights and Dom Paio Peres Correia, who were killed in the battle in Tavira between the moors and christians.

LEFT: The Roman bridge from the Praça da

PoliticalMemorialTOPRepúblicaBELOWLEFToftherevolutionTOPRIGHTOneofthegatestotheCityBOTTOMLEFTCameraObscuraBOTTOMRIGHTViewtoriver

Page 9 T AV I R A T O U R S Tavira Horse & Carriage tours Why not treat someone special to our Romance and Roses www.taviratours.comtourFORBOOKINGSCALL960170789 Eastalgarve_Issue1.indd 9 27/11/08 15:26:46

square which was formerly the main Town square is one of the most exciting in the town for its historical interest. Within this square is the Church of Sao Tiago with a unique construction of facade and bell tower with yellow, gold and white detail. Also in this square is a good viewing point before entering the castle grounds. There are excellent views of the castle walls and the view towards the Continuetown. towards the entrance to the medieval castle. Origi nally built during the occupa tion by the Moors, only the ru ins and one of two octagonal towers remain. From this tow er, which is on your left as you enter, are magnificent views of Tavira, showing fantastic archi tectural detail of the churches, the unique ‘tesouro’ rooftops, and the river with the salt pans in the distance. The garden is a delightful place to relax, and artists are often seen here capturing the beauty. Take care as after dark it is rumored that the garden is haunted by a ghost of a prin cess who is looking for her love, so do not rest too long. When leaving the castle pro ceed straight ahead to the Calcada da Galeria. Turn right and proceed down this street. On the left is a small shop, the Tavira Association of Arts and Flavours, selling local, tradi tional ware. This street leads you to the Galleria Palace. This building dates from the 16th century, but most of the baroque style is from the 18th century. It is worth a visit as it has exhibitions, a wide range of books about Tavira and in teresting views. Proceed down the steps towards the Rua da YouGalleria.will pass the Church of Misericórdia on your left, and the tourist office on your right. Depart through the Porta de D Manuel and cross the road. The Town Hall should be on your left. If you look up you will see the face of Paio Peres Correia, a very important man in the battles to end the Moors oc cupation of Tavira. On the front of the building you will see the city coat of arms depicting a ship and a castle with two tow ers. The poles are adorned with numerous flags during civil oc Wecasions.hope you enjoy this walk, look out for our next tour in the February/March issue. Typical

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Page 10 LEFT

TBOTTOMhouseTaviraLEFThemagnificent16thCenturyMisericórdiaBELOWBougainvilleaRIGHTViewfromthecastlewalls

Page 11 Life

It’s important to find some time for yourself. For example, go ing to a quiet room and curling up with a good book will give you some of that quiet time you need. Making time for yourself, will mean having more energy and feeling better. This is also a great stress relief strategy.

life balance.. how

1TIME FOR YOURSELF When people are busy with life, they end up sacrificing personal time. Parents are busy taking care of children, people are focused on their careers and job obliga tions, studies, taking care of oth ers, and taking care of the home and domestic responsibilities. This just doesn't leave any quiet time for yourself. Always being busy with demands sucks all of your energy and makes you feel burdened and stressed out.

So, how do you balance out your life? It doesn't involve major chang es. You don't have to make any life altering decisions, quit your job or move to an is land. The first step of balancing out your life begins within you Here are three steps you can take to help balance out your life:

2 TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF Be sides making some time just for yourself, you also need to be taking care of yourself. Are you getting 8 hours of sleep? Getting enough sleep is very important because not getting enough can have a negative ef fect on your mood and your health. Also make sure you are eating well, getting exer cise, and being kind to yourself. It’s easy for things to fall in a heap when you are tired and stressed, and easy to make mountains out of molehills too. Take care of yourself and rest, then you will be able to handle things much better without having them turn into a crisis. When you take care of your self, you feel better, have more energy, and restore your spirit.

3 BE FLEXIBLE Don't hold onto rigid expectations because real life rarely turns out the way you had it all planned. It’s fine to have expectations, but en sure you are flexible when deal ing with the outcomes. If you had a picture of how everything was supposed to be and expect everything to go according to plan, you will get stressed and upset when things go differently. Having a flexible mind set will really help with stress. Because you are flexible, things don't have to go a very specific way in order for you to be happy. Just discard all preconceived notions of how you thought ev erything was supposed to be. Making these changes within you will help a lot with balanc ing out your life and feeling bet ter. Of course, you should also examine what's going on in your outside life too and see what im provements and changes you can make. If someone is putting unrealistic pressures on you, for example a family member is ex pecting you to do way too much for them, you will also need to deal with that by having a talk with them and by telling them you are too stressed out with pressure. Prioritize if you have too much to deal with and your energy is being zapped! There are many things that can wait so just do the things you must. If your life has gotten to the point where it seems there are endless demands on you, you will feel stressed out, frazzled, and fatigued. You need to de-stress by balancing out your life. to get yours

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In a valley by the Ribeira de Alpor tel, about 5 km. from Sta. Cata rina, lies the little hamlet of Corte Here,Vidreiro.four and a half years ago, Taran Flaten and Robert Har ris fell in love with, and bought, a lavender field with ruins. They did not at that time know that Corte Vidreiro means “The place of the Glass Maker”, nor did they know that Taran’s experimentation and hard work with the fusing of glass would be so successful that today she and her husband have seri ously discussed calling their house “Casa Vidreira”; “The house of the Glass Maker” In four years they have renovated the main ruin into a lovely home, the chicken run into an outdoor shower with workroom for Robert and the former pig pen into Taran`s workshop.

Hundreds of stones have been chosen and carried to make walls and steps, plants have been grown from seeds or “borrowed” from around the hills to make the garden a colourful paradise. A walk around the garden reveals a glass Parrot under a blossom ing Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia) and a glass gecko on the terrace wall. Swaying gently in the breeze, glistening in different colours are thin glass strips hanging from the branches of an old oak tree. Large glass panels radiate their colours with the morning sun and on the walls of the house are beautifully framed exhibits. Taran and Robert wanted a garden with surprises, with unexpected corners and unique views, and al though they have a lot more to do, they have made an excellent start. Taran’s glass work started in Nor A touchglassof way many years ago. After seeing fused glass and becoming fasci nated by it she was determined to learn the skill. Her first step was to buy an introduction book and learn the basics about glass. The sec ond step was to buy a small kiln and start experimenting. Quite a lot of glass was broken during cut ting and in the kiln; the temperature was wrong, the heating went too slow or the cooling too fast. Blood, sweat and tears were lost while she slowly started to master the art. Glass fusing is a very old tech Thenique.first fusing of glass was done by the ancient Mesopotamians around 2000 B.C. Later the Egyp tians, the Greeks and the Romans all worked with glass and exam ples of their work can be viewed in museums around the world. Glass fusing means basically that Local artist Taran and her husband Robert show us their home and introduce us to her beautiful artwork

Photographs by Gordon Railton

People

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Robert is the one who does the fixing and making of the frames. His use of both rough and fine wood, driftwood, old window or

layers of glass are fused together with a design in-between or on top. The design is made of glass powders and strings of glass, of metals, sand, small stones, salt and water. The glass is fused in a special glass kiln, the temperature reaching around 840 degrees Celsius.

Taran’s finished products are flat pieces of glass for different uses, some as windows, many as bathroom or kitchen tiles, or as frames for mirrors. Others will be sculptures, jewellery or different hanging decorations. Most are used as wall decorations, set in wooden frames or cement, mounted on river stones or slate or combined with metal and wire.

Page 14 Eastalgarve_Issue1.indd 14 27/11/08 15:27:44

Interiors

• Interior design service whether single room or total apartment/villa.

• Hand finished furniture. Solid mahogany furniture finished in the colour/style of your choice. Chairs, console tables, coffee tables, dining tables etc.

FURNISHING DURING THE CREDIT CRUNCH In this difficult financial climate, an interior designer may seem a touch extravagant; however making the most of their connections and bulk buying program can prove prudent.

• Large selection of art (originals, limited editions and prints) and framing service.

• Furnishing packages using quality furniture. Prices from €8,000.00

Eastalgarve_Issue1.indd 15 27/11/08 15:27:48

So, now you have it. Your dream apartment or villa. You may well have, like many others, put down your 10% a couple of years ago to secure your property, and now comes the time to complete. Then comes the shock. If you are one of many thousands of British couples who have chosen to buy their holiday or retirement home in the Algarve, you may end up having to pay upwards of £10,000 more because of the poor state of the current exchange rate. You then have to consider furnishing your new property. Fear not. Interior design need not cost a fortune. At Panache Interiors we specialize in low cost quality furnishing solutions for your home, whether it’s for rental or your own personal use. From our suppliers in Portugal, UK and Spain, we have at our disposal a large range of beautiful furniture (sofa’s, chairs dining tables etc), fabrics and art. Who are Panache Interiors you may be asking yourself. After furnishing on the Costa del sol for 7 years we were approached by a developer here in Tavira with a view to designing and furnishing their show apartment. It was a huge success resulting in us forming firm friendships with many of our happy clients. We have now moved lock, stock and barrel to Tavira and look forward to maybe helping you dress your dream home in the sun. If you would like to view several of our apartments, please contact Dennis or Sue on 961 844 788 or 281 321 000 or by e mail at interiors.art@sapo.pt

Page 15 For an quotationindividualtailoredtoyourspecificrequirements Contact interiors.art@sapo.ptusTel927829930 PANACHE INTERIORS

www.buyagift.co.uk UK delivery only Gift ideas from this site A great website if you’re after a that special treat! From a Ball room class to driving a Ferrari, you’ll find it all here. With loca tions across the country and tutors who are experts in their field. The relaxed and friendly atmosphere makes it easy to make rapid progress and pick up the new skill, and if you en joy it book more lessons. Your complete guide to online shopping plus where to buy something a bit different.

Shopping madame butterfly boutique for men & ladies Rua 4 de Outubro, 3A - 8800-362 Tavira - Telm: 968 620 057OPENNOW

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It’s that time of year again. One of the problems of living in Portugal is arranging good quality and unusual gifts for loved ones both here and back home. We have tried to find the best on line gift suppliers for Thereyou. are many great sites to use and some such as ama zon.co.uk deliver lots of items to the algarve at a very reason able price. The amazon website is easy to navigate and orders can be tracked simply. They can even suggest other items that people bought after buy ing the item you did. Another well known site is e-bay.co.uk where you can find anything you want and lots of sellers will post to the algarve or at least can quote you a price for com parison. The only downside of this site is that you need to be a member and have a paypal account, it’s great for some but wouldn’t suit everyone. A great site for price comparison is www.kelkoo.com, also easy to navigate, it will give you a good idea of the price of a chosen item and sometimes enables you to grab a real bargain. As some of you may know, there is a courier company called direct international transport. This company will accept deliveries from store and ship to your chosen ad dress in portugal. The compa ny has a website and you can also e-mail directransport@iol. pt for any information and fast quotes on parcel delivery. They will talk you through the pro cess step by step. You can go online and order from any high street shop such as Tesco, Argos, M & S, and Boots, to name a few. If you’re looking for something out of the ordinary try these; www.iwantoneofthose.c o m has a good range and competitive prices. They deliver to EU and UK. Offer gift wrap ser vice. Gift ideas from this site Four golf balls, The Exploder blows up into a spectacular cloud of billowing white dust. The Phantom vanishes on im pact into a watery mist. The Jet Streamer ejects 15 feet of spi ralling streaming ribbon when thwacked, and the Unputtaball simply won’t go in a straight line on the green. The Underwater Light Show is, admittedly, just a little bit bling, but we can forgive it that as it transforms your bath, at the flick of a switch, into a rav ing disco dance floor. The Sat Nag is a very well-re corded, patronising woman’s voice will come out with one of a host of hysterical Sat Navtype commands. Great fun- ev ery car should have one.

High yourshoppingstreetatfingertips

Rua Poeta Emiliano da Costa 16, Tavira Tel 281 323 199 T hose of you who know my little bookshop know that I try to have a bit of everything to cater to our diverse population here in the Eastern Algarve. What you don’t find on one visit you are likely to find the next time you come by. I hope that I make up in quality what I lack in quantity, and to that end allow me to toot my own horn and tell you a bit about what I have on hand at the moment (the fact that christmas is just around the corner has absolutely nothing to do with it): “be happy” by Monica Sheehan is a little (10cm x 13cm) book of pithy advice on how to live a happier life, and she punctuates each point with funny little drawings that will bring a smile to your face. You can purchase a bit of happiness for yourself or for someone you really really like for € 9.20... “World without end” by Ken Follett. Just when you were wondering if he was ever going to get it written, comes the sequel to “Pillars of the earth” (1989, and also, coincidentally, in stock). This big (1014ppg) book is not for the faint of heart but for the lover of a detailed historical novel set in 14th century England. Available for €18.60 in trade paperback... “The big over easy” by Jasper Fforde. From the author “The eyre affair” (also available) and The other Thursday next adventures, comes a new series of literary who-done-its starring inspector Jack Spratt and Seargent Mary Mary. I confess I haven’t read this one, but it sounds just goofy enough to be clever.

Page 17 Eastalgarve_Issue1.indd 17 27/11/08 15:27:52

FREE GIFT WRAP SERVICE AND GIFT CERTIFICATES ARE AVAILABLE.

Rua Poeta Emiliano da Costa 16 - Tavira - Tel: +351 281 323 199 38 E-Mail: lizbeaupied@yahoo.com

“Klutz€12.35...forkidz” isn’t the title of a book... I just made that up. but i do stock a good variety of books by Klutz press. These are great products for kids who like to make things, sometimes with the assistance of a willing adult. For girls ages 4 and up, I’ve got the cutest “Paperdoll-dogs” you’ve ever seen, including two dogs and 12 outfits, plus a vynil dog-carrier for the long car or plane ride, or for taking to a friend’s house for the afternoon. For the boys, “Rescue trucks”, four miniature vehicles with fold-out roads, so he can “Get rolling”. The Klutz books range in price from €6 to €20 euros. Come by to see what else I have for the kids. Hope to see you soon.

RecommendedbooksforChristmas Here are the latest selection of books recommended by Liz Beaupied.

A Lura dos Livros Lura dos Livros

Liz Owner,BeaupiedALura dos Livros

Christmas is around the corner, it is not too early to start thinking about your book gifts for this holiday season. We are now accepting your orders for those special books you want to present to your friends and families this christmas. To ensure that your gifts arrive by December 24th, please place your order as soon as possible, orders normally arrive within 2 weeks of order date.

Having an up to date back up of important photos, files and other data from your computer at home or office is something everyone should have. search about the different features available and then start dreaming about how great it would be if the software could do this or that. The real ity is we almost never use those technical fea tures, and they end up being as waste of money. When selecting a form of computer backup stor age keep this simple feature free idea in mind. Most times a USB drive (flash drive) or regular old DVD-R’s will get the job done. High tech al ternatives such as tape backups and second ary hard drives could just complicate the issue. were 939 486 281

So why do so many people not bother? It could be, that it sounds too complex, or that it is going to cost a lot of money or sim ply that most people just assume a data loss problem or PC failure won’t happen to them. Until it is to late. In this article we will look at what is available and methods to enable you to store your data and the software to create it. One of the biggest issues with buying anything tech nological is buying more features than are needed to get a job done. Why does this occur? Most of the time it’s because we start doing re PC solutionsbackup

Technology Page 18 NEIL & EMILY RICHARDSON REMOVALS “Caring for your possessions is second nature and we strive to care for yours as if they

our own” TLM. +351

963 191 Email: neilandem@sapo.pt Website www.ne-internationalremovals.comApartado166,8800TAVIRAREMOVALS&STORAGELOCAL,NATIONAL&UK Packing service • Mudancas e Armazenagem Eastalgarve_Issue1.indd 18 27/11/08 15:27:53

870/+351 939 486 807 Member of the British-Portuguese Chamber of Commerce Tel +351

company.

Technology

needs.

✓ We see our service as part of the school day look at student as

and

✓ We are a fully licensed service student transportation

each

running services that are designed around

Back Up and online storage

So do it now. Investigate the best method of computer backup storage for you. Before it is too late

an individual.

.

are

✓We committed to students’

This is becoming very popular as online backup services combines the software to make the backup with the storage solution (off site online file storage). There are costs associated with this method, and the software is about as easy as you can get for making file backups. If you take one thing away form this article the thing to remember is that you must take action. Not backing up your files today leaves one more day for something to crash and you lose all of your important photos, videos, music and more.

✓

Secondary hard drives Should you have a large amount of data to back up, a secondary hard drive is an option. As the prices drop they are becoming a viable option for back up and additional storage. Quite simple to set up and use. Make sure that the model purchased has sufficient memory for your needs. PC Software Storing the backup you create is the first step, of course before you store it on a piece of media somewhere you need to first create the backup. An easy method of doing this is to just use the standard windows Zip format. This will compress everything, how ever it’s more difficult to keep all of your files up to date this way. Software can make this a lot easier on you and hands off. Easy to use PC applications can make the backup process a lot easier then doing it manually. Programs like this are automatically integrated to store a backup on a USB drive or even transfer it off site via FTP. Using the backup software is as simple as selecting what files and folders you want backed up and the software takes care of the rest until you want to add new files or folders.

The key here is don’t go for fancy features. All this does is slow you down and often you won’t complete your backup because of all the options.

We strive to provide for every transportation need our clients may have, including daily service to and from school, extra-curricular sporting events, class trips and local charter services. A NO T HER L E V E L, L D A ANOTHER LEVEL,Lda. Rua de Montalvão, N.o 7 - 2.o Dto. 8800-420 TAVIRA For more information on how our services can best meet your needs, please call us at: 960 170 789 email: henrique@another-level-algarve.com Page 19 ALGARVE DIRECTORY An on-line Business directory for the Algarve region for Business owners to promote themselves and for consumers to locate their nearest supplier. To list your business in the Algarve Directory, please ALwww.algarvedir.comFreeinfo@algarvedir.comcontact:addressenquiriestoJoWolf.classifiedadvertsGARVEDIRECTORY Eastalgarve_Issue1.indd 19 27/11/08 15:27:56

Page 20 Eastalgarve_Issue1.indd 20 27/11/08 15:27:58

• Cleaning and change of linen once a week (as a minimum requirement) and when new guests arrive.

In order to apply for the Tourist License your Villa, townhouse or apartment is subject to the following requirements: “holiday rentals will only be deemed legal, as long as the property owner can present the respective rental permit issued by the Câmara Municipal”

A s you may already be aware, recent chang es in Portuguese Law now require all villa and apartment owners intending to rent out their property for holi day let purposes, to hold a vaca tion rental permit known as a Licen ça de Alojamento Local or Licença de Utilização Turística.

• One bathroom for each 3 bed rooms with lavatory, toilet, bath or •shower.There needs to be a minimum of information on the rules and regula tions of the use of the units.

• The units must have windows connecting them to the outside, al lowing for ventilation.

More than 300.000 bed spaces are rented out illegally in the Algarve. The government has simplified the licensing process in the hope that more owners will apply for the tourist rental license. In the meantime ASAE will step up inspections of illegally rented properties. The recently issued additions (25.06.2008) to the original law show simplified requirements, which are easier to comply with by the owners. At this point every property owner in the Algarve should be aware of the fact that there is no more reason to postpone the application for the License. Those who apply for the Li cença de Utilização Turistica will benefit from official promo tion mechanisms. The govern ment is due to launch a Nation al Register of Tourist Resorts, which will allow more control over available accommodation and will give information to the tourists about the available ac Thecommodation.processof filing for an ap plication for the rental permit is a rather complicated and timeconsuming exercise and we would there fore like to offer you our services in this matter as my team and I are well ac quainted with the new legisla Thetion. standard cost for filing the application and obtaining the rental permit is depending on the location of the house/ apartment. This and the price of the license itself can vary from town hall to town hall. Once the process is entered in the Town Hall, the owner re

RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR VILLA RENTALS

• The units must be connected to wa ter, sewage network or have its own systems in accordance to its needs.

• Lock on outside doors and on bathroom doors.

•The units must have furniture, equipment & utensils in accordance to the unit’s capacity & needs.

• Fire extinguishers & fire blanket in the kitchen(s), first aid kit & instruc tion manuals for the equipment and indication of the 112 emergency •numbers.Adequate security measures for •pools.Anofficial complaints book needs to be available in the property.

• Buildings must be in good inside and outside condition.

• The units need to have hot and cold water.

licencesTourist Are you up to date with the new Tourist licence Laws?Arlette Ferber from Algarve Documents fills us in.

Property

The State Control Authority of Economic Activities (Autoridade de Segurança Alimentar e Económica - ASAE) has already carried out a number of inspections of private property rented out as Holiday Lets in the Algarve. Property owners without the obligatory vacation rental permit (Licença de Utilização Turística) have already been subjected to hefty fines. Therefore holiday rentals will only be deemed legal, as long as the property owner can present the respective rental permit issued by the Câmara Municipal. In order to avoid the likely fines ahead, if you do not already have the rental permit, we recommend that you apply for it without delay as the process of preparing the process and the issuing of the permit, may take up several weeks. Please do not hesitate to contact us in case you have any specific questions about this issue. Simply allow us to explain to you how we can help you obtain the permit with the least amount of stress, and keep you on the right side of the AlgarDocumentslaw. work closely together with the property management agency Care4Casas who will be one of the first rental intermediates with “all legal holiday rentals”

FOR CONTACT DETAILS SEE OUR AD ON THIS PAGE MAIN OFFICE – E.N.125, Cevadeiras, 8900-024 Vila Nova de Cacela TEL: 281-951165 FAX: 281-951438 CABANAS OFFICE – (Waterfront) Ava Ria Formosa, Centro Comercial Loja 2, 8800-591 Cabanas de Tavira TEL: 281-370277 FAX: 281-370761 EMAIL belosantospedras@hotmail.com WEBSITE www.estealgarve.comLICENÇA No 504-AMI VILLA – MANTA ROTA 3 bed. villa w/ private pool within walking distance of beach and shops. Price – Euros 315.000 CONCEIÇÃO / TAVIRA 2 bed. , 2 bath cottage, within walking distance to golf course; shops and public transport Price – Euros 175.000 ▲ ▲ Page 21 Eastalgarve_Issue1.indd 21 27/11/08 15:27:59

ALGAR V ESTNECOD A PPROVE D Official documents IMPORTANT AL G A NEMUCODEVR T S APPROOVED fficial documents IMPORTANT AL G A NEMUCODEVR T S APPROOVED fficial documents IMPORTANT STOP THE HEADACHE! Let us handle your Tourism License for holiday rental purposes. Finally updated and complete information is Pleaseavailable.contact us with your questions and ask for a free quote. We also provide a wide range of administrative services to support the Expat community in dealing with the bureaucratic system of the Algarve. Av.AlgarDocumentsMariaLizarda Palermo 43b 8700-081 Moncarapacho Tel. (+351) 912 541 539 info@algardoc.cowww.algardoc.commARDOCUMENTALGARDOCUMENTSALGS ALGARDOCUMENTS ceives a stamped document, a “ Requerimento” stating that the owner required the Tourist License for his house (Licença de Alojamento Local). The Portaria 517/2008, Artigo 3º, alinea nr. 4 clearly states that after receiving this document the house can be opened to the Althoughpublic.the villa or apartment must still be viewed during this process after which the council will advise on the adaptations and alterations that must be made in order to comply with the Permit, the new law is more positive and simplified.

If you have been considering the purchase of a property in the Algarve you could not have chosen a better time. The turmoil in the financial markets is affecting property prices world wide. The Algarve has also been affected, but to a lesser extent. Over the last 5 years prices

Property Safe as Houses have gone up steadily, but not as much as in other parts of Europe, like the UK or Spain. Moreover, the Algarve doesn’t suffer from a massive overhang of newly built properties such as is seen in Spain.

How can you benefit from this now? You may feel you have missed the market. You may be thinking of postponing your purchase altogether due to the current weakness in Sterling and waiting for better times. If this is the case, you may want to reconsider. During a slowdown, the weaker hands are shaken out of the market providing an opportunity to purchase your place in the sun at prices not seen for 5 years. Although it is not the norm, offers of 30 - 40% below the asking price are currently being accepted. Timing is no different for an investor looking to add to his portfolio or for a family selling up at home to live a beautiful life in the Algarve. Families who already have a home usually need to sell it in order to buy their next one. If a “lifestlye change” buyer wants to In volatile times, one should reconsider if a long term investment strategy is still appropriate. Being “overweight” in any particular asset class over a long period of time is never without risk, as many shareholders have come to learn the hard way this past 10 months. have gone up but not as as in parts of like the UK or Moreover, the Algarve doesn’t suffer from a

In ter m EAST ALGARVE LIVE, INVEST AND ESCAPE GOLF PROPERTIES VILLAS APA R T M E N T S TO W N H O U SE S LPLOTSHV927 Covering the whole of the Algarve as independant real es t ate agents, we can provide you with unbiased advise when you decide to purchase a property and can introduce you to a wide choice of reputable mortgage banks, architects, lawyers, builders, chartered surveyors and interi or designers We have been in business for ov e r 12 years, finding the right property for countless satisfied clients. We currently hav e ov e r 700 propertie s av a ila ble online and w ould be v e ry ple ased to he lp you find your ide a l ho me. If you a r e th e own er of a good qu ali ty prop er t y and wish to sell, pl eas e cont a ct us to ar r an ge an app oin tm en t Contact u s t o d ay: 2 8 1 3 20 2 8 1 w w w . l a n d a n d h o u s e s a l g a r v e . c o m T A V I R A R u a J o s é P i r es P a d i n ha 1 7 8 8 8 0 0 3 5 4 T a v i r a V I L A M O U R A N 1 2 5 , B e n f a r r as, B o l i q u e i me 8 1 0 0 0 6 8 B o l i q u e i m e AMI6232 Page 22 Eastalgarve_Issue1.indd 22 27/11/08 15:28:05

Page 23 buy a home while the market is depressed, that means they usually have to sell one at the same time. With all the opportunities currently being offered, it tends to equal out. Trying to catch the bottom in the market is advisable but can eas ily be missed, as there will not be a bell ring ing. Therefore the time for bottom fishing is now. The fundamentals for buying a property in the Algarve have not changed. Some obvious ben efits that will never be available back home are the mild winters, over 3000 hours of sunshine per year, beautiful beaches, the low cost of living and the calm pace of life in a stable part of the world and only a short flight away. Next edition we will talk about improving the chances of selling your property. By Robert Bijker, Land & Houses Algarve - Yellow 8800RuaTel:www.landandhousesalgarve.comHomes.281320281AMINo.6232Dr.JoséPiresPadinha178,-354Tavira PROPERTY MANAGEMENT HAPPY HOMES ALGARVE Happy Homes has since 2003 provided outstanding property management services and value to non-resident property owners. covering every requirement, Including Inspection, maintenance, administration, letting and marketing services, we have developed relationships we are proud of with reputable accountants, architects, local councils, builders and housing professionals. Let happy Homes ensure that you have the best possible support to maximize and protect your investment for a brighter future! Contact u s t o d ay: 2 8 1 3 20 2 8 3 w ww. portugal -accommodation . c om A brighter future h a p p y h o mes l d a R u a Dr. Parreira 1 37 next to Barclays Bank 8 8 0 0 3 46 T a v i r a Property L AW YER Telephone: 281 325 635 or 281 325 636 Fax. 281 325 612 Mobile Phone: 96 4043 380 or 96 207 6556 E-mail: 8800-360RuaWeb:mail@taviralawyers.comoradvogados.law@mail.telepac.ptwww.taviralawyers.com1odeMaio,no9,Tavira-PortugalRuiHortaLawOfficeESCRITÓRIODEADVOGADOS Eastalgarve_Issue1.indd 23 27/11/08 15:28:10

Lote

Municipal Tax on Real Estate:

E: geral@solutions4you.pt Page 24 Eastalgarve_Issue1.indd 24 27/11/08 15:28:11

•equipmentWorkcarried out to improve the property (for example: installation of an automatic irrigation system on a rented plot of land Cidade de Bolama, G, Loja D 8000-249 +351 289821060 +351 917474040

Solutions 4 you gives us the insight W hat expenses can you claim for rental income? Solutions 4 You, Lda. Can help. Deductible expenses: Maintenance and upkeep sup ported by bills, and property tax for the relevant part of the prop erty. In the case of sub letting, the difference between the rent received and the rent paid is not deductible. Expenditure on Upkeep:

• Construction work which alters the structure of the property The acquisition of furniture for the rented property Installations of air conditioning

COMPLETE FINANCIAL SERVICES ➧ Fiscal, financial and business consultancy ➧ General and detailed accounting ➧ Recruitment and personnel selection ➧ Professional training ➧ Fiscal and legal advice ➧ Life and non-life insurance and credit (mortgages, personal loans etc) ➧ Other business services Rua

•

• Work which is aimed at pre serving the building in the same condition as required by the residential contract you have signed;•Occasional work required because of faulty construction, ac cident, or unavoidable circum stances Expenditure(force-majeur).onMaintenance:•Powerandmaintenanceof lifts, escalators and hoists; • Concierge & cleaning services; • Premiums for building insur ance.•Local Taxes (e.g., sewage & re fuse)•expenses incurred under con dominium laws and for which there is documentary evidence (for example, fire insurance and any annual charges by the condo minium). Note: Cleaning, insurance premiums, local taxes, relate to art. 115o CIRS.

• Repairs and general cleaning of the building, its annexes and ad joining land; • Work decreed by the local council in terms of current legislation and local byelaws and work which aims to keep the features which were present when the building was first licensed;

• The IMI which applies to rented properties is deductible, refer to art. 41o CIRS. Non deductible expenses:

Finances

Are you up to speed with the latest laws regarding your rental income?

•

TM:

• IMI introduced on 1st Decem ber 2003, is a tax based on the property value. IMI replaced the local tax which is still applied to older properties.

Faro T/F:

The Overseas Insurance People > Your Insurance www.lloydwhyteintl.com Call now Make the switch, enjoy the difference 281 32 58 42 Part of the Lloyd & Whyte Group, established 1946. Lloyd & Whyte International Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority in the UK. Specialist policies, designed for expats and holiday home owners... Home  Motor  Health > We’re moving offices In order to be better placed to serve our customers, on the 5th January 2009 our Tavira office will be relocating to... Rua 1 de Maio 26B, 8800-360 Tavira >> Travel  Commercial  Marine  Funeral Plans Policy wording or key facts sheet in English Local offices in Boliquieme and Tavira Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority in the UK >>> Page 25 Your Property Management Team in the East Algarve ❋ Recently bought a property in the East Algarve? ❋ Not sure how to manage it? ❋ Why not give us a call? ❋ We may have the answers. FREE ADVICE OUR SERVICES COME EXTRA Tel: Sue 912988076 or John 915454401 Email: PMT_East_Algarve@yahoo.co.ukwww.PMT-East-Algarve.com Eastalgarve_Issue1.indd 25 27/11/08 15:28:13

Page 26 Eastalgarve_Issue1.indd 26 27/11/08 15:28:18

Transportation Vehicle renewal - retirement regime for old vehicles and a review of the tax regime applicable to private vehicles. Urban mobility plans for office parks and traffic management platforms in the main urban Transportcentres) efficiency - an increase of goods transportation by railway and sea Residential and services Home renewalinefficient programmes,replacementequipment taxation on inefficient equipment acquisitions Building certification,efficiencyalignment of taxation with the efficiency class of each building and an energy Renewablesaudit-incentive for micro-production and for the revitalisation of solar thermal installation Industry efficiency Incentives for the adjustment of processesproduction and the introduction of new technologies. State efficiency EnergybehaviourconsumptionandorientedofImplementationefficiency-measureschangeinauditinall

A s the costaprojectsGovernmentPortuguesean8%yearriseintheofenergy in Portugal, we look at the reasons for the rise and begin a review of the methods that you can adopt to minimize the impact it has on your finances. These extracts from an article by Ana Luis de Sousa of International Briefings describe the EU Directives that have fueled this flurry of legislation: MOVING FORWARD ON ENERGY EFFICIENCY Promoting the diversification and sustained management of energy resources and the enhancement of energy efficiency has been one of the primary goals of the EU in the beginning of this century. A recent directive of the European Parliament requires member states to adopt a 9% indicative target for energy end-use savings up to 2016 and to prepare a National Energy Efficiency Action Plan andmarketdevelopmenttheThey(NEEAP).acknowledgedimportanceoftheofanemergingforenergyefficiencyenergyservices,and Energy Costs to Rise by 8% per annum Environment challenged member states to use the public sector as a role model on energy savings and efficiency measures, as a way to persuade other players to assume energy efficiency Thebehaviour.Portuguese government has recently approved the National Energy Efficiency Plan – Efficient Portugal 2015 which sets out a number of actions for energy efficiency which should, up to 2015, enable energy end-use savings of 10%, going beyond the savings target established by the Directive.

Page

Eastalgarve_Issue1.indd 27 27/11/08 15:28:22

•oftolives,topicsUndoubtedly,Energy-efficiency.htmliflr.com/Article/711046/http://www.allofthesewillaffectourdailybuttherearewaysforusmitigateourlossesonsomethem:

The Portuguese Government is promoting production of energy by the Portuguese population with the introduction of the new Micro-production Law (DL 363/2007) which simplifies the access mode for small grid-connected systems with an installed power of up to 5,75 kW. Micro-Production is producing and selling electricity on a small scale with a grid connected system. Any entity can be a microproducer provided that they have a contract for low electricityvoltage 27

Operation E - monitoring of power consumption in schools and awareness campaigns for energy and efficiency

fleet with large CO2 emissions

public Installationbuildingsofsolar, cogeneration and microgeneration systems in public Replacementbuildings of the vehicle

Green taxation Subsidy on loans for acquisition of efficient residential buildings; Tax benefits for microproduction and solar thermal investments;Accelerateddepreciation of efficient considerationProgressiveequipment;officeofenvironmentalthe Europe acts to minimise the rising costs of fuel. Undoubtedly, all of these topics will affect our daily lives, but there are ways for us to mitigate our losses on some of them. component in the Petroleum Products Tax; Power efficiency fund Public funding for innovation, industry, efficiency awards and financial benefits for replacement of equipment Incentives for the incorporation of companies to invest in energy efficiency Ana Luís de SousaINTERNATIONAL BRIEFINGS – for full text see

Introduction of efficiency and environmental criteria in tender procedures (Green procurement) Behaviours Programme Plus - front line technologies and awards for excellent behaviour in energy efficiency sectors

• Green taxation - Subsidy on loans for acquisition of efficient residential buildings; Tax benefits for micro-production and solar thermal investments – these are already with us, so make sure that you check your entitlements before you sign on the dotted line, if you don’t do things in the correct order, you might lose the subsidy.

Residential and services - taxation on inefficient equipment acquisitions and Building energy certification are both already with us. But the biggy for us is: Renewables “within the hour” (incentive for micro-production and for the revitalisation of solar thermal installation).

More on this below.

Transportation - The review of the tax regime applicable to private vehicles: be sure to check the tax applicable for any vehicle that you intend to •buy.

SOLARPANELS4UUNISOLAR.Pt EN 125, Murteira de Baixo CP811H, 8700-121, Fuseta Algarve, portugal Tel. 289 798 121 Mobile 916 596 359 EDP GRID TIE SYSTEMS 100% Finance Solar Panels ∙ Solar Heating Wind Turbines ∙ Inverters Pool Heating ∙ Complete Kits FREE SITE SURVEYS 10% Discount with this Advert Page 28 Eastalgarve_Issue1.indd 28 27/11/08 15:28:28

We

consumption that is integrated in the consumption system. The promotion was vastly oversubscribed on the previous two “windows of opportunity” so be careful not to assume that you will get the EDP Contract in the short term. Unscrupulous vendors could sell you the system and then, having got your money, has no incentive to promote your application to the EDP. If you have the space to install a Micro-production System and the access to cash to proceed, then the EDP contract is exceptionally good; they pay a very good rate for electricity that you pump onto the grid. The bad news here is that the money to pay the EDP premium and probably the interest relief on installation costs for the lucky system owners will come from the general public, so it’s imperative that you don’t sit back and wait for the big bills to arrive. If you don’t have the space to install a System,Micro-productiontherearestill steps you can take to keep your costs down. There are similarly rewarding systems for people who install heat pump based systems, photovoltaic or warm water solar systems, wind powered systems, water powered systems or Biomass mixed productions for household heating, though the remuneration is not as good. will present you with the most viable options for you over next few of East Algarve Magazine.

further information on

the

issues

Environment

São Brás has a long cork producing history with more than 80 factories at any time dedicated to the industry. Now, however only around 10 factories are left in the council. There are currently 30 cork recycling units, in public spaces throughout São Brás. Natural cork has been associ ated with the storage of valu able foods and beverages for thousands of years. Ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans used cork stoppers for wine and olive oil. Dom Pérignon, in the 1600s successfully adopted cork stoppers for his champagne and cork soon became essen tial for wine bottling. Cork is of the thick outer bark of the cork oak (Quercus su Aber).cork oak tree will not pro duce any useful bark until it is 40 years old but from then can have its bark stripped every 9 years with no ill effects. It will continue to produce bark for the rest of its lifetime, over 200 Despiteyears. numerous attempts, there is no mechanized or automated process that can compare to traditional delicate harvesting techniques. Cork has the tendency to de velop a mold that can taint wine, making even the finest

What a corker! You’ve seen the stripped trees all over the Algarve, here are a few interesting facts about cork & links to São Brás de Alportel vintages undrinkable, and in recent times alternatives are used resulting in a major prob lem for the cork industry. According to the Word Wildlife Federation, “Cork oak land scapes are one of the best examples of balanced conser vation and development any where in the world”. There is a significant differ ence between the first harvest, or virgin harvest, this cork is rough, crumbly, and can only be used for cork board, insula tion, gaskets, shoe soles, etc. By the third harvest, the cork is a smooth, clear bark that will make great wine corks. Cork is now used for a wide range of luxury goods. Pelcor products are sold in tourist in formation shops and they have a shop in São Brás de Alpor Corktel. has excellent soundproof ing and fire resistant qualities. A tree that has given up its bark is left with a funny terra-cotta color. But, as long as the har vesting is done correctly, it will live on and regenerate its bark. Other profitable uses for cork have emerged with new products in the industrial sectors, particularly in home furnishings and fashion. The carnation revolution in 1974 changed the manage ment of the cork tree forests and of cork factories which re sulted in poor quality cork. The cork industry took a crip pling hit when bottlers of wine began shifting away from cork stoppers in the 1990s and re placing them with plastic plugs or metal screw-tops. The number on the trunk of the tree indicates the last number of the year of harvesting.

Page 29 Eastalgarve_Issue1.indd 29 27/11/08 15:28:36

T he move to live here gives the opportunity to open the ‘paintbox’ and soften new homes and gardens with these tough and colourful plants. They are available to us in many colour forms – a little thought before planting about the effect you wish to achieve can give spectacular results. If you wish the cooling look of white flowers and fresh green foliage, go for the white oleander (which can grow into a large tree) coupled with white lantana hedging and the white forms of bougainvillea. Does this sound a bit too restrained for you ? Turn to the ‘chilli hot’ red flowering forms which look so good against classic white walls and tumbling through native shrubs such as the lentisc (Pistaccio lentiscus). The choice is yours, warm oranges, golden yellows and creamy double flowers, these three plant families offer a huge palette of colours to choose the basis of your own summer ‘dream garden’. Lantana Lantana is a member of the verbena plant family, the more common form is Lantana camara. It was described by William Robinson in 1867 when he visited Paris and saw the new sub-tropical plantings fashionable at the time. He loved the shrubby habit combined with the new flower colours used as background to these exotic bedding schemes. It is a rugged evergreen shrub from the tropics which can grow to 2m high with equal spread in width. Stems and leaves are covered with rough hairs and have a textured surface. They emit an unpleasant aroma when crushed (can smell like cat pee!). The small flowers are held in clusters giving a jewelled look as the colour is distributed among the foliage. In the tropics lantana is a non-stop bloomer and has become naturalised on the Acores. Here on the Algarve the main Summer Survivors – the threesomeclassic Southern Europe is associated with summer holidays spent in villas and houses smothered in magenta bouganvillea, orange lantana hedges and pink and white oleander lining roadsides.

Gardening Lantana Lantana Page 30 Eastalgarve_Issue1.indd 30 27/11/08 15:28:43

Bougainvillea was first discovered by a French botanist, Philibert Comerson, in the late 1760’s whilst plant hunt ing on the coast of Brazil and named for the leader of the expedition, Louis Antoine de Bou gainville. It was first botanically described in 1849 and is believed to have been brought to Europe in the late 1850’s with the first cultivated plant in Europe recorded as flowering in Norfolk in 1860.

Bougainvillea Page 31 Eastalgarve_Issue1.indd 31 27/11/08 15:28:46

Bougainvillea

flowering season is May to September. Flower colour ranges from white to yellow, orange to red, pink to rose in unlimited combinations, in addition the flowers usually change in colour as they age. It is recommended for use as drought resistant hedging plant which can provide shelter for other plantings. There are more than one hun dred Lantana varieties. Choose the sterile lantana varieties and hybrids which are normally offered for sale on the Algarve as these are better be haved than the species - avoid digging any natu ralized lantana from the wild for your garden as this is probably the fertile seed bearing species which can quickly become a nuisance if left un checked, as has happened in neighbouring Andalucia. Pets can become ill after ingesting lantana. The unripe berries are known to be very toxic and the foliage is toxic to livestock. Lantana is listed as a Category I invasive exotic species in the south ern United States, and is a huge problem in Ha waii. The best way to propagate is by cuttings from favourite colour forms. We have used the single colour white and golden yellow flowering varieties to good effect amongst silver and grey leaved Anotherplantings.lantana that is also a popular garden plant is the generally smaller weeping or trailing lantana Lantana montevidensis. A lilac/purple flowering shrub which is a low growing trailing species particularly good for overhanging walls and groundcover. This is also recommended for drought resistant plantings and will tolerate slightly lower winter temperatures than the L. ca mara and it’s hybrids.

Bougainvillea is a riot of colour for nine or ten months of the year. This is one of the classic Mediterranean plants – adorning garden and house walls with show stopping colour effects. The colours available run through reds, orange, pink and white. There is a form with variegated foliage. The vibrant and long lasting colour dis plays come from the leaf-like bracts which sur these three plant families offer a huge palette of colours to choose the basis of your own summer ‘dream garden’

The botanic name is Nerium oleander, with a few sub-species. The main contribution to our gardens comes from the many selected hybrids giving us a huge range of useful colour forms to choose from. (Over 150 named varieties in the French National Collection). It is believed to have been growing in the United Kingdom for approximately 350 years but is native to the Mediterranean basin. It is pictured in wall frescoes of gardens in Roman Pompeii together with the strawberry tree, Arubutus unedo and was Oleander

OLEANDER

round the very small white flowers. Some of the oldest varieties come from the Brazilian species, B. glabra, which is also the most hardy. The natural habit is a climbing plant as the stout spines in the leaf axils attach themselves to structures, trellis, host trees or palms. They can grow up to nine or ten metres high so plant them where they can have plenty of room. They can also be used as ground cover and will tolerate poor soil and little water but may not produce their best display under these conditions. We are experimenting with bouganvilleas on a rough steep bank as ground cover. Bougainvillea only flower well on new growth so pruning is essential at some point. Here on the Algarve hard pruning can be undertaken at the end of January or during February – any shaping or hard pruning needed should be done before growth starts in early spring. They will not tolerate wet roots in winter and although preferring rich loamy, welldrained soils they are very tolerant and adapt to many soil types. Light feeding and some water through the summer will be of benefit. The bougainvilleas are salt tolerant but do need full sun for best displays. Watering during the first couple of summer seasons aids establishment but they will tolerate short periods of drought. Propagation of favourite colour forms is best done by cuttings taken in summer.

Page 32 Household items Furniture Antiques Soft Furnishings Pictures Bric a Brac AUCTIONTAVIRA Saturday 17th January 2009 Doors open at 9.00 am Auction starts 10.00 am Viewing Friday before Auction 10.00 am to 6.00 pm ANYTHING TO SELL? Please phone EMMA on 916 138 059/60 or bring your items to our Warehouse on Monday or Tuesday before the Auction 10.00am to 5.00pm For more information: www.algarveexpats.com Opposite Tavira Gran Plaza Shopping Centre Vale Carangueijo, Tavira. East Algar ve MAGAZINE If you would like to promote your business with the East Algarve magazine please contact us on info@eastalgarvemag.comortelephone281971484COMPETITIVEPRICESDISCOUNTSFORGROUPBOOKINGSFROM50€,TO250€FORAFULLPAGE As an advertiser you automatically become a distributer and will be provided with a number of copies to issue to your customers. Eastalgarve_Issue1.indd 32 27/11/08 15:28:49

n P r

c e p t i o n o n a r r i v a l a t 7 0 0 p m , 3 c o u r s e m e a l , l i v e m u s i c R u a B o r d a d ’ Á g u a d a A s s e c a , 4 6 5 0 8 8 0 0 3 2 5 T a v i r a T e l / F a x : 0 0 ( 3 5 1 ) 2 8 1 3 2 3 1 6 5 T l m : 9 1 6 8 2 2 1 1 7 ã r g e a U n p s a d 8 2 8 0 0 Friday 12th DecemberSaturday 13th December MULLED WINE LIVE MUSIC & DANCING MENU Cream of Leek & Potato Soup with cheese croutons Chicken & Wild Mushroom pate with warm toast & seasonal berry glaze Mixed Melon Balls marinated & served in a Malibu & mint jus Traditional Roast Turkey with mixed herb chestnut stuffing, served with bacon & chipolato roll Pan fried Monkfish on a bed of mustard mash drizzled in a light garlic, parsley & bacon sauce Steamed Chicken breast stuffed with a light blue cheese & dressed with creamed leeks Accompanied with potatoes & seasonal vegetables. (Vegetarian option available on request) Christmas Plum Pudding with Brandy Sauce Warm Apple crumble with vanilla custard Meringue pies with vanilla & winter berry cream Tea or Coffee A limited number of places are available each night, so book early to avoid disappointment. All bookings must be paid for in advance Only €26.00 per person Price includes mulled wine reception on arrival at 7.00pm, 3 course meal and live music. Rua Borda d’Água da Asseca, 46-50, 8800-325 Tavira Tel/Fax: 00(351) 281 323 165 Tlm: 916 822 117 E-mail: info@beirariotavira.com CUSTOMER NOTICE: Restaurant Beira Rio will close on Friday, 21st November until Friday 6th February 2009. However, we will open on Friday, 12th December and Saturday 13th December for two special Christmas Party Nights. We will continue to serve Sunday Lunch until Sunday 7th December. The Black Anchor Irish Bar will close from Saturday 13th December until Friday 9th January. guad’ T lm: Eastalgarve_Issue1.indd 33 27/11/08 15:28:54

Page 33 restaurant Christmas Party Nights Fr i d a y, 1 2 t h D e c e m b e r S a t u r d a y, 1 3 t h D e c e m b e r MULLED WINE C r e a m o f L e e k a n d P o t a t o S o u p w i t h c h e e s e c r o u t o n s C h i c k e n a n d W i l d M u s h r o o m P a t e w i t h w a r m t o a s t a n d s e a s o n a l b e r r y g l a z e M i x e d M e l o n B a l l s m a r i n a t e d a n d s e r v e d i n a M a l i b u a n d m i n t j u s * * * * * * * * * * * * T r a d i t i o n a l R o a s t T u r k

€ 2 6 0 0

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Oleander also probably used in the gardens of Conimbriga (Roman Coimbra) in the north of Portugal. It is recorded as an important component of Islamic gardens as long ago as the 11th century and also of Mughal dynasty gardens of India in the 16th century so may well have formed part of the original plantings at the famous Taj Mahal near Delhi. It has gradually spread throughout Europe and is believed to have been introduced to North America as long ago as 1786. It is shrub with a long and distinguished history of use in royal gardens – receiving the same winter protection afforded to the fashionable newly introduced exotics such as oranges and lemons in the Medici family gardens of Renaissance Italy. It is a shrub which tolerates bright sun, but some shade is acceptable. It is very versatile, surviving in both dry and wet soils. Fastest growth occurs when some water is given and in Crete, where it is naturalised, it lives in stream and river side areas. It will survive some frost but foliage will be damaged. Some varieties are hardier than others. Semi-ripe cuttings are best rooted in summer, seed is set occasionally but it is not possible to guarantee colour forms of plants grown this way. Particularly useful for screening and informal hedges, it is a relatively quick growing and colourful shrub for a newly laid out garden. By removing suckers, and leaving just a few stems, oleander can be formed into very attractive small trees.The oleander is a tough durable shrub that is inexpensive and easy to grow in most situations. When the terminal flower clusters smother the shrub it really stands out from the surrounding landscape. The colours vary from white, through pink to deep red with yellow, cream and scented double forms. Oleander is toxic in all parts. Contact with skin may cause reaction. We are using it to help fill out and establish green shrubby areas as it seems to be one of the few plants our wild rabbits will not eat! Thanks to Rosie Peddle e y w i t h m i x e d h e r b c h e s t n u t s t u f f i n g , s e r v e d w i t h b a c o n a n d c h i p o l a t o r o l l f r i e d M o n k f i s h o n a b e d o f m u s t a r d m a s h d r i z z l e d i n a l i g h t g a r l i c , p a r s l e y a n d b a c o n s a u c e S t e a m e d C h i c k e n B r e a s t s t u f f e d w i t h a l i g h t b l u e c h e e s e a n d d r e s s e d w i t h c r e a m e d l e e k s P a n f r i e d B r e a s t o f D u c k w i t h c a r a m e l i s e d r e d o n i o n s w i t h a h a z e l n u t a n d o r a n g e o i l A c c o m p a n i e d w i t h p o t a t o e s a n d s e a s o n a l v e g e t a b l e s ( V e g e t a r i a n O p t i o n A v a i l a b l e o n R * * * * * * * * * * * * C h r i s t m a s P l u m P u d d i n g w i t h B r a n W a r m A p p l e C r u m b l e w i t h v a n i l l a c u s t a r d M e r i n g u e P i e s w i t h v a n i l l a a n d w i n t e r b e r r y c r e a m MENU Beira Rio

LIVEDANCINGMUSIC A l i m i t e d n u m b e r o f p l a c e s a r e a v a i l a b l e e a c h n i g h t , s o b o o k e a r l y t o a v o i d d i s a p p o i n t m e A l l b o o k i n g s m u s t b e p a i d f o r i n a d v a n c e p e r p e r s o i c e I n c l u d e s m u l l e d w i n e r e

• 2 oranges, sliced • 2 lemons, sliced • 6 level tablespoons granulated sugar or •honey2inch (5 cm) piece cinnamon stick

• 2 tablespoons fruit liqueur such as Cointreau, Grand Marnier or cherry brandy (optional) Put all the ingredients in a saucepan with 2½ pints (1.5 litres) water then heat to simmering point, stirring until all the sugar has dissolved. Keep it barely at simmering point for at least 20 minutes – but do not boil or all the alcohol will evaporate. This can be made in advance, then re-heated just before the party. Serve it warm in half-pint mugs (in which case there will be 12 servings) or else in 24 sturdy wine glasses.

• 1 orange stuck with cloves

Festive

Treat your guests to a classic christmas lunch with this selection of classic recipes

SERVES 12

Mulled Wine

Brussels sprouts with pancetta

Spruce up your sprouts this Christmas - Gor don Ramsay’s recipe creates a really rich flavour Recipe by Gordon Ramsay favourites Food & drink

Serves 6 Preperation and cooking times Ready in about 10 minutes

• 2 level teaspoons finely grated fresh root ginger or ground ginger

Ingredients • 1kg Brussels sprouts • 100g thinly sliced pancetta , cut into 2cm •stripsabout 4 tbsp hot goose fat

•Ingredients2x75clbottles medium to full-bodied red wine (Bulgarian Cabernet Sauvignon is ideal)

The following recipe has been donated by the wine writer Alice King. Alice says that the great thing about mulled wine is that you can keep adding to it. If unexpected guests arrive and you’ve no wine left, simply add some more water and fruit. Use the recipe below as a basic guideline, adjusting the quantities of wine if you want it stronger and adding more sugar or honey if you like it sweeter. This recipe is taken from Delia Smith’s Christmas.

Page 34 Eastalgarve_Issue1.indd 34 27/11/08 15:29:02

• a handful of shredded sage

1Blanch the Brussels sprouts in a pan of boiling salted water for 3 mins, then drain and tip into a bowl of iced water to cool quickly. Drain well again and set aside un til nearly ready to serve. Sauté the pancetta in the hot goose fat until crisp. Toss in the sprouts and stir-fry for 2-3 mins, adding the sage to serve. from Good

Cider turkeyroast Succulent, cider-roasted turkey, with tender glazed apples and pear makes the ultimate cen trepiece for your Christmas table Recipe by Jane Hornby SERVES 8 Preperation and cooking times Preparation 15 mins Ready in about 4 hrs Approx 4 hrs cooking for a 4.5kg bird FOR THE TURKEY • 4.5-6kg turkey , giblets removed and kept • 450g stuffing • 2 leeks , trimmed and halved • 2 carrots , halved • 50g butter , softened • 300ml dry cider FOR THE GRAVY • 300ml dry cider • 600ml chicken stock • 2 tbsp quince or redcurrant jelly

Food magazine, December 2005 Page 35 Eastalgarve_Issue1.indd 35 27/11/08 15:29:03

1Heat oven to 190C/fan 170C/gas 5. Wash and dry the turkey, removing any feath ers. Pull out the giblets and the neck, then set aside. Lift up the skin that covers the neck open ing, then stuff the stuffing up and under the skin, securing it tightly underneath with a skewer or two cocktail sticks. Weigh the stuffed turkey, then calculate the cooking time, allowing 40 mins per kg (20 mins per lb).

2Put the leeks and carrots along the bottom of a roasting tin in a single layer - this will make a trivet for the turkey to sit on and add flavour to the gravy. Add the neck to the tin. Sit the turkey on top and coat the breast all over with butter. Pour in the cider, cover with foil, then roast according to your timings. Keep checking the tin - if the veg etables look like they’re burning, add a splash of water or cider. At 30 mins before the end of cooking, remove the foil and season gener ously. To test that the turkey is ready, pierce the thigh through its thickest part; the juices should run clear. Take the turkey out and leave to rest, covered with a clean tea towel. Can leave to rest for up to 1 hr. Now make the gravy. Drain the fat and juices from the tin into a jug, discarding the veg and the neck. Place the tin over a flame, then pour in the cider, scraping up the flavourfilled crusty bits with a wooden spoon. Reduce the cider by half, then strain into a saucepan (this will save you hob space later).

Recipe

Per serving (with gravy) 704 kcalories, protein 82g, carbohydrate 21g, fat 32 g, saturated fat 11g, fibre 1g, salt 1,77 g

2

Preperation

2Add milk and cloves, then simmer gently, uncovered, for 30 mins, stirring occasionally.

Page 36 Eastalgarve_Issue1.indd 36 27/11/08 15:29:11

•choppedblackolives ,

• 600ml

1Heat the butter in a pan, add the onions and bay leaves, then gently fry with the lid on for 10 mins until soft, but not coloured.

•

4-5cm cubes • 2

Creamy bread & onion sauce

SERVES

•wedges5tbsp olive

•

•

•

Ingredients•750gsweet potatoes

• ½

•

Food & drink withsweetHoney-roastedpotatoredonions A

Ready

1Heat the oven to 190C/fan 170C/gas 5. Put the sweet potatoes and onions in a single layer in a roasting tin. Whisk together the olive oil, ginger, cumin, chilli flakes, orange juice and honey. Pour this mixture over the vegetables and toss to coat well. Season with salt and roast for 15-20 minutes or until tender. Sprinkle with the corian der before serving and scatter with a few black olives, if using.

Ingredients•85gbutter•2onions,sliced•2freshbayleaves ,

SERVES

Recipe

• 2

•

Sara Buenfeld’s creamy sauce will make a tasty addition to your Christmas lunch. by Sara Buenfeld 8 - 10 Preperation and cooking times 15 mins Cook 30 mins plus extra to serve whole milk 7 cloves • 140g crustless white bread 142ml pot double cream

Prep

3Remove bay and cloves, then tip everything into a processor and blitz with two-thirds of the bread until smooth. Chill for up to two days. To serve, tip the cream into a pan, add the sauce, then stir until mixed. Tear in the remain ing bread. Add a little milk if necessary to thin the consistency. Season and serve warm. sensational and colourful side dish, fantastic served with a roast dinner from Olive magazine 8 and cooking times in 40 mins , peeled and cut into red onions , peeled and cut into thick oil 1 tsp ground ginger 1 tsp ground cumin tsp dried chilli flakes orange , juiced 1 tbsp honey a handful of coriander leaves, roughly to serve

Recipe

ChristmasCranberry

Bring the dried fruit and alcohol to a simmer, turn off the heat and leave for 24 hours. Add the almonds, apple and zest. Pour the golden syrup into 2 x 1-litre pudding basins or smaller ones with a total volume of 2 litres. Collect some whole pieces of fruit from the mix and add them to the bottom of the basins with a few almonds. Cream the butter and sugar, then add the eggs, fruit and rest of the ingredients and mix well. Spoon into the basins. Cover each with a sheet of greaseproof paper layered with a sheet of foil. Make a pleat along the centre of each to allow the pudding to expand, then tie around the lip of the dish with string.

Feeling at home in a cosy environment! These are the main ingredients of Mesa do Tim which in translation simply is, Tim’s Table. In this new bistro like café and restaurant a warm welcome is guaranteed and a relaxed atmosphere is always assured. Whether you are coming in for just a drink, a small bite to eat or to be wined and dined, we are here to help you unwind and enjoy our cosy surroundings We have a weekly changing menu. Also available for groups, special occasions and parties. For reservations please call: 912243220

Mesa do Tim is located just outside Santa Barbara de Nexe

www.mesadotim.com Eastalgarve_Issue1.indd 37 27/11/08 15:29:17

This is a lighter version of the traditional pud, but it’s definitely not light on flavour Recipe from Olive magazine Makes 2 x 1 litre puds, SERVE 8 EACH Preperation and cooking times 30 mins, plus 4 hrs steaming, plus 24 hrs soaking ••••••Ingredients100graisins100gsultanas100gdriedcranberries100gcandiedpeel100gcurrants100gdriedfigs,halved (optional) • 100ml cherry brandy or brandy • 100g whole blanched almonds • 2 Bramley apples , grated • 1 lemon , zested • 6 tbsp golden syrup • 200g butter , chilled in the freezer and grated • 180g dark muscovado sugar • 4 eggs • 250g self-raising flour • ½ tsp baking powder • ¼ of a whole nutmeg , grated • ½ tsp cinnamon

pud. Page 37

3Steam for 3 hours on the top of the stove in a pan with a lid - the water should come 3/4 of the way up the basins. Or cook in the oven for 3 hours on a trivet - half-fill the roasting tin with water and top up as you need to. Cool and wrap in clingfilm, then store somewhere cool. Reheat by steaming for an hour or microwaving on full power for 5 minutes.

T o begin with the champagne aperitif whets your appetite without spoiling your palate with toasts and petis fours. With a small liqueur of cassis, peach, or chestnut, the kir royal (blackcurrant liqueur with champagne) becomes very special Then the serious stuff begins: the plate of shellfish, with oysters, prawns and cockles, accompanied by a dry white wine (Muscadet, Sauvignon). This is followed by the famous foie gras of duck or goose with or without truffles, to savour with a sweet white wine (Comté Tolosan) or a smooth sweet wine (Monbazillac, Sauternes). The main course is the bird, such as duck with potatoes cooked in its fat or more traditionally a turkey with chestnuts. There are various red Christmas is always a magical time. It’s the moment we bring the whole family together. There are the gifts, the games, the laughter, the carols, and in France it always means a FAN-TAS-TIC dinner. wines which suit; the wines of Bordeaux (St Emilion, Médoc) Bourgogne (Hautes Cotes de Nuit), from the South West (Cahors, Madiran) from Cotes du Rhone (Chateauneuf du Pape). At our home, a meal is not complete without cheese. The cheese platter always comes amply provided with four or five different cheeses, cow, goat or sheep’s milk. Sweet, fruity or strong, it may be accompanied by the whole range of Alsace wines, white or red. Then the long awaited dessert arrives; the Christmas log cake with its butter or chocolate cream. Red wine, sweet white wine or champagne it’s your Thenchoicethe after dinner sweets like pâtes de fruits (fruit jellies) and chocolates keep us waiting for the gifts. With the coffee, pear or mirabelle plum liqueur, a Cognac or an Armagnac leaves us with a gentle sensation of warmth. Happy Christmas and bon appétit!

A38 ChristmasFrench Meal

Food & drink Page

All the products mentioned are available at our Tavira shop, except the sea food. Cheeses and Christmas log cakes can be ordered and in certain cases be delivered to your home. For more information contact us on 960 359 496 or chezcarolemanuel@aol.fr

Eastalgarve_Issue1.indd 38 27/11/08 15:29:26

Tavira, Algarve Portugal, Cottage with Pool 2 Bedrooms, 1 Bathrooms, Airport 10-30 kms Price €320,000 lisbethmarrs@gmail.com(euro)

PROPERTY FOR RENT

Classifieds Page 39

Satellite

groups. Santa Catarina Tel: 926 615 233 Quilting lessons. Interested in Quilting/ patchwork?SantaCatarina Tel: 281 971 484 Portuguese Conversation class. Every Sunday morning 10 until 12, Quinta Fonte Bispo, near Santa Catarina. Tel 281 971 484 O Parque da Anita (Indoor childrens play area) Based in Olhão Available for parties. Tel: 916 691 050 HEALTH AND BEAUTY Organic food and natural cosmetics. Tel: 281 328 609/966 479 261 BETERRABA (left side of local market Tavira) The Bowen Technique Natural Healing for the whole body East Algarve Clinics Gareth Bullock Tel: 912 540 071 WANTED Employment. Just moved to Tavira, Shane & Kim Allen, looking for work, anything considered, we have our own transport Tel 927 364 157/927 168 059 COMINGNEXTISSUE Out February 09 Valentine special Kids NewNewWaterPortugueseclubDogsBusinessfocusshoppingcentersCompetitionsPlusregularfeatures CLASSIFIEDS ARE FREE Email us info@eastalgarveonmag.comFINALLY,WEWOULDLIKETOTHANKALLOURCONTRIBUTERSANDADVERTISERSWITHOUTWHOMTHISMAGAZINECOULDNOTHAVELAUNCHED Eastalgarve_Issue1.indd 39 27/11/08 15:29:27

SERVICES Bay-bee. baby equipment for hire. Tel: Hazel 934 665 057 Construction A.R.L Lda Traditional Portuguese style a speciality. Free quotations no obligation. Tel: Arlindo 289 794 696/914 905 653. email: arl-ida@sapo.pt Based in Fuzeta Handyman. Most work undertaken Tel: Alan 933 640 821 Window cleaner. Good Rates Tel: Don 927 139 198 Laundry/dry cleaning with pick up/delivery Tel:service289 109 896/962 619 820 Based in Olhão Clothing alterations & repairs Tel: 289 109 896/962 619 820 Based in Olhão East Algarve Building & Gardens. Prompt friendly service Tel: 964 508 128 Garden design and Maintenance Tel: Becky 281 326 304/912 492 246 BECKY’S BLOOMERS Based in Tavira The Plumber Tel: Mike Vickers 914 595 696 Printing, Publicity & Graphic art design. Tel: 281 325 191/962 012 105 ARTESILVA based in Tavira Acrylic Supplies Tel: 281 322 068 ACIMA

PROPERTY FOR SALE

Dog

Tavira, spacious furnished1 bed apartment Tavira Garden long term rent Tel: 289 798 046 Quelfes, 1 bed luxury furnished apartment long term rent Tel: 289 721 361 Between Santa Barbara de Nexe and São Bras Furnished apartment to rent in rural Tel:setting,917 267 948 Tavira, 3 bedroom condominium house, pool. 900€ per month + utility bills. Tel: 289 722 409 Moncarapacho, Commercial, suitable for Totaloffice/storage/studio.insidespace82m2.Covered terrace 50.8m2 plus garden. Views to countryside. Quiet location. 525€ per calendar month. Tel: 918 980 425 Sto Estevão, Tavira furnished 4 bedroom, 2 bath villa with solar heating, in peaceful area. Available from Nov. 650€ per month + bills Tel: 916 911 502 São Brás de Alportel, Real Estate EURO QUINTA Lda AMI2596 Tel: Tony 289 845 137/962 680 728 Email: eurovillas@clix.pt FOR SALE Ladies shoes various styles larger size 8-8½ Tel: 969 979 923 DA MÉDIA Based in Cabanas Solar Safe Pool Covers Tel: Peter www.solarsafepoolcovers.com963346631 Spa, kennels, dog sitting, Canine centre in Pechão Tel: 289 705 471/964 639 587. www.dogspa.com.pt Man with a Van Tel: Mark 967 890 058 Only €25 per hour Storage motorhomes, caravans, boats. Based in Moncarapacho Tel: 289 791 669/964 235 050. TV Specialist Sky Digital & freesat. New systems & upgrades. Problems solved by experienced Tel:technicianTrevor 964 721 714 Based in Tavira. Fancy Dress. Easier to rent than invent. SB de Nexe. Tel: Deborah 289 994 194 Firewood Delivery of Hardwood. Tel: Dave 919 907 118 Computer Services based in Tavira. Tel: Ricardo 916 027 890 www.n-tad.pt Karaoke karaoke Jockey available for parties, pubs and clubs Tel 281 971 484 ACTIVITIES Guitar lessons. Individual or small

GUESTHOUSE, BAR & BISTRO QUINTA FONTE DO BISPO QUINTA FONTE DO BISPO For information and reservations please call us on 281 971 484, visit us on the EN270 near Sta Catarina, email info@qtfontebispo.comor see our website www.qtfontebispo.com CAR BOOT SALE Every 4th Sunday in the month 10.00 – 14.00 – same day as theSanta Catarina market. CHRISTMAS BAZAAR 6th December 11.00 – 16.00 CAROL SINGING Wednesday 17th December 19.00 – 21.00, followed by the Quiz CHRISTMAS DINNER for groups of 4 or more peopleduring the two weeks leading up toChristmas for 25 Euros per person. NEW YEARS EVE PARTY Wednesday 31st December 55 Euros per person for a three course mealand drinks, followed by cabaret and dancing. PLEASE BOOK EARLY SUNDAY CARVERY STARTING SUNDAY 18TH JAN ‘09, from 1pm A selection of meats, vegetables, roastpotatoes and yorkshire pudding. ONLY €10 PER PERSON Eastalgarve_Issue1.indd 40 27/11/08 15:29:32