Dec16 East Algarve Magazine

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OLHÃO · SÃO BRÁS · TAVIRA · ALCOUTIM · CASTRO MARIM · VILA REAL DE SANTO ANTÓNIO December 2016 €1 from agents

Olhão

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year from all of us at Blevins Franks 289 350 150

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Blevins Franks Tax Limited provides taxation advice; its advisers are fully qualified tax specialists. This promotion has been approved and issued by BFFM.

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Welcome...

EastAlgarve M

... to your Christmas issue which happens to be our 96th issue (that's right we've been running now for 8 years... how time flies!)

This month we introduce the fantastic Restaurant EssĂŞncia in Vila Nova de Cacela. We meet Chef and owner Carlos who prepares a few of his mouthwatering dishes for us to photograph. We also meet professional golfers Neil and Elisabeth who played on the P.G.A. tour for many years, and now live in Tavira and produce their range of unique Golf clothing, an ideal gift for Christmas.

Talking of golf, anyone thinking of taking it up in 2017 can do so with the Tavira Golf Club, we meet next years captain who tells us all about the club based at Benamor, Cabanas. All this plus our regular features and much more!

If you have anything you think would make a good article, or something you'd like to share with us, please email us on info@eastalgarvemag.com.

Have a great Christmas and a Happy new year!

Editor

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PUBLISHER & DESIGNER Richard Bassett EDITOR Richard Bassett EDITORIAL CO-ORDINATORS Richard Bassett Snr. ADVERTISING Call 961 700 200 or email info@eastalgarvemag.com DISTRIBUTION 3,500 copies printed.

All advertisers are issued copies for distribution, along with retail outlets.

COVER PHOTO Richard Bassett.

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

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Contents

6 8 10 14 16 18 23 26 34 36 37 40 40 46 48 50

NEWS

Local news.

HEALTH Jaw pain.

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PEOPLE

Restaurant Esséncia.

PEOPLE

The Forged Club at Monte Rei.

PEOPLE

E2 Golf Clothing in Tavira.

HEADLINES

Benfica star electrocuted in bath.

PROPERTY

2016/17 property round up!

PROPERTY

Property of the month.

GARDENING

The scent of Christmas.

FINANCE

Up-to-date news from Blevins Franks.

CURRENCY ADVICE

From Premier Fx.

FINANCE

Finance news from Ricardo Chaves.

SPORT

Tavira Golf club.

SPORT

The latest from Chris Wright.

GOLF TIP

Playing from the Divot!

CLASSIFIEDS Grab a local bargain.

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News

VRSA promises “festive fun” at Christmas village Christmas Eve (December 24).

Last but not least is VRSA’s massive nativity scene, which attracts thousands of visitors to the town every year. With over 4,000 figures set within nearly 20 tons of material, it opens to the public on Saturday (December 3) at the António Aleixo cultural centre.

In the nearby town of Monte Gordo, there’s also a Christmas village opening on Thursday (December 1) at 3pm.

Located along the town’s Avenida Marginal until the end of the year, it will boast a variety of small fairs and street entertainment.

The borough’s festive entertainment programme will come to an end on Thursday, January 5 with the arrival of the Three Kings (Reis Magos) at the Christmas village.

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onte Rei Golf & Country Club, in the Eastern Algarve, took the top award for the second successive occasion.

Last year it was titled ‘best member’ – this year the title was renamed ‘best overall venue’, but the outcome was the same. Monte Rei features a championship Jack Nicklaus signature course in more than 1,000 acres of countryside, and was voted Portugal’s number one in the 2016 Golf Digest ‘best courses’ ranking.

HAIR STUDIO

The

Source: www.portugalresident.com

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xpectations are always high for Christmas in Vila Real de Santo António. The town is known for hosting some of the most anticipated festive activities in the Algarve, and this year is no different.

Its hugely popular Christmas village is opening on Wednesday (November 30) in the Marquês do Pombal square in the heart of town at 5pm, with Santa Claus, set to arrive an hour later.

Concerts, dance shows, gastronomic displays, a handicrafts fair, Santa parades and an ice rink are among the many activities taking place at the village every day between 10am and 7pm until Sunday, January 8, with no entry charges.

The town’s old ‘alfândega’ building is also hosting a sweets fair until

Monte Rei celebrate backto-back World of Leading Golf award success

Benamor Golf Tavira

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Gents Cut 10€, Ladies Cut & Blow Dry 20€.

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French wines • Foie Gras • Baked Camembert • Home made Chocolate Mousse Served by friendly staff, excellent service with a personal touch!

Bishops Square

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We are Here

Tavira Roman Bridge

River Gilao

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Military Bridge

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CLOSED LUNCH TIMES MONDAYS AND TUESDAYS, PLEASE NOTE; WE DO NOT TAKE CREDIT CARDS Home made Chocolate Mousse

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Mulled wine/Vin Chaud

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Health

JAW PAIN

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MJ syndrome is currently theorised to be a syndrome as the direct cause is still not fully understood. There are three theorised causes: • Muscle Spasm (e.g. as a result of night time jaw clenching, teeth grinding, and psychological stress, and sleeping disorders).

• Degenerative Joint Disease (arthritis within the joint).

• Changes in the jaw joint: there is a small disc within the joint that can change position (e.g. from trauma) Depressive mood and perceived stress was found associated with pain sensitivity and was predictive of 2 to 3-fold increases in risk of firstonset temporomandibular disorder.

Sleep problems may mediate the association between enhanced pain perceptions in chronic pain patients and attenuated conditioned pain modulation (one of the mechanisms of central nervous system pain amplification) as it was showed for temporomandibular joint disorder.

SYMPTOMS • Increasing pain over the course of the day (especially in the jaw muscles).

• Pain may also be felt in the rest of the head, ears, neck and shoulders.

• Jaw locking or clicking (may also hear ear clicking).

• Reduced ability to open, close mouth, &/or eat.

• Ringing in ears (tinnitus).

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Jaw pain is a painful symptom of what is commonly known as TMJ (TemperoMandibular Joint) Syndrome.

HOW IS IT DIAGNOSED Your osteopath will be able to diagnose TMJ syndrome by taking a full past medical history and physical examination. You may need to be referred for an X-Ray, other imaging or blood testing if further investigation into the cause is required.

OSTEOPATHIC TREATMENT An Osteopath will aim to provide symptomatic relief of pain in the related structures of the jaw, head, neck, back & shoulders. This may allow for reflex relaxation of the jaw to settle symptoms of jaw pain and may also assist with a better night sleep. Osteopaths are also trained to treat muscles within the mouth (with gloves) to access muscles directly related to the jaw that may be in spasm.

SELF MANAGEMENT/OTHER MANAGEMENT TOOLS: • Heat may help relax muscles in spasm. Place a heat pack under your neck for 10-30minutes and relax. Perform this 2-3 times per day.

Self massage and stretching for the jaw, and related structures (head, neck & back).

• Night Guard/Mouth-guard/ splint: may assist in reducing teeth grinding and muscle spasm. It is commonly used over a short period.

An osteopath may refer you to a dentist for further evaluation and prescription.

• Cardiovascular exercise and/or

Meditation: e.g. for stress reduction.

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Pick up your FREE copy of the East Algarve Magazine here!

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People

Located in Cacela, this stunning new restaurant owned

by Chef Carlos from the famous Restaurant O Infante is guaranteed to please the most discerning of palates.

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ocal Entrepreneurs Tiago Dos Santos and Carlos Rocha have been friends from the very early days, at primary school. They have recently fulfilled their dream to provide pure quality and friendliness at their stylish, brand new restaurant “Essencia �.

Based in the village of Cacela, the modern, inviting space serves lunch and dinner from the cozy outside decked terrace and the stylish restaurant. Mouthwatering dishes are freshly prepared by Carlos,

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with the help of Jual to ensure a heavenly experience.

Tiago and his family are from Cacela whilst Carlos is from Vila Real De San Antonio. After leaving school the friends parted; Tiago went into the construction industry, firstly working locally, moving on with his company to Peru in 2012, then Angola and now Rwanda.

Chef Carlos studied at the famous Catering University in Faro and went on to gain invaluable experience in Lisbon, at the Casino de Lisboa for a year.

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People

Painting by Fonseca Martins in Tavira D'artes gallery opposite Vila Gale Hotel in Tavira

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People He returned to the East Algarve to the prestigious Restaurants O Infante where he stayed for five years and then to the famous sister restaurant in Praia Verde for four years.

It was after meeting up for a holiday that they decided to extend their friendship and become business partners and now with the help of Celia, Tiago’s sister, Carlos, with his wealth of experience, prepares sumptuous dishes.

It is the policy to make their clients feel right at home and to ensure a thoroughly exquisite experience.

They pride themselves on service and each client is treated like family. They're proud of their reputation and experience which shows through small but very important touches such as; your wine bottle cork is placed in a vase at the entrance with other clients' signatures written on them, just one of the many signs of their passion for their clients' “all round experience”.

Whether it is lunch or dinner, a sweet or savoury dish, everything is divinely prepared by chef Carlos. The menu is made up of traditional cuisine with a touch of the spice and experience from Tiago’s travels and includes, Moroccan curry, Toasted Goats Cheese with Dried Fig and Apple, Caramelised Scallop with Pearled Sauce, Octopus Tempura or Ceviche with Shrimp and Vanilla. Delight with a main course of

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Braised Octopus with Pepper Trilogy and Sauté Potatoes, Shrimp Neri Rissotto with Ginger or a Showcase of fish; Croaker, Sole, Turbot, Sea Bass, Gilded Catfish and Red Mullet. Rice and Cataplana speciality dishes are offered together with Lamb Rib, Duck Magret with honey and orange, or Grilled Rib Steak with fresh aromatic herbs and a potato au gratin with mushroom sauce. Desserts to delight include; Red Fruits Cheescake, Chocolate Mouse or Mango Panna Cotta with Cinnamon.

An impressive selection of fine Portuguese wines have been chosen to compliment your meal and of course there is an international bar.

Speciality dishes are prepared each week and Carlos ensures that his guests feel they have their own home chef, tailoring any dish to suit the palate and mood.

"Essences is the best of us, the one that makes you feel special".

Tiago and his family will return for Christmas to proudly see the new venue now fully open. We wish the team continued success in the future.

Open for Lunch Midday till 4 and Dinner 6.30-11pm. Closed Monday's.

Open Christmas Day and New Year's Day Facebook: Essencia Email. Essencia.net@sapo.pt Info@essencia.restaurante Telephone 281 956 118.

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People

The Forged Young company hosts its maiden event at Monte Rei Golf club.

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he Eastern Algarve was the setting for a stylish golfing event based at the prestigious Monte Rei golf club. The event was hosted by Daria Markova and Peter Holland of the recently formed Forged Club currently based in London and Moscow.

The golf competitions included a three-round eclectic format around the Monte Rei course. Added value for the players was provided by the presence of PGA professionals, Peter Holland, Martin Dewhurst and Marcus Thim who played with the groups on each day and actively participated in the social events in the evening. The group comprised golfers based in or originating from England, Estonia, Portugal, Russia and Wales.

Dinners were enjoyed at the Panorâmico in Praia Verde and Gastronomy in Cabanas. The more intimate surroundings of Aquasul in Tavira gave all attending

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particular pleasure. Mention of a nearby Estonian Consulate was greeted in disbelief. Indrek Männik, from Estonia, who had played with the group during the earlier part of the week was toasted by the rest of the party who had been escorted the few meters to ‘Bishop’s Square’ where the blue, black and white flag of Estonia did indeed fly. You never know for sure what is around the corner in Tavira. Due celebrations ensued.

The week climaxed on the Saturday night with an excellent dinner in the Members Dining room at Monte Rei, at which a magnificent selection of prizes was presented including vintage wines, framed prints of the Old Course at St. Andrews and vouchers for tailor- made fittings at top clothiers.

The partners of the event included Royal Launer Bespoke, Pond Mobile, De Luca Sartoria and Gambit Wines whose Director, Andrei Chevtchenko, donated the wines and Champagnes as prizes and for all to savour

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People

PHOTOGRAPHS: TIM MATTHEWS

club SPECIAL EVENTS Putting competition Champion Alexey Striganov Hole in one Rafail Yakupov Nearest the pin Men-Andrey Eremeevskiy Longest Drive Men-Andrei Chevtchenko Nearest the pin Ladies-Viktoria Mironova Longest Drive Ladies-Viktoria Mironova

at the dinner.

True Spec Golf provided professional custom fitting on the range exclusively for the Forged Club players and also donated prizes. Tim Matthews, a very charismatic, creative and entertaining character from England, and professional photographer, accompanied and recorded all events both on and off the course!

The final night was truly enhanced by the harmonious music of Richard Bassett and a stunning performance of Elvis songs by his son Richie, along with the PGA pros’ portrayal of their version of some Beatles’ hits!

The highlight of the golfing week was a hole in one by Rafail Yakupov using a 6 iron on the 155 meters fifth hole at Monte Rei. Astonishingly he missed by a mere centimeter a further hole in one the very next day at the North course at Quinta do Lago and Tim Matthews, with immaculate timing, was on hand to film the shot live!

Monte Rei provided the venue and its staff greatly

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MAJORS-LADIES 1st Gross and Net Viktoria Mironova 2nd Gross and Net Olga Dvoynina MAJORS MEN 1st Gross Gennadiy Jilyaev 2nd Gross Alexey Striganov 1st Net Andrei Eremeevskiy 2nd Net Rafail Yakupov PRO-AM Team winners Peter Holland Olga Dvoynina Andrei Chevtchenko Viktoria Mironova

contributed to the success of the week with their good humour and professionalism. The Forged Club were delighted to present to the Director of golf, Darren Griffiths, a commemorative shield to be kept at the club in gratitude.

Going forward, The Forged Club will be organising further events worldwide to provide quality golf experiences at which its guests make new and lasting friendships.

Next up is a magical lifetime experience in the Maldives in February 2017 and an exciting trip to South Africa in March 2017. Education days will be included in both trips focusing on the venues’ wild life and beautiful land and seascapes. Following the success of this first event, an early return to the Algarve is envisaged.

Any golfers wishing to obtain information on future events, or businesses seeking assistance for their corporate golf-days, may contact Daria Markova on pa@ theforgedclub.com for further details and reservations.

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GIFTS FOR GOLFERS

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People

Meet the professionals!

Introducing Golfers Neil and Elisabeth with their range of Golf clothing.

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ur Christmas edition brings a few ideas for both ladies and men from E2. The new unique concept from professional golfers Elisabeth Esterl and Neil Webb brings a refreshing and exciting product from the fascinating and charismatic couple who now produce and design their very own golf apparel, leisure clothing and accessories. Their base and home is close to the historic town of Tavira and products are made and shipped from the North in Porto.

A chance meeting gave us the opportunity to meet Liz and Neil, be enthralled with their life story and experiences so far and how they decided to make their home here in the East Algarve. This issue we bring you just a few of the stylish designs and next month, a lot more about Neil and Liz’s fascinating professional and personal background in particular Elisabeth’s amazing professional career on the Ladies European Tour since 1997. As their men's stock was literally sold out at the time of going to press we’ll bring you the whole story in January’s issue.

CONTACT: Email info@elisabethesterl.com www.elisabethesterl.com Facebook E2 Tellephone 00351 912 839 581

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People

BENFICA STAR ELECTROCUTED IN BATH S

till basking in the glory of their best ever World Cup, third behind England and West Germany, the country was stunned and in London the tragic news made the front page of ‘The Times’.

Lu c i a n o J o r g e Fe r n a n d e s was born in August 1940 in the small bus tling fishing town of Olhão. He was to have an eventful life cut short by the tragic accident when just 26. From an early age, Lu c i a n o showed outstanding ball skills and became a member of SC Olhanense junior football team.

He graduated through the ranks, made his first team debut in 1959 and went on to play over a hundred games for the club. In

...that was the banner headline that the Portuguese nation woke-up to 50 years ago on the 6th December 1966.

those days Olhanense played on a dirt pitch at the Padinha Stadium where the Algarve Outlet shopping centre now stands. When Olhanense gained promotion to the Primeira Liga in 1961 his sterling performances as a central defender soon brought him to the attention of Benfica. Two years later he joined the Lisbon giants who had won the European Cup against Barcelona in 1961 and Real Madrid in 1962. Luciano was a part of the great team that included Coluna, Cavém, Simões, José Torres, José Augusto and the legendary Eusébio who scored an incredible 727 goals in 715 games.

But tragedy struck on that fateful day in early December when seven players were using the newly installed hydro-massage pool for the first time. After twenty minutes of operation, the electrics short-circuited and a huge surge of electricity engulfed the players.

The hero of the hour was Jaime Graça who had trained as an electrician. Despite convulsing heavily, Graça managed to climb out of the pool and cut off the power supply. Graça, Eusébio

and Santana escaped with burns.

Cavém, born in Vila Real de Santo António, and the reserve players Carmo Pais and Malta da Silva collapsed unconscious but fortunately recovered in hospital.

The medical staff believed that it was only Cavém’s high levels of physical fitness that saved him. Luciano was the only player who had been fully immersed in the water at the time and died instantaneously. Luciano’s funeral had the largest, public turnout ever seen in the Algarve and a street near the present José Arcanjo Stadium in Olhão bears his name to this day. There also remains a permanent exhibition of memorabilia dedicated to the player in the Caso do Benfica in Olhão. Benfica played the rest of their home games that season in black and dedicated their Pyrrhic title success to Luciano’s memory.

Christopher Wright

Benfica v. Olhanense 1963. Eusébio (2nd from left), José Torres (4th from left) and Luciano (far right)

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We wish all our Abstracto customers a very Merry Christmas Restaurante

Traditional Portuguese Cousine

NOW AVAILABLE! TAKE-AWAYS

Rua Dr. Antonio Cabrera, 34 8800-344, tavira Tel 937 037 712 restaurante.abstracto@gmail.com Gardens

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PROMOTE YOUR BUSINESS WITH US FROM ONLY €65, UP TO €295 FOR A FULL PAGE

Traditional Portuguese Cousine A large selection of fine wines

If you would like to promote your business with the East Algarve magazine contact us on info@eastalgarvemag.com or Tel 961 700 200.

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Rua Dr. Augusto Carlos Palma Tavira Tel: 967 094 531 ‹‹

MIGU'S ‹‹ To Library Court

PT

‹‹ To Lidl

As an advertiser you automatically become a distributer, and will be provided with a number of copies to issue to your customers.

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Reilly's Irish Bar,Tavira FOR DIRECTIONS SEE MAP ON PAGE 32

TUESDAYS 'Quiz Nite'.

WEDNESDAYS 'Curryoke'. Breast of chicken curry, rice chips and a small imperial beer just €5 THURSDAYS 'Drag Show' various artists FRIDAYS 'Blues soul and rock'n roll' with Richie and Co. Sports all day Saturday and Sunday SATURDAYS NITE, 'Party nite' you choose the music, SUNDAYS from 7 O'clock 'Acoustic session' with Damien Reilly and friends!

'Tavira's got talent' starting December 18th at 6pm, this is a talent competition which will run for the next two months, open to all singers, musicans and bands in the Tavira area, the winner will receive the opportunity to get their own music professionally recorded and produced.

If one would like to enter contact Damien on 966 198 413, call to the bar, or email rimac54@hotmail.com

Asian Temple Wok Unlimited food...

Straight from the Wok or Grill to your table!

Only €9.95 Full Buffett only €9,95 (Excluding drinks). Other menu options available.

Opening: 11.30 am – 10pm Fri & Sat till 11pm Facebook 'asian temple wok' Telephone 965 295 974

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Join us at the Tavira Gran Plaza food court.

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Fado com Historia

Learn about the Portuguese cultural history of Fado, experience the power of Fado at its best, and learn about the meaning of some of Portugal's most popular songs.

10.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m., Monday to Friday, a quarter past the hour (10.15 a.m. - 12.15 p.m. then 3.15 p.m - 5.15 p.m.). 'the best attraction in Algarve', and the third in the whole of Portugal on Tripadvisor www.fadocomhistoria.wix.com/fado, email fadocomhistoria@gmail.com or telephone +351 968 774 613.

See 'Fadocomhistori on Facebook.

Rua Damião Augusto de Brito Vasconcelos, N°4, 8800-343, Tavira.

Telephone 96 201 2111 www.taviradartes.com taviradartes@gmail.com 22

Art For Everyone

Find us in front of Hotel Vila Gale Tavira. Rua 4 de Outubro, 24, Tavira www.eastalgarvemag.com

Property

2016/2017 Property round up Advice from property expert Robert Bijker, Land & Houses, Algarve

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very year in December we reflect on the past year and provide an outlook for the property market in the year ahead, 2017. Looking back we can say it has been a busy year indeed. During the past 12 months trading conditions for real estate continued to improve both in transaction volume and price. It was also a record breaking year in which the total number of visitors to the Algarve reached a new all-time high due to the continuous popularity of the destination as well as the influx of hundreds of thousands ´new comers´ from other holiday destinations in

countries that are currently facing turmoil. As a result 40.000 new jobs have been created in the tourism industry between January and September after 6 years of decline, leading to a substantial decrease in unemployment in the sector. We also experienced an extension of the holiday season beyond the traditional summer months as road traffic, hotels, terraces and restaurants during the months of May, June, September and October were quite busy. This was already the case in 2015, but less pronounced.

In addition, the demand for rental accommodation for long term stays

JamesATELIER & Valentina

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FARO

Cube Roundabout EN125 BANK James BPI & Valentina

Aldi Pingo Doce TAVIRA

also increased at all price points. This group of renters consist of people who would like to buy a property but rent first to find out if they like the area, successful applicants of the Non-Habitual Resident program (NHR) who need an address and official long term rental agreement and others who simply want to stay 2 to 6 months to escape the winter months back home. The Algarve has much to offer, so the longer you stay the more tempting it becomes to want to own your own place in the sun.

The increase in demand for properties this year came predominantly from buyers from Scandinavia, France, Germany, Belgium, Italy and Switzerland and often in relation with the NHR program. The British have been active as always, however for them 2016 was a year of extremes due to the volatility in the GBP/ Euro exchange rate. Before Brexit, Sterling was strong which made it relatively easy for prospective buyers to complete their purchase while after Brexit, Sterling weakened which in turn made it easier for British vendors to accept offers and return back to the U.K. Programs like the Golden Visa and the NHR continue to be successful in attracting foreign buyers and we expect this to be no different in 2017. Especially the latter as more and more people from Northern Europe will learn about this program and the benefits. The NHR program is a scheme for individuals who have not been a resident in Portugal during the past 5 years. Once an individual has been granted the NHR status, he or she will be exempt from income tax (work, royalties, pension, interest and dividend) for a period of 10 years. This program is an attractive proposition for many foreigners who like to capitalize on a recovery in property prices while having a 10 year tax holiday. The

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Property market benefits more from this type of buyer versus ‘flippers’, as they have a strong incentive to hold on to their property during this 10 year period. It is also contributing to more economic activity outside of the summer months to the benefit of local businesses.

In line with expectations, the newly built properties that came to the market this year were quickly snapped up by eager buyers. The balance in supply and demand has changed in favor of vendors as the overhang of unsold properties has disappeared. However, there are still some banks who own properties which they foreclosed on during the financial crisis, but these properties PROPERTY MANAGEMENT ALGARVEAN COTTAGES

V I LLAS

are either overpriced and/or simply not attractive to buyers. The truth is that when the crisis started they did not mark them down to realistic price levels fast enough, as decision making at banks is notoriously slow which only resulted in more pressure to their balance sheet problems.

All in all the residential property market is in pretty good shape with strong demand from buyers and renters alike. On average the price of a property over the past 12 months has appreciated by 9%, which is at the top end of our 7 – 9% expectation a year ago. Current price levels are still approx. 30% below the previous high of September 2008.

The low interest rate environment H A P P Y H O M E S A L G A RV E

A PA RT M E N T S

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we are currently in also means that it has never been cheaper to arrange a 5 year fixed mortgage rate in Portugal. The 5 year swap rate is 0.1, or equal to ten basis points (100 basis points = 1%). Only a few banks offer 5 years fixed rates and longer maturities such as 10 or 20 years are not available in Portugal.

We expected that the interest rate margin that a bank charges the mortgagee would come down in 2016 due to increased completion.

This indeed happened, but 25 basis points only to 1,25% for their best customers versus 1,5% one year ago. The reason is that although there is competition for customers, this only relates to less then a handful of banks. Other banks are not (yet) in a position to compete on price due to their weak balance sheets as mentioned earlier. Having said this, we do expect that overtime this will change and for the margin to drop below 1% again.

The recapitalization of banks in Europe is a process that is taking longer than anticipated, and banks in Portugal are no different. But some banks are better capitalized than others and have been very active issuing new mortgages.

When forming a well informed opinion about the market outlook for 2017 one has to take in consideration not only the economic prospect of Portugal for the year ahead but of other economies. The economy in Portugal is improving slowly and mainly on the back of an economic recovery in Europe.

Portugal´s debt to GBP ratio is still close to 130% while running a budget deficit of 2.7%. The latter is above 2.3% agreed with the European Commission. The reason for slow progress in reducing the budget deficit is that the left-wing government reversed various austerity measures when it came to power. The government has published their budget proposals for 2017 which if approved includes increasing council tax of residential property with a ratable value of Euro 600.000 and above. Another, if not controversial proposal is to increase the tax on short term holiday rentals (Alojamento Local) from effectively 3.75% to 8,75%, as it is estimated that less than 20% of available holiday rental accommodation is official registered. Leaving A.L. rates unchanged and widening the tax net would result in higher tax

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shrugging off any negativity from the Brexit vote and the election of Mr. Trump as president of the USA. Fiscal policy clearly turned stimulative in 2016 with slippage on government budgets in several countries including France, Italy and Spain. Portugal has been no different and is likely to miss targets again in 2017. For decades it has not been able to reach it potential.

The issues hampering economic growth in 2016 are likely to be the same in 2017; a slow judicial system, inefficient public administration (e.g. hidden unemployment), restrictive labour regulations and a lack of competition in some sectors.

For 2017 we expect another good year for real estate with the building of new construction to continue at the same pace as the past 12 months and will again be easily absorbed by the market. Various councils have announced plans to develop a marina with housing, such as the council of Olhao, Faro, Vila Real de Santo Antonio. Also in Tavira there is a project for a marina with housing which has been in the offing for a long time. These are all

highly desirable properties on prime locations and once completed will also be met by eager buyers from all over the World.

In our base case scenario we expect transaction volume of residential housing to slow down in 2017 versus last year while prices of existing homes sales to rise between 4 – 6%.

Considering all of the above, we expect the year 2017 to be anything but dull.

Robert Bijker, Director Land & Houses Algarve – Yellow Homes www. landandhousesalgarve.com www. landandhousesalgarve.de Tavira Office Rua Dr. José Pires Padinha 178 8800 - 354 Tavira Tel: 281 320 281 Fax: 281 321 901 (AMI – 6232) Vilamoura Office EN 125, Benfarras Boliqueime 8100 - 068 Boliqueime Tel: 289 301294 Fax: 289 301439

MAIN OFFICE – (Waterfront) Ava Ria Formosa, Centro Comercial Loja 2, 8800-591 Cabanas de Tavira TEL: 281-370277 FAX: 281-370761 OFFICE – E.N.125, Cevadeiras, 8900-024 Vila Nova de Cacela TEL: 281-951165 FAX: 281-951438 LICENÇA No 504-AMI

EMAIL geral@estealgarve.net WEBSITE www.estealgarve.net ▲

ATTRACTIVE STUDIO CABANAS - Within walking distance to all amenities. Total area of 35m2 - Sitting room + kitchenette + bathroom. Sold furnished. ***ENERGY CLASS - E €85.000

3/4 BED. VILLA W/ S. POOL + GARDEN (450M2) - NEIGH. ALTURA - Situated in a residential area approx. 3 kms from beach. 2 floors. Interior patio. ***ENERGY CLASS - D €290.000 ▲

revenue than the current proposal, one which penalizes homeowners who did bother to go legal and are paying their fair share in taxes.

Nevertheless, the proposed tariff is still below the 28% charged on long term rental income.

As the Algarve is a melting pot of cultures and has always attracted buyers from all over the world, it is important to watch how other economies are performing when analyzing trends in property prices. Amid still weak inflation, the consensus in the market is that the ECB in their next meeting on December 8th will announce a 6 month extension of their current QE program, which runs until the end of March 2017. Despite a recent uptick, interest rates are expected to remain relatively low on a historic basis. Although the underlying economic prospects for Europe are improving with lower unemployment, higher corporate earnings as well as higher consumer spending, the rise of populist and nationalist parties across Europe are reasons for concern, as 4 countries will hold elections in 2017, namely France, Germany, The Netherlands and Austria. Therefore the year ahead will offer various challenges too. After Brexit and the surprise electoral victory of Mr. Trump, these parties are keen to capitalize on anti-immigration and anti-globalization feelings amongst part of the electorate. Any one of these elections may be reason for a period of uncertainty and caution by consumers, especially when it comes to discretionary purchases such a second home abroad.

However, the first watershed moment for Europe could be the upcoming referendum on the 4th of December in Italy. If Mr. Renzi loses the referendum on his constitutional reforms he said he would resign, opening the door for the opposition parties to step in. All 3 opposition parties favour an exit from the Euro.

But if we eliminate the noise, the economy of Europe is improving and the American economy is on a solid growth path even before Mr. Trump’s promise to set up a large scale investment program to upgrade infrastructure and create local jobs. Euro zone consumer confidence figures for November are the latest sign that buoyant consumers are likely to accelerate the Eurozone´s economic recovery

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Property

Property of the month

26

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Property

RUSSELL & DECOZ REAL ESTATE Tel: 00351 289 792 785 Mobile 963 085 580 Email: sales@russell-decoz.com

3 bed Villa + 1 bed Guest Apartment, Garage & pool. Sitting in 4.140m² of fenced land with gardens, Carport & Warehouse.

EXCLUSIVE LISTING. Beautifully presented family home with large plot, a pool, sea views and kitchen garden providing a lovely family home - minutes drive from the marina at Olhao and island beaches off the coast.

Villa with 4 bedrooms on 2 floors, covered area 340m². Villa built in 1995. The villa is divided into two independant living units with a complete self contained 1 bedroom apartment on the 1st floor. * Mains water * 220V electricity * solar panels * gas water heater * septic tank with soak-away * wood burner * open fire * ceiling fans * alarm system * telephone line with internet * SAT-dish * 10 x 4m pool with manual cover, surrounded by a large sun terrace with an outdoor WC and poolside shower * cultivated gardens * fruit trees * herb garden * automatic irrigation system * large field with indigenous trees * fenced and walled * remote entrance gates * off road parking * garage * carport * Furniture negotiable!

REF:- 1662V LOCATION:- Near Moncarapacho

€495.000

www.russell-decoz.com

AMI License nº 870 - Member of APEMIP nº 1178 Av. Maria Lizarda Palermo 43a, 8700 - 081 Moncarapacho, Algarve, Portugal

PROPERTY REQUIRED:

Moncarapacho, São Brás, Estoi, to Tavira area, please call or email.

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AMI 8799

LwL Properties.com, Nº40a, Rua 1º de Maio, 8800-360 Tavira Office: 00351 281 327 656, Voip: 02070999193 Email: info@lwlproperties.com Web: www.lwlproperties.com

Six Bedroom Villa with Pool & Sea Views – Tavira, 750,000€ Ref. 3783199

Lovely villa in a great location, ideal for privacy, but close to all amenities. Bursting with character with moat, and spiral staircase, the property has a lot to offer in the way of accommodation, charm, and space.

Great as a holiday home, permanent home, or rental property. Santo Estevão Tavira are very close by. Beaches are also only a 5 min drive. With stunning sea views, this property really is a must see.

One Bedroom Apartment with Garage & Communal Pool – Tavira, Price: 125,000€ Ref: 4279466

Second floor, modern apartment with private underground parking space, and communal swimming pool.

Located in a quiet, popular urbanization that offers excellent facilities nearby, such as: café, restaurant and bakery. The town of Tavira and a golf course are only few minutes’ drive. A great opportunity with excellent rental potential, as a full time or holiday home.

TAVIRA Spacious 3 Bed Mid Terrace Townhouse with Sea Views – Fuseta, 245,000€ Ref: 4283927

FUSETA

Modern townhouse, walking distance to centre of Fuseta, amenities, beach and access to the island. The external space is fantastic; big roof terrace with sea views, and patios to the back and front of the property. It has good size rooms with plenty of storage space and a huge basement, perfect for a games room. This would be a great family home or holiday house.

TAVIRA

Tavira House & Home PLEASE CONTACT US IF YOU HAVE A PROPERTY TO SELL. WE HAVE MANY BUYERS KEEN TO PURCHASE.

Ref: V0399 €159,000 Cosy Country Cottage with 2 bedrooms, a study and Spectacular Coastal Views, Tavira

Ref: V0395 €299,500 3 Bedroom Villa with Pool and Panoramic Views, Tavira

Rua 1º de Maio 45, Tavira AMI Licence: 9218

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www.tavirahouseandhome.com info@tavirahouseandhome.com

Office: (+351) 281 328 210 Juliet (+351) 918 621 994

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FESTIVE COUNTRY

BUYS 3/4 bedroom villa with pool and views - €295,000 Little over 10 minutes drive from the coast, just outside the village of Faz Fato, this immaculate single story villa is set on a spacious south-facing plot with views towards the sea.

Faz Fato 2 bedroom home on large plot - €195,000 Approximately 15km from Vila Nova de Cacela, in a peaceful country location, this house has a built area of 89m2 set on a large plot of 3,260m2.

Luxury 3 bedroom villa with pool near beach - €525,000 Quality, well-finished villa located only 250m to the beach.

All three bedrooms are en-suite and features include a modern spacious kitchen, huge lounge that opens to partly covered terrace and a good size pool.

Gorgeous cottage near Tavira - €269.000 Rich in classic country charm, this cottage is set in lovely country surroundings close to one of the Algarve’s prettiest towns. Spacious and cosy, it has 2+2 bedrooms and a private swimming pool.

The Best of the Algarve Close to Beaches & Golf Rua 1º de Maio 32, 8800 -360 Tavira Tel: +351 96 25 66 421 - www.proluna.com

r.nagelsmit@proluna.com www.eastalgarvemag.com

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People Company AMI 7673 Office: Tel/Fax 281 952 820 Mobile: 00351 911 041 862 Casa Anibal R/C loja B, Estrada da Manta Rota 8900-038 Vila Nova de Cacela

SALES: www.algarvemantaproperties.com RENTALS: www.algarvemanta.pt EMAIL: sarah@algarvemanta.pt

EXCLUSIVE LISTINGS FOR ALGARVE MANTA PROPERTIES!!

GB E

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MANTA ROTA, €360.000

TAVIRA, €465.000

• 4+1 BEDROOMS • 150M FROM BEACH OF LOTA • A/C (HEAT AND COOL) • FIREPLACE IN LOUNGE • GARAGE ROOM (5TH BEDROOM OR 2ND LOUNGE) • SOLAR PANEL FOR HOT WATER • PRIVATE POOL • CLOSE TO FACILITIES • FLY SCREENS THROUGHOUT • RENTAL POTENCIAL

• LUXURY DETACHED VILLA • PLOT OF 835.58M2 • PRIVATE HEATED POOL • DETACHED DOUBLE GARAGE • AIR CONDITIONING (HEAT AND COOL) • FIREPLACE WOODBURNER IN LOUNGE • 4 VERY LARGE BEDROOMS • 3 BATHROOMS (ONE SUITE) • FLY SCREENS THROUGHOUT • HOUSE ALARM • CLOSE TO TAVIRA TOWN

REF: 2036

REF: 2030

WE'LL

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email: paul.titcombe@hotmail.co.uk

MONTE da PALHAGUEIRA VILLAGE

Villas from: £140,000 Ι Apartments from: £95,000

DESIGNED FOR THE OVER 55’S Monte da Palhagueira offers 33 houses and apartments, exclusively designed for the over 55’s. Set within a traditional village development of 22 acres, just 20 minutes drive from Faro International Airport, the village nestles in the tranquil and picturesque hillside of Gorjões, Faro in the Algarve.

EXCELLENT FACILITIES The village offers many unique features, including its own own Anglican Church, public restaurant, tennis court, two swimming pools and an ornamental lake, all set within traditional village surroundings, bounded by stone walled lanes and terracotta tiled buildings.

COMPLETE PEACE OF MIND In addition, village properties all have access to British trained medical staff, on duty at all times, via an aid call system linked to the village nursing home.

MAKE AN ENQUIRY For further information please contact Clive Roberts on ++351 289 990900 E-mail: montedapalhagueira@gmail.com Ι Web: www.retirementvillageportugal.co.uk Monte da Palhagueira Village, Gorjôes, 8005-488 Sta. Barbara de Nexe, Algarve, Portugal.

Part of the Amesbury Abbey Group, Church Street, Amesbury, Wiltshire SP4 7EX www.amesburyabbey.com

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RED INVEST

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c Tavira Câmara t Tourist Information

BARS 1 Reilly's

PLACES TO VISIT 1 Casas das Portas 2 Casas das Portas 3 Fado Com Historia 4 Kozii store 5 Kozii store 6 Tavira D'Artes

SERVICES 1 A.F.M. Accountants 2 Gabigest Accountants 3 Ibex Insurance 4 Rui Horter Lawyer

HEALTH & BEAUTY 1 Elle 2 Harmony 3 Rey Barros

REAL ESTATE 1 Land and Houses 2 LWL 3 Red Invest 4 Tavira House and Home 5 To Go For Homes 6 Proluna

RESTAURANTS 1 Abstracto 2 Asian Temple Wok 3 Food Factory 4 La Petite France 5 Migu's

TAVIRA Thoughtful aquisitions for people who care about where their clothes come from www.koziishop.com www.eastalgarvemag.com

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Gardens

The Scent of

B

elieve it or not, in times past there were things more valuable than gold, silver, and even diamonds.

They were the items people coveted, and those who could afford them really wanted.

They were spices and herbs. In

34

the days before refrigeration and modern cookery, food was pretty bland without spices and herbs.

There are many spices and herbs that are generally associated with the Christmas period that we've all heard of, but others many may not know much about. So, let's explore some

of the more popular Christmas Time herbs. Frankincense and Myrrh are both dried tree sap resins, meaning that they come from trees whose common names are frankincense and myrrh. Frankincense is genus and myrrh is commiphora. They were considered so valuable that

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Gardens

Christmas they were taxed at each place they passed through. The clearer and darker the resins, the higher the quality and price they fetched. By the time they reached Jerusalem, only the kings could afford them.

CINNAMON The spice, cinnamon comes from the

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bark of a tree and it is probably one of the oldest known spices used by man, since it is known to date back to 4000 B.C. As a medical herb, it is an aid to digestion and the spice is antiseptic. It is now thought to lower blood pressure.

CLOVE

Make your home look and smell like Christmas with Plants, Herbs and spices.

Look at the head of a nail, and you'll see the reason why the name of this herb evolved. The word clove comes from the Latin word clavus, meaning nail. The shaft and head of the clove bud looks like a nail. In the 16th and 17th centuries, cloves were one of the most precious spices of Europe

35

Gardens

and they were worth more than gold.

The primary uses of cloves in herbal medicine are to relieve nausea and vomiting. It is also used to treat flatulence. Before the invention of Novocain in dentistry, cloves were given for toothaches.

FENNEL Fennel, the perennial variety with the yellow flowers, has majestic feathery leaves. It originates from the Mediterranean, but can be found growing throughout much of the world. It is very pungent, fragrant, and has a wide variety of uses.

It is an invasive species in both the U.S. and Australia.

Fennel seeds are ancient medicinal remedies, when it comes to digestion and hunger.

Some cultures chew on them to relieve the feeling of being over-fed.

Ancient Romans chewed on the stalks because they believed it would keep them from becoming fat.

GINGER Ginger is a favourite medicinal herb and spice used not only for cooking but to aid digestion and treat stomach upsets, diarrhoea, and nausea for thousands of years. Thanks to popular children's literature, Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without ginger, gingerbread biscuits, and gingerbread houses.

LAVENDER Just about everybody loves

36

the scent of lavender. It's said that it must have been present with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.

In medieval times, lavender was considered a holy safeguard against evil. In many Christian homes a cross of lavender hung over any door for the protection from evil.

MINT Mint, which is actually Minthe, is a

sweet scented herb that contains menthol, which is what gives it the unique quality of being a known aid to digestion. Crushed mint leaves are one of life's treasures to smell. Mint’s true name is Mentha. This hearty aromatic perennial is probably one of the most easily recognized herbs, just for its aroma. It grows best in wet area and can be considered to be invasive.

MISTLETOE Mention mistletoe and it brings smiles and warm memories of being caught under the mistletoe for a stolen kiss. The tradition of hanging sprigs of this herb as an emblem of love and good fortune goes way back before 200 B.C. It's not known exactly why or when the tradition of kissing under the mistletoe started, but it is generally accepted that it was in the 16th century, possibly in England.

ROSEMARY In terms of Christmas legends, rosemary has a special place. The flowers of rosemary were originally white, but it's said that after Mary laid her blue cloak upon the branches of a rosemary bush, the flowers took on the blue colour of her garment.

Therefore, according to

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LANDSCAPING & GARDEN CENTER

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folklore, rosemary was said to bring happiness for anyone who smelled it on Christmas Eve. SAGE Sage is a common meat rub herb that started its herbal career, as a healing herb that was thought to have cured everything from snake bites, eye problems, infections, epilepsy, intoxication, memory loss, worms, and intestinal problems.

The truth is that it is a good food preservative.

THYME Today, aside from being a common herb for roasting meat, it is also used in dried flower arrangements, bouquets, and potpourri. Many people would identify thyme as a kitchen herb used in roasting, especially with holiday meals.

NUTMEG Nutmeg may not look the most interesting of spices but it has been used for everything from embalming Ancient Egyptians, a treatment for piles in the Middle Ages to being a well-known alternative to marijuana.

Natives of the Banda Islands, Indonesia rub nutmeg oil on the stomach as a treatment for flu and also rub it onto the forehead to treat headaches. It would seem the reason so many of these herbs and

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Luz de Tavira

spices appear in the foods we eat at Christmas is due to the fact they are all associated with treating colds and flu.

CHRISTMAS PLANTS AND FLOWERS POINSETTIA Perhaps the most recognizable flower for Christmas is the poinsettia. Originally sold with bright red and green leaves (the “flowers” are actually leaves on the plant), poinsettias today are sold in a wide variety of colours and patterns. They naturally grow in a range of colours from white to pink to red with solid or speckled leaves, but sellers now dye or paint them many other colours and may even add sparkles.

AMARYLLIS Amaryllis is another popular holiday plant. Tall and graceful, this holiday flower bulb can make a statement as a centre piece on the table and its trumpet like huge flowers look like they are harking the Christmas holidays. Typically, the red varieties of amaryllis are sold for the holidays, but they come in colours ranging from red to white to pink to orange and petals that are solid, striped or speckled in all of these colours.

CHRISTMAS CACTUS The Christmas cactus is so named because it is thought to naturally

To Tavira Look out for the Yellow flags

bloom at Christmas time. If you own this holiday plant for many years, you will actually find it prefers to bloom nearer November. Regardless, these lovely cacti have lush flowers that hang down like lovely Christmas ornaments from the ends of the leaves of the plant.

HOLLY Holly is not typically sold as a live plant at Christmas, but the bright red berries of female holly bushes against its dark green pointed leaves are a popular decoration at Christmas. Surprisingly, while holly is a traditional Christmas plant, its origins date back to Druids, who thought the plant, represented everlasting life.

CHRISTMAS TREE No list of Christmas plants would be complete without mentioning the centre piece of any Christmas celebrating house. The Christmas tree can be either cut or live in a pot.

CITRUS FRUITS THAT SIGNIFY CHRISTMAS FOR ME: The Lemon for pomanders and your Gin, Lime for Vodka, and Caipirinhas Clementines for the Christmas stocking Oranges for the bucks fizz.

Janet O'Shaughnessy

37

Expert financial advice

By Gavin Scott, Senior Partner, Blevins Franks

Are You Ready For Exchange Of Information?

F

rom January 2016, financial Islands, Isle of Man and Gibraltar. institutions in over 50 The countries starting the following countries began collecting year include Switzerland, Monaco, information on their clients Singapore, Hong Kong, Panama, and their accounts. This data will Australia and Canada. be passed onto the clients’ country When local tax offices receive this of residence next year. information they will be able to This exchange of information verify whether the taxpayer has will be repeated annually, with a accurately reported their income further 47 countries starting to on their tax returns. collect data in 2017, to exchange Cross-border taxation is complex. it in 2018. It is carried If you spend time in out under the Common "If you live in more than one country Reporting Standard Portugal but it may be hard to (CRS), developed by determine where you have assets the Organisation for should be paying tax.

Economic Co-operation If you live in Portugal and receive and Development income abroad, but have assets and (OECD). receive income abroad, you need to The loss of financial you need to know where privacy affects us all. know where you should be declaring If you live in Portugal you should be them and where tax is and have, for example, due. You have to follow declaring investments in the Isle of tax residency rules and Man, or bank accounts in double taxation treaties. them!"

Switzerland, or pension Another aspect to funds in the UK, the Portuguese tax consider is that if you have many authorities will receive information different offshore bank accounts, on these assets. investment products etc, each will The information being shared be sharing information with your includes your name, address, local tax authority. For peace of country of tax residence, tax mind you could group assets into identification number, your one arrangement so there is less investment income (interest, information being passed around, dividends, income from certain and it is easier to follow what is insurance contracts, annuities being exchanged about you. etc), account balances and gross This is also a good time to review proceeds from the sale of financial your tax planning arrangements. assets.

Are they approved here in The financial institutions that need Portugal? If, for example, you use to report include banks, custodians, bonds in the Isle of Man, Jersey certain investment entities, certain and Guernsey, provided you insurance companies and trusts. have been fully declaring them in The “early adopter” jurisdictions Portugal they are not illegal – but will make the first exchange by they are taxed more aggressively September 2017, in relation to 2016 than Portuguese compliant bonds. data. This includes Portugal, the We continue to have the right to UK, most EU countries, Channel structure our assets in the most tax

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efficient way, but we have to ensure we only use arrangements which are compliant in Portugal. There are structures which can be very effective, but take specialist advice to make sure you get it right.

Summarised tax information is based upon our understanding of current laws and practices which may change. Individuals should seek personalised advice.

To keep in touch with the latest developments in the offshore world, check out the latest news on our website www.blevinsfranks. com

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Expert currency advice

Premier FX's Account Manager Cathryn Evans keeps us up to date with the latest currency news.

Is GBP looking forward to a prosperous New Year?

L

ooking back on 2016 it has been a year of change.

The UK voted to leave the E.U. and Brexit was created. However the UK wasn’t the only country going out to vote for change - the U.S. voted for a ‘Trump’ Presidency.

We have seen highs and lows for the GBP against the Euro; 1.30’s, 1.16’s and 1.10’s. The days of the 1.40’s seem a distant memory for those purchasing Euro’s.

Since Brexit the Euro has gone from strength-to-strength against the GBP, and those moving funds back to the UK have been taking advantage. Whichever currency you have been buying or selling, it has been a year of big movements – when the markets are like this it

is important to move when you see the peaks in your favour.

In 2017, the market isn’t going to settle down. When Donald Trump takes up his role as President, many eyes in the market will be watching and reacting to see what promises he fulfills and those he retracts.

The UK isn’t in for a settled time either; when will article 50 be triggered? How much say will Parliament have over what Brexit will look like? I don’t have a crystal ball but I do know the answers to these questions will make the exchange rates move!

Europe is in for an unsettled ride too, with both France and Germany holding Presidential elections.

Forecasting exchange rates has now become very hard, as

movements will continue to be rapid, significant and impossible to predict. To minimise your risk and exposure to the fluctuating rates, we offer a tailored service with options to protect you and your money.

For an informal discussion on how we can help you make the most of your international money movements or find out more about our currency card service, feel free to call me or drop me an email.

The Premier FX team, would like to wish you a very Happy Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Premier FX is regulated and authorised by the FCA (530712) and regulated by HMRC. CONTACT: Cathryn Evans Tel: + 351 289 358 511 cathryn.evans@premierfx.com

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39

Expert financial advice

Keep up to date with our Finance expert, chartered accountant Ricardo Chaves from All Finance Matters.

10 expenses that may help you to save on your IRS bill

T

he year end is approaching and if you want to not be caught off guard it is time to remember which expenses can still be deducted in your 2016 IRS tax return that will be submitted in April and May 2017.

Taxpayers may already know it, but It’s important to maintain the habit of asking bill with your NIF, to take advantage of all the deductions to the collection. Children’s expenses can be passed on the name of their parents, but always need to have one of the parents NIF to be valid.

To ensure that no deduction is "lost along the way," taxpayers must verify that the expenditure is correctly inserted and categorized on the tax portal, in other words, each individual tax payer needs to validate their expenses, in order to be able to use these in their tax return.

You need to monitor and confirm all your invoices, to make sure they appear in the portal under the correct section. The confirmation of all the invoices needs to be made by February 2017 and it’s

40

recommended that all taxpayers do so, or ask someone to do it on their behalf and on behalf of their children, because if theses invoices are not confirmed by February 2017, the tax payer may lose the right to deduct them from their IRS tax bill.

Make sure all the invoices issued to your family are available on the E-Factura tax portal under the correct section. Below you can find the list of expenses that you can use to save tax on your IRS return: FAMILY EXPENSES (clothing, grocery, fuel, etc.) 35% of each invoice, with a maximum of €250 per taxpayer (if a couple, this allowance will be up to €500).

EDUCATIONAL EXPENSES 30% of education expenses and training of any household member, with an overall limit of €800 per year. Books and textbooks are also deductible.

HEALTH EXPENDITURE 15% of the costs of any household member to an overall limit of €1,000. The private health insurance premiums since 2015 are allowed to be included.

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HOME EXPENSES 15% of the interest on your mortgage, up to a maximum of €296 per year; or 15% of your rent up to € 502 per year. These amounts are higher in case of lower income.

FOOD PENSION If you are divorced and pay a food pension, you can now deduct up to 20% of the pension without limit on your IRS. CHARGES WITH RETIREMENT (SENIOR) HOMES 25% of the cost, with a limit of €403.75 per year.

VAT As per the previous years, all your invoices with hairdressers, car repair, restaurants and accommodation can be deducted on your IRS, plus Veterinarian expenses, since 2016. This deduction is based on 15% of the VAT on each invoice paid.

PLANS RETIREMENT SAVINGS Are deductible to the collection of IRS, 20% of the amounts invested by each taxpayer, in plans of retirement savings, with a ceiling of 400 euros per person under 35 years; a ceiling of 350 euros if the person is aged between 35 and 50

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Making Life Easier years; or a ceiling of 300 euros for those who are aged over 50.

Donations The IRS accepts 25% of donations allocated up to a limit of 15% of the IRS previously retained on source. These donations have to be made to institutions that are part of the approved list.

Urban Rehabilitation Are deductible on your IRS, 30% of the charges related to the rehabilitation of buildings located in areas of urban regeneration, up to a limit of 500€.

If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact us; tax planning is critical and you and your company, cannot afford surprises.

Pass by our office for a friendly chat and find out more about the tax strategy that might be more effective on your specific situation.

We take this opportunity to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a very prosperous 2017!

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Angela and Erik are on hand to help you throughout the term of your policy.

Tavira T: +351 281 325 842 tavira@ibexinsure.com Rua 1 de Maio 26B r/c, 8800-360, Tavira

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•Direct Sales•Business House BUSINESS AND & HOUSE Valuations CLEARANCES Antiques + Clearances•Free •Online Catalogue & Monthly Auctions!!

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Viewing from Monday 5th December between 09.00 and 14.00.

TRANSPORT Antiques and Collectables - Wednesday+14REMOVALS December - starts Next Auctions: 19.00. Viewing that week between 09.00 and 14.00 VISIT US, OPEN; January 7 - starts 10.00. Viewing SAT. 5THGeneral APRIL Auction - Saturday TUESDAY TObetween FRIDAY 09.30-5.30 Thursday 5th and Friday 6th January 09.00 and 17.00 RD SAT. 3 MAY SATURDAY 09.30-12.30.

Further details of all Auctions are on our website.

GPS SAT. 7THMay JUNE we wish all our friends along the 37º04'55.27" TH SAT. 5 Algarve JULY a happy and healthy Christmas 7º54'51.46" and wonderful NewSitio Year.do Besouro, São Bras OPEN: 09.00 A22

Tel: 289 832 380 914 774 832 438380 Tel: Mark – 914 774 438Tlm: Office – 289 email: ITEMS BROUGHT TO do Besouro, Conceição, FARO info@ahalgarve.com AUCTIONSítio HOUSE:

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ENGLISH SPEAKING ACCOUNTANTS All your accountancy issues explained and translated.

Professional & Friendly Service Luís Manuel Duarte de Brito Chartered Accountant Rua 1.˚ de Maio, n.˚45-1.˚ Esq. 8800-360, Tavira. Near VILA GALÈ TAVIRA HOTEL Tel 281 324 962 Fax 281 324 222 luis.de.brito@mail.telepac.pt 41

TAVIRA'S NATIVITY

Carefully constructed over 25 days by Jaime and his team at Tavira's Bombeiros, this impressive Nativity Scene is a must see for all ages!

O

ver the last 12 years the annual creation of the Nativity scene has grown from just a table top display to what you now see. Jaime and his team carefully put it together

with lights, animated models and a large waterfall, the attention to detail is tremendous! Each plant is real and the model requires watering regularly to keep the plants alive.

Entrance to see the display is free

and can be seen at the Firestation in Tavira. Visitors may donate funds at reception or by throwing coins into the pond.

Experience the magic of Christmas in Tavira!

LEFT: Real plants and shrubs.

BELOW LEFT: Jaime and his team.

BELOW: Incredible attention to detail.

RIGHT: Hundreds if not thousands of characters make up the Nativity scene.

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People

RENTALS & PROPERTY MANAGEMENT Let us make renting easy.

As ever, we serve you and your guests with complete satisfaction in mind, offering management packages tailored to suit your needs!

FOR 2017: REQUESTS FOR LONG TERM LETS OF 12 MONTHS + The rental market is expanding as more Europeans consider relocation to Portugal to 'try before they buy' or to benefit from improved tax regimes.

As a result, we have a demand from clients seeking properties available for 12 months or more. If you have a house or an apartment that you would like to offer for 'Long-Let' we would be delighted to meet with you.

We offer a comprehensive rental package to ensure your business is managed professionally, legally and with care.

We recommend AFM (accountants and business advisors) to all our clients

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GOLF FOR

Whether you're a starter or an accomplished player, Tavira Golf club is the perfect place to enjoy great golf and meet new people.

T

he decision to build a golf course, on the land of Quinta de Benamor in Tavira was made in 1986 by the owning Martins Dias family, who invited the late Sir Henry Cotton to make a concept design for an 18hole course. Sir Henry Cotton was inspired by the beautiful old church next to the site of the club house and by the spectacular location.

The final result is a delightful par 71 golf course which offers a superb playing experience to players of all standards, with views of the mountains to the North, and the stunning Atlantic Ocean to the South.

The natural Olive, Cork, Carob, Fig and Almond trees, many centuries old, feature naturally with water hazards and sand bunkers to test the strategy and striking ability of

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any player.

This is where the Tavira Golf Club (a separate association)) has the delight in playing.

The club was formed in the year 2000 when a small multinational group of golfers met at the then newly opened Benamor Golf Course.

Their passion for the game, companionship and competitiveness led to talks with the management of Benamor Golf, and those discussions resulted in the forming of Tavira Golf Club, with the inaugural meeting being held on the 17th December 2000.

In the early days there were just 10 members in the monthly competitions, now this has risen to over 150, who participate in regular competitions and raise valuable funds to help support local charities. This years chosen charity

is Association Uma Porta Amiga, who provide comfort and guidance to local people. Last year the Club raised an incredible amount of over 6000 euros, from the various fundraising events, as well as collecting loose change from the Charity stone containing the small fines paid for entering the 18th hole’s bunker.

The Club still maintains its fine original spirit and continues to welcome all to have fun, play in regular competitions, and enjoy the game as well as take in the spectacular surroundings.

The joining fee is just 100 euros which instantly entities the new member to become an automatic guest at Benamor and the opportunity to take advantage of the many discounts on green fees, annual, and monthly rates. As a Tavira Golf Club member

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EVERYONE regular weekend competitions are arranged with prizes and vouchers to spend in the pro-shop, (36 competitions planned for 2017).

There is a roll up competition every Thursday morning, teeing off from around 7am with team games, and prizes of bottles of wine as well as a late starter competition twice each month, normally starting after 9.45am.

Joining the Tavira Golf Club is a great way to start the New Year, meet new friends and start a new hobby.

For further information please contact the very welcoming John Willingham (next year's captain) from Tavira Golf Club or Benamor Golf direct.

John Willingham: Tel. 914 443 007 Email: John.willingham@sapo.pt Benamor: Tel. 281 320 880 Email: reservas@benamorgolf.com

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45

Sport

New manager Bruno Baltazar leads the Olhanense team in applauding the fans

Change Brings Hope

All the latest local sports news from Chris Wright.

A

fter garnering just one point from their first twelve league games, the hierarchy at SC Olhanense called time on Cristiano Bacci’s reign as manager. New boss 39 year-old Bruno Baltazar started his playing career with Sintrense and Odivelas FC before joining German side Dresdner SC. Twelve years ago Bruno turned out for English Football Conference side Margate.

Baltazar has coached at Atlético (Lisbon), with the Filipino national team and most recently in Qatar but the task confronting him must be the most the most challenging of his career. Twenty-four hours after taking charge Bruno Baltazar saw his new charges pick up a valuable home point against Sporting Lisbon ‘B‘. Seven days later and the team recorded their first Segunda Liga win of the season away at Ac.Viseu

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with an early goal from Doudou.

And what a goal it was, as the Italian jinxed past seven players before slotting the ball home. Next up were Vizela at the José Arcanjo Stadium with Olhanense dominating throughout with a skilful blend of attractive football in stark contrast to the hoof ball seen earlier in the season. Jorman Aquilar headed home a perfect cross from skipper Coubronne to seal the points. The only blot on the landscape was a 2-0 defeat at non-league Real SC in the Portugal Cup fourth round.

In the week before Christmas two important home games against high flying Santa Clara (Azores), on the weekend of 17th/18th December, and table toppers SC Portimonense on Wednesday 21st December could well define how the rubronegros will approach the second half of the season.

Trials of the new technology

VIDEO TRIALS IN FARO

T

he Taça de Liga (League Cup) semi-finals and final at the Algarve Stadium, Faro have been chosen to test the experimentation of the vídeo assistant referee (VAR).

This could represent one of the greatest potential technological changes to the Laws of the Game but would only be used for clear errors in matchchanging situations. Thirteen national federations/competition organisers are currently participating in the process, in more than fifteen competitions (Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, Portugal, Qatar, USA and FIFA).

The Portuguese League Cup semi-finals and finals next January at the Algarve Stadium will take on added interest as the new technology is put through its paces. The final decision on the possible introduction of the VAR in football competitions will be taken in 2018/2019.

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Ronaldo lines up for the start of the game against Latvia.

Last year's stage finish in Tavira

C

RONALDO RUNS RIOT

ristiano Ronaldo scored twice as Portugal cruised to a comfortable 4-1 win over Latvia in their World Cup qualifying group at the Algarve Stadium. His second goal against Latvia, a thundering volley from a Ricardo Quaresma cross, made history. Ronaldo has now scored sixtyeight goals for Portugal, equalling the total scored by Gerd Muller (Germany) and Robbie Keane (Ireland). Ronaldo now has his sights set on Miroslav Klose - Germany (71), Sandor Kocsis - Hungary (75) and the incomparable Ferenc Puskas - Hungary (84) in Europe's list of all-time top scorers. Six days later and the Madeira born superstar, netted his 39th hat-trick as Real Madrid beat archrivals Atlético 3-0. His recent contract extension, worth a reported €167m, keeps the 31 year-old goal scoring machine at the Santiago Bernabeu for the next five years.

I

VOLTA AO ALGARVE UPGRADED

n February the 43rd Volta ao Algarve will have cycling enthusiasts lining the highways and byways as some of the worlds top cyclists cover over 700kms during the five day spectacular. For the first time the event will be a top grade 2HC race, after several years as a 2.1 race. The race will start from Albufeira to Lagos on the 15th February with stage four, from Almodôvar, finishing in Tavira on the 18th February.

São Brás de Alportel is now up and running.

S

MATURE PLAYERS SAVOUR SÃO BRÁS

ão Brás de Alportel has became the fifth town in the Algarve to welcome Walking Football. Thanks to the efforts of Alex Moreira and Ian Lowe and with the support of the Câmara Municipal de São Brás de Alportel the first class facilities at the Campos de Jogos Municipal astro-turf pitch in Rua João de Deus will host the sessions every Tuesday morning from 9.30 to 11.30am. Players and supporters are invited to join the third annual Walking Football Christmas Dinner in Olhão on Thursday 15th December when the prestigious Zimmer Awards will be a part of the evening‘s celebrations. For further information go to: www.walkingfootballalgarve.com.

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Natalie Davis is elegance in motion as she tees off at FootGolf

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Golf

Playing from the Divot

This months tip from Assistant Professional at Monte Rei Golf, Chris Watt.

Y

ou bomb a drive, but when you get to the ball, you find it smack in the middle of an old divot. First thing: Get over it. It's probably not as bad as you think.

Here are a few pointers to give the best chance of playing a good recovery shot from the divot.

Assess the nature of the lie. All lies in a divot are not the same. If the ball is near the back edge of the divot, your primary concern is just getting the ball out; if the ball is near the front edge of the divot, you have more options.

1

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2

The secret to making good contact here is hitting down on the ball. Play it back an inch or two in your stance (As seen above), and put more weight on your front foot. That promotes a steeper

Pro stats

backswing, which, in turn, steepens the downswing. You'll catch the ball first and drive it out.

As for the swing, don't be timid.

Focus on hitting through the ball. You've set up the right kind of swing with your adjustments at address, so don't try to Name: Christopher Watt do anything special. Just From: Northern Ireland think down and through. No Club: Monte Rei Golf

& Country Club reason you can't knock it on Position: Assistant the green.

Professional For individual, group or Turned Pro: 2015 off +2 playing lessons call +351 Favourite course: Royal Portrush 281 950 950 or email golf@ Lowest Score: 64 (-8) monterei.com Lessons Favourite Hole include all equipment hire, At Monte Rei: 14th golf balls and water.

3

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FOOTGOLF Join us for regular Footgolf at Colina Verde.

Keep fit, meet people, have fun!

WWW.BENAMORGOLF.COM

All ages welcome!

For further information about Footgolf contact: Christopher.wright@hotmail.co.uk

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45 49

Free Classifieds P R O P E RT Y Property required for purchasing clients in the following areas; Moncarapacho, Tavira, Estoi and Sao Bras area for established real estate company Russell and Decoz, Lda. Telephone 289 792785 – email sales@russelldecoz.com Good quality properties required in the area of Tavira, Moncarapacho, Estoi, Sao Braz, Manta Rota and Praia Verde by established estate agency Land & Houses Algarve – Yellow Homes. Call 281 320 281 or email info@landandhousesalgarve.com Good quality rentals villas and apartments with pool required by established property management and letting agent Happy Homes Algarve. Call 281 320 283 or email rentals@ portugal-accommodation.com German built 2 bed Wooden House, Moncarapacho. €41,000: 920027545

FO R SA LE 2 Bicycles also 1 Child's. With Stabiliser phone 281324384 Tel.916 002 859 2013 AUDI A1 SPORT, only 48,000kms, auto immaculate, compact yet great looker, 18,750.

Alloy Wheels, Air conditioning, Airbags, Alloy wheels, ABS, Body Coloured Bumpers, CD Player, Electric windows, Power - Assisted Steering, Telephone; 967190218, email; slbooth222@hotmail.co.uk Large Soft Faux Fur Luxury Soft Throw Blanket 2.35cm X 1.40cm As New 35Euros Tel 91 812 2051 Fuseta

Motor Sports Boat: All equipment many extras 5.68 m. good condition Full main dealer serviced Tavira - call 966242400 8500€ VARIOUS ITEMS FOR SALE, PLEASE CALL FOR DETAILS: Compressor (2 wheel tour) Devtz 120CFM(APP) Professional Sandblasting pot with hoses, nozzles, helmet etc..

Stone/tile cutter - Very large, used for Travatene stone tiles Stihl Chainsaw (Petrol) Stihl petrol Disc Cutter Bosch wood planer Bosch cordless crosscut saw 18v Beco cooker (Never used) 220/240V Electric Water softener very large (ex supermarket) Villeroy + Bock Metal shower tray + Urinal Mercedes 308D Diesel Engine + Gearbox, VGC (Can be seen working) Complete with all Ancilories (other parts available!)

New Bath with side panel Graco Buildog extreem 41 - 1 airless sprayer (very fast painting machine for big areas) All in one V/G working order and can be demonstrated Call 963 011 225 or 00447 989 32 5481

S E RV I C ES Thai Massage-BUAKAO Tavira Legally Certificate Thai Traditional Medicine Massage for Portugal.Tel 281023674 or 936616069 Not sure if your insurance is done in the right way? Ex-Insurance broker offers his services: consulting for existing + new policies and for claims. Please call me! Tel.: +351 968 77 15 77 e-mail: stephanschade@hotmail. com Are you searching for someone to take care of your home when you are

CLASSIFIED ADS ARE FREE... for private advertisers ONLY. ANY Business adverts are free for one month only.

abroad? - German-portuguese cuple offers propertymanagment services in the East Algarve. Call us for a proposal. Tel.: +351 968 77 15 77 e-mail:stephanschade@hotmail.com Chimney Sweep, Experienced, reliable, punctual. 40 Euro per sweep Tel: 912842238 Email: smartsweep@hotmail.co.uk Music for parties, bars and restaurants, Call Richy, 281 971 484 English mobile mechanic, repair/ servicing/electrical etc. No job too big or small. Quote you happy, all makes and models of cars, vans and light commercial vehilcles. Call Paul on +351 914 417 580 or +34 642 458 853, email paul.titcombe@ hotmail.co.uk

M I SC ELL A N EO U S Allotments for rent, Grow your own! Tel 926810776 Alcoholics Anonymous Do you have, or is there someone you know that has a problem with alcohol? There is a solution. Please call: (00351) 916 457 733. English speaking.

ACTI V ITI ES Painting for Pleasure. Beginners onwards.

Wed., mornings 10.30 - 12.30 Afternoons 14.30 -16.30. At Mesquita near Sao Bras.

Tel.289 845 561 YOGA & PILATES - contact Hazel on 91 307 5555 or email: hazel.devine@ntlworld.com for details Scottish Country Dancing at the Casa do Povo Moncarapacho, Thursdays 5.30 ~ 7.30PM.Tel 289 791 998 or 914 798 833 or email mabstansb@iol.pt

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Celebrate New Year at Monte Rei GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB Enjoy a wonderful stay in our luxury Linked Villas with New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner prepared by our renowned chef Albano Lourenço, Sommelier’s wine pairing, live entertainment through the evening and a wonderful Brunch on the 1st of January.

Alternatively, should you wish to join us for the New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner, a restricted number of tables are available.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND BOOKINGS CONTACT: T. +351 281 950 950 - reservas@monterei.com - www.monterei.com