Feb23 East Algarve Magazine

The best villas are sold by us

This is just a small selection of the villas sold by Fine & Country in the eastern Algarve over the last few months

If you are planning on selling, contact Fine & Country to find out why the best villas are sold by us. With offices covering the whole Algarve, we work closely with Fine & Country offices elsewhere in Portugal and around the world, ensuring an unrivalled level of service for our clients. Our award winning marketing and international events mean that your property is showcased to a highly qualified audience.

Tavira / €985,000 / TVR7301/ EPC:B 4-bedroom villa with pool and sea views

Faz Fato - Tavira / €785,000 / TVR3115 / EPC:C Modern 4-bedroom villa with pool and sea views

Santa Luzia / €739,000 / TVR6730 / EPC:A Contemporary 3-bedroom linked villa with pool

Altura / €545,000 / TVR3027 / EPC:C Elegant 4-bedroom villa with pool and garage

Vila Nova de Cacela / TVR7513 / €525,000 / EPC:C 3-bedroom villa with pool and sea views

Tavira / TVR7306 / €479,000 / EPC:F Beautifully refurbished 3-bedroom house with terrace

East Algarve

PUBLISHER & DESIGNER

Richard Bassett

EDITOR

Richard Bassett

CO-FOUNDER

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

Jesse Owen 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

Welcome...

... to your February edition, This month we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Lighthouse in Vila Real de Santo António. We also visit the wonderful Orchard of Flavours, an incredible Botanical garden full of edible trees, shrubs, hedges and bushes from all four corners of the globe. Meet Miguel, the creator of the project and find out his reasons for starting it. With Valentine's day approaching, read all about the super-food of love, everybody's favourite... Chocolate. We even have a delicious Chilli Chocolate cake recipe straight from the 'Chilli Boy Kitchen recipe book'.

All this plus finance news, gardening, health news and much more. We welcome your comments, please email us on info@eastalgarvemag.com

Unipessoal Lda

Richard Bassett, Editor

TASTE THE DIFFERENCE!

Home grown spices imported from India give a unique flavour producing the best Indian cuisine in the East Algarve!

CABANAS

INDIAN FARMER

Wakewithup make up

RITUAL

Ruy Barros

Hairstyling & Beauty Salon

Ladies & Gents

Welcome to our new space in the centre of Tavira! With a professional and friendly service. Cut, colouring, perming, hair extensions, hairstyling, hair treatments, massages, face/body treatments, make-up artist, epilation, laser, lash extensions, gel nails, nail art, gel polish and much more.

- 19.00H All

Brow design & Tint

Microblading, Permanent makeup

Realistic natural hair strokes, Soft powder brows,. Lash liner, Soft smoky eyeliner.

CACI Hydratone Facial treatments

We are now offering all CACI treatments, you can find information on the website

Tel: +351 289 170 459

Book for a free consultation, 18 Rua Guilherme Gomes Fernandes 800-669 Tavira. Tel 910 944 437

www.foryourbrowsonly.com

The family-run Amesbury Abbey Group offers an elegant retirement in country house style at Monte da Palhagueira.

For those who are looking for the reassurance of constant professional care, our nursing care may be the way forward. Alongside all the benefits of residential care, our nursing care adds the additional security of 24-hour care provision from qualified nursing professionals.

Our team spend a lot of time getting to know each resident as an individual, learning their preferences and understanding their concerns, working hand in hand with GPs and other associated care professionals to provide outstanding personalised nursing care.

NURSING CARE

Our exceptional care team treat all our residents with respect, dignity and friendship, and our nursing home has a warm, family atmosphere. Each individual aspect of our nursing care is designed to give our residents the best possible quality of life and the highest standards of 24-hour care.

For further information, please contact Senior Sister Hazel Gordon at T: +351 289 990 900

E: mdpnursinghome@amesburyabbey.com Monte da Palhagueira, Gorjôes, 8005-488

Santa Barbara de Nexe, Algarve www.retirementvillageportugal.co.uk

Address: Rua José Amâncio Júnior Lote 19, Loja A Urbanização village Marina, Olhão. Facebook and instagram: ’hairritual’

Flavours Orchard of

A few hundred meters from the Atlantic Ocean and near the historic town of Tavira, Orchard of Flavours (Pomar dos Sabores) brings together a wide variety of edible plants, especially fruit trees, from all over the world

The man behind the privately owned project is Miguel Cotton, originally from Belgium. He has lived in the Algarve for five years and was raised on a farm. Previously a lawyer, Miguel now teaches Marketing and Economics at the University of Brussels. Over the last fifteen years he has spent his spare time working on agricultural projects. The project started three years ago with one hectare, soon to be extended to two, to include 'the Alley of the Camels' dedicated to drought resistant fruit trees such as the Morrocan Argania Spinosa, from which comes the precious Argan Oil, Mulberry trees from Pakistan which can grow Mulberries up to 10cm long. The gardens are now accredited by the International Association of Botanic Gardens, which allows work with Universities and other Botanic Gardens. It is run by a team of experienced volunteers with permanent staff made up of ex-volunteers. Although entrance is free, donations are gratefully accepted. This orchard includes species already cultivated in the Algarve, as well as forgotten species and plants rarely found in Europe. Most of these plants originate from subtropical climates. It’s possible for the plants to grow here, because the Algarve enjoys more sunshine than any other part of Europe all year long. All Pomar dos Sabores plants are in the hardiness zones from 9 to 12 (using USDA standard). That means they either don’t tolerate frost at all or only occasionally.

An approach inspired by Agroecology

In accordance with the principles of Agroecology, the project started in January 2019 with a close observation of the area and the contour lines. A few months later, we created raised beds to limit erosion. These beds form a dozen planting zones that correspond to different soils, sunshine or wind exposures. The placement of diverse plants promotes biodiversity and increases the resilience of the garden, avoiding the use of pesticides. Many creeping plants are planted at the base of the trees to serve as a ground cover and for their honey producing potential.

Water is used rationally and very economically thanks to a computerised micro-irrigation system and systematic soil cover in order to minimise evaporation. Different soil cover techniques are being tested: "mulching" using cardboard and straw, biodegradable plastic, fabrics, creeping flowers, vetiver grass...

The soil is enhanced by a regular supply of manure and occasionally by a supply of organic liquid fertiliser via the irrigation system.

The most important goals of this botanical garden of edible plants are to show which fruit production can be relocated to Europe and to freely share the knowledge gained. At the same time, it shows how an environmentally

friendly approach can be implemented in a private garden.

Since opening, close to 400 fruit trees have been planted. Emphasis is placed on the establishment of several varieties of the same species in order to discover different flavours and different maturation periods, as well as to determine the species most suited to the climate or the soil. For example, there are six species of mango trees, five species of lychees, twelve species of pomegranate trees and so on. Their intention is to use agricultural water efficiently and to experiment with various other agroecology techniques - several types of mulching as well as using lots of flowers as

ground cover, compost ditches and banana circles to improve soil fertility, among others. Building on this experience, they are putting together a knowledge base section on their website where you can learn along with them by reading their 'learn' articles. You can also follow their ever-growing photo timeline of all the major steps (and there have been many!) taken along the way in creating this diverse botanical garden of edible plants. An orchard for agroecological experimentation open to all Orchard of Flavours is a non-profit experimental garden, the results of which are open to everyone.

A scientific approach is pursued with the project. Each tree is systematically recorded in a database published on their website. Here you can find detailed information regarding the selected plants, their planting process and all the subsequent care given to each plant. There, you will find the list of trees, their genus, the name of the species and the name of the cultivar-variety (for example: Mangifera indica "Ataulfo"). The database also contains a large amount of information useful to any gardener, including ideal soil and irrigation conditions. All the parameters of the plantings are also recorded: fertilisation, irrigation, photos, type of soil, crops, possible

diseases, etc.

Alternatively, you can browse through their full catalogue of edible plant species and varieties by visiting the Fruit Trees by Origin section, complete with information on edibility for each species. Explore a world of flavours!

Miguel says 'The botanical garden started with a very simple basic idea: to find direct instinctive ways for people, especially the young generation, to relate to and love nature. It is essential for a more sustainable future. One direct instinctive way could be our stomach. Eat, respect and love is our motto. That is why the garden is only dedicated to fruit trees or edible perenial plants. We might

be the only botanical garden where kids are happy and not bored by Latin names. Food production is essential in the future. We do not allow any exception. Even a hedge should be useful and produce food. We think this is possible. Even a beautiful garden around a Vila should be a food forest. Townhalls plant beautiful trees with no benefits. We think it is stupid. They can be beautiful and useful'. We hope you get a chance to visit Miguel and his wonderful, fascinating project. His enthusiasm is infectious and you will find the Orchard of Flavours simply delicious!

See www.orchardofflavours.com, Facebook or Telephone +351 915 648 264.

V.R.S.A. LIGHTHOUSE CENTENARY

Last month this iconic building celebrated its 100th year of service.

The Lighthouse of Vila Real de Santo António celebrated its 100th anniversary on Friday, January 20, 20023.

The event was marked with the unveiling of an allusive plaque and with a ceremony that was attended by the Deputy Director General of the Maritime Authority and 2nd General Commander of the Maritime Police, Rear Admiral Nuno de Noronha Bragança, and the President of the Municipality of Vila Real de Santo António, Álvaro Araújo.

Also present were several military and civil entities that joined this symbolic act, that not only praised the monument, but also honoured all the military and civilians who, over the last century, have been in the service of the lighthouse, ensuring its proper functioning.

The centenary celebrations of the lighthouse also show their symbolism through the dissemination of culture, the profession of Faro shipyard and the history of lighthouses and highlight the importance of this infrastructure as operational equipment for the General Directorate of the Maritime Authority.

"The lighthouse of Vila Real de Santo António remains, until today, one of the most relevant monuments in the municipality and offers a breathtaking view over the mountains and the sea, reaching the Guadiana River, the National Forest of Dunas Litorais, the Bay of Monte Gordo and the coast of Andalusia», quoted from a speech by the municipality.

The structure represents a landmark on the east coast of the Algarve, still serving today as a reference point for boat navigation in Portuguese and Spanish waters with its 46-metre tower and a range of 48 kilometres.

HOLIDAY ACCOMODATION

• Peaceful and quiet location

• 3 bedrooms (6 pax + children)

• Heated swimming pool

• Putting green

• Fully equipped house

• Solar panels for self-consumption

• 15km to some of the Algarve's most beautiful and calm beaches

• 6 different golf courses within 20km radius

• 10min from Tavira city center

montedafuzeta

rramadabarros@gmail.com

Hello again dear readers, it’s Valentine’s month and I’ve decided to dedicate this column to my/our love of the Algarve (especially the East Algarve).

Whether you live here, have a vacation home or are visiting, I think we all have one thing in common, our love of the Algarve. The rolling hills, ocean, river, rich history, castles, palaces, churches, charming towns and of course the enchanting Portuguese people. Their focus on family and delightful nature tied in with a slower pace of life manages to rub off on us the longer we’re here.

One of the great things about retiring here is being able to take the time to slow down, breathe and connect with our talents. We go within ourselves and allow our gifts to come to the surface. I have friends who now have the time and inspiration to focus on painting, photography, poetry and more. (A big cheers to my friend Annette whose photo was featured in the center of the East Algarve Magazine last month). Portugal is a mesmerizing subject for the artist in us all. I’ve enjoyed communicating my love of the Algarve through writing and making videos for YouTube, but this month I’m highlighting a special friend and expat who found the time and inspiration to write thoughtful and reflective poetry while living in the Algarve. She’s published a book (with a little prodding) called Poets, Plato and Pussycats (available on Amazon).

Let me introduce you to Sandra Penny McCallum’s work through an excerpt one of

her poems below:

“Ode to the Algarve”

On dusty road above Altura; that bends and winds and winds

Twixt pastel villas standing tall there amongst one finds

Fields of goats and horses, dogs and little cats

Fruits trees, dusty paddocks, villagers doing this and that.

PORTUGAL life

I breathe the warm Algarvian air, watch the donkey carts go by With kids and cases, produce, and boxes piled high

Worn leather bridles, carts drawn by horse or donkey old and thin

The gypsy folk command them and the community therein

With anchors piled high on Barril Beach; they fish no more

Tuna industry abolished and the fisherman is poor

They’ve lost their jobs, their livelihood, the boats are all but gone And lost the culture which once was theirs, affluent and strong

To drink the drink and eat the eat, it’s really not expensive

With cup of tea, I sit and write; and feeling rather pensive

The Port, wine, olives, fish, and such fit truly for a king

Sup up ex-pats, enjoy yourselves; for life is everything.

“Portugal Life”, the column about sharing life in the “Far East” of the Algarve.

For the entire poem (and a few more) I invite you to come along on a video journey as Sandra narrates and stars in the YouTube video where you can see the images which sparked her creative vibe. The video is entitled “Portugal Poetry set to Video and music, Author interview and expat life on why we love Portugal”. It can be viewed on @AmericaninPortugal on YouTube.

If you’re as captivated as me by this magical paradise, I invite you to watch some of my other free YouTube videos about living and moving to Portugal. I can help you on your journey in selecting where to live, how to immigrate, as well as pairing you with vetted and qualified estate agents and professionals in the Algarve. You can reach me by email at info@americaninportugal.com and youtube @AmericanInPortugal.

THE DREADED VERBS!

This month we are going to talk about Verbs! Yes I know, verbs can seem pretty terrifying, but they are not really as scary as they appear. The English language is said to be 30% verbs, I would say that the Portuguese language would be nearer to 50%. They are quite important!

Did you know that in Portuguese we can make a phrase using only the verb? Answering questions for example.

In English we start a question with ‘Do you…?’ and answer with ‘I do’.

Do you like water skiing? - Yes I do!.

Same examples in Portuguese: Gosta de esqui aquático? - Gosto! (note: we are only using the verb’ to like’ (gostar) and not ‘do you..’. When we ask a question the word order is the same as a statement)

In the example above we can see that when we answer, we are only using one word to make a phrase. A verb! The verb used in the question is used in the answer when affirmative (not sim), this another reason why verbs are so important.

So what are verbs exactly? Well, they represent an action, something that we do like “dance”, “sleep”," eat", “talk" etc.

Gosta de Portugal? - Gosto = do you like Portugal? - I do.

Quer beber um café? - Quero = do you want to drink a coffee? - I do.

Negative would be:

Gosta de Portugal? - Não gosto, não = do you like Portugal? - I don’t like (it), no.

Quer beber um café? - Não quero, obrigado = do you want to drink a coffee? - I don’t, thank you.

“Não” can translate both as “no” and “not” in English! (One less word to learn! Yeah!)

Verbs have different conjugations, or ‘variations’ if you like. In English they would be like this:

I have, you have, he has, she has, we have, they have.

Notice how he and she are different from the other verbs. In Portuguese they are all

different.

Some verbs are irregular and they have to be learned by repetition. The regular verbs have a secret formula! Well it isn’t really a secret, but it is a formula and quite a simple one! There are three major verb types: Verbs ending in -ar, -er and -ir. Ex: falar - to speak; comer - to eat; abrir - to open.

So let's conjugate the verb ‘falar’: falar - to speak eu falo - I speak tu falas - you speak ele fala - he speaks nós falamos - we speak eles falam - they speak

We have taken off the verb ending, -ar and replaced them with the endings in bold, o, as, a, amos, os, am. The good news is all regular ar verbs will change that way!

We do something similar for the -er and -ir verbs too: comer - to eat abrir - to open eu como - I eat eu abro - I open tu comes - you eat tu abres - you open ele come - he eats ele abre - he opens nós comemos - we eat nós abrimos we open (note the letter’ i’ this time) eles comem - they eat eles abrem - they open

Again, the above rules apply to all the regular verbs in the -er and -ir class.

Hope you enjoyed this lesson! If you have any questions or subjects you would like to know more about, drop me a line and I will see if I can cover it in next month’s edition!

To get your free verb list and more information

on courses and workshops please contact: portugueseinsixweeks@gmail.com with subject line: ‘East Algarve Magazine’ Até a próxima!

A FUN PLACE TO MEET LIKE MINDED PEOPLE AND BY

THE WAY,

WE ALSO PLAY CROQUET!

Everyone is welcome, all nationalities, beginners and experienced, to play golf croquet on our lawns at Pedras da Rainha in Cabanas de Tavira. If you want to come and meet us you will be made very welcome any Wednesday or Sunday morning after 10:00 and your first time is free, or for more information contact us by email.

Email: contact@pinkflamingocroquet.com

Av. Min. Duarte Pacheco 62, Vila Real do Santo Antonio.

Tel: +351 910 316 397

The soft power of Thai Massage

It´s believed that our body remains healthy if we maintain the energy balance in our body in relation to the energy of the universe. If there is an energy imbalance, the body will get sick. We Massage to treat back pain, Severe Office Syndrome, Osteoarthritis, neck and shoulder pain, scapula pain, knee pain, These injuries from exercise can be treated without surgery.

· Donations

· Volunteers

· Plastic food containers

· Bags for life

Contact:

Facebook: 'REFOOD TAVIRA'

Telephone: 964 161 902

Email: sandrocarepa@sapo.pt

Campo Martires da República 8800-378 Tavira Opposite the PSP Police station Tel. 281 324 305 EMAIL: geral@artina.pt

ART SUPPLIES:

Oils, Acrylics, Water Colour, Washes, Brushes, Canvasses and more!

HABERDASHERY & FABRICS:

A huge range of fabrics, wools, threads, zips, buttons and sewing equipment.

PICTURE FRAMING:

Large selection of picture frames.

HOBBIES:

Thousands of items to decorate and beautify for the hobbyist.

A Picture speaks 1,000 words!

Stephan Schade from Twin Key Real Estate offers his professional advice on the importance of photographs used to sell your property

You may ask "A separate chapter just for photos?" Yes, admittedly only a short one, but nevertheless, an important chapter. Because photos are a very important crossroads (The point at which buyer and seller or his property meet, not physically, but more often virtually). As a rule, it is the photos or the photo (on the website of the agent or a real estate portal), through which the prospective buyer comes into contact with the property, it is the first impression that a potential buyer receives from the property and as should be common knowledge, there is "no second chance for the first impression." Hence the importance of the photos! If the first photo does not please, the property is usually filed directly in the drawer "not interesting" and

ignored in the future. Through the photos, the potential buyer builds his first "relationship" with the object and, as with an interpersonal relationship, you should avoid showing up at the first date unwashed, in a dirty, sweaty tracksuit and too late. Unfortunately, this fact has not yet reached all sellers and brokers. This is the only way to explain why there are still plenty of properties advertised with bad photos. But what are "bad" photos and how can you do better?

Characteristics of bad photos:

• Overexposed, underexposed (or not exposed at all, you see almost only darkness)

• Blurred (generally the technical quality is miserable)

• Large parts of a room are not visible

• The photos show chaos, the rooms are not tidy, there is garbage or even underwear

lying around

• People are visible on the photos or vehicles with license plates

• Toilet lids are open, not closed

To avoid all these problems, the easiest way is to hire a professional, a real estate photographer. He knows what to do, how to do it, when to do it and has the correct equipment. The money spent on this can be considered "very well invested". Those who can and like to, invest additionally in drone images, videos and virtual tours. These features support marketing and increase the likelihood that a prospective buyer will decide to visit the property in person or even make an offer based on these impressions alone.

Contact Stephan on 968 771 577 or Email info@twin-key.realeastate

TAVIRA 3 BEDROOM COUNTRYSIDE VILLA WITH SWIMMING POOL

Impeccably presented and an extremely well built 3 bedroom Tavira villa (185 m2) boasting large reception rooms and a stunning garden with good size pebble stone swimming pool, located literally 5 minutes drive from Tavira. Built in 2007 and set amongst an idyllic & mature natural landscape with views of the surrounding hills, this private villa radiates modern Portuguese living as its finest. •

LOCAL LODGING

From Property Expert Robert Bijker, Happy Homes Algarve

Blessed with a superb coastline and some of the country’s most beautiful beaches the Algarve continues to be one of the most popular holiday destinations in Europe. There are many new homeowners in 2022 since the property market has been very active. Like many other second home owners, you will want some rental income from your property to cover costs or, in the case of an investment, to maximise your return. You may be unfamiliar with the financial reporting requirements for short-term holiday rental accommodation under the Alojamento Local regime. Here is an update for 2023.

Short term holiday rentals are governed by the Alojamento Local laws. As one of the oldest property management companies in the East Algarve, Happy Homes have assisted hundreds of clients getting up and running in a cost-effective manner.

Happy Homes can obtain the rental license (licença de Alojamento Local) on your behalf and open the rental activity in compliance with the law. You can file your rental income under the simplified regime, which means that you are only taxed over 35% of your income. The remaining 65% is exempt. Under the simplified regime there are no individual deductible items allowed, however, you do benefit from the 65 percent exemption from income tax. Non-residents pay a flat rate of 25% over the 35% that is taxable. Residents add the rental income to their other income which is taxed at a progressive rate.

The 1st year of your rental activity you benefit from a further 50% reduction in tax, which in the 2nd year drops to 25%. You won't have to pay tax over the full 35% until the third year. This is effectively 8.75% of your total rental income, which makes it easier to remember. If your rental income is above Euro 27.360, you will need to prove that you had 15% or more expenses. If you cannot prove this with invoices, your effective tax

you are the owner of a good quality property and wish to sell, please contact

rate goes up.

Furthermore, you are automatically exempt from VAT for the first year of your rental activity. If your first-year income (2023) exceeds €13.500, you must then register with the tax department (or online) by the end of January the following year to be subject to the VAT regime. This threshold moves up to respectively Euro 14.500 and Euro 15.000 in 2024 and 2025.

Under the VAT regime the VAT on rental income is charged at 6%. This can be compensated with the VAT paid on expenses, therefore you should keep your invoices (with your name and fiscal number) in order to claim back VAT. You pay the higher rate of 23 percent VAT on most expenses, therefore in our experience, you will not pay any VAT because it balances out. VAT needs to be reported to AT (tax department) on a quarterly basis. If you have high expenses in a given year, the VAT can be carried forward and used to offset future VAT liabilities.

In addition you are responsible for the reporting of your guests to SEF (border and immigration control), issuing timely rental receipts for your guests, and reporting monthly income to AT the following month. Some councils require you to charge your visitors a tourist tax, which you must pay to the council on a monthly basis. Only VRSA in the East Algarve requires home owners to

collect a tourist tax at the moment. If you have previously rented out your property, you must first register your 2023 billing series with AT (tax department) before issuing any invoices. This is a new requirement that needs to be completed by the end of January 2023 if you had previously rented out your property. If you utilise a billing software programme, it is not sufficient to just generate the new billing series for this year; it must first be notified to AT.

In addition you need to report to AT on a monthly basis in 2023, also if you had no rental income.

An accountant's annual tax filing of your rental income costs roughly Euro 90. (excl. 23 percent vat). There usually is a surcharge if you need to report VAT on a quarterly basis.

If you are using a rental portal for your bookings, be aware that you must provide your guests with a rental receipt that includes the commission the portal charges you. The VAT on this commission can be used to offset other VAT liabilities, but under the simplified regime, the commission itself cannot be deducted as an expense.

If you have a VAT credit it is possible to claim this back. However, you should be conscious that the tax department may scrutinise your rental activity. In case you have not been including the commission charge of a portal in the rental receipt for your guest and/or

you are staying for a relatively long period in the property yourself, the VAT on expenses incurred during your own stay may not be allocated to your rental activity as it was for your own benefit.

Homeowners from the United Kingdom need to be aware that due to Brexit they will need to appoint a fiscal representative.

At Happy Homes we have many years of experience in dealing with all of these requirements on your behalf, making sure you are in compliance with the law and giving you peace of mind. Should you need property management and letting services contact us to schedule a meeting.

Bijker Director

Wearedelightedtobringtoyouanother exclusivelisting,asuper4orcouldbe5 bedroomvillainaquietcountrylocation withalargeplottoexplore,alovelypool areaandsplendidviews.

Agoodsizedfamilyhome,outinthe countryandenjoyinganelevatedlocation withexcellentviews.Quietandpeaceful settingwithalargenaturalplotwithina shortdistanceoftown.

A traditional 2 or 3 bedroom cottage that sits in a South facing plot with views over the garden area and out to a good sea view. The quinta is very well located in a super quiet & pretty area, just a short drive from the villages of Moncarapacho and Fuseta. Own water supply, 1500 m² of land AND License for pool due anyday. Available exclusively through Russell and Decoz.

TheVillaiswelllocatedwithinthelargeplot, sittingtotherearandlookingdownovera lovelynaturallandscapedottedwithmature dryfruittreessuchasoliveandcarob.

963 096 407

35 8800-372 Tavira

PHOTOGRAPH OF THE MONTH

When you think of the Algarve you imagine sun, sea, and sand and this photo has it all. The shimmer of the sun reflecting on the translucent water nestling amongst the ripples of golden sand makes this one a very beautiful and special photograph.

Submitted to the Facebook page: ‘Algarve Amateur Photography Group’

Photographer: Martine Lejeune

Location/Camera: The photo was taken at ‘the end’ of the Manta Rota praia, freguesia de Vila Nova de Cacela, concelho de Vila Real de Santo António with my iPhone 13 mini

Photographer's comment: That day I went out looking for ‘the end’ of the Ria Formosa lagoon. The end, I don’t know. But I came across this wonderful tableau where the sea becomes land or land becomes sea under the golden sunlight.

bedroom villa, Highly equipped

urban area, Double garage and pool

Modern 3 bedroom villa, Highly equipped and built 490sqm Plot with pool, Outskirts of Tavira 5 minutes’ drive to centre

a visit!

East Algarve Magazine

INTERNATIONAL MEET-UPS

Our regular meet-ups are proving to be a great success, so much so that we are now introducing a regular morning 'learn Portuguese' meet-up

Our events so far, in Tavira, Olhão, Cabanas and VRSA have all been a resounding success. It's been wonderful to see and listen to people making new friends and arranging to meet outside of the group. It is also a great opportunity to share your experiences, and gain from others. There has been a lot of information about various businesses discussed, from favourite Indian restaurants, a particularly good real estate agent to a great Portuguese teacher. Each month we will meet at a designated venue in or around Tavira. There will also be a meet up towards the beginning of the month somewhere else in the East Algarve; Cabanas, Olhão, Fuseta, Monte Gordo or Vila Real. Events start at 6pm.

'East Algarve Magazine International Meet-Ups' Facebook group has been set up and is where the latest updates will be posted. The group already has nearly 800 members.

We've also started a regular morning meet-up for people who would like to learn conversational Portuguese, in a relaxed, informal environment.

Both Meet-Ups are free of charge and all group members are welcome to join the events. See Facebook for dates and locations. If you have any questions or suggestions just join the Facebook group, or email info@eastalgarvemag.com

Telephone:

ARTIST OF THE MONTH MICHAEL GREENLAW

W

e met artist Michael Greenlaw at Re-Criativa República 14 in Olhão at one of our monthly meetup groups. He happened to be exhibiting his wonderful work at the time. Siezing the opportunity, we asked Michael to tell us a bit about himself.

From Scotland, Michael trained at Edinburgh College of Art and worked most of his life as a community artist and mural painter. He now divides his time between Olhão and West Cork, in Ireland.

'Last winter I was able to spend the 6 months from October to March living in Olhão, and during that time I painted a picture every day. I always paint out doors, happy to perch on a fish box to paint a boat or on a public bench to paint buildings or life going on around me.

For me it’s important to work in the landscape - to hear the sound of the birds, smell the flowers, feel

the sun on my face or wind in my hair. I paint mainly in watercolour, often using pen and ink for detail, but I also draw using the iPad and a marvellous app. called Sketches. The Olhão area is so rich in inspiring subject matter, including boats, buildings and rooftop views.

A particular interest of mine is the railway stations of the Linha de Algarve with their ornate cast iron canopies and azulejo tiled walls. Last winter I set myself the pleasurable task of painting every station between Faro and Vila Real de Santo António; this winter I am tackling the stations of the Western Algarve.

The 180 paintings I produced during my last stay were exhibited in a recent exhibition, “180 Dias em Portugal”, which was held in Re-Criativa República 14 in Olhão.

If you missed the exhibition but would like to see more of my work you can visit my website: www.michaelgreenlaw.com

THEN OLHÃO FOUND US...

Welcome to our monthly column celebrating Olhão. After exploring Portugal top to bottom from Braga to Tavira enjoying so many coastal and inland locations in our RV, we decided Olhão was the place to buy our home to celebrate our “golden years”.

Olhão was not on our radar at first. In fact, the discovery of Eastern Algarve was a pleasant surprise with the scale of development so much less than areas to the west. A chance winter rental introduced us to Olhão, a place we quickly found attractive for many reasons.

“Walkability” is, above all, a main highlight and each month I will introduce you to places only steps away from our front door. We hope you will enjoy our column! Please email us at hankryan2003@yahoo.com. We’d love to hear from you!

CAN WE SAVE OLHÃO’S ART WALLS?

Excerpts from a July open letter to João Evaristo, Veneador da Cultura, Olhão Câmara with a January 2023 follow-up letter to Abel Ramos of the same facility….

PLEASE NOTE: If you are wondering if I’ve lost all creativity given that the first part of

the column below appeared in the July 2022 issue, please read the last segment which attempts to demonstrate just how a solution offered then may be worth considering!

Dear João,

We are writing to you as a couple who appreciate and who have been deeply affected by your work. Carina and I first arrived here in Olhão in January of 2021. On our walking journeys through the back streets those first days, we discovered something special, the ArtWalls of Olhão! Support from the local Câmara through your offices helped to create these giant works of art to be enjoyed by everyone.

Here is the language that appeared in the March 2019 issue of this magazine.

“A team of Algarve graffiti artists have brought new life into an old area of Olhão by turning the dilapidated walls of a former factory into works of art. Olhão council hired Loulé-based art association Satori to turn the rundown walls on Largo da Fábrica Velha into murals depicting the history and traditions of Olhão. The artists, who worked hard for several weeks, were Pedro ‘Mistik’, ‘Gnose’ and ‘Kaset’ from Quarteira, as well as a special guest from Albufeira, ‘Dgiphi’. The town’s

old canning and fishing industry and markets are all represented with an accuracy that has left citizens feeling proud. Inspiration came mostly from old photos, and the artists even say some locals have either identified themselves or other family members in the paintings. Over 500 spray cans were used to bring the project to life on Rua da Fábrica Velha.”

These fabulous murals haven’t just brought Olhão’s past to life, they have also turned what were once dilapidated buildings into a fabulous street gallery. Since the city has invested already to deliver these huge works of historical art, we are hoping your office will want to encourage the hotel developers replacing those buildings to preserve or perhaps re-create the ArtWalls that might be under threat.

Carina and I are newcomers to Olhão, but the local people we’ve talked to seem to strongly believe that preserving these investments in public art is very important. We hope your municipal offices working with the investors might help to make them fully aware of just how much these art installations matter to people here. That might help create the context for creative solutions that could help

... and we weren't even looking! Hank and Carina's story of how they came to love and live in Olhão

protect this heritage.

Your office has already demonstrated creativity with the beautiful planters placed throughout the center. Perhaps “re-locating” some of the ArtWall depictions to local utility boxes can both preserve the public art, while improving what is now just random graffiti that too many utility boxes often display. Thank you for your past efforts. We hope this letter is received in the spirit we are hoping to deliver, that being to say thank you and to ask for your help and creativity if, indeed, the ArtWalls are threatened by the loss of the buildings that were the basis of their creation.

Warm regards, Hank & Carina Ryan

Here is an example of what might be possible together with excerpts from a January 2023 letter to Abel Ramos at the Olhão Câmara asking to meet to and discuss:

Hi Abel,

When I met with Mr. Avaristo last year, he seemed amenable to the suggestion and even suggested the Olhão Câmara had digital files that could be reproduced for that purpose. He noted the barrier that stopped that from happening to date had to do with restrictions by the electrical distribution company then serving Olhão. He suggested the new

distribution company that would be serving Olhão beginning in 2023 might be amenable to Olhão addressing the utility boxes here. Here is another reason this suggestion might be worth looking into. Many of the utility boxes here in Olhão are currently defaced with ugly spray painted markings. It is perhaps worth noting that other communities here in the Algarve have undertaken adding art to their utility boxes. It is my belief that those art installations actually help defend against further vandalism.

I'm attaching a photo that demonstrates both an example of the utility box vandalism that we see all too often here in Olhão and what replacing that defacement with a partial example of the ArtWalls would look like. Small businesses here in Olhão are opened with considerable risks involved. Part of their efforts to invite customers relies on making the exterior of the business attractive enough to have people want to enter the premises. The photos attached show one example of both the efforts undertaken by one new business and how the condition of the utility boxes in front of the establishment look today and how they could look in the future.

Regards,

Hank & Carina Ryan

For our full introduction, see our first column online in the December 2021 issue. ( https:// www.eastalgarvemag.com/ )

SUMMER COOLING WINTER WARMING

How using air conditioning to heat my home save money?

‘It’s cold in here, can you turn on the air conditioner?’ This is not a phrase we usually expect to hear, as it is still common to associate air conditioning only with cooling. However, using air conditioners for heating is already commonplace in some European countries, including Bulgaria, Macedonia, Montenegro and Croatia. In the modern world of home heating and cooling systems, using air conditioners for heating is an efficient and economical means of maintaining the temperature in your home year-round.

Traditional home heating systems

Over the last century European homes have relied on gas and oil-based heating systems. The heating and cooling sector accounts for close to 50% of Europe’s annual energy consumption, a figure the EU aims to reduce as part of their goal to reduce energy consumption, as a whole, by at least 32.5% by 2030.

The vast majority of homes and buildings

across Europe have boilers and heaters that are not only older than their technical lifespan but are also more inefficient by design when compared to their more modern counterparts. Looking to the future, environmental groups are hoping that Europe will see an end to the sale of new gas boilers by 2025.

Using an air conditioner for heating as

well as for cooling

Up until more recent years, many people in Europe have not found the need for air conditioning for cooling their homes. However, as global warming has intensified summer temperatures, more people are turning to AC. In 2018, 8.4 million air conditioning units were sold across Europe, 11% more than the previous year.

However, what many people are not aware of, is that air conditioning is not only about cooling in the heat of summer, the same AC system can be used for heating your home in the winter.

So how exactly does an air conditioner heat your home? The quick answer is that it just

works the opposite way to cooling your home. Also known as an air-to-air heat pump, in cooling mode the air conditioner draws heat out of your room and transfers it outside. In heating mode, a valve alters the direction of the refrigerant flow so it brings warm air into your home.

Why switch to air conditioning for home heating?

As the world becomes more aware of the issues surrounding global warming and as governments are looking to end the use of traditional boilers and heating systems, it is important to look ahead to the future for your own home heating solutions. Even if you had never considered needing AC for cooling, it is an economical choice for heating, so installing air conditioning is a year-round solution and you will be prepared for those hot summers ahead.

Air conditioning uses less energy than traditional gas or electric heating

An electric heater converts electrical energy into heat energy working on the principle

of resistance. As electricity flows through a heating element, resistance produces heat which is transferred to the body of the heater and then emitted into the room. This is the basis of heat generation in convection heaters, electric and oil filled radiators and fan heaters.

Gas heating utilises gas to heat water in a boiler. An electric pump then pushes the heated water through a circuit of pipes to radiators around your home and back to the boiler.

Both gas and electricity require a relatively high input of fuel to create enough heat to keep your home at a comfortable temperature. For every kW of energy used, a traditional electric heater produces around 1kW of heat.

An air-to-air heat pump works a little differently from the traditional gas and electric heating systems we are used to. Rather than generating heat from burning fuel or using mains electricity, an air conditioner extracts thermal energy from the air, transferring warm air into your home and taking cold air out. Electrical energy is only required as a power source so the use of mains electricity is much reduced. The use of renewable energy, means an air conditioner can create up to three times as much heat from the same amount of electricity used by an electric heater, making it a far more economical choice and significantly decreasing your energy bills.

Air conditioning uses renewable energy, making it a sustainable and economical heating solution

According to the International Energy Agency,

the use of ACs is set to soar over the next three decades. To ensure as a result they don’t become a key contributor to rising electricity demand, it is essential that modern air conditioners utilise the latest technology to be as efficient as possible. By investing in efficient ACs that primarily use renewable energy instead of fossil fuels, emissions of carbon dioxide can be greatly reduced and local air quality vastly improved. We are already seeing encouraging trends in the use of renewable energy across Europe. In 2012, renewable energy accounted for 12% of the total energy used for heating and cooling, this figure had risen to 23% by 2020. As a consumer, by installing air conditioning for heating your home you are contributing to a more sustainable future for the environment around you and also providing a better heating alternative for your home and your pocket. When deciding on an air conditioning system it is important to think about the future and consider the long-term costs and sustainability factors. The energy rating is a good indication of how efficient a system is. Daikin AC units have up to A+++ energy ratings, meaning they are highly efficient. You should also consider the type of refrigerant used in the AC system, the R-32 is currently the most advanced refrigerant, carrying heat more efficiently than others, allows for a smaller refrigerant charge and has a lower global warming impact, reducing its effect on the environment by up to 75%.

Maintenance wise there is not a lot needed to keep your air conditioning in top condition.

However, you should regularly clean the filters and have it professionally serviced to ensure it is always doing its job most effectively. Year round climate control with air conditioning for heating and cooling

Even if you hadn’t considered installing a cooling system into your home, air conditioning is an ideal option for heating too, so by adding air conditioners as your new heating system, you will also have the facility to keep your home at a comfortable temperature at any time of the year.

Air conditioners can operate in a wide range of temperatures to cool or heat your home, but in some colder climates an enhanced system may be needed to handle extreme cold. Daikin has a specific optimised for heating range that has been tested for reliable operation down to -25°C.

Air conditioning also comes with additional benefits that you might not have thought about. By running air conditioning, you maintain good ventilation and a comfortable level of humidity throughout your home. Some air conditioners also have an air filtration or air purifying function which improves the air quality in the room by removing dust and potential allergens.

For information on installation and maintenance contact Taviraclima on:

Tel: 00351 916 415 203

Email: taviraclima@gmail.com

Isle of Man Rookie

Professional Golfer

Ana Dawson Travels to Benamor Golf Club Portugal for Warm Weather Training

ANA DAWSON AT BENAMOR

Born and Raised on the Isle of Man, golfer Ana Dawson is looking to make a fast start to her rookie year on the Ladies European Tour. Her search for success has led her to Portugal, specifically Benamor Golf Cub on the south coast, as she looks to escape the cold of the UK and take in some all-important warm weather training before the Ladies European Tour Season Starts in Kenya at the beginning of February.

Ana had this to say about the opportunity. “I can't wait to be back in some better weather and tidy up my game in preparation for the Magical Kenya Ladies Open. I just want to say thank you to Benamor Golf Club for having me, it is going to be so valuable to get some good practice done at this time of year with the weather being poor at home, especially with the 2023 season starting much earlier than normal.”

Growing up on the Isle of Man, Ana played out of Peel Golf Club, located on the west of the island. She would find success on the Island twice at the Isle of Man Ladies golf championship, winning early in her amateur career in 2014 and then more recently in 2021. Away from the island as an Amateur she frequently elected to play in the north of

England to allow her to access a wider range of golfing opportunities and more varied competition. Moving further afield, Ana then decided to take her talents to the USA at The University of Memphis, where she represented the golf team alongside obtaining a degree in Sport and Leisure Management, graduating in 2022. This opportunity was pivotal in providing Ana with more international golfing experience as she was able to play a variety of courses across 14 different US states. Since returning to the UK for 2022, Ana enjoyed a strong finish to her Amateur career, with her sights set on Q-School at the end of the year. A win in March at the Comboy Scratch Trophy, in which Ana scored a course record of -8 in the 2nd round, started a successful run of results in 2022. This included six Top 10 finishes and, most notably, wins in the Faldo Series qualifying round in Wales, beating the boys in the process, and victory in the International U21 girls Class trophy at the Faldo Series final in November. Her 2022 season ended with it all to play for at Q-School in La Manga, Spain. Ana’s journey through Q School started with Stage 1, where she teed it up alongside another 150 or so hopefuls, all looking for a Top 62 (and ties) finish to take them through to the second and Final Stage. Despite a disappointing second

round in some very difficult conditions, Ana’s spirit and determination came to the fore as she managed her best round of the event on the final day to ensure she finished comfortably inside the qualification mark. With only a few days for practice and recovery, Ana was back on the La Manga courses again, this time to fight it out to try to earn a higher 2023 playing category. Competing against 140 other top players, she played some magnificent golf over the first 2 days, hitting 35 out of 36 greens. A disappointing third round really put some pressure on her to perform in round four, where only the Top 60 and ties would make it through to play on the final day. Summoning up the same grit she showed the week before, a penultimate 2 under par round of 69, followed by a 4 under par final round, catapulted her up the leader board and ensured that she claimed the second highest category on offer. She now heads to Benamor GC where she will be welcomed warmly and welcomed at all of the great facilities they have to offer. This will give her a fantastic opportunity to acclimatise for the warm weather start in Africa and ensure she is best prepared for the season ahead.

Cacao

The Super-food of Love.

There is something untouchable and almost indescribable about chocolate that goes beyond its taste. Something profoundly pleasing and divine. That feel-good sensation of being nurtured, that giant hug that warms us up from the inside out while satisfying our palates and nourishing our souls.

And there is science beyond the magic!

Chocolate contains plenty of naturally occurring “love chemicals” that bring into existence the magical love essence of cacao. Namely:

• The “love molecule” phenylethylamine (PEA), naturally produced by the body when we fall in love. Chocolate-derived PEA is thought to be responsible for its pleasurable effect.

• The “bliss molecule” anandamide is naturally released by the body when we feel joy and delight. Additionally, cacao contains

compounds that help natural or cacao-derived anandamide to linger, thus extending the feeling of pleasure. A possible reason why chocolate can be addictive.

• The “happy hormone” serotonin, known to many of us for its ability to stabilise mood by regulating the feelings of happiness and anxiety.

• The “mood-enhancing” tryptophan, the essential amino acid that boosts serotonin production, thus the happiness associated with chocolate.

These organic molecules literally and metaphysically help lift our hearts and enhance our moods.

However, it is not just science; we cannot deny the spirituality of cacao. Centuries-old Native American rituals and anecdotes testify to the deep connection between cacao and love.

In the Mayan and Aztec civilisations, cacao

was considered sacred and believed to have healing and energising properties. It was offered to the gods in rituals and given to the warriors to improve performances. Its consumption was exclusive to the elite members of society and special occasions. In traditional Mayan culture, cacao plays a central role in wedding ceremonies. During the ritual, the bride and groom share a hot cacao drink to symbolise their union and commitment.

The Aztecs referred to cacao as "yollotl eztli," which means "heart blood". They believed it had unique properties that could nourish the heart and thought consuming cacao had the power to bring people closer to the gods and ignite feelings of vitality and well-being. During religious ceremonies, Aztecs often consumed "xocolātl", a sacred drink made from ground cacao beans mixed with water and spices.

Cacao Fun Facts

DID YOU KNOW:

• The Latin name of the cacao tree, Theobroma Cacao, literally means “Cacao, food of the gods”.

• The cacao tree is evergreen and produces fruits all year round. Each fruit contains 20-50 beans surrounded by a sweet pulp.

• Cacao flowers are pollinated by tiny insects called midges.

• It is originally from Central and South America and was brought to Europe by the Spanish conquistador Cortez.

• It was the currency of the Aztecs.

• It was the Europeans who first combined cacao with refined sugar.

• Milk chocolate was created in 1800 in Switzerland.

• Cocoa is the name for roasted and grounded cacao beans.

Not to mention, they considered it an aphrodisiac as well. Legend says that the emperor Moctezuma II consumed large quantities of chocolate daily to fuel his romances. No wonder chocolate is associated with the expression of love and romance, and thus a classic gift for Saint Valentine!

However, not all chocolate is created equal. The mood-enhancing properties and other health benefits associated with eating chocolate are linked to its raw and minimally processed forms, cacao and dark chocolate.

Cacao is the most natural form of chocolate. It is found in the pods of cacao trees and processed to make cocoa, from which chocolate as we know it is made. Cacao has many healthpromoting nutrients linked to reducing inflammation and improving cardiovascular health and cognitive function. To name a few:

• Antioxidants, such as polyphenols, catechins and epicatechins, help maintain the integrity of the cells and DNA. They protect our bodies from age-related health conditions and reduce the risk of certain diseases, such as heart disease and cancer.

• Minerals like magnesium, iron, chromium, manganese, zinc and copper improve our stress and immune resilience, energy, brain health and blood sugar balance.

Not to forget its high content of vitamin C, one of the most effective antioxidants and antivirals. Conventional chocolate, on the other hand, is a finished product made from cacao beans that have been roasted, processed and transformed into a variety of forms, such as chocolate bars, chocolate chips, and chocolate syrup. The many steps in its making (roasting, grounding, tempering, conching, refining and adding

ingredients) reduce the cacao's nutritional value. Many of the nutrients in raw cacao are heatsensitive; therefore, they get destroyed or drastically reduced, leaving us with an end product laden with sugar or artificial sweeteners, milk (in the case of milk chocolate), and sometimes additives with health-depleting properties.

At this point, you might wonder what chocolate to indulge in.

The most readily accessible is dark chocolate made with cacao powder and a minimum cacao content of 70%. However, doublecheck the label to ensure no unpronounceable substances, refined sugar or agave syrup. The latter might be a surprise as it is a popular sugar alternative that gained popularity as a honey substitute. Yet, it has no nutritional value being pure fructose.

The best option is dark chocolate sweetened with unrefined sugar, such as coconut or brown sugar, xylitol, maple syrup, or honey, if not required to be vegan. These natural alternatives to refined sugar have a lower impact on blood sugar levels and also provide vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients.

Raffaella Baccioli is a qualified Nutritional Therapist (DipION) who studied at the prestigious Institute for Optimum Nutrition in London.

Founder and owner of Raf in the Kitchen –Practical Nutrition and Equilibrium Organic Foods.

Follow her on Facebook @ Raf in the Kitchen for Nutrition tips and Healthy but Tasty Recipes 'Raf-in-the-Kitchen'

Email: raf.inthekitchen@proton.me

References

Beckett, S. T. (2019). The science of chocolate. Royal Society of Chemistry.

Cooper, K. A., Donovan, J. L., Waterhouse, A. L., & Williamson, G. (2008). Cocoa and health: a decade of research. British Journal of Nutrition, 99(1), 1-11.

McNeil, C. L. (2009). Chocolate in Mesoamerica: a cultural history of cacao. University Press of Florida.

Westover, J. The Potential Health Benefits of Chocolate: A Review of the Literature.

Chocolate Cake with Chilli Boy Olive Oil

Spice up your Valentine with this delicous cake recipe, taken from Chilli Boy Kitchen, by Viv Thomas. See www.chilliboy.com for their full range of products including this wonderful recipe book

For 6-8 people INGREDIENTS FOR THE CAKE:

· 45ml cocoa powder

· 180g caster sugar

80g unsalted butter

· 60ml water

· 3 extra large eggs

· 200g cake flour

· 5ml vanilla extract

· 15ml Chilli Boy Piri Piri Oil (alternatively, 3 red chillies, deseeded and finely chopped)

· 2 stalks lemongrass, using only inner tender stalks, finely grated

FOR THE GANACHE:

· 2cm knob fresh ginger, peeled and chopped

· 1 stalk lemongrass, pounded

· 250ml cream

· 200g 70% chocolate

· 15ml chilled butter 15ml dehydrated strawberries, sliced (alternatively, fresh strawberries)

· Fresh mint

METHOD

Preheat the oven to 180°C.

Grease a 20cm round cake tin and line the bottom with baking paper. In a saucepan, heat the cocoa, 30ml of the caster sugar, butter and water and stir until melted. Remove from the heat and cool.

Beat the eggs and thoroughly whisk in the remaining sugar, beating vigorously until light and fluffy. Into a separate bowl, sieve in the flour and baking powder and very gently fold in the egg mixture so not to deflate the air. Then fold in the cocoa mixture, vanilla, Chilli Boy Piri Piri Oil and lemongrass.

Pour the mixture into the cake tin, place in the oven and bake for 30 minutes, or until cooked. Cool in the tin.

To make the ganache, heat the ginger, lemongrass and cream in a small saucepan for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and let the flavours infuse. Strain when cool.

When the cake has cooled, reheat the cream with the chocolate and whisk in the butter to make a smooth creamy chocolate sauce. Spoon a coating of the ganache over the cake, refrigerate and apply a second layer when set. Place in the fridge again until you are ready to serve. Garnish with slivers of dehydrated strawberries and mint leaves.

Expert

Partners

BUYING OR SELLING A PROPERTY IN PORTUGAL?

O

The facts: According to a recent study from Rightmove, buyer enquiries for Portugal jumped by 24% between April 2021 and April 2022, with the number of buyer enquiries rising by 25% in a week compared to the previous seven days.

These statistics show increasing confidence in British buyers as Portugal became the first EU country to allow individuals with British passports to use the electronic gates, speeding up entry.

ver the last few years, we have experienced massive changes due to COVID-19, Brexit, and the Costof-Living Crisis, but the international property market shows no signs of slowing down with demand for properties in Portugal on the rise.Currency fluctuations and risk: As the exchange rates continue to fluctuate, the sterling cost of a property abroad is constantly changing. These rates move every second and an ever-moving exchange rate can dramatically affect the price of a property. It can take weeks or even months to complete a purchase and the exchange rate movement during this time can be substantial, leaving you paying more or receiving less than you expected.

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Portugal and repatriating the funds to the UK). Similarly, if you had agreed on a purchase in August but did not complete the sale until December, purchasing the property could have cost an additional £7020. However, fixing the rate could have saved you money and stress.

₤-€ Month Price € Received in ₤

1.1978 August €350k £292k

1.1159 End Sept €350k £313,6k

1.1697 Dec €350k £299k

Make a plan

Now that you have decided you are going to buy or sell a property in Portugal, there are several things you need to think about, such as your currency strategy and your budget, remembering to factor in the buying costs, lawyer fees, and taxes.

It is important to do your research on the current exchange rate and how it has fluctuated over the last few months. Following this you will need to consider what exchange rate you are prepared to accept and stick to it! Do not be lulled into a false sense of security just because the exchange rate improved today, it does not mean it will continue to improve tomorrow. You can recruit the help of a currency specialist, such as GC Partners, who will monitor the exchange rate on your behalf and keep you informed of any currency movements to help maximise your savings.

Secure now for peace of mind

If you need to buy or sell Euros for a property purchase or sale, consider purchasing the currency by way of a Forward Contract. At GC Partners, a Forward Contract enables you to fix your exchange rate up to 24 months in advance which offers peace of mind as it minimises the risk of adverse currency market movements. You buy your currency at a fixed rate by paying a small deposit and the exchange rate is secured, and the currency held for you until you pay the balance in the future.

Speak to GC Partners today

If you are buying or selling a property, and you would like to arrange to speak to one of our currency specialists, you can contact us in Portugal on +351 282 768 136 or in the UK on +44 (0) 203 974 4738.

You can easily open your account online in just a few minutes at www.gcpartners.co/register or in person at one of our offices.

GC Partners is a specialist financial services provider. We move money overseas quickly, reliably, and securely and offer great exchange rates. Speak to our specialists today to see why we are rated 4.9 out of 5 on Trustpilot.

Expert financial advice

HOLIDAY RENTALS

If you are considering renting your property, there are several questions that you need to be aware of in order to avoid any problems with the Portuguese Authorities. First of all, you need to bear in mind when you rent your property in Portugal, that irrespective if you are a tax resident or not, the rental income will always need to be declared in Portugal.

Secondly, the Tax Authorities (Finanças) state categorically that Property Owners letting directly to holidaymakers are viewed as business activity and must be declared. Despite this, several taxpayers have been declaring rentals on Category F, this should be reserved for “long-term” rentals (more than 30 days). Only the “locação turística”, when the property owner makes a contract ceding the property to an agent for ongoing letting to tourists, which may be taxed under category B or F.

The main reasons for you to assure that your property is fully compliant, are:

1. You can only advertise on any of the portals, if you have a rental license number (AL);

2. The tax authorities receive information on the income paid by the rental portals (Air BnB, Booking.com, etc) and fines are considerably high for those not complying with all the obligations.

3. Tax is considerably low if you are on this scheme, as a non-resident you pay as little as 8.75% tax, instead of being taxed at 28% (which is the tax rate for long term lets). The tax is even lower, for hostels, guesthouses and other properties where you can rent a single room, instead of the whole property: 3.75%.

So why take unnecessary risks and not obey the law? Please find below some questions and answers, to help you understand a bit more about the local lodging:

1) As a business, will there be complicated accounting/reporting requirements?

No, unless your income is over €200,000 per year, we will class you on the “Simplified Regime” and as the name says, everything will be simple.

2) What is the simplified regime and what expenses can I offset against my rentals?

Most of the Sole Traders in Portugal elect to operate under the Simplified Regime when opening their business activity. Under the simplified regime taxpayers cannot deduct professional and business expenses against their annual gross income. The taxable income of this category will be computed automatically, based on their income.

3) What is the tax payable on the simplified

regime on my rentals?

The effective tax rate on Category B, in the simplified regime, for a non-resident Property Owner will be 8.75%, for apartments and villas and 3.75% for hostels, etc. So, for example if you have earnings of €10,000 the taxable income, equates to €3.750 in a villa or apartment. If you are non-resident, you will be taxed at 25% (25% x 35% = 8.75%) If however you are non-resident, then the taxable amount is the same (35%) but the tax rate depends on your tax bracket. Please note that under Category F (long term lets), the same income is taxed autonomously at 28%, so the tax liability would be €2,800, 3 times more!

4) Do I have to issue invoices to holidaymakers?

You have two options, either you issue invoices to the guest or you issue invoices to your rental agent. Please note that this depends on the type of contract you have with the rental agent and it may be important that you keep the AL license in your name, in order to do this.

5) Will I need to be VAT registered?

You will be VAT registered, but you will benefit from a VAT exemption unless you chose not to be exempt, or if your income exceeds €14,500 per year. Please note that as the VAT you will charge to holidaymakers is 6% and as most of your operating expenses has VAT at 23% rate, normally you should be in credit in terms of VAT or have a very little VAT liability.

6) I have several properties and charge VAT to my guests; can I use a rental agent and still pay the 6% VAT rate?

Yes, providing the rental licenses are in your name it’s possible to invoice the rental agency at 6%, for the income received. Normally only the license holder can invoice for the Local Lodging service (see Law Decree 128/2014 article 16), however if the rental agent is managing all the bookings and services related to obtaining income, it’s possible that the company can issue the invoice to the guest, replacing the property owner and in this case when you invoice the rental agent you also use the VAT rate of 6% (as per number 4 of article 4 of the VAT code).

7) What is the best scheme in my circumstances, should I invoice or let my rental agent do it for me?

You need to discuss this with your rental agent, but if your property generates rental income of 10.000€, and you issue invoices to the guests, your taxable income is 3.500€, even if you may receive a lot less after all commissions and costs. If, however, your rental agent does the invoicing to the guest,

then your taxable income will be a lot lower, as you only invoice for the income your receive, after deduction of commissions by the portals and the rental agency.

8) What is the tax threshold for the Local Lodging activity?

There is no threshold in terms of personal income tax, you will always be taxed on 35% of the gross income received (invoiced). There is however a VAT threshold, if you are exempt and invoice more than 14.5000€ during 2023, this means that in 2024 you will start charging 6% on your local lodging invoices. There will be no consequences on your income for 2023, as the alteration will only occur in January 2024 and only from February 1st of 2024, you will start billing with VAT.

9) What are the implications of being on the VAT regime?

You will need to submit quarterly VAT returns; for this you will need to submit all the invoices related with your property to your accountant, so he can assess your VAT liability. Most of the invoices for the utilities will be at 23%, which means that your deductions will be quite high, when compared with the low VAT rate charged to guests. You can also offset the VAT on the commissions from your rental agent, accountancy fees, equipment purchased to the property, etc. If you have a VAT credit, this can be refunded in the future.

10) Can I offset my mortgage interest against my tax liability?

No. As you are on the simplified regime, the taxable income is assessed automatically. Only if you were in the normal regime, this would be possible. Please note that the normal regime is only interesting, if you have a lot more than 65% of costs in comparison to your income.

11) Do I have to pay Social Security contributions?

The Local Lodging activity is exempt of Social Security contributions if you rent the house or apartment in full and not rooms. But please note that this only applies to the cases where this is your only activity registered with the tax office. If you have any other activities, please contact us as there are various full and partial exemptions that apply in most cases.

If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact us, we aim our expertise and know-how to work in your benefit, keeping you tax compliant while paying only the legal minimum. Please note that there are many other obligations related with the AL activity, but normally your rental agent will assist you with this.

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

We’ll look after your tax a airs while you look after your lifestyle

Expert financial advice

by John Alden, Managing Partner at Private Client Consultancy

HOW’S YOUR PENSION LOOKING?

Many of us worry about funding for our retirement. That’s because pensioners need to balance the fact that they can no longer rely on a dependable monthly salary with additional inheritance and care costs – and because of that, it seems that each pound is split several ways. Many of us also want to earmark our savings for the finer things in life. To live the life and lifestyle we dream of. Don’t forget to ask the question about how your pension is looking.

The average pensioner today, is someone who has an employer’s pension that pays out around £18,000 a year, alongside an £8,000 state pension and maybe an average of 9k rental income from a second property, which means they will have enough to live on. It is also typical for the same pensioner to own a separate private pension with an average value of around £115,000 on top of that. Others may have more than one, with a value that is considerably more. With a private pension, it’s also not uncommon to see half of it sitting in cash for fear of falling stock markets, along with an additional £25,000 invested in stocks and

an ISA or similar.

If these same pensioners have no children, all they want to do is spend their hardearned cash on trips before they croak. However, spending £10,000 a year on holidays, as most expect to do, will very quickly eat into the savings. If they then plan to keep some cash back to cover future care costs by investing a little here and there – time may not be on their side. Many will acknowledge this stumbling block and be concerned that it’s a strategy not up to the obvious scrutiny. And if that ‘here and there’ style investing means numerous high risk moves, there’s most likely going to be a lot to be concerned about. Diversifying investments across different companies, types of asset and regions is a great way to reduce risk. But there is such a thing as overdiversification. If our retiree is adamant, they will want to achieve 8pc a year, which frankly is not very realistic, and there will need to be an overhaul of the current investments in many cases, especially if there happens to be a whole list of them. This is because the more funds and stocks you have, the less impact a single investment will have on the portfolio. Less is more!

The long-term return of the stock market is just over 5pc a year above inflation. To beat that, it will require emphasis on highergrowth areas of the market. And that means our retiree will have to decide whether they are comfortable taking that risk. That will also mean reducing the number of funds. And if our retiree doesn’t have enough conviction to add additional monetary funds into them… they would need to ask themselves whether they were worth owning in the first

place?

To achieve the 8pc return will require a high level of risk, but our retiree should not take such a risk with the ISA if the aim is to match inflation. Our retiree should therefore focus on less volatile investments. With a pension that is based on a mixture of cash and active global stock market funds. The retiree’s current approach will see virtually no return on the cash, and his funds carry a relatively high cost. Both will hit his returns. A far more realistic return of 6.5pc a year, before charges, can be boosted by lowering his costs.

It is understandable to be nervous in the present market, so holding more cash may seem sensible now, but there is much to be said for the old adage “time in the market will outweigh timing the market.” Being invested should improve the chances of achieving growth in excess of cash returns, and if our retiree is sticking to his guns and still wants 8pc, then our retiree needs to get moving and put it into action.

Research has shown that over the long term it is better to invest your spare cash in one hit rather than drip feeding it over several months, and that’s because what is termed ‘the sweet spot of phasing’ can take between 24 and 36 months to produce fruit. This comes with risks still – therefore by phasing investment over, let’s say, five months at £10,000 a month, our retiree would avoid anchoring to one point of entry. When the final decision is made for the direction our retiree wants to take, they should think about it this way… which would disappoint them more: that their money could go down overnight… or that our retiree might miss out on some sizeable gains? In the end, it will always be our retiree’s decision.

It is understandable to be nervous in the present market, so holding more cash may seem sensible now, but there is much to be said for the old adage “time in the market will outweigh timing the market.”

Being invested should improve the chances of achieving growth in excess of cash returns

LEGO & THERAPY

Have you ever played with Lego? How did you feel when you were playing with it? How many good memories do you have when thinking about Lego? How many hours did you spend absorbed in play? Did you know that Lego can also be used in therapy? And it can also be used with adults and seniors?

Lego is a construction toy consisting of interlocking plastic building blocks with variously coloured interlocking plastic bricks accompanying an array of gears, figurines, and various other parts. Lego pieces can be assembled and connected in many ways to construct objects. Anything constructed can be taken apart again, and the pieces reused to make new things.

The use of Lego as a therapeutic intervention was uncovered by accident by psychologist Daniel LeGoff (2004). His discovery came when he observed two of his socially withdrawn child patients playing together with Lego in his clinic’s waiting room, sparking the idea of developing an intervention involving the construction toys. Today, Lego Therapy is used primarily with children to teach skills such as turn taking, sharing, listening, conversation, teamwork, shared attention, problem-solving and can be done in groups of 3-4 children or individually. The group therapy brings children together through a shared interest in Lego play in group settings. As a group, they work together to build specific Lego models or design and build their own freestyle Lego creations in small teams. They take turns mastering different roles of the building process until the model is complete e.g., groups of three will be divided into an engineer who gives the instructions, a supplier who finds the relevant bricks, and a builder who puts the pieces together.

Since autistic children may need additional support with social communication, they can start first with individual sessions, in order to help make interactions more meaningful and engaging through clear roles, rules and activities. By building and playing together with the therapist, the child collaborates, communicates, negotiates and problemsolves, developing ways to create friendships and creating social opportunities in a safe and fun environment, guided by an occupational

therapist. Also, the therapist knows that in play therapy, children are encouraged to express, through play, all the things they may have difficulty saying or contextualising into words, Lego is a way to promote communication. While neurodivergent children can often be misunderstood due to different ways of communicating, they have the same need and desire as all other children: to feel understood, accepted, build meaningful friendships to reach their full potential and aspirations in life. Research into Lego based therapy has shown positive outcomes for social interaction, communication, behaviour and emotional wellbeing for children and young people on the autism spectrum. Therapy with Lego in groups gives a playful learning opportunity to have positive social experiences, connect with others over a shared interest, improve emotional well-being, and develop friendships. It also helps reduce any negative outcomes such as social isolation and mental health problems. It helps build stronger societal awareness and acceptance of autism.

One of the acknowledged benefits of Lego play for autistic children is the consistency in the way that Lego bricks all fit into the same Lego system in play. This predictability can help children who may experience increased anxiety in social situations, e.g., if a child is expected to play with someone new. The many Lego themes also help children practice their imaginative skills individually or in groups, and the instructions for these sets fit with the methodical way of thinking in autism allowing play to be structured and predictable, even within a social setting. There are an infinite number of creations that can be made, the possibilities are endless so each time a creation is begun, there is the desire to develop it and make it bigger and better. Research has shown that Lego Therapy often taps into the natural interests and motivations of children with autism, making it a highly effective form of therapy. In particular, it’s suggested that children with autism are drawn to activities that involve systemising and pattern prediction. Lego is a highly structured, visual construction toy. It is multi-sensory and gives great sensory feedback when snapped together. It is highly motivating for many autistic kids! Lego construction and the build instructions are very visual and logical - again areas of strength for many on the autistic

spectrum. That's why Lego Therapy is a grateful practice model of intervention to be used by occupational therapists!

Early research has identified several behavioural and social benefits flowing from Lego Therapy with children:

• Significant reduction in maladaptive behaviours including tantrums, avoidance of responsibility, physical aggression, and bed wetting;

• Easing of the anxiety felt by preschoolaged children due to hospitalisation;

• Increased social confidence and independence of primary-aged children with social communication difficulties;

• Greater willingness to initiate social interactions, such as asking another child questions.

Occupational therapy, like Lego Therapy can stimulate different brain areas, promote new skills and the adoption or adaptation of better behaviours. Therapy with Lego helps to develop social skills that include ways in which the child relates to others in order to make friends, have their needs met, be assertive, employ boundaries and cooperate. Engaging in pretend play, the therapist can create situations that require the child to respond to various social situations by using Lego figurines. In this way, the child can indirectly explore the appropriateness of their own social behaviour. Therapy with Lego also helps to build selfesteem and self-concept as the child feels empowered by the construction they did by themself or in a group, children start feeling more confident as they master the role they play. Imaginative pretend play can be used to help the child experience various roles that either represent their current strengths or the qualities that they would like to have. With Lego Therapy we notice that children feel a sense of belonging and connection.

Associação SER Igual is a non-profit association for handicap people and with Public Utility that is helping children, teenagers and their caregivers to get better life quality and helping change the paradigm of inclusion in East Algarve.

Please visit us on our FB page (@SerIgualPT) and IG (@igual.ser) and make an appointment to geral@seronline.pt or by phone 918180020. The article theme was interesting for you? Be aware of the next article. Thank you!

Sara de Melo Castanheira is an expert in Occupational Therapy and Quality of Life. She is also the Technical Director of SER Igual, an Association of special rehabilitation services in Tavira

Toxicity is all around us. For example, did you know that you are exposed to many heavy metals including aluminium and mercury daily?

So what? I hear you ask.

Well, according to many peer-reviewed research articles, when aluminium breaches the blood brain barrier, then a form of dementia is likely to result. Professor Christopher Exley from Keel University is known as Mr Aluminium. Chris has spent his whole career researching the effects of aluminium on the human body. Look on YouTube where you will find Professor Exley and other interesting videos on the topic.

Aluminium is in the air we breathe, the food we eat, and we put it on our skin in the form of creams, lotions, and deodorants.

DON'T USE ALUMINIUM FOIL WHEN COOKING.

When aluminium foil is exposed to heat, higher concentrations of aluminium seep into the food.

WHY IS THIS CAUSE FOR CONCERN?

Because a build-up of aluminium contributes to the following challenges and others:-

• Alzheimer’s, and early onset dementia

• Pregnant women are especially vulnerable with potential foetal development issues

• Impairment of the Nervous system

• Seizures and other brain problems

• Stomach and bowel issues

• Slow development of children

• Bone diseases and loss of bone mass

• Chronic lung diseases

• Anaemia

• Memory loss

• Organ failure

• Cancer

• Thyroid challenges

• Loss of coordination

WHAT´S THE COOKING SOLUTION?

Instead of foil, use non-bleached parchment paper when cooking and wrapping warm food. When storing and freezing food, ensure that you wait until the food is cold before transferring to aluminium foil dishes for freezing.

CHECK THE LABELS

Please read the labels for anything you use on

DOES ALUMINIUM CAUSE DEMENTIA?

How heavy metals found in everyday life pays a role in Alzheimer's disease and Multiple Sclerosis

your body, especially underarm deodorant in which aluminium is commonly used. Some say that a common cause of breast cancer in women is wearing underwire bras and aluminium loaded underarm deodorant. Consider the scenario… your lymphatic system gets easily congested because it's the only system that has no pump (hence why movement and exercise is important to move lymph around the body). Lymph glands under the arms get constricted by tight bras with underwires and are further assaulted by toxicity from aluminium. The build-up can potentially lead to cancer.

Ladies, please remove underwires and wash more often – deodorant is a modern invention which most of us don't need. The marketeers have managed a great selling job on us. Gentlemen, please check your labels too on aftershave as well as deodorant, and note that men contract breast cancer too.

When applying perfumes NEVER put directly on your skin, apply on your hair or clothes instead. Your skin is the largest organ in the body and absorbs quickly what you place on it.

CASE STUDY – MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS

Sheila´s sister asked me to help her to feel better. I´d already supported Sandra through her cancer journey towards recovery and she was convinced that Sheila´s predicted medical diagnosis of MS was wrong.

Sheila was a hairdresser and unable to work for some time because of fatigue, loss of balance, memory loss, rashes, terrible digestion, tingling, hair loss, depression, headaches, and other symptoms. She was also on multiple medications, all of which carry side effects.

Her symptoms were similar in nature to MS and therefore her impending diagnosis she was threatened with.

As you can see from Sheila´s mineral and toxicity assessment, she was loaded with calcium, magnesium, and mercury.

In addition, from the dry blood analysis I recommended, Sheila also showed signs of cell damage, oxidative stress, gut issues, liver stress, early onset arthritis (Sheila was only 37) and other challenges.

Within three weeks of following my recommendations, Sheila began planning her

return to work and was looking and feeling like a new woman. She took herself off some of the medication and replaced with natural solutions to manage her symptoms whilst she made changes in her lifestyle and diet. Mercury is found within some of the following, and more:-

• Medication

• Pesticides

• Damaged amalgam fillings

• Herbicides

• Contact lenses solution (look for thimerosal on the label)

• Skin creams

• Haemorrhoid suppositories

• Cosmetics

• Paint

HOW TO CHECK YOUR LEVELS

My online health mentoring programme includes analysis of your blood and hair. I guide you how to take your own samples and send them directly to the respective laboratories. I receive detailed reports which I discuss with you via a personal video call and recommend solutions to reverse or minimise your symptoms. If you don't have any symptoms and pride yourself on being well, be assured there will be something lurking in the background which may have been building for years.

Clients who have a top line medical diagnosis always have underlying challenges which regular medics rarely identify in my experience. It's the underlying conditions, including emotional stress, which gets in the way of healing.

Please remember that it's much easier to prevent illness than to recover from it - I know this from personal experience. I beat an incurable and rare kidney disease and various forms of cancer including stage four and now help my clients to achieve optimal health and wellbeing.

Elaine Godley MBA, O.A. Dip (Psych) is a multi-award-winning Health and Wellbeing Mentor and DISC Behaviour Specialist living in The Algarve. To schedule a free initial conversation with Elaine use this link https:// tidycal.com/elainegodley/free-1-to-1-videocall-on-zoom

CONTAINSCAUTIONSTRONG LANGUAGE

Ask the Expat

This month, we take a heartfelt plea in Ask The Expat. One of the most friendly, benevolent, and charitable individuals 'in the whole ****ing world' (she screams) is raging and has stormed into our office, making us write under duress…

It is okay, we doubt her literacy and ability to focus on what we have written, and she lacks self-perception, but writing this as an SOS message if you receive this by email if things get out of hand. Paging the Saints!

Today it is Friday 13th January at 1.30 pm and we have a feeling it is going to be an unlucky and long one.

Raging around us, throwing our stapler and sellotape, swaying as she swigs wine, our self-imposing visitor wails then screams at us 'why do all the stuck-up ExPats hate me? I did nuffin' and all the haters are ****ing jealous cos I am so kind-hearted and beautiful!'

'I'll gouge out their eyeballs and use their heads as bowling balls on their boring bowling green! The stuck-up ****s!' 'Bowling' she chuckles, 'bowling!' 'And they dare say I'm the wrong un, the filthy perverts!'

Presenting in a gorgeous sheeny catsuit tracksuit in neon baby blue and lime green, our banshee captive seems to have had many challenges navigating today or ever.

Seemingly having missed her eyes and lips with her makeup, she makes a bewildering sight. Her mouth gurns drastically as her knotted tangled hair frames her blotchy visage, her scrunchy balances precariously on the edge of her nest of ragged split ends. She screams as she drops a lit cigarette from her talons, her wrinkled mouth creased with rage, 'now even the old Algarve bill is picking on me! I'm out on bail, but I'm telling my story and you'd better write it for me' she says menacingly, swinging, then swigging from the empty bottle.

'You bastards'! She screams! 'You've drunk all the wine'! 'Get me another bottle'!

We cautiously return with a plastic bottle of water. She grabs it and scowls, 'I'm not a stinking fish' she says emptying its contents

on the floor. 'A real bottle for me, I'm the ****ing People's Princess' as she burps. We wonder if we are dreaming or have woken up in some kind of nightmare soap opera stuck in a hellbound purgatory. Soothingly and seemingly to the air, I say, 'now if you calm down, we will do our best to tell your story.'

She collapses dramatically onto the chair like some misunderstood heroic and Franz Kafka protagonist. We wonder if this is 'The Trial' and if anyone sprinkled what she was taking on our cornflakes this morning. The entire episode feels stilted and surreal and as badly fictionalised as her butchered tale is.

'It all began when the GNR came to my house' she says, baring her bruised and cut knuckles. 'I couldn't even understand what they were saying, so I gave them a piece of my mind.'

'Well, they only handcuffed me, didn't they and shoved me in their meat wagon as I spread my legs so they couldn't shove me in! I mean, they manhandled me! Manhandle me! Me! Me!" she shrieks.

'I know it was really because they fancied me, but I won't give it up easily, unlike what those jealous wives say. We all know I could choose any one of those dirty beggars and take all their men'!

Trying to get her back on track we say 'you digress'... She screams, 'you ****ing what'? 'Don't you start on me you ****'!'

'Digress means you need to continue with your first story about your arrest.' She eyes us up and down, a false eyelash hanging by a single thread like an oily tarantula that has begun to crawl down her face. 'I knew that' she mutters, 'I was testing you' as her octave and pitch proceed into a cat-like yelp.

'Don't patronise me, like those lot' she screams 'or I'll fry ya!' 'Well, I didn't know anything about it until the brief showed. That smug old cow said they had reason to believe I had put fake charity boxes in shops and that a woman meeting my description was seen with wire cutters taking all the charity boxes from all around the Algarve!'

'I was like what! How can anyone tell that was me!? She is wearing a hat and sunglasses and a mask!'

'The translator said, 'what, so you admit it?' 'I said admit what!? I am being set up! I mean I am a fashion icon! I wouldn't wear a fluorescent purple snakeskin catsuit!'

'I mean there I am, working my arse off all day like a Saint for the Goat Foundation and saving all these poor neglected hairy kids, and they dare call me an imposter!'

Flinching, but determined to address the Cabra in the room, I ask, 'but after the story broke in the Portuguese Lighthouse paper, many came forward, suggesting you scammed them, you have multiple restraining orders out on you, charges pending for harassment and have been banned from multiple groups and venues…"

"It's all ****ing lies! I am being set up big time!' I simply ask 'why?'

'I don't know why' she screams, throwing up all the papers on my desk into the air. 'It's because they are all bullies! I've always been picked on for being so beautiful and it's always women who can't take it! 'Excuse my ****ing beauty' she screams!

Update. After an experience that can only be described out of the Twilight Zone, after an hour of her raging, frothing at the mouth about being a modern-day Mother Teresa, the crescendo came when our 'guest' threw our magazine's award trophy out of the window, (clearly not for this column). Hurriedly, a plainclothed policeman arrived as she throws a chair…

The last thing she shrieks as she is being carried over the policeman's shoulder kicking and screaming, "why is everyone picking on me?!" "I'm like the Algarve's Princess Dianaaaaaaaah"....

I cannot think why she is shunned in any way, I muse necking a painkiller for the echo of her voice that has seemingly left me with tinnitus and delirium. Can you?

Not all advice is good and not all people are as genuine as you may think. Enjoy our 'bad advice' column from the expert we have all met, know and love... the Expat.

LIP FILLERS

As we get older and wiser, another side effect is that our lips tend to get thinner, lose volume and often lines start appearing around the mouth. At Alegria we specialise in non-invasive lip augmentation to combat signs of ageing in this area and others too. We do this with the use of hyaluronic acid fillers.

Hyaluronic acid might seem a bit of a scary word, however, we assure you that in fact it is harmless. Hyaluronic acid is a gooey, squishy, slippery substance that our bodies produce naturally. Scientists have found hyaluronic acid throughout the body, especially in eyes, joints and skin, it is a compound found naturally in the skin, where it binds to water to help retain moisture. These properties make it ideal to use as fillers for the lips and other areas.

One of our more popular treatments is enhancing lips with hyaluronic acid, to give them a fuller and more plump look, it helps to define the lip line and also to reduce and minimise smoker’s lines and wrinkles around the mouth.

In addition to aesthetics, if you suffer from dry, irritated lips due to the cold weather, it’s possible that lip fillers can help treat these symptoms as hyaluronic acid boosts hydration.

At Alegria we work with a range of different high quality products offering the brands Juvéderm, Restylane and Belotero. For more information, please contact us via telephone or WhatsApp.

An unusual solution to treating chapped, dry and irritated winter weather lips.

Flora Aura

February, widely known as the month of love… Many choose to gift their Aphrodite roses, however, what about a different and more long lasting approach? We’ve compiled a guide to match plants with various characters and personality traits. Flowers may fade, but (hopefully) the right plant will stay the distance.

Reserved

This character tends to be very responsible and a little quieter. To lean into their nature, we offer Maranta leuconeura red. The Red Prayer plant gets its name from the way the leaves fold in the evening because they resemble hands folded in prayer. They like to be watered regularly and require checking on from time to time. They are native to the rainforests of Brazil, and although this houseplant is somewhat tolerant of low light conditions, the Prayer Plant prefers bright, indirect sunlight and high humidity.

Patient

The calm, collective and cool headed person that deals well and has a calming effect on the drama queens in life. The Ficus lyrate needs appropriate attention to keep it at its best. Best to keep this beauty in a sunny and bright space, otherwise the leaves of the fiddle-leaf fig will drop lower as a sign that it doesn’t have enough energy to sustain itself. Some call the fiddle-leaf fig high-maintenance, but if you take the time to understand its needs, this illustrious individual will reach its peak potential.

Self-Centred

For the highly ‘me focused’ person. This individual prefers to be the centre of attention, having little time to dally and faff about with too much care and tedious watering schedules. This person needs a plant that will adapt to them and yield to their busy itinerary. We recommend Philodendron Brasil, a popular plant with heart shaped leaves.

The dark green leaves with splashes of variegation in shades of lime green resembling the Brazilian flag, is why it gained its name.

Extroverted

Know someone that is happy-golucky and has a creative streak. Someone that is forever curious, loves to try new things and is colourful. This person is in need of something a little different, we recommend the Stromanthe triostar with its painterly foliage. Variegated white and green leaves have a dramatic flash of hot pink on the underside. This plant is a quick grower, but stays relatively compact. Keep this colourful beauty happy with bright, indirect light and a boost of humidity.

Conscientious

For the person that likes to make everyone in the room feel at ease. For this personality we suggest a plant that looks lush and needs a little extra care and consideration just like this type is so good at giving. The Bird’s Nest Fern has large simple fronds that are tropical-like in that they resemble banana leaves. Their fronds are light green, often crinkled or wavy, and rise from a central rosette. The rosette of Asplenium nidus is fuzzy where the emerging fronds resemble bird’s eggs - hence the common name.

Inspirer

The bright spark in other people’s lives, coming and going on a cloud of positivity. A plant that resembles and matches their colourful energy is Neoregelia fireball, This little fireball of a plant is sure to light up any room it's in! The bromeliad fireball adds a touch of fun with its bright red and orange colours. This plant is drought resistant, so it's perfect for those who want to enjoy a low-maintenance plant. The bromeliad fireball is also known for being one of the easiest plants to care for.

The Carer

Dedicated to looking out for others while also understanding the importance of helping yourself grow. The Monstera deliciosa is one of the most rewarding houseplants, it has split leaves in its natural habitat to best allow for sunlight and water to reach both its roots and the plants growing below it. For ultimate selfcare and splitting potential, the Monstera requires medium to bright indirect light. The farther away from light sources, the less leaf fenestration (splitting) you’ll be able to produce.

The Queen

For those dignified and born to dazzle, destined for royalty, where appearances matter. The Bird of Paradise or the Strelitzia Reginae can definitely be considered as the queen of the indoor plant world. In fact the genus Strelitzia is named after Charlotte, the Duchess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz who was the wife of George III. The specific epithet reginae means queen. Keep this regal plant in a bright place with indirect light and keep the leaves clean to absorb optimum light and prevent pests.

Cat Lover

Owned by one or multiple cats, has a 2 metre tall cat tree, an automatic litter box, and the best in crinkly cat toy technology. All that is missing is some cat grass. Cat grass is easy to maintain, requiring a little watering regularly. Trimming is not needed as their feline friends will keep the grass neat and tidy. As an added bonus the grass is good for your kitty’s digestive system. Cat grass, just like cats, likes bright sunny places and is the perfect addition to Fluffy’s apartment.

WINTER SPECIAL OFFERS

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You can now check availability and book directly through our website www.quintadovalegolf.com or contact us by email info@quintadovalegolf.com

V i s t a s R u i S i l v e s t r e r e s t a u r a n t a t M o n t e R e i G o l f & C o u n t r y C l u b , h e a d e d b y C h e f R u i S i l v e s t r e , o f f e r s a c o m p l e t e g o u r m e t e x p e r i e n c e – f r e s h , l o c a l l y s o u r c e d i n g r e d i e n t s u s e d t o c r e a t e t h e f i n e s t g a s t r o n o m i c d e l i g h t s , a w e l c o m i n g a m b i e n c e , u n c o m p r o m i s i n g l e v e l s o f s e r v i c e a n d s t u n n i n g v i e w s o v e r r o l l i n g h i l l s , t o t h e A t l a n t i c O c e a n R u i ’ s s t y l e o f c o o k i n g r e p r e s e n t s a r e t u r n t o c u l i n a r y e s s e n t i a l s A r e s p e c t f o r n a t u r e , p u r e t a s t e s , g e n u i n e a r o m a s a n d s u p e r b f l a v o u r s .

R e c o g n i s e d w i t h a M i c h e l i n s t a r i n t h e M i c h e l i n G u i d e s i n c e 2 0 2 0 , V i s t a s R u i S i l v e s t r e b e c a m e t h e f i r s t s t a r r e d r e s t a u r a n t i n t h e E a s t A l g a r v e r e g i o n , e s t a b l i s h i n g t h e l o c a l a r e a a s a d e s t i n a t i o n f o r g a s t r o n o m y l o v e r s

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