Simply Algarve January 2021 by Richard Bassett

SIMPLY

ALGARVE ISSUE NO. 54 JAN 2021

by Dora Guerreiro

Buy with Confidence, Sell with Success! Your home, your lifestyle...ItÂ´s our purpose.

DG Algarve Properties | (+351) 289 355 336 | (+351) 912 391 925 | dora@dgalgarveproperties.com Estrada de Vale do Lobo, Rua Manuel Teixeira Gomes 947 1Âş Dto, 8135 - 016 Almancil, Portugal

www.dgalgarveproperties.com

AMI 14557

Contents

Welcome!

Take a look at what’s coming in this months issue. Have an interesting story you think should be shared? Email us at simplyalgarvemag@gmail.com 6 WORTH KNOWING News, views, and some very good ideas

10 ADOPT AN ANIMAL Looking for a furry friend? Consider adopting!

12 VISITING THE STUPA We take a trip to the first STUPA built in Portugal

16 CASA DA TITA A warm welcome from Miguel and Joaquim

21 BOOK CLUB Calling all book worms! What’s your latest read?

24 SO WHAT NOW..? An update on the property market by YellowHomes.

26 PROPERTY OF THE MONTH Could this be your dream property?

28 THE TALK This may be one of the most important conversations of your life!

30 GARDENING How to grow succulents

32 SECRECTS TO LONGEVITY Janet Shook shares her tips for exeptional health

34 RESTAURANT OF THE MONTH Restaurante Miradouro da Picanha

38 LANGUAGES Struggling to learn a new language? You’re not alone!

40 RECIPE OF THE MONTH Have you ever tried Pureed Chestnuts?

PUBLISHER Richard Bassett ART DIRECTOR Jake Bassett +351 966 044 143 simplyalgarvemag@gmail.com CONTRIBUTORS Ricardo Chaves Richard Hudson Robert Bijker Marilyn Sheridan Miguel Guerreiro Janet Shook Nilus Mattive Jake Cleaver Beth Jackson Portugal News AlgarveDailyNews Portugal Resident Ana Schiavonne Jake Bassett ADVERTISING 966 044 143 simplyalgarvemag@gmail.com 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.

42 FINANCE Your questions, answered by our expert

44 GOLF A tip from the pro’s!

46 PARTING WORDS Jake Cleaver connects his favourite colour to the world around us... January 2021

Unipessoal Lda

News

NEED TO KNOW We bring you more news, local happenings, shop openings, bright ideas as well as helpful hints and charity updates, so you know what to look out for where. Send us your news too, we’ll always include anything of special interest

SCIENTISTS LAUNCH A GAME TO MAP HUMAN INTELLIGENCE

n a short time and with very few instructions, we can solve complex problems from scratch, for example, filling the trunk of a car with a load that is apparently excessive for the available space. This is the essence of human intelligence - its fast and flexible nature. But what is the mental process that allows us to create new and complex strategies? What about “smart” machines, do they use similar processes or are they fundamentally different? To answer these questions, scientists at the Champalimaud Center in Lisbon, Portugal and the University of California, Berkeley, created hexxed - a mobile game that consists of a series of challenging and fun puzzles that was designed to provide a unique view about how intelligence works. The app is free and has versions compatible with iphone and android . Taking science out of the lab “Hexxed joins a global trend of so-called citizen science games - where, when playing, individuals around the world can contribute to scientific discoveries,” says Gautam Agarwal, one of the scientists who developed the game as part of his project research in the laboratory led by Zachary Mainen, at the Champalimaud Foundation. What is the reason for taking these experiments out of the laboratory? According to Agarwal, online games are the ideal way to obtain data sets, diversified and large enough to allow exploring difficult questions, among them - how do age and cultural background influence different ways of thinking? “Experiments in the laboratory environment have a limited number of subjects and are generally repetitive and boring. On the other hand, online games can be played by an unlimited number of people, anywhere in the world, and lead players to

total surrender and participation, as if immersed in a constant cadence of new and evolving experiences ”. Humans vs. Machines (the case of intelligence) In the future, the team plans to use the game to learn not only about human intelligence, but also about machine intelligence, taking the diversity of the collected data to another level. Mattia Bergomi, a researcher involved in the study, says that video games are commonly used to test the ability of artificial intelligence to handle complex environments and tasks, but often fall short of expectations. “Most games fall into one of two categories,” he explains. “On the one hand, there are challenging games that can only be solved with complex strategies. This results in problem-solving approaches that are difficult to formulate mathematically and therefore difficult to compare between different players. On the other hand, there are simple games that can be easily described mathematically. But these are not challenging enough to require the creation of intelligent problem-solving schemes. ” The hexxed was developed to bridge the gap between these two extremes is quite challenging, but still can be described by a simple mathematical constructions. “This unique design will allow us to compare, in a systematic and comprehensive way, the strategies adopted by humans with those generated by machines”, adds Agarwal. Let the games begin! So, what is intelligence and how does it differ between humans and machines? Play hexxed and the answer may become clear. W: https://hexxed.io source: algarvedailynews.com

January 2021

PORTIMÃO DISTRIBUTES ONE MILLION EUROS TO COMPANIES AFFECTED BY COVID

n The Municipal Business Support Fund of Portimão has one million euros to support companies with fiscal domicile or head office in the municipality, whose establishments suffered abrupt losses as a result of Covid-19. Applications are being taken between 13 and 21 January. The Fund, which is part of the municipal program “Portimão Gives a Hand to the Local Economy”, is aimed at “individual entrepreneurs, with or without organized accounting, commercial companies and professionals with a tax address or head office in the municipality of Portimão and / or who are active primarily in the Potimão area, through the operation of an establishment”, explains the Câmara de Portimão. The activities eligible for this exceptional Fund, which aims to mitigate the harmful effects of the present epidemiological crisis in economic terms, are “catering and beverages, trade in retail goods, provision of services, industry, agriculture and fishing”. “It is an essential condition that, in 2019, the turnover of candidates did not exceed 150,000 euros in the case of entrepreneurs, and 60,000 euros in the case of private professionals, and that they present losses above 40 percent

A22 TOLLS TO BE CUT BY 50%

he PSD’s proposal to reduce tolls by 50 percent, in ex-SCUT roads, including the Via do Infante (A22), has been approved by parliament, with votes in favour of all parties, except the Socialist Party and Liberal Initiative. According to Sul Informação newspaper, the reduction of tolls ‘by 50 percent for combustion vehicles and 75 percent for electric vehicles’ will come into ‘effect from 1 July 2021’. “In regions where there are no alternatives, where accessibility costs are very high and where public transport isn’t a good option, it is vital to take essential steps to minimise context costs. That is what the Parliament has done with this decision”, said Cristóvão Norte, PSD deputy. source: theportugalresident.com

in 2020 due to the current pandemic, thus being entitled to a single support in the amount of 2000 euros “, says the municipality in a statement. The beneficiaries of this support are obliged to keep their activities open until June 30, 2021, as well as all existing jobs at the date of submission of the application, at least until June 30 next year. The application program and the eligibility conditions are already available on the Portimão Municipality portal, which allows interested parties to start preparing their applications now. This fund constitutes the main point of the municipal program “Portimão Gives a Hand to the Local Economy”, which also includes the campaign “Valuing Local Commerce”, with several initiatives to stimulate the economy at a time of marked difficulties, in addition to the delivery service home-made food #PTMàMESA ”, completely free for restaurants / pastry shops and customers, and assumed by the Municipality of Portimão as a measure to support the catering sector. Source: algarvedailynews.com

OMBRIA RESORT DONATES UNIFORMS TO NURSING HOME WORKERS

oulé’s Ombria Resort has donated 65 work uniforms to the employees of Lar Ribeira da Tôr, a nursing home which cares for 71 pensioners.

The donation follows a protocol which was signed between the resort and the Social and Cultural Association of Tôr (ASCT) in May 2019. The goal of the protocol is to carry out “initiatives which deepen cooperation in common interest areas such as social and tourism development, service provision, projects and events”. source: theportugalresident.com

January 2021

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News

ALBUFEIRA GIFTS VOUCHERS TO HEALTH WORKERS

total of 5,700 vouchers to be used at local restaurants are being handed out to health professionals and frontline workers in Albufeira.

Health professionals will receive two vouchers, one for themselves and another for their companion, each worth 20 euros. The campaign aims to accomplish two goals: “recognise and thank those who have been giving the most of themselves during all these months for others, many times in extremely difficult physical and psychological conditions, as well as support the local economy at a time of great difficulties for companies,” said Albufeira Mayor José Carlos Rolo. While it represents a 120,000 euro investment for local coffers, Rolo recognises that it won’t “be enough to solve all problems, as the restaurant sector was one of the most affected by the pandemic.” “However, it is an important aid to keep companies from closing and to strengthen them and have them ready to welcome tourists when they start arriving in March/April,” he added. Apart from the local council, the initiative is backed by retailers association ACRAL and hotel, restaurant and similar businesses association AHRESP.

CONTROLLED COLLAPSE OF CLIFF IN ALBUFEIRA

he Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) announced a controlled collapse of part of a cliff on Arrifes beach in the municipality of Albufeira (Algarve), after a possible risk of collapse was identified. Controlled landslides for cliff stabilisation are a preventative practice that allows an increase in the level of safety, “because the stability of cliffs is unpredictable due to the natural variability of these structures,” the APA said in a statement. Cliff collapse is frequent along the Algarve coast, especially in the western Algarve, due to weather conditions and the dynamics of the soil itself. According to the Environment authority, observation of the rocky cliffs and recording of mass movements “are often carried out by land, in routine or specific field outings after storms or heavy rainfall, by sea and by air, with continuous photography of the coast at least once a year”.

The protocol was signed on the same day that the first health professionals in the Algarve received the longawaited Covid-19 vaccine.

The Portuguese Environment Agency said that it is also evaluating the intervention in occurrences in recent days, on the beaches of Maria Luísa (Albufeira), Porto de Mós (Lagos) and Salema (Vila do Bispo), in the district of Faro.

“Science was able to do something extraordinary by producing a vaccine in record time, which allows us to be confident about the future and a return to normal,” the mayor said. source: portugalresident.com

The Algarve Hydrographic Region Administration, the Câmara de Albufeira and the Capitania of the Port of Portimão were involved in the operation of the controlled collapse to stabilise the cliff at Arrifes beach in Albufeira. source: theportugalnews.com

WOLF VALLEY CHARITY FUND DONATES €20,000 TO FIGHT HUNGER IN ALGARVE

he Wolf Valley Charity Fund (WVCF) donated 20,000 euros to the Algarve Food Bank (Banco Alimentar Contra a Fome do Algarve) on December 10.

The donation was only possible “thanks to the generosity of dozens of people and entities who recognise the work of the Algarve Food Bank as vital for the support of underprivileged people in the region”, particularly now with so many people out of a job. The Food Bank will be using the money to purchase essential food items, such as “milk, pasta, rice, pulses, canned fish, sausages, olive oil and cereal”. Supermarket campaigns run by Food Bank volunteers were not possible this year due to the pandemic, thus this generous donation will go a long way towards helping the organisation continue its work of supporting those most in need in society. Established in 1999 by a group of Vale do Lobo residents, the

Wolf Valley Charity Fund aims to raise funds to support those less fortunate in the local area. Since its creation, the WVCF has helped to make a significant difference to a number of local institutions and while the main causes for support are chosen each year, smaller contributions are also regularly made to other organisations in dire need of help. Requests for food aid have increased in the Algarve, with the Banco Alimentar currently supporting over 25,000 people (click here). Tourism-related businesses have been severely impacted by the pandemic which has led to a rise in unemployment in the region. More families than ever are having to resort to organisations such as the Banco Alimentar for food. source: portugalresident.com

January 2021

CULATRA 2030 SETS EXAMPLE OF SMART SPECIALISATION

he European Commission has featured the Algarve’s Culatra 2030 project as an example of smart specialisation, with an article on its website explaining that it covers “multiple aspects of green transition.” “It implements the ambitions of the Smart Specialisation Strategy (S3) in Algarve, using a novel Entrepreneurial Discovery Process (EDP) to create a real-life laboratory for green transition, focusing on the specific needs of the island and capitalising on its assets,” André Pacheco, Coordinator of Culatra 2030 at University of Algarve, explains in the article. The Culatra project, coordinated by the University of Algarve, in partnership with the Ilha da Culatra Residents Association, the Algarve Regional Coordination and Development Commission (CCDR Algarve) and the Municipality of Faro, is a demonstration project. The island of Culatra is one of the six pilot islands that received support from the European Secretariat for clean energy in the islands to create an Energy Transition Agenda. Culatra has a “comprehensive strategy, which comprises several aspects of the energy transition, including social issues such as energy poverty,” Pacheco adds. “Rather than the development

of new technology per se, the key perspective is the holistic model and demonstration character of the initiative. The central ambition of the initiative is to transform all structures on the island to become energy self-sufficient.” Pacheco adds that this participatory model is “proving to be effective in improving decision-making, given the previous situation, which was characterised by several dispersed and uncoordinated initiatives”. He also points out that “this is a truly bottom-up initiative, inspired by the approach of smart specialisation, and that can be replicated in other communities”. The initiative aims to “position the Algarve as a whole as a centre of excellence in renewable energy research and training, exploiting its distinctive resources in the decarbonisation of its economy.” The new model will show how energy communities can play a relevant role in the generation of electricity in a decentralised way. “Energy poverty on the island should become a thing of the past,” Pacheco said. source: portugalresident.com

Quality Portuguese cuisine with an International twist... Enjoy and explore texture, colour & tastes with a carefully selected menu that merges Portuguese flavours and international classics. From Suckling Pig to Calves Liver, Lamb, prawns curry, Fish pie and the daily selection of fresh fish and much more. Vegetarian and gluten free options available. Sit back and unwind, enjoy the perfect combination of food, homemade desserts and a well balanced list of outstanding wines.

Open from 7pm Monday to Saturday, closed on Sundays Please call 289 396 638 to book your table

January 2021

Greenvalleyrestaurant.com Valverde, Quinta do Lago Algarve, Portugal

9 5

acca

HELPING CHILDREN IN NEED IN THE ALGARVE We want to give a massive thank you to the Algarve community for supporting the Angel Programâ&#x20AC;Ś You all did us proud! Every year ACCA with the support of the community at large provides underprivileged children with the joy of the Holiday Spirit. This year the number of presents increased to over 2850 presents, the increase primarily due to the economic impact of the pandemic â&#x20AC;&#x201C; This has been a huge achievement that we are so proud of. Every year this initiative makes so many children incredibly happy. The success of the Angel program is only achievable because we know the best team of supporters have our back! From the bottom of our hearts, the ACCA Team and ACCAKIDS

THANK YOU ALL!

Because of your kindness and thoughtfulness many children experienced a wonderful Christmas in 2020.

Elegance

ALGARVE

Love of furniture and interior design by Donna Algarve Elegance is the beauty within your home with a taste of difference and style. Find us here: Rua vale Fromoso, 8100-267, Almancil or contact us on T: 960 116 396 E: donna@algarveelegance.com W: algarveelegance.com

Animals

CONSDERING A FURRY FRIEND? Are you considering buying a new addition to the family? Maybe a cute little puppy or a cute kitty with adorable tiny paws? Marilyn Sheridan asks us to consider adopting a pre-owned pet, as after all, they need love too!

ave you ever considered getting a dog or a cat to be part of your family? Before you rush out to a breeder to get an adorable new puppy or kitten, maybe you might consider a ‘pre-owned’ pet – there are plenty out there that need a new home, and in fact there are so many waifs and strays needing homes that the charities and shelters supporting them are really overwhelmed.

Visit any shelter and take your pick, there are large, small, young, old, female or male – but you can guarantee that they all arrived stressed and confused and the staff involved in their welfare would love your help in providing food or money to pay for the vet to help heal wounds or sterilize, or just to volunteer to help out and show the animals some love – but the greatest gift you could give would be a new home.

I personally have only ever had previously unwanted animals as pets, and each and every one has turned out to be a stable and much loved addition to the family. What can happen is that a kitten or a puppy is purchased or acquired and despite being cute and cuddly, they need a lot of training and attention. Soon their owners become not so enamored for whatever reason, and the animal is abandoned. The reasons dogs in particular need rehoming are varied – the new pet could be too much like hard work, the new owner didn’t figure in the costs involved or the temperament of the animal didn’t suit the dynamics of the family.

Once the decision is made, visit the shelter more than once, and get to know the animal you have selected. In the case of a dog, take him or her for a walk away from the clamour of the shelter as they will often behave in a totally different manner away from their kennel-mates. The shelter may have some background information to share – perhaps the animal doesn’t like children, or doesn’t like other animals, or has special needs to be considered. The shelter wants nothing more than to see the animal rehomed successfully, and although they would gladly take him or her back if it doesn’t work out, a little research first would prevent this hapenning. Nothing is more rewarding than to see your new pet happy, relaxed and loving every minute of their new life.

The advantages of picking a pet from a shelter is that they are often already house-trained and are probably past the destructive puppy or kitten stage. An older animal is usually calmer and just wants a loving home, a warm bed and someone who will take care of them.

If you are interested in sharing your love with a furry friend, consider visiting the following shelters: Goldra dog santuary - thegoldradogsanctuary.com ARA - facebook.com/animalrescuealgarve Canil de São Francisco de Assis, Loulé - canilsfa.pt

January 2021

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Worth a visit

STUPA

A monument from the Buddhist tradition, that represents the mind of all the enlightened beings - the Buddhas...

he Association for the peace in the world is a religious nonprofit organisation that aims to promote and develop world peace through the practice of studying, contemplating and meditating according to the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, as well as the growth of wisdom through the practice of love and compassion of all beings. Following the spiritual guidance of Taklung Ttsetrul Pema Wangyal Rinpoche, Jigme Khyentse Rinpoche, and Tsawa Rinam Rinpoche (Rangdrol Rinpoche), sons of Kyabje Kangyur Rinpoche, the association was formed through

the initiative and inspiration of Pema Wangyai Rinpoche. Disciple not only of his own father, Kyabje Dudjom Rinpoche, but also of teachers such as Kyadje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, and Kyabje Trulshik Rinpoche, Pema has dedicated his whole existence to realising the wishes and aspirations of his teachers in practicing a good heart and wishing happiness for all beings. The organisation was created on the 24th of August 2012 and has developed its activities on its Moinho do Malhao estate, in Malhao, Salir, where the first STUPA to be built in Portugal is located.

January 2021

STUPA Association wishes its activities to be a development of inner and world peace, for their members but also to help all beings in need. This attitude is the fundamental condition for all of STUPAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s friends and volunteers. STUPA aims to promote and develop the practice of study, reflection and meditation according to Tibetan Buddhist tradition, through a set of activities such as: - Inviting teachers to teach and guide practice and meditation retreats. - Promoting frequent group prayer practice and shaman meditation.

- Promoting monthly gatherings and Tsok practice on the 10th and 25th days of the Tibetan lunar calendar. - Other gatherings on special days according to the Buddhist tradition and the celebration of birthdays of recognised teachers. - To provide the conditions for hosting short, medium and long term retreats, under the guidance of Pema Wangyal Rinpoche, Jigme Khyentse Rrinpoche and Randroi Rinpoche. - As the monument has in its interior thousands of prayers, Buddhaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s relics, statues, incense and many other rare and precious substances and countless offerings.

January 2021

Worth a visit It has power to restore in its neighbouring environment the energy of Earth, helping balancing its elements, preventing natural and environmental disasters and promoting peace, happiness, health and prosperity. THE MONUMENT ITSELF The STUPA is a monument, in the Buddhist tradition, that represents the mind of all the enlightened beings. It was built in 2007, the place was previously consecrated by H. H. Kyabje Trulshik Rinpoche, its construction follows a rigorous set of techniques from the millennial Tibetan Buddhist culture. The place where the STUPA was chosen accordingly to the principles of geomancy, and was decided by Kyabje Trulshik Rinpoche, the construction was completed under the guidance and supervision of Pema Wangyal Rinpoche, Ridzin Pema Rinpoche and Jetsu Yangchen-la. The STUPA is a symbol of potential that everyone has to achieve enlightenment and the unlimited mind of an enlightened being that goes back to the time of Buddha Shakyamuni, who encouraged his student to build such kinds of monuments in auspicious places, such as the places of Buddhaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s birth, enlightenment, first teaching, death or parinirvana. He taught that performing spiritual practices in the presence of STUPAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s would have the same effect as making offers to Buddha himself, and in this way the power of any practice performed in front of a STUPA would be amplified. While you visit the monument, you should keep a positive attitude or in walking meditation, this pacifies the mind and promotes well being and a good heart. Each STUPA is a symbol of the potential that every being has to reach enlightenment. As such, it is a source of positive energy, peace, prosperity and harmony between beings and nature. The monument is available for whoever wants to visit however the attached centre is restricted to residents, their guests and participants in the activities. The 360 degree views of the hills surrounding the monument are incredible, even more so during sunrises and sunsets, however remember to bring a warm jacket as it can be very cold at these times though due to the high altitude. We hope you visit the monument and respect their traditions whilst enjoying the breathtaking surroundings!

January 2021

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Bio living

CASA DA TITA

Full of character and a beautiful story to go with it, Casa da Tita is a perfect little get away tucked inbetween the hills in Nave fo Barão

asa da Tita is a small and cozy countryside guesthouse located in the village of Nave do Barão integrating 5 housing units with a total capacity of 17 guests. The guesthouse was inaugurated in 2015 and has been managed ever since by Miguel Guerreiro, a former student of Translation, Hospitality Management and Administration, together with the help of Joaquim Guerreiro, the nephew of the original owners and rightful heir of the whole property, which was built in 1952, Elisabete Luz, Joaquim’s wife and decorator of all the

indoor and outdoor spaces, and Dina Inês, the housekeeper. Tita, the late aunt’s nickname within the family, and her husband Joaquim were the owners of what once was a farming property. The couple was very important to the village because not only did they teach the villagers several arts, such as cooking, knitting or even in subjects like mathematics and helped them financially. They would also hire many of the unemployed neighbours to work in their vast farming lands spread around the valley. The guesthouse is composed of a set of buildings which

January 2021

were restored according to their original outline and constructed with traditional techniques using stone and clay from the region. The late structural interventions on the residential building brought about comfortable rooms with a private bathroom and preserved the original aesthetics (the green and pink rooms). The traditional kitchen, with a chimney formerly used for smoking sausages/chorizos, was endowed with functional, guestfriendly equipment, while keeping the tableware and cooking pans which used to belong to the former owners The warehouse, which once stored agricultural products and implements, was transformed into a front desk and a multipurpose room for breakfast, leisure, conviviality and reading. The old granary was replaced with an apartment prepared for accessible tourism. The old kitchen was restored, while the cereal warehouse was turned into a bedroom and the original bathroom adapted for people with physical limitations or a mobility related disability. The donkey shed and hayloft, where new features were

reconsidered, gave way to an apartment inspired by the culture and traditions from the rural lifestyle. The roof terraces and threshing floors (commonly designated as aĂ§oteias in the Algarve), once used for the drying of figs and almonds, gave way to inviting solariums, esplanadas, and an infinity pool with a whirlpool system. Here you can enjoy the verdant landscape, in which carob, almond, fig and olive trees are the dominant flora, and complement the enriching, peaceful, rewarding and naturerelated stay you will get at Casa da Tita, as well as the mild, sunny weather, typical from the region. Their organic garden cared for by Joaquim Guerreiro, who took a professional course in organic farming, is filled with vegetables (zukini, onion, garlic, lettuce, cucumber, beetroot, radish, green bean, tomato, artichoke, celery, red/ green pepper) and fruit (strawberry, blackberry, apple, pear, lemon, orange, plum, pommegranate, quince, persimmon, apricot, araĂ§ĂĄ and loquat) which are generally offered in

January 2021

Bio Living a basket to the guests who stay longer than two nights. There are also two small herb gardens for the guests to pick up aromatic plants (parsley, coriander, orégano, thyme, among others) from in order to season their meals cooked in the available kitchens or make different kinds of tea (mint, lemongrass, lemon balm/melissa, linden and boldo). The wine cellar is also part of Casa da Tita, where homemade wine is usually produced in September for the purpose of internal consumption or a wine tasting that guests can experience while staying at the guesthouse. Nave do Barão is a small village located in the central region of the Algarve, about 10 km from Loulé and 20 km from the south coast. It lies in a valley that is surrounded by green hills whilst it takes advantage of the natural environment present in the region’s typical landscape and the Algarve’s pleasant and sunny weather. The Granary Apartment (One-Bedroom Apartment) The building, once used for the storage of the cereals and other agricultural products, was transformed into an apartment specially adapted for accessible tourism. The Granary Apartment has a bedroom with a double bed, where an extra bed can fit as well, a living room/ kitchen fully equipped for the preparation of meals, with a single bed, and a private bathroom. Guests staying in the Granary Apartment have direct access to a small outdoor porch. The Hayloft Apartment (Apartment with Terrace/ Rooftop)

January 2021

The old donkey shed and hayloft were turned into a rustic apartment, which comprises a bedroom with two single beds and a double bunk bed, a living room/kitchen fully equipped for the preparation of meals, a private bathroom, rooftop and parking space, as well as direct access to the guesthouseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s shared and overflowing swimming pool. The Cistern Room (Double Room) This double room, once a cistern for the provision of water, has a double bed and a private bathroom. The cistern opening allows for the observation of the starry sky in the comfort of your bed. Guests staying in the Cistern Room have access to a terrace and a fully-equipped kitchen shared with other guests. The Green Room (Double Room) The old living room and guest room now include a double room with a double bed and a large private bathroom. Its original colour and stucco ceiling were preserved. Guests staying in the Green Room have access to a terrace and a fully-equipped kitchen shared with other guests.

The Pink Room (Junior Suite) This suite preserves its original outline, ceiling and colour, and it comprises a double bedroom with a double bed, an adjacent compartment as a living room with a double sofabed, and a private bathroom. Guests staying in the Pink Room have access to a terrace and a fully-equipped kitchen shared with other guests. Activities: Those who visit Casa da Tita can enjoy an array of various activities related to Bio Tourism. These allow you to experience and explore the natural, historical and cultural heritage of the surrounding environment and region. Here you will find the perfect place to take a break from the everyday city life and be in perfect harmony with nature, inviting you to discover the local fauna and flora. You can also take part in the harvest of traditional fruit from the dryland orchard (carobs, almonds, figs and olives) or agricultural activities in a polyculture vegetable garden where an organic production method is operated.

January 2021

Bio Living Diversified activities, in the scope of Bio-tourism: • Organic farming • Pedestrian walks and hikes • Guided walking tours in the Protected Landscapes of Rocha da Pena, Fonte Benémola and Quinta do Freixo (minimum enrollment of 2) • Bird ringing (every Saturday morning) • Traditional farming activities • Logistical support for Via Algarviana • Cycling in the surrounding area (free bicycle rental) • Hunting on an association’s game reserve (only if prearranged, limited to one vacancy) • Homemade wine production (only in September) • Homemade wine tasting • Safaris in the region (subject to enrollment) • Quad Bikes or Buggy tours (subject to enrollment) • Guided tours to a local homemade cheese factory and a regional medronho distillery • Guided tours to the wine cellar of Adega da Tôr (depends upon availability of the wine cellar) • Guided tours to the aromatic garden and the organic garden Traditional flavours and knowledge workshops: • Olive harvest (only in late October or early November) • Dry figs filled with almonds • Production of liqueur with seasonal fruits and aromatic plants • Medicinal and aromatic plants (infusion, decoction, maceration, dyes, syrups, compresses and poultices) • Confectionery with fruit from the dryland orchard (carob, almond and fig) Contact Miguel to find out about availability or more info on activities. Call 289 102 051 or visit facebook.com/ casadatita

January 2021

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Open Monday to Friday, 10am-1pm, 2pm-5pm T: 289 395 197 or visit house2house.pt Sitio do Areeiro, EN 521, LoulĂŠ 8100-225

Books

ALGARVE BOOK WORMS Happy New Year bookworms! This year we here at Simply Algarve are going to do our best to keep bringing you more ideas of wonderful words to stick your noses into. But we can’t do it alone. We need you. Yes, you! If you want to continue hearing what your fellow Algarvian literature lovers are reading, then please do write into Simplyalgarve@gmail.com and let us know what YOU are enjoying – and we’ll spread the word.

his year I’ve decided I’m going to start off every book club with bits from my favourite books. This month I’m going to start with Peter Pan. I’ve always felt a great affinity for Pan. Not only Peter, but also the goat-like Greek God of nature, the wild and mischief, from whom Peter gets his name, and Mike Scott of The Waterboys wrote several songs about. Songs like ‘The Pan within’ and ‘The return of Pan’ where he hints that the God Pan ‘moves amidst us in this modern world in disguise’ and his spirit takes you over from time to time. For me, the Peter Pan story is a combination of the movie Hook with Robin Williams, where Peter Pan grows up and Captain hook comes back and takes his children away and he has to go back to Neverland and remember who he is and learn to fly and fight and crow again. One of my favourite bits is when Tinkerbell comes flying through the window in a huge ball of light to take him back to Neverland, and before he concludes that he’s very clearly having a nervous breakdown, she knocks him down to the ground and walks up and down on top of him leaving tiny little fairy footsteps on his white shirt - and they have this argument about whether he is actually Peter Pan, or just Peter Banning: Tinkerbell: Well, whoever you are it’s still you, ‘cause only one person has that smell. Peter Pan: Smell? Tinkerbell: The smell of someone who has ridden the back of the wind, Peter. The smell of a hundred fun summers, with sleeping in trees and adventures with Indians and Pirates. Oh remember, Peter? The world was ours. We could do everything or nothing. All it had to be was anything ‘cause it was always us. And then, of course, there’s the book. I never really read it properly when I was younger, but I read it a few years ago

and realized how truly great it is, but also - how clever the movie really was. As what you really want to do as you get older is to grow up, but retain your childlike sense of play and wonder. Grow up, and then, become Peter Pan again. And so, without further ado let’s start off the book review with the first time Peter appears, and next time you are outside at night, watch out for stars winking they might be trying to tell you something ;) No. 27 was only a few yards distant, but there had been a slight fall of snow, and Father and Mother Darling picked their way over it deftly not to soil their shoes. They were already the only persons in the street, and all the stars were watching them. Stars are beautiful, but they may not take an active part in anything, they must just look on forever. It is a punishment put on them for something they did so long ago that no star now knows what it was. So the older ones have become glassy-eyed and seldom speak (winking is the star language), but the little ones still wonder. They are not really friendly to Peter, who had a mischievous way of stealing up behind them and trying to blow them out; but they are so fond of fun that they were on his side tonight, and anxious to get the grown-ups out of the way. So as soon as the door of 27 closed on Mr. and Mrs. Darling there was a commotion in the firmament, and the smallest of all the stars in the Milky Way screamed out - “Now, Peter!” “Conquerors” by Roger Crowley How could a small backwater of Europe with limited resources, as Portugal was in the 15thC, become the first western country to discover the sea route to the East, forge an Empire and trigger the development of world trade? In modern terms it would be like Andorra, not Portugal, winning the European Cup! Underlying the ambition of King João (referred to simply as ‘The Man’

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by Queen Isobel of Spain) and his half-British sons was an all-consuming hatred of Islam which first manifested itself in the sacking of the rich trading city of Ceuta in Morocco. The main reason for the desire to find a sea route to the East was therefore to outflank the Muslims wherever they traded and establish an alliance with ‘Prester John’, a mythical eastern Christian king thought to possess great wealth and command a large army. Early attempts to discover ‘the end of Africa’ were terminated by perpetual headwinds south of the equator. It was only a chance discovery that sailing west into the Atlantic (and accidentally discovering Brazil) produced the necessary winds to take the ships back to the east, past the Cape. On first reaching the Indian Ocean, Vasco da Gama blundered ignorantly into a sophisticated, multi-ethnic trading network which stretched from beyond India to the East African coast. All non-Muslims were thought to be ‘variant’ Christians. Muslim ports and shipping were attacked without mercy. Further east, thanks to their superior cannons, Portugal’s caravels soon gained control of the lucrative spice trade. Future expeditions attempted to blockade the entrance to the Red Sea and Goa was seized and garrisoned. The myth of Prester John eventually materialised in the form of the Coptic kingdom of Ethiopia, by which time Portugal’s domination of the East had begun to wane with the arrival on the scene of the British and Dutch. Roger Crowley expertly combines well-researched history with page-turning descriptions of battles, shipwrecks, gut-wrenching atrocities and the sometimes ludicrous diplomacy conducted with extraordinary characters the would-be conquerors encountered. Alan Vittery The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris It’s hard to say you enjoyed a book when you consider it is set in such a harrowing time in the history of the world, but I couldn’t put it down. Heather Morris is an author who is passionate about stories of survival, and was introduced to Lale Sokolov in 2003, while working in a large public hospital in Melbourne, Australia. Their friendship grew and Lale embarked on a journey of selfscrutiny, entrusting the innermost details of his life during the Holocaust to her. Set in 1942, it is a story of connection between Lale Sokolov, the camp tattooist, and Gita, a frightened young girl he meets while she waits in line to have her number indelibly scratched onto her arm. This was love at first sight for Lale, who was determined to ensure his own survival and ultimately hers too. So began one of the most life-affirming, courageous, unforgettable and human stories of the Holocaust. Marilyn Sheridan The Restaurant by Róisin Meaney The Restaurant is the 17th novel by Irish author Róisin Meaney. Róisin was born in County Kerry. She lived on

several continents before returning home to Ireland. She now lives in Limerick. The Restaurant is centred round Emily, who having had her heart broken, opens up a small restaurant in a former hat shop left to her by her Grandmother. She has the great idea of having a large round table in the centre of the restaurant so nobody is ever sitting alone. She decides to call the restaurant The Food of Love. On her first night she has one diner who tells her that whilst communal dining isn’t for everyone if she perseveres people will come. She has some regulars that she becomes fond of.. Bill, who is a widower with a worrisome secret.. Heather, a single mother who left her home in America when she was just a teenager and Astrid... An elderly lady with a tragic past. Emily lives in an apartment above The Food of Love with a fat cat called Barney. She is helped in the kitchen by the intrepid Mike who is fresh out of cookery school. Emily has a secret that nobody knows. The Food of Love is more than just a business to Emily. She cares about her customers. Even though her own life didn’t go to plan she hopes for happiness for her devoted regulars. Unexpectedly a letter arrives for Emily from her ex-fiancé. He is coming back to Ireland. He asks if he can see her. Will Emily give him a second chance? Will she see that everything she needs is closer to home? This is a heart-warming story that winds its way through the lives and loves in a small town. It has friendship, laughter and an insight into relationships within families. Something to curl up with on a winter’s evening. Teresa Mulgrew The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern I really enjoyed this unusual book. Dark and mysterious. Magic everywhere. In this story, the circus arrives without warning, and no announcements precede it. It simply appears, when yesterday it was not. The black sign, painted in white letters that hangs upon the gates, reads: Opens at Nightfall Closes at Dawn, Le Cirque des Rêves, The Circus of Dreams. The gates shudder and unlock, seemingly by their own volition. They swing outward, inviting the crowd inside. Now the circus is open. Now you may enter. But it’s a very unusual tale of a circus. Marilyn Sheridan

January 2021

Property Update

SO WHAT NOW..? Robert Bijker, managing director of Yellow Homes - Land & Houses Algarve, discusses the future for rental properties

he past year has been difficult for many people and businesses all over the world due to the pandemic. Lockdowns, closed borders, curfews and quarantine measures have put many lives upside down. As the Algarve´s economy is highly dependent on tourism it was badly hit. According to Rita Marques, Portugal´s Secretary of State for Tourism, tourism has been set back by 10 years due to Covid-19 and lost 7.7 bn Euro in revenues in 2020. There are always hotels which normally close during the winter months but not to this extent. At the end of December only 80 out of the 400 hotels in the Algarve were open and these had very few guests. With so few holiday makers in the Algarve it makes financial sense to temporarily close as the fixed costs of running a hotel are relatively high. The local lodging sector is also suffering, albeit at a lesser extent than hotels. Income may be down year on year, but the operational costs are also much lower compared with hotels. Only very few owners of rental properties had rental income equal or higher than in 2019. The majority registered a fall in income of 30 to 35%. There were also some who sadly did not have any bookings at all in 2020. Mr. Elderico Viegas of the hotel association AHETA expects it will take 4 to 5 years for business to return to levels enjoyed before the pandemic descended. However, we believe that the local lodging sector will recover faster for two reasons: - A shift has been noticed in holidaymaker’s preferences for self-catering accommodation owing to the fact that during the pandemic people prefer to avoid the shared facilities that hotels offer. (Who wants/needs a stranger to go in to their bedroom to make the beds every day?) - Increase in demand for long stays from both retirees and people preferring to work from home. This trend started long before the pandemic but the latter is gaining traction due to increased acceptance of working from home) Few hotels offer

this type of service, but this may change. If you bought a rental property in the 2nd half of 2019 or in 2020, it is highly likely that the rental income was below your expectations. Properties which have been available to rent longer have the benefit of having established marketing channels in addition to the benefit of repeat customers. An additional benefit is being open minded to accepting long stays in combination with short term lettings. There are many home owners who do not accept a long stay booking as they wrongly assume that they pay a higher tax rate of 28%. However, and if booked correctly, you can invoice long stay income under the AL regime and benefit from the lower rate of 8.75%. With the roll out of vaccines and ongoing safety precautions eventually things will normalize. How long this will take is everybody’s guess. In the mean time we believe that holiday makers will continue to have a preference for private accommodation such as apartments, village houses and villas with private pool as it offers their families a more protected environment. If you are the owner of a good quality property with or without swimming pool and would like to have more information about the do’s and don’ts of local lodging, rules and regulation and taxation please contact us. We are currently listing homes for the upcoming season to add to our portfolio. Best wishes for the New Year and stay safe and healthy. Yellow Homes – Land & Houses Algarve www.algarvepropertysearch.com www.algarve-portugal-immobilien.de Vilamoura Office EN 125, Benfarras Boliqueime 8100 - 068 Boliqueime Tel: 289 301 294

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GOLF PROPERTIES - VILLAS - APARTMENTS - TOWNHOUSES - PLOTS

MODERN LIGHT DRENCHED 4-BED VILLA WITHIN A SHORT WALK TO THE CENTRE OF ALMANCIL. The villa with 4 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms stands on a fenced plot with automatic gates and an open plan, fully developed basement comprising of a bar, entertainment area, bathroom, a games room with snooker table and a garage with space for several cars. Swimming pool with a shaded summer kitchen and BBQ, perfect for outside dining. Really a great house! Ref: TNH Price €795.000 EC class B-.

Contact us! Our email is info@yellowhomes.com or call us on (+351) 289 301 294 Find out more info on our website www.yellowhomes.com

GOLF PROPERTIES - VILLAS - APARTMENTS - TOWNHOUSES - PLOTS

UNIQUE CONTEMPORARY VILLA UNDER CONSTRUCTION FRONTLINE GOLF IN VILAMOURA. Excellent villa of contemporary architecture covers around 350 m2 with high quality construction and plenty of natural light due to the windows and generous terraces that allow you to enjoy magnificent views over the golf course and the pine forest. In the last stage of construction. Truly unique property. Price: €1,850.000 Ref: R-VDS-V EC: A+.

Contact us! Our email is info@yellowhomes.com or call us on (+351) 289 301 294 Find out more info on our website www.yellowhomes.com

January 2021

Property

PROPERTY OF Real Estate Agent since 1995 T: +351 289 301 294 E: info@yellowhomes.com www.yellowhomes.com EN 125, Benfarras Boliqueime (opposite DHL)

AMI: 6232

January 2021

THE MONTH Unique, modern 2-bedroom apartment in TOP location at the Marina Vilamoura with large communal pool and in walking distance to all amenities and Falesia beach.

PROPERTY DETAILS • Private condominium in top location at the Marina • Building with modern architecture and luxury finishes • Imposing glass façade • Large communal swimming pool and landscaped garden • Built in 2009 / 4th floor • Common lobby that operates 24 hours • 2 double bedrooms • 2 bathrooms (1x en suite) • Entrance hall with cloakroom

• Large living-dining room • Large glass doors • Modern, fully fitted and equipped kitchen • Central Aircon, electric blinds • Security door and alarm • Communal roof terrace • Car parking space • Perfect holiday retreat or rental income • Excellent value for money • Construction area: 115 m2 • EC: B-

¤495,000 Ref: ABT January 2021

Finance

HAVE YOU HAD “THE TALK”? While it’s not necessary easy or pleasant, helping family members or other people in your life prepare for retirement by having “the talk” might well be the most valuable thing you can possibly do.

o, not the birds and bees talk with your preteen ... the one with your parents or other aging family members to discuss their finances, health, and longer-term wishes and desires. I’m lucky because my parents and I have always been pretty open about money matters. But for many people, it can be hard to get parents to open up about such topics. Still, it may be one of the most important conversations you’ll ever have. (And if you have siblings, they should be in on it, too.) To better explain why, I’ll give you a hypothetical case study below... Sally, Tim, and Howard were siblings who lived in different parts of the country. Their parents, Mary and Jeff, were in their mid-50s and looking forward to an early retirement. Mary was a school teacher for 25 years and Jeff was an engineer with a local government agency. Between pensions and overall thriftiness, a comfortable and secure retirement seemed a sure thing. Fast-forward 10 years Jeff is playing a round of golf with his buddies. He’s walking up to a green, clinches his chest, and collapses. He’s had a stroke. After a week in the hospital, Jeff is discharged but requires in-home nursing care. His wife Mary was at a loss. Jeff had handled the family’s finances. She hadn’t even written a check in years. Toss in dealing with Jeff’s nurses and home care aides eight hours a day, and it was

overwhelming. Bad enough, right? Then the other shoe dropped. A neighbor found Mary unconscious in the kitchen. After getting her to the hospital, she called Sally to give her the bad news. Sally called her brothers. With Jeff needing full-time custodial care and Mary in the hospital, someone had to travel to their parents’ house to figure out what was going on. Neither brother would lend a hand. Both said jobs and other responsibilities prevented them from helping. And since Sally only worked part time for a little extra spending money, they said she should be the one to drop everything. First, she visited her mom in the hospital. The doctor said her mom had suffered a severe concussion, was still unconscious, and might need around-the- clock care. Then he asked if Mary had a living will and a healthcare power of attorney. “I don’t know,” Sally said. Next, Sally went to see her father. A nurse and the neighbor were there. The nurse told her that Jeff was slowly getting dementia and recommended that he be moved to a long-term care facility. Meanwhile, she’d make arrangements for an aide to spend the night. Sally called her brothers to discuss the situation. “Whatever you think is best,” they both replied. Now she had to make some tough decisions. The nurse helped her find a decent long-term care facility for Jeff. But before he could be admitted, the business office wanted to know how they were going to pay for it. And did she have the authority to make financial and healthcare decisions for her father? They told her that

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Medicare wouldn’t pay, but perhaps her father qualified for Medicaid. They also asked: Does he have a long-term care insurance policy? Does he have investments that could be used? While at the nursing home, Sally called her brothers to ask if they knew. “I don’t know,” was their joint response. “But do whatever you need to do.” Sally returned to her parents’ home and dug through files in her father’s desk. She spent several hours sorting brokerage statements, bank statements, credit card statements, correspondence, and insurance policies going back 10 years. She concluded that her parents had more than 100 holdings with five brokerage firms. There were no long-term care policies. Nor could she find paperwork indicating any type of power of attorney, wills, or even correspondence with a lawyer. The nursing home business office recommended that Sally get an elder care attorney. The lawyer got the ball rolling by drafting powers of attorney that would give Sally the authority to make health and financial decisions for her parents. He prepared wills making Sally the executor of their estates. He then rushed them through the court in 48 hours. Jeff and Mary were moved to the long-term care facility where they shared a room. And it was determined that they’d have to pay out of pocket for their care. Sally was tasked with dealing with medical and nursing home personnel, attorneys, and real estate agents. Traveling from another state took an enormous amount of time away from her family. Eventually, Jeff and Mary’s home was sold and their assets were consolidated into one account holding a money market fund and two ETFs. The story doesn’t end there… Fast-forward three more years… Jeff dies peacefully while asleep. And Mary does the same six weeks later. Their brokerage account had been jointly held with right of survivorship. So when Jeff died, it went to Mary. And when Mary died, it was to be divided evenly amongst the three children. But when it came to splitting the account, one of the brothers pointed out that Sally had been getting compensated while handling their parents’ affairs. Therefore, she shouldn’t receive a full third. The other brother agreed. Sally objected, saying that she was only reimbursed for flights she had to take. Not for her time, lost wages, or other expenses she incurred.

The brothers wouldn’t budge. Sally didn’t have the energy to fight them. So she agreed to pay half of the reimbursed travel expenses. And the family has been divided ever since. This is a hypothetical case, of course. The exact documents needed and court process would vary among states and one’s net worth. But I know plenty of REALLIFE stories that ended up even worse than this one. So to make sure something similar doesn’t happen to your family, below are four things to include in your “talk.” First, ask about finances… Preferably BEFORE anyone even retires, ask: • What investments do you have and how are they owned? • Do you have an emergency fund — money market account, saving account — that you can get at quickly? • Where are important documents kept? • Who is your attorney, accountant, insurance agent, and so on? • Do you have debt, such as a mortgage, auto loans, or credit card balances? • Is there a safe deposit box or anything else we need to know about? Second, how is their health? Are there chronic issues you’re not aware of? And what are their plans/wishes if their health deteriorates? Third, assess options and formulate a plan. What home health care options are available in their area? Is a long-term care insurance policy a practical solution? Are there other family members who would help with care? Consider all the possibilities and permutations as best you can. Fourth, get any advice before it’s needed. Regardless of your parents’ net worth and health, if they don’t’ have an attorney, find one who specializes in eldercare issues like advance directives. It’s a whole lot easier to work out who will do what if your parents can’t make critical decisions. While it’s not necessary easy or pleasant, helping family members or other people in your life prepare for retirement by having “the talk” might well be the most valuable thing you can possibly do. Written by Nilus Mattive

January 2021

Gardening

HOW TO GROW: SUCCULENTS Gardeners spend a lot of time looking at the overall picture, and by way of a change it’s good to get down and examine plants at really close quarters.

hen you start playing with plants for your garden you have a refreshing alteration of scale, focusing on individual leaves as opposed to vast sweeps of a border. It is light work, intricate and absorbing, yet it can have equally high-octane impact. Succulent plants, with their plump, water-retaining leaves and stems, are often quite chubby compared to many species, yet close inspection can reveal that they look delicate and exotic. Many are ideal to adorn your garden. Succulents are a large, diverse group and what counts is somewhat debatable. Debatable succulents include halophytes (plants that grow in salt marshes), bulbs (many people consider a few bulbs such as Bowia and Heamanthus to be succulents), Welwitchia (a weird cone baring plant all the other generally accepted succulents are flowering plants) and even some cacti. Even if you exclude all these, you’re left with a huge range: rain forest epiphytes (e.g. Hoya and Schlumbergera), alpines from the mountains of Europe, cacti from Canada and Patagonia, not to

mention all those succulents from deserts and semi-deserts in fairly warm to very hot climates. For the purposes of this article, we’ll just consider the warmer climate desert plants that are grown as houseplants in cooler climates. Even though this group is quite varied and sometimes plants with very different cultural requirements are included in the same genus (e.g. Euphorbia and Mammillaria). (Most the succulent bulbs will grow well if treated like this.) Light Most plants (including succulents) are basically solar powered and succulents like more light than most. They’ll do best on a south-facing wall (north-facing in the southern hemisphere). Although succulents do well outside all year here you must keep an eye on your plants, as succulents can be burnt by too much light and heat but this rather depends on the type and where you live. Also plants can aclimatetize to some extent. Heat Many succulents will tolerate (if not prefer) to have a

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cool winter period when they only have protection from frost (many will tolerate some frost). However there are others that need to be kept above 10 degrees C. If you have a greenhouse, you may like to concentrate on the kinds that tolerate cooler conditions (they include most the small round cacti that have nice flowers, some large cacti, most Opuntias, most Crassulaceae, Aloes, Agaves, some Euphorbias and all Messembrianthemums). If you’re growing your succulents somewhere that stays hot all the time, you should stick to the more tropical kinds: Melocactus, many large cacti, some Euphorbias, stapeliads, Kalanchoes, Pachypodiums etc. although you can probably get away with some of the more tolerant types like Aloes. Water This is complicated. Most books advise to water about once a week from spring to autumn and not at all in the winter. This is fine if you’re keeping them cool in the winter, and don’t have winter growing types. If you’re keeping them warm all year, you really need to water all year, but probably a bit less in the winter. Winter growing kinds will need watering about once every 2 to 4 weeks in the winter. You really have to learn to tell when things are looking thirsty. The stemless Messembrianthemums are very fussy about when they get watered and they’re all different! Pots Old books recommend clay pots but plastic works just fine. Don’t put plants in pots smaller than about 5cm as this will really dwarf the plants. If you’re going to put multiple plants in the same container, make sure they like similar conditions and grow at about the same speed. Don’t mix winter and summer growing plants or cacti and Crassulaceae (the latter take over) and don’t mix stemless Messembrianthemums with anything. Fertilizer Accepted wisdom says that succulents like low nitrogen fertilizer. However I think balanced fertilizer (with trace

elements) is perfectly OK. Compost Succulents will grow well in wide range of composts. Many people use peat based compost. Others use inorganic compost composed of things like pumice, perlite and sand. I mostly use a perlite-based compost and the only things I’ve found it doesn’t work for are Bulbines. Anacampseros and, more so, Avonia like loam based compost. Pests and diseases Again complicated as pests keep evolving immunity and the availability of insecticides keeps changing. The main problems are: Mealy bugs (white fuzzy things that look a bit like small woodlice), root mealy bugs (similar but live in the soil), red spider mites (very small, cause brown scarring) and various types of rot. Many people use systemic insecticides and fungicides every year or so but crassulaceae really don’t like systemic insecticides or Malathion. Red spider mites don’t like being sprayed with water. I use bulb powder in the compost to prevent fungus and root mealy bugs. If you can put your plants outside or let them get cold in the winter, it will help keep the pests down. If you have a plant that dies at the base, you can often chop off the dead and dying bits and get what’s left to take root. You may also be able to graft the top bit. Some more easily grown succulents (good to start with): Aeonium, Agave, Aloe, Apteranthus, Beaucarnia, Carpobotros, Cereus, Crassula, Dracena, Delosperma, Echeveria, Echinopsis (now includes Lobivia, Trichocereus etc.), Euphorbia (some, remember there are tropical and cooler climate species), Gasteria, Graptopetalum, Gymnocalycium, Haworthia, Kalanchoe, Lampranthus, Lithops, Mammillaria (easy species include: boccasana, gracilis and prolifera), Notocactus, Opuntia, Pachyphytum, Plectranthus, Rebutia, Sedum (warmer climate kinds the cold climate types should be grown in the garden in a cold climate), Senecio.

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Picture taken by ABA photography

Your Health

SECRETS OF LONGEVITY

iving here in the Algarve, we already experience an incredible high quality of life. Our ability to enjoy this quality of life is connected to how healthy we are in mind, body and spirit. So we are lucky to be here, yes? Are we making the right choices in our health and well-being that allow us to make the most of living in paradise? Can we ‘next level’ our Algarve dream life experience? Because it is so easy to slip into a comfortable yet not so healthy routine, it’s important to check in on the key habits that will enhance and prolong our vitality and enjoyment in this paradise.

What are the key factors in longevity and vitality? The more we learn in the field of nutrition and health sciences, the more it is confirmed that well-being is determined by much more than diet and exercise. Much more. Great bodies of research around constructing our wellness and accessing our potential for healing are coming into the mainstream. These studies generally all speak to the need for good nutrition, exercise, sleep, contact with nature, healthy

Janet Shook shares her tips for exeptional health and well being as we take on 2021!

breathing techniques, supplements and herbal remedies and some sort of meditation or mindfulness practice. But if they are really comprehensive, they will also come around to hidden imperatives to a long and happy life; The need for community, belonging and purpose. Take for example the Blue Zones research project which compared 5 communities across the globe that had exceptional health and longevity rates amongst their inhabitants. This research project determined 9 factors that exist in all 5 communities to which this study accredits the excellent quality and extended longevity of their lives. This is my summary of these 9 key factors; 1. Getting exercise naturally. The inhabitants of these zones won’t be seen in the gym. They stay fit by living their lives and meeting their daily needs as their lives require movement on a daily basis and this movement keeps them agile and strong. It could be gardening, walking long distances, transport by bicycle, tending to animals, playing gentle sports.

January 2021

2. Having a purpose in life. You have a reason to get up in the morning that is fulfilling and gives a sense of self-value and contribution to the lives of others. 3. Time dedicated daily to eliminating stress and showing gratitude for life. It may be time-out for meditation, prayer or mindfulness practices placed naturally into the routines of the day. 4. Never eating until you’re full. The key is to eat just enough to feel satisfied, but to leave space. Some of the Blue Zone areas partake often in fasting such as for religious holidays. Others are just moderate on food intake. Overall calorie intake levels lower than standard. It has been seen time and again that lower calorie intake is related to longevity. 5. Primarily plant based diet. Occasional meat and largely pescatarian diets, but more than anything, local, fresh fruits, vegetables, pulses and grains. Processed foods are definitely not a part of the diets in these zones. 6. Low but present Janet is wearing consumption of red wine. the Algarve based You think I am joking here clothing company to win you over, but I am not! We know that some “Kozzii” wine consumption can have health benefits, and this study confirmed that, but let’s remember that it is strictly red wine, it is never more than 2 glasses a day, and you can not save up for a weekend binge. It is that wonderful phenomenon that too much medicine is poison, and just even poison is medicine. It is also important that the wine is consumed with friends, with a happy attitude. 7. A healthy social group. In my very humble opinion, the previous factor is less about the benefits of wine itself and more about this; connection. The relaxation, laughs, and camaraderie we get from sharing a drink has more positive effects upon our health than any chemical compound. This facet of balanced health is about surrounding yourself with the right people. Behaviours are contagious, and we are tribal people, so choose your tribe wisely best on what you want for yourself. The more your tribe represents your values and supports you, the easier life gets. 8. Having a spiritual or faith based routine in your life. Now I am not one to preach religion and I am a highly non-denominational myself. But apparently any sort of faith, religion or spirituality can add 4-14 years onto your life. 9. Long-living happy people put family first. Grandparents who help raise grandchildren live longer, couples who stay married get a few extra years (Hopefully happy ones), parents who support and invest in their children’s well-being into adulthood get extra credit too apparently. For me, many of these factors point back to one main idea; We need to feel deep down in our bones that being here on this planet living our lives is the best place to be. That we are in the right place at the right time and doing more or less the right thing. If you have a sense of purpose, a faith that keeps you believing it is all not for naught, a family or dear friends that need you and love you, then your mind (command central) is telling

your body to keep up and keep going. At the same time, the calming effects of your faith in a higher good, the healthy food, the daily movement, and the red wine in the evening (wink wink) are keeping that negative sabotaging stress away. This is a wholesome, healthy, balanced life. Let’s relate these principles to living in the Algarve; We can eat very well a pescatarian or primarily plant based diet; inexpensive, local and seasonal food with no hindrance or great expense. The red wine goes without saying (Take it easy folks; it’s all too easy to fall into the perpetual party of the Algarve as it becomes one never ending Sunday lunch). There is no lack of community, though of course we must be conscious that we are choosing the networks and friends that support the lifestyle we want to live. We easily connect to nature and can spend time outdoors moving around. So what are the points of difficulty, the challenges or the blindspots in these 9 components of the super healthy life that you experience here in the Algarve? Is it being far from family? Not feeling connected to a tribe of people you relate to? How about how you use your body? Not all of us have reason, motivation or cause to be moving our bodies all day. We no longer chop wood, or climb the hill to fetch the pail of water. Most easily we fall into a stagnant lifestyle where our work and leisure have us sitting in a chair for 12 hours. What about that elusive sense of purpose? Do you wake up every-day ready to contribute something to make someone else’s life a bit nicer, or ease the burden on humanity? It seems lofty and some of you might be thinking “I’ve worked my whole life, I just want to relax”! but there is no shortage of beach clean up’s, charities and shelters that need a hand, and, when done in the spirit of service and gratitude, it could be key to a longer, happier, life. How about that spiritual connection or a community of people with similar beliefs? A group you can share your feelings with, who listen without judgement or debate. I gather often with a group of women to talk about astrology and meditate. I am positive that the stress relief and support it gives me has added years to my life and theirs. Many of us live far from family, but with our technology, no one is very far away. Also let’s not forget that friends are the family we choose. So, are you committing deeply to your friendships, your relations, your close connections? Perhaps it’s time to pull in the family a bit closer? Realize again that there is no judgment here, it is not right or wrong, it is what is healthy. What is so beautiful about these 9 factors, is that they are not selfish. Not only do they extend our individual lives and add to our quality of life, but they add to the quality of life of others and the planet. It is in vogue in the wellness world to talk about selfishness and putting your own needs first. I am a big supporter or prioritizing the self, but we must remember that that is a means to an end. Notice how de-stressing is a daily requisite, alongside serving others. That is a perfect example of balance. We work on ourselves to be in a better place to be better to others. And this research just confirms that; this kind of attitude, these kinds of life choices can catapult us to the next level of well-being. We then might take our place amongst the happy centarrians- who live without ambitions of living forever, but with the simple peace of living present and grateful, one day at a time. And as always, if making changes in your life towards better health and deeper happiness requires a bit of support, please contact me. That is what I am here for. Janet_shook@yahoo.com

January 2021

Great food

MIRADOURO DA PICANHA

Welcome to the restaurant with one of the best views in the world, Miradouro da Picanha... Great quality food with friendly professional service, get ready to add this restaurant to your top 5!

iving in the Algarve you will without doubt have ran into a few Brazilian people who have moved here, and personally, I have failed to find them anything but friendly, helpful and humble. As so many Brazilians live here, it’s quite obvious that they would open their own restaurants with their favourite food, one of which being Churrasco! If you’ve been to these restaurants before you’ll know they are great (if you’re a meat eater that is… if not, I’d give it a miss, though Miradouro da Picanha does offer vegetarian and vegan options!). To give you the basic idea, there are a few options available, however, the most popular is the all you can eat style where you are served rice with traditional Feijao Preto, Farofa,

Potato salad, vinaigrette and pan fried kale with bacon, after which the Churrasqueiro José brings round after round of different meats ranging from Spicy sausages to perfect Picanha. So, what makes Miradouro da Picanha different? Well, aside from the obvious and incredible view, the staff and the quality of the food are second to none, if you’re looking to enjoy Brazilian food at its finest, there really is no reason to look any further. Let’s get to the details! Miradouro Da Picanha opened its doors in November 2020 by João and Maria Barros, who also own a high quality Aluminium window fitting company, JVB Aluminios. João and Maria started JVB Aluminios in 2014 after the fitting company Joao worked for previously shut down.

January 2021

Great food

João together with his wife Maria and his long term friends and colleagues Flavio and Miguel continued where they left off with the previous company as they luckily found enough demand from past clients. Over time they have built a great reputation as high quality products with just as high quality service. Now, whilst doing jobs around the Algarve for JVB Aluminios, João and the team found a great “Brazilian rodizio” restaurant in Olhão which became a favourite of theirs, however, due to circumstances surrounding Covid that restaurant shut down, so, João and Maria had the idea… What if we open our own? Maria knew the location of a restaurant in Goldra that was empty, it was previously a gourmet restaurant with the most amazing 180 degree view of the hills around it all the way to the sea. They contacted the owner and after some back and forth the race was on to get the restaurant ready to open. They spoke with the staff from the restaurant that

was shutting down in Olhao and of course they were happy to get involved. On the 6th of November 2020 the doors opened for the first night, and whilst many people have called them crazy for opening a restaurant during a pandemic, there’s no doubt that it is working as they already have a few regular clients. The friendly staff make you feel welcome immediately, head waiter is Claudio who has many years of experience managing the and along side him is Nina. In the kitchen you’ll find Talita and José, Talita takes care of the cooking whilst José is the man who takes care of the spit-roasting of the meats. The quality of the food is as good as we have personally tasted (part of the team here at Simply Algarve is Brazilian and it got her seal of approval!), they sacrifice having the cheapest prices around to make sure they can provide the best quality from suppliers and instead of stock piling meat

January 2021

they have regular deliveries of meats to guarantee fresh produce. With the standard Rodizio you can expect to try multiple cuts of beef including Picanha and Maminha along side sausages, chicken and more. They also offer great starters such as the king prawns and bread cuttlefish strips with garlic sauce as well as some great deserts. We canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t recommend the restaurant enough, you could spend hours enjoying the amazing view and the great food. They are open from Tuesday to Sunday, Lunch 12:00 15:00pm and dinner: 19:00 to 22:30 Call 289 432 533 to book or email miradourodapicanha@gmail.com

January 2021

Experiences

LEARNING LANGUAGES

Struggling to get the hang of Portuguese? Then you’re not alone! Marilyn Sheridan shares her experience with learning languages and some reasearch on why we seem to struggle!

have lived in this beautiful country for seven years now, and I am ashamed to say I still cant speak the language. I’d like to blame my age (in my 70’s), and that perhaps there is no more sponge left in my brain to absorb anything new, but I have a strong suspicion that learning a new language is something not all brains can handle.

Whilst in my late teens I had a boyfriend who was keen to learn a second language, and we selected German. Off we trotted to evening classes, pencils sharpened, clean notebooks and dictionaries to hand. We picked German because I was led to believe that you ‘say what you see’ easy-peasy. But it was much more difficult than I thought, and was relieved when the pressure of a new job (and breaking up with said boyfriend) forced me into giving up. In later years, I had holidays in Italy, and fell in love with both the country and the language – how romantic it sounded, how beautifully it flowed – and resolved to have a go at Italian. I duly turned up for evening classes, and hadn’t got in more than 8 lessons or so before the professor twigged that I was the dummy in the back row, and kindly selected the easiest questions for me when randomly asking round the class for answers. Oh, dear, I was in trouble again, and failed miserably. Then came the move to Portugal, and we fell in love with life here. I was affronted one day early on when someone intimated that I was a typical Brit who expected everyone to speak English abroad, and so resolved to have a go at Portuguese by joining a small group other Englishspeakers on Saturday mornings. It seemed quite easy, we had a children’s book to learn from, what could be easier? Every child I bumped into could speak fluently at age 2,

so why couldn’t I? The book covered hundreds of nouns which I was just about coping with, but then the dreaded verbs appeared....and I was flummoxed again. On the few occasions I have braved it to speak a little sentence to someone, they either reply with the speed of a bullet from an AK47, which I fail to comprehend, or look at me blankly at hearing my appalling efforts and answer me in English. I have done a tiny bit of research on why I find this process so hard, and have found that children have a period for learning language that lasts until puberty, and during these years, certain parts of the brain are more developed than others. For example, they are adept at procedural memory which covers things that we learn unconsciously, such as riding a bike, dancing, or subtle language rules. Children learn from observing and from experience; circuits in the brain build a set of rules for constructing words and sentences by absorbing and analyzing information – such as sounds - from the world around them. Adults’ stronger cognitive abilities may actually trip them up. In essence, it seems adults may over-analyze new language rules or sounds and try to make them fit into some pattern that makes sense to them. But a new language may involve grammar rules that aren’t so easily explained, and adults have more difficulty overcoming those obstacles than children, who simply absorb the rules or exceptions and learn from them. That’s especially true with pronunciation, since the way we make sounds is something that is established early in life, and becomes second nature. So I was right, up to a point. But I will persevere. Maybe one day it will all fall into place and I will be writing in Portuguese about learning English as a foreign language instead.

January 2021

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Simply delicious

CHESTNUT PUREE

This a quick and simple traditional Portuguese side dish that pairs well with Pork, Bacalhau and more! INGREDIENTS: 400g of Chestnut boiled or roasted 2 tablespoons of Butter 100ml of Milk Salt and pepper to taste Pinch of nutmeg (optional)

METHOD Start by chopping the cooked chestnuts, so they absorb liquid easier. Place them in a pan with butter, let them cook for 2 or 3 minutes until the butter is completely melted and the chestnuts are hot. Pour the milk and a pinch of salt and pepper, let it cook and reduce for about 6 minutes. Take it off the heat and pour it in a blender and blend it until you get a cream with the texture you like and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ready to serve! Note: When blending the mixture will thicken a lot, here you can add a little more milk until the puree is textured to your taste.

1 2 3 4

Consider pairing this recipe with Duck, Fried Pork cubes, Pork Loin, Bacalhau to name just a few!

January 2021

Finance

SAVE THESE DATES!

Each month, Ricardo Chaves of All Finance Matters gives an insight into the legalities governing tax and general financial matters

e wish all readers a healthy year of 2021, and it is our desire that the new year is much easier to everyone than the year we just said goodbye to. Below you can find some of the dates that you need to put in your diary, concerning taxes in Portugal. Please remember that before you submit your IRS you need to perform some tasks as per the new habits acquired in the previous years: tasks like validating or registering invoices at the tax portal, are now procedures that became part of the routine of any taxpayer. Your role is important in determining your IRS deductions, therefore check the tax calendar, to make sure you don’t lose any deduction or pay any fines. January If you have a business activity which was VAT exempt under article 53, but in 2020 you exceeded the VAT threshold, then you need to change your VAT status until the 31st of January. Likewise, if you were paying VAT but did not exceed the threshold in 2020 and wish to become exempt, the same deadline applies. If you have a rental contract and are not obliged to issue monthly rental receipts, you have until the 31st of January to declare the yearly rental income for 2020. February Each taxpayer has until the 25th of February to query, report and verify invoices. To do this you should access the e-Factura portal and access to your personal page, where you should verify if all your invoices have been properly communicated. If you find any failure, or any invoice is not recorded, you can add these invoices to your file. It is also important to check in which category your invoices are recorded and move them into the appropriate section (ie health, education, etc) otherwise the deduction will not be accepted. These procedures need to be performed for each household expenditure holder, including dependants. It is also important to update or register your household for tax purposes, before 15/02. Please note that this can be very important, not only for tax purposes, but for other related matters, such as inscription at schools, kindergarten, etc and or other tax benefits you may be entitled to.

March If you became resident in Portugal in 2020 and want to apply for the Non-Habitual Residency scheme, you have until the end of March to submit your application at the tax portal. During March, you also need to check your e-fatura page

at the tax portal and if you feel the information is not correct, you can challenge the calculations made by the Tax Authorities. In other words, your tax deductions will be summarized here, under family general expenses, healthcare expenses, training and education expenses, charges with property for permanent residence, invoices VAT and costs with foster homes; if your total invoices is not consistent with the one totals shown in the portal, you have this two weeks window to contest it. Please note that it’s necessary to check this for each taxpayer. April You can submit your IRS tax declaration for 2020, from the 1st of April, until the end of June. This means that all declarations can be submitted during these three months, irrespective of your income category (employment income, pension income, self-employment income, rentals, etc.) Please note that all residents, include Non-Habitual Residents, need to submit a tax declaration, even if they’re income is only pensions, and tax exempt, they still have to fulfil this obligation. All non-residents that have income from Portuguese source (ie property rentals, sale of a property, etc) also need to submit a yearly declaration. May Payment of the first instalment of the IMI council tax. If in your case, the council tax is lower than 100€, this will be the only payment date you need to remember. If is higher, please look for other instalment dates in August and November. June Do not forget to submit the IRS for 2020 by the end of June. Please remember that if you do not deliver your IRS on time, or if you fail to meet some of the deadlines above, you may lose some or all your tax deductions. Late delivery of your IRS may also cancel your IMI (Council Tax) exemption. July If you have IRS tax to receive, the settlement must be made by 31st of July. This is the deadline for the Tax Authorities to refund you . August If you have IRS tax to pay, you should make the payment no later than the last day of August, providing you have delivered the tax return within the time limits. If the tax return was submitted after the deadline, payment may be made until 31st of December (fines and interest will apply). The second instalment of the IMI council tax is due this month. This is applicable for all those where the yearly IMI payment is higher than 500€ per taxpayer.

January 2021

September If you have AIMI (additional council tax) to pay, this needs to be paid by the end of September. Remember that are liable for AIMI payment all properties owned by companies. Individual owners are only exempt from AIMI, in the first 600 thousand Euros worth of property (based on the tax value and not in the commercial value). November Payment of the third and last instalment of the IMI council tax. This is applicable for all those where the yearly IMI payment is higher than 100% per taxpayer. Recurring dates Please remember that if you have a business activity, you need to report your sales file by the 10th of each month.

This also includes rental income from AL license holders. Each month you also need to issue your monthly rental receipts in case you have a rental contract registered. The car tax needs to be paid by the last day of the month when the car was registered. Please do not forget this as the fines are high in this case. If you have a business activity, please remember that each quarter you need to submit a social security declaration, to ascertain how much social security you will pay each month in the following quarter. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us; tax planning is critical and you and your company, cannot afford surprises. Contact our office to discuss your personal situation and avoid any unnecessary fines. Tel: 281 029 059 Email: Info@allfinancematters.com

DRONE PHOTOGRAPHY AND 4K VIDEO

HIGH RESOLUTION PHOTOGRAPHY AND 4K VIDEO T: +351 961 700 200 E: RICHIBASS@HOTMAIL.CO.UK January 2021

Golf

PROTIPS

Richard Hudson and Eddie Charnock, Algarve Golf Guru, PGA Professionals give us a few tips and tricks to use the next time we hop on the golf course

ne thing a golfer needs to understand is how to use the rules to his advantage. If you watch the top players on tour you will see on many occasions they will ask for a ruling as they are looking for a free drop/relief from an impossible lie! In this article we are not looking to break any rules, but we are going to introduce you to a few tips and tricks that are totally legal that can help you to lower your score! THE TEEING AREA The teeing area is where you start each hole. It has a defined size and shape that is a two club length deep rectangle measured from the tee markers you are playing your round from. You can stand outside the teeing area as long as your ball is within it. As you can see from Picture 1, being allowed to stand outside the teeing area can be used to your advantage should the tee marker be aiming in the right direction. This will assist you greatly with your aim!

1 Using the full width of the tee is important as this can change the visual shape of the hole, so donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just walk on to the tee and tee your ball up in the middle. As you can see from Picture 2 we have taken advantage of the two divots in front of the ball to help with the direction we wish to hit our ball on this par 3. This is legal and used by nearly every tour player! You can also do this when winter rules are in operation at your golf club, making sure you move your ball on the fairway so a given object, pine needle, leaf etc is in front of your ball between your ball and your target, the same way as the divots on the teeing area. THE PUTTING GREEN A very popular way to putt is by aiming a line you have added to your ball in the direction you want to putt. Many golf ball manufacturers are producing balls with, one, two and three lines on the ball, proving this really works and is totally legal. GIVEAWAY TIME! Here is your chance to WIN a 30 minute Golf Lesson with The Gurus! Just answer the following question correctly and your name will be entered into a draw to take place on the 1st of February. What is the name of Tiger Woods son? Please email your answer to sales@algarvegolfguru.com To book a golf lesson, please contact Richard or Eddie and mention Simply Algarve as a referral. E: sales@algarvegolfguru.com W: algarvegolfguru.com

January 2021

Relax, we look after your tax affairs, while you enjoy your life.

Last word

Parting words... Jake Cleaver discusses his favourite colour and its connection to everything around us, more specifically, wild flowers and the buttercup!

You can probably tell by my spiky hair in my ‘mugshot’ above that my favourite colour is green. It’s a very fortunate favourite, at this time of year especially

ave you noticed that as you get older people stop asking you important questions, like: “what is your favourite colour?”. When was the last time somebody asked you that? We seem to be concerned with so many other things when we grow up and it seems a shame to me, as I believe you can tell quite a lot about someone by what colour they would choose to paint their soul.

You can probably tell by my spiky hair in my ‘mugshot’ above that my favourite colour is green. It’s a very fortunate favourite, at this time of year especially, as once a little water has been added, Mother Nature sticks in her paintbrush and gets to work colouring it in everywhere, until the ground is covered in a thick carpet of lush green foliage, and the sun shines down providing the beautiful shadings of light and dark as the green mingles harmoniously with its beams.

which leads to a cooler climate and makes it a lot more likely that it will rain more. And when it does rain the more roots there are in the soil ensure the water can’t run away and escape out to sea, and instead, stays around bringing up the groundwater table - leading to even more green areas. This all helps to slow down global warming as (like all things green) they take a breath of carbon dioxide deep down into the ground putting it back where it belongs, and exhale fresh air for us all to breath. These mini green forests also provide the perfect microclimates for all kinds of creatures, great and small, to thrive. Not to mention, how their abundant floral displays provide the much needed nectar necessary to keep the local pollinators businesses a buzz. I feel like people try too hard to grow things and have perfect gardens and lawns (that were just invented by French and English aristocrats as a status symbol to show off how wealthy they were, as it showed they could afford to dedicate vast areas of their land, and to have so many servants spending time mowing and tending these delicate little patches of grass, that didn’t provide anything useful, like food, or even flowers) when really.. The real magic just

And once we’ve got this layered base background, nature can then afford to start to play and decorate a little with dabs of other colours dotted here and there. The second colour on nature’s painting palette is always yellow, and soon speckles of bright golden flowers can be seen shining like stars and highlighting the constellations in the universe of green. The classics that are largely responsible for the carpet are what I like to think of as ‘lucky leaf clovers’, without them things wouldn’t be nearly as green. People think of them as ‘weeds’, which really baffles me. They say they are an invasive species and aren’t native. But I mean, how long does somebody have to live in a country for them to be accepted as a national? They’ve been here as long as I can remember - and I’m Portuguese. Gardeners complain that they are not meant to be here and are so difficult to get rid of.. But if they grow naturally and are SO difficult to get rid of, it seems a lot like they are really ‘meant to be here’ to me. The green they provide on the landscape is important for lots of reasons. It absorbs and reflects back the sunlight

January 2021

grows at your feet. Just look around. The wildflowers come and go naturally as the season winds on - and I’m always amazed at how the different colour combinations come at different times. It’s like they all adhere to a strict dress code and there’s always a natural underlying theme going on. All we have to do.. is notice. But back to those lucky clovers and their yellow flowers - that open up to catch the sun beams, and close and hang down like trumpets in the shade. I used to call them ‘Boa Noites’, which is slightly concerning in retrospect as when I was a kid I used to suck on loads of them. The stems anyway, not the flowers. They are obviously okay though because I’m still awake (unless, of course, this is all a dream? Possible.. is the world really filled with moving flowers??). I don’t eat them anymore as they taste horrible. Too sour. I think that may have been the point back in the day, as when I was younger my cousins used to get ‘Nuclear Warhead’ sweets from America, which were especially designed to be sour and disgusting. At least Boa Noites are considerably cheaper and a lot more readily available. It could also be that tastes change when you get

older, I mean, I’m convinced Kinder eggs used to taste WAY better too. Plus, I now like mushrooms and tomatoes. Who would have thought it? These flowers are actually called ‘Bermuda Buttercups’, and I think you should go out for a walk and try to get lost in a triangle of them. I like to think of the sea of green that they provide as ‘the snow of the Algarve’, as there’s nothing more satisfying than putting on your Wellington boots and going stomping through a big field of them. You can wade through sinking your feet in deeper with every footstep drawing a trail behind you. And when you get tired, if you are brave enough, lie down and sink deep into the green, wave your hands up and down and try carving out whatever the green version is of a ‘Snow Angel’ is? So, have you thought about it? I know it’s probably been a while, but what is your favourite colour? Start asking people again, and keep an eye on the countryside for the next few months - the wild and wonderful flowers are coming, and they are bound to start tinting the ground with yours.

January 2021

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Simply Algarve January 2021

Articles inside

GOLF

FINANCE

LANGUAGES

BOOK CLUB

CASA DA TITA

GARDENING

SECRECTS TO LONGEVITY

ADOPT AN ANIMAL

VISITING THE STUPA

THE TALK