Simply
FR E
E
October 2018 Issue 30
Loulé, Almancil, Vale do Lobo,
Quarteira, Quinta do Lago, Vilamoura, S. Brás
Welcome... ...to your October issue. This month we had the pleasure of meeting some very interesting people and visiting some amazing places, but, to start off our friend Viv Thomas works up our appetite with a great recipe from his new book ‘ChilliBoys Kitchen’. Next is the amazing garden of Uschi Kuhn, a wonderful place hidden just outside of Loulé full of amazing pieces of art, emerging from the ground and seemingly everywhere else! After our trip to wonderland we met with Anja Rasenberg who told us all about her new collection of bags and her hand made pillows, unique in style and quality. Next we have a chat with Sharon Henderson, captain of the Quinta do Lago Laranjal golf club to hear the story behind the course and what her role as captain is all about. If you have been in or around Quinta do Lago you would have at least heard of interior designer Melissa Jane. We had the pleasure of asking her a few questions and found out just how she grew to be such a big name in the area. All of this plus our monthly News, Art, Property, Finance, Events in the area, Restaurant guide, Golf tip, Sports news and more! Don’t forget, if you have any stories or ventures to share with our readers, please email us at simplyalgarvemag@gmail.com or call 966 044 143. Richard Bassett, Publisher
PUBLISHER Richard Bassett
EDITOR Richard Bassett
ART DIRECTOR
DISTRIBUTION
6,000 copies printed. All advertisers are issued copies for distribution, along with retail outlets.
Jake Bassett
COVER PHOTO
WRITERS
Melissa Jane interiors
Susi Rogal-Goodkind Anthony Martin
ADVERTISING
Call Jake on 966 044 143 or email simplyalgarvemag@gmail.com
2
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.
Unipessoal Lda
www.simplyalgarvemag.com
Contents NEWS 5
MAP 26
HOME COOKING
GRACIOUS LIVING
Your local news
Chilli butter chicken
6
PLACES 8 Uschi Kuhn’s Secret Garden
ART 14 Extra-special espadrilles
FASHION 17 Bags of style from Anja Rasenberg
PEOPLE 20 Laranjal’s woman in charge!
Almancil and surrounding areas Property of the month
28
PEOPLE 40
A Q&A session with interior designer Melissa Jane Graham
AGENDA 44
THE PROPERTY MARKET 30
A list of ‘Must Go’ events this month
RESTAURANT GUIDE
34
Pro tips from PGA professionals
37
Brought to you by Chris Wright
FINANCE 38
Tales from an expat in Portugal
A property update from experts
A monthly guide to local restaurants
MONEY MATTERS
News from Currencies Direct
GOLF 47 SPORTS NEWS
48
EXPATS 50
An update from experts at AFM
Susi RogolGoodkind is a freelance journalist/ editor who works between the UK and the Algarve where she and her husband have had a home for 30 years. She is also a member of the ACCA children’s charity committee. susi@rogol-goodkind.com
www.simplyalgarvemag.com
3
4
www.simplyalgarvemag.com
News
News
Keep up to date with this month’s news
ALBUFEIRA PLANS FOR 150,000 REVELLERS AT NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY
A
lbufeira Council and the city’s promotional agency have presented plans for a New Year’s Eve that aims to attract 150,000 people. One of the aims is to spread the event across the city rather than everyone crowding into the main square. The music starts at 9.30 pm and, according to mayor José Carlos Rolo, “one of the surprises will be the fireworks at midnight from three locations in the city, Fisherman’s Beach, Oura Beach and Olhos de Agua Beach.” The idea is to “diversify the sites so that the many thousands of expected visitors do not just focus on Fisherman’s Square.” The Council wants to attract people and get them in the holiday mood with comedy at ‘Solrir’ at the Congress hall between the 28th of December to January 3rd. On the 29th of December, there will be another ‘Medieval Paderne’ programme as well as the ‘Star Parade’ along Avenida Sá Carneiro. Rolo is confident that Albufeira’s programme of events, when added to the entertainment put on at the area’s hotels, will be memorable and plans for 150,000 people on New year’s Eve. The encouragement by the Council for people to visit and enjoy themselves to the full is tempered by Rolo’s words of “support and confidence” for the important work of the security forces, the fire department and the Red Cross and the cleaning teams who ensure everything runs smoothly. José Santos, from the Albufeira Promotion Agency, focused the issue of security as a determining factor when people are deciding where to party like it’s 1999.
P
ortugal come third of the EU’s renewable energy ranking, behind Sweden and Austria. Only in five EU countries does renewable energy account for more than 50% of consumption. Portugal is one of them, according to Eurostat’s latest report, behind Austria where 73% of the energy consumed from renewables, followed by Sweden with 65%. Then it’s Portugal and Denmark with 54% each and then Latvia. This being Eurostat, the figures are from 2016 but they show Portugal slightly improving since 2015 when the percentage was 52.6%. In March this year, Portugal received worldwide coverage for producing all of its energy from renewable sources for a short period. The EU average has improved from 28.8% to 29.6%. Outside the EU, Iceland at 95.3% and Norway at 104.7% (it produces more than it consumes) stand out. Malta’s shameful performance, only 6% of energy consumed was renewable energy, is not much bettered by the 10% in Luxembourg 7% in Hungary and 9% in Cyprus. In total, electricity from renewable sources has contributed to 30% of the energy consumed in the European Union. The most important source was hydroelectric, 36.9%. Wind energy creates 31.8% and solar energy, a mere 11.6%. The remainder mostly is from biogas and geothermal energy.
ALGARVE HOUSE PRICES CONTINUE TO RISE
ouse prices in the Algarve increased by 6% in the third quarter of 2018, according to the ‘Idealista’ real estate market report which states that the average price of housing in the region is €2,031 per m2. The city of Faro registered a rise of 1.7%, with the price per square meter now at €1,706 but the steepest rise was in Vila Real de Santo António, up 11.4%, followed by Silves with a 7.8% gain and Olhão up 6.6%. The most expensive municipality house is Loulé where the average paid per square metre is €2,430 compared to the cheapest municipalities of Silves, at €1,499, Olhão at €1,301 and São Brás de Alportel at €1,233.
www.simplyalgarvemag.com
Housing across Portugal increased by 6.4% during the same period with an average selling price of €1,867 per square metre. All regions saw price rises in the quarter, even in the north where growth was logged at 8%. The Lisbon and Algarve regions grew 5.9%, the Alentejo was up 4.2%, and the central region and Madeira were up 3.5%. The ranking of the most expensive districts continues to be led by Lisbon at €3,067 per square metre, followed by Faro at €1,916 and Porto at €1,649. This is not empirical data as it is based on advertised real estate prices for 71,572 properties on Idealista’s database - but it’s a fair enough indication.
Sources: www.algarvedailynews.com
H
PORTUGAL’S RENEWABLE ENERGY PERFORMANCE THIRD BEST IN EU
5
Home cooking
Chilli Butter Chicken
Why not try this stunning dish from Viv Thomas, AKA Chilli Boy Piri Piri, taken from his new book ‘Chillboys Kitchen’?
W
hen I retired it soon became patently obvious that I was going to need something to do to keep me occupied. Over the years, friends and family have been onto me about marketing my Piri Piri Oil and or writing a cookbook. So I thought, why not keep myself busy doing something that I truly love, firstly cooking and experimenting with spicy oils and sauces. Hence the quotation From one hot stuff to another Hot Stuff. I set about trying to perfect my Piri Piri Oil, slowly adding a number of other products to the line, all marketed under the Brand Name “ChilliBoy.com”. The latest addition to the ChilliBoy Stable is our “Hot az Hell” Piri Piri oil, made from the Carolina Reaper, Moroga Scorpian Red and
6
the Naga Chilli. Now with a lot more time on my hands have been able to experiment and really develop my love for cooking. The meals I’ve worked on are nothing new to most households, except that I have tried to add my own personal touch to them, with the addition of my own “inovations!” particularly with chillies. In most cases the heat levels of each dish are judged at what I like to eat and what seems acceptable to the majority of our friends and guests. For the real ChilliHeads out there, the crazy heat levels you desire can be achieved by either increasing the chilli measures/ quantities or adding your own preference of Chilli. I have been reliably assured by a few of my ChilliHead friends who eat these crazy chillies, that The Naga Chilli will blow your head off but tastes wonderful.
www.simplyalgarvemag.com
SERVES 4 - 6 PEOPLE. The first time I experienced this dish, we were at a friends house for dinner. I just had to have the recipe to give it a go at home. Since then I’ve prepared this meal on numerous occasions and each time with great success. Butter Chicken is an extremely popular dish in both the Middle East and Oriental countries. During an unscheduled stop-over in Dubai whilst trying to kill time in the city, I saw it listed on most of the locals market stall menus. On our visits to The Maldives, Chilli Butter Chicken was a regular meal both on their menu and their various buffet evenings. This is such an easy meal to prepare, however you’ll astonish yourself every time you serve it up, the flavours are stunning, because it’s a delicious dish. INGREDIENTS • 8 to 10 Chicken Thighs. Deboned and cut into bite size chunks. • 10ml Chilli Powder. Quantities
www.simplyalgarvemag.com
determine heat levels. • 15ml Turmeric. • 10ml Black Pepper corns. Freshly ground. • 10ml Rock Sea Salt. • 150gm Butter. Divided into 3 x 50gm segments • 2 x large onions chopped. • 10ml Cumin. • 10ml Cayenne pepper. • 10ml Chilli Powder. Extra. • 10ml Masala. • 30ml Ginger. Grated. • 10 x Fresh Garlic cloves. Minced / grated. • 4-6 Thai chillies. Seeded and finely sliced. Chillies are your personal choice. • 2 x Cans Chopped Tomatoes. Preferably plum tomatoes. • 200ml warm water. • 250ml Fresh full cream.
1
METHOD Place chicken chunks in a glass bowl, mix in chilli powder, turmeric, salt and pepper. Toss well, cover with cling film and set aside for a couple of hours.
2
Melt 50gm butter in a frying pan until butter just starts to sizzle, add the chicken chunks and lightly fry until a nice golden colour. Chicken should still be slightly pink in middle, remove from pan and set aside. Using the same frying pan, melt another dollop of butter (50gm), lightly fry the chopped onions until just soft (opaque) add the cumin, extra chilli powder, cayenne, masala and grated ginger. Mix in gently and fry for 5 minutes, add the fresh chillies and half the minced garlic, fry for a further 5 minutes. Now add the water, canned tomatoes and cream, stir in well bring to a simmer then add the chicken chunks and remaining fresh garlic, gently stir in. Cover pan with lid and very gently simmer for about 15 minutes. Remove from heat, place last dollop (50gm) of butter in the sauce, seal with lid and allow to stand for 5 minutes before serving. Ideal with a coconut basmati rice, popadoms and or naan bread.
3
4
7
Places
A SECRET GARDEN In this sun-drenched land, where laid-back is the lifestyle, you can be – and do – whatever you choose. For one German ex-pat, playing golf, learning bridge, or being a beach bum were never options, as Susi Rogol Goodkind discovered
S
tep inside the gates to Uschi Kuhn’s house in Vale Telheiro and you know, within seconds, that you are in a magical place where convention counts for nothing. Favourite shoes, long discarded as fashionable, hang from the branches of an ancient olive tree, glittering straps and shiny heels sparkling in the sunlight; plaster torsos are planted alongside scarlet hibiscus; a stone hand reaches up from the earth. Even the fountain has its own personality, less about show and more for the unrestricted soft cascades of water that move with
8
the wind and sing their own song. Uschi is an artist. Born in Heidelberg, under the star sign of Leo, she believes in self-expression, freedom of thought, dancing, laughing… and angels. Arriving in the Algarve 16 years ago in search of the sun, she and husband Rudi, sadly no longer with us, built their dream house on a site of rocks, ruins and rubble, behind the tiny school that once served the children of the small local community. The views are staggeringly beautiful, stretching across open countryside and the wide, deep
www.simplyalgarvemag.com
valleys to Cruz Assumada; the gardens are an example of what passion can deliver – even the smallest space has a hint of quirky inventiveness. A DISTINCT DIRECTION Coming from an established family in the hairdressing business in Germany, Uschi followed suit early in her career. Her work was heralded, feted, awarded with trophies. She was involved in film, on stage, on television, all the while nurturing and developing her skills as an artist. She experimented with body painting and created approaches that were new and very different to anything existing. She used the body as a canvas and later created sculptures on pregnant torsos which a clinic promptly bought. Here in the gentle hills above Loulé, Uschi opened a small, specialised hair salon in the grounds of her house. But art is her reason for being, and what fills her every waking hour.
www.simplyalgarvemag.com
She sculpts, paints tiles, sketches, and experiments with different mediums from airbrushing with watercolours to acrylics, clay to metal, wood to stone – all in her own piece of paradise, her treasured gardens. Uschi Kuhn is a person who never follows but is always there to pave the way for others who are ready to experience something different. Her charitable work with Rotary has brought her friends and admirers from near and far, many of whom, captivated by her flame red hair, her exuberant laughter, and her sheer love of life, wanted a little bit of that something special she has. Curiosity led to enchantment, and in turn to pressure. Whatever Uschi was serving there were people out there who wanted a taste, an experience, an opportunity to experiment and a chance to share. EMBRACING NEW OPPORTUNITIES People who had never picked up a paint brush before
9
Places were awakened to a world of new possibilities. They asked questions; they wanted answers. Creating an art retreat was a natural progression. This is not a venture designed to gather talents together. Rather, it is a one that invites everyone in, so that they can take whatever they need, be it friendship with like-minded people, or an outlet for unrealised potential. Having long offered holiday accommodation, Uschi now offers art holidays, with visiting teachers working with groups who can stay there, in the cosy, newly-built rooms, and live out their own dreams in the art studio. There are day sessions, often run by local teachers, where the keen-to-learn ‘students’ can work both indoors and outside in the wonderous gardens. Uschi herself teaches and shows her guests how to experiment with colour, and be brave with techniques. Everyone eats and drinks and laughs together, exchanging snippets about themselves, their lives and their individual dreams. There are talks, workshops, yoga and healing classes, massage sessions. And there is a sense of energy that is rare to find. But Uschi will never stand still or sit back, satisfied with what she has accomplished. She will always move forward to fulfill her innate desire to embrace everything, and to learn new skills. Earlier this year she heard Wesley Seme sing, and he touched her soul. She could have bought a CD, like anyone else would, but no, she, together with her new husband, Peter, decided to stage a concert in their gardens, under the ‘Red for Passion’ theme... She brought in Wesley
10
www.simplyalgarvemag.com
www.simplyalgarvemag.com
11
Places
himself, troops of singers and dancers, food, drink. She created posters and publicised the forthcoming evening. And then, in direct response to the Monchique fire tragedy that started a few days before the concert, she turned the event into a fund raiser for the Bombeiros. This is a woman who probably gets by on very little sleep because she is constantly planning the next day, next week and next month. Her art retreat is attracting a wide audience and those who visit, even for the day, leave with a return date in mind. ‘Retreat’ suggests getting away from it all; In Uschi Kuhn’s case, it is discovering something enticing and all-consuming. Algarve Art Retreat Casa Estrela da Vida 37 Vale Telheiro 913 355 132 uschikuhn46@hotmail.com
12
www.simplyalgarvemag.com
AMI 7490
www.simplyalgarvemag.com
13
Extra-special espadrilles
14
www.simplyalgarvemag.com
Art As long as 40,000 years ago, human-beings began to protect their feet by wrapping them in leather. Jump ahead a few thousand years to the 14th century and for the upper classes shoes became an essential and sophisticated item of their wardrobe. Meanwhile poorer people continued to make their own footwear and in France and Spain this resulted in the espadrilles. By Carolyn Kain
T
raditionally the sole of an espadrille is made from esparto, a tough, wiry Mediterranean grass. The blades of grass were plaited together and using a large needle they were hand-sewn into the shape of a sole, then seamed at the sides and attached to the uppers made from a single piece of fabric. Nowadays the manufacturing process is mostly carried out in Bangladesh where 90% of espadrilles are made. The soles – no longer created from esparto – are made of jute, a high quality material that is used for making rope and readily available in Bangladesh. To ensure the espadrilles are relatively hard-wearing the soles are hydraulically pressed and sometimes vulcanized. In South America jute is imported from Bangladesh and similar shoes are assembled there and known as alpargatas. Once seen only in the fields of southern Europe on the feet of peasant workers, espadrilles today still resemble most shoe styles of the past. Of unisex design and worn by men and women, there is little difference between the shape of the right shoe and the left. Hard to believe that until early in the 19th century shoemakers would fashion the leather to create a ‘straight’ pair consisting of two identical shoes. The fact that feet are non-identical had not struck anyone until then. Later in the 1850’s shoemakers began to see the potential for making shoes that were specifically designed for men and women. It was then that the fashion industry for shoes was born and as technological advances made the process simpler designers came up with more and more eye-catching ideas. Espadrilles have gone through a range of fashion fads and changing features. Peep-toes, open-backs, ankle straps, ribbons and laces have been incorporated into the designs. In the 1970’s French fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent invented the wedge espadrille with a heel covered in jute. Nowadays platform and wedge styled espadrilles are frequently covered with Portuguese cork. However flat soled espadrilles remain the most popular types and are featured in Roma Markov’s colourful painting. Currently displayed at Galeria Côrte-Real near Paderne, the artist’s work features scenes and still life images of the Algarve. REMEMBER - having gone through many phases shoes can only qualify as espadrilles if they are made from all natural materials. Galeria Côrte-Real is open from Thursday to Sunday 11am to 5pm Signposted from Paderne, Ferreiras and Boliqueime Telephone 912 737 762
www.simplyalgarvemag.com
15
GALERIA DE ARTE | ART GALLERY
Collective Exhibition
October to December 2018 at the ArtCatto Gallery in Loulé
Anneke Bester
Alain Bertrand
Paulo Neves
Nick Walker
Tim Madeira
Tel: (00 351) 289 419 447 | info@artcatto.com | www.artcatto.com | Avenida José da Costa Mealha nº 43, 8100-500 Loulé Gallery opening hours: Monday to Friday 10.00am to 6.00pm, Saturday 10.00am to 1.00pm
Fashion
T (00 351) 289 419 447 www.artcatto.com
Summer exhibition 19th July 2018 7.00pm to 9.00pm at the ArtCatto Gallery in Loulé
BAGS OF STYLE
Tel: (00 351) 289 419 447 | info@artcatto.com | www.artcatto.com Avenida José da Costa Mealha nº 43, 8100-500 Loulé
Gallery opening hours: Monday to Friday 10.00am to 6.00pm, Saturday 10.00am to 1.00pm
Dutch designer Anja Rasenberg has arrived here with her Tizann Collection. Get ready for a style treat, says Ben Austin
B
orn in Breda, Holland, Anja Rasenberg knew from an early age that she was destined to be a designer. As a child she made sketches of clothes whilst devouring every fashion magazine she could lay her hands on… she even produced clothes for her Barbie dolls and dressed them in the greatest of style. She excelled in art and design at high school and attended the prestigious Fashion Academy in Rotterdam, where she studied illustration, textiles and fabrics. She honed her craft in sewing and production, earning herself a distinction in the process. SPOTTING A NICHE After years of freelancing as a designer for various brands, she noticed that women of her generation were carrying
www.simplyalgarvemag.com
around army-style bags and decided that it would be cool to decorate them with colourful leather patterns, studs and animal heads. Cool it was, transforming an otherwise dull green canvas utility bag into an art piece – resplendent, brave and strikingly different. The attention garnered by these ‘urban accessories’ led her to participate in the Bread and Butter fair in Berlin, and within three days Anja had sold a staggering 800 bags, with agents falling over themselves to represent her line both nationally and internationally. In just a matter of months, no less than 50 outlets across Holland, Belgium, Germany and Japan had become stockists. Time to sit back and enjoy the success? No – not for this particular talent. At another fair, Anja wanted some cushions to decorate
17
Fashion
her stand and hoped to borrow samples from a fellow designer. As luck would have it, no spares were available and the ever-inventive Anja simply sat down and produced her own collection to compliment her bags and her newlyintroduced belts range. The cushions – created as props – added further wow-factor to her offering; the response from retailers was overwhelming and the orders ensued. THE NEXT CHAPTER With the business taking off, Anja needed to source factories overseas and went off to Thailand to broaden her network of contacts. There, sadly, certain unscrupulous operators took advance payment and failed to deliver, leaving her without product for her clients and damaging her fledging business. Disappointed but undeterred, Anja left Holland for Ibiza, seeking inspiration in a more bohemian laid-back atmosphere. There she became a fixture on the arts and crafts scene selling her bags, cushions and belts at the famous Las Dalias ‘hippy’ market. Anja soaked in the Iberian culture, the rugged landscape, the glowing sunsets and the glittering sea, the wildlife
18
and fauna, all of which infused her senses and profoundly influenced her creative output. The bull’s head in particular, with its association of strength and power, became an ongoing motif in her work. The island, though, was limited in terms of suppliers and outlets, so Anja started looking further a field. At a friends’ suggestion, Anja came to live in Portugal, appreciating the tastes and sensibilities of the country and, moreover, discovering that especially in the north of the country, around Porto, there are fine leather goods manufacturers and craftsmen. In a very short space of time – a matter of months in fact – she has built up a growing base of private clients, with stores and interior designers following suit having picked up on her highly-desirable collection. A DISTINCT SENSE OF STYLE Anja’s eclectic style with its emphasis on natural colours, such as browns, ochre, beige, taupes and oranges, is ideally suited to the Algarve. Although she draws inspiration from around the globe, creating a fusion of elements taken from various cultures including Moroccan and Asian as well as
www.simplyalgarvemag.com
from the American midwest, and this is reflected in her inclusion of fine feathers, studs and beads. The pieces speak of a homespun aesthetic and a rejection of ‘bling’ whilst retaining a clear focus on quality. The leather is sourced from Italy, the trimming from India and the canvas from China; whatever Anja creates – be it a handbag, a beach bag, a belt or a cushion – there is something distinctive about it. Her pieces are practical and stylish, without screaming ‘designer label’. Her ideal client would be someone who wishes to express individuality and create a personal statement, someone who is perhaps tired of the faceless corporate identity that come with big brands. Her bags adorned with tassels, beads and feathers are attractive and functional, the pattern and the composition of the cushions is carefully considered, and everything is colour coordinated and worked out in the finest detail, from the texture of the calfskin to the trimmings themselves.. NEXT STAGES As Anja continues to develop her line here, she will be looking to include additional luxurious materials such as
www.simplyalgarvemag.com
silk and velvet, while experimenting with fabrics designed for the exterior, so that her cushions retain their depth of colour even in the strong Algarvean sun. She is something of a rare talent, this one, moving effortlessly from clothing design to accessories to home wares. Her arrival in Portugal heralds a new era in terms of her own creativity and output and, for those of us who are based here, it offers the opportunity to buy into a unique signature brand where ‘hippy chic’ and ‘boho’ describe the Tizann Collection’s personality while skill and craftsmanship underpin the quality. The collection is surprisingly well-priced for what is, in fact, an art form. Bags range from €100 to €300, cushions – depending on size and complexity – from €60 to €200, and belts between €150 and €200. Special commissions can be undertaken, too. For more information contact: Anja Rasenberg 915 152 313 tizann@outlook.com
19
CAPTAIN OF THE CLUB
There are close to 40 golf courses along the Algarve. Sharon Henderson is the woman in charge at the famous Quinta do Lago golf club, Laranjal, and was there right at the start
S
even years ago, when Laranjal was first completed, Sharon Henderson’s husband Ian contacted the powers that be at Quinta do Lago with a proposition: would they consider having members and allowing the formation of a club? It was not part of the grand plan at the time; the vision had always been for a commercial pay-and-play operation. It took some convincing, and cajoling, and the promise to deliver a fitting result, before those powers agreed a new direction and left Sharon and Ian to work on the legalities. OF COURSE The course itself, the youngest on the circuit and now one of the most popular with the golfing fraternity, was designed by Portuguese architect Jorge Santana da Silva, and routed through orange groves – hence the name, Laranjal. The par-72 championship course, in the Ludo Valley, slightly short of 6,500 metres in length, is known for its
20
spectacular fairways and defined greens, five stunning lakes, umbrella pines, cork-oaks and, of course, orange trees. And it is quiet – a great aid for concentration – as there are no villas nearby. Within two years of opening, and against strong competition, Laranjal was voted Best Golf Course in the Portuguese Travel Awards. “It is recognised as a world-class golfing experience,” says Sharon. “We have five par 5s, eight par 4s and five par 3s; the course is sown with Bermuda grass on the fairways and Penn A4 on the greens, so that putting surfaces are top-notch throughout the year.” What is key, of course, is players’ reaction – and loyalty – when the choice before them is so vast. As this year’s captain, Sharon is proud of the club’s achievements. “It has been extremely successful and we have the calibre of member that suits the Quinta do Lago brand. Our retention rate of membership is over 90 percent which shows that they like what they are getting.”
www.simplyalgaråvemag.com
People
One of the benefits of Laranjal, apart from the quality of the course itself, is that, unusually, there is no up-front joining fee. Equally unusual is that there is just one Captain, and that the Captain in question this year is female. In the early days, Sharon was the Club Secretary and Handicap Secretary, taking over as Captain in April this year for a one-year tenure. “I am sure there are several societies that have this structure, however, there are possibly no ladies in the capacity of Captain of legally-formed Clubs. We are very much a mixed club and do not have any competitions for men and women separately.” Laranjal has a web app which is its platform for communication with the club’s 120 members and it’s here, online, where members sign up to play in the roll-ups or other competitions and allows Sharon to work remotely without having to check and re-check a noticeboard. A Captain’s life is an action-packed one. “It is hard to qualify how much time I spend on my work but there are
www.simplyalgarvemag.com
events in January, April and September that take a lot of organising,” explains Sharon. “On a daily basis I am looking after our members’ handicaps, membership registration and the formatting of three competitions per week. We do have committees that help out and there is a Club Secretary, but it still go-go-go all the time.” FOR THE COMMUNITY One aspect of the club’s activities that is key to Sharon’s role is what has been achieved in terms of raising money for local causes, projects that come under three members who sit on the Laranjal Charity committee. Sharon’s Captain’s Day raised €20,000, half of which will go towards a minibus for a home in Loule. Laranjal has also supported the local fire victims, down syndrome swimmers, animal charities, food bank and others. Sharon is also on the board of ACCA, the local children’s charity, and is able to direct (with the agreement of the
21
People other committee members) some of the funds raised to support needy causes that come under ACCA. Sharon’s committee reports back to Laranjal members exactly where the money raised has gone – in ACCA’s case 100% goes to the causes for which they are intended. “To see the Club thriving is very fulfilling,” Sharon says, explaining the plus-points of her role. “I am able to witness new friendships being formed, members changing their lives to spend more time in the Algarve and some even moving here full time. That this is very much influenced by the enjoyment of our relaxed, boutique-style golf club is hugely rewarding and knowing I am able to play a part in that gives me a real sense of pride. I am also proud of managing to get James Healey’s record of Four Eagles in a single round of golf into The Guinness Book of World Records. He achieved this feat in 2015 during the second round of our annual Club Championship but it took me two years to process and get it published. I was so happy when it got accepted.” For information about joining Laranjal, call 912 306 182 or email secretarylaranjel@gmail.com. If you are considering joining, you can attend a roll-up as a guest or contact Quinta do Lago to book a tee time.
toldos - awnings sun wind rain protection
toldolanda
info@toldolanda.com | www.toldolanda.com | 914 609 517
22
www.simplyalgarvemag.com
PERSONAL STUFF Finding paradise: Sharon’s parents first visited the Algarve way back – in February 1969. They stayed at the Dona Filipa, Vale do Lobo, the first resort on the coast and then just a handful of years old. Within a couple of months they had put a deposit down on a double plot of land. In the UK, Sharon worked in her family’s building supplies business and holidayed here regularly. In her early 20s, she moved to the sunshine and married her Portuguese husband in 1984. Learning the lingo: She took Portuguese lessons in Loule, twice a week – vital both to communicate with her in-laws, and to help with a villa management and rentals business. Children: Son, Marco, born 1985, has a masters degree in law. In July he opened the first Algarvian restaurant in London, to great reviews. Called Casa do Frango, it fulflls a long-held ambition. Daughter, Stefanie, born 1986, studied sustainability for Urban development at Bond University in Australia and recently did an Earthship biotecture course in New
www.simplyalgarvemag.com
Mexico. She has since worked as a volunteer in Puerto Rico, building in hurricane-affected areas. Son Russell, 16 years old, from Sharon’s marriage to Scottish husband, Ian. An aspiring tennis player, he travels and studies, so organised school hours are a thing of the past. Getting into golf: “I took up golf at 19 when my mum gave me eight lessons as a birthday present. However, as she had dotted empty baked beans cans around the lawn at home, I was hooked on putting from an early age. And holidaying in the Algarve as a youngster, my brother and I would putt on the practice green whilst our parents were drinking gin and tonics or ordering dinner in the Golf Clubhouses (those were the days of few and far-between restaurants).” Favourite eatery: Casavostra in Almancil Book: Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts Music: “10CC, although I am listening to more Ed Sheeran than anything else as that is what is on in the car when I am transporting my teenage son!”
23
26
3
2
1
www.simplyalgarvemag.com
4
A
Follow the N125 West for Togofor-Homes, Vilamoura Foll Wes ow t Yell t for he N1 ow 25 Hom es
B
C
Sesil Home
D
Follow to find House2House
7 Quintas
Management Works!
E
F
4
3
2
1
7
8
9
7
8
9
A
B
C
D
E
F
6 6
5
5
www.simplyalgarvemag.com
27
Property
Property of the month YELLOW HOMES Land & Houses Algarve Real Estate Agent since 1995 Tel: +351 289 301 294 Email: info@yellowhomes.com www.yellowhomes.com EN 125, Benfarras Boliqueime (opposite DHL)
AMI: 6232
28
www.simplyalgarvemag.com
Very impressive and elegant villa near Vilamoura with stunning sea views PROPERTY DETAILS • Exclusive listing • 4 bedrooms with wardrobes and terrace • 4 bathrooms (3x en-suite) • Atrium entrance hall • Open living-ding area with fireplace • Fully furnished and equipped modern kitchen • Laundry • Storage • Plot completely fenced and walled • Beautiful garden with automatic irrigation system • BBQ • Salt water swimming-pool (10 x 5m) with covered BBQ • Outside shower • SAT-TV • Telephone • Alarm system • Air conditioning • Under floor heating • Borehole water • Cistern • Double glazed windows in aluminium frames • Aluminium shutters • Polished calcada floors throughout • Plot: 2.000 m2 • Construction: 320 m2 • EC Class IP
€1.170.000 Ref: PRA www.simplyalgarvemag.com
29
Property
How monetary policy will effect property prices in 2018 By Property expert Robert Bijker
A
s we know all good things come to an end eventually. The ECB has confirmed that it plans to taper stimulus on the back of strong labour markets. It has decided to reduce the monthly bond purchase program from €30bn to €15bn from October till year end, increasing the likelihood that it will halt new purchases going forward. This would bring an end to the expansion of their balance sheet. However, they will continue to reinvest funds that come available from maturing bonds. When it comes to the desirability of property, it is all about location and specifications. A home in a prime location will
always be more expensive than a similar home in the middle of nowhere. However, property prices in general are influenced by the amount of financial liquidity in the system (money supply) as well as interest rates. Just like low interest rates increase the affordability when a prospective buyer needs a mortgage, high interest rates have the opposite effect. With money supply it is the same, loose monetary policy by central banks lead to inflation of asset prices including property. Tightening of money supply has the opposite effect. On a global scale we are moving away from ultra loose monetary policy and extreme low interest rates to a more normalized situation. Money supply
GOLF PROPERTIES - VILLAS - APARTMENTS - TOWNHOUSES - PLOTS
AMI: 6232
FULLY RENOVATED, 4 BEDROOM QUALITY VILLA WITH HEATED POOL NEAR CARVOEIRO. This beautiful modern villa is set on a plot of approx. 1000 m2 in an excellent location near the coastal town of Carvoeiro. The villa has undergone a complete renovation and now emphasis high-quality materials and standards. This property has been meticulously maintained and would make the perfect holiday home or permanent residence. Price: €895.000 Ref: LHV-2545 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
30
can either stimulate or slow down demand. If anything financial is hard for you to comprehend, think of it like this: ‘You are at a party and free drinks are served from 3 punchbowls (central bank of Japan, Fed in the USA and the ECB in Europe). After awhile two punchbowls are removed (Japan & USA), an hour later the last punchbowl is removed, but the bar tender says not to worry; you will need to pay for your drinks but we start with happy hour. Happy hour comes and goes and the price of your drink is going up every hour. Eventually the party ends. So where are we now? The Happy hour in Japan and the USA has ended while in Europe it is just about to start. Over the past years the abundance of cheap and easy money from a loose monetary policy has benefited economic growth and employment and indeed inflated prices of financial assets as a rising tide lifts all boats. As we are slowly moving away from loose monetary policy to a more normalized monetary policy it is likely that the biggest increases in property prices are behind us. According to the US financial rating agency Standard & Poor property prices in Portugal are on track to rise 9.5% this year. The report that came out early September refers to strong demand from both local and foreign buyers and places Portugal together with Ireland at the top end of Europe. In our own base case scenario for 2018 (published on the 1st
www.simplyalgarvemag.com
www.richybassett.com
http://www.eaisc.eu
Apple products maintained and repaired iPhone • iPad • Apple watch • Macbooks
New Batteries, screens replaced, water damaged phones repaired.
Used iPhones for sale, all guaranteed Tel: 961 700 200 email: info@eastalgarvemag.com
iPhone 6s from ¤200 iPhone 7 from ¤330 email info@eastalgarvemag.com for stock list and prices
www.eastalgarvemag.com of December 2017 ‘Algarve Property Market Outlook 2018 and review of 2017’, see www.landandhousesalgarve. com/articles.aspx ) we expected prices of existing homes sales to rise between 7% to 9% in 2018. An increase
118_Oct18.indd 7
7 in property prices of 9.5% for the year 2018 would be just above the top end of our expectation and great for property owners. Coming December we publish our Algarve Property Market review of 2018 and outlook for 2019 including
GOLF PROPERTIES - VILLAS - APARTMENTS - TOWNHOUSES - PLOTS
our view on Brexit, trade wars, the rise of populist parties in Europe and the 01/10/2018 outlook of the economy of Europe and Portugal in particular now that the period of ultra loose monetary policy is coming to an end. Robert Bijker Director Yellow Homes Land & Houses Algarve www.algarvepropertysearch.com www.algarve-portugal-immobilien.de Vilamoura Office EN 125, Benfarras Boliqueime 8100 - 068 Boliqueime Tel: 289 301294; Fax: 289 301439 AMI 6232
AMI: 6232
STUNNING 3 (+1) BEDROOM VILLA WITH SEA VIEWS NEAR ESTOI. Impeccably presented in an idyllic setting, this beautifully villa is located close to the town of Estoi with stunning views over the countryside and of the sea. There is the possibility to adapt the part of the basement into an additional 4th ensuite bedroom. The property benefits from full air-conditioning, solar panels for domestic hot water and central heating (gas back up), full double glazing, mosquito screens and a licensed borehole. Ref: BKO Price €750.000 EC class C.
Tavira Office Rua Dr. José Pires Padinha 178 8800 - 354 Tavira Tel: 281 320 281 Fax: 281 321 901 AMI 6232
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
www.simplyalgarvemag.com
31
22:27
Simply Algarve Full page OCT2018.indd 1
32
21/09/2018 11:32
www.simplyalgarvemag.com
om fr s n 5 Mi lé Lou
We buy and sell high quality furniture.
An enjoyable shopping experience with amazing choices at affordable prices. Why go anywhere else. Bedroom - Dining room - Lounge - Garden - Office - Kitchenware - Lighting - Soft Furnishings - Pictures - Mirrors - Objets d’art OPEN MONDAY - FRIDAY, 10:00AM - 17:00PM TEL: 289 395 197 OR VISIT WWW.HOUSE2HOUSE.PT
www.simplyalgarvemag.com
33
Dining out
Your ultimate
Restaurant We’re serving up the next course in our favourite restaurants guide. Tasty treats, every one of them
guide
BARBACOA Vale Formosa
Linda and Barry Clayman Barbacoa is my favourite restaurant at the moment. The garden setting is so lovely, beneath a canopy of trees. The portion sizes are very generous and the food is delicious – the grills include chicken, barbequed ribs, steaks, lamb and salmon with a choice of sauces and sides and there are half portions available of some dishes, as well as two-person servings. Covers, in addition to the traditional bread, carrots and olives etc, offer octopus salad, smoked salmon, codfish cakes and shrimp cocktail, or ham and melon, chorizo, cheeses and meat pasties. I think Barbacoa is good value for money knowing how expensive some restaurants have become in the area. The staff are very friendly and deliver service with a smile. I have eaten there several times since it opened a few months ago and seen other restaurant owners enjoying a meal there – how is that for a good sign! Estrada Vale Formosa, Almancil 911 021 775 / barbacoa.pt
BJ’S OCEANSIDE Quarteira
Angela Sobell You can park or, if you are feeling energetic, you can take a beach walk from the Praca at Vale do Lobo; 20 minutes and you’ll have worked up an appetite! This lively restaurant is open for lunches and evening meals and offers traditional dishes like catch-of-the-day grilled fish, chicken and pasta, but there are some extra special offerings, like smoked haddock fishcakes with a basil tomato sauce; quinoa, roast veggies and feta cheese salad; and a heavenly almond and bacon rice. Music is provided by a great duo playing old favourites and the getup-and-dance atmosphere is irresistible. Best if all, it’s is not just at weeknds, but every day. There’s a dressing up box containing costumes, masks and wigs, for those who really want to get stuck in. BJ’s does get busy, but now it’s autumn, the pace will have calmed down. Still worth making a reservation in advance as often the place in taken over for special parties. Rua Foz do Almargem 910 698 479 / bjsoceanside.com
34
www.simplyalgarvemag.com
ESTAMINE Ilha Deserta
Amanda Holden This is my idea of the perfect day. Take a ferry from Faro or, if you are extremely lucky, go with fab friends on a beautiful boat, and power down the coast with views of the Ria Formosa. This wonderful restaurant on what looks like a paradise island, boasts an environmentally friendly solar-powered kitchen and delightfully friendly staff. Try the clams and the sweetest local prawns to start, then share the freshest sea bass cooked to perfection and served at your table with a tomato salad and delicious salty fries washed down with a Dona Maria rosé. Then, if you are feeling naughty, finish off with fresh pineapple and creamy vanilla ice cream. The walk around the island is a treat, too, several kilometres of total peace. En route to mainland, you can glimpse dolphins playing in the wake. Estamine is open 10am to 6pm. Ilha Deserta 917 811 856 / ilha-deserta.com The Ferry takes 45 minutes from Faro, adults €5, children 2.50 Speed boat journey is 15 minutes, adults €10, children 5-7 €7,50; babes go free
ANTONIO TA CERTO Ancao
Paul Torz We have been going there for years – I mean 30 years. In the beginning it was run by the old man and his wife, as a beach bar, simple and primitive. We used to call it ‘The Hilton’. Later, daughter Dina took over the running, and very successful she has been. She didn’t turn it into one of the glitzy restaurants with stylish decor that so many did, but retained the simplicity and charm. The fish is as fresh as it gets, straight off the little fishing boats delivered straight to her door. The cooking is by Ruis, who is confined to the kitchen at all times and is only let out on special occasions. Many times I have stood in front of the fish cabinet and pointed to one likely candidate when Dina, who stands over the fish like a prison guard, has shaken her head and said: “No, you will have that one!” There are lots of interesting bits on the table to start with and a bowl of superb clams, followed by the fish of your choice, makes for the perfect meal. And for meat lovers there is chicken piri or lamb chops. Ancao, on the beach Urbanização Vale do Lobo 70 289 396 456
REAL INDIAN MAGIC Boliqueime
Charlotte Hill Everyone has their favourite Indian restaurant/curry house that they take possession of and become unequivocally loyal to – this is ours. It is a lovely… small, family-run and utterly authentic. The husband does the cooking, the wife does the tables and the food is the best. Living in Vilamoura and working near Albufeira we are spoilt for choice when it comes to eating out. But when it is Indian food we fancy, this is our go-to, never-have-to-think-about, choice. We are always encouraged to try different dishes and have never been disappointed. All dishes can be adjusted, spice-wise and within reason – perfect for kids to enjoy whilst getting their taste buds accustomed to new flavours. And there’s a €7 lunch menu which includes a starter and a main, wine, soft drinks and coffee. The website is hopelessly out of date, but one goes for the food, not the techno talents! Estrada Nacional Fonte de Boliqueime on 125 south side 289 321 585
www.simplyalgarvemag.com
35
BRITISH STYLE AUCTION HOUSE
• Direct Sales • Business and House Clearances
Direct sales, Business and house clearance service, online catalogue, & Monthly Auctions! Free valuations and Monthly Auctions!
• Free Valuations • Online Catalogue
General Auctions Plus Antiques and Collectables General auctions are held on the 1st Saturday of the month and Start at 10:00 am.Viewings on the Thursday and Friday before the Auction between 09:00 and 17:00.
ANTIQUE AND VINTAGE JEWELLERY AND HALLMARKED STERLING SILVER.
FURTHER DETAILS OF ALL AUCTIONS ARE ON OUR WEBSITE
Do you have antique and vintage jewellery you would like to sell? Have you got some hallmarked sterling silver items you no longer want? These items are creating a lot of interest at Auction at the moment and are achieving realistic prices.
WWW.AHALGARVE.COM
Why not give us a no obligation call to discuss what you may like to sell? We offer honest valuations and free advise to all potential sellers.
Open: Mon - Fri 09:00 - 14:00pm Sat: Open Auction days Email: valuations@ahalgarve.com Office: 289 832 380 Tel. Mark: 914 774 438 Sitio do Besouro, Conceição, Faro
36
WANTED!
www.simplyalgarvemag.com
Finance
Pound still buoyant against the euro Keep up to date with our currency expert Chantelle, Client Account Executive at Currencies Direct
The more or less continuous back-and-forth between EU and UK policymakers and political commentators has seen Starling whipsawed higher and lower from one day to the next.
I
n what seems to be a ‘Groundhog Day’ type scenario, the pound has been rising and falling in reaction to various Brexit-related comments and soundbites over the last few weeks. The more or less continuous back-andforth between EU and UK policymakers and political commentators has seen Starling whipsawed higher and lower from one day to the next. Over in the Eurozone, poor sentiment has had the effect of frustrating moves by the euro to capitalise on the pound’s vulnerability, as worries about the bloc’s exposure to the financial drama unfolding in the Turkish lira continues to unnerve investors. Taken together, these factors have seen the GBP/EUR exchange rate trade between €1.13 and €1.09 over the last four weeks. What’s been happening? During the first half of September the pound faced considerable headwinds and stormy seas from fears over there being a ‘no-deal’ Brexit. Sterling had already sunk to an eleven-month low at the end of August when the prime minister, Theresa May, said that leaving the EU without a deal ‘Would not be the end of the world.’ Since then, however, sentiment has been riding a wave, with the Pound suffering several knockbacks but always coming out higher. One of these boosts came from an unlikely source – the EU’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier – who suggested that the EU would form an ‘unprecedented relationship’ with the UK and that a Brexit deal could be finalised by November. The Frenchman’s words certainly contributed to the pound’s rally in September. Away from Brexit talk, UK economic data has been somewhat mixed, adding to the volatility seen in Sterling in recent weeks. With each new rise in sentiment, GBP exchange rates seem to then be undermined by the next release of weak data. The euro too has faced some volatility since the start of September, partly due to worries about European banks
www.simplyalgarvemag.com
being exposed to Turkey’s currency crisis, and partly due to ongoing fears that the US will spark a trade war with China which the Eurozone will inevitable be drawn into. Further adding to the euro’s woes has been the release of plenty of sub-par economic date, with indications that the Eurozone is struggling with growth and inflation adding to the stack of reasons investors are hesitant to change their money into euros. What do you need to look out for? It’s probably no surprise that Brexit developments will continue to influence pound movement over the coming days and weeks, with focus falling on whether leaders will be able to strike a deal at an emergency summit due to be held in November. All indications are that the euro will continue to keep its head above water over the next month against the pound, with any fresh growth downgrades or weak data likely to be seen as proof that the economy of the currency bloc is hitting the rocks. Beyond that, and new developments in the US induced trade spat with China, as well as fears that contagion from the so-called emerging markets could spread to European banks, will keep investors on their toes over the next few weeks. With over 20 offices worldwide and 450+ dedicated financial services employees, Currencies Direct specialises in providing one-to-one support and expert guidance whether this is online, over the phone or via the app. They also provide access to services like forward contracts (which give clients the option to fix an exchange rate for up to a year ahead of making a transfer) and rate alerts, so clients have less chance to miss out on a positive market movement. If you need to make a currency transfer and want to have a chat about your requirements, the friendly teams at Currencies Direct are always on hand to help. Give them a call on +351 289 395 739 or pop in to the local office in Almancil to see how they can help. You can also register by using the following link: www.currenciesdirect.com/portugal . You can visit them at stand 15 BLiP Expo 2018, which will take place on the 13th and 14th of October 2018 at the Portimão Arena. Currencies Direct are authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), hold a Level 1 credit rating with Dun & Bradstreet and protect client’s funds (to any amount) in segregated client accounts.
37
Finance
Answering questions from our readers
O
Keep up to date with our Finance expert, chartered accountant Ricardo Chaves from All Finance Matters
ver the last month we have received many questions from our readers, although some of these questions are related to specific situations, sometimes the answer may help you to better understand the tax system in Portugal and answer the queries from other readers. If you also have some questions regarding tax in Portugal, please feel free to send it to us. Q What are the main changes on the new Local Lodging law, can the condominium stop my AL license? In August 2018, the Law 62/2018 was published, which changed the legal regime for the exploitation of local lodging establishments. When there is a repeated and proven practice of acts that disturb the normal use of a condominium building and which cause discomfort and affect the rest of the condominium owners, the condominium may, through reasoned deliberation of more than half of the homeowners of the building, oppose the exercise of the local lodging activity, informing the mayor who then has the final decision. In the event stated above, the cancellation will be determined by Mayor of the city. This cancellation has a maximum term of one year and falls on the property, regardless of the exploring or ownership entity. If you are curious about the changes to the new AL law, please email us and we can send you a document with the changes by email. Q Can you explain the EU residency rule when calculating the capital gains on the sale of a property in Portugal, by a Non Resident? I understand that if use that regime, I can pay less tax, but I need to declare my income in the UK? If you are non-resident for tax purposes, the tax applicable to your capital gain, will be 28 percent. If, however you are a resident, the tax will be levied only on 50 percent of the gain and you will be taxed according to the tax bracket applicable to your overall income. If you are a non-resident and an EU national, it’s possible to opt for the same rules of the residents and also only be taxed on 50 percent of the gain. For this to happen it is necessary that most of the income declared in that year be from a Portuguese source (ie that the capital gain is higher than the income in your home country). The tax rate will be in some cases higher than 28%, but because is levied in just 50% of the gain, can represent a huge tax saving. Let’s assume you are selling for 500.000€ and your gain, after all the deductions made, is 100.000€. The tax bill under
38
the normal regime at 28% would be 28.000€. By opting for the EU residents regime you will be paying a tax rate on equal terms as a resident. For this the IRS tax rates are progressive, but the fact that you are on the highest tax bracket doesn’t mean you are taxed on all your income at such rate. For instance, for an income from 36.856€ to 80.640€ the tax rate is 45% but that doesn’t mean you will pay 45% of the gain. (remember the gain you made was 100k, but only 50k will be taxable). In fact the average tax rate on the whole income up to 80.640€ is 37,6%, so instead of 28.000€, you could be paying just 18.800€. The fact that you need to declare your worldwide income, when opting for this regime, doesn’t mean you will be taxed again. You just need to prove how much you earn, so that the Portuguese tax authorities can determine in which tax bracket you will be included. If you sold a property in Portugal in 2018, please remember you need to submit a tax declaration next year. Contact us, if you want to estimate how much tax we can save you. Q I tried to become a Non Habitual Resident, but my application was denied because the tax office says I have been a resident in Portugal. I never filled a tax return here, the only thing I paid was my council tax. Is this correct? It’s important that people realize that if the address registered at the tax office is a Portuguese address, your property for instance, then the tax authorities consider you a resident. If you are a non-resident, you should either appoint a fiscal representative in Portugal or give the tax office the address from your home country. If your address was in Portugal, but you never submitted a tax declaration here, we can contest and revert the decision made by the tax office concerning your Non Habitual Residency request. You will need to show a tax residency certificate, issued by the tax authorities in your country and this needs to be officially translated to Portuguese and submitted to the relevant tax department in Lisbon, that will deal with all the NHR applications. Contact us to find out how this can be done. As a Non Habitual Resident, you can be exempt on several income streams from foreign source, such as pension or dividends. If you are still working as a sole trader, you can benefit of flat tax rate of 20% on your income. This is particularly attractive for tax payers with high levels of income. Please feel free to send us the questions you may have to ricardo@ allfinance.pt. We will select some of these to be published.
www.simplyalgarvemag.com
AFM-Boat-2017-B5
20-02-2017
www.simplyalgarvemag.com
07:23
Page 1
39
HOME TRUTHS
Interior designer Melissa Jane Graham is widely regarded as a trend-setter when it comes to creating bold, adventurous and highly individual environments for her impressive portfolio of clients. We visited her Quinta do Lago atelier to talk about contemporary style and personal taste
40
www.simplyalgarvemag.com
People
Your earliest influences – what were they? I was born and raised in the glorious English countryside and then spent my late teens and twenties in London and New York. I suppose you could say that I was originally inspired by both the recurring themes of traditional country houses and the free-thinking get-away ‘cottages’ of the Hamptons – equally grand often, but so very different. When did you arrive here, on the Algarve? I first visited with my then husband, Jorge, who worked closely with Andre Jordan (left, with Melissa) on the original development of Quinta do Lago, and I set up my design consultancy and retail operation in 2011. I recognised the potential right away. There are wonderful properties here, and an exacting audience of home and business owners who share my passion for statement-making style. At what point in the process do clients seek your opinion? The actual process of furnishing a villa is only the final
www.simplyalgarvemag.com
phase of the service we offer. It is the finishing touch. More often than not, however, I get involved right at the start – at the inception of a project – be it a new build or a complete reconstruction. Increasingly, architects and builders use me as a sounding board for detail when clients are away. And of course, I am totally in tune with what a client wants because we have discussed, advised, exchanged ideas, and agreed the way forward. It’s helpful to clients who are not based here to know I can represent their wants and plan their wishlist while the building and development work continues. My clients all have different priorities. Some want me to take charge of the whole thing, and surprise them with something entirely of my own making. Happily, so far we have always exceeded their expectations. So do people have a pretty good idea of what they want? Some have an idea of the direction they’d like to take and examples of the sort of look that inspires them. Others – and often it is those who are new to the Algarve – want
41
People
advice about what is available, what works best in the setting, and what makes the most of the wonderful natural light we have. Many people find the decision-making process daunting, or perhaps don’t have a huge amount of time to invest in a particular project. In any of these scenarios, we are there to understand needs, and design around individual tastes. What we have is a one-hundred percent focus on each commission we undertake, whether it is a one-room re-vamp, or a ten-bedroom house that is still on the drawing boards. Would you say that you have a particular style? In general terms I would describe my approach and taste as modernistic. But in specifics, individuality is of utmost importance in everything I do. No two homes should ever be the same – though sadly, here in the Algarve, that does happen; I will always choose individual items and the way they are put together, to meet a particular brief and a particular client’s lifestyle. I have done classical. I have
42
done opulent. I have done cool and funky. I take on board what the individual dream is, and then I set about making it come true. Where do you source specific products for a project… and for your two retail shops? We work with a large number of furniture and fabric suppliers across Europe, importing from Italy, Belgium, Germany, France, the UK and other countries. And we use the manufacturing strengths of Portugal to great effect, which in many cases bring top-quality products at an accessible price into the offer. A large proportion of our furniture is custom-made to suit individual properties; it is really exciting to work with expert craftspeople who can interpret a brief and deliver the best possible end product. Your biggest project? It was a vast ten-bedroom rebuild in Quinta do Lago. It
www.simplyalgarvemag.com
took eight months to come to life and at any one time there were close to 100 people on-site. It was hugely challenging… and so rewarding to see the final outcome. It is lavish and beautiful with every detail carefully planned and skilfully incorporated. And your most loved one? You know, it is impossible to have a most loved one. The projects I am involved in are as different as the owners and the properties themselves. Sometimes it is just finding that certain little item – a particular ceiling light perhaps, or a certain fabric – that gives me, as the designer, a great rush of pleasure. What are the best-selling pieces in the shops? Very often people visiting the shop are looking to purchase something they have seen that appeals to them, rather than investigating the services we provide. House-warming gifts for a friend or a piece that fits in with their existing décor
www.simplyalgarvemag.com
are common reasons. We do, of course, put striking pieces on display, like the metre-long cheetah that has proved to be enormously popular. What about current trends Right now there is a huge interest in exotic materials, like petrified wood, which I love, and also beautiful contemporary wood finishes, and large natural whole wood pieces are becoming popular as well. These look particularly stunning in the big villas that grace the Algarve.
Melissa Jane 37 Quinta Shopping and 4 Buganvilia Plaza 918 169 300 www.melissajaneinteriors.com
43
Agenda
NOT TO BE MISSED:
Each month, Simply Algarve brings you a hand-picked selection of the events on the region’s calendar. There are, of course, many more, but we will focus on the lesser-known and possibly more interesting. Got an event coming up? Email us with the details at simplyalgarvemag@gmail.com.
THE ARTS MEINKE FLESSEMAN
Corte Real, Paderne On now A new collection of paintings by Olhão-based artist Meinke Flesseman, a student from the Lorenzo di Medici and the Ruud Wackers Academy. These are images with a dreamlike quality; water distortions, diving, cool waters, swimming, reflections.
VROOM VROOM
ArtCatto, Loule On now French artist Alain Bertrand has legions of admirers to whom his interpretations of Americana through the decades – that move from monochrome newsreel to the brilliance of technicolour – represent all that Europe was not. His passion for cars, for cabs, for trains and planes is evident throughout his work. The exhibition will include seven new pieces.
CARLOS EVANGELISTA
Vale do Lobo Art Gallery From 11 October Concrete Derivation features striking paintings and sculptures by this Spanish artist whose bold and distinctive style reflects his desire to create harmony. The exhibition includes paintings in different formats made on wood and lacquered steel sculptures, created between 2005 and 2018.
KIDS STUFF HALF-TERM JUNIOR GOLF ACADEMY
Vale do Lobo 15-19 October, Monday to Friday, 2pm-4pm Back by popular demand, the Junior Academy is the perfect opportunity for children who have already had some golfing experience to progress to a new level and perhaps challenge their parents by the end of the week! Expert tuition and small group sizes. Pre-registration required. Classes will take a maximum number of ten children. €100 per child for the five days. For further information contact the Vale do Lobo Golf Club Reception. +351 289 353 464 / golf@vdl.pt
44
HALLOWEEN
Vale do Lobo Praça 31 October 3pm-6pm In addition to all the spooky, creepy stuff and lots of Halloween surprises on the 31st, there is daily entertainment for the youngsters – face painting and balloon modelling, bouncy castle jumping and more from 20 October to 4 November.
www.simplyalgarvemag.com
MUSIC PIANO CONCERT
Tommaso Cogato Museu do Trajo São Brás de Alportel Saturday 13 Octobe On the 100th anniversary of the death of Debussy, this concert – A Voyage of Colour and Dreams – is dedicated to the composer. Tickets are €12 (€10 for Amigos do Museu)
COOL MANOUCHE
(Gypsy jazz) Museu do Trajo São Brás de Alportel 21 October, 5pm Rick Steffens on the double base, Luis Fialho and Ray Bartlett guitar and Betty M, vocals and violin will get your feet tapping. Tickets are €10, (€8 if you have an Amigos card.) For more information, 966 329 073 | 917 112 128.
CHARITY
DUO BLUMENTHAL
Quintinha da Música Near Tavira Sunday 7 October, 5pm The performance history of this duo is still new, since Aya Komatsu (flute) and Namiko Kimori (piano) met at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Frankfurt in 2015. The two have an extensive repertoire ranging from the baroque to contemporary music; they will be playing music by Japanese composers in the first half: Japanese Seasons: Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter and in the second half music by Astor Piazzolla, Claude Debussy and Borne François. Tickets are €25. Email lynne.algarvehistory@gmail.com
BANDA SINFÓNICA PORTUGUESA
Cineteatro Louletano Loule 13 October, 9.30pm The Portuguese Symphonic Band (BSP) travel the length and breadth of this country, as well as neighbouring Spain, performing before an ever-increasing audience. Under the artistic direction of the maestro Francisco Ferreira, this 75-minute concert promises to delight. Let’s hope the programme includes the work dedicated to cinema music. Tickets are €10 (€8 for over 65s).
KEEPING FIT ONE TROPICAL NIGHT
The Conrad, Ballroom Quinta do Lago Friday 12 October, 7.30pm Celebrate the last summer days in style at the ACCA Kids Annual Gala. This is all about warm colours, flavours, and musical rhythms in an unforgettable night of entertainment and dancing. €150pp. To book call 919 617 995.
www.simplyalgarvemag.com
QDL ACTIVITIES
Quinta do Lago Throughout October What do you fancy? Tennis, padel, power yoga, aqua fitness? QdL offers these and a load of other options, every single day of the month. And if energy-spending is not your thing, you can sit back and laze and enjoy music in a host of venues. Email info@quintadolago. com for details or visit quintadolago.com
45
We need you!
SALES PERSON REQUIRED
Simply Algarve is looking to add another member to our team, for over two years now we have been growing from the gound up and now it is time to take the magazine to a new level. To do this we need a comission based salesman that has the following:
Previous Sales experience; Own Transport; Knowledge of the area; Fluent in English and ideally a knowledge of Portuguese; Self-motivated; Determined and ready to work! If you know you have what it takes then call us now on 966 044 143
QUINTA DO LAGO OPPORTUNITY New Mansion of classic architecture, with 5 to 6 en-suite bedrooms. Games room, cinema, gym, plus car garaging. Large pool with spacious landscaped garden. Walking distance to Quinta Shopping & Conrad Hotel. Well constructed with high quality finishing.
Direct from the developer, best deal in Quinta do Lago at 2,995,000â‚Ź
Contact 914 574 199 or HOTALGARVE@GMAIL.COM
46
www.simplyalgarvemag.com
Golf
FREE 15 Minute Swing Analysis at Pestana Vila Sol
L
Richard Hudson and Eddie Charnock, Algarve Golf Guru, PGA Professionals OFFER YOU this great opportunity!
ast month we talked about Justin Rose/Team Rose, how important his support team of Club Manufacturer Taylor Made, Golf Ball Manufacturer Taylor Made, Adidas Golf Shoes, his Golf Coach, his Fitness Coach, his Dietitian, his Mental Coach and when both on and off the golf course his Caddy. All his hard work and the support he needed from his team has come to fruition, congratulations to Justin Rose, the Worlds #1 Golfer! The article we wrote was concerning golf equipment and the importance of Custom Fit Golf Clubs! This month we talk about the importance of
www.simplyalgarvemag.com
having a Golf Coach. It is impossible to teach yourself as more times than not when your coach asks you to change a part of your set up or swing it feels very different, uncomfortable or just wrong so based on this you would only spend your time practicing what feels comfortable but not necessarily correct. If you have not had lessons before but are self taught, simply have not wanted to see a golf coach as you are sceptical or want to take this opportunity to try a different Golf Professional. This is a great opportunity to meet two of the Best Teaching Professionals in the Algarve for a FREE 15 Minute Swing Analysis*
at Pestana Vila Sol! To book your FREE 15 Minute Swing Analysis at Pestana Vila Sol or any other golfing needs with Richard Hudson or Eddie Charnock you can find them on their website: www. algarvegolfguru.com Email: sales@ algarvegolfguru.com and make sure to mention Simply Algarve as a point of referral. *Subject to availability, with Richard Hudson or Eddie Charnock, one analysis per person, analysis covers one part of your game, offer ends Friday 30th November 2018.
47
Sports
SPORTS NEWS F
A TALE OF TWO ‘JOVENS FUTEBOLISTAS
our years ago two young men, one born-and-bred in Scotland and the other raised and educated in Portugal, had the football world at their feet. Aberdeen born Ryan Gauld dreamed of following in Cristiano Ronaldo’s footsteps when he moved to Sporting Lisbon from Dundee United for €3.4m. Just eighteen years-old he was being hailed as the ‘Scottish Messi’ such was his precocious talent. At the same time 20 year-old Eric Dier moved from Sporting to Tottenham Hotspur for €4.5m. Since then their careers have moved in diverse directions. Eric Dier is a rising star, having so far made over 140 appearances for Spurs and been capped 34 times for England, wearing the captain’s armband on several occasions including the recent victory over Switzerland. But whatever happened to Ryan Gauld? The diminutive attacking midfielder - 5ft 6in, left-footed and with a low centre of gravity, so earning the nickname the ‘Scottish Messi’ - made his debut for Dundee United aged just sixteen in May 2012.Two years later, he was finishing a breakthrough season that made Europe’s top clubs sit up and take notice, netting eight goals in thirty-eight games for the Tangerines in Scotland’s top flight. Whether he
S
would be a success was not in question, it was just a matter of where. So a few eyebrows were raised when he signed for Sporting Lisbon. At the time Gauld said, ‘Sporting have got a good track record with really good, young players Luis Figo, Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani all came from here - so I knew they must have the coaches to develop worldclass players’. The early signs were promising. Sporting manager Marco Silva (now at Everton) was impressed enough to name Gauld in his 25-man Champions League squad straight away, and by the end of the season Gauld had played five first-team games, scoring two goals and making another. But then Silva left for Olympiacos and Gauld’s career went into decline. Two years ago Gauld finally got his first taste of Portuguese top-flight action with a loan move to V.Setúbal where he made just five appearances. Last season he was loaned to struggling Aves scoring once in twenty-three appearances. Gauld will now be hoping to re-ignite his career with SC Farense where he will wear the number 88 shirt during his twelve month loan spell. We wish Ryan every success at this pivotal moment in his career.
A TRULY REMARKABLE TROPHY
eventy years ago FC Porto beat Arsenal in a friendly. Nothing special about that you might think, but imagine the esteem a club would have to be held in by its opponents if the victors commissioned an intricate nine-foot trophy in honour of a solitary friendly win. So it was that Arsenal, shortly after their record equalling sixth League triumph, embarked on a short tour of Portugal in May 1948. The Gunners were reckoned to be the most powerful team in Europe, if not the world and the Portuguese, a passionate soccer nation, were still smarting from a 10-0 hammering dished out by the English in an international match the previous year. Arsenal easily defeated Benfica 4-0 and then moved north to take on The Dragons in front of a capacity 20,000 crowd at the Estádio do Lima. Few gave the home team any chance as Arsenal fielded a strong team including Joe Mercer and Wally Barnes but without the Compton brothers, Leslie being injured and Denis given leave to put in some cricket practice before the Ashes series in England that summer. However, in the broiling heat and dazzling sunshine, the visitors appeared to have underestimated their opponents. In the ninth minute a 30-yard thunderbolt from Antonio Araujo sailed into the top left hand corner of George Swindin’s goal via the post. Then Porto’s 16-stone forward Correia Dias scored twice to give the home side a 3-0 lead at the interval. Arsenal reduced the deficit through Rooke midway through the second-half
48
Brought to you by Chris Wright
and Jones added a second. The game reached boiling point and the atmosphere was electric with the crowd whistling loudly for the game to finish. Having restored the nation’s pride, FC Porto decided to create a trophy called The Arsenal Cup and requested that all important jewellers put in tenders for the monumental icon. Such was the clamour in Porto that 60,000 escudos had been raised by public subscriptions within a few months of the game – about €250,000 today. To describe it as “cup” is possibly one of the biggest understatements in football. The unique and quite magnificent trophy, and equally intricate presentation cabinet, is currently displayed at the FC Porto Museum. Weighing 250kg, it contains 130kg of pure silver and is 2.8 metres tall. Other material such as gold, enamel, crystal, fine wood, marble and velvet were also used in its production. The trophy itself is entirely silver and consists of three sculptured figures of women rising on tiptoe holding the cup, with three athletes reaching towards the cup looking to drink the wine of the victory. It is housed within a glass cabinet supported by four silver dragons allowing the trophy to be viewed from all angles. In a brief history of FC Porto on the club’s official website the win is still celebrated as a pivotal moment for the club: “the 3-2 victory over Arsenal, at the time known as the best team in the world, was a proof of the blue and whites potential.” Sanfins, the last surviving member of the Porto team died four years ago.
www.simplyalgarvemag.com
www.simplyalgarvemag.com
49
Last Word
Tales from an expat in Portugal The need for a minor op gave Anthony Martin something to celebrate. Time off, time out, and an excuse to put off those taxing household chores. Or so he thought. But the wife, her plans, and an unexpected visit, squashed all of his Yup, no one procrastinates like me but, this time I have a visible excuse and that, together with a sick note from the hospital, I was exempted from all chores
A
s my wrist, a short while ago, decided to take on a shape of its own, I had, last month, the good fortune to be incapacitated. I did try to make it last longer, but a week was the maximum I could spin it out for without sabotaging my stitches and leaving tell-tale trails of blood all around the house. Loulé hospital wasn’t a great help either. You would think that after all these years of Martin family ailments keeping the staff busy and we, generally, being such good customers, they wouldn’t turf a wrist out of a bed so quickly. Having had only half a day of pampering, with pillows being plumped up, servings of hot buttered toast and pots of proper tea, they saw their task as finished so, heavily bandaged, the wrist was sent home to face the realities of life. THE GOOD BITS Luckily, wrist was in a sling, so drilling holes in the wall (required for the purpose of hanging paintings), replacing salt in water softener and adjusting flushing systems in two loos were out of the question. As was watering numerous pots outside the house, jet washing the terrace and convincing my wife that harvesting the veg was a job for one hand (and not mine). Yup, no one procrastinates like me but, this time I have a visible excuse and that, together with a sick note from the hospital, meant that I was exempted from all chores. This has just brought about a sudden flash-back to childhood and my mother’s notes to school – “Please excuse Anthony today, he has a temperature of 103F”, and believe me, you have no idea of how many attempts it took to get the hot orange juice to the right temperature before dipping the thermometer. Is it laziness or an age thing? Is the mind telling the body to slow down or is it the
50
body telling the mind: “why don’t you think, you bloody idiot? I’m getting older”? Forget the-spirit-is-willing-but-the-fleshis-weak – my main problem is that the spirit is less than willing and the flesh would rather sit in a comfortable chair with a rubbishy book, a box of chocolate digestives and base its daily regime on Winston Churchill’s comment, “Never stand up when you can sit down. And never sit down when you can lie down.” Personally, I think the great man should be equally remembered for this, as his ‘fight them on the beaches’ speech. A CHANGE OF PLANS It is now ten days since I wrote the above paragraph, (my best bit of procrastination to date) and I have just had some news. My wife’s best friend of many years is making a visit this month. I’ve met said friend a few times, both in the US and the UK; she is a charming lovely person who shall be more than welcome as a guest. She is a Californian who spent most of her life in Beverly Hills/Bel Air and presently resides in the State of Texas. Now, given that background, I’m sure you can picture her. Tall, blonde, lissom, elegant and beautifully dressed, with incredibly white, even teeth and serious jewellery. Think of the red carpet on the night of the Oscars and you’ve got it. She’s going to go down seriously well at our local chicken ‘n chippery, even without the stilettoes. And now, I am told, the house has to be brought up to scratch as our guest is used to nothing less than pristine, and that peeling paint is not an option any more than faulty flushing systems and all the other bits and bobs that have been metaphorically swept under the carpet. The wrist is going to have his work cut out as my wife will not want her friend to think that in marrying me she let her standards drop.
www.simplyalgarvemag.com
Q A TRUE LINKS COURSE ON THE SPANISH BORDER AT AN INCREDIBLE PRICE
ENJOY
Costa Esuri
RESERVATIONS: COSTA ESURI GOLF CLUB Urbanización Costa Esuri Avda Juan Pablo II, S/N, A49 – Salida 131 21400 Ayamonte, Huelva, Spain Tlf:(0034) 959 328 071 www.costaesurih2ogolf.com
BBQs
BBQ Islands Restaurante
Awnings & Shades
Patio Heaters
Abstracto Traditional Portuguese Cousine
YOUR EXPERTS IN OUTDOOR COOKING Mediterranean
restaurant
Rua Dr. Antonio Cabrera, 34 8800-344, tavira Tel 937 037 712 restaurante.abstracto@gmail.com
VISIT OUR SHOWROOM! Gardens
Square
Rio Gilao
Roman Bridge
272A, Almancil 272A, Rua Rua do do Comércio, Comércio, B135 8135-016 Almancil Restaurante Abstracto
Restaurant.Abstracto.Tavira
www.simplyalgarvemag.com
www.eastalgarvemag.com
Bishops Square
Tel.: +351 289 356 233 www.bbqs-algarve.com sales@bbqs-algarve.com
Largo do Mercado, Cacela, Faro, Portugal Call: 281 956 118 Email: essencia.net@sapo.pt Facebook: essencia.algarve
45 49
51
Europe's Best Golf Venue *Membership prices for anual subscriptions.