Tomorrow Aljezur to Lagoa - April 2021

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APRIL 2021 | EDITION 113

In this edition Locked Love Unlocking film talent

Your Questions Answered Exclusive interview with the British Ambassador

A Royal Affair More interesting revelations about the Crown

My Vaccine Experience What you need to know

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Editor's note  TomorrowAlgarve

 www.tomorrowalgarve.com Sophie Sadler - Editor  sophie@tomorrowalgarve.com

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Janine Nieper - Sales Assistant  janine@tomorrowalgarve.com

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As discussed in this month's health section, April is traditionally a time for rebirth and renewal, and eating lots of chocolate eggs!

The big news this month is that the UK has taken Portugal off its red list. I am hugely grateful to the British Ambassador in Lisbon for giving up his valuable time this month to explain what this means and dispelling a lot of the fake news circulating. My interview with Chris Sainty is on page 20.

As a mother of primary-age children, I am whooping with joy to have them return to school and a big high five to all parents who survived this challenge. To those with secondary-age children, keep going; it's not for much longer now!

People from every walk of life have faced enormous challenges for different reasons but working while trying to educate your children has been a huge mountain to climb. I realised I might not be coping with it very well when Tom Henshaw started to apologise for calling me and one lovely lady told me she would call me back when I was calmer. I hadn't realised I sounded that agitated!

The one common denominator all ages do seem to have experienced during lockdown is the Blursday phenomenon: days blurring into each other, while the clock seemed to speed up and whole weeks passed by in a flash.

I am sure many of us thought the opposite would happen? I read an interesting article about this, which suggested that the days became very similar for many of us, and this blurring of identical days leads us to create fewer new memories, which is crucial to our sense of time perception. That is why, when you go on holiday and do so many new things, when you come home you look back and it feels like you were away longer than a week.

Food for thought and a reason to start making magical memories again with all the array of activities available in the Algarve, once restrictions are lifted.

From Sophie, Tom and the Tomorrow team.

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On the cover: Photo by Paul Baylis taken near Benagil.

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Locked Love

BY SOPHIE SADLER

Film director and producer Lou di Giorgio was stranded in Sagres by the COVID pandemic. Rather than be idle, he brought together local talent to produce a short movie, Locked Love.

Lou is Swiss-Italian and lives in the Seychelles, but shoots typically in Spain. Five years ago, he bought an investment property in the Martinhal resort in Sagres and when the COVID pandemic spread across the world, he was unable to return home.

Lou is best known as the producer of the feature film El Clan from the Spanish film director Jaime Falero. While twiddling his thumbs in lockdown, he researched and made some connections with other professionals in the film industry he read about in Tomorrow magazine and through the Algarve Film Commission.

Two years ago, he discovered a music video and commercial and drone expert living in Sagres called Telmo Antunes, who owns Antigravity. Telmo worked with Madonna on the music video for Dark Ballet, from her album Madame X, which was filmed in Portugal.

He also took the drone shots and worked on the cinematography for the Netflix investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann. Telmo became co-producer on Locked Love.

Lou built a team using Portuguese, South African and Polish crew and actors based in the Algarve. “For

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many of the crew, it was their first time on a film set, and it was a challenge to teach them everything about sound, lighting, and health and safety in three days, but it went surprisingly well.”

Lou did have to put some of his own money into the movie to cover all the costs, but it was one-sixth of the price it would normally have cost as the crew worked on a voluntary basis. “In this industry, you have to practice your craft; otherwise, you lose the feeling with the equipment and working as a team, so you can lose the skill. So most were happy to be working despite only receiving a production bonus.”

The finished movie is about 26 minutes long and was shot in four-and-a-half days from 4 January. The idea came from one of his neighbours Gilles Rocher, with Lou wanting to address the people who are not taking the pandemic seriously.

“I wrote the script thinking of how people can have a relationship in the time of the COVID-19, especially during lockdowns. I wanted to bring into the movie the full spectrum of emotions from passion to friendship, from missing your freedom to the sadness of a tragic moment we are all experiencing nowadays.”

In the movie, Michelle comes to the Algarve to meet her boyfriend but quickly understands that this will be a lonely journey because his flight was cancelled.

Eager to not waste her time, she decides to explore the area on her own. Soon she meets a group of surfers in Sagres and finds in one of them – Nathan –

“I wrote the script thinking of how people can have a relationship in the time of the COVID-19, especially during lockdowns."

COMMUNITY the perfect replacement for her loneliness. After some passionate encounters, Nathan gets sick. The poignancy of the movie lies in dealing with the burden of self-blame.

The movie was made by Film Algarve and Antigravity Portugal, in association with Film Aim (Spain) and Gázól Filmes. Among the cast, we see Vianca Meyer for the first time on screen, a South African based in Algarve. Lou says he was “surprised at how good she was. I got goosebumps watching her performance”. Marcus Andre, known in Portugal in TV series like Na Corda Bamba, starred alongside her as Nathan.

The film used the Martinhal Resort as a location and other landmarks in Sagres, like the Pousada, the Pontalaia apartments, the Cabo de São Vicente lighthouse, and the Armazém restaurant.

Lou envisioned the film set in romantic scenery and a stunning array of colours and usually sunny climate; however, filming was very tricky, not least because it rained so much this winter, but also because of the COVID regulations, which the crew and cast stringently followed.

“It was interesting to make a movie here. Normally there is a lot of sunshine and not many people around, so it is easy to move around, but the hardest thing about filming here is the lack of support in finding locations. My Portuguese crew helped me get permission to film outside the Pousada, which was fantastic to shoot, but it was hard work getting it.”

Lou had a huge advantage in that he had the support of Martinhal. Owner and founder Chitra Stern told me: “We are really happy that Lou’s film, which addresses such a current topic, was shot in Sagres and Martinhal Resort. Our location, weather conditions and facilities are excellent for winter and spring film shooting and the Algarve’s light is very special! This adds one more pillar to my brand statement for Portugal being 'the California of Europe'!"

Lou became interested in movies at a young age as his father owned the biggest movie theatre in southern Switzerland. He was involved with the Locarno Film Festival, one of the largest festivals for new filmmakers and still the one with the biggest open air screen in the world. “So I was involved in this my whole life and used to go to Geneva with my father to buy the next big films for the following year. I remember buying Saturday Night Fever with him. I had to help to project the movie as it was so popular.”

Lou learnt his craft from many professional photographers.

He started in photography at 14 years old with a Cibachrome colour house lab. By 19 years old, he had a professional colour lab in southern Switzerland with six employees. After four years, he sold the business to them to move to the “other side” of the camera.

In 2004, with the digital movie era dawning, he bought one of the first Red One cameras. The camera was used in the first Warner Bros’ Clash of the Titans movie, shot in Tenerife where Lou worked at the time. After a decade of renting movie and video equipment in Tenerife and the Seychelles and producing TV commercials, a documentary and El clan, Lou decided to “cross the line again” and to produce and direct the movie Kristel which began shooting in Portugal in 2020 and stopped because of the pandemic. He has also worked on sets as a cameraman, director of photography, and sound recordist, as well as a support actor in Ron Hopper’s Misfortune starring Vinnie Jones.

The latest string to Lou's bow is Locked Love, which has been just selected for La Jolla (California), one of the most prestigious film festivals around the world.

Lou now hopes to get home when the lockdown lifts but, before he leaves, he will be at the private premiere of Locked Love. It is being held near Lagos on 10 April, in the open air in a private property with a four-metre screen, and a small select audience. He is hoping to generate some interest from streaming companies like Netflix and Amazon, who may start to see Portugal as an option for film-making.

Locked Love has certainly unlocked something very positive from the pandemic.

For more information and to participate in the premiere, please visit:  www.LockedLoveMovie.com

www.tomorrowalgarve.com

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A Right Royal Affair Vaughan Willmore looks at the fascinating relationship between the Portuguese and British royal families.

Have you been watching The Crown on Netflix?

If you have, you may well have seen an episode titled Lisbon.

It tells of widely reported difficulties in Queen Elizabeth II’s marriage to the Duke of Edinburgh which cast a cloud over their state visit to Portugal in 1957.

We’ll never know the extent of those problems, but we do know it was Queen Elizabeth’s first visit to these shores and she was here for three days, mainly in the central region and Lisbon. The British royal family were hosted by President Lopes and stayed at the fabulous Palace of Queluz in the municipality of Sintra. The Portuguese government spared no expense, even buying a Rolls Royce especially for the occasion.

During Queen Elizabeth’s reign, there have been five state visits between the two countries involving three Presidents of the Republic – Lopes, Eanes and Soares. The last state visit was nearly 30 years ago in 1993, when President Soares visited London.

The bond between our two countries and our royal families dates back to the Middle Ages.

A pivotal moment was the signing of the Treaty of Windsor in 1386, an Anglo-Portuguese diplomatic alliance that still exists to this day and is reputed to be the oldest in the world. Another equally important event occurred a year later when King John I of Portugal married Philippa of Lancaster, the granddaughter of King Edward III. Born in Leicester in 1360, Queen Philippa of Portugal was 26 years old when she married. She proved adept at promoting trade between two countries and at bearing children, having eight in total, including the Portuguese King Duarte and the legendary Prince Henry the Navigator. This helped create a royal bloodline that transcended both countries.

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© Photos courtesy of Hemeroteca Municipal de Lisboa, published in Revista municipal N.º 72, 1º trimestre de 1957

A second royal marriage was in 1662 when Charles II married Catherine of Braganza, the daughter of King John IV of Portugal. Again, trade and strategic alliances were considerations, with Catherine’s dowry giving England the territories of Tangiers and Bombay. In return, Charles II provided troops to aid Portugal’s war of independence.

Despite challenges over the years, the Anglo-Portuguese relationship has endured. Since its foundation in 1348, thirteen members of Portuguese Royal Houses have been awarded the prestigious Order of the Garter. When Napoleon’s troops attacked Lisbon, it was the British Royal Navy that protected the Portuguese royal family, safely escorting them to Brazil. Following the establishment of the First Portuguese Republic in 1910, it was to England that King Manuel II (the last king of Portugal) fled.

Modern-day diplomatic conventions dictate that should there be any other state visits, Queen Elizabeth would meet the President of the Republic. Nevertheless, it shouldn’t be overlooked that Portugal still has families with claims to the royal crown, one of which is the aforementioned Braganza family, headed by Duarte Pio, the 24th Duke of Braganza.

Though not a head of state or official representative of Portugal, Duarte Pio has been received with such honours by certain heads of state and governments, albeit not that of the United Kingdom.

Whether it’s marriages of convenience aimed at securing trade and peace, or Netflix programmes alluding to problems in royal marriages, the crucial role played by our respective heads of state continues to transcend the centuries and underpin the oldest strategic alliance in the world.

I was helped with this article by Peter Booker, Presidente da Associação dos Historiadores do Algarve. Peter provides talks on the history of Portugal and other topics and can be contacted at peterbooker1347@gmail.com

Watch Queen Elizabeth II's visit to Portugal:  www.youtube.com/ watch?v=95FwXIPUyPo  www.youtube.com/ watch?v=SRFYxbHHLeU

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Who Do You Think You Are “One thing I’ve learned about our ancestors is they lacked imagination when naming their children.”

BY TRACY BURTON

Back in the 1970s, Marie Kuijper Davis began delving into her husband’s North Carolina bloodline. Lacking the plethora of ancestry websites and online lineage groups that now exist, her natural instinct for genealogical research found her visiting churches, cemeteries and courthouses.

Daughter Peggy Littrell picks up the story.

“My mother was an avid genealogist before genealogy was cool. She did her research the hard way and put in a lot of legwork. She pursued her husband’s ancestry because her own father emigrated from Holland in 1910.”

When Marie died in 1994, she left behind twelve boxes of research: snippets of information scribbled on old envelopes, handwritten lists of births, deaths, baptisms and weddings, and family trees painstakingly drawn on computer paper. The boxes lay unopened for several years until Peggy and her sisters decided to examine the contents.

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were springing up – like Ancestry.com – which helped tremendously.

“The idea is researchers can see other family trees and can share information. We entered what we could confirm to be true.”

Peggy’s passion for genealogy was well and truly ignited.

When she retired, she tackled the daunting task of ruling into – or out of – the family tree those with similar-sounding names, parentage and birth/death dates. She joined a lineage society – the Daughters of the American Revolution – and learnt the importance of carefully collating and documenting evidence.

Many courses followed, and Peggy began offering her services – free at first – to help gather the proof required by the increasingly popular lineage societies.

Online resources are a huge help; however, a good genealogist still requires a terrier-like determination to establish facts and unravel untruths (including in official records). Common obstacles include conflicting documentation – often the result of illiteracy and bad handwriting – unvarying first names and illegitimacy.

“The one thing I’ve learned about our ancestors is they lacked imagination when naming their children,” Peggy tells me. “One immigrant had five sons, whom he named James, John, William, Thomas and Samuel. Those five sons had their own sons, whom they named James, John, William, Thomas and Samuel. This was repeated in the next generation, so you had all these cousins and second cousins with the same name born within five or six years of each other and invariably married to a Mary or Margaret.”

“I had more experience with genealogy,” explains Peggy, who moved from Kentucky to Alcantarilha in 2017 and then to Pêra in 2019. “And what I did know was from reading when I was helping Mum. I wasn’t the addict I am now at that point."

Wills can often throw much-needed light on relationships as the wife is named and surviving children usually listed in order. As well as those wishing to join lineage societies, Peggy does research for adoptive children seeking information about their biological families and others who are just curious about their heritage.

Having evaluated the boxes’ contents, Peggy and two of her sisters were determined to pursue their late mother’s research. By then, a few websites dedicated to genealogy

Some are keen to establish royal lineage. The 2019 film Robert the Bruce elicited research requests from Americans with Scottish ancestry. 

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1911 Census

 Peggy’s research involves scrutinising vital records, the Census, church and military records, shipping passenger lists, wills and probate, tax records and genealogy websites, e.g. the Mormon’s Family Search. She charges by results, not the hours spent researching.

Luttrellstown Castle near Dublin. By a happy twist of fate, the couple relocated to the Netherlands with his work. Peggy was able to fly her mother to the Netherlands, research Marie’s father’s ancestry and meet Dutch cousins.

“We can now find out if someone has Native American or slave ancestors. And we have military records dating back to the American Revolutionary War.”

“Years of experience have taught me where to go and what clues are in that record that might not answer the question but will lead me to where the question will be answered.”

Peggy’s family research has taken her to England, Wales and Ireland. It was thrilling to learn that husband David’s ancestors once owned Dunster Castle in Somerset and

Peggy Littrell is available for genealogy research.  +351 911 962 782  +1 859 620 9127 (Whatsapp)  little.sd.dp@gmail.com

A Hope of Light in the Darkness

Five years ago, I suffered a heart attack and consequent damage to my heart. As a result, I recently received one of the phase one vaccinations for COVID-19; what an uplifting experience and sign of hope that was.

In 2016, my life was changed forever. Following a long hard day working in a management position in the UK, I came home with a terrible stomach ache. I went to bed quite early and eventually fell asleep. As the weeks went on, I started getting very breathless. I had suffered a heart attack and had permanent heart damage or what is so frighteningly called heart failure. Specialists thought that bypass surgery would benefit me and, in early 2017, I underwent surgery to replace four heart arteries. During my time in the hospital, I decided that my life needed a new direction. We had always planned to retire to Portugal, and in late 2017, we did just that.

Fast forward to early 2020 and the emergence of COVID-19. I became aware that people who had health issues like mine were vulnerable. I tried to adopt as normal a life as I could by taking all the correct precautions whilst awaiting a vaccine.

In our March edition, Niki Medlock described in some detail the process of vaccination here. I have heart failure (and coronary heart disease), so I qualified as part of the phase one programme. I have been registered on the Portuguese health (SNS) system for some years but use a private doctor.

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I wanted to ensure the SNS system was up to date with my health history and my contacts and so I emailed Lagos Health Centre. In 2019–2020, I had undertaken a course in Portuguese for Foreigners and part of this focused on health.

Consequently, my communications with the health centre were all in Portuguese. I think this really helped and was very satisfying for me. I received an email in response and was asked to send in a more detailed health history. This was reviewed by one of the doctors, who wrote back confirming that I was in phase one. In the meantime, my private doctor also provided me with a letter which I took to the health centre. So I waited to be called.

At the end of February, I received a call asking me to come the next day. I was excited and nervous. When I arrived, I spoke to the security guard and told him why I was there. He asked my name and gave me a form to fill in about preexisting medication, allergic effects of vaccines, COVID history, etc. He was happy to help me in English, but again the conversation took place in Portuguese. After a few minutes, I was called into reception and waited. A nurse then took me to the rear of the centre, where I was called into a room. Two nurses were administering the

The Astra Zeneca Vaccine Card (image courtesy Phil Egginton)

vaccine and updating SNS records. It was all over and done within a couple of minutes. No pain and very easy. I was taken back to an area where others were seated and told to wait for 30 minutes to check I had no immediate effects.

I had been given a card with details of my next appointment for the second vaccine. I was pleased to see I had been given the Astra Zeneca vaccine developed at Oxford University. The time period for delivering the second dose is eight to twelve weeks after dose one. My date was exactly twelve weeks later. I saw about another ten people having the vaccine in the 30 minutes I was there. So they were processing around 20 vaccinations per hour. After 30 minutes, another nurse came and checked I was OK and I was free to leave. I don't think my feet touched the ground on the way home!

I felt little effects, this was no different from my annual flu jab. My arm was a little sore at the injection site and for about five days afterwards, I did feel tired. Roll on the second vaccine!

By Phil Egginton, who is a journalist and photographer and now lives in the Algarve.  covid19.min-saude.pt

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The Algarve and the Earthquake of 1755

Luz Bay Church

BY JULIAN PUTLEY The most violent and destructive earthquake to ever impact Europe was the Lisbon earthquake of 1755. A geological fault line runs right through the city, but the epicentre of the earthquake was about 250 km south-west of Lisbon.

Not only was the quake on 1st November responsible for massive death and destruction, but fires erupted when collapsed wooden buildings and churches were ignited from oil lights and candles lit in celebration of All Saints Day. Valuable historical museum artefacts, documents and archives were destroyed. Minutes after the quake, the resulting tsunami – with a 20-foot wave – inundated coastal areas and rushed up the Tagus river, adding to the death and destruction. Because the deadly 8.5 magnitude quake struck on All Saints Day, the event was quickly attributed to the wrath of God for the sins of wealthy Lisbon, a city whose riches were garnered from its colony Brazil, and consisted mostly of gold and diamonds.

It was not only Lisbon that suffered such huge destruction, but also Portugal’s Atlantic coast and the Algarve. Aljezur was a busy seaport with ocean-going vessels, caravels navigating up the river to the town. The tsunami silted up the estuary, already adversely affected by the 1722 earthquake. It ended the town’s trade as a port and was a huge blow to the economy of the region. The destructive earthquake also severely damaged the Aljezur castle. Its effects demolished most of the remainder of the crumbling edifice. (The walls were partially rebuilt as a result of the 1940-41 commemorations, with much gratitude to the Portuguese people.)

The south-western tip of Portugal is the nearest point of land to what is believed to have been the epicentre of the quake. This meant the Algarve – then a region of sparselypopulated farming communities and fishing villages – was severely affected by the tsunami. At Lagos, the tsunami wave reached 50-foot high and almost breached the old city’s wall. In Luz, the medieval Church of Nossa Senhora da Luz (‘Our Lady of Light’) was badly damaged. In the 20th century, a violent storm and the 1969 earthquake caused similar damage to the church body, demonstrating how this part of the Iberian Peninsula is particularly prone to seismic activity.

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Further east is the municipality of Portimão. A recent study shows that, in 1755, priests were thought to be the most reliable providers of information and were asked to send details of the effects of the earthquake to the authorities in Lisbon. This information included wave heights and seawater intrusion into coastal zones, which is useful for mitigating future events. At the Igreja de Misericordia, situated 33 feet above sea level, the water reached almost ten-foot high. The chapel of Nossa Senhora da Ajuda, located on the beach, was completely destroyed, whereas the Fortress of Santa Catarina, located on a cliff edge, survived. This data, accompanied by the geographical location and topographical information, provides useful data for today’s emergency planners.

The 1755 tsunami destroyed other coastal fortresses in the Algarve and, at lower levels, it razed several houses. Almost all the coastal towns and villages of the Algarve were heavily damaged, except Faro, which was protected by the sandy banks of Ria Formosa.

It is estimated that if a similar-sized tsunami occurred today, it would adversely affect over 18,000 people and half the region’s hotels.

It is interesting to note that the units of measurement of seismic events are today measured by the Richter scale.

This scale calculates an earthquake’s magnitude (size) from the amplitude of the earthquake’s largest seismic wave recorded by a seismograph. It was developed in 1935 by an American, Charles Richter.

In 1755, the data gathered was based entirely on an observation of damage and the extent of damage by distance from the assumed centre.

The silted up Estuary and Flood Plain Access to Aljezur

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Meet the Locals

BY HELEN DANIEL

The second instalment of our new feature where we meet the local people who may not have achieved fame and fortune but are deeply rooted in the Algarve and passionate about their community.

Celestino Nobre is very proud of his work, and quite rightly so. He is the person responsible for keeping the streets and pavements of Rogil clean and tidy; and indeed, Rogil always looks impeccable.

Rogil is a civil parish in the municipality of Aljezur. It lies in the Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Natural Park. The area that Celestino takes care of is 774 m2 and has a population of approximately 360 people. This number inevitably rises during the summer months, as does the heat, which means his work becomes more demanding. “An increase in people sadly means an increase in rubbish,” he laments.

Celestino is a true Aljezurense (a person born in Aljezur). He was raised just two kilometres out of the town on his parents’ small farm. They kept cows, pigs, donkeys and chickens. “I left school at 14, bought some goats and became a goat-man,” he recalls. That ended when he was 21 and called to Faro to do his military service. “I was lucky,” he

A Sad Farewell

BY SERENA BINNS Meri Hanlin owner of Harmony Earth (Luz health shop) sadly passed away on 25 February.

Originally from Canada, Meri was a muchrespected and valued member of the Luz community, where she had lived for around 17 years. For the past few years, she had faced various health issues; however, she remained determined and enjoyed writing a novel. People will undoubtedly remember Meri walking around Luz with her pimpedup rollator. It was Meri’s wish for no funeral, but her ashes will be scattered in one of her favourite places.

Her legacy, Harmony Earth, will remain open.

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declares. “At that time, Portugal was not involved in any wars.”

From leaving the army until now, Celestino has remained in Aljezur, working in a variety of physically demanding jobs. He has laboured many years as a gardener, a painter, a builder and a farmer, and has also served tables at Amoreira beach bar. Just over a year ago, he acquired his street cleaning job and hopes to keep it. “I am happy when I am working outside. I love the fresh air,” he says.

Celestino works six hours a day, five days a week.

He doesn’t just sweep the streets; he clears weeds, cuts back undergrowth, repairs broken pavements and walls, and patches up any flaking paintwork. It’s gruelling work to keep a town clean, yet many of us take it for granted. Like others doing this type of work, Celestino is out every day toiling, whether it is bitterly cold, extremely windy, raining, or scorching hot. “The only time I don`t work is if there is a thunderstorm – thank goodness!” he smiles.

Barking Mad

BY BRIAN TORA

There has been more of a slight smile on the faces of my owners of late. Not that I can see why. We’re still stuck in grey, damp, cold old England, with not a beach in sight and little hope of getting back to Luz before travel restrictions are lifted, which is apparently likely to be mid-May for England.

But it seems the vaccine roll-out is going well, so they are expecting life to become steadily less constrained.

My owners take part in the church services broadcast from the Algarve each Sunday and in the general chat that follows when current issues are discussed, it seems few of the congregation have received their jab – and many of them are quite elderly. What this means for travel is anybody’s guess, but it doesn’t bode well for an early end to free travel between Portugal and the rest of Europe.

Apparently, the congregation there endeavoured to have a plastic-free February, following the conference that was organised back in January on plastic waste. I know that my doggie treats often come wrapped in plastic, though my food is in paper bags. Does that make me an ecofriendly terrier?

It has all become rather strange over the course of the past year. I don’t meet as many dogs as I used to on my walks and, when I do, I’m kept on a tight lead away from them. I know this is because my mistress needs to keep her distance from whoever is walking the other dogs, but it still doesn’t feel right. I don’t suppose it’s very different back in the Algarve and it must be very strange walking along the promenade and not having any bars to duck into. Stay safe and keep those tails wagging.

COMMUNITY

A Salema Dining Dynasty

BY HUGH CARSLAW

Paulo and Irene

Paulo’s son and daughter

“My hobby is restaurants."Such a statement from a restaurateur immediately provides reassurance that the dining experience in his establishment will be a positive one.

apartment owners and we installed really good ventilation in the kitchen. It took more than a year from the date of purchase to opening up and we were working 17 hours a day.

It was really tough.”

Sitting down with Paulo Castela to do an interview is not easy. He is always very busy and with restaurants his hobby, they get top priority. It’s a hobby that has been ongoing since Paulo was 13 and now, with two restaurants in Salema – Água na Boca and the Boia Bar – he is looking for a third.

It is nearly 15 years since we started renting an apartment from Paulo. He approached me and my wife and told us that since we were visiting Salema so often we should buy rather than rent. We came to an arrangement whereby we bought his apartment and this, in turn, allowed him to buy a unit in the same apartment block and turn it into his first restaurant Água na Boca. We continue to be delighted with this arrangement and now have the added bonus of having one of the area’s finest restaurants literally on our doorstep.

From the age of 13, when Salema-born Paulo was not at school, he could be found working in one of the village’s other main restaurants, the Atlantico. At 17, he left school and became a fisherman before starting work in the Boia Bar at 21. By 24, he had become a head waiter and remained there for the next 20 years; however, the desire to explore ways of providing different dining experiences was always on his mind.

“I could not see myself working as a waiter forever,” Paulo recalls. “I always wanted to have my own restaurant but finding the right location was one of the main issues.

Looking at what was on offer in Salema, I could see there was a gap in the market for fine dining. There was a new apartment block built in Salema. It also had a ground floor space for a shop, but I could see a restaurant would work well there.

“It took a lot of work to transform the unit into a restaurant.

We had to soundproof the ceiling so as not to disturb the

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It is easy to see why Paulo looks so happy. His wife and business partner, Irene, looks like a model and cooks like an angel. (Nigella eat your heart out!) Paulo was 28 and Irene 18 when they got together. They married two years later and had two children by the time she was 24. When the restaurant first opened, Irene worked in insurance, but after several chefs didn’t work out, the couple decided she would take over in the kitchen. I asked her if she ever regretted leaving insurance, but her response was an emphatic “no”.

“Irene is the brains of the business,” explains Paulo. “Along with the kitchen, she looks after the accounts.”

Fourteen years on, the restaurant is a thriving family concern with 38 staff, including their son and daughter, who are both working as chefs.

The beachside Boia Bar is now under Paulo’s management and continues to thrive. Água na Boca has a private dining area which seats 14 and both restaurants offer a great variety of fine wines, ports and cocktails, coupled with sterling service.

There is a real sense of family from the friendly staff, which really adds to the dining experience. Even in these difficult COVID times, the team spirit appears undiminished.

My wife and I are very happy to have two of our favourite eateries just a few paces away and await, with salivating anticipation, an announcement of restaurant number three opening.

Bravo to Paulo and Irene Castela and their team.

 www.facebook.com/aguanaboca82

“I always wanted to have my own restaurant but finding the right location was one of the main issues."

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Artist’s Impressions

BY SOPHIE SADLER

The Algarve has become a mecca for artists who find inspiration in its unique colours and light. In this series of articles, we meet the artisans and discover their stories, inspirations and take a glimpse at their work.

Kayleigh Hannah comes from southern England, from a small village an hour from London. “Everyone’s aim there is making money and getting a bigger house,” she says. She wanted to explore new places instead, so at 18 she moved to the Cornish resort of Newquay.

She had studied art and design and ceramics, and had developed a love of clay. She believes her geology studies helped her to understand the material more.

The pace of life in Newquay was more chilled and suited her; there she met her partner of 16 years. Then when she was 19, her mother died and “all of a sudden, my life changed”.

As therapy, she went travelling around Europe with her boyfriend and just a bag on her back. “We ended up staying in Sagres with a wonderful lady, who took us in and introduced us to all the local food. Here I fell in love with the Algarve; we ate fresh fish and bread every day. Back then, it was so peaceful and quiet with not so many winter tourists.”

She started to visit the Algarve regularly and, on one trip, went to a detox retreat and learned about yoga and meditation. “It came to me at a time in my life when I really needed it. I was suffering terribly with a bad back and stress.”

Since 2017, Kayleigh has been self-studying these subjects.

“This area massively influences my art, the beautiful Indian sculptures and gorgeous patterns, the shapes the body makes during asana, how relaxed the face is during meditation, the use of the body as a vessel inwards. Creating my small sculptures is like a meditation to me.”

The Sanskrit word for the body is kaya, so Kayleigh has developed a blend of art she calls ‘KayaYogaArt’. As well as painting in watercolours and making small clay sculptures, she taught herself embroidery and she embroiders patterns onto yoga straps and yoga belts. She also paints on wooden brushes.

Kayleigh chose to settle in the Algarve after travelling through most of Europe. “The Algarve is special. It has a kind of magical feel, with so much possibility giving me endless inspiration for my art, from the colours of the ocean and rocks, the natural light, even how clear the stars are at night.”

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Her favourite piece is a face with a small glass bead for its third eye. “I actually found the bead by a river near Monchique.

The face is so relaxing, which is why I use it in my meditation space; lighting a candle behind it illuminates and makes the bead glow, as well as the holes that let light through. I like to use crystals and even sea glass in my sculptures.”

Her wooden painted brushes, which she calls Kokobrushco are her best sellers, followed by yoga belts and straps. “I think my art appeals as it is functional art such as brushes and belts; others are just beautiful to look at, such as painting and sculptures.”

Is there anything she would like to experiment with in the future? “I’m going to focus even more on creating larger faces and sections of faces. I have also collected some natural clay from the earth here in the Algarve and am going to play around with it and see what happens. I would love to make a full exhibition of all my work as well.”

You can find Kayleigh’s sculptures, brushes and belts in Kailuz in Burgau. She also has a small exhibition in Studio Coração in Vila do Bispo, or you can buy online or commission her work.

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Ambassador's Questions

BY SOPHIE SADLER

On Friday 19 March Portugal was taken off the UK´s red list. What in reality does this mean for us?

It’s good news. From Friday morning Portugal will no longer be subject to the red list restrictions for travel to the UK. The ban on direct flights from the UK to Portugal will be lifted and people will no longer be required to self-isolate under the government’s hotel quarantine scheme.

That does not mean that all restrictions have been lifted. There are still a lot of things that people need to do if they are travelling from Portugal to the UK. They will need to complete a passenger locator form.

They will need to provide a negative COVID test before they travel and when they arrive in the UK they will be required to self-isolate for 10 days and to be tested on day two and day eight. All these details are clearly set out in the UK government´s travel advice pages.

It is a big step in the right direction and a reflection of the greatly improved COVID situation here in Portugal compared to where we were a couple of months ago.

Was it the correct decision by the UK for Portugal to be on the red list?

The reason Portugal was put on that list in the first place is that British ministers are determined to minimise the risk to the British vaccination programme which, as you know, has been rolling out fast and successfully. One of the biggest risks is importing COVID-19 variants, which might be more resistant to the vaccines that we are using.

Back in January, there were still direct flights coming into Portugal from Brazil with limited border restrictions in place.

For this reason, British ministers felt it was a risk they were not prepared to take. So flights were stopped in January.

Now Portugal has stopped direct flights from Brazil and increased its capacity

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to conduct surveillance of variants of concern, the British government has more confidence in data from Portugal and that was enough to tip the balance back.

There is still a ban by the Portuguese government on direct flights from the UK to Portugal and whether that gets lifted is a matter for the Portuguese government, which will form its own judgement on the pandemic risk in Portugal.

The purpose of the red list was to reduce travel from Portugal to the UK, but it has never been illegal for UK nationals or residents to travel back to the UK.

Was there a diplomatic breakdown last summer between the two countries in respect of Portugal being left off the safe list for such a large part of the holiday season?

There was a lot of speculation about the UK government having questionable motives in respect to their decisions on travel restrictions. None of that was true.

There was only one set of motives behind the government’s decisions and that was protecting public health in the UK. Of course, every country has to protect its population. British ministers have shown they are ready to make very difficult and often unpopular decisions with that in mind.

I was not advising ministers on this: that was rightly for British epidemiologists and the department of health. But in the lead up to the summer, Portugal had higher rates of infection than the rest of Europe.

We managed to make the case for the Portuguese islands to be given certain exemptions. But as far as the mainland goes, there was a long period when ministers didn´t judge it was possible to put Portugal on the safe list as mainland Portugal’s infection rates were too high.

Entirely understandably, the Portuguese

government was not pleased last summer as, of course, it had serious economic consequences. But the UK’s motivation was always the protection of public health and ministers won´t be pressured into compromising on that.

The Embassy and I have an important role in making sure all the information and data is available to the experts in the UK who provide the analysis and give advice to ministers. We made sure the information was flowing and the right conversations were happening between the two governments.

UK residents who own property here or spend the winters here are disappointed that there is now a 90 day limit to the duration of their stay in Portugal. Is this something that is set in stone or will there be some flexibility?

When the UK was a member of the EU, UK citizens enjoyed the right of free movement throughout the EU without restrictions.

The UK is now what the EU calls a ´third country´ and that right to free movement no longer exists. British visitors are bound by EU Schengen law, which says that you can spend a maximum of 90 in 180 days and that law does not distinguish between property owners and more casual visitors. If people want to spend longer than 90 in 180 days here, they will have to seek permission from the Portuguese authorities and apply for an appropriate visa. SEF and the Portuguese consulates in the UK can give more advice on that.

I am not aware that the Portuguese government are looking to give property owners an exemption and this was always an inevitable consequence of leaving the EU. The 90-day visa-free arrangement is already more flexible than some ´third countries´ who have to secure a visa just to enter the country, but the UK was able to secure this visa-free arrangement.

COMMUNITY What about people who arrived and lived here prior to the cut-off date of 31 December 2020 and for whatever reason were not able to get a residence permit from their local câmara? What rights do they now have?

People who can demonstrate they were living in Portugal before the cut-off date are covered by the Withdrawal Agreement. They have the right to residence here in Portugal.

SEF has indeed said that people will be able to register for residency for the foreseeable future . But it is also true that they haven´t yet announced or set up the process for doing that. We know that for these people it is an important issue and we are talking to SEF and urging them to clarify what people in this category need to do. When there is clarity, we will update information on our website and other channels to help people understand what needs to be done.

I understand that people may be frustrated and want clarity but they shouldn´t be concerned because if they were legally living in Portugal before 31 December, they are entitled to full residency rights as set out under the Withdrawal Agreement - even if they don´t yet have the piece of paper. I hope that this is reassuring.

What about people who were not resident prior to December 31st?

They no longer have the right to free movement in the EU and so must apply for residency as a ´third country´ national and that is a different process. They will need to research the options with SEF and the Portuguese Consulates in the UK and apply to them. It is a different process but certainly not impossible.

Why is there a problem with deliveries to and from the UK and can this be overcome?

I speak as someone who has first-hand experience of these unwelcome changes!

Packages being withheld and customs charges, so I have a lot of sympathy for those that find themselves in the same situation. The UK left the EU customs union on 1 January, at the end of the transition period, which means there is now a customs border between Britain and the EU that wasn´t there before. So all goods travelling across the border, including the packages we send, are now subject to customs checks.

Although under the terms of the trade agreement negotiated with the EU in

December, there won´t always be tariffs payable, there will be various administrative and handling costs associated with exporting goods from the UK and importing them into the EU. Like you, I have been hearing stories of people being charged a lot in some cases. So we are talking to the Portuguese customs authorities about this and trying to get a better understanding of how importing goods between our countries works because of course, this is all new.

This is the sort of thing that could have a negative impact on trading relations, so there is an interest on both sides to try to ensure that goods can travel as smoothly as possible between the two countries and to try to ensure that barriers and charges are as low as possible. That is the conversation we are having with the Portuguese customs authorities. But the border is now there, we can´t wish it away, and none of these charges are under the UK government´s control.

Can British nationals resident in Portugal return to the UK for COVID Vaccines?

The UK vaccination programme is not designed to cover British citizens living overseas. So the expectation is that Brits living overseas should access the vaccination programme in the country they live in.

What re-assurances can you give to vulnerable groups waiting for their vaccination in Portugal?

The vaccine programme in the UK has been remarkably successful, but Portugal is also making good progress . According to the latest figures I have seen they were above the European average in the number of doses they had administered per thousand of the population. Over 1 million first doses have now been administered. Some of the vaccine supply shortages are now being overcome. Of course it is frustrating having to wait but I don´t think people should be unduly concerned about the speed with which the vaccination programme is being rolled out in Portugal.

and have the same rights but it is not yet 100% clear what the process is. That is another question we are discussing with the Portuguese health authorities and as soon as we have a clear answer, we will publish it. We are discussing all this with the Portuguese government and will make advice and information available when we have it.

Do you think a vaccine passport should be introduced?

It is not for me to offer a view on what entry requirements the Portuguese government should put in place. On the general issue of vaccine passports, it is often more complex than it seems and there are many questions to which we haven´t developed clear answers. Who should issue vaccine passports? Who would regulate that process? What length of validity would there be? What international co-operation would be needed for all countries to recognise them?

I understand that people are attracted to this idea, particularly in the context of international travel and to help the tourist and travel sector. Maybe some kind of vaccine passport will be part of the solution and I understand that the EU is on the verge of making an announcement. It is certainly being looked at very closely in London. For the reasons set out above, the UK government are being very cautious and haven´t committed to a particular model.

Clearly it will also be interesting to see what countries further ahead in their vaccine programmes, like the UK and Israel, will do.

In terms of Algarve tourism can we be optimistic about this summer?

Lifting of red list restrictions is a step on the right track but there are still lots of restrictions to be lifted as mentioned previously, before people can start planning holidays to Portugal again. We are really aware of the impact of travel restrictions on tourism and hospitality, but saving lives will always come first and that will always be the UK government´s priority.

What we understand from the Portuguese authorities is that people should ensure that their SNS user number and registration with their local health centre are up to date and they will be contacted and invited to come for a vaccine at the appropriate time. If they normally visit a private doctor they should ask that doctor to inform their Centro de Saude, of any health issues, they may have.

The Portuguese government will make its own analysis on when to open up to UK visitors, but of course, if the conditions are right and if they consider the risks can be managed safely, it would be excellent news to open up holiday destinations as there are so many struggling businesses in Portugal and elsewhere. But COVID is not predictable and lifting restrictions is a big decision for governments, with life or death consequences if you get it wrong.

People living here who have not yet received their residency card can be vaccinated

Decisions are made on the balance of scientific evidence and certainly will not

www.tomorrowalgarve.com

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COMMUNITY be influenced by pressure from the media or social media. At the Embassy we take our job very seriously in making sure the scientists in the UK have access to the mountains of data from Portugal. When opening up can be done safely, I am sure it will be done.

How challenging has the last couple of years been dealing with Brexit and COVID? You are right that these two challenging issues have taken up a lot of my time as ambassador over the last couple of years, as well as my team’s time and energy. But happily, it´s not all about COVID and Brexit.

There is a lot of other stuff going on in the world which we can also engage with.

For example, yesterday, the British government launched its new integrated review of foreign policy. It’s a big and important piece of work intended to shape the UK´s role on the international stage.

That is a document that we can use to frame our activity in a country like Portugal and work out what our big strategic priorities look like here.

There is a very exciting global agenda, from which I would single out climate

change. The UK is going to be chairing the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow in November, which is a really big moment for the world. A moment when the international community needs to step up and make some big commitments to meet our Paris goals on climate change.

This is really what we should be spending our time worrying about as it is by far the biggest challenge we face in our generation and our children´s generation. If we don´t get it right then everything else pales into insignificance. It’s an exciting challenge to be part of.

The UK and Portugal are very like-minded on this we have made similar commitments to eliminating carbon emissions and we share other important common goals like protecting the oceans and marine environment.

Have the services the British Embassy in Lisbon offer, been adversely affected by Brexit?

No, not at all. The philosophy that underpins our consular services, the part of the Embassy that offers assistance to British citizens, has always been focused on assisting vulnerable people, and that hasn´t changed at all. Obviously some of our effort

The Portuguese legend of the Folar

and energy over the last couple of years has been focused on advising people about residency, driving licenses etc. Hopefully, as systems settle down in the not too distant future, that workload will decrease. But we will always prioritise assistance to vulnerable UK citizens. I don´t think any of that changes having left the EU.

Do you read Tomorrow magazine?

I can’t promise I read it cover to cover every month, but I certainly see it every month, and it is great!

For more information on The issuing of Portuguese driving Licenses:  www.gov.uk/guidance/living-in-portugal#drivingin-portugal Visas, residency and health:  www.gov.uk/guidance/living-in-portugal And click on the relevant topic.

To exchange your residency document for a biometric card visit SEF´s Brexit portal:  brexit.sef.pt/en/ How to travel to and from the UK:  www.gov.uk/uk-border-control

BY SÍLVIA CARVALHO D’ALMEIDA

This month I will present to you the legend behind the Folar. This is such an ancient story that its origins are unknown. This typical Easter cake is not exclusive to the Algarve, but it is certainly popular in this region and a delicacy you simply must try. Its ingredients are water, eggs, salt and wheat flour. While in the north of the country folar is saltier due to the several types of chorizos which are added, in the Algarve it's as sweet as possible.

In a small Portuguese village, there was a girl called Mariana whose only dream was to marry young. She would pray all the time to Saint Catherine, so she would find her a nice husband.

All that praying soon brought her two suitors, a poor farmer and a rich nobleman, both equally

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suitable. Unable to chose between the two, she again prayed to the saint. Both of the boys told her she would have to decide by Palm Sunday.

On that day, as they were headed to her house, they found each other and started to fight.

Mariana tried to split them apart and shouted the name of the poor farmer, to whom she declared her love. The nobleman felt humiliated and promised revenge. Afraid that he would kill the farmer on their wedding day, on the day before Easter Sunday, Mariana prayed and offered flowers to Saint Catherine, asking for peace between the two men, and the image of the saint smiled at her.

The next day she found a big cake at her house,

surrounded by the flowers she had given to the saint. Puzzled about this strange phenomena, she went to her fiancé’s house and found out that he had a similar one. They both thought that it had been the nobleman who had given it to them, sorry for what had happened. They both went to his house only to find out he had also been offered one. Mariana attributed this deed to the saint in order to end the dispute. Since then, the Folar is associated with friendship and reconciliation.

Adapted from the article: Quanto sabe sobre o nosso Folar Algarvio from Mariana Garcia, in www.algarveshopping.pt/lifestyle/ articles/quanto-sabe-nosso-folar-algarvio/ and from www. infopedia.pt/$lenda-do-folar-da-pascoa

Garden Centre with a large variety of plants and trees

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Yes Minister

BY SOPHIE SADLER

The second instalment of our interview with former UK government minister James Plaskitt.

The Iraq War comes to my lips several times in our animated discussion, but James insists on laying down the good work the government did before moving on to this chapter, which finally he does.

“That was a watershed moment. I was a backbencher at that time and it was the first instance I diverged from Mr Blair. I had great respect for the prime minister. But I found he was on one track with the Iraq War and I found myself on another. And that wasn’t comfortable.”

I get the impression that this was the point for James that Blair fell off his pedestal. “I just could not get myself in agreement with his line on the war. I was never convinced that removing Saddam Hussein and his regime in Iraq was the appropriate response to the Al Qaeda attack on the twin towers. He kept trying to claim that there was a line of connectivity. I couldn’t see it. I understood his argument about the risk of Saddam having WMD (weapons of mass destruction) and linking up with Al Qaeda or other terrorist organisations, but I couldn’t find a connection.

“I think that he was convinced that there was a broader risk of bad regimes in the far east, including Iraq, lining up behind a view of the west fueled by radical Islam, terror movements and armed with WMD, which would lead to a massive assault on the west – backed by rogue states.”

James believed the rogue states would never line up in that way because some were Shia and some Sunni;

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there were as many internal conflicts in those states and conflicts between them as there were with the west. “Hence I couldn't buy the argument that Tony Blair and George Bush were putting forward.”

It was chief UN arms inspector Hans Blix's report that persuaded James to meet with Tony Blair, to try to persuade him against invading Iraq. “I thought if his evidence says that on the balance of probability Saddam was armed up to his teeth with WMD, then there was a case for overthrowing him. So I waited for that report to be published. It was about 120 pages long. I got to the end and I thought 'the case is not made'.

“I read it twice and the essential conclusion that Blix reached was Saddam previously had WMDs and had used them, but the evidence was no longer there to suggest he kept them. The evidence was that he had probably on balance complied with the UN resolutions and got rid of them.”

James had a face-to-face meeting with Tony Blair in his office in the House of Commons and told him he was not convinced Britain should go to war with Iraq on the back of Hans Blix's findings. He advised the prime minister to go back to the UN and get another resolution and give Saddam Hussein another chance to demonstrate he had got rid of the weapons before taking out his regime by force.

“I remember Tony saying to me 'James it's too late', and I replied, 'I am sorry, that’s not how you start a war'."

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Blair's response was, “I can’t do that because France will veto it.” At that time, France was against a war and Chirac had indicated to Tony Blair that he would veto another resolution.

done a hopeless job, and he had been convicted on purely circumstantial evidence. Because I was an MP, I was able to get it back into the Criminal Cases Review Commission and eventually to the Court of Appeal.”

James replied to Blair that France might veto it, but he thought Britain should at least give the UN a chance. He recalls, “I remember Tony saying to me, 'James, it’s too late'.

I replied, ‘I am sorry that’s not how you start a war. You don’t run it on a calendar, there has to be a demonstrable case, and it isn't made’.”

It took five years, but eventually, the original sentence was overturned and the man finally got justice. He was released immediately, with a pardon and compensation for his 15 years in prison.

This was a hard moment for James, “It was the first big disagreement I had with a man for whom I have huge respect and still do, but we just came to different conclusions on that. It was an unfortunate policy failure and it’s left behind too much instability.” He is notable among Labour MPs in that he did not vote for the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

Does he think, as has been suggested, that Blair was “starstruck” by Bush and wooed into this course of action? “No, I don't. They had a shared view on how to deal with Saddam Hussein and international terrorism. I don't think either persuaded the other. Blair was dealing with the Saddam issue far before Bush, who only came to power in 2001. So I don’t think this is a correct interpretation of events.”

Having been part of a political era that will be written in the history books, it is interesting to learn that James feels his greatest achievements are the small things that he did for his constituents. “They made no news and to other people they were insignificant, but for the people whose problems I was able to solve, it was a big deal. People who had struggled with bureaucracy for years would bring the problem to me and ask me to fix it and, because I could write a letter on the House of Commons notepaper and sign it as an MP, organisations suddenly had to sit up and sort themselves out. And that was to be one of the most rewarding parts of the job.”

James met a man in his eighties who had struggled for ten years to get his war pension paid and it had never been paid properly, despite him writing numerous letters. “He came to see me, so I got involved and wrote to the War Pensions Department. His war pension and all the back pension got paid, tens of thousands of pounds; he was so relieved and pleased.”

“So my job varied from getting people’s housing situation resolved, getting their benefits sorted out and getting their immigration status correct, to getting a life sentence overturned! I kept a record over my 13 years and we dealt with 4000 cases of individual issues like that. The majority were resolved and changed many people’́s lives in small but very important ways. That to me was the biggest job satisfaction and it is still satisfying to me.”

James can also boast that the Child Support Agency reform he did has stood the test of time and the auto-enrolled pension fund is still running. “Millions of people will be better off in retirement than they might otherwise have been.

So despite all the anguish you go through and the difficult parts, I can look back at it and point to the individual cases, which people still thank me for, and the legislative changes which have stood the test of time. That makes it worthwhile and I will take the rough that came with it. There are footprints which prove it was worth doing.”

Did he feel bitter at losing his seat in the 2010 general election? “No, because I expected it to happen. One of the advantages of having a marginal seat, which had never had a Labour MP before in history, was I always knew it was time-limited. Politics is about tides, you get washed in on tides and you get washed out on tides, and I told myself that every day. Which meant when the time came to be taken out, I took it in my stride. I was quite prepared, so I didn’t fall to pieces and I didn’t take it personally. I knew it wasn’t a vote to get rid of me. It was a vote to end a Labour government which people had got fed up with. The country wanted a change and you accept you are going to be part of that process. I thought that was the beginning of a new chapter.” 

Probably the biggest individual case that James tackled was attempting to overturn a life sentence. He recalls, “A mother came to see me about her son, who was about 28 years old and had been in prison since he was 19 for murder.

They were battling to get the case reviewed. She said to me, 'James, he didn’t do it'. My first thought was that a mother would say that, but I wanted to look into it. She had brought a printout of the judge’s summing up at the end of the trial and asked if I would read it. I took it home and read the 100 pages that night. I remember thinking, crickey, if I had been on the jury, I wouldn’t have convicted him based on that summing up.”

James took up the case. He had numerous meetings with the Criminal Cases Review Commission, found a new solicitor and had the case reopened, even getting the DNA unearthed which hadn’t been administered properly.

“I concluded that the man's solicitor and barrister had

www.tomorrowalgarve.com

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COMMUNITY

James left and Andrew right.

 James has now moved onto that next chapter and is thoroughly enjoying his life here with his husband. “My husband, Andrew, has two children and we have grandchildren who are seven and three whom we adore. They are great fun and we love having them to stay but obviously, because of COVID we have not seen them in a while.

So we look forward to normal life resuming.”

While James used his vote as an MP to always vote for equal gay rights, he never talked about his sexuality in the press. “I never kept it secret. I just never announced it, as it wasn't relevant to my job.”

I am interested in getting his perspective on the new era of British politics and in particular Brexit. He confirms he has always been pro Europe. “I think Brexit will prove to be a historic and self-inflicted mistake. Cameron's big error was caving in to eurosceptics. He should have stood up to them.

“The consequences haven't all played out yet. I think it’s played into the hands of the Scottish nationals and given an impetus to nationalism in Ireland, which could unsettle things there. So there are long-term negative consequences to play out all as a result of Brexit.”

Brexit did not, however, prompt his move. “We were always going to move to Portugal long before Brexit. It's made it more complicated but did not stop us from doing what we wanted to do. I think that’s true for many Brits who want to move here.”

So with his insight into the UK government’s inner workings, how does he think Britain will fare in the new post-Brexit era? “The country will have to find a niche after Brexit; it has no choice. It needs to decide how to position itself globally and the government has a responsibility to get this right. The current government needs to work hard on global trade agreements. It will take a long time to replace the EU with equally successful trade relationships. The UK is good at global services; it will have to focus on that as, due to its geographical location, it will not be so able to export with such success to other markets. It will take a long time to repair the

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damage, but if the government adopts the right strategy and keeps the UK with a competitive edge, the economy can cope, but we are sailing into a headwind.”

What can life in the Algarve offer him after such an interesting career? He and Andrew have bought a plot of land behind Meia Praia, where they will build their dream retirement home.

They have adopted a dog, encouraging them to enjoy lots of walking and discover new places. “We are enjoying having a more relaxed time and making new friends. We love the beach in the summer. We love Lagos and the surrounding countryside. We know we will have a constant flow of friends coming to stay once we have our house finished and travel resumes, so we look forward to that. The present time is difficult for everyone, but it won’t last forever and we are optimistic that we will have a great future here; we couldn’t be more fortunate to have this opportunity.”

It has been a fascinating discussion. While I am sure my interview techniques in no way compare to the grillings he would have got on the breakfast-news sofa, James and I have enjoyed a lively debate on a political era I remember so well. He must have been a fantastic politician, being so passionate about his constituents, a persuasive and confident speaker and above all, very likeable.

The highlight of our talk is however, when he tells me, “We always read Tomorrow magazine cover to cover, it keeps us informed of what is going on. That’s how we know what’s happening around here.

Life is great.”

Thank you, James Plaskitt; I hope you get your just reward for all your good work in the UK, here in the Algarve.

You can read the full transcript of the interview at  www.tomorrowalgarve.com

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COMMUNITY

Exercise Your Right to Vote

BY ALEXANDRA SOARES - ADVOGADA

Do you see things in your area that you would like to change? In October, you will have the opportunity to have your voice heard at the local elections.

If you are a resident in Portugal, you can vote in your freguesia (parish) and have your say on how your freguesia or municipality is run. Elections will decide the local parliament, the mayor, the president of your municipal general assembly, and your parish president.

Candidates are generally affiliated with a political party. The two biggest political parties are PS and PSD, which get the most votes.

We also have minority parties that are relevant in Portuguese politics including the BE, PCP, PAN, CDS and IL. Generally speaking, BE, PCP and PAN are left-wing ideologies, while CDS is conservative.

Meanwhile, IL is liberal progressive. Presently PSD and PS, the two main parties, are known as centrists and have become more centrealigned and more ideologically similar in recent years.

It is also possible for a group of citizens to create a non-political alternative by creating an independent list of candidates. For this, the group of citizens need to collect signatures from a minimum number of residents to support the legalisation of the list by the court.

My reason for helping people understand how to vote arose when the Miradouro de Luz Association started to receive questions about what can be done to stop massive construction and building on green spaces. The response is that everyone needs to engage in public participation. That is the only way you can have a say.

In 2019, foreign residents made up around 32% of Lagos’ population (based on available data). I am sure this has increased substantially due to Brexit and changes in the law and I estimate the figure is now nearer 35%. Most of these people are not registered to vote.

I have been explaining to the foreign community how you can register to vote. This can be done at your parish office. Due to COVID, each office is asking you to make an appointment with a phone call. However, in my experience, you can sometimes just knock on the door. Take your passport and residency document. It is not necessary to have the Cartão de Residência Permanente from SEF. You can take your Certificado de Registro de União Europeu, which is the piece of paper the câmara issued you with. If you are not

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European, you need to have a residency card from SEF. If you are British and were resident in Portugal on 31 December, your QR Code will be enough. You need to register before the end of July.

After a few days, you can go back to the office, or telephone or email to get your number. Then, on the day of the election, you arrive at the polling station with some ID and your voting number. On arrival, the attendant will find your name on the list.

In the Portuguese county elections, you vote in three ballot papers: one for the council (Câmara Municipal), another for the County Assembly (Assembleia Municipal), and the third for the Parish Assembly (Assembleia de Freguesia). The list of candidates for the town council will include the president or mayor, secretary and treasurer. The party that has the most votes in the council election becomes the president (mayor) of the municipality for the next four years. Likewise, the candidates with the most votes in each parish assembly becomes president of that parish for the next four years.

The president of a câmara has a lot of power and controls areas of local government such as water supply, street cleaning, housing, social aid, education, culture and sport: These areas of policy are split between the vereadores (councillors that were elected from their party). Usually, the vereadores from other parties have no direct responsibility for the county administration. They mainly sit in the by-weekly council meetings and present their opinions or vote proposals to the council on matters such as the creation of the local police.

Before the elections, there will be a big campaign; you will be able to research and decide who to vote for.

In order to find the contact details of your local office, simply google the name of your parish.

You can find more information on the parishes on our website www.tomorrowalgarve.com

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CHARITY

Terry and Jess from Quay Lagos donating homemade meals

Katie Pomeroy owner of Pom Pom Bagels offered homemade bagels Habana offering free meals

Food for Free

BY BERNADETTE ABBOTT

One year on from the first lockdown, times are hard for us all here in the Algarve. But for some families even putting food on the table has been, at the very least, a struggle, but at worst, impossible.

The community spirit has been so heartening, and this month we would like to give thanks particularly to some of the food outlets which have opened their doors and their hearts to those most in need.

Liam Stocks, manager at the Habana Bar and Café in Luz, recognised that many of the families in his area were in need. He also knew there was food in the restaurant which, should the lockdown continue indefinitely, could reach its best before date. With these things in mind. he decided to offer free meals to local people who were struggling.

Initially, every Monday lunchtime, anybody in need could go to his restaurant between 1-3 pm and collect a hot, chefprepared meal suitable for vegetarians and vegans so that no-one would be excluded. The response to his initiative has been tremendous. Many local people, as well as the Irish Lions, wanted to make donations and this has enabled Liam to offer the meals twice a week, i.e. Mondays and Thursdays. Any leftover meals are donated to The Mustard Seed in Lagos, where they are frozen and handed out at the following food distribution.

Liam says he sees this as a long-term commitment, though he may need to take a break during the very busy months in the summer as the kitchen is small. The initiative will then recommence after the tourist season.

Katie Pomeroy is from Swindon in the UK. Although she has been living in Portugal for six years, she has only recently opened a bagel shop - Pom Pom Bagels and Illicit Burgers are in the centre of Lagos. The shop has only been open for

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three weeks and we know that setting up any new business at this time is going to be hard work; nonetheless, Katie says she felt compelled to help.

“My boyfriend and I opened our bagel shop from 9am-3pm and a smash burger take-out spot from 4pm-10pm. I heard about the food appeal initiative last year during the first lockdown and was so pleased to hear many people were doing what they could to help. As soon as I opened my shop, I knew I wanted to help too. We need to stop food waste, especially when there are so many in need. I am giving bagels every Friday, which will be distributed over the weekend. It feels good to be able to help and I would definitely encourage others to do the same if they can.”

Sue Robson, owner and manager of Quay Lagos - a restaurant located in Lagos marina - has also been keen to help the community. Her chef Terri is now preparing Sunday lunches, which are delivered with the usual weekly supplies of food handed out by ANFFIN in Lagos. Sue says, “Having followed Families in Need on Facebook, we were humbled and felt we could make a difference by providing a weekly wholesome pre-prepared cooked meal to families who are struggling to make ends meet. We see this as a long-term project. I would definitely encourage other similar establishments to participate. We all have chefs in the kitchen, providing a few more meals to our community is a job well done. If anybody has spare takeaway containers to donate, we would be very grateful for them.”

We have had so much positive feedback from our families who have received these meals. So a huge thanks goes to Liam, Katie, Sue and Terri for the amazing support they are showing to the community. We are all very grateful.

 www.facebook.com/groups/algarvenetwork

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ARTS AND LITERATURE

Book Review

Discovering my Empathetic Heart, by Melanie Baker

BY ANNIE O’DEA Like most grandparents, Mel read and shared stories with Jacob, who loved hearing about her nursing days. It was last February 2020, when Mel was last back in the UK visiting her family, that Jacob said to her, “You know what nanny, you should write a book.” And that’s exactly what Mel did.

Art Critic

She felt it was important for her grandson to know that not everyone or everything in life is perfect. People have problems and it is fine to be different.

BY AFONSO ALMEIDA BRANDÃO

The Rhythmic Variation Of Color Alberto José was born in 1954 in Leiria, the third son of five siblings. He left school at 12 to start working in a textile factory.

From a young age, Alberto would use a pencil to fill any piece of paper, book cover or school book he could find, painting and doodling to convey his vision of the world in landscapes, monuments, beaches and people.

At 20, he went to work for the Casa do Povo de Leiria. These ‘houses of the people’ provided a community meeting point and offered people social and economic support. While there, Alberto studied at night school and completed his education.

In 1978, he married Maria Helena and the couple had two children. The Casas do Povo were eventually integrated into Portugal’s social security department, and Alberto remained there until retirement.

Throughout his working life, he continued to spend his free time engaged with painting, photography and reading.

Alberto José’s work was first exhibited in 1988 in Galeria de Arte Capital, in Leiria;

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however, he later went on to exhibit in Lisbon and at dozens of individual and collective exhibitions throughout Portugal.

His individual exhibitions in Spain and the USA were met with remarkable success. He has also illustrated book and CD covers for musical volumes.

In 2007, he was awarded diplomas from the Elos Clube de Leiria and from the Brazilian Association of Visual Artes and was listed as a notable Portuguese artist in Plastic Arts.

Alberto is a figurative artist whose work is technical and correct. He paints diverse subjects, ranging from people to rural and urban landscapes, from still life to interior scenes. His compositions are balanced, with the colours he uses perfectly reflecting the natural world. His artwork repeats the same themes in a subtly different way, for example, sleeping cities and human figures in enchanting timeless landscapes.

Alberto still lives in Leiria, keeping an Atelier. His paintings are now worth between €1200 and €4000.

Discovering My Empathetic Heart is based on Mel’s memoirs of life experiences from childhood to adulthood. Her book focuses on Mel’s early career in psychiatric nursing, sharing stories of her time as a student nurse. She also writes about the many challenges facing the NHS and Social Services. Her book is filled with love, laughter and heartbreak.

In the 1970s/80s, mental health was such a taboo topic and people suffering from mental health issues were seen as mad, or just crazy. Patients were locked away in asylums.

Mel reflects that, “Being part of the patients’ lives and creating fun and laughter as part of their treatment made me proud to make a difference. After all, they gave me the greatest gift of all, the knowledge and experience to enhance my own life, enabling me to help others.”

Mel draws her personal story in her first book to a close with: “My dreams were now a reality, all thanks to the beautiful meaning of the word EMPATHY.” Go to our website for the full review  www.tomorrowalgarve.com

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SPORTS

The old courts have been resurfaced with the most up-todate two-tone finish carpets made by Mondo, the company that creates the ones used at the World Padel Tour finals.

The four double courts and one singles court will be the most modern in Portugal. An old terrace overlooking the courts is being remodelled to create a dining terrace and the restaurant will be run by Donna's husband John Hill, joined by his long-term associate and chef Rio Kumuzaki, former owners of The Pickled Carrot catering and events company.

Padel Power

Their team’s mission is to create a great social atmosphere where people can enjoy the sport along with healthy food and a juice bar. And the great ideas don’t stop there! Each court is being sponsored by a different company, allowing people to experience more products and diversions while not playing. The centre court will be sponsored by Vitamin Well, a leading European functional drinks brand, whose products will be sold in the shop as the first distribution point in the Algarve. VÄSSLA, the pioneer in electric transportation on two wheels, will name the singles court, and you will be able to test drive their products on-site and, if interested, order them in the shop.

BY SOPHIE SADLER

Four Swedish investors have joined forces with the Luz Ocean Club to create a superb new sporting facility in Praia da Luz. Ocean Padel Club, part of the group Azul Idilico - Actividades Desportivas Lda, will open as soon as restrictions are lifted.

After retiring to the Algarve, Tomas Carlsson and Patrik Nilsson found that padel tennis was a great sport to stay active and meet new friends with minimal risk of injury. They played regularly at the Lagos Tennis Centre. “We only have good things to say about the Lagos club,” says Patrik. “But the courts are always fully booked, such is the popularity of the sport. So we wanted to enable more people to play padel and live a healthy lifestyle.”

“Our aim is to make the Ocean Padel Club a meeting point in Luz where you can play padel, socialise and meet friends..."

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Tomas has a background in banking, while Patrik worked for 23 years for Adidas in Sweden, Germany and North America and retired to Praia da Luz in 2020. He met Tomas, who has lived in Lagos for three years, through their shared passion for padel and golf. While walking around the area, Tomas came upon the Luz Ocean Club and contacted manager Donna Hill.

Since Mark Warner withdrew from the resort, the tennis courts had not had much use, so Donna was enthusiastic about the idea of creating a padel centre instead. “I think the pandemic has allowed people to reassess their lifestyle.

People no longer have to work from an office nine-to-five and they want to enjoy a more active lifestyle.”

Tomas agrees. “When I moved here, I was surprised how active everyone was; there is definitely a demand for more sporting facilities.” Tomas brought two more investors on board: Peter Brunn, and European champion and Olympic badminton player Pär-Gunnar Jönsson. He asked Patrik to join the team based on his background in sports.

Björn Borg, a leading sportswear brand in Europe not yet present in the Portuguese market, will also name one court and have a small selection of their functional products for sale in the shop. When it comes to padel equipment like rackets and balls, the innovative brand RS Padel, founded by the Swedish tennis player Robin Söderling, once ranked number four in the world, is another court sponsor. RS Padel products will be available for test, and their full collection will be available in the shop for the first time in Portugal.

Last but not least, Fastighetsbyrån, a leading real estate agency in Sweden and the Algarve, is naming one court and will use the facility to meet clients and play padel. “Our aim is to make the Ocean Padel Club a meeting point in Luz where you can play padel, socialise and meet friends, try new things and shop for brands that are hard to get in Portugal, either directly in the shop or through click and collect,” explains Patrik.

Donna's experience of working with holiday companies has convinced her there is huge demand for padel tennis groups, particularly from Scandinavians, Spanish and northern Portuguese enthusiasts. “This will give a boost to the holiday market in Luz, allowing the up-sell on rental units.”

The entrepreneurial Swedes are also hoping to give something back to the community by inviting local schools to use the courts. They are also using a start-up company from Portugal to allow people to book courts through their app Air Court. “We want to give work to local businesses,” says Tomas. Already they are planning to look for other suitable locations to create similar centres throughout the Algarve.

They are hoping to open seven days a week as soon as lockdown restrictions lift, with a coach to teach those that are new to the sport or looking to improve their game. I ask why they believe the sport has become so popular recently?

“It’s easy to learn, social and fun.”

I feel genuinely uplifted to have such a great new facility to look forward to visiting when we come out of the lockdown.

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SPORTS

Algarve in Pole Position

High profile motorsport events launch 2021 season, with spectators?

Formula One race start in October 2020 (image courtesy Phil Egginton).

Following the success of Formula One's arrival in the Algarve in 2020, other high profile events are planned in 2021. As confirmed in early March, these include the return of Formula One. As those of us who have been involved in the Autódromo do Algarve since it opened in 2008 will know, it is one of the world's best circuits. However, this has often only been known by dedicated motorsports enthusiasts and competitors.

The Formula One race held last October and the MotoGP bike race a month later helped launch the circuit to a much broader audience worldwide. Both F1 drivers and MotoGP riders were ecstatic in their praise for the circuit, the up and down elevation changes now branding it the “Algarve Rollercoaster”. One consequence is that the circuit is now increasingly in demand for other races.

The return of MotoGP on the 18th April and Formula One on 2 May have already been announced, but new this year is the World Endurance Championship (WEC). This is an eight-hour-long race for closed-cockpit sports and GT cars. It was originally planned for the Easter weekend but is now rescheduled for 13 June. This date change was primarily caused by the difficulties teams would have in travelling from and back to the UK, given current restrictions.

The world-famous Le Mans 24 hours race is the most well-known part of the WEC. For 2021, there is a new top class of Hypercars, which is open to both specialised prototypes and cars based around road-going vehicles. The cars use hybrid engines which combine traditional petrol engines with electric power and are one way in which motorsport is showing its green credentials.

Locally based Algarve Pro racing is also supporting an initiative launched by driver Ferdinand Habsburg and the Green Future Project. Algarve Pro aims to offset its carbon emissions by helping prevent the destruction of native forests in Brazil and contributing

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to the expansion of the Ecuadorian Amazon. Algarve Pro´s Stewart Cox explained: “We love motor racing, but we’re aware that burning fossil fuels isn’t a healthy thing for the planet.”

At the time of writing, it is uncertain if spectators will be allowed into any of these events. It is undoubtedly something the Autódromo management is working hard with the Portuguese government and health service (DGS) to make happen. Details have emerged of possible procedures to ensure the safety of spectators, given the current pandemic.

The health authorities have approved two pilot projects for the return of large festivals. These pilots are currently scheduled for April and will be carried out at Campo Pequeno, Lisbon and at Pavilhão Rosa Mota, in Porto. The procedures involve the rapid COVID-19 testing of spectators. One test 72 hours before the event and another at the entrance to the event, with another test 14 days after the event; the latter being accompanied by a questionnaire.

During the whole event, the use of a mask will be mandatory. If successful, the Autódromo is likely to adopt these same measures.

A proposal has been made that the MotoGP event has a limited number of spectators (up to 10% of capacity) then if successful up to 25% capacity of spectators for Formula 1. The price of tests would be included in the tickets.

However, reports emerging in the Portuguese media suggest that the government has decided not to allow any spectators for either event. Undoubtedly difficult decisions in these very trying times.

I suggest you keep an eye on the Autódromo website for more information and tickets if available.

Phil Egginton is a journalist and photographer and now lives in the Algarve.

 www.aia.pt

HEALTH & BEAUTY

Spring clean For mind, body and soul

April heralds spring; new buds, blossoms and flowers, lambs and new birth. In the past, this season would be time to cleanse the body, buy new clothes, clean the house, get the land ready for sprouting and new growth.

organs in our body, having over 200 functions.

Cleaning the liver can be very gentle – drinking warm water with freshly squeezed lemon juice every morning before eating, for two to four weeks, has an amazing effect.

spirulina, and leafy vegetables to your diet will aid the workings of the liver and provide a refreshing and vital quality to your meals. Taking chlorophyll in liquid form is recommended as it can purify, quell inflammation and rejuvenate the body.

SEASONAL ATTUNEMENT The ancient Chinese believed that the seasons have a profound cyclical effect on human growth and well-being and recognised the need to live in harmony with them. In the Five Element model, used by traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), wood is associated with the spring season. Working with the elements allows us to align with the seasons, bringing balance and harmony to our bodies and with our environment.

If you feel your liver needs something a bit stronger, then intermittent fasting is a good place to start. Try it for a week to see how it goes – have a good breakfast and lunch, then eat no more food until the following morning with your next breakfast. This gives the whole body, including the liver, a much-needed rest. A second option would be to go on a soup cleanse for a week – only eating nourishing soups, as lightening up your diet also has a rejuvenating effect on the body.

Colour therapists suggest wearing more green clothes to enhance one’s energy, especially if you are not surrounded by green spaces. Immersing yourself in nature’s natural colours is hugely nourishing for the mind and soul. Alternatively, having more green plants, ornaments or pictures in your living space can also be uplifting.

Most of us today, however, have lost this connection and often feel very out of balance.

One way to reconcile this is by cleansing the liver in the springtime. The liver is associated with the wood element and is one of the most important

COLOUR THERAPY Green is the colour related to spring – sometimes referred to as the “master colour”. Adding more greens such as dandelion, wheatgrass or

By Lisa Francesca Lewak CMT, CST a Holistic Health & Wellness Practitioner.

 +351 920 573 949  Lisa.francesca.lewak@gmail.com

The history of lipstick Lipstick has been one of the most iconic yet controversial pieces of makeup throughout the years. Nowadays, lipstick is made up of three basic ingredients: wax, oil and pigment.

Where did it all begin? It is believed that ancient Sumerians were the first to invent lipstick approximately five thousand years ago. They used crushed gemstones to decorate their lips.

The early Egyptians wore lipstick to emphasise their status in society rather than gender, so it was quite normal for the men to slap on a bit of rouge! They tended to use a dye extracted from a type of seaweed or microalgae that often resulted in serious illness.

Around the same time in Greece, they had a very different approach. Lipstick was only worn by prostitutes!

The Chinese came up with an innovative idea a thousand years ago by adding beeswax to their mixture to help soften the lips. They also added scented oils to make the smell of the lipstick more appealing.

By the 16th century, lipstick had gained more popularity, particularly when Queen Elizabeth I became known for her iconic red lips, created with beeswax with added stains.

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BY DONNA GROOM

Back then, lipstick was worn only by the upper classes and male actors.

Fast forward to the early 19th century and a flip in fashion trends meant that lipstick was no longer considered ladylike. It made a comeback when the cosmetic company Guerlain began to manufacture it. By 1884, the first commercial lipstick had been invented.

However, lipstick was not sold in a twist-up metal tube that we are now familiar with, but in small pots or paper tubes.

In 1915, the metal tube came into play with a tiny lever that needed a fingernail to lift it.

With the advent of World War II, essential lipstick ingredients, like petroleum jelly and castor oil, were in short supply. To help combat this problem, a New York chemist called Hazel Bishop created Lasting Lipstick, which used bromo acid dyes to make the lipstick last.

Today, lipsticks are a must-have in our cosmetic bags and, for decades, the lipstick industry has boomed - until now. Since COVID-19 hit the planet, making mask-wearing compulsory, lipstick sales have dropped by 40%.  donnagroom89@gmail.com

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HEALTH & BEAUTY

First Class Loungewear

BY SARAH ANN MURRAY

Stripe and Stare

Loungewear and casuals have taken off and are flying high; here’s our pick of staying comfy and looking chic.

It’s late afternoon, early evening, the spring sun has just dropped beyond the cliff-lined horizon and the house is doing precisely what it was designed to do – stay cool – nay, freezing. You’ve changed out of your totally acceptable daywear of choice, Lycra gym-kit (worn with the plausible optimism that if we wear gym kit for long enough, we’ll eventually get that work-out in) and you finally need to change into something comfier for the evening. We find ourselves in wardrobe no-man’s land. It’s too early for regular pyjamas, yet we couldn’t possibly waste a well-thought-out, snazzy ensemble (read: clothes that have barely seen the light of day for a year) on cooking dinner, cleaning up and watching Netflix in … quelle horreur.

And so, entering stage left, please allow me to shine a spotlight on fashion’s new normal … loungewear! Yes, casual clothing has officially been elevated and the spring trends would suggest the lockdown uniform is here to stay. Thankfully, this means there’s more choice than ever before, the designs and materials are better and it’s totally acceptable to wear this clothing all day, at home and while out and about. We’ll show you where to shop it, how to wear it through seasonal changes, how to stay ontrend and how to buy sustainable versions of your favourite casual picks.

Knickerbocker Glory We do love an eco-conscious brand here at Tomorrow, which is why the colourful, playful underwear brand Stripe and Stare are high on our list. Their mission is to make the best underwear in the world and, with so much success in that department, they’ve gone on to expand into sustainable lounge and sleepwear. They work with ethical factories, use sustainably-sourced TENCEL™ Micro Modal materials, and use 100% biodegradable packaging. The fact their colours and designs are full of the joys of spring make even online shopping a pleasure.  stripeandstare.com

Varley Style Elevation If LA and London were to get together and bring to the world a loungewear lifestyle brand, then Varley would be it. Think a touch of sass and a lot of cool. With a palette of neutral and gem tones, looser layers really push the boundaries in terms of designs and materials. Design features like standing mock turtleneck details, flattering waistbands, contrast drawstring longer jumpers, and raglan-sleeve casual drape mean their styles translate seamlessly from gym to street to home. Each piece is made using a wide range of innovative technical materials, so it looks good, performs well and feels super luxe. Their capsule loungewear wardrobe is everything I could want to wear all day, every day at the moment; they had me at effortless knits in oatmeal …  uk.varley.com / thesportsedit.com / net-a-porter.com

Fable & Eve Bedtime Story Everyone needs a pair of Sunday morning PJs. You know, the kind in which you sit outside and drink coffee in the sun and don’t mind your neighbours seeing you because you’re looking so very Vogue and Hollywood Hills, casually rustling up gluten-free pancakes, reading the newspaper and, for once, being in no rush to go anywhere. Nightwear specialists Fable & Eve not only ensure universal fair, living-wage standards for every person involved in making their clothes, but the openly honest brand uses 100% natural and sustainable fibres with a focus on responsibility creating the softest, silkiest fabrics for your bedtime comfort. You’ll practically float from the bedroom to the rest of your Sunday.  fableandeve.co.uk

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Hairdressing Beauty Massage & Body Treatments

Call to schedule:  (+351) 282 761 285 |  biancarodrigues.lagos@outlook.com  Rua da Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lagos, Loja A, 8600 621, Lagos (Close to Eureka Supermarket)

HEALTH & BEAUTY

So… What is the Purpose of a Vaccine?

We are surrounded by germs (microorganisms) – both externally and internally.

antigen. These antibodies go on to signal other parts of the immune system to attack and destroy the invading virus.

Some are beneficial, if not essential, to our health and others can cause disease and death. The word pathogen is used to describe infectious microorganisms or agents such as viruses and bacteria, amongst others, that can produce disease.

This response happens a few minutes after a virus invades; whether you become ill, or even die, depends on the health of your immune system and the strength and quantity of the virus. These antibodies can remain in the immune system after the infection has gone which means that if the same virus attacks again your immune system has a “memory” of this and is quick to destroy it before it can multiply and cause symptoms which make you ill.

A pathogen needs a host, such as a human body, to multiply and survive and once it has “set up house” in the body, the aim in life is to avoid the body’s immune response and use the available components in the host cells to replicate before leaving to spread to a new host. This process usually damages or destroys these infected cells. Transmission can be achieved through skin contact, bodily fluids, airborne particles, contact with faeces and surfaces.

As the SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2), to give the proper title, is the virus of the moment (or many moments, unfortunately!), we will concentrate on this type of pathogen. When a virus invades a host, the body’s immune system recognises and responds to antigens, structures found on the surface of the virus, triggering an immune response. The presence of these antigens causes a specific circulating white blood cell (B- Lymphocyte) to bind with the virus, which then begins to produce millions of antibodies, which target that specific

Last month some readers queried whether, if they were retired, they needed a social security number: Luz Doc received this answer from the legal office of the Regional Health Administration of the Algarve that states: “Foreign citizens can and must register with the Health Centre in their area of residence. They must send or take a copy of their;

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Vaccines contain either dead, greatly weakened, or broken-down parts of a pathogen, and are designed to stimulate the immune system to produce antibodies against that pathogen. They create a lasting immune response/memory so that when faced with an invasion by the “real” pathogen, the body can immediately launch a defensive response.

When we hear of virus mutations, this means that, as it replicates, the virus can undergo random “copying errors” , which over time lead to alterations in the virus’s surface antigens, potentially altering the efficacy of existing antibodies either naturally created by the body or stimulated by a vaccine.

Next month we ask if the vaccine will give you complete protection against COVID-19?

Passport, NIF- fiscal number, NISS – Social Security Number, only if they have one, Residence certificate or proof and SEF document If they send the S1 form to Social Security, it is the Social Security themselves that will send the document to the Health Centre. If they choose not to submit this form, they are subject to the payment of fees at their maximum value!”

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BUSINESS & TECHNOLOGY

Property Before

After

Boom

The rising pound fuels a sense of urgency for Britons buying a property in Portugal

Before

After

How To Wow How to increase the appeal – and value – of your property

BY SOPHIE SADLER Are you a holiday property owner unable to decide whether to ride out the current uncertainty about COVID travel restrictions and wait for tourists, or simply sell up and cash in your investment? David and Jeanette may be able to help you.

Algarve Decoration & Design was set up by husband and wife team David and Jeanette after purchasing their first holiday property in Lagos in 2007. “It was a disastrous first experience. We still lived in the UK and left the renovation to local builders and a project manager. Things took so long; sometimes, we almost forgot we had a house in Lagos! But we were busy and regrettably took our eyes off things.”

After two years, the couple’s two-storey townhouse was still nowhere near finished.

“We decided to take control. We sacked the no-show builders, we sacked the hopeless project manager and we learnt about renovation the hard way. This was the impetus for our new business!”

“Since then, we have bought, renovated, redesigned, furnished and sold many properties. We have developed an eye for aspects that will turn a property into a

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“home” working with a team of excellent and reliable builders, decorators, interior and garden designers, and solar energy partners. A true one-stop resource for all your property needs.”

The dynamic duo believes it is paramount that a property reflects maximum appeal.

“The holiday rental market is likely to be severely affected by the COVID crisis, with a large pool of local rental properties chasing far fewer tourists. This means you have to have the competitive WOW factor to beat the rest.

Whether holiday renter or buyer, there are some common denominators that draw them in: 1. Outside. 2. Kitchen, 3. Master Bedroom, 4.

Bathroom.

Next month, David and Jenette tell us how to create a wow factor in your property in these four areas.

 www.algarvedecor.com  www.facebook.com/Algarve-DecorationDesign-102284178247070

According to the Portuguese Chamber of Commerce in the UK, the pound’s stellar performance so far in 2021, and a growing frustration with lockdown, is creating a palpable sense of urgency amongst British buyers of Portuguese property. General Manager Christina Hippisley reports that buyers realise they can secure significantly lower prices now as a result of the current exchange rate.

“We’ve seen sterling hit a nine-month high against the euro this month, as well as a two-and-a-half-year high against the dollar.

This is leading to some serious savings for families from the UK who are buying homes in Portugal. There’s a definite sense of buyers being keen to take advantage of this as quickly as they can.”

What’s been particularly interesting during the latter half of February is that the pound is continuing to climb even on days when there aren’t any obvious new causes for it doing so. February 18 was a good example, with Daragh Maher, Head of Research, Americas at HSBC Securities, pointing out, “There were no fresh headlines to drive GBP enthusiasm this morning so presumably the themes of successful vaccine roll-out, no material dislocation from Brexit so far, and a stronger than expected Q4 2020 GDP print continue to buoy spirits.”

The Bank of England’s signalling on 4 February that it was unlikely to move to negative interest rates in the foreseeable future has also fed into the pound’s strong performance this month.

It is the scale of the savings that can be made which is fuelling demand. Knight Frank points out that a GBP-denominated buyer seeking a €1 million home would have needed £936,600 in late March 2020. Now, they would need just £868,600.

For more information, please contact the Portuguese Chamber of Commerce in the UK:  www.portuguese-chamber.org.uk  www.movingtoportugal.org.uk  00 44 207 201 6638 / 00 44 7463 689666

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BUSINESS & TECHNOLOGY

Your Digital Legacy

BY STEVEN DUNWELL

A “digital legacy” is the amount of electronic information that a person leaves behind on the internet and other electronic storage locations following their passing. Not the cheeriest of subjects to think about, but a very important one!

I have come across situations where someone has sadly passed away, which means passwords are lost so that the next of kin cannot access photographs, emails, personal music, online TV services and electronic business accounts such as water, electricity and insurance etc. So here are a few hints and tips to consider…

PASSWORDS Share the passwords with your next of kin or at least let them know where you safely keep them.

Ensure that they are all clearly listed, concise and kept up-to-date with any changes that are made.

For social media accounts, e.g. Facebook, where photos and other memories are stored, these could be lost if the next of kin does not know the password.

EMAILS The next of kin may want to access these accounts to pass on any relevant news to family, friends and to advise businessesof what’s happened. Knowing the account names and passwords is particularly important where people have multiple email accounts.

ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT Consider password access to laptops, smartphones, tablets, kindles, iPads and indeed any electronic device that requires a password or passcode to access them. If a device cannot be accessed because a password or passcode is not known, the device may well have to be wiped clean to allow future access and precious memories may well be lost unless regular backups have been made.

SOCIAL MEDIA The sharing of passwords will allow you to access photographs and other personal data and eventually, and if applicable, close down

the account. If this is not done, people will still receive reminders on past events like birthdays and weddings which can be distressing. Don’t rely on social media sites and cloud storage to keep your photos safe, ensure that the devices are regularly backed up to an external storage device like a portable or hard disk drive.

If you would like to read more information on this matter, please visit the Digital Legacy Associations website, a superb source of advice and free guides:digitallegacyassociation.org  +351 936 387 512  www.stevendunwell.com

Senior Living Readers invited to voice an opinion on the ‘healthspan’ v ‘lifespan’ debate.

Supported by the Região de Turismo do Algarve in Portugal, ASHA (American Seniors Housing Association) in the US and ARCO (Associated Retirement Community Operators) in the UK, this survey is being conducted by the respected and specialist ProMatura.

Europe has a record number of older people, thanks to the post-war ‘baby boom’ and advances in medical science, leading us to all living longer. But the COVID-19 pandemic has shone a very bright light into significant areas of concern, including the need for a good ‘healthspan’, not just a long ‘lifespan’.

Accompanying issues include the need to combat loneliness and isolation in older people, with a focus on happiness and well-being. Several research studies in the UK and US have confirmed people living in Retirement Communities (a different proposition to Care Homes) are living longer, better, with earlier interventions to support them and have had very low incidences of COVID-19.

Survey answers are anonymous and will feature in the final report to be presented to governments and other

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key stakeholders on current senior citizen numbers and future requirements around the world. We will publish a link to the final report for all our readers to see the anonymised results.

Taking part in the survey could also help you consider your future needs. There are simply no wrong answers you can give, just your honest opinion on what is genuinely important to you.  www.promatura.net/survey/cgi-bin/tssw12. cgi?f=Algarve-2021I++11 * ProMatura is a GDPR-compliant international research company dedicated to understanding the property and lifestyle preferences of mature consumers and the industries that serve them since 1985. This survey, or a version of it, is being run in Portugal, UK, the US, Canada, Spain and other countries to be announced throughout 2021.  www.promatura.com

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FOOD & DRINK

A Lazy Girl's Guide To april

BY THE LAZY TIGERS

We are going to be open again on 5 April!

Whoop, Whoop! It’s going to be amazing to see the town coming back to life. At London Tiger, we are painting benches and tables in a lazy, pleasant, haphazard fashion.

Last month, we had a lot of feedback on the lemon curd recipe. Most people didn’t realise how suited it was to the lazy lifestyle.

If you made some, have some left and must hang around inside baking, then we have a great cookie recipe which lends itself to using up leftover lemon curd, jam, stewed fruit or – since it’s Easter – maybe a dollop of Nutella and/or a mini chocolate egg. A five-year-old could make these and they are quite tactile, which kids love.

Mascarpone Thumbprint Cookies To make 20:  50 grams slightly salted butter (softened)  100 grams of sugar (caster, granulated, white, golden, or whatever’s in the cupboard)  200 grams of mascarpone (Philly will do)  300 grams of plain flour  3 to 4 tbsp of lemon curd, Nutella etc.  A little icing sugar for dusting

Press lightly with your hand to flatten, and then use your thumb to make an indentation in the centre.

Chill for 15-20 mins, then bake for 20-25 mins until a pale golden colour. Cool on the tray, then transfer to a rack. Dust and fill as desired.

How about an Easter cocktail? Got to be chocolate, right? What about a Portuguese punch using a Brazilian liqueur? Cachaça is the main ingredient in a caipirinha, but this is a bit fresher.

Portuguese Punch To serve two:  15 ml of runny honey  100 ml of orange juice (freshly squeezed is nicest)  100 ml of lemon juice (again, as above)  Zest of half to a whole lemon depending on taste  150 ml of cachaça Pour everything into a jug and stir to dissolve the honey, then serve in a highball or large wine glasses filled with ice.

Preheat the oven to 180oC and line two baking trays with oven paper. Cream together the butter and the sugar. Beat in the mascarpone, followed by the flour.

You can't know how much we are looking forward to opening our doors and serving you – our regulars and newcomers – in what we hope is a reawakening of our lovely town.

Lots of love from the Lazy Tigers.

Bring together the dough with your hands, roll into 20 equal balls, and space out on the baking trays.

For a Lazy Breakfast recipe, head to Tomorrow's website www.tomorrowalgarve.com

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Martin's Magic Martin Busse is no stranger to the Algarve; he ran a restaurant showcasing the region’s specialties in the former Galeria Porca Preta in the Serra de Monchique. The Busse family have since settled in Carvoeiro, with their new restaurant, Martins Kulinarium, close to the centre.

The restaurant has an outdoor terrace, a spacious restaurant with a bar and an inner courtyard. The venue is attractively decorated with unusual art objects and local artists’ paintings.

Martin is a creative cook who uses local products in his recipes. Every week, there are different dishes and the weekend menu includes something extra special! Martin is supported by his family. “My right-hand woman is my wife Annett,” he says. “She is a baking specialist and craftswoman. Her cakes and tarts are an absolute dream, irresistible!”

Annett also sews, decorates and crafts.

At the beginning of the pandemic in 2020, when masks were as good as sold out, Annett sewed, sewed and sewed masks.

She helped many people who were unable to obtain masks in pharmacies.

The restaurant’s website is available in four languages. On it, you’ll find cookery books (also available on memory sticks), and more about special activities, mushroom and truffle walks, art exhibitions, sculptures and crafts.

Martins Kulinarium is an extraordinary restaurant in a class of its own.

By Susanna Gross, sales and marketing manager at the real estate agency TogoforHomes, Lda. The full artice can be read at www.togofor-homes.com  www.martins-kulinarium.com

New Look, New Concept

THE OLDEST ENGLISH PUB IN LAGOS

Brunch . Tapas . Salads Crepes . Sandwiches

We are open on the 5th of April outside tables only for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner (9am till late)

282 087 829

Fish and Chips, Ribs and much more.

Live sports on TV.

foodbreakfastlagos@gmail.com

Rua Marreiros Neto, 57 8600-754 Lagos

 919 699 495  Rua António Barbosa Viana, Lagos

OPEN FOR TAKE AWAY From the 5th of April we will be serving in the outside terrace +351

Traditional Italian food

282 782 417

Opening times: 12pm to 10pm Address: Urb. Rossio de S. João Lt 4, Loja A 8600-774 Lagos

Kiko’s Tasca

Wine, food and friends.

Portuguese food. Tapas, lunch and dinner.

Come and try for yourself.

Open from 11am to 10pm. Closed on Tuesdays.

Reopening on 19 th April

Reserve your table • Tel.: +351 282 046 037 • Email: one.destino@gmail.com Centro Naútico Sopromar - Estrada Sopromar (Meia-Praia) • LAGOS • GPS - N 37º 06.433' / W 08º 40.176' • f facebook.com/tascadokiko

PETS & WILDLIFE

A View

BY LENA STRANG

from the Rooftop Spring is here to lift our spirits. The carpets of colourful flowers and cherry blossoms are a delight but there is seasonal activity right above our heads too. Yes, the white storks (cegonha-branca) are busily settling into their nesting sites. You can hear the unmistakable clatter of beaks as they return to breed.

Storks used to spend the winter in the Sahel region of Africa.

Because of the changing climate, many decided to stay put in Portugal. They forage in freshly ploughed fields and marshlands looking for insects, frogs, rodents, fish, earthworms, and other delicacies.

Storks are monogamous while they breed but don’t over-winter together. If the same pair get together year after year, it’s more due to returning to the same nest rather than true love!

Breeding time is from the beginning of April and lasts just over a month. Three to five eggs are laid, and parenting is shared equally.

After about two months, the chicks leave the nest but are likely to return for another two weeks for a free meal.

Nests are enormous, built on any available structure, be it a chimney, an electricity pole, church tower, silo, or a tree trunk.

These architectural feats seem to defy gravity and can reach dimensions of several metres and weigh hundreds of kilos. Did you know that Algarvian storks are the only ones in the world who also nest on cliffs on the western coast?

Some decades ago, the birds were in danger of extinction. Pollution, pesticides and drainage of wetlands were the main culprits. Legal protection in the 80s ensured that the population increased manyfold. Ever wondered why there are so many old chimneys still standing when the building itself has been demolished? It’s illegal to demolish a stork’s nest is the simple answer.

Where is the best place to see storks? In Silves, almost every chimney and spire has been commandeered by the birds. On the outskirts of Odiáxere near Lagos, a large colony has established itself in a series of trees.

On the way to Monchique, there seem to be veritable “stork cities” on roadside electric pylons. If it’s not possible to visit these places you are still very likely to see storks on a rooftop near you! OR alternatively: if at all possible, take a photo of storks that may be settled on a rooftop near you and send to us and we will publish them on our Facebook page.  marketing@tomorrowalgarve.com

It’s definitely time to talk to your furry kids about the birds and the bees! Well, mainly the bees. This last month Whisky here was one of the many furry kids who wasn’t familiar enough with the birds and the bees (again, mainly bees) and how to interact with them.

This month we’ve seen more insect bite reactions than we have in years. As with the caterpillar story, this author suggests pet owners have some human antihistamines at home for times such as Whisky had last week.

Whisky mixed up his fleas for bees

Pet's Mate 50

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As well as the stirrings of birds and bees, the blood suckers have come out to play, as well. No, I’m not talking about merchant bankers (they never stop) but rather the ticks, fleas and mozzies. If it wasn’t bad enough that they steal your hard-earned blood, they go and repay you with blood parasite infection.

Most readers will know that ticks in Portugal and Spain can transmit fatal blood-borne infections.

I’ve written a lot about clinical signs of tick fevers in the past, so suffice to say, if your pet is showing any signs of malaise, you should take it to the vet. They can make a rapid diagnosis and provide appropriate

treatment. Most cases respond quickly when treated early.

Tick protection can take many forms nowadays: tablets such as Bravecto (there are several recent arrivals on the market) seem to offer the best control against the spreading of tick diseases.

Collars and spot-ons also work very well … though some better than others. Your vet should be able to suggest which one might be right for your pet and environment.

Leishmania and heartworm are two other diseases spread by the merchant bankers … sorry, I mean blood suckers. And they are back! BUUUUT … nowadays we can relax. Unlike the dark old ages of not so long ago, there are now injections available to protect against these diseases. Speak to your vet about them. For those wishing to know more, there is more information on these topics on our website.

I will just mention here that to boost the Leishmania vaccination to 98% efficacy, it is recommended your pet.

 www.lagosvet.com

DELEGAÇÃO SUL

We guarantee the best price on your electricity bill and we provide advice with total transparency in order to offer you the best solution in the electricity market.

Please get in touch for more information and schedule a manager visit.  Rua Coronel Figueiredo, Lagoa Business Center 23, 8400-306 Lagoa  282 380 059

 delegacao.sul@electryconsulting.pt

PETS & WILDLIFE

Baby Birds Spring in RIAS means … baby season!

We all know March is the month of spring. Flowers begin to appear, the weather starts to warm up a little and the different species start to reproduce. This is the time when RIAS receives hundreds of baby animals.

Mammals like rabbits, bats, weasels and hedgehogs make up a small percentage; however, the majority are baby birds, including swallows, swifts, blackbirds, owls and sparrows.

Sometimes they are found unable to fly well and seem lost or abandoned.

Your first impulse may be to help the young bird but, in the great majority of cases, it doesn’t need your help.

So … how to know when you should interfere?

Here’s a schematic we design to help you decide what to do.

You found a baby bird but... what can you do?

Does it look wounded/weak?

No

Does it have feathers?

Yes

If possible put in the nest or a high place

No

If not possible

Yes

Is there danger close by? (predators, roads)

No

Do not interfere

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Hand the bird to the closest wildlife rehabilitation centre OR Contact ICNF or SEPNA/GNR (SOS Ambiente)

Yes

The parents are close by? (watch from a distance)

Yes

No  ICNF Olhão +351 289 700 210 ICNF Castro Marim +351 281 531 257 ICNF Lagos +351 282 402 320 SOS Ambiente +351 808 200 520

HOT TUB HIRE 3 days hire 120€ 5 days hire 175€ 7 days hire 210€ Delivered and set up For more information, please contact:  +351 915 555 444

NANO.TECH

BEST HAND CAR WASH Lavagem automóvel

Polishing and Ceramic Specialists Full Valet Headlight Polishing Detail Cleaning  Intermarché - Lagos

Piso 0 - Ground Foor Mon to Sat 9h - 18h

 +351 967 567 427

Upholstery Cleaning

The chimney sweep borrowed me again

For a quick dust free cleaning of your chimney using the new Power Sweep System, call:

Leather Upholstery Cleaning and Revitalising Air Conditioning Refill and Clean

 david@hottubhire.eu

 934 927 944 | www.chimneysweepalgarve.com

Print Cartridges Refill

Save 50/60% refilling your cartridges

New Print Cartridges We offer the best prices

Printer Check Up 282 769 183 / 969 611 391 

recitonerlagos@gmail.com Rua Dr. José Francisco de Matos Nunes da Silva Lote 2 loja C (close to Lidl supermarket)

WWW.RECITONERLAGOS.PT

PETS & WILDLIFE

A Buzzword

BY LENA STRANG Now is a great time of year to see bees and butterflies in gardens, busily in search of nectar. I love watching them flitting from flower to flower, knowing they are important for our environment. Bees provide essential pollination for 80% of the vegetables and fruit that we eat. However, disturbing news keeps emerging about the global decline of the bee population and the impact it’s having on our lives.

Where José prepares his work

I head to a Quinta near Burgau to speak to a person who knows all about bees. José Vicente has been using artificial insemination to create queen bees for over 40 years.

I encounter an energetic 80-year-old, clearly eager to share his vast experiences. Might his youthfulness have something to do with working with bees, I wonder?

How did it all begin? Actually, in Sweden, he tells me. “At the age of 25, I moved there to work in a shipyard and ended up staying for more than 30 years,” he explains. He enjoyed the hospitality and generosity of people and marvelled at their close connection with nature. It was a back injury that brought him into contact with bees. “There was a belief that if you get stung, the pain will be eased. I visited a beekeeper and stood in front of a hive for the bees to sting me,” he laughs. He isn’t too sure whether it worked or not, but there is no doubt that it was love at first sting!

With his newly acquired hives, he started breeding bees. He was fascinated by the Buckfast variety created by Brother Adam at Buckfast Abbey in Devon, UK in the early 20th century. Based on extensive crossbreeding, a new hardy, productive and gentle species was developed. José met Brother Adam in Sweden several times and proudly shows me one of his books, duly signed.

José has been breeding Buckfast queens ever since and brought the practice to the Algarve over two decades ago.

He uses a range of very specialised equipment, including a large microscope and incubators, to collect and deliver semen from the drones and anaesthetise and immobilise the queen. Everything is recorded meticulously.

Lena getting close up to the bees

As Portugal already has hundreds of species of bees, why is it necessary to introduce a new one? Bees in Portugal are hybrid varieties, with the black Apis mellifera iberiensis being the most common. Buckfast bees are far more docile and easier to manage. To prove the point, José takes me outside to meet the bees. Only equipped with a netted hat, I’m able to handle the frame buzzing with bees with my bare hands – quite a thrill.

José is concerned about the disappearance of bees worldwide. Although the situation in Portugal is more favourable because of smaller-scale agricultural production using less pesticide, he thinks we must all do our bit. “The great gift of bees is the honey, but it is their pollination work that is crucial – without it, we are lost,” he maintains.

What can we do? Why not select plants for your garden that attract bees? On José’s recommendation, I immediately send off for phacelia seeds. They are easy to grow and are adored by bees. Many other plants are equally attractive, such as thyme, marjoram, coriander, lavender, lantana, and aster, to name just a few.  apiculturarainha.pt

This the time for bees to swarm. What should you do if they settle near your house?

Chris Day, from Cutting Edge Landscapes based in Lagos, tells me that bees are harmless as they are in swarm mode and urges people never to attempt to remove the nest or spray with pesticide. Call the local Bombeiros who can advise or contact Chris directly on 968 453 970.

He will remove the swarm and give them a new home. His services are free as his priority is to preserve the bees in the region.

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The Premium Scandinavian Real Estate Agency in Algarve Buying or selling a property?

SkandiaMäklarna Portugal offer you experienced, motivated and engaged Real Estators working for you.

Over the years we have sucessfully helped hundreds of clients buying or selling their homes.

Contact our team now for a professional, safe and smooth property deal.

Welcome home!

algarve@skandiamaklarna .com • +351 911 015 315 or +46 708 254 600 www. skandiamaklarna . se/portugal

ENVIRONMENT

Cleaning up the Neoprene The Nalu Project is helping to keep wetsuits out of landfills

BY MEREDITH LEVITT In 2016, 31-year-old Eva Diemer decided to spend a few months in Portugal travelling around in her van and enjoying one of her great passions: surfing. Like so many expats who have unintentionally settled in the Algarve, she never went home.

“I fell in love with the spectacular nature, unique energy, great weather and warm people in the Algarve,” she explains. Raised in a small village on the edge of the Black Forest in Southwest Germany, her parents emphasised sustainability, low-waste and local, organic food. At university, Diemer studied sports medicine and social work, eventually working with mentally ill youth before coming to Portugal for a break.

Dismayed by how many surfers contribute to environmental problems – often unknowingly – by buying and discarding neoprene wetsuits that are made of toxic, non-biodegradable material, Diemer wanted to help. Her chance came when she found an enormous pile of wetsuits next to the garbage bins at Amado Beach.

“It’s such a paradox that so many surfers who love the sea and nature so much either don’t know about this problem or don’t care,” Diemer says. “I couldn’t just leave those wetsuits to find their way to a landfill. I knew I had to do something with them.”

Indeed, the statistics surrounding neoprene are grim. Ever since Hugh Bradner invented the modern wetsuit in 1952, surfers around the world have been wearing neoprene to stay warm – especially in frigid waters like the Atlantic Ocean. But, according to a recent estimate in The Guardian, around 380 tons of neoprene waste is created annually by wetsuits. Neoprene is a 'thermoset', meaning its molecules are locked in position so they cannot be broken down and easily recycled like plastic.

Although awareness is growing, many surfers don’t realise that wetsuits are so bad for the environment. “They can take up to 100 years to degrade, they cannot be recycled and the manufacturing process used to make neoprene emits toxic gases,” explains Diemer.

To compound the problem even further, saltwater exposure and intense UV rays make it almost impossible to keep a wetsuit for longer than two years so most surfers are constantly buying new ones and discarding the old.

“Most people don’t know what to do with their old wetsuits, and surf camps usually want new ones for their customers so they’re constantly replacing the old ones,” Diemer adds.

Especially in areas like the Algarve, where water sports are prevalent, wetsuits have become an enormous problem.

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Determined to help solve the issue, Diemer lugged that pile of old wetsuits back home. She repaired the ones she could by hand and then gave them to local fishermen. She used the ones beyond repair to make laptop bags and phone cases.

The process was difficult and slow. Because neoprene is such a sturdy material, it usually requires industrial sewing machines, but Diemer found a way to repair them by hand using a large needle and dental floss. “There was no one in the Algarve repairing wetsuits so as soon as people heard about me, I started to get more work than I could handle and donations from people who wanted to help with the upcycling project,” Diemer says. “I had been looking for a nice, creative way to help raise awareness and not start blaming anyone or pointing fingers. This seemed like a good way.”

Word of Diemer’s work soon spread to the local surf shops and camps, quickly developing into a larger scope. In 2018, a year-anda-half after finding the first pile of wetsuits in the garbage, the Nalu company was born.

From Hawaiian, the word nalu means both ‘wave’ and ‘to go with the flow of the wave, to be mindful of its movement’. For Diemer, the semantics perfectly embody the concept. It’s not only about creating less waste and reusing whatever we can; it’s about the awareness we need to ensure a better future for our planet.

Every action matters – and every individual can make a difference.

Working from a small workshop in Sagres, Diemer hopes to educate others and influence them to follow suit.

“The more people who get involved in any way they can to help the planet, the better,” she says. “So many people here are really doing things to help the environment. It’s inspiring to see what other people are doing, and it’s great to be doing this important work and connecting with so many others here who are also doing their part.”

Five percent of the company profits go towards the ‘SagresBeachClean’ Initiative.

To find out more information or to donate your wetsuit, contact Eva:  www.nalu-project.com  Travessa Nossa Senhora Da Graça 8650-346 Sagres

AMI 14220

The local property agents with a global view

Tel: (+351) 282 789 336

Email: nick.sadler@sadlersproperty.com

knightfrank.com/portugal

TRAVEL & OUTDOORS

Alecrim

BY UROS IVKOVIC

The most common yet underestimated culinary and medicinal herb?

Have you ever been blown away by the smell of rosemary (alecrim)? It is common even in urban areas where it is used as a hedge. Fresh tender tops, tiny violet tasty flowers - all at your disposal and free.

It can combat halitosis, improve poor circulation and comes packed with proven bio-active properties such as antimicrobial (an agent that kills microorganisms) antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral and fights free radicals. It comes with a good taste and to me is way better than toxic chewing gums with aspartame.

The abundant rosemary plant may seem to you common and ordinary, but in my green-savage world, Rosemary is a reliable pal. He is the number one kitchen all-star. He's the king of the kitchen spice section which he rules with my other best friend the bay leaf (folha do louro).

Determined, audacious, fast-acting, efficient, spicy, pungent, sharp and good looking. Worth giving him a shot in your salad or stew, raw or cooked.

Rosemary essential oil is widely recognised in aromatherapy and inhaling rosemary helps with respiratory infections and has strong expectorant properties (help coughs by loosening mucus). What a hero. Thanks, Rosemary!

In a tea combination, drink it alone or with other herbs, but the bulk needs to be sifted after four to seven minutes. Longer periods or higher doses will allow the rosemary to continue to release its essential oils, making the taste unattractive.

Pick it on a sunny and dry day, when flowering has just started and avoid ornamental creeping rosemary, look for the upright regular bush.

Gardens In COVID Times

During COVID times, gardens have played an extremely important role in people’s lives.

Time that used to be spent in coffee shops, shopping centres, or even inside the house, is now likely to be spent in the comfort of your own garden, taking a stroll in public gardens or enjoying the biggest garden of all: the countryside and nature on your doorstep.

Facing this new reality, Lagos-based Ecossistemas has adapted its approach to landscape and architecture projects, from the smallest balcony or yard, to public parks and business grounds.

The Algarve enjoys enviable temperatures and all-year sunshine. Since the pandemic began, gardens have become our space of choice where we spend a large part of the day.

We use our gardens for recreational activities, exercise, work, family outings, socialising, or simply to boost our Vitamin D input. We search for experiences, contemplation,

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Try merging it with local Algarvian powdered unrefined sea salt, natural organic yeast, even with local Iberian organic algae in the mix. Feel this homemade superfood rocking your kitchen and health world. You may ask why to go through all this hassle just to make a sauce or spice? Well, the majority of store-bought foodstuff is loaded with modified corn starch (GMO), or loaded with other versions of sodium glutamate and harmful additives.

Historical evidence suggests that rosemary was one of the legendary mix of herbs that helped humanity against the plague, way back in the middle ages. Can it be of help again? For sure.  ilovenature360@gmail.com  paixao_pela_vida_selvagem

sensory spaces and opportunities to meet family and friends, while social distancing.

Our relationship with our gardens changed forever in 2020. And, in 2021, there is a move towards fewer lawns (to save water), the introduction of more native species and the planting of hedges for social distancing. The demand for pleasant outdoor environments is likely to increase, e.g. for restaurants and businesses. Fewer and better plants will be arranged chromatically with green and grey tones replicating the typical Algarve landscape.

Ecossistemas is ready to embrace these changes, putting into practice its many years of experience designing, constructing and maintaining green spaces of all kinds.  www.ecossistemas.com

LONDON TIGER COFFEE IS OPEN FROM APRIL 5TH

Come in and see us for home baked cakes, snacks, soups, sandwiches, and seasonal treats; with the finest coffee, ground and brewed by expert baristas. We also have speciality lattes, ice cold frappes, milkshakes, smoothies, beers, wines, and cocktails.

Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free options We are open 7 days a week from 9.30am to 10pm at 14 Rua Marreiros Neto in the historic centre.

londontigercoffee.com londontigercoffee @londontigercoffee London Tiger Coffee

TRAVEL & OUTDOORS

Gardener's World

BY TAMSIN VARLEY

Spring Arrives with a Riot of Colour I love Easter as it signifies to me the arrival of spring as the garden roars well and truly back into life. As I write this in March, my garden is already full of wonderful scents from jasmine, buddleias and freesias which have spread over the years throughout my garden. Deciduous shrubs and tree buds are bursting, revealing fresh green leaves. Everywhere looks vibrant and teeming with vitality.

In April, the sweetly scented jasmine climbing over the pergola at the back of my house passes its peak, giving over to the magnificent wisteria that was given to me as a seedling from my mother. Various gardeners told me that it would not flower for at least twenty years; however, they were all proved wrong as it flowered after three years and now is smothered in purple blooms at just eight years old. I also love the perfumed honeysuckle and who can resist the gaudy pink flowers of the bougainvilleas that scream “exotic” to my English eyes?

Several large shrubs also reach their flowering peak in April, including some blue-flowered ones, which is an unusual colour for a Mediterranean garden. I am, of course, talking about the drought-tolerant but relatively short-lived Californian lilacs or Ceanothus and the glorious echiums with their stunning blue-flower spikes. Melianthus major or honey flower looks its best at this time of year with its magnificent blue-green leaves and eye-catching burgundy flowers held high above the foliage. A couple of droughttolerant favourites include grevilleas with their unusual spider-like blooms and phlomis with their whorls of cheerful yellow flowers.

I love euphorbias too, a large plant family with about 7,000 species. The drought-tolerant shrub and perennial species are at their peak around Easter and bring a touch

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of the bizarre to any garden with their unusual flowers.

Euphorbia dendroides is a mass of yellow flowers right now and I also love Euphorbia rigida, which seeds freely in my garden. I bought a new euphorbia in autumn – Euphorbia atropurpurea from Tenerife – and am thrilled that it has produced its first unusual red flowers accompanied by some red striping in the leaves.

Another favourite plant family for me are salvias as they thrive in our climate. I have a lot of different species and cultivars and many of them look fantastic at this time of year and last for months. Find room for these in your garden because the bees love them. I must mention Dutch irises, which look amazing, as do the bearded irises with their short-lived flowers.

I’ll end with an unusual plant that flowers in April: Geranium maderense, a plant native to Madeira and the largest geranium species. It is a biennial, which means that it flowers after two years and then dies, but you need not panic as it seeds prolifically. It is a large plant, with the attractive dark green palmate leaves forming a mound about a metre wide and a half a metre tall. The huge bouquet of purple/pink flowers rises up above the foliage creating an incredible head-turning sight that is quite simply unforgettable.

Tamsin Varley is a member of Clube Dos Bons Jardins, a small, friendly multi-national garden club that meets at different locations around the Algarve on the 2nd Tuesday every month except over the summer with an optional lunch afterwards.  algarvecbj@gmail.com

Top to bottom: Echium Dutch Iris Phlomis Grevillea

LET’S THINK LAGOS At the end of 2021, Lagos citizens, Portuguese and foreign residents will be voting on the future of Lagos. You will have the opportunity to choose the candidates who are offering the best projects and programmes for Lagos county, city and parishes.

The duty of the local government is to create the conditions that give the people of Lagos greater opportunities for work, business, education and a better quality of life.

The Social Democratic Party, PSD, believes that Lagos could be one of the best cities in Portugal to live, work or visit. For this to happen the PSD should first: LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE OF LAGOS We believe that the political, economical, environmental, social and cultural programme that will form the manifesto of the next government of Lagos should be prepared by listening to the people. We would like residents of Lagos to take part.

We would like to hear from people of all ages and foreigners who have chosen Lagos as their place to live. We believe everyone should have a voice.

HELP US TO HELP YOU! We will be very pleased to receive your ideas & suggestions, as well as the problems that affect your life in Lagos.

We will analyse all the information received and we will prepare a report that will be presented on the 30th April 2021. This report will be sent to everyone who has participated.

The PSD party manifesto for the 2021 elections will be based on your proposals and the solutions to your problems.

Please contact us on email: IniciativaPensarLagos@gmail.com or by post to: Iniciativa Pensar Lagos, Rua Soeiro Costa, nº 53, 8600-624 Lagos, by 15th April 2021.

TRAVEL & OUTDOORS © Amy Wilkinson

© Jacky Jongenelen

© Kyra

The Lure of the Sea

BY DAVID LUGG

The Atlantic Ocean never ceases to amaze and inspire. How many hours have we each spent gazing absent-mindedly at the endless blue that dominates the periphery of the Algarve coast? We live in unusual times where restrictions are commonplace, but the sea offers a continual means of escape – a reminder of the freedom that we so longingly crave.

As humans, we are drawn to the sea like magnets. Within its abyss lies beauty, danger and above all a romantic sense of mystery. As with a roaring fire, we find ourselves mesmerised by it, hypnotised by something which we can never tame. The sea brought us here and its ever-presence ensures we remain.

On sunny days, the ocean is like water from a tap – pellucid, refreshing and enticing. It is the same vista we observe upon a thousand Algarve picture postcards. When the sky grows cloudy, the sea becomes glassy, like the metallic sheen of a freshly polished car.

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Today, the sea whips wild waves against the shoreline rocks. There is a majesty to a stormy sea that demands respect. Treat her like an unpredictable queen as she is just as likely to incite pride as to chop off your head. The many shipwrecks along the Algarve coast will attest to her despotic volatility.

Yet, despite her erratic behaviour, we are continually captivated by her charms. The colours are broad and dynamic – an artist’s dream. They mirror our moods and our desires. Maybe it is this that attracts us the most – humankind reflected within the personality of the ocean depths.

In his diaries, Vincent van Gogh made a similar comparison.

“The heart of man is very much like the sea. It has its storms, it has its tides and in its depths it has its pearls too.”

Going further, perhaps we find attraction in something that we can never truly have? In an increasingly materialistic world, the sea remains as wild and transcendent as ever. It is as exhilarating as it is soporific. As gentle as it is savage.

It is the last unchartered territory: a vastness without laws, without restrictions, without lockdowns. The only limits are the bounds of our imagination.

Tomorrow the forecast is calm and the fierce waves will abate leaving us with a sea of tranquillity. She will again offer us a strong sense of stoicism and sanguinity. After all, she has seen far more than you or me, having lived through pandemics and battles and wars. If she could, she would remind us all to stay patient as she will still be there when we emerge on the other side.

For now, we remain held within her omnipotent grasp, safe in the knowledge that she will never be owned yet always be ours. She embodies joy and freedom for all those willing to dip their toes into her hallowed waters. She is, perhaps, our liberator and we would all do well to keep her in mind when times are tough.

We asked our readers on social media to help us ilustrate the concept 'Lure of the Sea'.

To see all the photos submitted go to www.tomorrowalgarve. com/lure-of-the-sea

Gorgeous bedding, �luffy towels & a great new range of soft furnishings.

Doors Open April 5th Monday to Saturday 10am – 18.00 THREE WAYS TO ORDER: Our Stores 1 Visit Visit us to see our full product

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range, our team is available to help.

Order & Deliver

Place your order on our website linen-etc.com or call/email us to order. Free delivery in the Algarve.

Order and Collect

Place your order and collect in one of our stores.

The Linen etc team are here to help and advice you in the way that suits you.

LAGOS SHOP

LAGOA SHOP

Rua Torre P Com Inf, Loja 1, 8600-256 Odiáxere, Lagos  +351 282 697 791 |  info@linen-etc.com

EN 125 P. Empresarial, Lote 3 8400-431 Lagoa  +351 282 071 674 |  lagoa@linen-etc.com

Open Monday to Friday 10.00 - 17.00

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WE ARE HERE FOR YOU WE REMAIN OPEN FOR CONSULTATIONS AND TREATMENTS TIMETABLE:

WEEK FROM 9AM TO 7PM, SATURDAYS FROM 9AM TO 1PM

BANK HOLIDAYS FROM 9AM TO 1PM /SUNDAYS AND NIGHTS - DOCTOR AND NURSE ON CALL WHEN POSSIBLE PLEASE CALL 282 780 700 OR 919 869 700 BEFORE COMING TO THE CLINIC

Due to the pandemia all Medilagos services were temporarily transferred to Luzdoc

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