Tomorrow Algarve Magazine - December 2023 by Tomorrow Algarve Magazine

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DECEMBER 2023 | EDITION 145

Feliz Natal

In this edition

An investigation into Xávega The ancient art of fishing

Remembering Deolinda Rodrigues Portugal's star of the stage and screen

Salt of the Earth A trip down the Algarve's salt mine

Meet André Gomes The new president of Algarve Tourism

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Editor's note

5,500 PRINTED COPIES EDITORIAL Sophie Sadler sophie@tomorrowalgarve.com +351 912 176 588 SALES Tom Henshaw tom@tomorrowalgarve.com +351 919 918 733 DESIGN Phil Harding phil@tomorrowalgarve.com +351 916 606 226 FOLLOW  TomorrowAlgarve  @TomorrowAlgarve

Feliz Natal, and welcome to the Christmas edition.

I am a self-confessed Christmas fanatic, so I always have so much fun putting together this edition. It made me wonder if there is an official word for Christmas-obsessed people. Well, apparently not, but the urban dictionary suggests yulephile, yuletidephile, Christmasphile, and Christougenniatikophile so, if you are similarly inclined, take your pick. There is, however, an official word for the fear of Christmas: Christougenniatikophobia. Fortunately, there are no Ebenezer Scrooges at Tomorrow – we are all full of the joys of Christmas. Of course, the most important thing about Christmas that we value at Tomorrow is giving, which is why there is a heavy emphasis in this edition on charity with a roundup of all TACTS´s fundraising efforts along with a startling revelation about our illustrious founder Tom´s relationship with Santa. Read on to find out more. As well as giving to charity every festive season, Tomorrow hopes to bring attention to unique local products that will help the local economy and ensure your family and friends receive a special gift from the Algarve. What can demonstrate your love better than a present you have lovingly sourced from a local shop or artisan – it shows so much more heart than click and collect! When you buy locally, it also means that you minimise the transportation pollution and costs associated with delivering your offerings. Only Santa can deliver sustainably! We have lots of ideas in these pages for local gifts, or why not visit one of the many markets that are featured in the What’s On section. From 1 December to 5 January, Lagos Câmara is, as usual, assisting us to buy local with free parking between 1 December and 5 January. In addition, if you make purchases worth 10€ or more at establishments participating in the campaign, you will receive participation coupons making you eligible to win 100€ of discounts in local stores. So pop into Lagos town centre for some Christmas shopping and visit the events being held for our enjoyment rather than visiting a web page. So all that is left to say is a Very Happy Christmas and a Joyous New Year to you all from Sophie, Phil and the Tomorrow team. And a big ho, ho, ho from Tom!

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ON THE COVER: The ancient art of Xávega fishing on Meia Praia beach in Lagos © Pedro Noel da Luz

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Xávega, the Art of Fishing Anyone who has strolled on Meia Praia beach in Lagos very early in the morning may have seen a curious sight. A red and white wooden boat out in the water and a group of people in two lines laboriously hauling in a large net. They will have witnessed something unique – the ancient art of Xávega in action. WORDS Lena Strang

And what exactly is Xávega? It is a traditional fishing technique that involves trawling and hauling nets back to land. The gear is launched into the sea with the support of a vessel, leaving one cable on land and returning with the other cable.

I meet José Santos at the petrol station in Meia Praia, the place where he has his customary morning coffee. Although looking rather drawn because of his recent heart operation, he assures me he is now ready for action again.

Seine fishing ashore on sandy beaches is one of the most basic forms of fishing. Its origin dates to classical civilisations of the Mediterranean Sea, who used small boats and manual hauling nets. Later, during the Muslim occupation of the Iberian Peninsula, this type of net used in coastal sea fishing was known as Xábaka (the Arabic word for ‘net’) and expanded throughout Spanish Andalusia and the Algarve. On Meia Praia beach in Lagos it has specific historical and socioeconomic relevance. Something that may be under threat if not actively protected.

Seventy-three-year-old José was born practically on the beach in the fishing village Bairro 1.º de Maio on Meia Praia, when there were little more than tin shacks. After the 1974 Revolution, people from his village and the neighbouring village, Bairro de 25 de Abril, were helped to build their own brick houses as part of a national housing programme. He tells me he comes from a family of fishermen and decided to dedicate his life to the sea early on. As a young boy, he liked going to the beach and watching the older men mending their nets. “It was from the old masters that I learnt everything about fishing and the sea,” he says.

I put on my investigative cap and ventured out. The first port of call was an exhibition of Xávega at the Casa Manuel Teixeira Gomes in Portimão. The acclaimed photographer Pedro Noel da Luz exhibited an evocative set of images of fishermen engaged in net fishing on Meia Praia taken one morning in August 2017. I enjoyed the exhibition. He also put me in touch with José Zé ‘Bala’ Santos, the person who is vital to the practice of Xávega in the Algarve.

I was curious to know how he gained the nickname Zé ‘Bala’ (bullet). He chuckles: “When I was a young boy playing on the beach, some soldiers were doing manoeuvres. I picked up some bullet cases and showed them to my friends. The nickname ‘Bala’ has stuck with me ever since.”

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assist that morning and learn from the ‘companions’. Two companions fetch the boat engine in a wheelbarrow from José’s house, 500m away. “The first task is to launch the boat into the sea with the help of wooden sleepers (parais), which have been greased with lard to make it easier. It’s hard work with some pulling and others pushing,” Jose explains. “Two or three men get into the boat with me, and the rest stay on the beach.” © Pedro Noel da Luz

At the age of 15, he received his boat licence and, since then, has had experience with many different forms of fishing. “Life was tough at this time,” he remembers. “Everyone worked either at sea or on the land and earned very little.” After returning to the Algarve in the mid-1970s, having served in Guinea during the colonial war, he realised that Xávega had almost disappeared in the Algarve. The older ones had left, and the younger ones weren’t interested. He made a decision that profoundly affected this kind of fishing on Meia Praia. With the money he had earned working in a canning factory and later as a security guard in a hotel, he bought two licences for Xávega in Salema in 1983. “I got them for 70 contos, which was a lot of money then. And it was cash, not a bank loan,” he remarks. A boat was part of the deal but was wholly inadequate. He sold the second licence and acquired a smaller, lighter boat, José Fernando in Sagres, that he still uses. But he laments: “It already had 50 years of service when I bought it and requires much maintenance. If only I could afford a new boat …” I want to piece together what happens when it’s time to go Xávega fishing on the beach. Using all the knowledge he has gained over the years, Mestre Zé calculates the direction of the wind, tide, currents and stars, and knows the optimum time to go fishing. The evening before, he calls on people to help. And the message spreads through the grapevine. Neighbours, people from the surrounding countryside and the city are all welcome, including any tourists or visitors who want to have a go. While the city still sleeps, the group of men and women gather on the beach at 6.30 am. The most experienced form the socalled companha (company). They are able to perform specific tasks such as mending nets, boarding the boat and guiding the hauling. The ajudantes (helpers) are anyone who turns up to

The net has two sleeves (asas) of 300m each and a bag where the fish are caught. Two cables (calões) hold the sleeves together. One of the sleeves is kept in the boat, and the other is tied to anchors on the land. The fishermen throw the net overboard but keep the cable in the boat. Then, having completed a large semicircle, the boat returns to shore. José tells me he has a licence to drop the net up to three kilometres away but only goes as far as 1000m as this is the limit of the manual strength of the people hauling the cables (calas) on the beach. While waiting for the boat to return, the helpers enjoy their shared mata-bicho (breakfast), washed down with liberal doses of medronho, and share their stories. It’s a real community affair. Plastic bottles are filled with salt water, essential to clean the fish and retain flavour – something I hadn’t realised. The real hard work starts when the boat returns after about an hour. The net can be seen at the edge of the surf with, hopefully, a multitude of silvery fish splashing around. “We throw a handful of sand into the net. It scares the larger, bolder fish so they won’t escape,” José explains.

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A minimum of 16 people, divided into two groups, are required to haul in the two cables on each side of the net. Most wear a thick belt around the shoulders to make the task easier. Exchanges of jokes and sayings punctuate the rhythm of the movements, all delivered in the Algarvian dialect! Once the bag is securely on land, it’s cut open to reveal the day’s catch. Has the Mestre been right in his calculations this time? When the sea is generous, there is plenty to go around. The most common fish are mackerel, sardines, sea bream, red gurnard, mullets and pandora. If lucky, there might be a variety of sea bass, rays, turbot squid, octopus, etc. The haul is divided into species in separate boxes. The most valuable fish is auctioned on the spot. I imagine there can hardly be any fresher fish than this. The money gained goes towards fuel and maintenance of the boat.

All helpers receive their quinhão, a share of the catch they take home. The rest is taken to the official auction at the fishermen’s harbour in Lagos. But there is no time to rest yet. The boat must be hauled in, being much heavier now and requiring extra strength. The net is carefully cleaned, mended where necessary and sewn up to close the sack. It is stored inside the boat under canvas to keep it moist in readiness for the next fishing trip. From May to October, Xávega is done about twice a week and in wintertime when the weather allows.

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Luckily for me, there is an excellent documentary photo exhibition of Xávega at Lagos Cultural Centre, still on until the end of December. The photographer, Dina Salvador, agreed to talk to me and share her profound interest in this form of fishing. She values the collaborative work and the fellowship among the participants. Being a marine biologist, she also knows the environmental impact of fishing. Xávega is done in the north of the country, too, but with tractors. This is a problem as the machines haul in the net very fast, vacuuming up everything in its way, including small fish that are discarded,” she explains.

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José Santos who holds the license for Xávega fishing in Lagos © Dina Salvador

She compares it with the practice on Meia Praia, where it’s done manually and with nets that have larger openings to allow smaller fish to escape. “It’s the only place in Portugal where it’s done this way. It benefits the local community as some of the fish are distributed to families that aren’t able to participate. It is also an attraction for tourists. It’s something that we need to preserve.” Lagos City Council agrees. In December 2019, it commissioned a seven-month anthropological study of Xávega on Meia Praia, coordinated by Francisco Castelo, responsible for the archives at Fototeca Municipal de Lagos, and directed by Susana Filipa Santos from Coimbra University. Innumerable interviews were conducted, including with José 'Zé Bala' Santos. The findings, including some of Dina’s photos, were exhibited at the Cultural Centre in 2020. Because of its cultural and historical value, the council requested that the artisanal practice of the Art of Xávega be classified as an Intangible Cultural Heritage. The process is lengthy and has not yet been concluded. So, what is the future of Xávega on Meia Praia? Many factors put this kind of fishing at risk. The licence holder must sell fish at the local auction for 8000€ annually. No sales mean no licence. José Santos has been granted some exceptions because of his ill health, but the law still prevails. He is insistent that he wants to continue with Xávega to the very end as this is so much part of his life, but what happens then? In a communique, the Lagos Council said they still maintain their active support of Xávega fishing. They have continued to promote it to the public and resolved problems between José Santos and the maritime authorities. They acknowledge the issues of his health and advancing age,

along with the lack of interest of other fishermen to pursue fishing in the current, unprofitable way. They conclude: “Maintaining this fishing art presents challenges for which the municipality has sought to bring together partners, synergies and dynamics that enable its continuity. Even though it is a private economic activity in which the local authority can hardly intervene, recognising the importance of its cultural component leads us to support it in whatever way we can.” I sincerely hope there is a way forward. In the meantime, let’s take our hats off to Mestre José Zé Bala Santos for his heroic efforts over the years.

Tomorrow magazine - community magazine for the Algarve | www.tomorrowalgarve.com

The documentary photo exhibition of The Art of Xávega Fishing on Meia Praia by Dina Salvador can be viewed at the Lagos Cultural Centre from Tuesday to Saturday, 10 am to 6 pm. It is open until the 30th of December.

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Remembering Deolinda Rodrigues Portugal’s Star of The Stage & Screen WORDS Luka Alexander Deolinda Rodrigues (1924–2015) may not be a name that we are familiar with in the English-speaking community, but the late resident of Portimão once graced the stage and screen as one of Portugal’s greatest fado singers and actresses. My introduction to this story happened quite by accident. I was sitting in my friend’s living room in Portimão when I noticed a picture on the wall. I enquired who the elegant woman was. “That’s my grandmother, Deolinda Rodrigues, the fado singer. This was once her apartment,” Jorge replied. And so with intrigue, I delved into the life story of one of Portugal’s long-forgotten heroes of the iconic sound of fado and Portuguese film.

Encouraged by the singer José António, Deolinda proposed a collaboration of ideas for the national broadcaster, which eventually led to the Deolinda Rodrigues weekly radio show. In 1947, she appeared on the front cover of the Canção do Sul newspaper under the title Fado’s Harmony Flower.

Deolinda Rodrigues and António Silva, scene from the 'O Noivo das Caldas' movie

Deolinda Rodrigues performing at the colonies

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Images: from the booklet “Homage to Deolinda Rodrigues” and personal family photos, courtesy of the family of Deolinda Rodrigues.

This month, on 31 December, Deolinda would have celebrated her 99th birthday, although it is said she preferred to celebrate her birthday on 1 January. Born in 1924 in the former Convent of Telheiras in Lisbon, she became fascinated by the art of fado at a young age. Jorge told me that one of her first debuts was in a competition organised by the Portuguese newspaper Diário Popular, where she won second place. Over time, Deolinda Rodrigues slowly made a name for herself, performing in shows across the country and even entertaining the soldiers in the Portuguese colonies during the Colonial War. By 1944, she had made a professional appearance at the Parque Mayer entertainment complex in Lisbon before going on to perform in some of the best fado cabaret bars in the city, such as Café Mondego, Retiro dos Marialvas and Café Latino. One could say that these venues were Portugal’s answer to the famous cabaret circuit of Paris, often the start of many entertainers’ careers and a city in which Deolinda sang on numerous occasions.

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The newspaper reported that, “Those who like fado know that Deolinda sings it as it should be sung, with feeling, melody and expression. In the soul of this girl, modest and unpretentious, the fadista ballad is a simple flower defoliating in petals of poetry.” (16 March 1947, p.3). Among a host of films and operettas, Jorge told me that “one of her most famous appearances was in Henrique Campos’ 1950 film Cantiga da Rua and the 1952 film Madragoa by Perdigão Queiroga”. She toured across Portugal and overseas, entertaining in Mozambique, Angola, Venezuela, South Africa, Brazil, the United States and Canada, singing some of the best-known pieces of fado in her harmonic voice. Throughout her long and successful career, Deolinda performed alongside some of Portugal’s most well-known artists such as Hermínia Silva and Álvaro Pereira and many international stars of that era.

Interview on Channel RTP (Archive) 1991

Deolinda and Raymond Barry

RTP Channel Archive of Fadista Deolinda Rodrigues 1965

After her marriage and the birth of her daughter Maria in the 50s, Deolinda took a short two-year break from the world of show business, living in Angola to raise her family. Upon returning to Portugal, she would rekindle her passion for the arts, yet again appearing in cinemas, TV programmes and on radio in addition to her beloved live tours, which had taken her far and wide. In 1986, Deolinda starred in the national television production Um Solar Alfacinha, later followed by an appearance in the soap opera Vidas de Sal, which aired in 1996. She became a firm favourite on the 2004 television program Portugal no Coração, making many guest appearances, sharing stories about her life and, without hesitation, singing some of the songs which led her to stardom. In October 2004, the Lisbon Municipality Association honoured Deolinda Rodrigues for her 60 years in show business. This was followed by Lisbon City Council’s Municipal Medal of Merit in 2007, which stated that Deolinda Rodrigues was an “unavoidable name in national song in the first half of the 20th century”. Still in demand, Deolinda often appeared on TV talk shows, one filmed in her own living room in Lisbon behind the same backdrop of photos that now hang on Jorge’s apartment

Television Appearance 1

walls. After joining her family in Portimão later in life and living in the city centre, Deolinda eventually moved to Casa do Artista in Lisbon, a home for convalescing entertainers. On 10 October 2015, Deolinda Rodrigues passed away at the age of 90 at the Santa Maria Hospital in Lisbon. Sitting in the same living room that Deolinda once graced, surrounded by her awards and posters, I asked Jorge how he would describe his grandmother. He paused, looked up and said, “She was a strong-minded woman who fought for her dreams, she remained strong right up until the end. Above all, she was a loving family woman who showed warmth and compassion to everyone.”

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Television Appearance 2

Deolinda Rodrigues - Song “Trago Saudades Perdidas”

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Salt of the Earth WORDS Michael Upton

Mention salt mines and the image most likely to spring to mind is a line of grim-faced Soviet political prisoners hacking at a freezing white wall in Siberia. But you don’t have to risk a trip to Siberia for a sodium chloride experience: there is a working salt mine on the edge of the city of Loulé and it is open to the public on most mornings. The Campina de Cima mine opened in 1964 with the construction of two vertical shafts, one of which is now used to transport visitors down to the tunnels. The shafts were later connected to allow proper ventilation; at that time, dynamite was used, but in the 1980s, the mine abandoned explosives in favour of laser-guided “road header scrapers” working in pairs. All the equipment is lowered down the shafts and assembled underground. The tour guide told us that one of the scrapers took three months to assemble, piece by piece. The machines stay underground, as there is little value in dismantling them and raising the parts to ground level. Vicious-looking tungsten carbide spikes on the cutting heads rip into the rock salt, while conveyor belts and dumpers transport the resulting product to skips which carry it to the surface via the shafts. The salt is then distributed for use in animal feed and for de-icing roads. The lift (capacity seven persons at a squeeze) takes a long four minutes

to descend to the main level of galleries 230 metres below ground. Our cheery and knowledgeable young guide conducts groups of visitors along the vast galleries – over 40km in combined length – and we gaze at the extraordinary patterns torn out of the walls by the cutters. The galleries are up to 10m wide and 5m high and stay at a constant temperature of 23º throughout winter and summer. Everything you see is salt, or halite, formed around 230 million years ago. Fernando Santos Graça, a local historian who has written up a history of the mine, describes it as a “city of salt”. Pressure and heat occurring in sedimentary basins squeezed the rock deposits into folds or “domes” that rose close to the surface. Halite is remarkably pure – around 93% sodium chloride (NaCl), with small quantities of other minerals. Surprisingly, the tunnels are not blindingly white – the walls are a mix of grey and pink, though there are fissures where white salt has leached out and formed stalactites. Production these days is limited: there is a staff of seven full-time men who, even with the superior technology in use, will never reach the record levels of 124,000 tonnes of rock salt extracted in 1989 – there were then 180 workers. And what of the future? TechSalt, the mine operator, is attempting to diversify: pianist Mário Laginha has given a concert in one of the larger

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spaces and Fado singer Cristina Branco chose the setting for a video. There has also been collaboration with the Polish representatives of a big salt mine in Wieliczka near Krakow, which attracts over a million visitors annually. Then there is the prospect of health tourism; the lowhumidity saline atmosphere in the tunnels has been found to have significant benefits in relieving respiratory illnesses such as asthma, and our guide gave examples of the health benefits of breathing rock salt air. Some appreciative patients have carved their names into the walls. On a grander scale, there has been a proposal for a flashy visitor centre at ground level, offering “themed hotel” stays down the mine along the lines of Sweden’s Ice Hotel. There would be a spa and wellness centre focusing on respiratory issues. A scheme was produced a few years ago, but lack of financing has placed that project on hold. Nevertheless, the Mayor of Loulé, Vitor Aleixo, has been promoting the idea of a Geopark Algarvensis Loulé-Silves-Albufeira as a UNESCO World Geopark, which would incorporate the mine as a key element. Whatever the future holds for Campina de Cima, the salt will not run out. We’re told that at an annual extraction rate of 100,000 tonnes, reserves would last about 3,000 years. And when the rock salt runs out around 5023, that yellow machinery from the 20th century will still be there, ready for hoisting to the surface.  www.techsalt.pt

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An offer for every kind of tourist We meet André Gomes, the new president of the Algarve Tourism Board. WORDS Vaughan Willmore

André Gomes has been in his post for just four months, a period which he describes as “crazy busy!” We met at the head office of the Algarve Tourism Board (ATB) in the centre of Faro, near the main market hall. It’s a tall, impressive building, almost ‘high rise’ by Faro standards. André is warm, welcoming, casually dressed and photogenic. The role of the president of the Algarve Tourism Board must be one of the most important in Portugal and certainly in the Algarve. It’s an elected role with a fixed term of five years plus the option of an additional five years. Previously, André was the ATB director with lead responsibility for promoting the region, so he knows the organisation and the region well. While he was born in Porto, he’s lived most of his life in Portimão. There are two aspects to the ATB’s work and the president’s role. There’s the Algarve Tourism Association, which focuses on the promotion of the Algarve as a tourist destination and includes, amongst other things, the running of the tourist information offices and the Visit Algarve website (see www.visitalgarve.pt). Then, there’s the work that’s more focused on infrastructure and networking. This includes building partnerships with public and private organisations, applying for grants, attracting investment, attending trade fairs and influencing government (see www.turismodoalgarve.pt). André has had quite a start to his presidency. In November, the first direct air link between the US and the Algarve was announced. It’s set to start in May 2024.

”The region is becoming more connected to the world,” said André. “The Algarve is already popular with people from the US and this development will make it easier for them to access the region.” It’s a development which links in well with several of André’s objectives – the first being to make the Algarve more of an all-year attraction so businesses and jobs are not so dependent on summer trade. Another key aim is to bolster the reputation of the Algarve as somewhere for ‘every kind of tourist’ and not solely for those in search of sun and sand, as necessary as this aspect of tourism is. I asked André about the potential for overcrowding – there’s been talk about the impact of tourism on the caves at Benagil. Elsewhere in the world, there has been talk of cities such as Venice seeking to control visitor numbers by levying a charge to enter the city. As far as André is concerned, it’s all about "balance and moderation", particularly as protecting the natural environment is also a priority for André and the ATB. As for the ‘tourist tax’, he’d like to see it extended to many more municipalities and used as a means for investing back into the region. Working with TAP Air Portugal is another key focus for the president, with a view to opening up more routes to other European destinations and more domestic flights to Lisbon and Porto, thereby helping people who live in the Algarve and need ready access to Portugal’s major cities. The opportunities are endless. The 2030 Football World Cup will be held in Portugal, Spain and Morocco. Could the Estádio

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Algarve be a venue? It would undoubtedly bring in football supporters and media outlets from around the world. There are so many aspects of the region to herald, as well as the spectacular coastline. André’s long to-do list includes promoting the gastronomy of the region, its history, the golfing venues and sports complexes, and its fantastic natural landscape and wildlife. There are so many opportunities for the incoming president, but at the same time, there is a need to protect the beauty and the heritage of the region. André Gomes has a tough job ahead of him and an important one. We wish him every success.

The Algarve Tourism Board is a public body whose mission is to promote tourism in the Algarve to benefit the region’s economy and quality of life.  +351 289 800 400 turismodoalgarve@turismodoalgarve.pt www.visitalgarve.pt www.turismodoalgarve.pt

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Undermined WORDS James Plaskitt

The government elected in 2022 is no more. Last month the prime minister resigned amidst a swirl of corruption allegations and the president of the republic opted to dissolve the parliament and call new elections in March. But it’s far from clear if this will restore political stability. António Costa, the leader of the Portuguese Socialist Party (PS), became prime minister in 2015 and secured his third term in office only last year after a convincing election win. His ability to increase his support in successive elections was largely down to Portugal’s strengthening economy, with decent levels of growth and a steady reduction in government deficits and public debt. There was criticism that his government was not doing enough to tackle the cost of living crisis or the boom in house prices. But the end of his tenure in office had nothing to do with policy issues. An investigating judge has been looking into the letting of contracts on three major infrastructure projects: • A large lithium mining project in the north of Portugal, where two mining concessions have been given to the Portuguese company Lusorecursos and the UK firm Savannah Resources • A 100-megawatt hydrogen production hub in Sines, led by the H2Sines consortium • A large-scale data centre in Sines to meet demand from global tech firms led by US and UK investors Last month, the judge issued a number of arrest warrants, including Costa’s chief of staff, Vitor Escaria. The allegations cite malfeasance, corruption of elected officials and influence peddling. As soon as the arrests were announced, Costa resigned as prime minister, although he has not himself been cited by the judge. Costa insists he has done nothing wrong but stood down because of the proximity to him of those involved. In recent years, ten officials have resigned from Costa’s government under suspicion of corruption. Following Costa’s resignation, the president of the republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, had two options – to ask the ruling PS to find a new leader and prime minister or to dissolve the parliament and call fresh elections. Costa urged the president to take the first option, arguing that his government’s mandate was still fresh. He suggested that he be replaced by Mário Centeno, currently governor of the Bank of Portugal and previously finance minister in Costa’s government. However, after consultation with other parties and with the advisory Council of State, de Sousa opted for fresh elections to be held on March 10. The current parliament is being given time to pass the 2023/4 budget, after which it will be dissolved. The first job for the PS will be to find a new leader and candidate for prime minister. The first to declare his interest was Pedro Nuno Santos, a former minister of infrastructure. But he, too, resigned over

Tomorrow magazine - community magazine for the Algarve | www.tomorrowalgarve.com

the scandal of hefty severance payments to TAP officials. So the field of candidates is likely to widen. Whoever takes over will face the challenge of disassociating the party from the corruption allegations that have dogged many of its officials and which led to Costa’s sudden departure. After the party’s strong showing in the 2022 election, when it secured 41% of the vote, it is now at 29% in the latest polls. The election is also a challenge for the main opposition party, the conservative Social Democrats (PSD). They ran in a poor second in 2022 on just 29% of the vote. But their rating has dropped further, with current polls indicating support at around 26%. Both the main parties have three months in which to attempt to build their support up to the 40% level, where Portugal’s proportional voting system would give them a fighting chance of securing a parliamentary majority. But it’s a big ask for both parties. The election may well not produce an outright winner, in which case it will be followed by coalition negotiations. There are a number of small left-wing parties to whom the PS could reach out for a coalition – as they have before. The PSD’s options are more limited. Much interest will now focus on the performance of the populist, anti-establishment Chega party, currently running at 14% in the polls. PSD leader Luis Montenegro has so far ruled out the possibility of any alliance between the two. Other centre-right groups are unlikely to win many seats, so his coalition options are far from clear. The long election campaign starts now. James Plaskitt was an MP in Tony Blair’s government in the UK and is now retired in the Algarve.

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COMMUNITY

Young Algarve WORDS Lena Strang

Writers

Manuela Istrate, English teacher at Júlio Dantas Secondary School in Lagos, is keen for her students to improve their language skills in innovative ways. Based on a visit to the school by a local author in June, who presented his children’s books, Manuela launched a story-writing project with winning entries published in the July and August editions of Tomorrow. It greatly encouraged the students to see their work in print. The Christmas story-writing competition was won by 16-year-old Alexandra. Well done, Alexandra! Manuela’s idea of a regular Young Writers Club is also materialising, with another local author talking to the youngsters in early December.

My name is Alexandra Alexandrovna Belova. I’m a 16-year-old girl with double nationality – Russian and Portuguese. I practise dancing as a hobby, and I go to several national and international competitions. I have always been curious and keen on learning something new. I find it fun to learn foreign languages, and for now, I speak four different languages. I guess my natural curiosity hasn’t failed this time, inspiring me to write a Christmas story.

A Christmas Story In the charming town of Lagos, where the golden sun embraces the small town every day, lived a spirited little girl named Sofia. Sofia was the embodiment of joy, especially during the magical Christmas season. There were three days left before the long-awaited day arrived. Sofia jumped from one side to the other, excited to receive her Christmas gifts. The little girl's mother looked at her with a smile on her face and then decided to ask her if she knew the real meaning of Christmas. Sofia looked questioning and tried to find an answer. Her mother, seeing that her daughter was struggling, decided to challenge her. Today, she would have to talk to the priest and ask him what Christmas meant to him. When there were two days left until Christmas, she had to ask an exhausted adult. And on the last day, she would have to ask a person who seemed to have the answer to the question. Determined, the girl left home and went looking for the answer in the church. Upon meeting the priest, Sofia took the opportunity and asked what Christmas meant to him. The priest looked at her and said, “So … if we go by the religious motive, I would say that it serves to remember Jesus Christ and his sacrifice.” Sofia thanked him and went back to the house. The next day, the little girl decided to ask the

Tomorrow magazine - community magazine for the Algarve | www.tomorrowalgarve.com

same question to the most tired adult she knew … her dad, João.

home with a bright smile on her face and stayed out all day.

Sofia’s father always came back from work tired and exhausted with puffy eyes. Sofia asked the same question to her father.

As Sofia walked around the city, she noticed everyone was happy and joyful. At that moment, the answer suddenly came to her! Everyone seemed to have the same goal in mind: to spread happiness and joy to others. There were so many people giving each other gifts and bringing food to their friends. There were also people smiling and enjoying the time with their family.

“Well, my little angel, see … I work hard every day, and Christmas is one of the only days I can rest and pass the time with your mother and you, my princess.” He kissed her forehead and went back to work. The next day, Sofia was in the living room comparing her father's answer with the priest's answer. The young girl was getting frustrated for not finding any similarities in their answers. The little girl’s mother noticed that there was something wrong with her daughter, and she seemed irritated. “Are you okay, my dear?” Sofia, disappointed with the answers she had been given, said: “I can’t find a definitive answer to the question that you gave me.” Maria, Sofia's mother, found the situation funny and resolved to calm her down. “Sofia, be patient. You'll find the answer. Why don’t you go to the main praça and try to find someone who could help you?” Sofia’s happiness increased with her mother’s help. “Thank you, mum.” The girl left

Sofia finally understood that the answer was in front of her eyes. The real meaning of Christmas was not just receiving presents. No, it was more than that. It was about giving presents, hoping for a happy reaction. It was also about passing the time with family and friends and remembering all the good memories.

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COMMUNITY

The Butterfly Who Carries the Grenade Although social media is often villainised as the root of all evil, one of the positives is that young artists and entrepreneurs can now launch themselves with a lot of creativity, hard work and screen time – but most importantly, zero budget. WORDS Sophie Sadler

This is certainly the case for Tomás Ziobrowski, a 23-year-old from Albufeira. He completed a degree in Communication Design at the University of the Algarve and is currently studying for a Master’s Degree in Equipment Design – Specialising in Urban and Interior Design, at the Faculty of Fine Arts of the University of Lisbon. Not content to simply follow his coursework, Tomás started a project that mirrored his work as a designer in his first year as a graduate student. He focuses on developing illustrations that incorporate concepts, which he then sketches. Through his designs, he seeks to describe or give shape to an idea or message in a certain style and graphics. An example is the striking image of a butterfly carrying a grenade. This is intended to challenge our perspectives as we subconsciously acknowledge that it is impossible for a small-winged insect to carry a grenade, but Tomás seeks to challenge our attitudes and believe that something seemingly impossible can be possible. “If we believe we can change the world, we can,” explains Tomás. “To improve the world, we need to act, we need to

recognise our individual strength, and we need to believe.” It is perhaps unsurprising that a young person in 2023 should find images of war and futility creeping into their creative endeavours. Having sketched his concept, the young artist then puts his drawing through Illustrator and Photoshop. He never intended to start a clothing brand, but increasingly, acquaintances kept asking him to put his ideas on a T-shirt. “I think young people are tired of the meaningless imagery and logos on fast fashion high street items,” observes Tomás. “They like the message behind what I create.”

Tomorrow magazine - community magazine for the Algarve | www.tomorrowalgarve.com

Tomás’ ideas have now developed into a fashion brand focusing on quality, not quantity. The entrepreneur never produces anything he wouldn’t wear himself. His followers include Portuguese pop star Bárbara Bandeira, whom he is photographed with on his Instagram. He promotes his creations through social media and sells them on his own website. As well as clothing, you can buy tote bags and key rings aimed at a unisex target audience aged between 15 and 30. As well as Portugal, he has been receiving orders from elsewhere in Europe, Brazil and the US.

COMMUNITY Although he intended to give the brand a cool name as it evolved, he realised that most of his initial customers knew him by his social media profile, so he stuck to his name – Tomás Ziobrowski – which he also sees as reflecting his mixed heritage (his mother is Portuguese and his father Polish), therefore evoking his roots. The brand has now been in existence for more than four years, a progress that has culminated in partnerships with various national and international influencers, designers and national brands. His next mission is to encourage others to develop their own creativity. He intends to start videos on TikTok to help others who also want to start from scratch.

there are initiatives like yours in the Algarve, which seek to disseminate quality information in a totally creative and original way.” Oh, stop it, Tomás, you are making us blush! But our admiration is mutual.

Now, Tomás is turning to us at Tomorrow to promote his brand. “It would be a great opportunity for me to be able to promote my work through your magazine, a tool that promotes Algarve and national talent with total rigour and professionalism. I’m very happy to know that

 www.instagram.com/tomasziobrowski www.facebook.com/tomaszio www.tiktok.com/@tomasziobrowski www.youtube.com/channel/UC5nmqp85l9bYSGrk9SHu5Ow?app=desktop

Seven Wonders of Portugal WORDS Lena Strang On behalf of the artist Ray Gilman and Tomorrow magazine, Lena presented 50 copies of the brochure Seven Wonders of Portugal to Paula Couto, Director of the Gil Eanes Consortium of schools in Lagos.

national vote. The panel will be offered to the British Embassy in Lisbon as an appreciation of the continuous support given to the expatriate community.

Paula was delighted to receive the brochures and said she would distribute them to the schools in the city. “They are of fantastic educational value, and students will, no doubt, learn more about our rich cultural heritage.” The fact that the brochures are written in both Portuguese and English is also a bonus for language learning.

Ray wrote and financed the production of the beautifully designed and illustrated 68-page brochure, describing the dramatic events and fascinating characters revealed by the Seven Wonders. The booklet is sold for 5€, and all the proceeds go to local charities. So far, the project has raised over 5,700€.

The brochures are based on Ray’s large-scale panel of sixty-three 15 cm tiles featuring the places considered to be the ‘seven wonders’ by the Portuguese in a

Booklets can be bought in Lagos at A Internacional Bookshop on the Avenida, PDM Travel, Mar d’Estórias, in Luz at Harmony Earth and the Burgau Sports Centre.

Tomorrow magazine - community magazine for the Algarve | www.tomorrowalgarve.com

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COMMUNITY

The Autumn Mediterranean

Garden Fair WORDS Julian Putley

On Saturday, 28 October, volunteers came together to celebrate a proactive garden association’s vision for the future. There were those with green fingers, notso-green fingers and well-intentioned observers filling Silves’ exhibition centre.

Their objective was to raise awareness of the effects of climate change and the need to adapt with gardens requiring less water, a reduction in pesticides and chemical fertilisers, and the use of plants with longer life spans. Rob Peddle and his wife, Rosie, are founding members of the Mediterranean Gardening Association of Portugal. Rosie Peddle is the secretary of the association and a Fellow of The Linnean Society of London. The Royal Horticultural Society awarded her a Veitch Memorial Medal in their 2020 People Awards. The medal is awarded annually to persons of any nationality who have made an outstanding contribution to the advancement of the science and practice of horticulture. Rob, the present treasurer, explained some details of the event and its objectives. “We’re a not-for-profit organisation run entirely by volunteers. We are fortunate to have the support of the Junta de Freguesia of Silves and Câmara of Silves and we are most grateful to them for the use of the Fissul Exhibition Centre. We are supported by over a hundred volunteers and donors who realise the importance of sustainability. We are very involved with education, research and environmentally friendly practices. Our volunteers include teachers, horticulturists, ecologists, climatologists and landscape architects.”

The giant undercover space was filled with exhibitors and at 11 am a happy throng of eager visitors were buying everything from exotic orchids, succulents, cacti and other droughtresistant plants typical of Mediterranean climates, like Portugal. A new botanical garden exhibit, Orchard of Flavours, highlighted a diverse selection of warm weather fruit trees, of which over 300 varieties are being cultivated. Miguel Cotton founded the not-for-profit educational garden four years ago close to Luz de Tavira and it’s already recognised by Botanic Garden Conservation International. Guided tours described as ‘fruit tree safaris’ concentrate on learning and development. They offer workshops on propagation techniques and adjustment to climate change. Water-saving and drought-resistant methods are emphasised. The exhibition hosted close to 50 participants. Verda Perdal had an impressive display of plants and succulents as well as aromatic/culinary herbs and vegetable varieties. “It started as a hobby,” explained Andrea Martins, “but our small enterprise created so much interest that it has evolved into a family business. We offer landscaping services, including irrigation systems, maintenance of large green spaces, and consultations.” Besides plants, there were exhibits of plant-

Tomorrow magazine - community magazine for the Algarve | www.tomorrowalgarve.com

based products like olive oil, specialised vinegar, chilli peppers and the resulting sauces. Plantbased soaps and cosmetics were also featured by Árvore do Sabão. And if you really wanted a plant or flower-themed memento, gift or treasured keepsake of this wonderful event, without the weeding and watering, perhaps a painting or a wall mural would suffice. Samantha van Westhuizen was showcasing her work, as was Toni Dade from Messines, who offers painting classes. Possibly the least glamorous but most significant exhibit was the one informing us of the importance of water and how we must be more conscious of how we use the world’s most valuable resource. Paula Vaz, a senior technician from the Agência Portuguesa do Ambiente, was on hand to explain their work and advise on water conservation. The fair, with its emphasis on Mediterraneantype gardens, had climate change and planned management of water, a natural resource, firmly in its sights. On both Saturday and Sunday afternoons, talks and interactive discussions took place, with everyone welcome to attend. Horticultural advisor Jessica Gomes joined the association in 2020 with expertise in architectural landscaping. Her talk on 'Starting from Scratch – Your First Sustainable Garden' was well received. She explained that there are alternatives to a thirsty lawn. Not content to rest on his laurels, Robert explained his further ambitions. “We’re actively looking for about two hectares of barrocal land (with clay soil) for an all-purpose botanical garden. Our requirement is for land not previously used for agriculture to give plants a ‘clean start’ for research purposes.” The fair was a huge success and everyone is looking forward to a spring event. Keep your eyes peeled in Tomorrow’s What’s On column.  www.mgaportugal.org www.orchardofflavours.org

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COMMUNITY

Saving Water WORDS Julian Putley At the autumn Mediterranean Garden Fair, a dedicated exhibit on water and its sustainability was managed by Paula Vaz from the Agência Portuguesa do Ambiente. The exhibit demonstrated the various excessive and wasteful water usage and how this can be corrected. Golf courses are often fingered as being the culprit of the worst water waste but this is not the case, since they use recycled water from domestic sources. Private gardens and lawns are the biggest offenders along with humans and their many domestic uses. There were some interesting statistics that we should be aware of: • According to the United Nations a person needs 110 litres of water per day. In Portugal a person uses, on average, 184 litres. • Dishwashers use about 12 litres but only after items have been hand washed first. Dish washing under a running tap can easily use 150 litres. Instead, fill the sink, turn off the tap then wash the dishes. Rinse under a slow running tap. • Brushing your teeth under a running tap for 3 minutes can waste 36 litres of water. • A continuous five-minute shower can use 60 litres. When showering wet yourself, turn off the water, wash yourself, rinse off, this will use just 20 litres. • Wash your car with a bucket of water and a leather instead of a running hose. • Water your plants after sunset to avoid evaporation. • Fix a dripping tap. It can easily use 30 litres a day. We take water for granted in Portugal but it’s time to become more aware of this indispensable resource. We won’t realise just how valuable water is until we don’t have any.

Is it Christmas yet? Not quite! WORDS Fr Rob Kean As a child, I really used to look forward to Christmas Day with incredible excitement. I don’t know whether this was because my birthday is on Christmas Day as well (I just thought I would slip that information in!), and so it was the only day to look forward to – for presents, of course! As a child, a day in the run-up to the ‘big day’ felt like a week, and a week like a month. I recall that I used to have a really difficult time getting to sleep on Christmas Eve – often thinking that I would never nod off, but of course, eventually, I did. I would then occasionally wake up in the early hours of the morning and check whether there were any presents at the bottom of my bed (I once sneakily opened one or two). Now, of course, it has somewhat reversed – the years pass by like months, the month like weeks and the weeks like days, and before we know it, it’s Christmas day once more. The season of Advent in the church is designed for us to slow down and appreciate the run-up to Christmas (which should be a slow walk, if anything). The first Sunday of Advent this year is on Sunday, 3 December and marks the beginning of the Advent season. Traditionally, a purple candle is lit on the Advent wreath to symbolise the expectation and hope of the coming Messiah. The theme of the second Sunday of Advent is peace. Another purple candle

Tomorrow magazine - community magazine for the Algarve | www.tomorrowalgarve.com

is lit, along with the first candle from the previous week, symbolising the increasing anticipation of Christ’s birth and the peace that he brings. On the third Sunday of Advent, we have Gaudete Sunday, which takes its name from the Latin word meaning “rejoice”. This Sunday is marked by a pink candle being lit on the Advent wreath, symbolising joy. And on the fourth Sunday of Advent, the theme is love. The final purple candle is lit, along with the candles from the previous weeks. This marks the culmination of the Advent season, as Christmas is just around the corner. In addition to the four candles on the Advent wreath, there is a fifth candle, which is white, in the centre. This candle is called the Christ Candle, and it is lit on Christmas Day to represent the light of Christ coming into the world. The Advent season serves as a time of reflection, prayer, and preparation for Christians as they focus on the significance of the birth of Jesus and the hope, peace, joy, and love that he brings into the world. May God richly bless you and your loved ones this Advent and Christmas. Fr Rob

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Strangers in the Night An inexplicable event occurred during a rare supermoon in a remote part of the Algarve between Marmelete and Monchique. The discovery by Odilia Marques Fernandes was so strange that it would rival the plot of an X-files episode. WORDS Len Port

Did you know...

The August supermoon was rare as it looked enormous: it was at the closest point the moon ever gets in its orbit around planet Earth. Odilia, aged 67, is originally from Lisbon. She moved to the Algarve 26 years ago and works as a physiotherapist. Family and friends regard her as a stable, happy and sensible person with a sound mind and no odd characteristics. Her cottage home is set well apart from neighbours, a little back from a quiet, minor road amid beautiful natural countryside. Her small kitchen/sitting room, bedroom, bathroom and garage offer her perfect tranquillity. While she was working in silence on her computer at 2.30 am on 31 August, Odilia heard what sounded like footsteps on the roof. As it was so late and she was tired, Odilia dismissed it as just her imagination. She went to bed and slept well. In the morning, curiosity persuaded her to fetch a metal ladder from her garage. Once on the flat section of roof above her bedroom and bathroom, she was shocked to find footprints clearly marked in the dust all over the surface. They seemed to have been made by two pairs of bare feet, neither much bigger than her own. Even more striking were several large, perfectly circular patterns spaced among the footprints.

look at the facts may make even strong-minded sceptics wonder. Naturally, Odilia was greatly worried about the next supermoon, the so-called Harvest Moon, at the end of September. Feeling extremely anxious, she bravely stayed up on her own into the early hours of the morning, climbed onto the roof after daylight and was hugely relieved not to have experienced any new visitations. Astrologers consider Blue Moons to bring a heightened sense of awareness and intuition. They believe it to be a time of increased emotional energy, healing, meditation and spirituality. But nothing can explain who or what made the strange marks on the roof on the night of a unique lunar event. Can you think of an explanation for this strange occurrence? If so, we would love to hear from you. Or if you have your own strange event to report, email sophie@tomorrowalgarve.com

Odilia was not only shocked but frightened. She considered it impossible that anyone could have climbed onto the roof without her knowing or at any other time since the flat section had been installed. She was certain that the workmen who had fitted the roofing a year earlier to stop rain coming in from leaking tiles had not left any marks – and even if they had, their footprints would have been washed away by the winter rains. Without delay, she phoned the GNR police in Monchique. They showed no interest. They did not send anyone to investigate, she said. Odilia shared her fears with family and friends. Two of them later climbed up with her and took photographs on the roof and have not come up with a plausible explanation. Odilia and others have speculated that supernatural or extraterrestrial visitors might have made the marks. A close

Tomorrow magazine - community magazine for the Algarve | www.tomorrowalgarve.com

August 2023 was very unusual as it had three ‘lunations’. On 1 August, there was a full supermoon, then on the 16th, there was a new moon and on the 31st, there was another full supermoon. The next supermoon as close to the Earth as the one in August 2023 will only occur in May 2026. There will not be two Blue Moons in the same year until 2037.

COMMUNITY

Pre-Loved

When I pop into ARCO to meet its innovative founder, Kate, I am struggling to get to the front of the queue – she is so in demand.

WORDS Sophie Sadler

also wants to champion fellow women artisans and stocks a small range of beautiful, locally-made pieces in natural fabrics. As I walked in, I forgot I was in a pre-loved store, as it has more of the air of an upmarket kid´s boutique. At Arco, you can bring in your child´s outgrown clothes, books and toys in return for credit, which you can later spend in the store. All items that you bring in to be traded need to be in good condition and freshly washed. But if you are looking for a gift this festive season, Arco is like any store where you can buy what you need with cash (or card). On 7 December, Arco will reopen in its new location behind the skatepark of Lagos. During its initial phase, Arco was sharing a shop location behind the City Hall of Lagos; however Kate has now moved into a cosy shop just “up the road” where there will be more indoor space to relax and shop. It’s easy to see why Kate is in demand. Not only is she a warm personality, she is a savvy businesswoman who is ecologically aware, and a mother who wants to share with other moms. Kate hopes to see the movement around circularity and community grow in the southwest Algarve. She invites anyone in this field to reach out as she is eager to create collaborations and build a network of like-minded changemakers.

It’s easy to see why when she gives me a warm hug and welcomes me into her little shop of preloved children’s clothes, books and toys in Lagos. Other than her welcoming smile, my first impression is her impressive grasp of Portuguese as she chatters away to a mother who is trading in credits for children’s clothes. Originally from San Francisco, she has lived as an expat for the last 15 years, first in Angola and then in Sweden, from where she brought this inspired concept. While I am waiting, I sit and chat with a mother, Nike, who is sitting in the play corner with her toddler, who is absorbed in playing with some preloved wooden blocks. Nike told me that she visits every week for the mum and tots meetups, which are an opportunity to meet other families and let the children play in the cosy play corner. The play area and the meetups are a key part of the store 's concept, which is based on the ideas of promoting both community and circularity. Kate wanted to combine the need for an alternative for children’s items in the area with building a community of parents. “My mission for Arco is to provide our community with an eco-friendly alternative to acquiring

the things we need - namely clothes, books and toys - along with building a community of parents around the early years of childhood.” Kate noted that it is those early years that are often the hardest and sometimes very isolating; the anecdote is a welcoming community of parents going through the same thing. Kate sees this as not just a commercial venture but a service to the community. While many people now use the Vinted App, she pointed out that the unique touch that Arco provides is the human connection that is increasingly lacking in this digital age. “As parents, we need things for our children, yes, but we also need the support of other parents,” Kate remarked. Arco is a bit of a countermovement in that way; Kate wants to see more human connection and sharing of goods instead of parental isolation and waste. Kate’s education and career background in sustainability made her naturally inclined to seek out secondhand items for her two energetic boys, now five and seven. Despite her good intentions, hand-me-downs often didn’t come at the right time or season. Her ambition for Arco combines quality with affordability, accessibility, and eco-appeal. Kate

Tomorrow magazine - community magazine for the Algarve | www.tomorrowalgarve.com

 Arco is open Thursday and Friday from 10 - 3 and Saturdays from 10 to 1 pm. Instagram and Facebook: @arcopreloved www.arcopreloved.com

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COMMUNITY

Buy Local this Christmas To celebrate Christmas in Portugal, we have been looking around for gifts that will give your loved ones a unique flavour of the Algarve. Buying local will also help support the local economy and give your family and friends something truly special under the tree.

Once Upon a Portuguese Chocolate WORDS Tania Soares If there is one thing we can’t do without, it’s chocolate! Its varying flavours sweeten life’s moments and it melts in the mouth of those who can't resist its charm. In Portugal, the chocolate story started when Avianense was founded in 1914 by António Lima and João Felgueiras. The men shared a common dream: to create their own chocolate factory. The first factory was established in Viana do Castelo, making Avianense one of the oldest Portuguese companies. Luciano Maciel da Costa took over the management of Avianense in 2005, and the factory moved to a new address in Durrães (Barcelos), where there is also a museum celebrating the brand's history, keeping the scent of chocolate alive in northern Portugal. The Imperador bonbon is undoubtedly the symbol of the Avianense brand, an iconic sweet that has withstood time and boasts a memorable flavour, combining the finest chocolate with toasted almonds. Luciano revived the brand by appealing to the collective memory of a nation. He perpetuated the essence of chocolate in the air and its history in Portugal. Like Avianense, other factories have contributed to sweetening Portugal at Christmas, such as the Regina factory, founded in 1924 in Lisbon, which produces the traditional caixa de furos.

Leme Founded in January 2008 by Luís Miguel Pereira, 100ml was born from his ambition to place Portugal on the international map of perfumes and beauty care for both women and men who look for brands with a strong identity. Part of the 100ml concept is Leme, which celebrates the adventurous spirit of the founder’s ancestors who were not afraid to dream big, with new olfactory discoveries to imbue your skin with the smells of Portugal. The brand celebrates the historic achievements of a proud nation who dared to carry out their dream and spread it to the four corners of the world. The company started with a collection of five soaps encapsulating five key moments of the Portuguese Discoveries. The exclusive perfumes are developed in Portugal and the packaging is designed to transport customers to destinations connected to Portuguese history. Decorative ceramic pieces embellish the collection, e.g. travel chests – inspired by the chests that carried valuable treasures brought from other continents – and scented notebooks. The new range has a citrus floral fragrance, which will evoke the Algarve’s intoxicating aroma of flowering orange and almond trees. The products can be bought in Autêntica in Sagres, in the gift shop at the lighthouse on Sagres promontory, Mar d’Estórias and Casa da Bli in Lagos or online at www.luisa-paixao.eu or www.elcorteingles.pt.

There´s no sweeter place to discover products from these leading brands than Mar d'Estórias. Visit the shop from Monday to Saturday and make your Christmas even sweeter this year!  mardestorias.com Rua Silva Lopes, Nº 30, 8600-623 Lagos

Tomorrow magazine - community magazine for the Algarve | www.tomorrowalgarve.com

Photo books Originally from Brooklyn, New York, where he completed an apprenticeship in photography with his father, Paul Gerace has moved to Lagos and is working to document the many beautiful vistas of the Algarve. One of his unique photo books would be a great Christmas present for Algarve lovers. Birds of Portugal – Lagos and The Surrounding Areas This is a high-quality coffee table photo book showing the most colourful birds of Lagos and the surrounding area.. www.blurb.com/b/11724487-birds-ofportugal-lagos-and-the-surrounding-areas Lagos Portugal – A Photo Journey Into An Historic Town From the marina and fishermen’s harbour to the colourful street art, the abundant wildflower season and the arrival of migratory birds, Paul captures the residents having fun in this photo book that features 171 photos capturing all that this colourful town has to offer. www.blurb.com/b/11493059-lagos-portugala-photo-journey-into-an-historic-t  www.geraceimages.com

Mapping the Algarve Jula Osten is originally from Germany, but as a surfer, she loves to travel to find the best waves. Jula found a special connection with the Algarve and drew a map of Sagres, Luz and Lagos. She has now drawn maps of 12 different locations around the world. “My inspiration within my maps comes from the place itself, as well as a variety of historical and contemporary cartographic sources. In addition to this, I rely on conversations with locals as well as my own observations that I make during my countless walks in the area.” She prints her maps on a Risograph, which uses plant-based inks and stencils called masters, made from banana leaves, it’s a very environmentally friendly print method. Due to the unique process it creates a really vibrant but, at the same time, vintage-looking print, that comes very close to her original drawings. Jula´s limited edition prints would make a unique gift for anyone this Christmas. Riso prints of her map of Luz & Lagos (Paper Cyclus Offset 250g/m2) can be purchased at Coffee & Waves, Tv. do Cotovelo 10, 8600-631 Lagos, Portugal.  www.instagram.com/julaosten www.julaosten.de

COMMUNITY

Get into the Christmas ‘spirit’! A lot has happened to the Alma Boys since I interviewed them in a garage in March 2022. They have a new factory, a new recipe and new distributors. They also introduced me to WILLIE, their new 200-litre still! WORDS Sophie Sadler

streets of Lagos was a challenge, but now they are settled in the new space. They have completely renovated the old workshop, which not only provides a factory but also an adjoining space that will give them the opportunity to become customer-facing in the future, with a shop and tasting experience. The expansion means the pair have also been able to give up their bar work to focus on the gin trade. I am, of course, on the hunt to find suitable local gifts for Tomorrow readers and so I am keen to discuss their Gin Natal, which is based on the flavours of Christmas spice, including cranberries, orange, cloves, ginger and nutmeg. As well as their normal suppliers, the Alma Boys will also be selling their wares at Christmas markets: already confirmed are the Vale do Lobo Christmas fair on 2 December and the Collab market on 9 and 10 December. Buying a bottle of this artisan gin for Christmas will also mean giving to charity. Last year, Alma Spirits raised 1000€ for the CASLAS Lagos Orphanage from the proceeds of the limited edition Gin Natal. This year, they hope to be able to raise even more for the children’s home as they are now able to produce more bottles. Staying true to their sustainable ethos, the by-products from flavouring their gin are passed onto HandMadeNatural for making candles. These candles will also be sold at Christmas markets and, in the future, on their website.

From a small start-up that was dreamt up during the COVID pandemic, Carl Wilson and Jodi Weijdom are now producing 1000 bottles per month, courtesy of WILLIE, which was custom-made in Serbia. Named after Carl’s father, who was the driving force in persuading the boys to follow their dreams and even lent them his garage as their first premises, it has allowed them to up production tenfold. “The reaction to the gin has been beyond our wildest dreams,” enthuses Carl. “Not just from the bars and restaurants that are stocking it, but also from the visitors to the Algarve, particularly Americans and Canadians, who all want to buy a local product and take it home with them. Now we are in the centre of Lagos, people are even dropping into the factory. This month, we had a couple from Alma in Nova Scotia who wanted to take a bottle home with them!” This year has not been without its stresses, though. Having to change their licence from their old factory to their new premises in the back

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Once the festive season is over, the industrious pair will be turning their sights to a new gin flavour. Following their ethos of supporting local businesses, they are working with Montialto farm in Bensafrim, owned by

three generations of the same family. When the grandson approached them, they were keen to work with him to experiment with Portugal´s first mulberry-flavoured gin. They first tried infusing the mulberries, but the gin didn’t retain the flavour. They then decided to dilute the gin with mulberry juice, so it is naturally flavoured. An ideal thirstquencher for sunny days, the mulberry gin will be launched for the summer market. The increase in production has been tiring – Carl and Jodi often have to arrive at the factory at 5 am to start up WILLIE – but they now hope they are on top of the manufacturing side. In 2024, they will be turning their attention to more marketing and an events branch of the business. The men are determined their gin will become a national product and are proud that it represents Praia da Luz and the western Algarve. Jodi was born and brought up in Portugal and Carl has been coming here his whole life before moving here permanently in 2008, so they definitely view themselves as locals. They both have young families and are trying to create a family concern for the future. So, if you want to get into the Christmas ‘spirit’ then be sure to stock up on Gin Natal this Christmas or put it in someone else’s stocking. You will not only be supporting a local business but also finding the true taste of the Algarve. Alma Gin can be bought at Baptistia, Spar and Sunny Bubbles in Praia da Luz and Intermarché in Lagos.You can read the original article about how the gin brand was born at tomorrowalgarve. com/mar-2022-the-new-spirit-of-luz/

 alma-spirits.com handmadenatural.pt montialto.com

December 1st to January 6th

CHRISTMAS IN LAGOS LIVE THE MAGIC

Christmas Village with Santa's House Music and theater shows Street performances Na vity scene by José Cortes Christmas at local shops + INFO at cm-lagos.pt Org:

Apoios: LAGOS-EM-FORMA, ACRAL, ZOOLAGOS, comércio local e associações culturais locais

CHARITY

The Christmas Chronicles WORDS Sophie Sadler

Once I upon a time...

n Lapland, Santa Claus was working hard as usual with his elves to get the presents ready to load aboard his sleigh. Just then, his head elf, Alabaster Snowball, skipped into the workshop with the sack of mail that arrived every day from excited young children asking for the usual toys and games to fill their stockings. It was time for Santa’s morning hot chocolate and so he sat down to read a few of the letters. An envelope with a postmark from the Algarve caught his eye and he recognised the writing; it was not from a child. He eagerly opened it and, sure enough, saw that it was from his cousin Tom Henshaw. When Santa or St Nick, as he was then, moved to Lapland hundreds of years ago to build his toy factory, Old Father Tom moved to Portugal to start Tomorrow magazine. Tom’s letter told Santa all about his efforts that year to raise money for the children of the Algarve who needed it most. The children at NECI who have disabilities, handicaps or developmental delays in childhood, and the fantastic school that values their potential

Tomorrow magazine - community magazine for the Algarve | www.tomorrowalgarve.com

and promotes their skills. The children at CASLAS residential home who will not be with their families this Christmas. Tom also told Santa about Alice, Vicente and Constança, who all have rare genetic conditions and how the Tomorrow Snowball had raised 7500€ to help them with the therapies they need. This year, Constança will have a much happier Christmas as the money raised from last year’s ball helped her walk again. Santa’s eyes filled with tears at the news of all the children his cousin was helping in the Algarve and he promised to do a special fly-by over the beach for Tom and the children on Christmas Eve. And as Santa flew over Praia da Luz beach in the sunshine, he and the elves waved to cousin Tom, who always wore a green hat on Christmas day to reflect his English heritage. And so Tom and Santa reflected on another successful year of giving and promised to meet in the New Year for a catch-up and a well-deserved glass of port. The End

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CHARITY

Charity Snow Ball Success The Tomorrow Algarve Charity Trust winter Snow Ball rolled into town on Saturday, 18 November with glitz, glamour and lots of generosity. Over 180 people donned their glad rags for a black and white-themed evening at the Tivoli Hotel, Lagos. The chosen causes for the event were three children, Constança, Vicente, and Alice, who are all fighting rare diseases that hinder their development, requiring numerous therapies and treatments to support them in their daily battle. The funds raised will greatly assist in their development. The evening will also help support the Bombeiros in the fantastic job they do. The evening started with welcome drinks and music from 2 EX whilst the guests mingled. The three-course dinner was served in the main restaurant, which was beautifully decorated thanks to Vicki Harding, Samantha Afonso and Sarah Neves. During the meal, raffle tickets were sold for the chance to win some amazing prizes that were kindly donated by local businesses (see opposite). A huge thank you to everyone for their generosity, as the raffle managed to raise just over €2500. The lucky winners were drawn as guests enjoyed their desserts and coffees whilst eagerly awaiting the superb 5 EX to entertain them for the rest of the evening with their set of lively and popular floor fillers. Overall, the evening raised just over €7500, which included a private donation of €1500. Tomorrow Magazine and The Tomorrow Algarve Charity Trust would like to thank everyone for their support and generosity. We wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

View all photos of the night, courtesy of Dave Sheldrake Photography on the Tomorrow blog

Tomorrow magazine - community magazine for the Algarve | www.tomorrowalgarve.com

Thank you for your Generosity We would like to thank the following people and businesses for their support in offering raffle prizes for the Snow Ball: • Algarve Balloons - A Hot Air Balloon ride • Quay Lagos - A €50 meal voucher • Zest in Praia da Luz - A€40 meal voucher • Pilates Room Lagos - 5 Pilates matt classes (x2) • Donna Groom - 30-minute back massage • Boavista Golf - A round of golf for two plus buggy • Portofinos restaurant - €100 meal voucher • Espiche Golf - A round of golf for two plus buggy • We Dive, Lagos - Try Scuba Diving (Pool & Sea) • RD Hair Studio - A €50 hair voucher • Delhi Darbar - €50 meal voucher • Nadia Amores - Gel nail treatment • Classy Orchid - A Facial cleansing treatment • Marlo - 2x outdoor Cordoba Chairs with Aluminium Side Table • Days of Adventure - a boat trip for two people • Bar Lionheart - €50 for a Karaoke night • FLY 365 - 30-minute light aircraft flight • Alma Luz Distillery - A gin gift set • Kevin Hawkins - Half day Boat trip for four people on ‘DOUBLE TROUBLE’ • The Kutting Room - A hair wash and blow-dry • Outdoor cinema - A family pass for four people • Algarve Candle Company - Gift box • Charlotte Jane Photography - Family or Engagement photoshoot

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CHARITY

The Reverse Advent Calendar This seasonal initiative aims to highlight the joy of giving at this time of year. The donor families create personalised boxes filled with food, toiletries and gifts from their households for the most in need in our community.

Charity Begins at Home In Loving Memory Lagos resident Carol Minnis contacted Tomorrow to ask if we could publicise the heartbreaking story of her grandson, Finley. WORDS Sophie Sadler Carol´s son Chris and his pregnant wife Louisa were on holiday in the Algarve when their beautiful little boy Finley Tomás Minnis was born on 12 September 2023. He was born 14 weeks early and weighed just 670g (1.5lb). He was cared for by the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) in Faro Hospital, which Louisa and Chris describe as “phenomenal”. “The amazing team of doctors and nurses helped us to create a wonderful bond with our son. Helping to wash and change him, regularly holding him in Kangaroo (skin-toskin contact when a baby is placed against the parent’s chest) and spending a lot of time getting to know our wonderful little boy and watching his feisty personality blossom.” At just six weeks old Finley passed away in his parent’s arms. Chris and Louisa are heartbroken, but they are so grateful to the team at Faro Hospital for giving them this time together and creating such special moments to build the bond between them. His parents explain, “It was our opportunity to show our little boy just how much he was loved and he was never fighting alone.” In order to keep Finley’s memory alive, Chris and Louise are raising funds for the NICU

at Faro Hospital. The doctors and nurses became part of Finley’s family and most attended his funeral. Their love, care and resourcefulness were truly heartwarming.

The organisers provide you with information on the families, suggestions on what to donate, a drop-off location for those that would like, a calendar template for children to colour/ tick off daily as they “countdown to giving this Christmas.” This year, donors need to deliver their boxes on Friday, 15 December, at designated drop-off locations in the Lagos and Luz areas. Exceptions for other areas and earlier delivery times may be possible on request at the time of registering for the initiative. To participate, please send an email with your name and note if delivery on the 15 December in the Lagos or Luz areas will be possible for you. Chantelle Kortekaas, Bernadette Abbott and The Algarve Network for Families in Need  racalgarve@gmail.com

However, some of the equipment specifically for Kangaroo and parent-baby bonding is in need of upgrading. “They do such good work that we want to make it that little bit easier for them. So, we want to help the NICU purchase new equipment to help make the Kangaroo set up easier and safer for both the parent, baby, and staff – new chairs, cushions and arms for holding the tubes and wires, and vests for supporting the little ones. Anything we can do to help future parents and babies build the same bond that we were lucky enough to have,” explain Chris and Louisa. If you could give a donation so that more parents of premature babies may have the chance to enjoy another Christmas together, Chris and Louisa would be appreciative. All donations will go directly to the NICU ward.

 www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/ fundraisingforfinley

Tomorrow magazine - community magazine for the Algarve | www.tomorrowalgarve.com

Shoe Boxes for CASLAS The children´s home in Lagos featured on page 72 is looking for people to donate a festive shoebox for the residents to add some joy to their Christmas. They are currently looking for people to fill a show box of treats for two girls, aged 16 and 18 and eight young men, aged between 16 to 20, who currently have no sponsors. The presentation to the youngsters will be at 2 pm on 6 December.

 Lois: herringtonlois@gmail.com

CHARITY

Giving to the Community WORDS Phil Harding After the successful John Aldridge Charity Golf Classic in September, we were thrilled to invite the beneficiaries of the funds raised to Boavista Golf Resort. They had the opportunity to meet John and receive their donations. With this year’s funds, John has generously supported the following causes: Mustard Seed – 5000€ will greatly assist families and individuals in need in the local community and contribute towards Mustard Seed continuing with its amazing work. CASLAS – 5000€, which will contribute to the ongoing maintenance of the children’s home and ensure a joyful and happy Christmas for all residents. Lagos Bombeiros – 5000€ will be used to replenish essential supplies and

acquire mobile defibrillators for medical emergencies, potentially saving lives. NECI – Additional donations will be made to NECI, who were not able to attend the meeting at Boavista. John plans to visit the centre during his next trip to Portugal and donate 5000€ to support the staff’s admirable efforts in improving the quality of life for people with disabilities.

But, this Christmas, they are, once again, asking for your help. On 16 December, they will be holding a fun day at Al-Gharb Coffee Roasters in Albufeira to try to raise funds to assist families in need with the provision of sight tests and glasses for their children. The charity is now appealing to individuals and companies for donations of prizes for a tombola and raffle. The tickets will be sold online from 9 December and the draw

Christmas can be challenging for families who are struggling financially. They may be unable to buy presents or treats for their children. Casa Merame Real Estate are hoping to spread some joy this Christmas by asking people to donate new, unwrapped toys, books, or holiday sweets for children aged 0 to 18.  Drop off your donations at Casa Merame's office: Rua Victor da Costa e Silva 32 B in Lagos.

The remaining funds will be utilised throughout 2024 to support more deserving causes leading up to the next event. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to John on behalf of Tomorrow magazine and TACT charity for his ongoing support of the local community and his hard work in raising funds for these worthwhile causes. As John says, “You’ll Never Walk Alone.”

Algarve Families in Need The Algarve charity Families in Need would like to thank all Tomorrow readers for the amazing support that has been offered to the families they support throughout this year. “So many families have been helped through very difficult times in their lives and we feel humbled that we are able to be a part of this,” says founder Bernadette Abbott.

Make this Christmas Special

will take place on the fun day. Any donation will be gratefully received, but they are particularly asking for vouchers, homemade food items, bottles of anything and any other items you think may encourage people to buy tickets for this very worthy cause. If you can help with any donation, please contact: Lagos and the West - Sandra Thompson: tommosj101@gmail.com Central Algarve – Halcyon Hollowood: halcyonhollowood@icloud.com East Algarve – Stuart Mullen: + 351 932 666 005 (WhatsApp is preferable)

Sponsor Algarve Wildlife Every year, the two wildlife recovery centres in the Algarve, RIAS and CERVAS, carry out a joint Christmas campaign to raise funds for their maintenance and management. So this Christmas, you may want to sponsor an animal instead of buying a human a present! By offering sponsorship, you will be contributing to the work of both centres. There are two sponsorship packages available, which include the possibility of watching the sponsored animal return to nature, among other gifts. Become an active member of wildlife conservation in Portugal!  bit.ly/3sAvJzm

CHARITY If you wish other young people to have a similarly nurturing experience at CASLAS, they need help in the following ways in 2023/24:

A Christmas Message

CASLAS Children’s Home: A Safe Haven in the Heart of Lagos WORDS Saor-Ide Dolan Christmas is around the corner. While the festive season can be one of joy and cheer, let’s not forget about how we can help others. I chose to do this interview with one of the residents of CASLAS children’s home in Lagos to put myself in another’s shoes and spread awareness about what conditions can be like growing up in residential care. This interview is one I’ll hold dear and I hope that you can take something from it and remember that this holiday is best celebrated with something shared! In Portugal, children are put in children’s homes by the courts for one of the following reasons: neglect, a parent’s illness, physical or emotional abuse, abandonment or parental incarceration. The young man I interviewed, who for legal reasons must remain anonymous, had an infectious smile that lit up the room as he settled into a greyish, padded chair in Susana Pales’ (head psychologist) office. The collar of his trendy shirt was slightly askew, but he was polite, brown-eyed and wellspoken despite our language barrier. Originally from Guinea, he arrived in Portugal five years ago and was put into care in CALSAS three years ago when he was 16. He attended school in Lagos and says he made “great friends”. He is now 20 years old and attending Escola de Hotelaria e Turismo de Portimão, where he is studying for a level five degree. This qualification is the next level of education after mandatory school, almost like an apprenticeship. He earns his own money as a bartender in his spare time. Like many young boys, he dreamt of being a footballer and is a supporter of Real Madrid and his favourite player is Jude Bellingham. He still plays football recreationally with friends and for Bensafrim. He has also played for Immortal in Albufeira and likes to follow Sporting Lisbon in the Portuguese league.

heritage, and he goes to the mosque to pray. “I am very religious. I follow Islam. I have been Muslim my whole life. I pray five times a day. On Fridays, there is a big prayer for one hour. Prayer brings comfort to me. There is a mosque in Lagos, recently built.” I asked him about his aspirations in life? “To have a great personality,” he replies. His ambition, now he has given up on being a professional footballer, is to have a stable job. “I have many job offers in Lagos at the moment. I have been in various jobs in this area, in hotels and restaurants, including the Tivoli in Lagos. I was in school for one week and the teacher offered me a job! Last weekend, I worked catering for a wedding and this weekend, I had to say ‘no’ because I had so much to do.” I wonder what his view is on residential care in Portugal, “It is very good. In CASLAS I like the people. This is like my mother’s house because people here respect my religion. It is very important to me because a lot of people don’t. I eat different food and celebrate Ramadan, so I feel like I am taken care of and that my needs are accommodated.” He recognises the amazing generosity of the home’s benefactors and the hard work of the staff – he says the only other thing he would like to receive is some English lessons! So I asked him if he could change anything in the world, what would it be? “The war in Palestine. The first thing I would change is that people would change themselves internally and stop war. People need to be united to change the world and not just centred on their individual needs or themselves. I have come to realise that it starts in the individual.” This inspiring young man cites work, belief, perseverance and patience as his key values, with which he hopes to succeed. Home is where the heart is, and CASLAS is what gives this saying a bounding pulse.

However, even more important than football for him is being able to maintain his religious and cultural

Tomorrow magazine - community magazine for the Algarve | www.tomorrowalgarve.com

WISH LIST: • Gift cards for clothes stores • A computer for the study room • Contribution to medical appointments • Lazer activities during weekends and school holidays • Sports clothing • Chairs and food warmer for dining room, • Dining room and kitchen renovation, • PlayStation for girls’ room • Cost of two driving licences DONATE: Currently, CASLAS is in need of a new dining room. It is outdated, with paint peeling from corner to corner and does not feel homely at all. If you wish to donate, you can do so by bank transfer and send proof of debit to: casadeacolhimento@caslas.pt PT50 0007 0358 0000 2000 0099 3 Christmas dinner is one these children deserve, like any of us, to cherish. Please head to gogetfunding.com/help-givethe-children-at-caslas-thechristmas-they-deserve VOLUNTEERS ROLE: Take action! Volunteering involves offering your free time and knowledge to help youngsters with small tasks, assisted by residential care professionals. Volunteers have developed an important role in residents’ lives, becoming references and role models, offering their free time and contributing to children’s development, turning the residential period into a happier one. It’s the small things that mean the most. Picnics and meals, tours, tutoring, cinema trips, minigolf, swimming pools/beach, teaching life skills (cooking sessions, shopping) and any extracurricular activities will enrich the youngster’s lives and also bring you joy. If you would like aunty more information or would like to help, please contact caslas.lar.jovens@gmail.com

WHAT'S ON

What's on for Christmas Visit our online calendar to find more events and activities:  www.tomorrowalgarve.com/calendar

Loose Ends Carol Singing To quote the famous Christmas movie Elf, “the best way to spread good cheer is singing out loud for all to hear.” The Western Algarve Community Choir are delighted to be able to share their favourite Christmas carols and winter songs over the festive season in what will be their 11th Christmas performance year!

Don´t be alone just because you are on your own. It’s a very simple idea – join us and our WhatsApp group and choose from just a drink, a night out or a weekend away. A lot is happening with the Loose Ends group as more people join and make new friendships to bring more fun into their lives, particularly during the festive season.

The Christmas Eve performance in Lagos is always a wonderful way to get you and your loved ones fully into the Christmas spirit in time for the big day. But wherever and whenever you are able to join them, you'll be sure to leave with a warm, festive glow!

Eight members took a table at Tomorrow´s Snow Winter Ball, a trip to Golfland in Alvor and a visit to the Cultural Centre with dinner at a restaurant nearby. To end this year on a high, the Christmas party will be at the Adega de Marina on 12 December at 6.30 pm (menu prices apply).

Monday, 27 November – Festive winter songs at Bar 6, Almádena – singing starts around 7 pm.

 Kiki +351 964 822 276 tom@tomorrowalgarve.com

Saturday, 16 December – Carol singing around Praia da Luz (please contact Liz directly to find out more about our ‘route´ that day) – singing will begin at 4 pm. Monday, 18 December – Christmas carols and winter songs at The Collab Bar, Lagos – singing starts at 7 pm. Wednesday, 20 December Christmas carols and winter songs at The Lighthouse, Marina de Lagos – singing starts at 7 pm. Sunday, 24 December – Family Special – Christmas Eve carols, Praça Gil Eanes, Lagos town centre – singing starts around 5.15 pm.  elizabeth_roberts15@hotmail.com

A Christmas Ensemble 2 December | 4.30 pm | M6 Venue: Bensafrim Church This Christmas concert is presented by the Portuguese baroque orchestra IV Sons D’Aquém Mar. The ensemble will be joined by Ana Sousa (violas da gamba, voice and adufe), Joana Guiné (recorder, clarinet, voice and adufe) and Raquel Marques (guitars, voice and adufe). An adufe is a traditional square tambourine of Moorish origin found in Portugal and elsewhere. Ticket: 5 € (free for under 16 years)

Christmas in Lagos To mark this special time of year, the municipality is preparing a programme that promises lots of street entertainment, shows, amusements and, of course, the presence of Father Christmas. Christmas Village: The festive fun begins on 2 December at 3 pm with the arrival of Santa on his sleigh, accompanied by a lively band of elves and street entertainers. Santa will then be delivering free gifts to the children. For the rest of the month, you can visit Santa's house, a Christmas market, an ecological ice rink and ramp, a kid’s train ride, face painting, jugglers, photoshoots and entertainment for the little ones all in the main square. There will also be a number of children’s shows held in the Armazém Regimental (the historic building in the main square opposite the church) including Father Christmas and the Elves (3 pm), The Pirates Save Christmas (6 pm) on 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 16, 17 and 23 December and the reading of Christmas stories with Márcia Gamito on 3, 8, 9, 10, 16, 17 and 23 December at 4.30 pm. There will also be a performance by the Lagos Choral Group Children's Choir on 16 December at 5 pm. From 1–24 December: Monday to Thursday 12 pm to 8 pm | Friday 12 pm to 9 pm | Saturday, Sunday and public holidays 10 am to 9 pm| Christmas Eve 10 am to 5 pm Praça do Infante, Lagos  bit.ly/3usk6ei

The Joy of Christmas 6 December to 7 January Praça Al-Muthamid, Silves Alegria do Natal (the Joy of Christmas) will see the streets of Silves alive with entertainment, decorations and great shows. Keep the kids entertained on the ramp with a ball pool, carousel, Christmas train and fun electric animals. The Christmas market provides an opportunity to shop and there are numerous Christmas shows, including circus, theatre and gospel. On New Year’s Eve, puppets, magic and dance are just some of the fun attractions aimed at children and families.

Christmas Nativity Scene Tuesday to Saturday until 13 January, 10 am to 6 pm Lagos Cultural Centre José Cortes’ mechanically automated nativity scene has been a must-see for residents and tourists during the festive season in Lagos for years. For many, seeing his latest additions has become a yearly ritual. Cortes began making the nativity scene in 2011, adding new elements to improve and expand it year after year. At the last count, there were 275 human figures and 368 animals in the vast panorama, which reflects past village life. You can read more about it at tomorrowalgarve.com/nov2021-the-spirit-of-christmas/  FB: CentroCulturaldeLagos

WHAT'S ON

Art Exhibition Entertainment at Lagos Markets

Christmas Concerts

MAGNIFICENT CHRISTMAS, by the Algarve Orchestra 22 December | 7 pm Ticket: 6€

Santo Amaro Market Sociedade Filarmónica Lacobrigense 1.º Maio | 9 and 16 December | 10 am

CHRISTMAS CONCERT, by the Banda da Sociedade Filarmónica Lacobrigense 1.º de Maio 23 December | 7.30 pm Ticket: 5€ (3€ members) A HOLY NIGHT, by the Lagos Light Orchestra 9 December | 9.30 pm Ticket: 10 € TOM FITZPATRICK AND THE ALGARVE JAZZ ORCHESTRA 1 December | 7 pm Ticket: €10  Lagos Cultural Centre FB: CentroCulturaldeLagos

Solidarity Christmas Concert 15 December, 9 pm Church of Santa Maria A concert by the Lagos Choral Group and the Lagos Children's Choir (directed by Vera Batista), the aim of which is to raise food (non-perishable) to help people in need in our city, under the slogan "Come and listen to the most traditional Christmas carols and help those in need."  bit.ly/3upyNyG

Levante Market Christmas Craft Show 9 December | 5 pm to 8 pm 10 December | 2 pm to 8 pm Organised by Barlavento Craftsmen's Association

St Vincent´s Christmas Church Services Father Rob will be presiding over Christmas services for the Anglican chaplaincy. St Vincent´s is particularly keen to invite the younger members of the diocese to take part in the crib service. If there are any shepherds or wise men, or even a donkey looking for a part in the nativity, please get in touch. Wednesday, 13 at 6.30 pm – 9 lessons and carols in Portuguese and English Sunday 24 – Christmas Eve: 8 am Eucharist 4 pm Children’s Crib Service 6.30 pm Carols Christmas Day: 11.30 am Eucharist Praia da Luz Church  stvincentsalgarve.west@gmail.com www.stvincentsalgarve.org

Festive Charity Swims Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, 10.30 am–12 pm on the beach near the Holiday Inn Algarve Hotel. Have a dip in the ocean and help to raise money for local families in need. Bring your swimwear and a towel and take the plunge – or just paddle – as long as a part of you gets wet! On Christmas Day, why not wear a Santa Suit?! And on New Year’s Day, you can wear your pyjamas! Adults and children are all welcome to take part on the understanding that they do so at their own risk. Please bring a donation, which will be passed to the Junta de Freguesia de Armação de Pêra to help families in need in the area.  Clube dos Veículos Clássicos do Barlavento FB: classicosbarlavento classicosdobarlavento@gmail.com

Walking Festival Monchique 1 to 3 December Activities include hiking, themed and cultural walks, family and child-focused activities, workshops, studios, theatre, yoga, stargazing and more. This event is part of the AWS – Algarve Walking Season – annual calendar and is sponsored by the Algarve Tourist Board and partnered by Águas de Monchique.  festivalcaminhadasmonchique.pt +351 282 910200 geral@cm-monchique.pt

1 December to 4 January at Galeria de Santo António, Monchique An exhibition Visões do Mundo is to be presented by curator Leninha Ferreira featuring painting, sculpture and art by various artists. The work is presented in the former Chapel of St Anthony, built in the 18th century, it is now home to a municipal gallery, a cultural space that regularly hosts temporary exhibitions and concerts.  +351 282 910 200 FB: curator.leninha

Natalândia 9 to 25 December, 10 am to 5 pm at Lagos Zoo Explore a magical Christmas kingdom while having fun with the animal kingdom at Lagos zoo! A fun day out for all the family with Santa’s grotto and a chance to send your Christmas wishlist to the North Pole, an exhibition of nativity scenes, inflatables and colourful characters and shows. 50% discount for Algarve residents  FB: Zoo de Lagos

Sonho do Natal 1 December to 6 January Portimão Portimão will celebrate Christmas this year with the usual magic and fantasy for the whole family. The Christmas events will begin with the arrival of Santa at his house in Praça Manuel Teixeira Gomes on 1 December. There will be an ice rink, Santa’s factory, a nativity scene, a stage for Christmas entertainments, a Christmas market and parades.  portimaosonhodenatal.pt

HISTORY

Left Carvoeiro from Serra da Estrela Right Charcoal seller from Setúbal © Paulo Guedes, 1904

Immigrants and expats in Lagos This month, the book Livro de Registo de Bilhetes de Residência de Estrangeiros, held by the Arquivo Municipal de Lagos, leads us to the occupation of carvoeiro (coal-heaver). WORDS Marta Nogueira – Arquivo Municipal de Lagos – Câmara Municipal de Lagos

The Livro de Registo de Bilhetes de Residência de Estrangeiros has only one record of someone whose occupation was listed as a carvoeiro between 1897 and 1972. On 7 March 1945, we can see the first record of Albino Rodrigues, 54 years old, married, from Pontevedra. He is the son of Maria Rodrigues and his father is listed as ‘unknown’ (pai incógnito) (p. 25). He travelled to Portugal alone and requested licences for eight years from 1945 until 1952 (pp. 25–27). The record

does not include details regarding his location and no further information was available. Albino Rodrigues came to Lagos six months before the end of the Second World War. Why did he come to the Algarve? Did he work in a place where charcoal was produced, or did he work as a charcoal seller? Unfortunately, we don't know. In Lagos, we know of places where charcoal was sold, but we don’t have information about where it was produced. There are places exclusively named carvoarias that are used as stores and selling places. It was also common for other establishments such as wine houses, taverns and grocery stores (adegas, tabernas, mercearias ou vendas) to sell charcoal. We do know more about the charcoal from Monchique thanks to José Rosa Sampaio and his work Carvoarias e Carvoeiros no concelho

Record of Albino Rodrigues. Pormenor of the book Livro de registo de bilhetes de residência de estrangeiros (1897-1972).

We were able to find out more information from the records series Alvarás sanitários, held by the Arquivo Municipal de Lagos, about places that sold charcoal during the period between 1946 and 1966. From these records, we can see that formerly there existed six locations where charcoal was sold in Lagos. These were:

From 1897 to 1972, part 8

Charcoal has been an important fuel throughout history, used primarily for industrial activities but also within households. Its manufacture is one of the oldest practices known. As a household utility product, charcoal was an important primary energy source for both heating and cooking and is still used today as a fuel for barbecues and in restaurants that use grills as their source of cooking like the churrasqueiras restaurants.

de Monchique (2009): in 1938, there were four empresas de carvão and four charcoal sellers. The biggest production of charcoal was from Portela do Vento and Portela da Serenada from 1957 until at least 1969. The Anuário commercial de Portugal identified them in 1969 and in the Serra de Monchique several carvoarias were still active in 2005 using wood from the fires. These carvoarias were located in Selão, Foz do Carvalhoso, Giesteira, Covão da Cerva, Arroio, Foz do Besteiro and Chã da Casinha. In his book Lagos Gente de Outrora, João Veloso dedicates one chapter to the carvoeiro (pp. 113–114) that deserves to be read.

• “Adega e carvoaria” at Rua da Extrema, 39 e 41 (Alvará 79 – 12 August 1948 – file 38) – in activity at least until January 1966“Casa da adega e carvoaria onde vende vinho por grosso, engarrafado e por medida e carvão vegetal” • “Carvoaria” at Rua do Jogo da Bola, 26 (Alvará 65 – 10 February 1950 – file 105) • “Carvoaria” at Rua 1.º de Maio, 56 (Alvará 95 – 4 April 1950 – file 100) • “Carvoaria” at Rua Miguel Bombarda, 5 (Alvará 107 – 22 December 1950 – file 110) • “Carvoaria” at Rua das Cruzes, 5 (Alvará 108 – 22 December 1950 – file 115) • “Carvoaria” at Rua Lançarote de Freitas, 28 (Alvará 109 V– 22 December 1950 – file 118) Next time you eat a tasty meal prepared over a grill using charcoal, you might recall this short article. History is also made up of the simple things and the people who were involved in making and using them, although sometimes those particular elements of life are not easily documented. The book Livro de Registo de Bilhetes de Residência de Estrangeiros still has more stories that deserve to be discovered. A list of references can be found on the Tomorrow website.

Pormenor of the file Alvará sanitário of the Carvoaria at Rua da Extrema, 39 e 41.

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Christmas Orders Encomendas de Natal

Free range Turkey stuffed with chestnuts Peru do Campo recheado com castanhas

Stuffed Turkey Crown Coroas de Peru Recheadas

Stuffed Pork Loin with Chestnuts Lombo de porco com castanhas

Dry Aged Beef Costeleta de novilho maturada

Gammon Steak

Place your Christmas order: Vila do Bispo Village Main Market +351 282 639 764 Baptista Supermarket, Praia da Luz +351 963 249 628

HISTORY

Independence Regained

Portugal’s public holiday on 1 December – Restoration of Independence Day – celebrates the ending in 1640 of a brief period of Spanish rule, the only breach in the country’s long history of sovereignty. The story starts with a headstrong young king and ends with England acquiring a Portuguese queen. WORDS James Plaskitt João IV proclaimed king © Veloso Salgado, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Portrait of João, Duke of Braganza c.1630 (The Royal Castle in Warsaw) © Peter Paul Rubens, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Sebastian inherited the throne in 1557, aged just three. His uncle, Cardinal Henrique, acted as Regent until Sebastian came of age in 1568 and assumed full monarchical duties at 14. He quickly proved a headstrong young man, dismissing all the recommended advisers and instead pursuing his own course, which centred on eradicating all traces of Islam. While he rejoiced at the beheading of heretics at home, he began amassing a military force to invade Morocco in the name of Christ. Sebastian set sail with his 24,000-strong invasion force in 1578. However, he underestimated the Moroccan resistance and his troops were totally outnumbered and quickly defeated. Sebastian was killed in the fighting. It is thought that only a few hundred of his men made it back to Portugal. Sebastian’s untimely death created an immediate problem as he had no heir. Initially, Cardinal Henrique stepped forward again and assumed the role. But he, too, had no heir and was now old. In the hope of securing his succession, he asked the Pope for permission to break his vows of chastity and seek a bride. However, Pope Gregory was under the influence of the Habsburgs, who had their own designs on the Portuguese throne and took his time. Henrique died in 1580, still waiting patiently for the pope’s permission. The result was a battle for the succession to the

However, an important consequence of the Spanish rule of Portugal was that England now saw its long-standing ally as a new threat. Backed by Elizabeth I, Francis Drake attempted to overthrow the Spanish rule of Portugal, first in 1589 when he tried to install Don Antonio, the illegitimate nephew of the Portuguese King John III, onto the throne. But his attempt to attack Lisbon failed miserably. Drake was back in 1596, this time in Faro. However, he found little worth plundering except the Bishop of the Algarve’s impressive library in Silves. Drake took all the books and eventually handed them to Sir Thomas Bodley, who used them as the core of his collection for his new library in Oxford. Portugal’s next two Spanish monarchs cared little about the country and rarely even set foot in it. They got rid of the Portuguese nobles in the court and instead piled on taxes to be remitted to Spain. Eventually, the Portuguese resolved to bring an end to Spanish rule. A group of 40 conspirators burst into the Royal Palace in Lisbon on 1 December 1640, killing the acting head of government and arresting the Duchess of Mantua, the Vicereine of Portugal, having eventually found her cowering in a cupboard. The rebels’ timing was opportune. Spanish forces were tied up suppressing a revolt in Catalonia and unable to transfer to Lisbon. Although the Spanish administration collapsed instantly, and John, the Eighth Duke of Braganza, was immediately declared king, the transition back to full Portuguese sovereignty did not go unchallenged. The Restoration War dragged on until 1668, with Spanish forces making a number of attempts to cross the border and recapture Portuguese territory. But all the attempts failed and Spain eventually gave up, accepting the legitimate rule of the House of Braganza and the restoration of Portugal’s colonies in the Treaty of Lisbon. John IV, however, was a reluctant king who was unable to resist the pressure from his ambitious wife, Queen Luisa, who is reputed to have said, at the time of the rebellion when her husband’s claim to the throne was being promoted, “better queen for a day than a duchess for life.” After her husband’s death in 1656, she became regent as her son was still too young. He was also mentally unwell, and so Luisa continued her regency after he reached majority.

throne, fought out by a large field of claimants. The ultimate winner of this predominantly political struggle was Philip II, the King of Spain, thus ending over 400 years of Portuguese independence. Philip II held the Portuguese throne until his death in 1598. To secure his position, he handed most of the top court jobs to members of the Portuguese nobility and also ensured they were richly rewarded for their efforts. As a result, his position faced little domestic opposition.

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Over her ten-year regency, Luisa realised that in order to secure lasting defences against continuing Spanish ambition, Portugal needed to rebuild its international alliances, in particular with France and England. Her best bet for doing this was to secure a politically useful marriage for her daughter, Catherine. First, she offered her to Louis XIV, who turned her down. Undaunted, she was then offered to the new English king, Charles II, who accepted the offer. Catherine of Braganza thus became England’s Portuguese queen – all as a result of trying to fix the damage done as a result of Sebastian’s egotistical crusade almost 100 years before.

MEDIACAO IMOBILIARIA,LDA PROPERTY SALES & RENTALS

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QUIZ NIGHTS Every Thursday at 7:30pm English speaking, open to all XMAS MARKET 9th & 10th December from 2-6pm. Amazing stores, crafts, gifts, tastings, food & drink, activities and music.

CHRISTMAS CAROLS 18th December from 7pm with the fabulous Western Algarve Community Choir. Join us for mince pies, mulled wine & music.

In residence at The Collab Bao Buns | Wontons Shake Shake Fries Opening Times: Mon, Wed & Thurs 12pm - 11pm Fri & Sat 12pm - Midnight | Sun 12pm - 10pm Loja A (Bloco 1), Antiga Fabrica da Ribeira, Av. d. Descobrimentos, 8600-584, Lagos (Opposite Praia da Batata)  +351 937 359 261  www.thecollabportugal.com

HOMES & GARDENS

Add a touch of glamour with

GOLD WORDS Flora Kouta

Get into the festive spirit this month with some super sparkling home decor. Think luxurious metallics and all things burnished, hammered and textured. A little bit of opulence mixed with a lot of artisan. These golden beauties promise to fill your home with comfort and joy long after the Christmas decorations have come down.

PORTUGUESE GOLD

Interior designer Vera Verinha from Lisbon has an online shop called More Vintage Portugal, selling rare and vintage Portuguese homeware. With more than a thousand items in stock at any one time, it’s a treasure trove for antique home decor lovers. This carved brass plate and brass stand for hot plates would be a great centrepiece on a festive dinner table.

GOLDEN LIVING We all spend so much more time inside in December, and quite a bit of it, er, boozing. Enjoy your bubbly to the fullest with golden champagne flutes and serve your guests cocktails on a golden tray. This gold coffee table is a real showstopper. Entirely handhammered and with a clever aged effect, it will bring a modern bohemian vibe to your living room. I’d put a big soft rug underneath it; there’s more than enough noise from the teenagers in my house without the furniture joining in.

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Look at this unusual mango wood TV console. The carved wood and the gold sliding door are so lovely I don’t think I could concentrate on the telly if I had it in my house; I’d be too busy admiring it.

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1. GOLD CARVED PLATE & GOLD PLATE STAND etsy.me/40CKQEH 2. GOLD CHAMPAGNE FLUTES bit.ly/49BGHFa 3. GOLD TRAY bit.ly/3SzwumL 4. GOLD COFFEE TABLE bit.ly/3uapzpP 5. GOLD TV CONSOLE bit.ly/46bGndh

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BAR LIONHEART

OPen 9pm - 4am (closed mon & Tue)  Bar.Lionhear

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 Rua Castelo dos Governadores nº12, 8600 Lagos

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(+351) 282 769 115 (+351) 933 746 442 info@cjdecor.com www.cjdecor.com

HOMES & GARDENS

GOLD WALL DECOR You don’t have to spend a fortune on gold wall art – you can make your own! All you need is a large canvas, a few tubs of thick glue and some metallic paint. Hiper Lagos on the N125 near Odiáxere has a great range of cheap canvases. Or have a look in your local charity shop – you might be lucky enough to pick up an old print you can paint over. In the two pictured here, I’ve used string and PVA glue to create pattern and texture, squeezing the glue straight onto the canvas in thick layers. I went for abstract sun motifs, but palm leaves and flowers work really well, too. You need to do quite a few layers to get a 3D effect and make sure you give each one 24 hours to dry before applying the next. Once it’s rock hard, paint over the whole thing with gold emulsion. I like to buy both gold and silver paint (Leroy Merlin in Portimão has a good range) and mix them together to get a pale gold that’s not too in your face. So simple to create yet so effective, just one piece of original gold art will have your home looking like a boutique hotel!

GOLD BEDROOM Lounge in the lap of luxury with this hand-made bolster cushion in a detailed geometric design woven in golden silk. Becca Cadbury sews all her cushions by hand from rare vintage Japanese kimonos and obi belts, each one is a labour of love and completely unique. This gold ceramic lamp would bring a bit of glamour to a bedside table and this handmade moon phase garland is a gorgeous decorative piece for a bedroom wall. Inspired by the lunar cycle, the hammered brass moons glisten in the light and chime in the breeze. Hang it above a bed frame or near an open window for a touch of whimsical warmth.

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GOLDEN BATHROOM There can be a lot of traffic in this often-neglected room over the festive season. Give your loo some love and your guests a treat with this hand-carved Moroccan brass towel ring, ornate toilet roll holder and gold freestanding washbasin. (If you’re lucky, they might spend more time in there and less time exhausting you – hee hee only joking, I love house guests at Christmas!)

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1. GOLD LAMP bit.ly/40C9FRl 2. GOLD CUSHION etsy.me/3QWDA3l 3. GOLD MOON GARLAND etsy.me/3FX8iDa 4. GOLD WALL ART www.florakouta.com 5. GOLD SINK bit.ly/3svpnB4 6. GOLD TOILET ROLL HOLDER & TOWEL RING etsy.me/3QzqyHS

ARTS AND CULTURE

Have a very pagan Christmas WORDS Luka Alexander

Careto 2020 Sunnyorange, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

with bells and tassels, and wearing the ornate masks, the boys parade around the town, accompanied by musicians and their butlers, egging the crowds to join in with the party-like atmosphere somewhat resembling a carnival.

Festa dos Rapazes - 2008 © Rosino

Festas dos Rapazes: Where Paganism Meets Christianity December is arguably the most magical time of year when Christians come together to celebrate the birth of the baby Jesus in a stable. One festival, however, combines the ancient pagan rites of the winter solstice and the Christian traditions of Christmas into one carnival-like celebration. The Festas dos Rapazes, or the “Boys Festival”, dates back to early pagan times and has slowly entwined itself into a Christmas tradition in the Braganza region and the surrounding areas. The festival, predominantly featuring unmarried boys around the age of 16 years old, is a tradition that originates from ancient rituals of passage from adolescence to adulthood. It kicks off on Christmas Eve when the boys, known as the caretos (a name deriving from the masks they wear), host this annual “party” filled with parades, music, dance, and praise. Meeting at the Casa da Festa (Festival House), a place chosen especially for the occasion, the boys eat a great feast hosted by their butlers, who were chosen the previous year, before preparing for the events that will soon unfold. Dressed in colourful costumes decorated

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The careto masks, which play a prominent role in the festival, take direct root from early Celtic pagan times. Unique to the Gallaeci and Bracari peoples in Galicia and northern Portugal, the careto was once seen as a ritual tool with spiritual properties. The origin of the masked people is linked to the cult of ancestors, considered privileged holders of powers. The elaborate mask enabled the wearer to watch over the fertility of the fields, men and animals and maintained civic law and morals. Made of wood and leather, the careto is worn as part of the costume, which has become the showpiece of the Festa dos Rapazes. The handmade costumes consist of a hooded jacket and trousers, which are traditionally decorated with red, yellow, and green woollen tassels and fringes, and topped with collars fitted with bells and worn across the shoulders. Often, a belt strung with rattles is worn by the participants to “rattle” the women onlookers in a provocative way and they occasionally wave inflated pig bladders. If this sounds familiar, it shares a similarity with English morris dancing, which also has pagan roots. Although the boys traditionally paraded around town causing havoc and throwing light-hearted insults to passers-by, the event has a more charitable side – the boas festas. This is when the boys go from door-to-door fundraising for worthy causes before making their way to the main church, where they take their seats near the high altar for midnight mass.

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ARTS AND CULTURE The boys are the first to kiss the statue of the baby Jesus laid in the nativity within the main parish church before leading the congregation to the town square for a continuation of song and praise, and telling stories of the past year under the backdrop of the town’s Christmas lights and the Christmas tree, which itself can be traced back to the early pagans in Germany. The climax of the Festa dos Rapazes is a series of tests to find the winners who will be appointed as the butlers for the great feast at the next year’s event. On Boxing Day, the boys have supper and at the end of the meal, the new stewards are appointed and the symbolic transferral of powers is given by the exchange of hats with a red ribbon with the ends hanging over the back as a distinguishing sign.The party ends with a dance in which the girls finally take part. The Festa dos Rapazes comes to an end on the last day of Christmas, the 6 January, marking the arrival of the three kings, thus completing the twelve days of Christmas and the winter solstice,

a journey in which paganism and Christianity meet harmoniously hand in hand to celebrate one of the most sacred times of the year. Although it is predominantly celebrated in Braganza, several other towns and villages also pay homage to the Festa dos Rapazes, including Vinhais, Macedo de Cavaleiros and Podence, Vimioso, and the Alto Duro in Lazarim. As we enjoy the festive season, it’s worth taking note, just as the folk in Braganza and surrounding areas have done, to enjoy the celebrations but also to remember how history has influenced the traditions we have today. That just leaves me to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a happy New Year, and if you’re visiting the Braganza region, make sure you watch out for the caretos!

Oh Christmas tree – how lovely are thy branches

Festa dos Rapazes 2019 Aveleda-Bragança Nanditoafonso, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The traditional act of bringing an evergreen into the home at Christmas and decorating it is actually a rite that can be dated back many centuries. It is claimed that in c. 723, the English missionary St. Boniface encountered pagans in Germany preparing a sacrifice at an oak tree dedicated to the god Thor. Legend has it that when St. Boniface took an axe to the tree and was not struck down by the pagan god, he claimed that the evergreen was a “holy tree”, and the Christian faith claimed it. Over time, evergreens became part of Christian rites in Germany and later became known in the Middle Ages as “paradise trees”. Soon, the evergreen came to represent the Garden of Eden, often decorated with apples and displayed in homes on the feast day of Adam and Eve. What is now Christmas Eve, 24 December, was set aside for several centuries as their feast day and was often celebrated with a paradise play, which told the story of humankind from the creation of Adam and Eve and the Garden of Eden up to the birth of the Messiah in Bethlehem.

The royal Christmas tree is admired by Queen Victoria, Prince Albert and their children, December 1848, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Steel engraving of Martin Luther’s Christmas Tree, from Sartain’s Magazine, circa 1860 © J. Bannister, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

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It was the theologian Martin Luther who later added ornaments and candles in the 16th century, thus creating the decorated Christmas tree that many of us put up each year. Now the Christmas tree fills our homes with festive joy – its triangular shape representing the Holy Trinity: the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. In more modern times, it was Queen Victoria’s great-grandmother, the German-born Queen Charlotte, who unveiled the first Christmas tree in Britain during a party which was held for local children in 1800. After Victoria’s marriage to her German cousin Prince Albert in 1840, the Christmas tree became widespread across Britain. In fact, Albert was the first to import spruce and fir trees to Britain from Coburg in Germany. This one-time pagan tradition eventually made its way to Portugal when the German-born Dom Fernando II, husband of Queen Maria II, brought the first royal Christmas tree to the hall of the majestic Pena Palace in Sintra during the late 19th century. Known as the “artist-king”, Dom Fernando is credited as the man who influenced the Christmas tree in Portugal, although it possibly wasn’t the first one in the country. Others say the first Christmas tree may have been raised in Porto at the old Crystal Palace during the international exhibition in 1865, the first exhibition of its kind on the Iberian Peninsula.

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ARTS AND CULTURE

Ask the Artist

Dave King

The way I make my paintings is through improvised drawing on an iPad, created using ‘selfmade’ rules of design. These are then ‘filled in’ with subject matter found on the internet and rendered as an imaginary scene. Inspiration, therefore, is really just bringing all my memories of different artists’ work and objects with photos and images I have collected to bear on a particular composition and then making a coherent painting from it. Recently, I have started to use images of azulejo tile painting and plate designs in the work together with a range of Portugal-inspired subject matter – sardines, mackerel, oranges, lemons, avocados and wine glasses.

WORDS Daniel Hasselmyr

Dave King moved to the Algarve in June 2021 due to family, Brexit, the weather and the landscape – in that order! His work is an eclectic mix of influences and references which is continuing to develop in his adopted country. Dave, first tell me what went wrong with your A-level art?! Art was a failure at school because I always wanted to do my own thing and not what the teachers wanted me to do. I failed my Art A level twice! However, this same work was taken to Cardiff Art College for an interview and they accepted me on the spot! I then went on to do a BA Hons in Fine Art at Chelsea School of Art in the late 70s. Years later, I gained a Masters in Fine Art Theory and Studio Practice at Plymouth University. Meanwhile, I taught at a school in Cornwall for 29 years before finally retiring to a sleepy Devon village before moving to the Algarve as my son, his wife and our grandson live in Lagos.

What materials do you use? Nearly always oil paint. But I paint on many surfaces: wood, aluminium, paper. I don’t tend to work much on canvas because I enjoy the resistance that a harder surface gives. A canvas texture can spoil small details in the work, too, unless it’s heavily primed. I like my paintings to have the look of a sculpture hanging on the wall, hence the shaped ‘canvases’, so I tend to use materials I can shape myself rather than buying ‘off the shelf’. Where can we see your work? I have recently hung a show with another artist from the area, Liz Allen, at the gallery space of Fine & Country in Carvoeiro. It runs until the end of the year, I believe. The work I have made since I retired in 2013 can be seen on my website. I have recently joined a collective called Artlink, which creates pop-up exhibitions and art events throughout the Algarve. I have also enjoyed being part of a curatorial group called BoaBoa, who are organising very exciting art events in the west Algarve now. Dave’s exhibition can be found at Fine & Country Rua do Barranco 62, Carvoeiro, 8400-508.

Have you managed to establish yourself in what I understand is quite a crowded art scene? Not really established as yet. I think it will take a number of years before I am accepted as ‘a locally known artist’, but I am aware that I have a particular style, a particular type of work that is easily recognisable as being mine, so that might help. Where did the inspiration for your current style originate? The primary inspiration comes from a training in abstraction in the late 70s and early 80s, coupled with a passion for any kind of art which challenges the intellect. Connections with the forms and ideas behind Cubist painting are pretty obvious, but my inspiration can come from literally anything I come across, online or in “real” life.

Tomorrow magazine - community magazine for the Algarve | www.tomorrowalgarve.com

 www.davekingart.com www.artlinkcollective.com www.boaboa.art

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ARTS AND CULTURE

Book Worm

Tomorrow's Book Worm, Annie O’Dea, has found some festive treats to give as presents or read yourself over the festive season.

Confessions of a Chef - Bernie Mintz Bernie Mintz is a new author and longtime chef who resides in Stratford-Upon-Avon, where I met him with his family. In October, he launched his memoir of life behind the scenes in Confessions of a Chef and I was keen to find out why it is so popular. I was privileged to be invited to the hugely successful launch at Massimo’s Milanese Caffe Vineria with my husband, joining Bernie’s family, friends and special guests. Bernie and his family extended warm and generous hospitality with wonderful Italian food and wine. Over 200 copies of his book sold that night, all signed by Bernie himself. This book makes a great stocking filler for all. This entertaining and raw autobiography depicts Bernie’s career from 16, starting at the very bottom to working his way up the ranks and finally to owning his own restaurant. Born and bred in Birmingham, Bernie was one of three boys. He had dyslexia, which in those days meant leaving school at 16 to train to be a chef. He studied catering at the Birmingham College of Food and Domestic Arts, which lead to him starting his own outside catering business and eventually establishing his restaurant. “I was inspired to write my life story about working in this industry by a diverse mix of people, including family members, especially after a life-changing event in my personal life.” He told us that personal circumstances had given him time to self-reflect over the last year and that it was time for him to relay his story. Encouraged by his immediate family, whom he cherishes above all else, he started to make notes of key moments in his life as a chef. His aunt Olga Franklin, herself an author and journalist on Fleet Street, was also a great source of inspiration, as

she had led such an exciting lifestyle. Ultimately, like many of us, Bernie did not want his life experiences and lessons to die with him. He wrote his memoirs hoping to make others laugh and take on board the meaning of life and work. Bernie’s career in the industry is vast. He has worked in every aspect of catering from emptying toilets to serving at Chateau Mouton Rothschild. He has moved in an array of circles: from cooking for ordinary people to cooking for royalty and catering for the private jet industry. Celebrities, MPs and even members of the Mob have dined on his food. Many of these stories and anecdotes can be read in his book. He is now known as a social influencer on TikTok as a result of his writings, blogs and media work in recent years. Bernie, in his life and career, has used food as a medium to express himself and so his writing is merely an extension of this. His thoughts, his experiences, what he has seen and who he has mixed with are all part of his story. Bernie’s book also includes recipes “for the dishes that are often the stars of the show”. Bernie describes writing as , “not that dissimilar to creating food on a plate. Like any good chef, innovation and creativity is key.” In his memoirs, he pulls no punches and exposes the hot, steamy, savage side of the industry. Readers need to be prepared for a “strong serving of reality, garnished with his wicked sense of humour”.

 TikTok@Berniethechef Confessions of a Chef is now available on Amazon Bernie’s first illustrated children’s book – Wendy the Wok – is out soon.

Tomorrow magazine - community magazine for the Algarve | www.tomorrowalgarve.com

Keeping a Christmas Promise – Jo Thomas “Four friends; one promise; a life-changing adventure!” This book is a great Christmas read – romantic, magical and yet about true friendship and what love really is. Christmas is a time of giving and Keeping a Christmas Promise does exactly that. As we all know, books make a good gift and this is a novel aimed at women, especially those who have lived a little and appreciate the highs and lows of life. It is a thoughtprovoking work of fiction, focusing on four friends who create their bucket lists together and make a promise to fulfil Laura’s, which is to see the Northern Lights on her birthday: “That’s what I’d like to do by the time I’m forty.” Beautiful descriptions vividly portray the striking setting of Iceland, whilst the mystery and magical element of the lights are never far away. The necessary sense of adventure, their need to survive in the bitter, harsh Icelandic winter, and the experience of a real community Christmas spirit produces a heady mix for Freya and her friends. And, of course, romance looms in the form of local mountain farmer Petur. A moving, poignant reminder of the volatility of life, this story is a heartwarming testimony to genuine friendship, love and a celebration of experiencing life to the full.

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SPORTS & LEISURE

The Untouchaballs – touch rugby

WORDS David Lugg

Netball in Portugal WORDS David Lugg

Following the marvellous performance of Portugal at the Rugby World Cup, popularity for the sport in the country is at an all-time high. The men’s team are up to number 13 in the world rankings, while the women’s side are taking huge strides forward, winning seven of their last eight games. Justifiably riding on the success of the fifteen-a-side version is touch rugby, a sport that is also growing exponentially. For those not in the know, touch rugby is a minimal-contact version of the full game of rugby. It follows similar principles but with only six players on the pitch from each side at any one time. Matches comprise two twenty-minute halves with just a brief interval. As the name suggests, tackles are replaced by touches, meaning that the sport is far more accessible for all ages, shapes and sizes. Here in the Algarve, touch rugby is also beginning to take off. Phil Soames is a member of The Untouchaballs in Lagos and he is beginning to see a lot of progress being made. “We have had loads of people wanting to play touch rugby over the last two years. And now we have just become federated as part of the Algarve University in Faro, which enables us to play in tournaments.” Indeed, The Untouchaballs have recently returned from Lisbon, where they played in the Bulldogs Touch Rugby Cup, their first-ever tournament. They finished a credible sixth out of nine teams – not bad considering they only took nine players, whilst other teams had up to sixteen people. “It was quite intense. Each match was 14 minutes and we played eight games.”

The surge in popularity has led Phil to increase the number of training sessions to twice a week. “Wednesday is a drills and skills session with a view to competing, whilst Monday is more of a get-together of social rugby where we throw the ball around.” The team is very much an international group with players from Ukraine, Italy, France and South Africa, to name but a few. There is also no age limit on who can play, though the minimum age is sixteen years old. Crucially, Phil points out that The Untouchaballs have many women players amongst their ranks and are not limited to men – one of the many benefits of touch rugby. Despite its ever-increasing popularity, progression is not without obstacles. The team plays at the multi-purpose stadium in Lagos but on the adjoining shot-put field. “We’ve got loads of guys who want to play, but we struggle to get a pitch. We’re trying to reach out to find somewhere that not only has a good pitch but has decent floodlights. I think if we had a proper pitch, we’d have a lot more players.” Local sponsorship would also assist the team greatly and help them pay for the hire of the pitch and travel expenses. There is no shortage of talent and enthusiasm, but what The Untouchaballs really need now is a benefactor to help keep their progression on track.

 The Untouchaballs meet at the Estádio Municipal de Lagos on Mondays and Wednesdays from 19:30-21:00. For more details contact Phil at p_soames@hotmail.com

Tomorrow magazine - community magazine for the Algarve | www.tomorrowalgarve.com

Netball Portugal has received a major boost, having been offered ‘emerging membership’ within Europe Netball, the regional body of the International Netball Federation (INF). This marks a significant step in promoting the sport across the country, with the hope that they will soon become a fully-fledged member. Following a hugely successful World Cup tournament in the summer, netball is seeing large numbers of new players looking to take up the sport. Netball in Portugal is very much in its infancy, but the potential for growth is enormous. Many clubs now offer tuition for all levels of experience and, in collaboration with Europe Netball, there will be training academies for those looking to aspire to play at a higher level and even represent Portugal. Margaret Coleman is a member of Leões Netball Sotavento Clube and is also the president of Netball Portugal. She has been instrumental in getting Netball Portugal up and running and is passionate about developing the sport in a country that has had very little exposure until this point. “Netball is great for ladies of any experience. It is a social sport and good for mental health.” The health benefits of joining the netball family are far-reaching. Clubs offer both running or walking games, meaning that the sport is truly open to anyone regardless of age or fitness. But for those who still harness a competitive spirit, Margaret points out that “there is also the opportunity to play against other teams and maybe even represent your country.” Most importantly, the sport brings people together, helping to form friendships and offering the chance to be healthy and active. An estimated 20 million women play netball worldwide, so why not dust off those old sports shoes and join one of your local teams? Currently, there are four clubs in the Algarve – Tavira, Cabanas, Vilamoura and Lagos. All clubs are accepting new members regardless of experience.  If you are interested in playing netball or perhaps even forming a team or club, visit www.netballportugal.com or send an email to info@netballportugal.com for more details.

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SPORTS & LEISURE

WORDS David Lugg

Tennis Portuguese youngster Henrique Rocha has lost in the final of the M25 ITF tennis tournament in Tavira. The Porto-based nineteen-year-old lost out to experienced campaigner Sebastian Fanselow 6-2 6-3, a player he had comfortably beaten in a tournament last month. Rocha, who is coached by Algarvian tennis great Rui Machado, has risen to an all-time ranking high of 273 and is certainly one to keep an eye on in the future.

RISING STAR Marta Gago Marta Gago is a professional football player who hails from Olhão. Having played for her local side Olhanense from the age of five, she signed for Benfica in 2020. Following two years playing for the Benfica youth team, Marta has broken through to the senior squad for the 2023/2024 season. The seventeen-year-old midfielder is currently plying her trade for the Benfica ‘B’ team but has started every game this season. 2023 has very much been a breakthrough year for Marta, who has played five times for the Portugal under-19 team. She has been working her way up the international youth ladder, having previously played for the under-17 and under-15 teams.

ALGARVE The region’s top rugby club RC Loulé have had a difficult start to their new season in National Division One. The men’s senior side lost 15-29 at home to RC Montemor before losing 20-10 away in Setúbal. However, the under-19 and under-16 sides both enjoyed convincing wins against Sporting Belas. The RC Loulé women’s team are looking a far stronger outfit this season. In midNovember, they travelled to Lisbon to play in the São Miguel tournament against some formidable opposition. With two draws, one win and just one loss, they can hold their heads high, especially against sides with far higher budgets. They next play at home on 2 December. INTERNATIONAL Fresh from their successful World Cup exploits, the Portugal men’s side have announced two international matches against England ‘A’ and an Ireland development side. The matches fall within the Six Nations and Rugby Europe calendar, so it is likely that all three teams will field youthful lineups. Even so, both matches will provide vital experience against tier-one rugby-playing nations. After their World Cup win against Fiji, the Portugal men’s team have risen to 13th in the world rankings, their highest-ever position. The international women’s team will look to continue their meteoric rise and currently sit in 25th position. Considering they only started playing regular international matches in December 2021, seven wins in eight matches have seen them shoot up the ranking table. World Rugby has announced a new tournament as part of a ‘significant overhaul’ of men’s international rugby. The competition will consist of a first and second division (with promotion and relegation) and will feature the top 24 teams in Europe. This will act as a gateway for fastimproving Portugal to break through to tier-one rugby. The annual tournament will begin in 2026.

Football FIFA WORLD CUP Following the announcement that the 2030 men’s World Cup would be a joint venture between Portugal, Spain and Morocco, the Portuguese football association has announced that the three participating stadiums will be Porto, Benfica and Sporting Lisbon. Although the Algarve will not feature any matches, the Estádio Algarve near Faro has been proposed as a training pitch for one of the international sides. INTERNATIONAL Young Benfica star Lara Martins has signed her first professional contract. The seventeen-year-old, who was the Tomorrow Algarve ‘Rising Star’ in November, recently scored two goals in the UEFA Champions League for the Lisbon-based side. Lara grew up in the Algarve and played for Farense (Faro) before signing for Benfica in 2020. ALGARVE FOOTBALL Heading into the international break, the Algarve has two sides in the top ten of the Portuguese Primeira Liga. A run of three consecutive victories has propelled newly-promoted Farense into eighth position, their last defeat coming as far back as 2 September. The pick of the bunch this season was a fabulous 3-1 over Sporting Braga. Two points below them lie Portimonense, whose form is a little more erratic, but they can also take confidence from a good start to the season, with their finest performance coming in a 2-1 last-minute victory over Vitória Guimarães.

If you wish to publicise a sporting event or a ‘rising star’ contact our sports editor David Lugg: david@tomorrowalgarve.com

Tomorrow magazine - community magazine for the Algarve | www.tomorrowalgarve.com

Photos © Rugby Club de Loulé

Sports Round Up

Rugby

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SPORTS & LEISURE

Musings of a Mountain Biker WORDS Gilly Grateley Hi, Gilly here. As a mountain biking enthusiast, I am always looking at relevant online articles and links that pop up on social media, and I’m particularly interested in the stories that focus on trends coming out of the States. North America is attributed as being the spiritual home of mountain biking – it is the largest market and what happens there usually sets the trend for the rest of the world. Through my musings, we have looked at e-bike trends (urban and e-MTB), so this month, I’m putting the spotlight on a relatively new bike discipline that is really booming – gravel biking. WHAT IS GRAVEL? It is a discipline of biking that sits between road and mountain biking, combining characteristics of both. It first emerged in the States roughly 10 years ago, where longdistance races predominantly on gravel tracks led to the development of a dedicated bike. As you would expect, gravel bikes are a hybrid of road and mountain bikes. They tend to have drop handlebars, often splayed out and the frames are a bit longer and higher than road bikes for added stability while being stiffer and faster than mountain bikes. There is clearance for wide tyres and mudguard mounts and the bike geometry is relaxed so riders can comfortably navigate uneven terrain and keep control on loose and rough surfaces. These bikes combine agility, speed and durability, are lighter on the climbs and handle well on nontechnical trails. During the pandemic, the recreational scene really started to take off. When cyclists and non-cyclists alike couldn’t travel, they started to look for adventures closer to home. For many, it was a revelation, getting out and finding tracks and trails they never knew existed on their doorstep. This, alongside the increase in gravel events, has seen the discipline become firmly established, with continued growth projected for both the racing and recreational markets. WHY IS IT GROWING IN POPULARITY? • One of the main advantages of owning a gravel bike is they are very versatile, which can eliminate the need for multiple bikes for different terrains – analysts are suggesting that with consumer spending limited, multi-

discipline products will have a greater impact on the market • Cycling in general, is seeing a growth in response to society’s concern with fitness, health and wellbeing. Whilst there are lots of options for highprice, high-spec gravel bikes, there is also a lot of choice at the bottom end of the market. This,coupled with the more relaxed dress code (compared to road biking), means gravel biking is proving appealing to a diverse audience • These hybrid-style bikes are perfect for the growing commuter market, where more people are exploring cheaper and greener alternatives to car travel. The wider tyres and optional full mudguards make them suitable for year-round cycling • Gravel bikes perfectly suit the new travel trend for ‘bike-packing’, travelling long distances, exploring countryside routes whilst carrying your luggage and potentially your camping equipment Established riders are always keen to try something new and a discipline that includes speed and off-road riding is sure to pique interest! This momentum is fuelling demand for ready-made routes, avoiding congested roads safe in the knowledge that you are not going to hit a gnarly technical section – I have it on good authority that new gravel routes will be developed in the Algarve from next year, marked and promoted in the same way as the BTT trails. Happy days! Sharing this news is for me a great way to finish my tenure, as I’m not just signing off today, I am signing out! I have had a blast these last two years, meeting wonderful people who share my passion, learning about routes top-tobottom and across the country, and generally sharing my thoughts and stories with you. If I may, I’d like to send out a special thanks to my mate Paul, who keeps my bike on the trails, and to the great girls I ride out and explore with, and who make sure I have a regular supply of photos. I’ll still be hitting the trails and I hope to see you out there. In the meantime, thanks for indulging me. As always, stay safe and have fun!

Tomorrow magazine - community magazine for the Algarve | www.tomorrowalgarve.com

A huge thank you to Gilly from the Tomorrow team for her knowledge and enthusiasm during her time working on the column. She has done an amazing job promoting mountain biking in this area and we all owe her a debt of gratitude for shining a light on the wonderful opportunities for this sport in our corner of the Algarve.

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HEALTH & BEAUTY In our culture, the thing that trips us up about wisdom is that we often jump to conclusions that smart people or rich people are wise. But wisdom transcends knowing facts or how to make money – it’s about applying that knowledge in a way that promotes well-being and the greater good. As an emotions therapist, I do know for certain, having worked with hundreds of people, that wisdom does not naturally come with age. Far from it. There are countless people wandering the planet in arrested ‘wisdom’ development. They may have ‘big brains’ but pull childish antics. You may know some.

How Wise Are You? WORDS Becca Williams

Nurturing Your Wisdom You may not be able to pinpoint an exact ‘ wisdom quotient’ for yourself, but I invite you to reflect by using this checklist to assess your progress in developing wisdom. Self-Reflection: Wisdom often begins with self-awareness. What things do you do that encourage introspection so you can be aware of your values, your beliefs, and how they align with your purpose in the world? Emotional Intelligence: Wisdom is closely tied to your ability to recognise and manage your emotions. Wise people listen actively, without judgment, and respect the feelings and autonomy of others. How’s that going for you?

Life Experience: This is something we all have, but translating it to wisdom means we need to be able to make sense of our experiences and how they’ve shaped our perspectives. Moral and Ethical Choices: Wisdom, in this instance, is reflected in your ability to navigate complex ethical and moral dilemmas. This is tough as it involves striking a balance between competing interests and values while adhering to principles of fairness and justice. Humility: Wise people acknowledge their limitations. They don’t pretend to have all the answers but seek continuous growth and selfimprovement. Interconnectedness: Ok, a little woo-woo, but a valid measure. Wisdom includes recognising the interconnectedness of all things … with the universe, nature, and others. How do you believe you’re doing? You may be growing older. Are you growing wiser? Becca Williams is an emotions therapist and clinician who helps people free themselves from emotional burdens, traumas, and limiting beliefs to live more fulfilling lives.

 Becca@emotionallib.com

A perfect pout for Christmas WORDS Donna Groom

Beauty treatments are forever evolving, developing and improving. As a total beauty addict myself and the quest for a “less time in front of the mirror” approach, I’m always looking out for the next “must do”. The latest treatment on the menu is the cherry lip glow! A semi-permanent tinting treatment that adds a pop of colour to your lips.

Gentle movements are used over the lips. You should only feel the vibration of the machine. The serum is left for a few minutes to soak in.

What is the cherry lip glow? By using a technique similar to nano-needling, small apertures are made into the lips to allow serums and colour pigment to absorb into the skin. These tiny, microscopic holes close up very quickly, sealing in the serum and colour. When using the hyaluronic acid serum, the texture and firmness are improved along with hydration. The pigment is applied in the same technique.

How many treatments do you need? This depends on how long you want the results to last and the depth of colour you are looking to achieve. It’s recommended two to four treatments are necessary with a two to four-week interval. It lasts around four months, but that does depend on how many times you find yourself under the mistletoe at Christmas this year!

What is the difference between lip blushing and the cherry lip technique? The difference is purely the type of needle and depth used for blushing. With cherry lips, the implantation is just below the surface, thus making it a pain-free treatment and very minimal downtime compared with blushing. With cherry lips, the longevity is less, but it allows you to change the colour. With blushing, it can last a few years. What is the procedure? Firstly, the lips are cleansed, and hyaluronic acid is applied.

After the pigment is applied, the treatment finishes with a hydrating lip mask and balm.

Is there downtime? There is no downtime to this treatment, although it’s recommended that you don’t eat anything for a few hours afterwards. Your lips will feel plumper and slightly swollen after the procedure, but any swelling goes down very quickly. This treatment is available at the Kutting Room in Praia da Luz for 55€ per treatment or 140€ for a course of three.  +351 282 789 354

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HEALTH & BEAUTY

Holiday Health

4. Fill up on veggies first and then make your way to the more calorie-dense foods on your plate. Fruits, veggies, whole grains, nuts and seeds contain fibre, which can make you feel full faster, encourage normal bowel movements, and improve overall health. 5. If consuming alcohol, remember that it’s loaded with empty calories, so try alternating with water if you plan to have more than one drink. Asking for fizzy water with a slice of lemon in a wine or champagne glass helps you to reduce your calorie intake while still feeling part of the festivities.

Managing your health and weight during the holiday season WORDS Sherry Fader For many, the holiday season means celebrating with their family, friends and community and enjoying plenty of food and drink. For those who are concerned about their health, it can also be a time of anxiety and stress as they worry about the weight gain they know is sure to follow their indulgences. Here are a few easy tips that don’t involve any special type of dieting: 1. Choose a smaller plate. Larger plates encourage you to take more food.

2. If eating out, divide your meal in half and ask for a “doggie bag”. Doing this at the beginning of your meal will reduce the amount of food consumed. It also has the added benefit of decreasing food waste and you’re all set for lunch the next day. 3. Eat slowly. If you do nothing else, do this. Numerous studies have shown that the benefits of putting your fork down between bites and chewing your food well include – better digestion, stress reduction, and allowing time for the hormone leptin to signal satiety, resulting in fewer calories consumed.

6. Last but not least, getting out for a walk between courses is a great way to burn a few calories. Try suggesting a short break between the main course and dessert. A change of environment and fresh air tends to lift our spirits and energises us. Sherry Fader is a certified nutrition educator, NE, Bauman College, Penngrove, California. She received her bachelor’s degree from UC Los Angeles, California. Her passion for studying nutrition came about when her mother was diagnosed with colon cancer (a completely preventable disease). She currently lives with her husband and dog Zoe in Portugal.

The Neck Lift WORDS Tiago Baptista-Fernandes

We live in an era where Generation Z starts in their early 20s with preventive treatments. We all want to live forever and with a young appearance. The latest statistics show a 77% increase in neck treatments from 2018 to 2022, which clearly evidences the importance of this area to patients. Typical treatments like Botulinum toxin, fillers, peelings, lasers and threads have been used by Millennials and Generation X for the past 20 years as they realise that neck ageing is an obstacle to their still youthful mind. The main concerns that take patients to the plastic surgeon are: • Increased neck volume • Dehydration, wrinkles and bad skin quality • Muscle flaccidity • Skin flaccidity with turkey-like bands

The procedures target loose skin, not just fat, so liposuction isn’t the only solution. Treatments vary from: • Non-invasive HIFU (high-focused ultrasound) • Minimally invasive tightening treatments (liftera™, Morpheus™, necktite™) • Liposuction with necktite™ • Neck reduction surgery Younger patients are suitable for minimally invasive lipo procedures done under local anaesthesia and skin-tightening radiofrequency, whereas older patients require an isolated neck lift with hidden scars or a full face and neck approach. The changes obtained by surgery are significant, and the downtime varies from one to two weeks. There’s no pain involved, only neck stiffness/hardness in the early post-op period and you can expect some bruises. It’s very

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important not to smoke and have a stable weight. Patients, however, have to be aware that they will still age after the surgery and that their neck will not stay perfect forever. I strongly recommend that patients check the doctor they have chosen or been recommended through online research or referrals. Confirm that they are a registered plastic surgeon and ask to see similar cases in the appointment, and eventually have a couple of professional opinions. It’s a fantastic surgery. A neck lift is the new facelift! Tiago Baptista-Fernandes is a specialist in plastic surgery.

 tiago.baptistafernandes@upclinic.pt www.upclinic.pt +351 213 150 201 +351 925 227 377

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FOOD & DRINK

A very Tapas Christmas Latitude Wine and Tapas Restaurant in Praia da Luz have a full programme of delicious festive fun for their customers throughout December. On 10 December, they will be selling a selection of artisan cheese, meats, chutneys, truffle products and wine in their bistro area. They also create hampers and gift sets for customers. On Christmas Eve, they are open for lunch only, serving a more traditional local Christmas menu with a gourmet tapas twist before they close for Christmas Day. Ollie and his team will be back in action on Boxing Day for their bottomless brunch. For everyone who has had enough of cooking and isn’t too full to enjoy their brunchinspired menu, head to Latitude for live music, entertainment, bottomless bubbles, mimosas, sangria and beer.

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Latitude - Wine & Tapas

The celebrations will continue on New Year’s Eve with a set menu dinner with a gourmet twist, wine pairing, live music and entertainment. A bottomless brunch package is available along with midnight celebrations. Latitude is also welcoming group celebrations this festive period, with several options to tailor the experience depending on the client’s needs. So if you are looking to entertain staff, family or friends, make sure you get in touch.

 If you have any questions or require any more information, drop Ollie a message or call + 351 918 326 326

Lionheart Lionheart is one of the oldest bars in Lagos, first opening in 1981. Olga and her managing partner, Nico, bought the premises 18 months ago and breathed new life into it, or you could say ‘roared’! Olga tells me that being one of the oldest establishments on the Lagos night scene, it has been especially important to build a great reputation for fun evenings where you can ‘live it up’ until 4 am if you have the stamina! Lionheart is a specialist karaoke bar with a range of signature cocktails and signature beers, so it has been very important to Olga and Nico to encourage live music, especially local Algarvean musicians. Offering regular live music has given the venue a unique vibe in the music market in the area while also offering the premises for private events. The bar is open from 8.30 pm until 4 am (with happy hour until 11 pm!) and is closed only on Mondays. If you want fun this festive season, why not arrange a karaoke night with your friends? You are sure to be roaring for more, and if you have the heart of a lion, you might just make it until 4 am!  Located in the cobbled street by the old public hospital and close to the Odeon cafe. Facebook: Bar Lionheart

Veganelly´s Christmas

WORDS Tom Henshaw

If you follow a vegan diet or if you are just looking for an alternative range of ingredients for your cooking during the festive season, then Veganelly’s health food shop and café is a must-stop-shop! The great selection of products is hard to better and Elly offers mainly exclusive items, things you will certainly not find elsewhere! Her range includes a combination of vegan, gluten-free, bio and dairy-free products with a great selection of cheeses. Elly has been determined to stay ahead of the market and also offers bulk supplies of her ranges to restaurants and individual stores.

For the festive season, she will be stocking Christmas baskets with cheese and vegan panettone. She is also waiting for supplies of gluten-free Christmas cakes and hopes she will also be stocking gluten-free bolo rei as well. I was surprised to see how she has developed from the time we discussed advertising a year ago. I recommend a visit to check out what items will suit your healthy choices, and to sit and have a coffee at the same time as viewing her range of products. Well done Elly. Make sure you keep those shelves stacked for a busy and healthy Christmas!

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 +351 919 268 040 Open 10 am to 6 pm. Saturday, 10 am to 2 pm. Closed Sundays. Av. Do Cabo, Bojador 6 Loja F (close to SNN optician) FB: Veganelly Minimarket

FOOD & DRINK

THAT ASIAN HOME COOK

Where to shop? Some of you have written to ask me where I shop for my Asian ingredients. Here are my top four: GOMINIMARKET Formerly known as Go Dutch, this shop stocks most of what I need with a very good selection of Asian sauces, many Indonesian condiments and a frozen section with the likes of wonton wrappers and kaffir lime leaves. (R. Gomes Vinagre 13 Loja 2, 8600-315 Lagos)

Stir-fried beef with Ginger and leek

Stir-frys are definitely my go-to on days I can’t be bothered to do something elaborate. Once you master the basics, you can apply it to any type of protein or vegetable and make it work for you. Just quickly breaking it down, you heat a wok or pan till almost at the smoking point, add oil, aromatics, protein, and vegetables, followed by sauces, garnish and serve. So easy! This stir-fry recipe utilises one of my favourite cuts of Portuguese beef here, vazia, with an umami-rich gingery and garlicky sauce. I love to use leeks with beef, but you can always substitute that element with whatever tickles your fancy. One great option for a meat protein replacement is smoked tofu. INGREDIENTS • 120gm Portuguese vazia • 1 cup leek halved and sliced into 2-inch sections • 2 cloves minced garlic • 1 thumb ginger finely sliced • ½ tbsp vegetable oil • 1 tbsp oyster sauce • ½ tsp dark soy sauce • ½ tbsp Chinese cooking rice wine • ¼ tsp sesame oil • ¼ tsp brown sugar • ½ tsp cornflour

golden and the aroma wafts into your kitchen space, then add your marinated beef and stir until the beef colours. Next, add your leeks and stir until they are well mixed in with the beef but not yet wilted. It is time to add all your remaining sauces. One top tip here is to prepare the variety of sauces required in one bowl, so you have all the sauces ready to add quickly during the stir-fry. Now watch as the beef and leeks caramelise in all that luscious sauce. You’ll notice the sauce thickening. This is because of the corn flour utilised in the marination - it is a thickening element and we love it for that. I would stir around for five or so more minutes, not too much more so as not to overcook the beef and leek. Now garnish with the trifecta coriander, spring onions and fried shallots and dive in! This recipe serves one and can easily be doubled for two. I would say a stir-fry works best when done in smaller portions, so the maximum I would apply this recipe would be for four or, if you have to, six.

INSTRUCTIONS Slice and marinade beef with cornflour, sesame oil and brown sugar. Set aside. Heat your wok; once it is starting to smoke lightly, add in your vegetable oil. When your oil is hot, it is ready for your ginger and garlic. Fry till lightly

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CONTINENTE MODELO LAGOS You will be able to find a decent selection of Asian sauces in the dry goods aisle and a variety of noodles too. (Urbanização Cerro das Mós 315 lote, 8600-571 Lagos) INTERMARCHE From Asian noodles to sauces and other ingredients, the Asian section also does a really nice selection of Indian food items which you might enjoy. I also love that they always have fresh turmeric, chillies, pak choy, lemongrass and spring onions! (Lugar da Pedra Alçada – Ameijeira Verde, 8600-546 Lagos) ASIA SUPERMARKET The nearest full-on Asian grocer is in Albufeira. They stock just about anything you will need for an Asian cook for Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese, Indonesian and even Malaysian dishes. (Beco da Felosa 33, 8200182 Albufeira)

Joy Entry is a Malaysian home cook based in Lagos who is obsessed with the provocative, unapologetic flavours of South-East Asian cuisine  Instagram: @thatasianhomecook joyentry@gmail.com

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PETS & WILDLIFE

Thank God it’s Christmas WORDS Lars Ramquist Who’d have thought Christmas would come around so soon – again? With three kids, however, I have noticed time dilation appearing in all corners of my existence. This will be our little Bear’s first Christmas. I reckon it’s easy to stay on the nice list when you can’t walk or talk, so Santa better bring a booty for his (tiny) stockings.

if ingested. If you need a Rennie after Christmas dinner, put the packet well out of the way afterwards!

Professionally, it is meant to be my duty to remind pet owners of the potential hazards that pets face at Christmas time. I’m not talking about drunk drivers or kids pepped up on sugar-balls chasing the cat with their new lightsaber. Rather, my heightened concerns are regarding our indulgence of the 'good stuff' in the festive season. Perhaps this ought to be a list for ourselves, as well:

ONIONS (INCLUDING GARLIC AND LEEKS) Be careful with leftover gravy and other things which may have onions in them. These cause a problem with canine haemoglobin. In sufficient quantities, dogs can die because of an inability to transport oxygen through the blood.

CHOCOLATE Yes, the list always starts with chocolate. Too much chocolate will certainly kill a dog. The smaller the dog, the more susceptible they are to the toxic effects. Also, dark chocolate is the most dangerous type, dropping down to white chocolate as the least. If you are worried about chocolate toxicosis in your dog (signs are extreme restlessness, excess panting and rapid heart rate), there are various 'chocolate toxicity calculators' you can find on the internet. You can use these to see if your dog has a chocolate dose that is relatively safe (or not). You can always call your vet, too! MINCE PIES/CHRISTMAS CAKE These Christmassy treats are full of raisins and sultanas, and dogs have a peculiar toxic sensitivity to these dried fruits. Even small amounts of these can cause acute kidney failure in dogs. If you see your dog scoffing a mince pie, call your vet so they can make it vomit before the toxins absorb and travel to the dog’s kidneys.

MACADAMIA NUTS These can cause neurotoxicity and ambulation problems in dogs. Other nuts, in excess, can also cause constipation in the colon.

PARACETAMOL This is a cat problem. If you are reaching for paracetamol for your Boxing Day fuzzy head, keep it out of the cat’s reach. One paracetamol tablet will kill a cat (i.e. don’t ever let a cat have access to ANY paracetamol). Other more obvious dangers are tinsel and ribbons getting stuck in tummies and intestines. As always. Fatty leftovers can cause pancreatitis in your pet, too. Anyway, I don’t want to come over all 'don’t do this, don’t do that' … Christmas is about family and your furry mates should not miss out. Dress them up like your kids and they can feel just as awkward. You can speak to your vet, or call our receptionists and get some ideas for treats and presents for your little mate this Christmas, too! Remember, a dog may be for life – but it is also for Christmas! Have a lovely Christmas, everybody. Stay safe, be merry and enjoy your Christmas, one and all – from all of us at the Lagos Vet Clinic.

Not Just for Christmas WORDS Ann Hodges A dog or a cat is for life, which is why, when you make the decision to give a home to any animal, it must be the right decision. If you do your homework thoroughly, this decision will bring joy and rewards beyond measure. Every day, every month, and for the lifetime of the animal concerned. Christmas is a time when families get together to enjoy every moment of the festivities. But it is not the time to bring a new cat, dog, puppy or kitten into a household, especially when they come from a ‘rescue’ environment. Who knows what they have experienced previously? When they first arrive in your home, they only need lots of calm, loving attention in a quiet place. Exactly the opposite of what usually happens to us humans at this time of year. A new beginning for you both in the New Year, after the busy holidays, is a better idea. Wait until after the festivities are over and calm reigns supreme once more. At Cadela Carlota, our care doesn’t stop for Christmas. Our dedicated staff are on duty as usual over the holiday period, continuing to look after the animals without interruption. Many loyal volunteers arrive to look after the cats or to walk the dogs as usual. After all, the animals do not know that it is Christmas. When we have given them lots of cuddles and attention, it is time for us to return to our families – knowing that we have made the festive period better for every animal we love and care for. It is a great feeling, in tune with the Christmas spirit of goodwill to all – people and animals alike.

See you next year!!! SWEETS/RENNIE TABS Rennie (tummy antacids) and some sugar-free sweets contain xylitol. This particular sugar-alternative will cause extreme liver damage to dogs

 +351 282 782 282 info@lagosvet.com www.lagosvet.com

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Call for volunteers: If you would like to become a volunteer, please contact us at info@cadela-carlota.com or cadela-carlota.com

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PETS & WILDLIFE

The Twelve Birds of Christmas to find in the Algarve! WORDS Luis de Teves Costa

The Algarve truly offers an amazing festival of birds to watch. Inspired by the classic Christmas song, here is a list of some birds you can find in the region, including one or two surprises. “On the first day of Christmas, my true love sent to me …”

One Red-Legged Partridge (Alectoris rufa)

WHEN AND WHERE:

Whether spotted on a pear tree or on the ground, these beautiful birds show striking patterns and vibrant colours yet, somehow, they blend magnificently into the terrain where they live. Red-legged partridges are a great example of a monomorphic species, meaning that both sexes look the same.

All year round and found throughout the Algarvian drylands or barrocal.

Two Turtle Doves (Streptopelia turtur)

WHEN AND WHERE:

The turtle dove winters in Africa and returns to Europe each spring when you can hear its peculiar calling that is thought to be the origin of the name (turrr-turrr = turtle). It is also one of many species to be named after two different animals. Other examples are the horsefly, the dogfish, the whale shark, the spider crab, the elephant seal or the catfish.

Springtime and summer in Sagres, Alvor, Quinta do Lago and Ria Formosa

Three Moorhens (Gallinula chloropus)

WHEN AND WHERE:

One of the most widespread birds around the globe, moorhens are frequent inhabitants of freshwater lakes, lagoons, rivers and ponds. Moorhens are easily identified by their yellow legs, dark bodies and red beaks with yellow tips.

Resident species that can be found throughout the region.

Four Blackbirds (Turdus merula)

WHEN AND WHERE:

Old versions of the popular Christmas song mention four colly birds instead of four calling birds. The word “colly” would mean dark as coal, hence associated with the blackbird. Blackbirds are usual callers in gardens and parks throughout Europe and the Algarve is no exception. Blackbirds sing beautifully and can normally be heard in calm mornings and at dusk.

Five Golden Orioles (Oriolus oriolus) This very secretive bird with a bright yellow body and black wings is more often heard rather than seen. A summer visitor that arrives in the Algarve during springtime and returns to Africa by the end of summer.

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PETS & WILDLIFE Six Greylag Geese (Anser anser)

WHEN AND WHERE:

Greylag geese are frequent winter visitors in Portugal and can be seen in abundant numbers in the Alentejo and are also spotted in the Algarve. These impressive birds leave the Arctic region to winter in mild central and southern Europe. They travel in great numbers, often in their hundreds, providing a true spectacle when landing or gathering in large gaggles. Usually monogamous, these geese tend to pair for life. Laying happens far from Portugal, in distant northern lands where it spends spring and summer.

October to March in Castro Marim, Ria Formosa and Lagoa dos Salgados.

Seven Mute Swans (Cygnus olor)

WHEN AND WHERE:

Perhaps the hardest to spot on this list as wild swans are very rarely seen in Portugal. Fewer than one hundred sightings have been reported and certainly include some escapes from captivity. As the name indicates, this is not a vocal bird.

Eight Magpies (Pica pica)

Spring and summer at Vilamoura, Quinta do Lago and Lagoa dos Salgados.

WHEN AND WHERE:

“Eight for a Wish” in the other popular rhyme, magpies look much like maids-a-milking dressed in black with white aprons. These clever birds are part of the Corvidae family (crows) and are renowned for their intelligence.

Resident birds that can be seen all year at Lagoa dos Salgados, Tavira’s salt pans or Castro Marim.

Nine Flamingos (Phoenicopterus roseus)

WHEN AND WHERE:

Unquestionably one of the most impressive birds to grace its presence in the Algarve, flamingos can be spotted in lakes, lagoons and salt pans across the Algarve. Whether feeding or performing mating rituals, this animal’s locomotion is nothing short of a dancing choreography performed by pink-feathered artists. When standing on one leg, the question mark silhouette is quite a distinct trademark picture.

Can be seen all year round in Lagos, Alvor, Portimão, Lagoa dos Salgados, Ria Formosa, Ludo, Tavira or Castro Marim.

CMY

Ten Little Bustards (Tetrax tetrax)

WHEN AND WHERE:

The real “Lords-a-Leaping'' of the natural world. During mating season, males inflate their chest and neck feathers and leap from the floor, repeatedly, to impress the females. Also a great example of sexual dimorphism which is the clear difference between the sexes. Males show more vibrant patterns and plumage than the females.

Resident birds that can be spotted in Castro Marim or Sagres.

WHEN AND WHERE:

Eleven Sandpipers (Actitis hypoleucos) Common sandpipers are busy waders that can be found all over Portugal in all sorts of water systems. Watch the frenetic way their rears bob up and down, a behaviour known as teetering.

All year round Lagos at Alvor, Lagoa dos Salgados, Ludo, Castro Marim, Tavira or Santa Luzia.

WHEN AND WHERE:

Twelve Woodpeckers The Algarve is home to three species of woodland drummers: The lesser-spotted (Dryobates minor), the great-spotted (Dendrocopos major) and the Iberian green (Picus sharpei). Much like the golden oriole, you will more often hear this bird before spotting them. The unmistakable laughing calls and pecking noises echo through the quiet woodlands and mountains of the region.

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All three species are resident in the Algarve and can be found in forest areas and the mountain hills of Monchique, Caldeirão and Espinhaço de Cão.

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