Tomorrow Lagos - Aljezur July 2017 Edition

FREE to take home July 2017 | Edition 68 | 5,500 copies

www.tomorrowalgarve.com |  TomorrowAlgarve

A COMMUNITY MAGAZINE COVERING LAGOS TO ALJEZUR

The Arab influence Heritage meets music

West coast From surfer to speed dude

What's on Get ready for the Lagos Food Fest

Food and drink Try out a BBQ pudding recipe Plus much more...

THE ALGARVE PROPERTY SPECIALISTS

Editor's Welcome SEDE: 86, MILBOROUGH CRESCENT, LONDON, UK , SE12 ORW. UK . PERIODICIDADE: MENSAL . TIRAGEN: 4,000 | TIPOGRAFIA: C/ AL MEDITERRÁNEO, 29, POLÍGONO DE SAN RAFAEL, 04230, HUÉRCAL DE ALMERÍA CIF: B04250056

Happy July!

It is very encouraging indeed to see the Algarve benefitting from the ever increasing number of very happy tourists that are finding many good reasons for choosing Portugal as a relatively safe destination.

So much so that we have never seen so many tourists in the western Algarve as there are now and as there were in June.

The third Tomorrow Summer Ball took place on June 17th at the Tivoli Dunas Beach Club and you will be able to see what a great night it was later in this edition.

We are also going to provide a Tomorrow online gallery for the ball-goers to be able to buy pictures that relate to them if they wish. There will be a gallery ‘link’ to order direct from the photographer.

Phil and Rebeca from Creation Media have put a lot of time and effort in upgrading our Facebook pagetomorrowalgarve. Please have a look and like our page!

completely transparent in all our charity work over the Algarve.

Please remember we always want to hear from you so please get in touch.

On Saturday July 8th we will have our third Giving back day this time at the Portimão Soup Kitchen where we are giving a helping hand to repaint the kitchen.

You can read more about it in the magazine. The last two have been very successful indeed and are proving very worthwhile for all involved. Please email Joy at borganjoy@gmail.com

It would not be right to let this edition pass without mentioning the fires in the north of Portugal. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those affected.

It really is worth a mention and a big thank you to Steven Sutton who has more or less single handedly put together the Tomorrow Algarve Charity Trust (TACT) which will help us ensure we are seen to be

Tom Henshaw  +351 919 918 733

Best wishes, Amber, Tom and the whole team

Amber Henshaw  amber@tomorrowalgarve.com

On the cover On the cover this month we would like to introduce the Tomorrow teddy which you can buy from Steven Sutton (steven@tomorrowalgarve.com). All profits will go charity.

Stay Connected... 

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TomorrowAlgarve

www.tomorrowalgarve.com

+351 919 918 733

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Community

At Quinta das Alagoas, Almádena

Eduardo Ramos: heritage meets music

BY LENA STRANG

Wearing a white embroidered tunic underneath a cream waistcoat, sporting a grey beard and with his hair tied back in a ponytail, Eduardo Ramos masterfully plucks haunting tunes from his alaúde, a 12 string classic Arab musical instrument. His voice is deep and sonorous and he sings with feeling.

lives - again rather apt I think, as this is the ancient Arab capital of the Algarve. We spend a pleasant afternoon in a backstreet café in town. Eduardo with his infectious enthusiasm and glint in his eye outlines his own journey in life and why he believes the music he plays is of cultural and historical significance.

I have heard him perform at different venues over the years and each time I have been mesmerised.

This time the stage is the Hermitage of Our Lady of Guadalupe (near Vila do Bispo), one of the few medieval buildings to have survived intact in the region. It is a most fitting venue as Eduardo is an eminent proponent of Iberian medieval music, specialising in 13th century Arab and Sephardic Jewish music. At the end of the concert, the packed church echoes to the sound of applause and calls for encore.

He tells me he was born in Penedo Gordo, a little village 5 km from Beja in the Alentejo: “Looking back on it, it was rather an idyllic childhood. We had no electricity and relied on candlelight. We didn’t have TV of course, and I played with my friends outside.

We were content in our little world.” Music became part of his life early on. He was always singing songs and remembers his first musical instrument – a harmonica- that his parents bought him at a fair in Beja when he was six years old. Later he took up the viola and accordion.

I have always wanted to know more about the man who can produce these beguiling tunes with such flair and why he has opted for this particular kind of music. We agree to meet in Silves where he

His father’s professional army career opened up a whole new vista for the little boy. Eduardo’s father was posted in India for three years while his family stayed on in Portugal. He still recalls the impact

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of the letters and photos he received at regular intervals. It aroused a curiosity for different cultures and music that stayed with him for the rest of his life.

“It was an eye opener for me to see how the world was from the perspective of a young child in a little village.”

salons of the nobility. I was interested to discover that it is related to the medieval lute on which the 12 string Portuguese guitar is also based.

When Eduardo was 18-years-old, the family moved to Angola in 1969 due to his father’s military posting.

By this time music had taken centre stage in his life. Soon he established a musical group called ‘Os Windies’ who performed regularly in different venues.

Playing rock and afro-jazz, African instruments such as the berimbau and the Angolan quissange also featured in his repertoire.

When I ask Eduardo what he likes about this music, he doesn't hesitate: “the sentiments that are expressed.”

Many of the songs he sings are based on the work of Arab poets, particularly Al Mutamid, 11th century caliph of Seville, considered to be one of the greatest of the Andalusian poets. As a Poet-King he could write freely about himself and the world in which he lived, expressing thoughts in an open-minded, timeless way that still resonates today.

Surely the colonial war raging at the time must have affected his life? Although the family was largely sheltered in the capital Luanda, Eduardo, like all young Portuguese men, had to enlist in the army.

However, he refused to carry arms. “I was lucky not to be arrested,” he laughs, “I was able to play music instead! My captain liked singing and I accompanied him on the viola. I also did concerts for other troupes.”

After the revolution of the April 25th 1974, civil war in Angola made it difficult for the Portuguese to stay on and Eduardo reluctantly returned to his homeland. As life in post revolutionary Portugal wasn’t easy, how did he manage to earn his living?

“Through music of course!” is the response. Having settled in Carvoeiro, he spent the next 13 years performing in hotels and restaurants along the Algarve. His music was sought after as he offered something different but playing in noisy venues in busy tourist areas was not always satisfying. “My wife and I wanted a more authentic place for our children to grow up in so we bought a plot of land near Silves. Here we built a house where we have lived for the last 27 years,” he explains. This is also where his great passion was born – Arabic music and heritage.

“The culture and tradition of the people is something that needs to be preserved today,” he says. “We need to remember that we have a past and that it is closely linked with Arab history. This is important, particularly for the younger generation to appreciate.”

The impact of 500 years of Islamic rule can’t be underestimated (from the early 8th century to the Christian Reconquista of 1249). At the time the Algarve was known as Al-Gharb (the west), as it was the westernmost possession of the Arab empire.

In recent years there has been a re-evaluation of the Arab legacy in Portugal and an increasing appreciation that it is something positive. Eduardo points out the rich heritage that was brought to the peninsula: arts and music; medicine; improved navigational tools and advanced technologies, including new agricultural methods and irrigation.

I am reminded that the remnants of noras, the old waterwheels that revolutionised agriculture, still visible in the countryside, were brought by the Arabs. In addition, the Portuguese language adopted thousands of Arab words, still in use today. 

He attended talks about Arab culture organised by the Cultural Association of Silves and found it of immense interest. He began to realise the extent to which it has shaped life on the Iberian Peninsula.

When he heard the alaúde being played for the first time by a renowned musician, he was smitten. “I knew immediately that this was the instrument for me,” he enthuses. As he already played the viola professionally, he adapted well to this instrument but it required a lot of practice based on listening to recorded music. “I must have bought well over 300 CDs. It was the only way to learn as I didn't read music,” he chuckles.

Although I have heard him play the alaúde (or oud) on many occasions I want to know what’s so special about this instrument. Its origins aren’t absolutely clear. Various types of alaúdes are known to have existed in early civilisations. The present shortnecked pear shaped form appeared in the early part of the 8th century in Persia, Armenia, Byzantium and in the Arab world. It has a low-pitched sound with vibration and echo, suitable for the fashionable

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Top to bottom: Oud; Eduardo at the Hermitage of Our Lady of Guadalupe

Community

Eduardo at the Hermitage of Our Lady of Guadalupe

“There was a great mix of people with Muslims and Christians intermarrying and a large Jewish community that was well integrated.

After the Reconquista of 1247, many of the Arabs stayed on,” he says.



I am curious to know something about the Sephardic Jews and their musical traditions. Eduardo explains that when the Arabs arrived they found a large Jewish community in the Iberian Peninsula who had settled there at the start of the second millennium.

Life under Muslim rule was a great opportunity for them and they flourished culturally. “And yes, there are many similarities between Sephardic and Arabic music as they share the same musical heritage in medieval Spain and Portugal,” he adds.

Eduardo sings in Judaeo Spanish (or Eastern Ladino), the language used by Sephardic Jews, in Arabic as well as in medieval Galician Portuguese.

Another way of preserving old traditions and heritage.

The last 25 years of his life have been dedicated to promoting this music both in Portugal and abroad.

He performs at fairs, medieval festivals, libraries, museums and thematic events. When asked what his commitments are at present, he lists a series of events. He took part in sessions at a variety of schools in Lagoa, performed Sephardic songs in another town, followed by a performance of

Arabic and Christian music at a medieval festival in Monsanto. He also participated in the inauguration of the Museum Domião de Góis, in Alenquer, north of Lisbon, dedicated to the victims of the Inquisition.

And he is busily preparing for the International Festival of Sephardic music in Cordoba next month.

There is no doubt that he has had a long and distinguished career as a musician. What’s his biggest achievement? I expect him to mention being the only Portuguese representative at the International Festival of Sacred Music in Fez two years ago or perhaps performing in front of Prince Aga Khan. Instead he says: “It’s arriving at a place and winning the public over with the music and passion I offer. This is always a major achievement for me.”

He considers himself to be fortunate to have a supportive family. His wife, “the love of my life”, is also fond of music. She is his right arm and helps him with his professional work. His daughter is an accomplished dancer while his son is a professional musician. He tells me that at times all three perform together. A perfect team by the sound of it.

When I ask him if he has any intention of retiring any time soon, he laughs. “No, musicians never retire. If I stop doing music, there’s no point in living. Music gives energy, strength and the will to carry on.”

I hope that for the sake of the captivating music he plays and his desire to preserve a heritage that has moulded present-day Portugal, he will carry on for a very long time to come.

For more information:  Eduardo Ramos Moçarabe  eduardoanramos@gmail.com

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Community

A day in the life of …

Our day in the life feature this month gives us an insight into what it’s like to be an international cycling referee. Paula Martins tells us about being just behind the bunch (the cyclists at the centre of the race) and dealing with accidents, level crossings and stray animals!

“I am an international cycling referee and I work under the rules and the principles of my International Federation. It’s a very exciting job because I always work with different people around the world and I travel a lot to different countries and continents. I receive the appointments each October for the whole of the next year and that way it’s easier to balance my life.

After getting the schedule, I contact the organizer, prepare the travel, analyse all the documents and details of the race and if something breaks UCI rules, I ask the organizer to change it. Sometimes I go only for the race, but when I can, I seize the opportunity to travel one or two days before and visit the area.

When I get to the headquarters, it’s the moment for all the introductions. I meet the people who are responsible for different parts of the race. The first meeting is to clarify some last doubts, and then we start the confirmation of the riders and meet the team managers. They have to present the licences and other information concerning each rider.

In the main meeting, I am in charge and I conduct it by giving the most information possible, but also showing the necessary authority. In that meeting, team managers suss out the President (i.e me) and get to understand whether my style is permissive or not. That moment is decisive for the dynamic between me and them during the race.

I also have to conduct meetings with the security bikers and the police, the press (television, photographers and other broadcast media) and finally with my referees. After all that, the race begins. Riders must sign the starting sheet, line up, and the moment of whistle is the start of the race.

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My position is in a car behind the bunch, the centre of the race. I have a radio to team managers and the press, another to the organisation and the police and another one to talk with my referees and decide about race situations.

We have to manage falls, mechanical accidents, break aways’ and the position of the team cars.

The teams are not allowed to pass groups or bunch without permission, because the convoy is very long and must be under control.

Sometimes, we have to deal with external factors like strikes, accidents, level crossings, animal road invasions, but the connection that we have by radio is a safe net and we always find a solution. At the finish, each referee knows their role, and we have to control the climb if the arrival is on a mountain or the sprint if it’s a normal finish.

For most of the races we meet at the end to decide and apply penalties to riders or teams. That can be done by time penalisation or money. Time penalisation is the least desired because it interferes with their leading classification.

So, as you can see, I have several decisions to make about people doing different roles. I also experience different levels of stress during the same day, because no situation is ever the same.

In the evening, the dinner with all my colleagues and the people who work directly with us, is the moment where we can de-stress. And even if we don’t know anybody, we still feel as family, because all of us are there for a reason: the passion for cycling!”

Community

Help give the gift of a guide dog to in-need youngsters When you are young, your biggest desire is to be like everyone else, to do what they do and not have to rely on your parents all the time.

She already has one of the guide-dogs-to-be lined up, a five-month-old Labrador mix named Fred (pictured) who needed to be re-homed by his previous owners. A second dog originally lined-up unfortunately failed to meet the strict assessment any would-be guide dogs need to go through.

When you are young and visually-impaired, this can be difficult. You are in constant need of a helper to assist with daily tasks that many take for granted, and this can often lead to feelings of isolation and being ‘different’.

“My dream is to help people with disabilities,” Karin tells Tomorrow. Explaining that she was motivated to help visually-impaired people after her father lost his sight in one eye after developing glaucoma, she adds: “I feel lucky - I have my health and my family, so this is a way to give back. It it the ultimate gift I can give, and I hope I can achieve it.”

Now local organisation Pawsitive Dogs Algarve is hoping to make a significant difference in two such visually-impaired young peoples’ lives by training and donating two guide dogs.

The project is being spearheaded by dog behavioural therapist Karin Holmström Forster, a Swede who lives in Loulé. Having worked with people for most of her career, Karin’s love of dogs recently saw her become an Assistance Dog Trainer and she is now chairman of Alertalegria – Associação de Cães de Assistência Internacional, the Algarve-based association of assistance dogs.

Karin plans to take two dogs to the UK this summer to be trained by Alan Brooks, one of the country’s most experienced guide dog trainers. Upon completing the training and officially qualifying as guide dogs, Pawsitive Dogs Algarve will kindly grant them to two visually-impaired youngsters living in Portugal.

It is a challenging task. In addition to the intensive 12-week training course, there is then the matter of matching each dog to a suitable owner, with Karin completing a two-month handover and providing support for the dogs and their new masters.

In order to make her dream a reality, Karin is appealing for donations to fund the project and cover items such as the cost of the training course, insurance for the dogs and other expenses.

Karin points out that, despite having some of the best laws for assistance and Guide Dogs in the world, there is little support from the Portuguese government for visually-impaired people and sadly the supply does not come close to meeting the demand for dogs.

A crowdfunding campaign has already raised some of the €40,000 needed, but there is still a long way to go. Anyone wishing to make a one-off donation can do so by visiting the Crowdfunder website listed below. Plans for fundraising events to be held in the coming weeks are also afoot - to hear about these and to follow the project’s progress, ‘like’ the Pawsitive Dogs Algarve Facebook page - and be sure to share it with your friends.

Here’s hoping the project is a success and can make a huge difference in two visually-impaired young people's lives.

There is a video that you can watch as well to find out more:  www.youtu.be/yluKM0rxHsw

For more information:  www.crowdfunder.co.uk/2-guide-dogs-for-2-visually-impaired-children  @algarvedogtraining  karin.pawsitivedogs@gmail.com  +351 91 707 60 40  www.pawsitivedogsalgarve.com

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Community

Your local fisherman friend

BY SOPHIE SADLER Daredevil fisherman Bruno Dias braves the rough seas and craggy rocks of the Vila do Bispo coastline in order to harvest Perceves.

10th in order to increase awareness of the delicious seafood. There will be music and food stands so you can sample the fisherman´s produce for yourself.

It is a dangerous profession, you need to wear a protective wetsuit to climb the rocks and in the past Bruno has been swept off and been badly cut.

Now he has opened a shop in Lagos to sell his catch as well as other seafood sourced from the Algarve including crab, lobster, sea urchins and whelks.

Bruno is following in a family tradition as his grandfather was a fisherman out of Sagres harbour all his life, his father was also a fisherman before changing career to become a policeman. Now Bruno tries to fish whenever he can and is a joint owner of a fishing vessel. He is a member of the Association of Fisherman of Perceves and is also focused on their preservation.

It will cost you between €20 and €35 for a kilo of Perceves depending on the size and quality. To cook them you boil a pan of water with salt and add them to the water and bring it back to the boil, then cook for 30 seconds. To eat, the claw is pinched between thumb and finger and the inner tube pulled out of the scaly case, allowing you to eat the flesh. It tastes of the sea and is deliciously salty.

There is a huge photo on the wall of his shop showing Bruno perched on a jagged rock with wild seas around him, he tells me: “We are currently doing a photoshoot to promote the fishing of Perceves for the festival in September.”

The English name for these sea creatures is the ‘goose barnacle’. They are filter-feeding crustaceans that live attached to hard surfaces and in Portugal and Spain are a great delicacy.

Along with some friends, Bruno is organising the Vila Do Bispo Perceves festival which will take place on September 8th, 9th and

He explains: “You are now allowed to catch the creatures between September 15th and December 1st this is to allow them to replenish and from December 15th to the end of February you are only allowed to catch 10 kilos per day.”

The maximum legal catch per day for the rest of the year is 15 kilos, however, it is not always possible to catch as much as you are at the mercy of the seas and tide.

If you are nervous about cooking seafood Bruno will boil Perceves, lobster and crabs for you and he speaks excellent English.

His shop is open from 10am to 1.30pm and 3pm to 8pm and it is located near the ball roundabout in Lagos.

If you are looking to find a local friendly fish supplier then I urge you to seek out Bruno and support this new local enterprise.

 Rua Capitão Salgueiro Maia Lote 8 Loja A, Lagos, Portugal  +351 925 376 643  O Perceve Mariscos  www.bit.ly/2ra1E4A

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 brunomariscos@gmail.com

Community What’s it all about?

Jumping out of a plane from high above the Algarve coastline may sound pretty wild, but skydiving is so much more than an extreme sport.

Alethia Austin, marketing director of Skydive Algarve tells Tomorrow: “It’s the perfect way to shake things up a bit, feel a sense of excitement and get a new perspective on life - from 15,000 feet, that is!”

Try something new: skydiving If you fancy trying something new this summer then why not give sky diving a go? One Algarve sky diving company tells us it can give you a new outlook on life.

Tell me more Those wanting to try a jump are in safe, experienced hands at Skydive Algarve, located just outside of Alvor. First-time skydivers are given a 15-minute instructional briefing in order to learn the correct body position and what to expect, and will jump in tandem with a fully qualified instructor. As for the jump itself, the freefall lasts about one minute (which may seems short, but it is an exhilarating, fun-filled 60 seconds!), whilst you will have five to seven minutes after the instructor opens the parachute to enjoy the stunning views of the Algarve. “You won't find a view as beautiful as the one you see during the skydive,” promises Alethia.

 www.skydivealgarve.com

Lend a hand One of our key commitments here at Tomorrow is to put the community at the heart of everything we do, and with this in mind we launched our ‘Giving Back Days’ (GBDs) earlier this year.

Who can take part?

Safety is of paramount concern, and so there are some medical limitations (listed on Skydive Algarve’s website) that may prevent someone doing a tandem skydive. They ask that anyone with a medical history let them know in advance so that they can clear them for the jump.

What do I need?

In a word - nothing! Everything is provided, including high-quality skydiving gear. A hi-tech camera also accompanies you on the jump so you can take home stunning pictures and video footage of the incredible experience.

How much does it cost?

Prices vary but can start from as little as €180 per jump, depending on the group and the discount.

How can I try it out?

“Our team is a friendly one and we love hearing from people!” says Alethia.

“You can call us, email us, Facebook us, Instagram us, or stop by - we are ready to answer any questions you may have.”

 +351 282 496 581

 @skydivealgarve

more inviting and welcoming - like a touch of home for those who don’t have one.”

Paint and tools will be provided on the day, along with refreshments - although if anyone has paint rollers, brushes or protective sheets that they can bring along, that would be much appreciated.

With two successful GBDs under our belt so far, we are pleased to announce that the next one will take place on Saturday July 8th from 9.30am - and we are looking for volunteers to join us!

The Giving Back Days are just one initiative established by the Tomorrow Algarve Charity Trust (TACT). Other events include our first charity ball on July 15th (contact Steven to nab one of the last tickets), with more to be announced in the coming months - watch this space.

This time round we will be helping Portimão Soup Kitchen, which provides meals for the area’s needy.

"For the last five years the soup kitchen has been housed in a building on Beco São José, and the space is now in desperate need of redecorating. The room periodically needs a new coat of paint, especially after the winter rains have finished,” says Joy Borgan, who runs the charity project. “When the walls are bright and clean it makes the whole place so much

So come on, roll up those sleeves and join Team Tomorrow for what promises to be a fun and very rewarding day! If you would like to help out, please contact Steven using the contact details below.

Anyone interested in volunteering to prepare and serve meals at the kitchen or distribute clothing should contact Joy directly.

Steven:  steven@tomorrowalgarve.com

 +351 919 185 677 Joy:  borganjoy@gmail.com

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 +351 917 358 098

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Community

Roller up for a fast and exciting championship This month sees the European Inline Speed Skating Championship taking place in Lagos between July 1st and 9th but what is inline speed skating I hear you ask. We asked Dic Scrivens, who has two children who skate in Lagos and another who skates for GB, to give us the lowdown.

the GB squad is managed by Mark Simnor, and coached by Mike McInerney. Mike was European champion on both track and road in 1987, and will be here in Lagos, with Mark, and the 2 man , 1 woman team.

Inline speed skating is an evolution of roller speed skating. The current format of using inline skates at major events is relatively recent. Up until 1991 the world championships were all on quad skates, with an open category introduced in 1992, allowing the use of inline skates. By 1994, all categories were open, and all using inline skates.

The first world championships were held in Monza, Italy in 1937, and are in Nanjing, China this year. The most dominant country in the current sport is Columbia, but there are many other nations wanting to take the lead. In Europe, the top national teams are from Italy and France, but again, with many others knocking on the door.

The sport in Great Britain, is growing with an increase in federated skaters but hampered by a lack of modern facilities.

But, as usual with the British, where there is a will, there is a way. The only purposebuilt track in the UK is in Birmingham, built specifically for the Junior European Championships in 1984. Currently the track is home to Birmingham Wheels, and guided

by John Fry. John was a distinguished quad skater around the world for many years, achieving four times European champion, and twice word Silver medalist, not to mention 18 senior British Titles. Currently

Why Lagos you might ask for the European Championship this year? Well, the town’s skating club, which includes speed, artistic and hockey, has the best track in Portugal.

It is located in grounds of the school, Julio Dantes, opposite the Intermarche supermarket.

It is banked, 200m long and covered in a special surface for maximum grip, but ensuring longevity of the wheels. One of three purpose built facilities in Portugal, all constructed in the last four years. Roller Lagos is the largest club in Portugal with over 80 speed skaters of all ages, and all levels.

Age groups for European Championships are Junior B (15, 16, 17 year old) , Junior A (17, 18, 19 year old) and Senior (20 year old and above) although 14 year olds are eligible but only as a second year cadet.

Track and road races are divided into 2 categories, Sprint and Distance, with the larger teams fielding skaters for specific distances.

Track sprint events are 300m time trial, one skater against the clock, 25 or 26 seconds being a good time, and the 500m which is 4 skaters, in heats competing through until the last 4 are in the final.

Distance races are typically, at major events, 5km, 10km, 15km, but road events

For more information:

 www.rollerlagos.pt

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will sometimes host a half marathon at 21km or a full marathon at 42km. These races have 2 formats, points races, with points awarded at specific lap numbers, or an elimination races. The elimination race is where the last skater over the line on a specific lap will be eliminated, until 5 or 6 skaters remain for a final 2 lap sprint.

There is always one anomaly, and in the case of Inline Speed racing, this is the 1000m. It is not long enough to be a distance race, and too long for a sprint. This is generally 8 skaters, who qualify through heats, to the final. It can be fast, tactical, slow, sprint. Never easy to call, and always exciting to watch.

One other race of note is the Americana, which is a relay, of 3 skaters from the same team, usually over a distance of 3 km, with changes made every lap. Road races, which this year will be held opposite the Marina Club hotel in Lagos, are similar in set up, but include a 100m sprint, not 300m, and normally the distances are a little longer. These also include a relay, or Americana as well.

The marathon for this years championship will be held at the Portimão Autodromo, on the race track itself on Sunday July 9th. This will be for Junior A Ladies, Junior A Men, Senior Ladies and Senior Men, 4 marathons in all.

Everybody is worth watching, because anything can happen. It’s fast, exciting, sometimes dangerous, but above all, great fun to watch.

Some local names to watch for: Diogo Marreiros, Roller Lagos, Portugal, Senior Men Martyn Dias, Roller Lagos, Portugal, Senior Men Miguel Bravo, Lagoa, Portugal Junior A Men Duarte Souza Roller Lagos, Junior B Men Carolina Ferreira, Lagoa, Junior B Ladies

 www.ec2017.rollerlagos.pt

Community

10 minutes with…

Cátia Alhandra and JoséAlegre The husband and wife musical duo are the creators of Fad’Nu, a modern take on traditional fado. Here they tell Tomorrow more about their lives and their music…

What are your backgrounds?

Cátia: José is originally from Alcácer do Sal in the Alentejo and I am from Lisbon, but we have both lived in the Algarve for over 10 years. We met at the Associação Cultural dos Músicos de Faro in 2012. I was looking for some musicians to perform with and José was looking for a singer for his project, Fad’Nu. Soon we started to feel something more than a professional relationship, and one year later we married. We have now been married four years and live happily in Silves with our animals.

What is Fad’Nu? It is a musical project that has roots in fado but with a new interpretation. Fad’Nu means ‘naked fado’, and we adopt a minimalist, stripped-back approach. We perform with just a Portuguese guitar and a voice (no classic guitar as in traditional fado).

What sort of reaction do you receive when you play?

People feel very involved in the music. Many say that they feel chills and some even cry with emotion. The mood of all concerts is dictated by three different factors: the artists, the music and the public.

We just present our music honestly and hope it will touch people’s feelings.

What is it about music that you love?

Ahh… Music is a universal language, a way to communicate, transform and influence people, achieving a higher consciousness. It plays a role in shaping humanity, helping us to create a cultural identity, to find who we are - and we are so many things! Our music reflects this. Fado is a link to the Portuguese soul. It is a marriage between poetry and music.

How and when did you meet?

Cátia: We met at the Associação Cultural dos

Músicos de Faro, a mutual friend introduced us. Back then, I was looking for some musicians to perform with and Jose was looking for a singer for his project Fad`Nu. About 2 or 3 months later, we met again at a concert where I was going to sing with some others musicians and José was also playing with another fado singer.

After that night we knew that we would work together and that it would be very special.

José: When I first heard her, I knew she would be the singer for Fad`Nu. It was amazing to watch her interpretation and hear her singing. We spent a few months working together and we started to feel something more than just a professional relationship. It developed into love and we were married after a year.

Outside of music, what else do you do for work?

Cátia: I studied psychology, and I currently work with Voz d`Alma (‘soul voice’), an arts, voice and healing project. I also run special classes for children fusing meditation, music and creative therapy techniques.

José recently finished an MA in Portuguese guitar, and currently teaches at music conservatoires on the Algarve in Loulé, Portimão, Lagoa and Lagos.

You live in Silves - what are your favourite things to do there?

We love the castle and the historical parts of Silves, we also like to go to a wonderful restaurant called Taberna Almedina, we perform there sometimes, we enjoy the traditional marketplace and the cultural programme at the theatre Mascarenhas Gregorio.

What do you love most about living in the Algarve?

As well as the year-round sunshine, beautiful landscape and great food, there is much peace in the Algarve. The rhythm of life here is natural and calm.

For bookings contact:  estradaevarios@gmail.com  +351 918 576 022  www.myspace.com/fadnu  @fadnu

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Lagoa’s new look divides opinion Lagoa council has been forced to justify its decision to tarmac its streets and paint them red.

The update - which affects the streets around the historic market square - is part of wider plans to make the area more pedestrian friendly. But instead of using traditional materials and colour, the council authorised the widespread use of red painted tarmac.

The move has been met with anger by some local residents, who complain that the town’s streets and the entire feeling of the historic square have been ruined, and that the new look will prompt ridicule from tourists.

Meanwhile, comments on Facebook labelled the red streets “terrible”, “absurd” and “ridiculous”, with one user commenting “I can’t believe this is real!”. Others have even questioned the council’s footballing allegiance, with one labelling the streets “Rua da Benfica”. However, one person wrote: “When

it’s totally ready, then we can comment, still not finished... Let's wait, it may be a surprise.” The council is defending its choice of bright red and says the city will be a better place when all the street furniture and plants are in place. They also argue that around 50 members of the public were shown the outline plans - including the plans for the streets to be coloured red - at a public consultation meeting three years ago.

One local at the meeting said this colour on the plan was never discussed. Instead it looked like the colour was just to delineate the area and no one was told this was to be the actual colour of the surface.

“We have been badly misled,” said João Fernandes.

“The council never explained that this bright colour would be used on the street surface. What about a traditional area in calçada? Now that would be something to be proud of.”

What do you think?

Email amber@tromorrowalgarve.com Thanks to Algarve Daily News for this story.

Play in the Parque The Play in the Parque is an annual community theatre performance produced by Aljezur International School. The first performance in 2006 came about after a group of students studied A Midsummer Night’s Dream as part of their English Literature course.

install a sound system and transform the area into a spectacular stage.

There are no auditions; if you want a part in it you simply have to ask.

With the help of their teachers, they adapted Shakespeare’s classic, basing it in the Algarve and so the Play in the Parque was born. Since then the cast has grown considerably and this year more than 70 adults and children are taking part, as well as countless others helping with costumes, props and make-up.

This year’s show is called Lord of the Things and has the usual eclectic mix of characters as well as colourful cabaret acts between scenes. This year they have hobbits, unicorns, elves, superheroes, Harry Potter and so much more.

This is a unique theatrical production for many reasons. The performances take place at a picnic area in the forest behind Barão de São João so there are no lights or curtains; the crew put up a backdrop,

The performance takes place on Friday July 7th at the Parque de Merendas near Barão de São João.

The picnic and bbq begin at 5pm and the show starts at 6.30pm.

For more information visit  www.aljezur-international.org or call  +351 914 447 710

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Diplomatic Ramblings

BY DOUG MCADAM

During my posting in Almaty, Kazakhstan in the late 90s I was invited along with a few other Ambassadors to participate in two vastly different missions to the south of the country.

The first was as part of a World Bank team to the Aral Sea to see the scale of the disaster for ourselves. In brief the Aral Sea, which was shared by Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, had at one time been the fourth largest inland lake in the world with an area in 1960 of 68,000 square kilometres. In its heyday there was a Soviet naval fleet (the ships having been dissembled and carried overland by caravan) and a fishing industry employing 40,000 people and providing a sixth of the of the fish catch of the entire Soviet Union. In the early 1960’s the Soviet Union decided to divert the water from the two rivers which fed the Sea into the desert for agricultural purposes and by 1997 the Aral Sea had shrunk to 10% of its original size.

The process destroyed the fishing industry and caused massive environmental problems.

Aralsk where our mission began, had at one time been an important harbour and fish processing town but now lay about 50 kilometres from the Sea. The shrinkage had split the original sea into 4 lakes and we were heading for the North Aral Sea, the only one deemed by international experts as worth trying to save - the World Bank option being considered, and which has since come to fruition, was to build a dam separating the North Aral and improving the water flow from the river Syr Darya which fed it. Our 15-hour journey across the desert to the lake and then to our eventual overnight accommodation turned out to be something of an adventure: we started with 7 jeeps and by the end of the day had to abandon 2 of them.

a Kazakh/Kyrgyz/Uzbek joint battalion who were participating with a battalion of the US Army’s 82nd airborne division.

This opened with the longest distance airborne exercise in military history with six American C-17 transport aircraft flying 12,500 kilometres non-stop (with midair refuelings) from Fort Bragg in North Carolina to an airport near Chimkent in southern Kazakhstan. 500 US and 40 CentrasBat soldiers parachuted jointly to secure the airport against a hypothetical adversary.

The most striking feature of the journey was probably of passing stranded vessels of all shapes and sizes (picture). I stuck with my friend the Turkish Ambassador – the south of the country is predominantly Kazakh-(a Turkic language) speaking so with his Turkish and my Russian we managed very well. Curiously the most trying aspect of the day was probably the Kazakh hospitality as we ended up just before midnight with our third sheep’s head ceremony of the day!

But for me (who had spent a number of years in Vienna during Cold War years working with other NATO delegations trying to negotiate a conventional arms treaty with Warsaw Pact delegations) the most poignant moment was watching the approaching US aircraft being shepherded

by Kazakh fighter aircraft. They were providing both air cover for the US aircraft and then eventual support for the soldiers when they had landed. The fighters’ parting gesture was to appear from nowhere from behind us to make a very low level pass over the observation platform before disappearing into the distance! It was fascinating afterwards to watch the multinational force all mingling together.

The second mission was to observe the CentrasBat-97 military exercise involving

Doug retired to the Algarve 13 years ago after over 40 years in the Foreign Office.

Riding success There was more success for riders from Riding For The Disabled Barlavento at a special Olympics qualifier on June 1st. This time it was riders from the charity NECI in Praia da Luz. The six riders, Ana, Vera, Lucelia, Sofia, Raquel and Cristina won three gold medals, one silver medal, one bronze medal and a fourth place.

qualify for the National Special Olympics for disabled riders later this year. The six riders are pictured with helpers from Riding For The Disabled.

Riding For The Disabled in based in Bensafrim and run three sessions per week on a Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning.

There is another qualifier in October in Bensafrim which will determine whether or not any of the riders

No previous experience with horses is required as full training is given.

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If you would like to become a helper please contact David Hibbert on 91 509 0044 or e-mail him at djhibbo@live.co.uk.

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Sciences. Ecotourism is one of the activities he is particularly interested in as tourism is 60% of GDP in the Algarve. He explains: “The model of the ´60s ´70s and ´80s is not so good for the Algarve because of the mass concentration of activity along the coast, for only four months a year and solely focused on the sun and beach product.”

Thanks to Frank McClintock for allowing us to his photos

Eco project to boost Lagos tourism

BY SOPHIE SADLER

One of the most famous landmarks and visited tourist attractions in the Algarve, Ponta de Piedade, is finally being given the recognition it deserves. Its golden cliffs, towering rock formations and romantic caves and grottos are being re-qualified as an area of conservation in a project led by the Câmara Municipal do Lagos along with the APA. (Portuguese Environment Agency).

Tomorrow magazine met with the mayor of Lagos to find out more about this ambitious project, which as well as preserving an area of outstanding natural beauty is part of an initiative to promote sustainable tourism in the Algarve.

The project is being heralded by Lagos Câmara as being an ecotourism project, backed by Europe funding. Ecotourism is a term we are hearing more and more. Is it just trendy jargon or does it have a deeper significance for the area?

Ecotourism sets out to unite conservation, communities and sustainable travel by minimising physical, social, behavioural and psychological impacts. So what does this mean? I contact André Botequilha-Leitão, assistant professor in Land Use Planning at the University of the Algarve, to discover more about this subject. André teaches in the Department of Earth, Marine and Environmental

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André has written many papers arguing that alternative activities which attract tourists to the Algarve should be focused on including cultural events, sports training and nature tourism. He argues: “In Portugal, concerns have been raised since the 1990s about the mass tourism product which has brought many gains to entrepreneurs, constructors and some politicians. From my perspective, it is not the quality tourism that is beneficial for the region as a whole and for the population and jobs. If economic activity concentrates on only four months then lots of jobs are dependent on a small part of the year and there is a huge imbalance which affects the quality of life of the population. We need ecological initiatives that attract visitors to the interior.”

Frank McClintock runs a boutique hotel located on the Barragem and brands himself as Paradisein-Portugal. He is an eloquent spokesman for ecotourism.

“People are becoming more aware of the environment, especially due to negative publicity caused by Donald Trump´s policies and the Conservative Government's failure to stand up for the environment. I think this is having the reverse effect of making people more aware of how important the environmental issues are and what we have to lose. Our grandchildren will have to clear up the mess we make.”

He has reaped the benefits from diversifying into nature tourism running bird trips for his guests, which has seen him gain 80% occupancy throughout April and May, traditionally harder weeks to fill.

“April and May they have been full solely due to nature tourism. Bringing people into the Algarve for nature activities, extends the season and doubles tourism dollars. Portugal has fantastic all year round light, a beautiful environment and a government that really cares. In those two months, I was booked for 50 day-long bird watching trips seeing very rare birds that guests come to Portugal to see.” 

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Despite success stories like this many properties and farmlands in the interior are being abandoned because of economic activity on the coast and the villages are being depopulated.

As a land use planner, André is looking at the large rural areas like Monchique to the North of the A22; “These should be looked at as an asset rather than a constraint to development which has been the traditional stance of politicians. If we keep the rural activities these areas will then become a magnet for a new type of tourist.”

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The first phase of Lagos´s new ecotourism project, which will cost €193,000, is being co- financed by the Cascade Resort, who have no doubt recognised the commercial benefits to be gained from bringing an ‘alternative’ type of guest to enjoy its beautiful environs. The work will focus on creating paths and cycling tracks and reducing the indiscriminate trampling, that contributes to erosion.

There will be pedestrian routes running along the cliffs and larger ones for cycling. In two locations wooden gazebos and raised wooden paths will create an attractive route for ramblers. These areas will also have an overshadowing structure, as well as hand rails like those that are now prolific in the Costa Vicentina National Park. Each of these gazebos would have information panels about culture, history and the nature of the area with wooden seats to enjoy the views.

It was scheduled to start by the end of May 2017, but reports suggest the work has yet to begin. Lagos could learn a lesson from the Faro Câmera, it's Rio Formosa is a protected area and has been classified as a Natural Park since 1987. Barbara Abelho works for Formosama which organises ecotourism activities in the park. The company specialises in organising tours such as walking, kayaking, cycling and boat trips to experience the natural environment and attempt to make clients sensitive to environmental issues. They try to promote the area for tourism and have attended national and international fairs to promote

their activities. She says: “The Algarve is trying to make an effort to try to promote these activities as the weather means they can operate all year round. The people interested in these excursions will visit off season, this is important to promote sustainable development and we try to keep 20 people employed throughout the year.”

“When we started we had fewer visitors in the winter but The Tourist Board has done well to get more year round flight routes which are bringing in more guests and we are slowly getting the message out there that the Algarve is of interest to nature tourists.”

The second phase of the project in Lagos, is to create a visitor's centre which will pay tribute to the Portuguese poet and writer Sophia de Mello Breyner, who spent a lot of time reading and contemplating the Ponta da Piedade landscape, which inspired her work.

The centre will share the name of the poet, who published several poetry books and anthologies. In 1999 she became the first woman to receive the highest Portuguese award for poetry, the Prémio Camões.

She also wrote a number of stories and children's books. A recurrent theme of her poems was the sea which is why it is fitting her memory is honoured at this site.

The goal of this phase will be implementing a number of activities such as cycling and walking tours, educational visits for local schools and to promote the conservation of this important area. It is hoped that the improvement of the pathways, comfort, security and information for the tourists will increase visitor numbers and create an attraction for tourists to visit out of the main holiday seasons. If successful this will help reduce the effects of seasonality, so that both the local economy and employment can be more stable.

The total cost of the project is being cited at €2,492,676 - 60% of which is supported by the ERDF (European Regional

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Development Fund). Although I tried to extract more information about the exact details of the centre from the meeting with the Mayor, I felt that beyond wanting to pay tribute to the Portuguese writer, the plans are not yet laid in stone and more details will probably be released when phase two comes to fruition. Even in the Portuguese newspapers, the approach of the subject was superficial. So it remains to be seen if this centre will succeed in being a tourist magnet as hoped.

I wonder if this project is going to make a difference. André concludes: “Initiatives like this which show to the local people engaged in tourism that there are alternatives to mass tourism which respect the local culture. This is very positive.”

“Not everyone wants Slide and Splash;” says Frank, “This may be a small drop in the ocean but the scheme will be excellent if done well. The more people you can get interested in nature the better. Nature tourism appeals to older people which is good for tourism as they have more disposable income and visit out of season.”

If we see an increased interest in this type of tourism, other issues will arise, there will be a need for more people trained with a knowledge of the environment to educate visitors and more money will need to be invested in the neglected rural areas. With the political situations in other tourist areas driving more people to Portugal surely, this is now the Algarve´s big chance to grab this new USP and create a sustainable environmentally aware tourism industry that can keep people in work 12 months a year.

In Sophia de Mello Breyner words: “Poetry, is my understanding of the universe, my way of relating to things, my participation in reality, my encounter with voices and images.” It is therefore fitting that 13 years after her death, Sofia´s legacy should be to encourage new visitors to come and enjoy the landscape she loved.  www.paradise-in-portugal.com

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A cut above the rest As expats we like to know about other people who have just upsticks and moved lock, stock and barrel - particularly those who have moved to the Algarve. This month we spoke to jewellery designer Andrew Geoghegan who decided to relocate in search of adventure. Our editor, Amber Henshaw, spoke to him about the move and the stunning jewellery he designs.

Please tell us a bit about yourself?

I was born in Birmingham and bred in Leeds. I met my partner Lindsay in a yoga class in Leeds and now we live together with our 4-year-old son Arthur and our hound Wilbur the Hungarian Vizsla. We are currently living near Budens. We are relatively fresh off the boat but have all fallen in love with the Algarve and all it has to offer.

Please tell us about your professional background.

Jewellery, jewellery, jewellery!

How did you get into jewellery design?

I was very artistic as a young boy - always drawing, painting, creating and as a teenager my attention was drawn to metal and how I could manipulate it. My teenage angst could be expressed as I beat seven bells out of an iron anvil whilst creating some weird and wonderful sculptures. At university, my fascination turned to gemstones and how they could be set in metal - I wanted to study and learn these techniques and my love affair for jewellery started.

How do you train to become a jewellery designer?

My training is different to most jewellery designers

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in that the course I studied was actually in Three Dimensional Design where I learned basic silversmithing techniques and developed my skills as a designer. It was within this course that I pushed my study towards jewellery, however, my approach then as it is now, was far from conventional. This, I believe, has helped me be unique and a stand out designer.

What was your first job as a jeweller designer?

Straight out of University I walked into an apprenticeship in Manchester, UK. This was short lived partly due to my lack of experience but also due to my then cocky and arrogant personality - 21 and I thought I knew it all! I would say that in three weeks working at the bench of a jewellers I learned more about making jewellery then any of the time at university.

Tell us how you started your business and where the business was first based?

After a second short-lived apprenticeship I went to my family home in Leeds, UK with my tail between my legs, not sure what I was going to do. My parents on seeing my predicament offered to buy me a small outbuilding which to be honest is me trying to make the word 'shed' sound a little more professional! It was in this wooden structure that I began to create my business and my collection. I was passionate but a little rough around the edges, however the UK retailers could see I had something special and that was the start of me supplying shops.

How and why did you end up in Portugal?

Around three years ago my family and I were living in Yorkshire and life was challenging. Our boy Arthur sleepeth not and my business î –

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believe that we even detailed each scale of the serpents skin.

What have been the highs and lows of being a jewellery designer?

Winning various awards you could say have been highs in my career, but for me it is more about creating. Designing a really beautiful piece of which I am confident of its potential is the best high for me personally.

The Satellite, a cocktail ring which has an almost futuristic appearance was one of those pieces.

was going through a tough patch. My partner Lindsay and I sat down in the kitchen one evening with our heads in our hands and we had one of those special chats.

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There was one word which seemed to be the answer to our problems - and that was, adventure. Within 11 months, the car was full to the brim and with our trusty hound sat next to me doing the gears, we set sail first to the south of France then to Portugal.

What inspires your designs?

When in France, it was apparent that my location and my surroundings have a huge influence on my designs. French architecture, food and the night skies were all responsible for much of my creations.

From a broader perspective, I am fascinated with unities, of gems and metal, people and their jewellery, organic forms and precision - and these all appear to some extent in my jewellery.

From the first day I landed in Portugal, I knew that the ocean would be a strong inspiration. Not just in form but also in the way it affects me - perhaps making me more in tune with my surroundings and nature. We launch the first of the ocean-inspired pieces a little later this summer.

Do you take commissions?

A great deal of our work is commissioned based, be it adaptions of our current collection or resetting customers stones in a new piece, even taking in their unwanted/unworn gold.

The most unusual commission we did was a rather touching project, in that the customer's mother had died and she wore a ring which had a shield cut stone, which we still do not know what it is! The customer was a kundalini yoga practitioner and wanted me to incorporate one of the symbols for this type of yoga which was two entwined serpents. So we did! He couldn’t

For more information:  + 44 (0) 1937 584 654

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There was nothing like it, and it really seemed to blow people’s minds! Pippa Middleton wearing my Cannelé design in rose gold with a chocolate diamond was a great scoop for my brand and helped us to get more recognition.

One of the lows was when my business was incredibly challenging but from this I ended up in Portugal - so in that way it was a high!

Please tell us about the mechanics of being a jewellery designer.

My business is set up to provide a service to retailers and to the consumer. Retailers, in the UK and Germany, hold a collection of my work and we provide them with a bespoke design service amongst other things.

I design collections of which we have launches throughout the year. For the consumer we have a really versatile service where we create bespoke designs for them be it redesigning their existing jewellery, repairing, and even showing them selections of coloured stones so delicious they will make you weep! I am mindful that many customers have gold jewellery which for various reasons is not worn, so we take in their gold and reset their stones and create something that they will wear and love!

I work in CAD (computer aided design) so I have the ability to email customers with realistic photos of design ideas well before we go into precious metals.

How would you describe your jewellery?

Precision-designed chic!

 + 44 (0) 7961 982 084

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West Coast Odeceixe gets a “World’s Best” rating As icing on the cake, they’re all within close proximity to places you already know and love. Time’s ticking though. These spots won’t stay secret much longer.

Pictures top to bottom: ©KIRA HELD Odeceixe Portugal, ©lizoleeta Praia de Odeceixe both via creative commons

The world is gradually discovering the beauties and attractions of the Algarve’s west coast.

And the US financial news provider Bloomberg is the latest to join in the chorus of approval in a feature on its luxury travel website.

They have zeroed in on the most north-westerly town in the Algarve, sitting right on the border with the Alentejo, to recommend it as a highly-desired destination for American holidaymakers.

Odeceixe is among the “best undiscovered beaches in the world” according to an online list just published by Bloomberg.

The picture-perfect beach is one of six choices and is suggested as an alternative to Spain’s Ibiza.

Their story by travel writer Nikki Ekstein lists six beach destinations across the world that are currently under the radar for most discerning travellers, saying: “A certain type of New Yorker has complaints about the beaches in Tulum, Mexico, Saint Barth's, or Mykonos in Greece. “Why escape New York,” they ask, “just to be surrounded by New Yorkers?”

If you want to go to a beach to get away from other humans, you'll have to try a lot harder than visiting those popular, luxurious, seaside spots.

At the six under-the-radar destinations listed below, you won’t know a soul anywhere in a hundred-mile radius—and the locals will make you feel like one of their own.

Not just that: These untrammeled landscapes are postcard-perfect, free of photo-bombing tourists and full of secret coves just waiting for you to discover them.

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Bloomberg’s feature recommends six beaches worldwide, and in one section the article says: “Try Coastal Portugal” Writer Ekstein explains: “Portugal’s tourism mojo has skyrocketed in the last year, luring many to its romantic cities and dreamy wine valleys, but its rugged beaches have yet to experience the boom.

“According to Virginia Irurita, who specialises in custom trips to the Iberian peninsula, there “are no unexplored beaches left in Spain,” but several spots along the Portuguese coast are still “wild, beautiful, and empty.”

“Take Odeceixe (pronounced udd-sesh): It’s set at the juncture of the Atlantic Ocean and the tightlycoiled Seixe River, which separates the Algarve from Alentejo.

“There, you’ll find pristine beaches between the river’s curled banks as well as on the quartz-lined ocean coast—so many of them that you can kayak from one to the next, looking for resident otters or places to avoid human contact”.

The other “undiscovered” beaches recommended

by Bloomberg include Zakynthos (Greece), Sint Eustatius (Caribbean), Mancora (Peru), Andamans Islands (India) and Likoma Island (Malawi).

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From surf dude to speed dude!

BY MATT D’ARCY Steve Carmichael was a slow starter to motor-cycle racing…but soon became a fast finisher.

Steve, 52, is the only Englishman amongst the near150 riders who compete across all classes in the Portuguese National Superbike Championships, the races taking place at the Autodromes of Portimão, Estoril and Braga.

He borrowed his friend’s Honda 450, to try his hand, and was such a natural that within three days he beat the R1’s lap time on the Honda, a basic road bike, crossing the line to tumultuous applause from racing aficionados who knew a class act when they saw one!

And in the past four years he has been competing annually in the Manx Grand Prix, which, after the Isle of Man TT on the same circuit, is the toughest road race of all.

Steve came to the Algarve’s west coast 18 years ago for the surfing. He bought an old ruin and converted it into a new home, before starting his ‘Perfect Pools’ construction and property maintenance business.

But it wasn’t long before the surf dude became the speed dude!

No other motorcycle races are held on such a challenging track as the 37-mile plus Mountain Course with its seemingly never-ending series of bends, bumps, jumps, stone walls, manhole covers and telegraph poles.

Last year he finished first in a race in Spain, and when this season’s Portuguese superbike championships began in May at the Portimão Autodrome, Steve claimed his first-ever podium finish, taking the chequered flag in third place.

But Devon-born Steve, who now lives in Aljezur on the Algarve’s west coast, has taken the course on, and mastered it.

Earlier in the month the west coast’s wizard of the wheels finished 4th in a three-hour endurance race at Estoril after having the Kawasaki 600 motorbike he uses to compete in the Manx GP shipped over from the UK.

Yet, until he reached the relatively mature age of 36, Steve had never ridden out on a race track, let alone piloted a superpowered racing bike at mind-blowing speeds in a sport where the riders usually start developing their skills in their teens.

His first experience on a track came when he went to watch a pal competing on a Yamaha YZF-R1 race bike at Almeira in Spain.

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He had been racing in Portugal on a BMW 1000 which he is now selling to help fund a passion to which he intends to dedicate more time.

Last year he realised the dream of all privateer motorbike racers when he won a Replica at the Manx GP to go along with several Finishers’ Medals he 

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has claimed on a course so tough just crossing the finishing line is ranked as quite an achievement.

(All riders finishing a race within a certain percentage of the winner's overall time are given a 'Replica.')

Steve plans to give this year’s Manx GP a miss to compete in all of the National Superbike Championships here in Portugal, which finish in November. But he will return to the island next year when he hopes to be able to recruit someone to help run his business while he concentrates more on racing.

“That will make life a little bit more interesting,” he smiled. His “to-do” list includes competing in more road races, including some events in the UK, such as the famous North-West 200 in Northern Ireland and the Southern 100 on the Billown circuit in the Isle of Man, starting and finishing in Castletown.

“The Isle of Man is a paradise for bike racers like me,” he told us. “At the Manx, the TT, the Southern 100 the whole island becomes dedicated to the two-wheel sport with everyone pitching in.

“It’s a huge gathering of like-minded souls, all sharing the same interest whether it’s racing bikes or just riding on the open roads for the sheer pleasure of it. When I first went four years ago I didn’t know what to expect.

“Now, after flying to Liverpool from Faro I get on the little Isle of Man plane and when I look down and see the Manx coastline for the first time I get a broad grin on my face, which doesn’t leave me until I’m on the plane home a week later”.

But Steve’s racing home-from-home is here on the Algarve. He says that when the Portimão Autodromo opened it was a dream come true to have a world-class circuit virtually on his doorstep.

“That’s my home track, that’s where I practice,” he explained. “There are regular track days there once a month and I now know every straight, every dip, rise, curve and corner on that track”.

In fact Steve knows it so well that he has even been recruited as an instructor by a UK-based ‘Track Day’ company, who bring riders and their bikes over from Britain to spend three-days riding the Portimão track under Steve’s guidance.

You’ll be able to see Steve racing in the Federação Motorciclismo Portugal’s Campeonato Nacional de Velocidade, the race dates being July 8 and 9 at Braga, September 23 and 24 in Estoril, Braga again on October 14 and 15, with the final race back at Estoril on October 28 and 29.

NB: The Algarve International Circuit at Portimão will also stage the return of the World Superbike Championship between September 15th and 17th.

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What's on

Calling all art lovers!

This month, The Algarve Artists Network (AAN) celebrates 10 years of ever-changing art in Portugal with its Take a Moment (Faça uma Pausa) exhibition which opened with a celebration of music, food and drink on the Summer Solstice and runs until the end of July.

The Take a Moment exhibition is a Land Art Project which exhibits a variety of original art in dialogue with the environment, with installations from 21 participating local artists.

One of the artists involved is BJ Boulter. She points out that “many of the artists exhibiting this year have never made an art installation having worked primarily on flat surfaces, whilst for others it is a familiar medium.” This should make for a very interesting exhibition.

Take a Moment is open to the end of July.

Entrance is FREE.

BY STEPHANIE GINGER

this latest exhibition to celebrate a decade of artistic expression in the Algarve is as diverse and innovative as any that has gone before.

Silvia Cavelti, AAN member and an artist who usually works in perspex, glass and light, has offered her olive grove as a delightful venue for the exhibition; the participating artists have then contributed their own personal ideas and concepts for the olive trees as living ‘canvases’ in a natural space to express a wide range of art in a variety of media and materials.

Brigitte von Humbolt’s installation invites interaction from guests; after wrapping her olive tree in saffron canvas, she has made 130 painted canvas leaves upon which visitors can write a poem, a wish or thought and then hang them in her Wishing Tree.

AAN is a network of professional artists based in the Algarve who have been supporting each other through an exchange of ideas and skills since 2006.

Siddarth Kerkar is visiting Portugal as a guest of Silvia Cavelti. He is the son of the founder of the Museum of Goa and attends St. Martin’s College of Art. His installation is entitled Family Tree.

The group not only built a successful network that encourages artistic endeavour but it has organised many and diverse exhibitions over the years, including an exhibition in 2015 at Faro Airport. And

BJ Boulter’s installation is of a cushioned figure resting on a charpoy in the shade of her olive tree.

Her pensive figure invites guests to join ‘him’ and ‘take a moment’ to watch the grass grow.

For more information:  www:algarveartistsnetwork.com  The Olive Grove, Casa Jacaranda, Sitio dos Quartos, Loulé  37º06’44.71”N - 8º02’00.18”W

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What's on

Algarve 41 Club

Miguel Cosme at VRSA railway station filming passengers for The Diesel Maiden; The Protester with his environmental petition

BY THE 41 CLUB As many of you will know, Round Table is a community and fellowship organisation established in 1928.

Tabler’s retire aged 40, and graduate to the 41 Club. Here in the Algarve, our 41 Club has existed for 33 years. Today we have 50 members, and together with wives and partners, we have a very active life!

During May, we had our club changeover. The time when the old chairman hands over to a new chairman. We celebrate for five days with parties, golf, bowling, our formal AGM and a black tie ladies festival, this year held at the Penina Golf Resort. 85 members, wives, partners and guests attended. It was time to say thank you to Bob Montague our outgoing chairman for a fantastic year, and welcome to Paul Taplin our new chairman.

If you are an old around Round Tabler, or a member of a 41 Club from anywhere in the world, and if you are now living or regularly passing through the Algarve, why not call in and join us. It will add value, and offer you a further direction to fun and fellowship - and we like new faces!

Please contact club vice chairman, Geoff Harnett at gvharnettalgarve41club@aol who will be only too delighted to give you further information on the club.

Faro's International Film Festival The festival is an annual event which started in 2010. It takes place this year between August 23rd and 26th. This year’s festival will showcase a variety of talented filmmakers and includes a repertoire of short documentaries, fictional and animated movies.

The brief for filmmakers is to consider environmental issues on a local and global scale and several of the movies have been made by people living in the Algarve. Of special interest this year and subject to selection, a group of 12 expatriates has collaborated with a Portuguese filmmaker, Miguel Cosme of SkyeVision. They have created a movie about the railway journey along the coast from Vila Real to Lagos.

Prompted by a protester with a petition, a group of passengers become embroiled in a discussion about the detrimental impact of the diesel train they are travelling in. Written with a comic element it

includes a curvaceous actress and a fervent bishop convinced that, "When God made air it was meant to be pure."

Much of the film footage is taken from the air with a drone, showing the stunning beauty of the Algarve.

Entitled The Algarve's Diesel Maiden, the story is narrated as a rhyming poem written by author and playwright, Carolyn Kain.

"This is a brand new venture for us," she explains. "The last three plays I wrote were performed on stage all across the Algarve. This time the actors' performances are preserved for posterity and our message about conserving the natural heritage of the Algarve is sincere."

The Faro Film Festival is open to the public with indoor and outdoor screenings. More details are provided in the local press nearer to the time.

For more information:  filmfreeway.com

Get together

BY KIRSTEEN LANDERT

The next meeting of the Alzheimer's/ Dementia Support Group will be on July 19th at 11am at Restaurant Pirilampo in Lagos.

carer's contacts, available appliances for the home and general tips which can help make life easier for all involved.

The support group started four years ago. People exchange experiences and strategies on how to deal with challenging behaviour, continence issues, nutrition,

Through shared experiences the group can help UK citizens apply for attendance and carers’ allowances if applicable; suggest where and how to get power of attorney,

and a living will can be attained if desired.

Some of us also speak German and Portuguese. Please see the magazine for future dates and contact numbers.

Don't feel alone and isolated - give us a call or just join us at a meeting that suits you.

For more information: Carol  +351 926 297 527 or Kirsteen  +351 968 084 946

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What's on

July Calendar Promote your events and activities here - it’s FREE! Email your listings to us: calendar@tomorrowalgarve.com

Classes Dog Training Tue 11am (Rally-Obedience) | Fri 11am & Sat 4pm (Agility), €25 4 sess. Espiche  +351 968 086 320 Dog Instruction Sat 5pm (Group dog lessons) 1st lesson by appointment, Hotel do CÃO Rasmalho, Portimão,  +351 964 083 602 African Dance Classes Mon 7 - 8.30pm (Teatro Experimental de Lagos) & Tue 10.30am - 12pm (Aljezur), €10  +351 964 588 588 Music Lessons all styles, 1-2-1 guitar, piano & voice beginners & intermediate theory & performance, €25 p.h Lagos & Sagres area  +351 964 201 904 Life drawing Mon 11am Beginners & Professionals, €10 p.sess Marina de Lagos  +351 916 035 308 Portuguese Language Beginners Class Tue & Thur 9.30, €6 Portelas  +351 912 417 994 Colour Your Life Healing painting classes Wed & Thurs 3pm| +/- 70yrs, no experience necessary, €10 Barão S. João  +351 962 039 574 Computer Classes Sat 10am, All levels Lagos,  +351 918 764 613 Open Studio/ Painting Atelier Wed & Thurs 11am for women to explore their creative potential, €10 Barão S. João  +351 962 039 574 Meditation Classes Thur 5.15pm Boavista Golf Luz  +351 963 614 499

Events Live Saxophone Music Tues 7pm Boutique Hotel Vivenda Miranda, Lagos  +351 282 763 222 July 2nd Sunset in Salgados 5.30pm €8 A. de Pêra beach - Praia Grande - Salgados Lagoon July 16th Ilha Deserta Path €25 (inc.catamaran trip & Portimão transfer) July 30th Tree Top Adventure 9am, €25 Quimera Experience  +351 69 467 275 July 1st Opera Night 9.30pm Famous opera scenes from Mozart, Verdi, Lehár, Piazzolla & Offenbach | €8 | Tickets at  www.ticketline.pt  www.operanight.info

Activities Football Academy Mon 4.45pm (5-11 yrs) & 6.15pm (12 -16 yrs) & Sat 9am (7-11 yrs), 10.30am (3-6 Yrs) & 12pm (12-16 yrs) | €5, Adults Touch Rugby Thurs 7.30pm | €4, Burgau Sports Centre  +351 282 697 350 Walking Football Wed 9am +50yrs welcome, €3 Boavista  +351 282 790 930 Netball Wed 7pm All ages & abilities, Behind Bombeiros Building, Lagos charlie.milsom@gmail.com Swimming Lessons Mon & Thurs pm & Sat am €10 (mem.) /€12.50, Holiday Courses 3x per week €20 (mem.) /€25, Boavista  +351 917 953 914

July 3-7 Performing Arts – Intensive Course Drama, Dance & Music  +351 965017845  portasdosol.info July 15th Nike Shoot Out Tournament at Boavista Golf & Spa Resort  +351 282 000 111 July 18 & 25th BBQ with Live Music | 6 - 9.30pm FREE face painting & more, €22 (Kids 4-12yrs €12) inc. salad & dessert buffet + 1 drink, Golf Santo Antonio, Budens  +351 282 690 051 July 15th Nike Shoot Out Tournament | 9.30am | €33/71 (Member/Guest), Boavista Golf & Spa Resort |  +351 282 000 111 July 26th 'Cello Night' ensemble from the Lagos Academy of Music, 9pm €19.50 (inc. refreshment buffet wine, cheese & homemade products) Quinta das Alagoas nr Almadena, Reservation:  +351 924 204 343 Bridge Tue & Fri 1.15pm Marina Bar, Lagos  +351 963 977 642

ROLL UP for experienced bowlers Mon & Fri 10am, Bowls for Beginners Tue 11am (1st lesson FREE), €10 (non mem.) Floresta Bowls Club Rua Direita, Luz  +351 919 707 635 Adult Ballet Mon & Wed 1pm | €9/€50p.m, Baby Ballet Sat 9.30am, Childrens Dance Mon-Sat, €3 Nicola's Move-Ment Dance Academy  +351 913 832 335 Espiche Golf “Roll Up” Lesson Wed 2pm | €10 pp Group Lesson Putting & Driving Range Fri 2pm €15p.p Junior Golf School Sun 10am | €10 p.lesson, Espiche Golf  +351 282 688 250

Trail Climb Trip 9am-1pm Beginners (12+yrs), €40 Lagos: Mon | 8.45am Alama Verde Parking Lot Sagres: Tues 8.45am Intermarché Sagres (Cafe entrance), Booking:  +351 964 062 900 Fun Club (4-12yrs) MonSat 10am-6pm | €25 (inc. lunch and afternoon tea) €15 half day, Golf Kids Lesson (4-16yrs) Tue & Fri 9.30am | €12, Adults Try Golf Lesson | 18th & 25th July 12pm | €15, Tennis Technique Lesson 18th & 25th July | Teens 3.30pm Kids 4.30pm Adults 5.30pm | €15, Football Academy (4-15yrs) 9.30am €18 (3x 2hrs=€45) Golf Santo Antonio  +351 282 690 008

Fitness Mat Classes Mon Wed & Fri 9.15 & 10.30am & Mon 6.30pm €10 /€90 for 10 Equipment Classes Duet Reformer | Semi Private & 1-2-1, Pilates Room, Lagos  +351 926 514 613 Tai Chi/Qi Gong Wed 11am & Thurs 2pm Pilates Thurs 11am Yoga Wed 2pm, €7 Madrugada Centre, Luz  282 761 375 Gymn for a fit back Mon 6pm €7 Hotel Belavista, Luz  +351 965 211 996 Hatha Yoga Mon Wed & Fri 9.45 €10 Classes for Children Sat 9.15am (4-7 yrs) & 10.30am (8-12 yrs) Booking required Boavista, Luz  +351 282 790 930 Gentle Hatha Mon 6.30 The Yoga Place, Burgau & Wed 12.15 - 2pm Hotel Belavista, Luz €8  +351 965 201 477

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Yoga for All Tue & Thurs 10.30am, €10 (residents €65 x 8) The Yoga Place Burgau  +351 913 202 621 Tai Ji Quan Mon 10am (beg) & Thurs 5.30pm (adv), €10 Dojo Zen de Lagos Barão S. João,  +351 919 718 955 Hatha Yoga Mon & Fri 1pm 1xwk €32, 2xwk €45, Kundalini Yoga Tues & Thurs 6.30pm 1xwk €30, 2xwk €40, Qi Gong Wed 6pm €35 p.m Casa Sakra, Lagos  +351 916 060 814 Circuit Training Wed 10am Ladies Sport Fri 1.30pm €5 Zumba Mon & Wed 6pm €5 Burgau Sports Centre  +351 282 697 350 Hatha Flow Mon-Wed 10am & Sat 9.30am YinYoga Tue 10am, Sat 6pm Yin & Yang Yoga Tues 8.30 Integral Yoga Sat 9.30am €5.80-€10 Tai Chi,QiGong & Meditation Wed 8am donation €3-5, Inlight, Lagos  +351 913 127 421

Bootcamp Class Mon - Fri 7.30am 10am & 7pm, Yoga Tue & Thurs 9am, Pilates Mon Wed & Fri 9am Mobile Bootcamp Sat 9am, €10 Luz, AXN Club Cascade Resort, Lagos  +351 915 183 888 Body Push Tue 9.30am, Cardio Fitness Wed 9.30am, Pilates Tues & Thurs 11am, Yoga Wed 11am, Zumba Thurs 9.30am €5 Golf Santo Antonio  +351 282 690 086 Pilates Wed 11am, Yoga & De-stress Fri 11am, Zumba Dance Wed & Fri 10am, Step! & Tone (prebook) Thurs 10am, €7.50 Hotel Belavista, Luz  +351968 288 258 Zumba Mon & Fri 9.45am €6 Alma Verde  +351 918 461 840 AR Mat Pilates Mon -Fri 8.30 9.30 10.30am & 6pm, €10, Lagos  +351 966 784 280

Fitness continued: Hatha Yoga Tues 6pm Yin Yoga Sun 6pm €10 / €50 for 6 with Helen at The Pilates Room Lagos  +351 912 176 914

Charity/ Support July 19th Alzheimer's/ Dementia Support Group 11am Restaurant Pirilampo, Lagos  +351 926 297 527  +351 968 084 946 Riding for Disabled Mon, Wed, Fri 10.30 | Volunteers welcome, weather permitting, Bensafrim,  +351 915 090 044 Cadela Carlota Animal Charity Three hour shifts am or pm, Almadena Shop, Trudy  +351 912 444 666 AA International English Speaking Meeting Wed 7.30pm, Rua Da Freguesia Lote 12c, Lagos  +351 282760506 AA Hotline:  +351 917 005 590

Useful Numbers General INFO: WWW.CM-LAGOS.PT EMERGENCY

112 HOSPITAL 282 770 100 RED CROSS 282 760 611 FIRE SERVICE 282 770 790 POLICE SERVICE 282 762 930 NATIONAL GUARD 282 770 010 TELECOM NAT. INFO 118 CITY COUNCIL 282 780 900 TOURIST OFFICE 282 763 031 TOWN INFO 282 764 111 TOURIST SUPPORT 808 781 212 TAXI SERVICE 282 460 610 BUS STATION 282 762 944 TRAIN STATION 282 762 987 TAXI : PEDRO COSTA 917 617 675 LAGOS CINEMA 282 799 138 CULTURAL CENTRE 282 770 450 HEALTH CENTRE 282 780 000 LUZ DOC (LUZ) 282 780 700 PRIVATE HOSPITAL 282 790 700 CHIROPRACTOR 282 768 044 DENTAL CLINIC 918 366 646 LAGOS VET 282 782 282 FUNERAL SERVICES 282 769 827 MOBILITY VEHICLES 964 230 225 ALL MOBILITY AIDS 282 760 611

Pharmacies/Chemist

LACOBRENSE NEVES CHEMIST RIBEIRO LOPES TELLO CHEMIST SILVA CHEMIST ODIAXERE CHEMIST

282 762 901 282 769 966 282 762 830 282 760 556 282 762 859 282 798 491

Consulates/Embassies Faith Communion Services 10am Thurs (followed by coffee & Bible Study/ discussion) Sun 8am (said) & 11.30 (choral), CoE | St Vincent’s Anglican Church Praia da Luz  +351 282 78 8104 Sound Healing 2nd Thurs 7.30pm, Figueira  +351 914 523 636 Zazen Zen Meditation Tue & Thurs 7.30am & Wed 7.30pm, €3 B. S. João  +351 919 718 955 Catholic Mass in English Sat 7 pm (Everyone Welcome), Church of Our Lady of Light | Luz

BRITISH FRANCE GERMAN NETHERLANDS CANADA SWEDISH IRISH

282 490 750 281 380 660 289 803 181 289 820 903 289 803 757 213 942 260 213 308 200

No job too small PORTUGUESE LESSON 912 417 994 TRANSLATIONS 916 618 527 ALICE (PORTUGUESE) 914 269 118 GAVIN COX (BUILDER) 916 430 132 TRISTAN (HANDYMAN) 282 101 010 HELIO (ELECTRICIAN) 917 288 966 LUIS (LOCKSMITH) 964 605 213 CHIM. & WIN. CLEANER 926 860 123 RUSSELL (MECHANIC) 282 639 778 ANA (SEWING) 919 747 591 STEVEN (COMPUTERS) 936 387 512 PEDRO (COMPUTERS) 917 165 238 XELI (FLORIST) 282 768 129 UK DELIVERIES 0044 208 123 1966 DESIGN 916 606 226 ALISON HAIRDRESSER 918 663 352 PAINTING - INT / EXT 925 374 624

What's on

Catch the breeze on Ocean Breeze

BY JULIE BATTERSBY

Imagine cruising along the beautiful coastline of the Western Algarve on your own private sailing yacht. Gorgeous beaches, picturesque whitewashed fishing villages, imposing cliffs, stunning rock formations caves and grottoes, the beauty of which that can only be fully appreciated when viewed from the sea.

What better way to sample this millionaire’s pasttime than to book a private charter cruise on ‘Ocean Breeze’, a luxurious 47-foot Italian sailing yacht, Grand Soleil, with your own dedicated captain and crew.

Algarve Boat Rentals offer a wide range of boats and packages to suit any age group, price and schedule. Owner Sean Andersen explained that instead of offering individual tickets the company specialize and focus on private party charters for families and friends and special occasions.

We chose the half day option on Ocean Breeze under sail with captain and crew heading out towards

Burgau and Salema. Whilst the boat takes up 10 people with a two man crew we booked for our close friends and it is so beautiful to feel like ‘the owner’ of such a fine craft.

We also had the Mastercraft, a motor boat on hand to take some of our party for a ‘spin’. The Mastercraft offers all round water sports and great fun for kids weight boarding, skiing and mono skiing.

Arguably the largest sail and motor boat company in the Algarve they also probably offer the best range of boat options including their beautiful Sunseeker motor launch.

We all came away feeling that this had been a really memorable trip and very relaxing with a great crew backed up by a caring company, what better way to experience all the west coast has to offer?

Choose your option and call Vera or Emma who can answer your questions.

For more information call Emma or Vera on  +351 913 338 580 / +351 282 045 109

 www.algarveboatrental.com

Lagos Food Fest 2017 Yes, it's true, Lagos Food Fest is coming back this July!

On July 7th, 8th and 9th of, Jardim da Constituíção is filling up with over 25 food trucks from all over Europe and some live music!

Get those stretchy pants ready - food trucks are invading the streets with bistronomique burgers, traditional hot dogs, sushi, vegan dishes, pizzas, icecreams, desserts - you name it, we have it.

Event Coordinator Maria Nobre de Carvalho said: "The last two were such huge successes and this year will be even better with live music and some great acts! Our goal has always been to fill a gap in the events scene and to create community and a space for people to ‘live the city’. And I think we got it!"

So get ready to spread out a picnic blanket on the grass, sip a cold beer, chill with signature cocktails, strike a pose at the Foodie Photo Booth and get ready to eat to your hearts content.

Some Tips?

Come with a group of friends, and split up - some get drinks, others get bites.

Don’t Fill Up Too Fast Wear stretchy pants.

The event is open to the public from 12pm to midnight.

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Photo credit: Birch Photography www.birchphotography.com; Last years Lagos Food Fest

What's on

BBQ boosts charity coffers More than €4000 was raised for the palliative care charity Madrugada at a fundraiser BBQ held by Chris and Melanie Winstanley, the owners of Moveison.

The event was held at the end of May and was a huge success. The BBQ took place at Moveison which was the perfect venue - guests enjoyed their fabulous range of outdoor furniture as well as the excellent BBQ which was provided free of charge.

Carol Spiers the President of Madrugada made a speech in recognition of the event. She said that more than 100 people had been supported by the

charity since 2008 and explained the need for ongoing support and funds.

Chris and Melanie made everyone very welcome and Ian and Karen Carfree of the Nostalgia duo gave an afternoon of jazz.

Well done to everyone who attended the event what a fantastic achievement.

 www.moveison.com  ww.madrugada-portugal.com

Fantastic fundraiser At the end of May the annual golfing event, the Palvista Trophy, which is held jointly between Palmares Golf Club and Boavista Golf Club, took place at Boavista.

Twenty players from each club pairing up to play a 18-hole betterball competition.

Boavista kindly donated the course free of charge and everyone had a super day. There was a lunch, a raffle and auction. Thanks to local companies, such as Boavista, Palmares, Lagos Wines Direct,

46

Pashmina, Dom Henrique’s, Macdonald Monchique Resort & Spa and all our players donating raffle prizes. We managed to raise €2250 a great achievement from 40 people!

The charites that benefited from the day, were the Red Cross Lagos and the Boavista’s captains charities for the year, Madrugada and Riding for the Disabled.

On the photo: Janice Galloway Captain at Boavista (right) and Clive Rogerson chairman at Palmares (left) are presenting the Palvista Trophy to the winning pair, Steve Collingwood from Boavista Golf Club and Felix Muijres from Palmares Golf Club.

What's on

Sizzling Summer Ball Photo credit: Fatima Vargas  +351 968 509 515  bestillfatimavargas

We are absolutely delighted to report that our third summer ball held at the Tivoli Hotel Dunas Beach Club was an outstanding success and over €4500 was raised on the evening itself.

Over 230 people attended this beautiful summer evening event overlooking the stunning Maia Praia beach with a wonderful three course meal including a superb BBQ buffet.

The Tivoli provided outstanding food and service and we really have to especially thank Luciana and Luciano and their staff for making this another resounding success.

We also want to thank all those generous gift donors who made

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such a target achievable.

The biggest ‘thank you’ must go to Steven Sutton who almost single-handily organised this amazing evening. He is currently finalising the Tomorrow Summer Ball at the Tivoli in Portimão taking place on July 15th.

There are a few tickets still available so please email Steven on steven@tomorrowalgarve.com We also must thank the band 5 EX and its singer Tiago who always make these events so memorable.

But as always it’s really down to the support of our wonderful readers who support us by joining us for these events and giving so willingly to local charities.

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What's on Thanks to Paul Campbell from Phaze Photography for allowing us to use his photographs.

The perfect storm At the end of May an outdoor music festival was held in Lagos which helped put a spotlight on the city and focus people’s attention on the ocean environment. The event was organised by Toby Millage and Tobe Gornall from the Surf Experience. Here Toby tells us how it all went Thousands of people turned out in Lagos for this event which started as a celebration to mark the 25th anniversary of the Surf Experience but became so much more.

The event started at 10am with a beach clean-up supported by the AESCV (the Algarve Surf School Association) and it was only after 1am on Sunday morning we could relax and have a beer.

This is where I mention that we were on site for 7am for the clean-up the following morning with Eco Ambiente and there were ZERO eco cups anywhere to be seen. 100% success which was astounding.

When I hear from all the artists this was their favourite show of the year so far it speaks volumes - the energy was completely spot on. Big UP to Frankie Chavez, the Cuban brothers, Dub Pistols, Dedy Dread and DJ Rhythm.

52

We have been inundated by positive feedback from the Portuguese community young and old - it has been overwhelming to be honest. We think that we also raised about €7000 for charity which will go to the Bombeiros, Disabled Surfing, animal protection and the Salvador fund.

We must first and foremost thank Lagos Câmara who believed and helped us to get the event off the ground. Thanks to all the crowdfund sponsors and donators, the local community and the support we had from the Casa Mae Hotel, Dois Irmãos restaurant and CA Produçoes who did the sound and light.

Will it happen again?? Watch this space.

Please tell us what you think. Would you like to see this become an annual event? Please email our editor amber@tomorrowalgarve.com

What's on

Delving into the past Every year the Algarve Archaeological Association gives grants to students. Last month the association spent the day at the Department of Archaeology at the University of the Algarve (UAlg) in Faro to hear more about the work those students have been doing. Jane Robertson from the AAA reports

We were invited by NAP (Núcleo de Alunos de Arqueologia e Paleoecologia) to see the presentations made by students who had received grants from the AAA in 2016 to attend international conferences to present their work.

Upon arrival at the university in the morning we were welcomed by Eduardo Paixão, President of NAP, who introduced us to students Patricia Monteiro, Roxane Matias and Catia Teixeira.

From top to bottom: Lithics Workshop Dr Telmo Pereira and PXRF machine; Lithics Workshop with Dr Telmo Pereira; NAP Presentation 2017 to AAA

Patricia Monteiro shared with us her work about bucket flotation within the EcoPLis project (Human Occupation in the Pleistocene in the Lis Basin, Leiria, Portugal) which she presented in Vilnius, Lithuania last September. She described how her research involved how to improve the sampling and recovery of palaeoenvironmental artefacts during archaeological excavation and how to train students to undertake this type of work on site.

The work of Rute Branco (who also attended the conference in Vilnius in September 2016) was presented by her colleague Roxane Matias. Roxane described the work involved in the analysis of the diet of a rural coastal settlement in the Medieval Islamic period (10th to 12th century) at the Tejo do Praio site at Quinta do Lago, Algarve.

Catia Teixeira told us about her work using GIS (Global Information System) techniques to assess the organisation, size and limits of the Roman city of Ossonoba (present day Faro) which she presented at a conference in Oslo, Norway in 2016. She showed us maps that she had produced showing the progression of development of the Roman city (with its roads, buildings and necropoli) which is centred on Vila Adentro in the historic town centre of Faro.

Her research has increased our knowledge of the

size and limits of Ossonoba and demonstrates that Ossonoba is larger than previously thought.

Following the presentations, we asked a number of questions about the work developed by the students and also had an interesting discussion about archaeological practice in Portugal.

The AAA continues to award grants to students, a number of whom are due to attend conferences in 2017. After a tasty lunch in the university restaurant, we attended a lithics workshop in the laboratory of ICArEHB (Interdisciplinary Centre for Archaeology and the Evolution of Human Behaviour) given by Dr Telmo Pereira.

He told us about the raw materials used by prehistoric people to create stone tools and we were shown a selection of lithics from a number of Portuguese archaeological sites. Dr Pereira also demonstrated some of the scientific equipment used during his work, including the PXRF (Portable X-Ray Diffractor) which is used to analyse the chemical composition of rocks in order to determine their place of origin, amongst other things.

NAP students Eduardo Paixão and David Nora also gave us an insight into lithic technology, describing a number of knapping techniques. We all enjoyed a fascinating and informative day, which reflected the close collaboration between NAP and the AAA. We were impressed by the enthusiasm and professionalism of the students and it was very rewarding to see how important it is to support the students with their research and academic studies.

It provides them with the opportunity to network with other researchers and gain the experience of presenting their work to a wider, international audience.

Members of the AAA enjoy a variety of activities, including monthly lectures by international speakers, day trips and lunches. We are currently planning a 5-day trip to the Seville area in October. All monies raised by the AAA are used for archaeological grants and speakers.

 www.arquealgarve.weebly.com

 algarvearchass@gmail.com

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 Algarve Archaeological Association

Lagos puppy party On a sunny June Saturday afternoon Lagos Vet Clinic held another bundling puppy party. Pups from eight weeks to eight months came along, dragging their owners, to the vet clinic for a few hours of frollocking, rollocking fun in the backyard.

Just like kids at preschool, they came a little nervous and after a few hours, didn´t want to leave!

Thank you to everyone who came, furry or otherwise and look forward to next year´s party!!!

For more information:  www.lagosvet.com

Absolutely fabulous Last month Mandi Keen opened her opulent garlanded garden once again for yet another sumptuous Summer Garden party to raise funds for the Dance World Cup team of the Escola de Dança de Lagos.

The generous guests, many of whom came last year too, were delighted with a dazzling dancing display, a bounteous buffet banquet, music to move to and so

much more. The afternoon was a great success as always.

The organizers would like to thank all their sponsors in particular Baptista's for the wine, Lagos em Forma, Solido and Rancho Folclorico de Odiáxere, for logistical help and the restaurants Churrasqueira Marques,Cardápio de Sabores, 2 Irmões,Picanha Grill,Pasmina,Shalimar,All

BY CAROLYN ELLISON

ora,Campimar and Vitacress. Thanks also go to the beauticians Cristina, Susana and Andreia.

Special thanks of course go to Mandi Keen for being such a welcoming hostess.

If you want to be on next year's guest list, I recommend booking now!

For more information:  associacaodancalagos.blogspot.com  ass.danca.lagos@gmail.com

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Letters We are always really pleased to get letters from our readers. If you would like to send us your views on anything that’s going on in the western Algarve or if you have any suggestions to make about the magazine please email:  amber@tomorrowalgarve.com

Fire at elderly care home Dear Editor, Casa de Santo Amaro has had a mini disaster, a fire in the activity centre which has destroyed all their equipment. Although they have buildings insurance, they do not have contents insurance, the problem being money, as usual.

Your readers have been so helpful in supplying Christmas gifts and towels, bed linen and other items for the home I wonder if they can help us to reequip this room so that the residents, especially those who never leave the home, can have their activity centre working again. Of course these things also help with the rehabilitation of the residents as well.

The list is long, but they will be grateful for any amount! They need tables, chairs, air conditioners, air purifier, radio, CD player. They also need arts and crafts materials

including paints, brushes, pencils, pens, crayons, felt tips, white and coloured paper, white and coloured card, materials, glues, scissors, files, folders, wood varnish, gouache, boxes and frames for pictures and decorating, fabrics, canvases, tapestry materials, wools and colouring books.

There are also three items that I have been unable to translate, musgami, trapilho, and rede para trapilho, so anyone who knows what these are!

The home is next to the Centro de Saude in Lagos and the gate keeper will raise the barrier. There is parking inside. Most of the staff speak English.

Thank you in advance for publishing this and thank you to anyone who can help.

Yours hopefully, Jennifer Herrtage jennifergrahame1@yahoo.com

Super Science Museum I have just returned from a week’s relaxing holiday in the Algarve, and whilst I was there took the opportunity to wander around and discover the informative educational displays at the Lagos Science Museum. There are many sections covered including astronomy, maritime, physics, communication and technology all having hands on, interactive displays which you are encouraged to try.

Being a radio ham, and conversant in using Morse code I was quite confident in doing well in the Morse code demo facility but I was embarrassingly beaten by my companion who’d never touched a Morse key before! But it was good fun competing.

The museum is light and airy and air conditioned with a lift, disabled/ baby changing facilities and should appeal to children of all ages as well as adults.

Admission costs €1.50. An excellent way to spend a couple of hours while in Lagos. Highly recommend a visit.

Yours sincerely, Richard (UK)

Zebra crossing fears Dear Editor, I am a frequent visitor to the Algarve and have been for many years and my concern is that this new generation of youngsters seem oblivious to the common sense rules of using a pedestrian crossing.

There are a proliferation of Zebra crossings in and around Lagos, the most dangerous in my opinion are the ones entering and leaving a roundabout, you keep expecting to have another driver crash up your backside when you stop immediately after leaving a roundabout However this is not so much a concern of mine as the attitude young people, school

children in particular, have to the crossings.

They are oblivious to any and all oncoming traffic and simply walk directly out on to the crossing even in front of approaching traffic, arrogantly and sometimes aggressively forcing the traffic to come to an abrupt halt.

I have made enquiries with the police here in Lagos and the rules are quite clear, when crossing the road at a Zebra the motorist has right of way, until the pedestrian sets foot on the crossing, then the motorist gives way, but they should NOT step out until they see the road is clear, fine, pretty much the same as the UK rules.

But the arrogance and ignorance of the

children now, must be cultured by their parents and or the schools, should they not be corrected for their own safety, by the schools and thereby hopefully, avoid a serious injury or fatality.

I wish you would print this letter to alert the school teachers here what is going on, so they can at least try to educate the children for their safety. You may remember we had "the green cross code" in the UK even on Zebras. Don't they have a similar campaign here?

Come on teachers keep your students safe, you may just save a precious child's life!!

Jonathon Roberts

Health

Why hire a personal trainer?

BY ANN DE JONGH Personal training is often perceived to be for those that are ‘young and fit’ or for people that do sports.

But it is for everyone. We all need some help, encouragement, motivation and guidance. We all need someone to provide accountability, expertise and coaching.

A trainer will ensure that you are exercising correctly, with good technique and form. They will make sure that you are using the time efficiently to get the most out of the time you exercise as well as providing variety and challenging you to see that you achieve your goals.

Royal Thai Massage

BY JULIE BATTERSBY Thai massage is a style of pressure, assisted yoga postures based on Indian Ayurveda principles. It originated in Buddhist monasteries as a form of preventative health care for monks.

You will find the therapy rooms left on the way out of Lagos on 125. It’s also sign posted on the roundabout on the way to Boavista Golf Club.

Many of my friends have had Thai massages whilst on holiday in Thailand but I have never been so there so I really did not know what to expect.

I was a little mystified as to what was going to happen having heard a few stories of weird positions. However, I am pleased to say the masseur’s warm and natural smile began to relax me as soon as I met her.

The therapist first started by cleaning my feet then loosening my leg muscles and during the session to my surprise used her hands, knees and legs to compress muscles and at times working on my joints for better mobilization and a sort of acupressure procedure, it began to feel like my whole body was being reshaped and

defined. She got to those contours I had forgotten I had!

At times there was a gentle slap to end one movement and to start another and literally at one point she climbed on top of the table and onto my back using her elbow and knees to exert pressure. It sounds weird but after a while it wasn’t.

It was not initially relaxing but after each movement I was beginning to feel ‘remoulded’.

The massage left me feeling invigorated, energised I felt more flexible, a real up lifting experience.

I sat afterwards with a herbal tea regaining my equilibrium and later after leaving really found myself with a sense of balance and wellbeing.

I am looking forward to going again very, very soon as I am adding this to my list of top massages in the Algarve.

The therapists at the Royal Thai Massage Centre offer: Thai head, neck & shoulder massage; Foot massage; Hot Herbal Ball and Classic Full body oil massage.

They can give guidance on nutrition, and ensure your training is individual for you, to help with your own goals, taking into account your body’s history.

As we get older, our bodies change. We start to lose strength and flexibility; our bone density can decrease (osteoporosis). Training with someone to help counter this can be extremely beneficial not only to your health but to make you feel good about yourself.

Exercise works wonders on making you feel more positive and enabling you to continue to move as you want to.

My clients range in age from 79 to early 20’s. It's so motivating to see people working out, lifting weights, moving and stretching, and to see how this changes their day to day lives as they feel fitter, stronger and more flexible.

At fit2lovelife, it's not necessarily all about about trying to get a six pack. For most people it is about being fit enough to be able to enjoy their life. To do the things they want to do and to continue to do this throughout their lives.

Ann is a trainer, yoga teacher and a sports massage therapist  +351 913202621  www.fit2lovelife.com  ann@fit2lovelife.com  fit2lovelife  anndejongh

 Urbanização Pedra Alcada, Lote 9 Loja B 8600 Lagos (above LVC)  +351 927 653 571  www.royalthaimassage.pt  Open 10am to 10pm

58

Health

How are you feeling today?

BY DR WEN OATES DC MCHIRO How did you feel when you woke up this morning? Any aches and pains?

Any stiffness? Perhaps you’ve been carrying something heavy recently?

Perhaps something that weighs about 70 or 80kg?

Actually, that’s about the same weight as your head, shoulders, arms, rib cage, upper spine and muscles above the waist added together. And remarkably, just two vertebrae in your lumbar spine (L4 and L5…yes, they’ve got numbers) are supporting all that weight…18 hours a day…7 days a week…12 months a year!

It’s no wonder you get lower back pain!

Plus, of course, the rest of your hardworking spine has to do lots of other things – holding you upright and allowing you to move, while at the same time protecting your spinal cord.

Twenty-four important little bones (your vertebrae) with spongy discs in between them, being compressed and twisted all day long! But that’s not all. Coming out from between those vertebrae and discs are the nerves from your spinal cord, going off to every part of your body, sending messages back to your brain.

Imagine if those nerves get compressed and twisted too! You’re going to feel some pain. Should you take a pill or rub in a cream?

Remember, any pain-killing medication may reduce the pain for a while, but the underlying cause of the pain remains.

Perhaps now is the time to consider chiropractic care.

As you only have one spine, it’s important to look after it…and at Lagos Health Chiropractic, we CAN look after it! We’re in the big pink building just across the road from the Lidl supermarket in Lagos.

Call us on:  +351 282 768 044

Raising children in a world under attack

BY LAURA NEWMAN

At the time of writing we've had two more suicide bombings in the UK. Our children are asking questions. We are asking questions. These questions are not the same though. What is our role as parents and are some children more vulnerable?

A parent's role is always to keep the child safe, physically and emotionally.

Here in the Algarve, we feel safer than most but we often talk about the bombings in front of our children and to them.

Young children don't have a broad understanding of the world. They are reactive and responsive to what they see and feel. Their feeling of safety depends on several factors, including what parents feed them, and what they are exposed to on social media, with friends and teachers.

For most children, they can handle most information most of the time, in spite of how it comes at them,

particularly if they are well rooted in their relationship with parents. They simply adapt to the news and 'rest' in the safety of the connection.

However, there are a growing number of children who are highly sensitive on many levels, who talk excessively about ‘what if’ scenarios and about the horrors they have heard, who don’t feel safe no matter what you explain to them. They are vulnerable to fearprovoking information because their alarm systems are already on alert.

There is little 'rest' for these children, which slows down their maturation and frequently shows itself in behaviour that is difficult to manage.

Building safety within the relationship is one of the keys to protecting sensitive children from sensitive information.

Laura Newman BSc BSc MSc is a speech therapist, parent consultant, health educator and founder of Connected Child

 myconnectedchild@gmail.com  connectedchildfamily  www.connectedchild.net  booklaura.acuitycheduling.com

Heat stroke As we head into the summer, this month we will cover heat stroke which is a potentially life threatening condition because the ability to control body temperature has been lost. You need to act immediately if you suspect heat stroke.

Signs and symptoms: high body temperature, flushed, hot and dry skin, confusion, low conscious levels, nitially a pounding, rapid pulse which gradually weakens Treatment: call for an ambulance – ring 112. While waiting for emergency services to arrive you can:

BY JOHN CLIFFORD - Move patient to a cool place - Have the patient lie down - Cool patient in a shower or with sponges - Cover with a wet sheet / apply cold compresses - Remove as much clothing as possible and loosen anything tight - Elevate the feet - If patient is fully conscious and able to swallow, give fluids, preferably water You should stop cooling when the patient’s body feels cold to touch.

Remember to follow the instructions of the emergency services at all times.

For more information:  johnclifforddouglas@eircom.net

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The Mustard Seed Soup Kitchen Lagos We serve over 300 meals each week. Please, we need your help to continue helping those in need. Account #

IBAN

- soupkitchenlagos@gmail.com For more information- 919 439 069

Health

Pets Mate

BY LARS RAHMQUIST

Breathing bad…..pheewwheewww, it’s getting hot again, eh?! A welcome back to the Algarvean summer, and if this year’s winter and spring are anything to go by, I reckon she’s gonna be a scorcher. So this article is about respiratory conditions (not related at all to the TV show).

These cute breeds suffer from respiratory problems

Last summer we saw a lot of animals (dogs mainly, maybe a coupla cats) presenting to the clinic for heat related problems. As lovers of David Attenburgh, et al, most people know that dogs lose their heat by panting. BUT, if you have a problem with your respiratory tract this can become a big challenge.

Most problems come from the Upper Respiratory Tract (URT) where we see a narrowing of the passages through which the air flows into the lungs.

Pugs, Bulldogs, Boxers and other brachycephalic breeds (cool word eh? Google it) have a number of faults in the anatomy of the URT. It starts with the nostrils being too narrowing and incorporates the larynx in (four) different ways.

Owners of these breeds often find it cute how their bulldog snores when he sleeps and snorts and snuffles in the daytime. This cute noise is the dog trying to get oxygen. This worsens as the temperatures rise and the dog tries to pass more air through these narrowed tubes. From swelling of the tissues to Bernoulli’s law of fluid dynamics (google that). Labradors and Golden Retrievers (plus other breeds) can develop laryngeal

Earwax – part 2

paralysis, another condition which restricts upper air flow. They make a very loud noise when breathing, especially as the weather gets hotter.

At Lagos Vet Clinic we perform upper airway surgeries both to the ‘brachycephalic syndrome’ and for laryngeal paralysis. Owners are very happy with the results, which are essentially immediate. They can hear less struggling to breath and they can see a more comfortable dog.

Heart disease dogs are also more at risk in the summer, so be sure to get your dog rechecked soon if they receive life-long heart medication.

Also the doses often need to be augmented as the condition develops. Left untreated these dogs can die, especially in summertime. Added to this is the quality of life of untreated dogs. When it’s hot they are just struggling to stay alive!

On top of knowing this as a vet, I also saw my own dog, Normie, pass away last August because the temperatures finally got too much for the lung cancer he’d been dealing with for months (btw, he was dolicocephalic, you can google that one too).

So get your dog checked up before it gets too hot, if you are in any was worried about its breathing pattern or noise.

Enjoy the start of summer, it’s just gonna get hotter!

For more information:  www.lagovet.com

BY NIKI MEDLOCK

Some people are prone to produce too much earwax but this does not necessarily lead to blockage.

• Dusty environments as the wax is also produced to entrap foreign bodies such as dust particles.

Other factors include: • Production of naturally hard/dry wax • Narrow, oddly shaped or hairy ear canals

This build-up of wax can cause various problems such as: • Earache

• Being elderly, as earwax becomes drier.

• Sudden or partial hearing loss

• Bony growths in the outer part of the ear canal.

• Tinnitus - a ringing or buzzing in the ear

• Frequently putting foreign objects, such as cotton buds, hearing aids, ear plugs and Bobbie pins into the ear canal. These stimulate the glands to produce more wax to protect the ear canal, stop the wax from coming out of the ear or push wax to theback of the ear canal causing impaction.

• Itchiness

• Noisy environments/ear phones at high volumes as the vibrations cause more wax production to protect the ears.

• A feeling of fullness.

• Vertigo – a spinning sensation • Ear infection and inflammation.

Do no try to get the earwax out with your fingers or cotton buds as this could cause further wax impaction or damage the ear.

As our doctors are fond of saying “the only thing you should put in your ear is your elbow!!”

62

If the wax is only causing a slight problem you can get topical wax softener drops, aiding the movement of the wax but generally these drops are not enough if there is a blockage.

Methods of wax extraction are carried out by your family doctor or an ENT specialist through: • Ear irrigation – where warm water is gently syringed into the ear, flushing the wax out.

• Micro-suction – where a small device is used to suck the wax out.

• Aural toilet – where a thin instrument with a small loop at one end is used to clear the ear by scraping out the wax.

Niki is head nurse at www.luzdoc.com

Health

How to beat prickly heat

BY LESLEY WALL

Many people suffer from miliaria - more commonly known as prickly heat or heat rash - in summer. Prickly heat occurs when pores become blocked and sweat gets trapped under the skin in hot and humid weather. The result is intense itchiness, unsightly red blisters and the prickly feeling that gives the condition its common name.

Prickly heat can be prevented by wearing light clothes made from linen or cotton, staying in the shade or in air conditioned rooms, taking cold showers and keeping your skin as dry as possible. But if heat rash does occur, the following cooling treatments will soothe the skin, ease the symptoms and help get rid of this intensely irritating and itchy rash.

1. Watermelon pulp mask Watermelon is great for treating the skin as it is packed with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, and its cooling properties will provide instant relief. To make a mask, deseed a large piece of watermelon and make a pulp from the red flesh. Apply the crushed pulp to your rash, leaving it on the skin for 20 minutes. Then rinse off with cool water.

2. Aloe vera gel Aloe vera is well known for its healing and antiinflammatory properties, and is the go-to product for reducing skin inflammation associated with prickly heat. There’s no need for a recipe, just apply pure aloe vera gel to your rash and leave it for about half an hour. Rinse with cool water then pat (not rub) your skin dry with a soft, fluffy towel.

3. Cucumber and coconut salve Coconut oil cleans and unclogs the pores while cucumber acts as a coolant. Blend half a cucumber and pass through a fine sieve to squeeze out the juice. Mix the juice with three tablespoons of softened coconut oil and apply to the affected area and two centimetres around. Leave on your skin for 20 minutes. Dab to remove excess with a cotton wool pad.

4. Sandalwood and rose water Sandalwood is great for giving relief from prickly heat rash and will also help treat any skin blemishes, while rose water acts as a toner. Make a paste using three tablespoons of sandalwood

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powder blended with rose water and apply the paste directly to the affected skin. Leave in place for 20 minutes, rinse with cool water and pat dry with a soft towel.

5. Gram flour and rose water Gram (or besan) flour is an Indian ingredient made from chickpeas and is readily available in good supermarkets, ethnic grocers and health food shops. It is soft, gluten free, and in this case helps maintain the correct pH balance in your skin.

Combined with rose water it will provide relief from the itching and prickling sensation associated with the rash. Take two to three tablespoons of gram flour and add a few drops of rose water to make a thick paste. Apply to the affected area and rinse with cool water after 15 minutes.

6. Fuller’s earth and yoghurt Fuller’s earth, a clay-like material, has been used in skincare for 4,000 years. This recipe utilises its healing properties to ease the rash and remedy the blemishes, while the lactic acid in the yoghurt dissolves dead skin and tightens the pores. Mix two tablespoons of yoghurt with four tablespoons of Fuller’s earth to make a smooth paste. Apply this on the affected area and leave in place for 20 minutes. Rinse gently with cool water and pat dry with a soft towel.

7. Neem leaves Neem is a staple in Indian Ayurvedic medicine and is excellent for reducing inflammation when applied as a poultice or paste. It is also a powerful antiseptic. Take a few dried neem leaves and grind them. Add some rose water and work the mixture until a paste is formed. Apply the paste directly onto your skin and leave in place for 30 minutes, then wash off with cool water and pat dry with a clean, soft towel.

Lesley is an ITEC-qualified aromatherapist and the owner of Puraglow. She lives in Alvor.

 www.puraglow.com

 lesley@puraglow.com

Enjoy professional hair cuts & colours in the comfort of your own home

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FOR EACH NEW CUSTOMER +351 916 837 661 | +49 174 451 39 49 info@mobilehairdresserchrissy.com www.mobilehairdresserchrissy.com

Business

July already...

Can you believe we are already half way through the year? I know they say that the older you get the faster the years go by but this is getting to be ridiculous!!

Having said all that, business seems to be motoring on as fast as the days are at B&P. Like for like, sales are running at the same pace as 2016, while holiday bookings are showing around 20% increase versus last year.

The Brits are starting to buy again, maybe not with the same velocity as they were pre-Brexit but definitely showing their teeth again. If we can see some serious movement in the UK market, I believe the western Algarve market will be showing

BY DAVID WESTMORELAND

significant growth versus 2016.

The French, Belgians and Scandinavians are still buying in their droves and all three are beginning to influence the holiday market too.

In terms of listings, we have been very busy on that front as well with some fantastic new properties coming to market over the next few weeks. Everything from contemporary apartments, villas with pools and resort properties on the region’s leading resorts such as Parque da Floresta, Boavista, Baia da Luz, Quinta de São Roque and Belmar. Whatever your budget may be we have plenty of options for you to view.

As the town starts to hot up in terms of the holiday season we are hotting up with regard to the number of holiday clients arriving to stay in properties we manage and rent. That being said, we could do with more properties on our rental side as we are 100% sold out for the key months of July and August and very busy right the way through to October.

If you are considering buying a property, renting it during the peak season may be a way to offset some of the costs. If you already own a property, Resort Rentals would be happy to talk to you regarding the opportunities we can offer on your property.

You can either call in to the office at B&P Real Estate on the avenida or email mail@bpaproperty.com

A little gem for golfers Spencer Kissack is a familiar face in Lagos. He’s been coming to the area since he was nine. After 30 years of going backwards and forwards he decided to move here fulltime.

He set up Algarve Golf Discount which is in Rua Dom Vasco de Gama just a stone’s throw around the corner from the Tivoli Hotel.

Algarve Golf Discount, specialises in ladies and gents clothing, shirts and shorts, aimed at golfers, naturally, but not just for golfers. It also caters also for those who just happen to be walking by!

Spencer brings his vast knowledge of the game and contacts he has made over the years in the golfing industry to the business. And Spencer is a man of

many talents – he’s not only a former professional golfer he has a passion for writing and novels, having written a thriller trilogy similar in style to The Silence of the Lambs. We’ll be quizzing Spencer more about novels at a later date.

Clients have said that Algarve Golf Discount is a ‘real little gem’ and ‘a great new addition to the town of Lagos’. "I love the business, meeting lots of new people, offering the odd free lesson!” he said.

Anything golfing you may be looking for, the chances are Spencer and his shop can cater for your tastes, whether it be a Callaway polo or a pair of summer shorts, so if you're the type of person who likes good quality at the best prices, especially throughout the Algarve, then you are urged to pay a visit and check out Algarve Golf Discount.

Opening Hours: Tuesday to Friday 9.30am to 6.30pm and Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 5pm.

 Rua Dom Vasco de Gama, Lote 12, 8600-722  +351 913 326 039  Spencer Kissack Author His novels are available on amazon

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Business

Changing for the times

BY TOM HENSHAW

One of the defining features of any successful business is its ability to continually analyse the market, look at itself and then make changes to improve the customer offering and experience. When I went to interview Elliot Sproston at Abode I found that is exactly what they have doing.

Since first opening in Lagos over 12 years ago, Abode has built an enviable reputation for the service it offers to both home owners and property investors when furnishing their properties. Elliot puts this down to his multilingual and multinational team, their experience, care, and desire to go the extra mile to help customers.

They continue to be very strong in their complete furniture packs - taking a new or empty property to one that is ready for the owner or guest to move straight into (even down to making the beds).

Beyond this, it was with interest to see the changes to their retail brands and ranges, bespoke upholstery and soft furnishings, and the design services that they are now offering – all of which reflect the everchanging market requirements and the styles and functionality that different nationalities seek.

Their impressive website and online store www.furnishyourabode.com highlights both new

brands and established manufacturers including Jamie Oliver BBQs, Alstons Upholstery, ABrito furniture and Coach House.

To see all of these changes for yourself, it really does need a visit to their showroom; their fresh approach, innovative styles and elegantly displayed room sets all add to the fact there are literally enormous choices on offer.

In addition to residential properties and retail, Abode’s commercial department works with numerous large companies, bar and restaurants throughout Portugal.

Notable recent projects include Boavista Golf Resort’s new show property, the furnishing of Martinhal Family Resort’s newest hotel in Lisbon and Pashmina’s latest restaurant in Carvoeiro (to name but a few). If you have commercial furniture projects - large or small - I suggest you contact Abode to discuss your requirements and for a quotation.

A visit to their showroom is a must. Very close to Praia Dona Ana, Lagos.

 +351 282 762 070  UK 0870 8032970  info@furnishyourabode.com  www.furnishyourabode.com

New business is launched in Lagos Yourroom.eu is a young, energetic company that was launched in Lagos. Everyone, young and old, now travels all over the world.

accommodation from bed and breakfasts to ice hotels, pousada, villas, apartments, guesthouses and even 5-star hotels.

It's easier than ever to book your travel and stay, wherever you are and whenever you want, via laptop, computer or with an app on your tablet or smartphone. This is easy for consumers, but how do you ensure that they are correct your accommodation choose? Yourroom.eu helps with this. Via Yourroom.eu can anyone promote their

The website of Yourroom.eu is very clear and easy to use and the Y. app is ready to download on smartphone or tablet. Customers can book anywhere, everywhere and we make sure that your accommodation is known. A free year to rent your place. There will be no commission for 2017.

For more information contact Ernst van Amersfoort:  +351 913 316 276

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Business

I.T. can be easy

BY STEVEN DUNWELL

Three vital summer friendly applications for you Apple or Android devices. Enjoy the surf by day, help decide which wine to order with you meal at night and a language translation app to help you order it correctly.

Vivino Wine Scanner How many times have we all been shopping in a supermarket and you are undecided as to which wine to buy? We normally look for something we have had before and we are maybe not too adventurous in trying something new.

Well this app is for you! It is possibly the handiest application ever. Take a photo of any wine label, a restaurant wine list or search by wine name. It will instantly give you ratings, reviews, average prices, tasting notes and food pairings from people that have tried it before. I have used it and it certainly has expanded my tastes especially for Portuguese wines. You can even add your own reviews and ratings.

It will keep track of wines you like and discover new recommendations for you based on your past choices. Handy, if you’re like me and want to try something new. You’ll never pick another bad bottle of wine again!

Google Translate Another handy application for when out and about, especially when shopping.

It can translate between 103 languages, including French, German, Dutch and Portuguese. I have obviously used the Portuguese to English version and have saved money by picking the right cut of meat or the correct type of rice to use for a particular dish when out shopping.

Surfline - Surf Reports, Live Beach Cams, Forecasts A must for all those surfer dude readers of Tomorrow magazine.

You can cut and paste text message you’ve received in Portuguese, put it into the translator and there you have it. Your English equivalent.

This app reports and forecasts surf in your area. If you are a surfer, it will tell you swell data which is given to you by surfers themselves at any given time of the day.

One very cool function is where you can hover your camera over some non-English text and it will instantly translate it for you.

It can also help you learn the most commonly used words that you may see in print so you improve your knowledge along the way. I use this all the time and it has definitely improved my Portuguese.

With it you can also access cameras for some of the beaches, it also give you stories, videos and photos submitted by other surfers throughout the day.

We are blessed with some of the best surfing in the world here in Portugal and who wouldn’t like to know the conditions before setting off on a potentially wasted journey?

Finally don’t forget the drop in sessions mentioned bellow if you would like to come and have a personal chat.

No appointment necessary. Bring your device, purchase at least a drink and I will give you 10 minutes free IT support and help with any simple issues you may have with your laptop, PC or smartphone.

If the issue cannot be resolved, an appointment can be booked at a later date, at your convenience. Looking forward to seeing you.

Free IT Support and help sessions for July

The Tropical Café Lagos

ZaZa Resturant Burgau

Beattie’s English Tea Rooms

Nº. 33, Avenida dos Descobrimentos, Lagos

Mata Mouros, Rua Agricola Burgau

Rua Direita lote 2 Luz

Tuesday 4th & 18th 11am until 2pm

Friday 14th 11am until 2pm

Thursday 20th 12.30pm until 3.30pm

70

Business

Casas takes over Lloyds Lagos-based business Casas do Barlavento has taken over Lloyds Property Services client portfolio.

Doreen and Fred Lloyd, founders and managers of Lloyd's for more than 14 years, decided to retire, but they had been concerned about leaving their clients in good hands. They decided that Casas do Barlavento would be a perfect partnership.

Casas do Barlavento, which already had extensive experience in leasing and property management, acquired Lloyds client portfolio, enhancing the company's strategic expansion in Lagos.

Lloyds’ integration process into the company was

fairly easy and allowed an improvement in its entire technological structure.

During the initial phase it was agreed to maintain the Lloyds' brand within the Casas do Barlavento structure, keeping Marisa Alexandre as its client coordinator.

In January 2016, Casas do Barlavento acquired the client portfolio of Algarve Independent Villas, reinforcing its position in the Alvor area. Now, a little more than a year later, Casas do Barlavento integrates Lloyd's in Lagos, also in the area of lease and property management.

These acquisitions are part of Casas do Barlavento's expansion strategy, marking the position of a market-oriented company in the acquisition of other client portfolios.

For more information:  info@casasdobarlavento.com  +351 282 780 870

Selling property? How to transfer funds

BY ALISON DAUN If you are selling your property in Portugal, and looking to send your money home, getting a great exchange rate and an easy to use process is important.

We have been helping clients transfer money for over 14 years and understand that selling a property and moving back to the UK, or any other country, can be a stressful experience with lots of things to think about. These include concerns about whether the sale will go through on time, moving furniture and even sometimes finding another home in the UK. Transferring money and exchange rates are often at the forefront of property sellers’ minds but with all the other things going on they can get over-looked or put to one side.

Exchange rates do move continuously, which can you cost you when it is time to transfer your money. It is important to not leave your

foreign exchange to the last minute. When selling a property in Portugal, you will often have a promissory contract and a deed, the same as when you originally bought the property. Once promissory contract is signed it is a good idea to start thinking seriously about exchange rates.

You may have some money available to you at the time of promissory contract. You can either: 1. Keep this money and transfer it a later date 2. Transfer this money now 3. Use this money as a deposit to fix the exchange for the whole amount of money from your property sale Options 1 and 2 are straightforward and we can certainly assist.

Option 3, to fix the exchange is slightly different.

How does this work and why would you do it?

Fixing the exchange rate in advance, called a forward, is a simple way of securing the exchange rate now by paying a deposit and then the balance when you need the funds.

Forward buying takes the worry and risk out of the exchange rate moving between you signing the promissory contract and when you get the full amount of money from the sale of your property, after deed has been signed. It also lets you know exactly how much money you have in your home currency.

Who can you transfer money with?

You can use your bank to transfer money or you can use a foreign exchange company, like GCEN. Using a foreign exchange company can help you plan exchange rates in advance as in option 3 above and give you better exchange rates with no fees.

To find out more about how we can transfer money why not contact us on:  +351 282 768 136  portugal@gcen.co.uk

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Serge & Satoshi pâtisserie française Croissants, Roasted chicken, Quiches, Oven ready meals, French pastry and more...

Open everyday except Mondays

Praia da luz, Next to the pharmacy Tel: 960 028 647 | Facebook.com/SergeSatoshi.pf

Food & drink

Zaza - a real flavour of Tuscany in Burgau Andrea Crudeli is a young chef from the heart of Tuscany with a lot of ambition.

He ran his own restaurant with two friends before deciding to widen his experience. He travelled widely in Europe gaining valuable experience before choosing to work with his uncle, Luciano Cancherini, in Burgau. He now brings his young and more modern approach to Italian cuisine to Zaza Restaurant.

Along with his obvious passion he brings his philosophy of cooking, using simple and often local ingredients to add to his natural and Italian creativity.

Taking these basic ingredients up to another level and changing the mode of cooking to a much slower process. Picking for example, a simple loin of pork and vacuum packing it to retain all the natural flavours. His personal favourites are octopus and any risotto dish.

For the next two or three editions of Tomorrow Andrea will bring his much loved recipes for our readers to see the benefits of coming to Zaza to try some of them.

We will also be planning to run an event here in October so keep a look out at the end of the summer for this ‘sampler’ menu! As summer approaches it is recommended that you do book. Zaza is on the road through Burgau and on towards Salema.

 +351 282 697 385  +351 913 529 639  zazaburgau

The Orangery Bar and Grill The Orangery is a very well established and successful concept offering great value and a ‘cook your own on a stone’ theme and very much a ‘fun’ family atmosphere and environment.

Because this is very much a family friendly restaurant and bar the owner, Steve Shirley has now incorporated a really fantastic new bouncy castle luckily has arrived in time for the summer season.

This is totally free for all Orangery customers. It has a totally unique interior with two separate areas one

for the under five-year-olds and the other section for the older kids to enjoy and this has been brought in by special request of many parents so all children are safe and have a great time.

Here the children are protected and can be left safely under the watchful eyes of dedicated staff members supervision, there is also a 1.5 metre high toughened safety glass.

Parents can enjoy a drink or a meal whilst the kids have a great time all in complete safety. Come and enjoy what’s on offer here at the Orangery.

You should also consider a day out with Days of Adventure.

Go to  www.daysofadventure.com and receive a voucher to use at the Orangery worth 20%.  + 351 282 789 101

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Food & drink

Sandbanks Fish & Seafood Restaurant

BY SIMON MOULSON

The Algarve as you know boasts seriously stunning beaches and sunsets, well, why not dine out somewhere a bit further afield in Vale do Lobo where there is a fantastic restaurant with amazing views?

Sandbanks is gaining many plaudits for both its food, service and breath-taking views. There’s also the new addition of The Deck & Cocktail Bar.

Open Mon – Sun 9.30am – 22.30pm.

Reservations are a must

The restaurant décor is beautifully calming, swathes of turquoises and whites creates a soothing feel and the view perfectly frames the beach and the sparkling sea beyond. It’s like New England meets the Algarve. Each table affords exquisite views, crisp

 +351 289 398 429/ 289 353 424

white napkins and staff who are both attentive and charming in equal measures.

Nestled between the Beach Bar and Sandbanks you have a fabulous bar which has recently undergone a major transformation – perfect for a pre or postdinner drink. It’s elegant with minimalist décor and an upper terrace which provides stunning views across the ocean.

The Deck Bar, open from 6.30pm to 2am, offers special-sharing cocktails and wonderful music.

Sandbanks Restaurant in Vale do Lobo is open for breakfast (which gets rave reviews), lunch and dinner.

 sandbanksrestaurant@mail.telepac.pt

 www.sandbanks-algarve.com

Sicility, the authentic taste of Southern Italy

BY AMY WILKINSON I was intrigued to notice that a tiny Sicilian restaurant had opened on the steep road that runs up the hill from the skate park in Lagos. We booked a table for eight people at 7pm on a warm Saturday evening. When we arrived the table had been thoughtfully made up for us with handmade decorations.

We were seated on rustic outside terrace.

The hostess greeted us warmly and explained that there was no menu to choose from and we would be served the chef’s specials of the day. As a vegetarian (who finds it immensely difficult to find a good meal in Portugal), I had a minor panic that I wouldn’t be able to eat anything!

My fears were unfounded, because when I explained she asked the chef to adapt the dishes for me.

The first course to come out of the kitchen was traditional Italian Bruscetta. They were followed by a delicious and unusual Sicilian orange, red onion and walnut salad.

By now we were eagerly anticipating the next surprise to be served. We weren’t

disappointed when the next course arrived.

It was homemade mini calzone pizzas, stuffed with ham, spinach and mozzarella.

The chef had also specially made some vegetarian alternatives with aubergine, tomato and mozzarella.

Following this was the pasta course.

Huge steaming platters of rigatoni with bolognese and a separate vegetarian plate of rigatoni with ground almonds and sun dried tomatoes.

Night had fallen and the little roadside terrace was now lit by little fairy lights and candles. By now, we were totally stuffed – but still keen to see what was coming next! We had a bit of a break to enjoy the cold Pinot Grigio that we had been recommended on arrival.

The meat course was next up. Large homemade meatballs and roasted peppers stuffed with sausage meat and oven baked along with a vegetarian aubergine parmigiana. We just about made room

for pudding - wonderful fried rolls of pastry stuffed with ricotta and coated in cinnamon. Followed of course by coffee and the obligatory liqueurs – or ‘digestivas’ as they are called in Italy.

After the meal, we got chatting to the owners – a chance to practice my awful Italian! They are a newly arrived family from the hilly interior of Sicily. They are a family business, with their daughter running the front of house and the mother in the kitchen cooking up traditional home made Italian dishes.

By the time we left, we were surprised to realise that we had been there for over three hours. We all thoroughly enjoyed our meal and as a vegetarian, the no-choice restaurant had given me the best choice of food I had had in years.

The menu was a set price of €15 per head for all six courses plus extra for drinks and coffees.

 Address: Sicility, Rua José Afonso 41, Lagos  +351 282 074 935 / 915 842 305

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Rua Silva Lopes, 30 8600-632 Lagos Portugal +351 282 792 165 info@mardestorias.com

www.mardestorias.com

Shop Café / Bistro Roof Terrace Bar Homeware Books & Music Gallery

Kiko’s Tasca

Wine, food and friends.

Portuguese food. Tapas, lunch and dinner.

Come and try for yourself. Open daily* from 11am * June, July and August

Closed on Mondays at lunch time. Open only from 5pm

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

Food & drink

Fruit and Bread Kebabs

BY CHRIS WINSTANLEY At this time of year one of the joys of living here on the Algarve is the vast array of fruit that is available to eat or cook with. With each passing month there appears a new seasonable fruit, June seems to be the month of cherries and July brings nectarines and peaches to the fore, so this recipe is a celebration of all things fruity! Preparing the fruit with this easy marinade creates a whole starburst of flavour with every mouthful!

Unless the strawberries are very large, leave them whole. Each banana can just be cut into 4 pieces.

Ingredients • 2 firm Bananas, peeled • 1 small Pineapple, peeled & cored • 2 Pears, peeled and cored • 2 Firm Nectarines, stoned • 2 Oranges, peeled • 12 Strawberries, hulled • The Juice of 2 Lemons • 100g/4oz Caster sugar • 4 tbsp Cointreau or other spirit • 4 tbsp White Wine • 1 small uncut White Loaf of Bread • 150g/5oz Melted Butter • Ground Nutmeg • Extra sugar for dusting

Instructions 1. Cut all the fruit into 2.5cm/1 inch square cubes.

3. Remove the crusts from the bread and cut into 2.5cm/1 inch square cubes and brush liberally with the melted butter. Toss in the remaining sugar to coat on all sides.

2. Place the prepared fruit in a large bowl and add the lemon juice, Cointreau, wine, cinnamon and half the sugar. Toss gently but thoroughly, cover and leave for 30 minutes.

4. Remove the fruit from the bowl, reserving the marinade. Thread the bread and fruit onto 4 skewers, ensuring each skewer has a selection of the different fruit.

5. Cook over medium heat on your gas BBQ or coals for 5-8 minutes, turning from time to time and sprinkling with extra caster sugar, until browned and caramelised.

6. To serve - sprinkle each kebab with the remaining marinade and serve immediately. A good dollop of Crème Fraiche makes a good partner too.

Bye, bye Yo Sushi - hello Osaka

BY THE YUM YUM BOYS Sushi restaurants are usually viewed with suspicion if sampling outside of your known home environment.

My advice here is to forget that and get along to the Osaka Japanese sushi restaurant in Lagos. You will not be disappointed and this is coming from people that have eaten sushi in various locations across the globe.

It’s an all you can eat affair offering a buffet from lunch at 11.90€ and slightly more for dinner. Don’t let that put you off. It’s great. There are plenty of dishes to choose from, some vegetarian options too. I particularly liked the salmon teriyaki and my partner liked the prawns but you can order the usual fair of sashimi and other known sushi delights.

The food is fresh and tasty and the seafood I can recommend. The duck in crispy coating is served with your normal plum sauce so the Chinese in you

 Rua 10 de Maio 20 | Lagos, Lagos 8600-757

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will not be disappointed. The California rolls (my favourite) come in various sizes so pick the one you like. A recent trend is to have fried rolls on a Japanese menu. It’s here too but personally not one of my favourites. The salmon or tuna rolls are superb and all the dishes are served as a decent portion The service is good and you never feel rushed and all you have to do is put your selected numbered dishes on the given piece of paper and it is whipped up and hey presto, sushi arrives. You can order as much as you like so don't order everything you want in the first hit. The second tranche will normally be the belly filler.

Try it. Great for an informal lunch and for something different. The staff are friendly and welcoming. No need to book. Now a personal favourite

Outdoor

COP21 – worthwhile or a cop out?

BY CLAIRE FRIEDLANDER

As I write, news and social media are ignited by Donald Trump’s momentous decision to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement. It has sparked heated debate and highlighted a general curiosity regarding the exact nature of the treaty.

Essentially, the multilateral Conference of the Parties met in Paris in December 2015 with their primary goal being to establish targets for limiting greenhouse gas emissions toward preventing global temperatures from rising above 2° Celsius by the end of this century. The completed treaty was rewarded with ratification by all countries bar only Syria and Nicaragua.

Increasing frequency and ferocity of natural catastrophes challenges Trump’s assertion that climate change is a fallacy.

2016 was the warmest year ever recorded, and temperatures are projected to keep rising. Sceptics insist that climate change is natural, which holds some truth, but it’s the rate at which it is changing that is significant, having doubled in the last 50 years. Overwhelming scientific opinion concurs that human pursuit of economic growth, dependent on the burning of fossil fuels, has caused these rapid changes.

Only enormous integrated global effort can possibly tackle the issue. So why did Trump abandon the single agreement that has been reached to address it?

Following through on his campaign promise to cancel US participation in order to

save face in his beleaguered presidency perhaps, or connections with lucrative fossil fuel industries? His shortsighted anti-environmentalism ignores growing renewable energy momentum that threatens to eclipse traditional fossil fuel industries, thus voiding many of his reasons for withdrawal. His suggestion that Climate Change is a Chinese Conspiracy, however, underlines one of his main arguments.

Despite having a third of China’s population America produces more greenhouse gases, and amusingly, China could now trump Donald, claiming leadership in renewables. His Administration’s assertion that the treaty offers greater freedoms to heavy-polluters such as China and India for meeting emissions targets is true though. There are different standards for developing countries.

Developed, richer countries have principally caused global warming from pre-industrial levels, yet poorer, economically powerless countries are most vulnerable to its ravaging effects. In fairness, developing countries should be permitted similar opportunity to develop their own economies. COP21 aspired not only to lower global emissions, but also to redress this unfairness. This should transform developing economies and facilitate their investment in clean technologies going forward.

Nationally Determined Contributions

For more information:  www.friedlanderdesign.com

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(NDCs) set each country’s input and enables developed countries to fund developing countries. Trump rebelled against the costs, but in reality America has, to date, paid only $500 million of its $3 billion pledge (about $9 per citizen), in contrast to Sweden’s payment of $581 million ($60 per head). There is no penalty system, and emissions cuts are voluntary, which is broadly perceived to be the treaty’s greatest failing. Interestingly, Nicaragua refused to sign the treaty suggesting it wasn’t rigourous enough.

In reality, unless fossil fuels are left in the ground, the entire Agreement can be seen as flawed.

With temperatures already approaching 1°C above pre-industrial levels, the 2°C warming threshold is also criticised. At 2C extreme weather will render large parts of the world uninhabitable. Rising ocean levels could swallow islands and coastal areas, and marine systems will collapse with ocean warming and acidification.

Perhaps the Paris Agreement is a cop out after all. However imperfect it may be, though, it’s all we have. It offers a starting point and framework, and as the culmination of decades of complex deliberation it could be considered the ultimate example of multilateral diplomacy.

Notably, the almost universal ratification of it suggests that climate change is being taken seriously.

Gardening

Windy West Coast gardening

BY JEANETTE FAHLBUSCH

This month I thought it would be interesting to interview a gardener about setting up a garden from scratch in the Algarve.

It follows a Western Algarve Garden Group (WAGG) outing to the owner’s house on the West Coast. She didn’t want to be named but her experiences over the last 11 years will be relevant to many people here.

What state was the garden in initially?

There was no garden. We bought an empty plot of land and designed both our house and garden. Being only a few hundred metres from the cliffs of the West Coast, our 'plot' was effectively a patch of sand.

Imagine trying to create a garden from scratch on a beach!

What problems or positive things did you find in creating your garden?

Although we did not appreciate it at the time, we now know that we were lucky the soil was sandy and not heavy clay or rock. The fine sandy soil blew in the wind (of which we get a lot, directly in from the Atlantic) so our first project was to clear and level the land, then cover the whole garden with membrane and Brita – a type of gravel. Once we had contained the sand, we created areas for shrubs, cacti and succulents.

There is no membership fee for our local group, but paid for membership of the Mediterranean Gardening Association Portugal (of which we are the Western Algarve offspring) is well worthwhile and will give additional benefits.

What design did you have in mind?

Our garden is not huge, so we wanted to create maximum interest within the space we had, by creating ‘garden rooms’, each with its own distinctive feel and character, so there would be interesting corners and spaces as you move through the garden.

Given your reasonably difficult location (strong, salty winds, sandy soil), what plants did you find most useful and thriving and which did not work?

When creating a garden from scratch, our advice is to look and see what grows and thrives locally and then

take it from there. We found that Bougainvilleas, olive trees, bottle brush, succulents and cacti all grow well. We think that most things will grow in our conditions, but the secret is finding the right location. We now grow a selection of colourful shrubs such as hibiscus and geraniums in pots, so we can move these around to create splashes of colour in areas where planting them directly in the ground is not feasible or practical due to the movement of the sun during the seasons and the day.

Any tips you could give for gardening in a seaside location such as yours?

Cover the land first with membrane and Brita, to contain the sand. If you don't, the sand will end up in the pool and across your paths! Plus, covering the soil conserves the moisture in the ground. Gradually, but regularly, then enrich the soil with garden compost and manure. We also make sure to ‘dechlorify’ our water before watering – we have a string of five litre plastic bottles filled from the tank and leaving them for a couple of weeks to make sure all chlorine has evaporated.

Your amazing variety of vegetables in containers is inspiring!

Yes, we grow strawberries and rhubarb (upside down black bucket with a hole in the top to create a rhubarb forcer works very well!), different lettuces in rotation, tomatoes, cucumbers, rocket and radishes all thrive in pots and you can control your watering according to the different needs.

For more information:  wagardeninggroup@gmail.com  www.mediterraneangardensociety.org

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