Tomorrow Algarve Magazine - November 2022 (Tablet & smartphone friendly version)

Dear Tomorrow Readers, I can never get to November without reciting the little rhyme from my childhood, “Remember, remember the 5th of November, gunpowder, treason and plot.”

Referring to the Gunpowder plot of 1605, when a group of English Catholics sought to blow up the House of Lords and seize the throne. We commemorate this event with fireworks and the burning effigies of the unfortunate rebel Guy Fawkes, who was hanged after being discovered guarding a stock of gunpowder. All this shows that not much has changed in British politics. It´s just as explosive; there´s just a little less gunpowder!

Bonfire night was a celebration that brought fun and light to the cold dark evenings in the run-up to Christmas and we see similar rituals in other societies. We mention in this edition the Indian celebration of Diwali, which takes place at this time of year and is a celebration of light. Portugal celebrates All Saints’ Day on 1 November as a national

holiday to honour the dead. It is a holiday celebrated by the Catholic church, usually to honour saints who do not have their own feast day. Although this might not sound that cheerful, traditionally, families gather around the table at home to eat seasonal delicacies and snacks like dried figs, walnuts, and roasted chestnuts. But for kids, the best part of the day is the century-old tradition of Pão por Deus” (bread for God). I always love the smell of roasting chestnuts at this time of year as street sellers cook them in town centres.

With the clocks going back, the days are shorter and generally, November is one of the wettest months in the Algarve, so it´s time to batten down the hatches and pick up your edition of Tomorrow, which can always be relied on to bring light to your life.

I get the impression that everyone is looking forward to Christmas this year with a lot of parties planned but also fund-raising. With the cost of living crisis, many need our help during these winter months. We have a special feature this month on veganism which is becoming more and more popular in this area, along with local celebrity and musician Humberto Silva. We also look at an International legend, Sir Boby Robson, and discover his connection to Portugal. So enjoy the following pages, which will give you a true taste of life in the western Algarve and light your way to meeting more

interesting people, discovering a diverse range of things to do and making the most of this region. Have a great November Sophie, Tom, Phil and the Tomorrow team.

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Humberto

Strikes the Right Note

WORDS Lena Strang

I am at a traditional Arraial do Petisco, one of many festivals in the region during the summer. A sea of people sit at makeshift tables, eating, drinking, and laughing. At the counters along the sides of the large openair venue, I spot tempting traditional dishes and a range of regional sweets on offer. There is a buzz in the air and a sense of relief. At long last, families and friends can get together and enjoy a pleasant evening out.

An integral part of it all is music. The star of the evening is Humberto Silva, who, with his accordion, captivates the audience. The cheerful, energetic tunes soon entice old and young onto the space in front of the stage. I am tapping my feet and can’t resist having a few twirls myself! Humberto has already promised to speak to me, and we arrange a date later in the autumn when his schedule is less busy. We meet outside the Lagos Câmara building to chat in a quiet corner of the cafeteria. As we enter, every single person inside greets him warmly. “You seem to be rather famous,” I comment. “Well, not really,” he laughs, “I have spent much time here. During the pandemic, I did some work for the Council.” With his open, easy manner, Humberto is happy to answer all of my questions.

Born in Lagos 38 years ago, he has lived here his entire life. From a very early age, music fascinated him. He loved going to open-air events and seeing musicians playing the accordion. “My parents had a supermarket on the Avenida. As a toddler, I got hold of empty boxes and pretended they were musical instruments. When I was four, I was given my first mini accordion,” he says. I have a feeling that there was no going back for the young aspiring musician at this point. True enough at seven, he started attending private music lessons and, later, sessions at the Conservatory and Solidó, a

music shop in Lagos, provided helpful practice. However, at the tender age of 12 his professional career took off. “A friend of mine asked me to play and sing at her wedding, and I was keen to have a go. My father helped me to buy the necessary equipment and transported it to the venue in his van,” he explains. All went well. A couple of months later, he had more requests. It was mainly weddings, christenings, and private parties, but in due course, he started performing at arraiais and large gatherings.

I have already begun to appreciate the importance of traditional social events in Portugal and Humberto elaborates: “We have lots of traditional festas, especially in the summer. People have the need to come together and enjoy food and music as a social activity. In winter, there are different kinds of events. Dance halls (danceterias) also serve an important function. People like to do something different on Saturdays and Sundays after a busy week. Dress up, have a bit to eat, socialise, listen to music and dance.”

Humberto with Lena Strang

The period during the pandemic was very difficult for everyone. Humberto confirms that for musicians, it was very sad. The telephone stopped ringing from one day to the next, and all performances were cancelled. He was left with nothing and had to seek alternatives. He helped at the Centre for Culture and Sport (CCD) in Lagos, distributing food among services, trained as a fireman and started giving extracurricular music lessons in various schools throughout the municipality. “For many, the effects of the pandemic were truly dreadful,” he says, “Staying locked up in your house and being deprived of social contact caused immense stress. I had people phoning, asking me what to do. They missed the music and the social occasions and were suffering from acute loneliness.”

The Council sponsored him to compose a song, Vai Ficar Tudo Bem (All Will Be Well). It is an upbeat tune of reassurance played on radio and social media. Humberto’s music can be broadly classified as popular, easylistening dance music. Although he doesn’t claim any specific role models, other musicians are an inspiration. For example, he likes Quim Barreiros, who plays entertaining, often tonguein-cheek tunes, José Malhoa and Nel Monteiro, amongst others. He knows them personally and adapts their music to suit his style.

When participating in the Marchas Populares, local summer festivals, the musicians focus on particular themes, such as different seasons, flowers, fishermen, the countryside etc. Humberto assures me he has taken part in countless festivals over the years!

Fado is sometimes included in his repertoire, and lately, he has made forays into African music, particularly Kizomba and Funaná. The time spent at home during the pandemic gave him a chance to compose his own music. He wrote the lyrics and tunes to the playful Funaná da Crioula that was played on radio and TV. So, why the accordion? Surely, it is a complicated and cumbersome instrument to play. “Not at all,” Humberto assures

me, “It may take some time to learn the basics, but then it is easy. Once you know what you are doing, the fingers dance on the buttons without you really being aware!” There are three operations: the right hand makes the melody, the left hand accompanies it, and the opening and closing of the instrument make the sound. “When I play and sing, I lose myself in the music and forget everything. My greatest pleasure is seeing people enjoying my music.”

Do his three children follow in their father’s steps as far as music goes? The older ones have no interest, he tells me, but the six-year-old already has a mini accordion and will be given lessons if he desires. Perhaps history will repeat itself?

When I ask him about his plans, he doesn’t hesitate: “Continue with my music and record albums. I want to present my music not only nationally but also internationally.” But, then, he pauses for a moment and adds, “What I would really like is for humanity to be humbler and more receptive, particularly now in the turbulent world that we live in. Music unites people.

There is no doubt about this.”

Lastly, has he a message for the readers of Tomorrow? “The events we organise are open to everyone. We would like to see more foreign residents as it is a good way to enjoy yourself and make new friends.”

Although the Arraiais de Petiscos have finished for the season, there still are plenty of other events to explore. See you at one of them!

Facebook: Humberto Silva

Humberto Silva

Fishing Tragedy

Many of us may forget that Lagos has a flourishing fishing fleet which is something to be celebrated. Sadly though, with this industry often comes tragedy. Today the local fishing community is mourning the loss of a young fisherman, Nuno Calvinho, who tragically died in September.

WORDS Sophie Sadler

I speak to his Aunt, Ana Calvinho, who is mourning the loss of her nephew, who she describes as “intelligent and funny; who never said a bad word about anyone." She is also terribly concerned about her brother, who is devastated about the loss of his only child. “My brother Jaime Calvinho lost everything in his life in the early hours of the 29th of September.”

Nuno Calvinho

At 3.30 am on that fateful morning, the fishing vessel Vagamundo do Mar, capsized 3 km from the coast off Salema. There were six fishermen on the 10m long boat, including Jamie and his 23-year-old son. They were returning to harbour with a haul of sardines and mackerel when, without warning, the boat turned onto its side. All the crew were catapulted into the water, but Nuno was driving the boat and was trapped in the driving cabin and tragically drowned.

“My brother in a matter of seconds, lost everything. In addition to the death of his only son, best friend, comrade, companion and right-hand man. He also lost his only way of subsistence!”

Nuno was a sixth-generation fisherman. His Grandfather Manuel moved to Lagos from Vila Real de Santo António when he was three. Although he wanted to study, he started work on the fishing boats aged ten. Ana says, “My father is incredibly intelligent and loves to read and is interested in politics. Back then there was no opportunity to go on to further education. But he is still self-taught and very educated.”

In those days Ana tells me that there were no electric motors or winches. The boats were dragged down the beach in Lagos and all the nets were cast in and out by hand. Jaime followed his father onto the boats at the age of 14 and in time Manuel designed the Vagabundo with an engineer. They embarked on the more modern fishing technique of Pesca do Cerco.

A circular net is cast and then dragged up with winches, which catches the fish that swim in shoals like Sardines and mackerel. Nuno did not initially wish to follow his father onto the fishing boat and studied computer science and programming. Over time though, he began to find it boring and quit before the end of the course. So his father encouraged him to work with him and he used his technical skills to start designing technological improvements for the boat. He dreamed, in the future, of implementing more modern fishing techniques. Ana says, “I never heard him raise his voice. He was calm and very intelligent. He was always one to offer advice. I think he had vision. Nuno was always joking and very positive with a lot of friends.” This tragedy is even harder to bear because none of the family can explain what happened. The sea was calm and the boat had previously carried heavier catches in rough seas, so no one knows why it capsised in these conditions.

I ask Ana if her brother, now 49, wants to go out in the boat again, “I asked him about it and he wants to implement the changes his son dreamed of. He is so deep in grief he only leaves the house to work on the boat, which has been salvaged and is in Doca Pesca in Portimão. I think getting the boat

running again and continuing the family legacy is the only thing that he has to live for.”

Knowing that her brother cannot afford the repairs, Ana has started a gofund.me page to raise money to salvage the boat, which needs new engines, repairs to the mast, new navigation equipment and repairs to all the electrics. Her goal is to raise 100,000€ to give her brother his life back.

She concludes, “Please help a family of six generations of fishermen to have hope again.”

 gofund.me/a9077f18

SIR BOBBY ROBSON

a Portuguese love affair

It has been thirty years since Bobby Robson became manager of Sporting Clube de Portugal. This appointment transformed football and heralded the start of a love affair that resonates to this day.

It was July 1992 when Robson arrived in Lisbon, two years after England (with Bobby Robson as their manager) had experienced the pain of a World Cup semi-final defeat. Sporting Clube de Portugal (Sporting Lisbon) hadn’t won the league title for ten years, yet under Robson’s leadership, they soon thrived, finishing third in his first season and qualifying for the UEFA Cup. All seemed to be going well, with Robson loving his life in Portugal, ably assisted as he was by a young Portuguese translator named José Mourinho.

Yet despite his success on the pitch, behind the scenes, there were problems. Robson had a strained relationship with the chairman, who had a tendency to sign players his manager did not want. In December 1993, with Sporting Clube at the top of the league, Robson was sacked. The absurdity of that decision soon became apparent. Within five weeks, Robson was appointed manager of Futebol Clube do Porto (FC Porto), taking with him the influential Mourinho– this time as his coaching assistant. It was to be one of Robson’s most successful periods in football.

In his two seasons with FC Porto, Robson won fifty-five league games, losing just three. So dominant was the team, local fans nicknamed him ‘Bobby Five-O’ in reference to winning so many games by such an emphatic scoreline. Under Robson’s management, FC Porto won the Primeira Divisão twice and

Sir Bobby Robson with Jim Rosenthal, Bob Wilson, Prof Ruth Plummer, Des Lynam

also the Taça de Portugal. They reached the semi-finals of the Champions League, Europe’s elite tournament. An amazing achievement made all the more remarkable as Robson was battling cancer.

It wasn’t just on the pitch that Robson won fans over, but rather the way he embraced life in Portugal. It’s intriguing to watch his press conferences on YouTube. While never fluent, he made an effort to speak Portuguese, helping to endear him to the club’s fans and the nation. The affection that Porto and Portugal had for Bobby Robson was reciprocated. Speaking exclusively to Tomorrow magazine, his son, Mark Robson said. “Mom and Dad loved Portugal, the people, the food, the culture, and were always keen to give something back.” Such was his success at Porto, Robson moved to Barcelona before finally returning to his roots in the northeast of England, to take up his final post as manager of Newcastle United.

Players, fellow managers, and supporters all speak of a great football manager, yet perhaps more importantly, of a remarkable man. Sir Alex Ferguson said of Sir Bobby (he was knighted in 2002), “It was one of the privileges of my life to have met him….there is not a person I would put an inch above Bobby Robson. He was a wonderful individual and a great friend.”

Here in the Algarve, the Sir Bobby Robson Celebrity Golf Classic takes place every year. Attracting top stars like Alan Shearer and Kenny Dalglish, it raises much-needed funds for the Refúgio Aboim Ascensão, a homeless children’s charity in Faro. It is the only charity personally supported through fundraising activity by the Robson family itself.

The tournament was started by Sir Bobby in 2004 and over 1 million euros have been raised to help the charity continue the great work they do for homeless babies and children under age six who have been abandoned, and in some cases, abused. Supporting this refuge was the opportunity that Sir Bobby and his wife, Lady Elsie, always wanted in order to help repay the people of Portugal for their kindness. When talking later in life about his own legacy and the good causes he supported, Sir Bobby said, "Whilst I will be remembered for my life through football, the legacy I’d prefer to be remembered by is that I raised money which, in time, will save lives.”

Mark Robson

Alan Shearer Right Shola Ameobi

In 2008, when facing cancer for the fifth, and what he knew to be the final time, Sir Bobby and Lady Elsie launched the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation. It has since raised over £16 million to find more effective ways to detect and treat cancer. Work funded by the Foundation plays a significant role in the international fight against the disease - funding cutting-edge cancer treatment and innovative cancer support services, including the clinical trials of new drugs. Sir Bobby described the charity as his “last and greatest team.”

In 2016, a statue of Sir Bobby was commissioned and placed overlooking the 18th green at Pestana Vila Sol, where the Celebrity Golf Classic is held. In June 2019, Loulé council named a street ‘Rua Sir Bobby Robson’ in recognition of his footballing achievements and support for good causes.

With his outstanding football career, philanthropy, and good character, Sir Bobby Robson left a lasting legacy: It is telling how many people remember him as ‘more than a football manager’ and rather someone who was a true gentleman and an inspiration both on and off the football pitch. José Mourinho appreciated all the help Sir Bobby gave him in starting his own illustrious career. As recently as 2018, Mourinho said, “I remember him every day and I tell stories about him. We laugh with the stories. We remember him in the right way,” before poignantly adding, “a person only dies when the last person that loves them dies.” By this measure and indeed any other, Sir Bobby Robson and his legacy will burn brightly for many years to come.



Sir Bobby Robson passed away in July 2009, aged seventy-six. Donations to the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation and the Refúgio Aboim Ascensão, can be made at the websites below. The next Sir Bobby Robson Celebrity Golf Classic takes place in June 2023. www.sirbobbyrobsoncelebritygolf.com www.refugio.pt www.sirbobbyrobsonfoundation.org.uk.

“I Must Start from Zero Again”

The Story of the Refugee from Mariupol

WORDS Sophie Sadler

Kate lived in a place similar to Lagos– a seaside city situated on the coast, with modern buildings, a friendly atmosphere and thriving businesses. That city has been totally destroyed; every 8th person from the town has died. Kate is from Mariupol.

I talk to Kate in the beauty salon she has established in Lagos, where she employs fellow female refugees. In Mariupol, Kate’s family ran a beauty parlour and restaurant. She initiated a women's club for female entrepreneurs where they could meet, discuss news, and exchange ideas. Now she says, “I must start from zero again.”

In happier times, her husband (an Officer in the Ukrainian army) proposed to her in Sagres in 2018. They have a 2-yearold daughter. When the war broke out, her husband organised a driver to escort her and her child to the airport to escape abroad.

They chose Portugal as Kate had pleasant memories of her holiday here. She also wanted to live somewhere on the sea, similar to her hometown. Her mother and 10-year-old sister were not able to escape. Kate tells me that they fled underground to avoid the shooting. Around 30 people sheltered in an office space with desks barricading the windows, so there was no light and no bathroom. They lived on one potato a day and Kate didn’t know if they were alive or dead as there was no telephone signal or internet. Finally, her mother found the courage to climb onto a roof to get a phone signal. It was only then that Kate knew she was alive. Her eyes well with tears at the memory. Her mother told her that the Russians were telling everyone that there was nowhere to escape, but Kate’s husband found the opportunity to get them all out of Mariupol and into Portugal. “We lived a beautiful life,” Kate says. “It was very similar to the Algarve. We had a nice modern house, but we hear that Russian soldiers are now living in it and they stole everything. We can see from our TV streaming service that our television is now in Russia.” Kate's husband fought in the 2014 war and the current one; he was injured in both wars. When he talked to the Russian

soldiers they had captured, he concluded that many were there to loot and take property for personal gain. I asked Kate how this made her feel. “You would go crazy if you start to think about buildings and possessions. I just am thankful my family is safe.”

Kate's mother is now working online and her sister has started in a Portuguese school. Kate and her husband consulted and decided they would prefer to start a business here than sit back and do nothing. Kate tells me that Ukrainian women spend a lot of time on their appearance so beauty salons are big business. She is trying to emulate that in the Algarve.

That is how Mriya was born. Translated from Ukrainian as “dream,” the beauty salon behind the bus station in Lagos is a relaxing hub. Here you can forget about your daily routine. The beauticians give different treatments: cosmetology, nails, brows, lashes, or permanent make-up for different occasions and for every day. Kate employs the Ukrainian ladies that have found safety in Lagos to give them independence. She still brings Ukrainian products to Lagos and you can sit in one of their massage chairs to have a pedicure. She offers me a manicure and one of her employees, Ksenia, does an amazing job. They also suggest simultaneous services for busy Mums or working

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A History of Algarve Expats

Immigrants and Expats in Lagos from 1897 to 1972 (Part 4)

WORDS Marta Nogueira

Once again, the Livro de Registo de Bilhetes de Residência de Estrangeiros book, held by the Arquivo Municipal de Lagos, provides us with more intriguing life stories.

This month the foreign registry book leads to the investigation of an old occupation – the tanoaria. Translated in English as ‘cooperage,’ it is a forgotten art. Many years ago, the tanoaria made and repaired wooden casks, barrels, vats, buckets, troughs, oaks and other similar containers from timber staves that were usually heated or steamed. These containers were used not only to store or transport liquids, such as wine and other beverages, but also to keep goods like fish.

Although this profession no longer exists in Lagos the influence of the tanoeiros can still be seen in the naming of one of the crossroads in the old city: the Travessa dos Tanoeiros. Walking along the bustling 25 Abril Street, in the direction of this crossroad, we may find some traces of that period of history. Perhaps this will allow us to travel back

through time and discover a glimpse of the tanoarias as they once existed. Although we won’t literally be able to time travel, we may feel nostalgic about those days from the past.

The tanoaria industry was given the status of third-class (in line with the legislation at the beginning of the 20th century), due to the inconveniences it caused (noise, smoke and the danger of fire). The name Travessa dos Tanoeiros has existed since at least 1924. We can affirm this using the city plan of Captain Raul Frederico Rato. This Is a very important document detailing the urban history of Lagos. The reading of this plan was possible due to the work of the architect Armando Amaro, who studied it for his thesis on Lagos' canning industry. Over the passage of time, many Lagos streets have changed their names but the Travessa dos Tanoeiros kept its original designation. To discover its true origins more research

Pormenor of the Plan of 1924 based on the urban survey of Raul Frederico Rato (2020) where is visible the “Travessa dos Tanoeiros”

Rua 25 de Abril - Lagos

“Barricas de Salmoura de Biqueirão “ from the fish-canning factory of Ferragudo from Júdice Fialho, 1985 - - Autor José Gameiro. Portimão Museum

would be needed. Was the crossroad named because of the importance of the activity to the area? Was it named because of the number of workshops in existence? In which century was the crossroad named and what was its prior name?

The book Livro de Registo de Bilhetes de Residência de Estrangeiros tells us the names of the immigrants that had this occupation at the beginning of the 20th century. In 1916, when the book began its documentation of the occupations, four foreign “tanoeiros” were recorded.Two came from Austria: Venceslav Miroslav Sasso and Ivan Kandija. Two more were from Italy: Giuiseppe Mineo and Vito Anello. Vito Anello, 30 years old, from Trapani, Italy, requested his first licence in 1906 for a period of one year. He was married, but he came alone. In 1916, Vito requested a new licence but this time with the inclusion of his wife, Rosa Galia Anello, 35 years old, “doméstica” (housekeeper), and also for his sons and

daughters, Elisabeta Anello, three years old, born in Trapani, Italy; Vincenzo Anello, three-years-old, and Gaspare Anello, one-year-old, both born in Lagos and Brigida Anello, onemonth-old, also born in Lagos! There are records for the family Anello until 1918 (the duration of the titles was for six months with the date, 9 March, 1918). The book does not include information for the years 1920 to 1923 so we do not know if the family stayed in Lagos for a longer period. We do know that no further information about the Anello family was included in the book from 1924 onwards.

Another tanoeiro, Giuiseppe Mineo, 26 years old, single, also from Trapani, Italy, requested a licence in 1916 for six months. This is the only record we have of him.

Venceslav Sasso requested a licence in 1905. From the records we can gather that he stayed for a good period of time. In 1905 the book did not provide information regarding occupation, status and other data that would become available a few years later. In 1906, the book provides more status information when we are able to see that Venceslav Sasso was married and came from Austria. In 1916, the book started to provide information about the immigrant's occupations. From this time, we can gather that Sasso had the occupation of tanoeiro. In 1918, his Portuguese wife was also recorded in this book: Luiza da Encarnação

Bandeira Sasso, 34 years old, “doméstica” (housekeeper) from Lagos. Their daughters and sons are also listed: Emilia Venceslau Sasso, 13 years old; Constantina Rosa, four years old (without the Sasso surname); José Venceslau Sasso, 12 years old; Mario Nicolau Sasso, 10 years old; Demosthenes João Sasso, 8 years old and Domingos Anjos Sasso, 2 years old, all born in Lagos. Luiza da Encarnação Bandeira Sasso, born in Lagos, daughter of José Maria Bandeira and Rosa d'Assumpção Bandeira, adopted the nationality of her husband (this information appears in the record in 1927).

Ivan Kandija is another tanoeiro, aged 37, married, from Austria. He requested his first licence in 1916 for six months. He continued to apply for licences until the year 1919, after which no further records are available.

Coopers in Lagos (beginning of XX century) - Fototeca Municipal de Lagos

In 1918, we noticed a record of Franc Melic, from Austria, with the occupation of tanoeiro, he was 33 years old and married. In 1919, he was recorded as Francisco Milich, which looks like a Portuguese version of his name. In 1919, there is also a record for his wife, Gjurk Milich, but no other information is given about her . These are the only years in which we have records for Franc Melic. We were fortunate to have access to a wonderful image of a group of tanoeiros in Lagos taken at the beginning of the 20th century. This image was provided by Fototeca Municipal. Francisco Castelo told us that the image was donated to the Fototeca by José Paula Borba and that this showed a building that formerly existed on Rua Infante de Sagres. With the help of Vito Anello’s granddaughter, Francisco Castelo, he was able to identify Vito Anello in this image (the second man from the left). This is a powerful image that provides interesting historic details. In the picture, we see a number of people, adults and children (one of the children at the front of the image holds a piece of wood in his hand and another is with one leg inside a barrel in a playful mood). There are hammers and other tools together with materials and metal strips on the floor. The adults and children are posing for the photo in a way that recreates their tasks and the items on display would be those used for the task of cooperage. Given the light and

arrangement, we would suspect that the photo was taken outside. This photo speaks of the lives of the people included in the picture and seems to say “this is what we do.”

There are many more life stories yet to be discovered through the Livro de registo de bilhetes de residência de estrangeiro. These foreign lives and their fascinating histories deserve to be known.

Part 5 – to continue

Marta Nogueira - Arquivo Municipal de Lagos – Câmara Municipal de Lagos

A list of references and footnotes is included in the online version at www.tomorrowalgarve.com

WORDS Helen Daniel

Cristiano Guerreiro is a man with an extraordinary mix of traditional ideals and wide-ranging alternative beliefs. Born in Faro but brought up in Albufeira, Cristiano is the second son of parents originally from the Alentejo.

Meet the Locals

Cristiano Guerreiro

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Cristiano is multi-talented. A qualified massage therapist with knowledge of holistic therapies, he is also a first responder for the Portuguese Red Cross. This department is responsible for efficiently providing health care to people in emergencies. He is an ambulance man who is one of the first people at the scene of an accident or any urgent situation where medical help is needed.

First and foremost, though, Cristiano is a filmmaker. In 2019, he established Canal Independente and runs a freelance video service, Guerreiro Video Production. Filmmaking is his passion and driving force. “Although always polite, I was a bit of a rebellious kid and an oddity at school,” Cristiano recounts.

“Obsessed with watching films throughout my childhood, I dreamt of becoming an actor, but when I was 12, I started thinking it would be cool to be behind a camera.”

Struggling with depression at 18, Cristiano’s brother encouraged him to study filmmaking at the University of Beira Interior. He loved this experience, and as soon as he had gained his degree, he flew to London, England.

Juggling jobs whilst pursuing his filmmaking career and moving from one home to another for four years, Cristiano forged a life in London. He often burned the candle at both ends, working during the day and filming at night. Once on the underground, he overheard someone saying something that stayed in his mind. “London is a great place to build portfolios, but not a place to stay forever.”

“I undoubtedly did work on my portfolio whilst there, filming for Jaguar and Rolls Royce and capturing many weddings and music videos. I shot a documentary for Channel Four about Brazilian heritage in London and another about homelessness.”

In 2015 Cristiano, always ambitious and focused, decided to take his film career seriously in Portugal. He returned home, invested in modern equipment and found new clients.

“I want to make a difference in this world,” he explains. “I have a compulsion to film controversial issues that will impact the viewers and create positive change; thus, I am drawn to the work of activists. I participated in and filmed the anti-fracking demonstrations in 2018, protests against bullfighting, and demolishing buildings on Faro island. Most activists do not have funding, so I often donate my work to their causes.”

Cristiano soon realised that his bills were not getting paid this way, so he had to choose meaningful work that would yield a wage! He decided to become a first responder.

“Our training, Tripulante de Ambulânçia de Socorro, is intense and thorough,” explains Cristiano. “We are taught to make onthe-spot decisions, determine whether injuries are critical or not, and act accordingly. When there is a road traffic accident, three teams have to work in conjunction with each other. The GNR controls the traffic and ensures it is safe for the ambulances to get to the scene. The Bombeiros are in charge of the vehicles and are responsible for cutting victims out of them, and the ambulance team look after the people’s health.”

At first, Cristiano was not happy with the work. He found he got too involved emotionally with the patients and was amazed

at how detached his colleagues could be. Gradually though, he too has acquired an ability to protect himself from the often shocking scenes he witnesses. “Among other things, we deal with road traffic accidents, suicides, and overdose victims. It is tense work; we never know what is in front of us when we start a shift. The summer is hectic, and it’s disturbing how much overconsumption of alcohol and drugs there is, resulting in countless fights. Also very worrying is the number of unconscious young victims who have been involuntarily spiked with drugs or alcohol.”

The life of a first responder is physically and mentally demanding. “Constantly lifting people means that our backs become damaged. We carry people on stretchers from topfloor apartment blocks and sometimes from cliff edges,” Cristiano remarks. “Occasionally, people die when we get to the scenes of accidents despite us doing our best to save them. We live with the threat of being sued, and there is no board of legal advisors behind us to protect our rights. Being sued can ruin our lives.”

First responders work long hours and are on a meagre wage. The country does not have enough ambulances, which can sometimes cause disastrous problems.

“As charming as Portugal seems, there is a darker side to life here that we witness directly as first responders. My work sometimes involves transporting victims of human trafficking and domestic abuse to safe places.” Stable-minded and calm, Cristiano aims to become a counsellor to these victims. Despite the many setbacks and difficulties, Cristiano loves his work and finds it extremely rewarding.

“There are many happy moments..saving someone’s life is awesome!” he exclaims. “I am pleased I chose this career to fund my filmmaking passion.”

IN THE ALGARVE

When I’m not feeding guinea pigs or

for

you can usually find me on two pieces of

or

down. If that sounds strange, maybe you haven’t heard of

Or

WORDS Meredith Price Levitt PHOTOGRAPHY Meredith Price Levitt

I first discovered this lyrical movement just over 20 years ago at Burning Man in the Nevada desert. It took me another 12 years to find a local teacher at the gymnasium in Tel Aviv. In 2014, six weeks after my second cesarean, I attended my first class in aerial silks. Lucky enough to learn with one of the first and best circus acrobats in Israel, Einel Gury, I was immediately hooked. Literally and figuratively. Almost 40 at the time and with a severely weakened core from major surgery that cut straight across my abdominals, it took me nearly three months to complete what we call a ‘straddle.’ The movement entails climbing up the silks and then swinging your legs backwards over your head while holding on with both hands above your body. If it sounds difficult, that’s because it is. If it sounds fun and exhilarating, that’s also true. It’s also addictive. There’s nothing more energising than climbing up to almost nine metres in the air, tying yourself up in a very specific

sequence of knots and then ‘dropping’ back to earth at lightning speed. It defies gravity. And once you do succeed, you feel strong and empowered.

Aside from the positive mental benefits, aerial silks and rope also have their fair share of physical upsides. In order to truly succeed, you have to work on full-body strength, flexibility, balance and coordination. A far cry from the bore of lifting repetitive weights at the gym, this exercise builds muscle mass in an organic way.

So as far as addictions go, this is one of the best. The downside is that it has relatively complicated requirements. You need height (a lot of it), safe rigging and – perhaps most importantly – other acrobats.

Training alone is not only no fun, but it can also be pretty dangerous. So when I left behind dozens of amazing acrobats in Tel Aviv and my beloved teacher to move to Portugal, this was one of the most difficult and important elements in my life to replace.

Here in the Western Algarve, I was lucky enough to find one other acrobat with her own backyard rig. After seven years of training alone, Italian Nadia Fasola welcomed me to her home and homemade training ground in January of 2020. Outside the small village of Barão de São Miguel, the first time I drove

to Nadia’s house I got terribly lost and ended up on a backroad with no internet connection. Eventually, I arrived and never left. For the last three years, while I have looked for a property and racked my brain over a structure that would fit in my own home garden, Nadia has been the rock in my silks foundation. A little over a year ago, two more friends and local mothers joined our group, Polish-born Luiza Maszczynska and fellow Southern American Claire Lehto from Texas. With the momentum and energy of four, we train together three times a week, keeping each other strong and balanced. In May of 2022, we attended a workshop in Porto together. Run by fellow Italian

and professional acrobat, Gianluca Gentiluomo, we drove five hours for an exceptional weekend class. The synergy was so good that Nadia decided to create the first retreat here in the Algarve with Gianluca teaching.

At the beginning of October, the first Algarve Aerial Experience happened in Barão de São Miguel. Three European acrobats joined us. Petra Engl from Vienna, Diana Lingua from Germany and her mother, Carmen Lipp from Luxembourg.

With an age range of 34 all the way up to 65, our group was absolutely perfect. Although we varied widely in skill, knowledge, regularity of training and performance experience, Gianluca managed to teach all of us something. From extremely difficult one-armed rollups to elegant hip locks and beautiful sequences, we spent an intense week training from 8:30 am until 7 pm.

By the end of the week, we were all stronger, happier and more flexible. It was a successful start to something that will keep growing. As Gianluca put it with such accuracy and beauty, “it’s important to communicate with the audience what’s happening in this lost and wonderful part of Portugal.”

Meredith Price Levitt is an American freelance writer and total aerial junkie. She’s currently building a hexagon engineered for

Readers 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: sophie@tomorrowalgarve.com

Dear Sophie Sadler,

I read with interest your story Meet the President in Tomorrow magazine. As a previously elected councillor from England, I have met the President at Vila Do Bispo over the concerns of box vans and drifters making our lives unpleasant with endless parties being held until the early hours of each morning. She must understand, as I do, the strain and problems it's causing real estate owners who are concerned with their properties at risk of being devalued. To date, the President of Vila Do Bispo has issued notices for their removal within 60 days.

For sure this is the only President in the last 20 years we can trust, and I do hope she removes the illegals that are making life unbearable for legal residents that have legally invested in Vila Do Bispo. Hip Hip Hooray, at last a real community leader is here to help us. Rute Silva for sure will get my vote for her excellent representation.

Dennis Johnson (Former UK elected Councillor )

The Paper Clip Challenge

Students at the Brave Generation Academy in Lagos started the school year with an unconventional educational challenge. Students were tasked with going into Lagos on the paper clip challenge. ‘One red paperclip’ is a website created by Canadian blogger Kyle MacDonald, who traded his way from a single red paperclip to a house in a series of fourteen online trades over the course of a year.

Learning coach Sofia decided to inspire her students with this challenge, “we used it so that our learners connect with people, improve communication skills and get to know the community of Lagos. The educational idea being this is to connect with people, to improve communication skills and also present our academy.”

Brave Generation Academy Lagos, a personalised education hybrid school located in the Marina of Lagos, which has three fundamental pillars of education, knowledge (which is the academics), skills (anything they want to learn besides

academics, like soft skills, communication skills, sports or other hobbies and interests) and community (learning to know the community, how to connect and learn from the community).

The results were absolutely amazing says Sofia. “The kids have nailed on communicating and approaching people, and they manage to do a lot of trades while connecting to the local community of Lagos. For us learning coaches, this was an amazing educational experience, that allowed them to improve their social and communication skills, especially as many of our students are international and some just arrived in the country. One of the trades was a picture from a professional photographer who was happy to trade the paperclip for a professional picture.”

Winning Kit

WORDS Annie O’Dea

Recently Olivia Cattanach Owens, a Y6 Vale Verde International School pupil, was the winner of the Youtube Kit Competition for Billy Bolt. It was her design that was chosen to be Bolt’s next kit (as pictured).

Billy Bolt, a British rider who is only 25 years old, was the first ever FIM Hard Enduro World Champion, making history back in 2021. He is regarded as one of the most talented riders in recent years to hit Hard Enduro and SuperEnduro scenes.

Born on 17 August 1997, he was besotted with motorbikes from an early age, starting his career as a teenager in local events around the North East of England. He turned professional in 2015 and rode a 300cc bike in the World Cup class at the World and British championships. Clearly, he is going from strength to strength wearing Olivia’s winning kit.

WORDS Bailey Vierthaler

A Portuguese speaker is actually called a Lusophone: due to the different dialects of Portuguese, the language is spoken in many other countries like Angola, Mozambique, and Cape Verde. ‘Tempura' isn't actually from Japan. In fact, Portugal came across Japan in the 16th century during one of their voyages and unloaded an abundance of it in the country.

Do you know any fun facts about Portugal? If so send them to sophie@tomorrowalgarve.com

The Christmas Fair that Gives Back

WORDS Alex Brennan

An and Guido, originally from Belgium, will hold their third XMAS Arts Fair, at their scenic home in Aljezur this month to raise money for Cunina and Madrugada.

The fair will be held on the 26th and 27th of November from 10.30 am until 5 pm and will exhibit a variety of intricate sustainable arts and crafts as well as paintings and handmade Christmas cards made by local artists. Not only are the crafts one of a kind, but all profits will go towards giving children from poorer countries around the world, better access to education.

An, who was a qualified nurse and also a master in African, Mexican and Indian basketry, has had a passion for art since she can remember and is constantly working on her next piece. In the market, she will be selling a variety of textile pieces. The finished pieces will consist of a ‘mish mash’ of clothes sourced from flea markets or charity shops as she gives them a ‘second chance’.

Her other creations are generally formed from her own handmade paper. She creates the paper using natural materials local to the area such as agave plant, eucalyptus, pine needles and more, inspired by her basketry roots. She then transforms this natural material into a unique piece of art in the form of a necklace, lamp, bowl and more. In fact, one of her bowls was created entirely from Christmas cards she’d received one year.

Guido will exhibit his wooden figures and candle holders. The quirky figures come in many shapes and sizes, but all portray a similar style, unique to Guido and are always made from driftwood or old pallets. Guido has always been a ‘handy man’ and enjoys helping An with the ‘technical’ side of her art, such as the lighting in her lamps. However, he also has a number of MSC, MBA and PHD’s up his sleeve as well as been an honouree judge of the commercial court.

Further to their own pieces, they have also collaborated with other local artists such as Jules van Veen who will be exhibiting her paintings, cards and gifts as well as Mary Bryde who will be showing her handmade cards.

For several years, Guido and An have been raising money for children in India, Brazil and Haiti. From helping a school become self-sufficient to introducing a maternity ward in India, to teaching two teenage boys to build so they could build their mother a house in Brazil, as well as gaining practical experience. Currently, they are supporting a young girl in Haiti through school. They made this all happen through a Belgian charity called Cunina. This non-profit organisation supports poor children from all around the world. “We have always believed it is important to give back when you are in the position to do so, but also, we realise it is important to know exactly where their

are going.”

of

goes to the admin costs of the company which is a massive decrease in normal charity

costs and is why we donate to Cunina Guido says. The pair “strongly believe that education is the key to a better future”. Cunina’s mission statement

“Anyone who has access to education, can learn a profession. This means just as much as escaping the vicious circle of poverty. Education is necessary for individual and social development and leads to sustainable development.”

sent to Cunina, the

to Madrugada, based in Luz.

provides palliative nursing from

person's

It also offers many other

terminally ill.

The Sparkly Season

As a follow-on from a successful charity lunch in May, a group of residents from Carvoeiro and Portimão are planning to complete their goal of raising 5,000€ to help the Ukrainians living in the Algarve.

They are concerned that this winter we will see the refugees in difficulties and will be able to offer them some support.

The Sparkly Season Charity Party will be held at the Holiday Inn at Armação da Pêra. Tickets are 45€ per head for an entire evening of food and entertainment. Starting with a welcome drink at 7.00 pm, followed by a delicious buffet and dancing to the live music of The Poor Man's Band. An auction of artwork from local artists' donations will take place during the evening.

The Holiday Inn has very kindly offered accommodation at a reduced rate for guests who wish to stay the night.

As the festive season approaches, Chantelle Kortekaas of Quinta Bonita and Bernadette Abbot of Algarve Families in Need are once again asking you to open your hearts and your cupboards to participate in the Reverse Advent Calendar Initiative.

In its seventh year, the initiative creates around 200 bespoke boxes filled with essential food and toiletries for those most in need within our community. For these families living on the breadline, Christmas would be a sad and meagre time. Without the support of our participants who shine some festive light into their homes through their generous donations, this holiday would be devoid of gifts and possibly even food. Many have told us that knowing that another family has thought of them throughout the month of December is almost as important as the much-needed food inside the boxes. Whilst providing practical support to these families, this initiative also motivates our own children to think of others less fortunate than themselves in the run-up to Christmas.

Reverse Advent Calendar Countdown to giving this December –and help local communities in need  RACAlgarve@gmail.com

Kid's Christmas Appeal

WORDS Alex Brennan

Each year, young people living in the residential home in Lagos (Lar de Jovens) are able to enjoy a Christmas event together, funded by The Lagos Orphans Fund and the local community. Your kind donation, no matter how big or small, will go towards providing the children with a healthy (but tasty) three-course lunch, some music and dancing and some well-deserved pressies. This year, their Christmas will be held on the 10th of December and will be kindly hosted by Munich restaurant in Lagos. The children really do look forward to this event and although receiving a gift at Christmas and having a bit of lunch doesn’t sound like much to most, it really puts a smile on their faces and means the world to them so, if you can, please donate! Alternatively, if you would like to buy a gift chosen by one of the children please email me for more information.

The Lar de Jovens offers a home to 25 young people who aren't able to reside in their family homes and is funded by CASLAS - a non-profit, government-backed organisation. The Lagos Orphans Fund was set up over 20 years ago by a few locals. Its aim is to provide extras and treats that children from a loving,

the volunteers and

well as

present, the volunteers

memories out and about.

picnics.

children to the Algar

lessons, several

centre/pool, singing

older residents to take

Glasses for Children

WORDS Bernadette Abbott

Children across the Algarve suffer a severe disadvantage at school. Hundreds, if not more, face an immediate disability as their parents do not have the resources to buy the glasses they need to participate fully in the classroom.

A large proportion of these children have unidentified needs as they have never had an eye/sight test. This is not a result of negligence by their parents. Glasses, in Portugal, are extremely expensive and beyond the means of any family living on, near or below minimum pay. There is currently no Government aid for eye tests or glasses for children, regardless of family income.

As we all know, education is a major route out of poverty and if a child cannot see sufficiently well, then they cannot make the most of their education; hence, this route is denied to them. We believe that this is a significant contributing factor to the intergenerational poverty that we see on a daily basis. This unsatisfactory situation has been a concern to us for some time, and whilst we have been able to help in a few isolated cases, we do not have the resources to address a problem of this scale.

Consequently, we are about to launch our Glasses for Children Appeal. We will appeal to individuals, groups and companies to do everything they can to help us with this project. This is a way that your help can be instrumental in changing a child’s life. Whilst we will not officially launch this campaign until 1 December, I write now to ask that if anybody is doing fundraising events over the festive season, please consider this appeal as your recipient.

As somebody who wears glasses, both for reading and for distance, I can’t imagine how I could function if I did not have the lenses I needed. Next month we will have more information about the way

forward, but in the interim, please take this message to heart and if you can help, please do.

I would also like to appeal for volunteers to help Families in Need. We will have a number of initiatives leading up to Christmas and we really need more help. Anybody with a van would be particularly welcome, but all help is appreciated.

Santa needs your help 18th Annual Shoebox Drive for the

The registered charity, Castelo de Sonhos, has more than 200 elderly in need living in this area. This Christmas the 18th Annual Shoebox Drive for the Elderly is being launched.

The boxes will be delivered to the elderly recipients by the Castelo de Sonhos team. They are hoping you will participate.

HERE IS WHAT YOU’LL NEED TO DO:

• Find an empty shoe box. Most shoe shops are only too pleased to give you one.

• Decide whether your gift will be for a man or a woman.

• Fill your shoe box with a variety of gifts (each gift may be

see suggestions below. Please pack carefully and

the

well.

• Wrap the shoebox and label it for men or women, or

• Deliver filled

to a delivery point between the 15th of November and 9th of December.

IDEAS FOR ITEMS TO INCLUDE ARE:

•

soap, body lotion, bath gel, foam hairbrush, comb, mirror.

•

items: woolly hat, gloves, scarf, socks, hankies, tights or a small shawl.

•

items: sewing kit, shower cap, torch, face cloth, tea towel, small notebook and pen.

•

sweets, chocolate, cakes and biscuits. Please ensure they are well in date.

• Gifts: a small ornament or a Christmas card.

not include medicines and alcohol.

Boavista Captain’s Day

WORDS Hugh Carslaw

The highlight of any golf club calendar is Captain's day, or in Karen’s case, her Captain’s weekend. which started on Friday the 9th of September with Nine and Dine (nine holes followed by a barbeque). An AM AM competition on Saturday was followed by her Captain’s Day Stableford golf competition on Sunday. culminating in an evening black and white party.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of Boa Vista Golf Club so Karen’s year as captain coincides with what is a significant milestone in the resort’s history.

Like nearly all clubs in the Algarve, there is always a strong Charitable element which runs throughout the year. Karen’s chosen charity for 2022 is the children’s charity NECI. Naturally this has gained considerable support from the membership and also from the resort management.

To quote a well-known UK supermarket slogan “Every little helps” so one fundraising initiative is to ask the members to put a euro in the charity box if they find water in the course of their round. A modest amount, but it all adds up over the year.

The major fundraiser for the year was undoubtedly a raffle. The main prize was a year’s platinum membership for 2023, worth 2500€. It was very kindly donated by the golf resort. A big thank you to the managing director, Philip Pope, for such a generous gesture.

The draw for the raffle took place on the evening of the Captain's Black and White party. Boavista’s head of golf administration, Charlotte Milsom, picked the winning ticket. The lucky winner was Barry Whitles.

The charity raffle raised 3340€ for NECI so well done to all at Boavista –both members and staff for such a great collaborative effort. Bravo.

Algarve Moments

Jon Hough

Back in the Spring of 2022, Madrugada invited members of the public to capture the essence of the Algarve through their photographic lenses with a view to producing a fundraising calendar for 2023.

Happily, after months of encouragement and reminders through the good offices of Tomorrow magazine, a very substantial number of entries were received. The culmination of this effort has been the creation of a highly attractive calendar featuring twelve captivating images of different scenes and flavours of the Algarve. The design and production

of the calendar is thanks to Phil Harding and his team at Creation Media, who donated their time and creativity free of charge, while all printing costs were very generously covered by Laws Property Portugal who were the lead sponsor for the publication.

The Algarve Moments 2023 Calendar had its official launch on the 18th of October at the Madrugada Support Centre in Luz. Winning entrants who attended received complimentary copies of the Calendar and an appropriate prize to mark their success in the competition. John Hough, President of Madrugada, thanked all those who had entered the competition and in particular those who helped to produce the Calendar, including the two professional judges, Sue Howard and David Sheldrake who had the very difficult task of deciding which images to include.

The Algarve Moments 2023 Calendar is available at the Madrugada Support Centre in Luz and at the following Madrugada retail outlets: Encore Boutique in Luz, Homestore in Lagos, Homestore in Lagoa, and Encore 2 in Ferreiras. Laws Property Portugal has copies available at its sales office in Burgau. A suggested minimum donation of 5€ per calendar is expected for this ideal stocking filler. Why not get your copy now while stocks last?

ORIGINS OF THE

Algarvian Chimney

WORDS Luka Alexander

The Algarvian chimney, or Chaminé Algarvia in Portuguese, has become the mascot of our region, crowning the rooftops of cottages, mansions, palaces and even police stations. From the town of Vila Real de Santo António by the Spanish border to the windswept cliffs of Cape St. Vincent, this iconic structure signals that you have arrived in the Algarve, but one question remains, where did they originate?

Portugal is known for the Roman and Moorish influence, which swept across Europe over one thousand years ago, but contrary to common myth, these iconic chimneys aren’t of Islamic origin at all. Although the name “Algarve” derives from the Arabic word “al-Gharb”, meaning “the west,” chimneys never actually appeared in Arabian architecture. In fact, the chimneys that this beautiful region is known for only became fashionable during the Baroque period in the 17th and 18th centuries.

Under the reigns of King João V and José I, imports of gold and diamonds increased throughout this period, known as Royal Absolutism. It was this wealth that allowed the Portuguese Baroque style to flourish across the country.

Many of Portugal’s best-loved cathedrals, townhouses and mansions were built during this part of Portugal's long and varied history. It was common for the wealthy to tile their homes on the outside as a statement of their success. However, it wasn't just ornate tiles, cathedrals and grand mansions that evolved during this era. This era saw the evolution of the Algarvian chimney, which grew in popularity as yet another symbol of status and wealth.

It is believed that stone masons would ask their customers, “how many days of chimney do you want?” Depending on how many days of work you ordered, the more elaborate the chimney would be, meaning one could distinguish the status of a family just by looking at their chimney.

Over the centuries, the typical Algarvian chimney became more affordable due to mass production. As plain whitewashed houses were the norm for the average family, the chimney would become the main feature of any home, adding a little flare to what would otherwise be a rather basic dwelling.

In Monchique, they proudly have their own adaptation of the typical chimney in the form of a large hexagonal cylinder. To some, this may seem over the top or out of place, but rest assured, there is a practical reason behind this outlandish design. The Monchiquense chimney is traditionally much larger than others in the Algarve to suit the large fireplaces that stretched the entire length of the kitchen. These were used for heating, cooking, even doubling up as a smokehouse to cure sausages and meats, for which the area was (and still is) known. Often appearing larger at the base with a hexagonal top, this would allow for the smoke to circulate as part of the curing process. This chimney has become a symbol of the region.

It was always locally known that the former restaurant Rouxinol, on the main road to Monchique, had the largest fireplace in the Algarve. However, what is believed to be the oldest known chimney in the Algarve is situated in Porches. The chimney tops a traditional cottage belonging to the parish church that dates back to 1713 and is in pristine condition, considering its age. Back in 2016, the parish council of Porches made provisions to protect the Algarve's oldest

chimney, located near the acclaimed O Leão Restaurant, from a reconstruction project and to preserve it for future generations as part of the region's cultural history. Just a stone's throw away from the historic chimney on the aptly named Rua da Chaminé is another dating back to 1793 above the parish museum, which has been dubbed the “Doll chimney” in reference to the doll-like figure carved into its base.

Although not in the Algarve, one pair of chimneys which are arguably the most famous of them all are the two thirty-three metre tall chimneys of the National Palace of Sintra. This structure once served as the palace kitchen and was built by King João I to accommodate the many game banquets that were a frequent event in the royal calendar. Towering over Sintra’s Old Town, they have become a symbol of the town that some have nicknamed “the Portuguese Riviera.”

Today’s outlook on the typical chimney is much different to the opinions of the past. It feels reassuring to know that the Algarvian chimney has evolved into a symbol of this tranquil region, representing us all as a whole rather than separating us by class and wealth.

Dan Birch

Through the Keyhole

this new series, we go through the keyhole into people's Algarve homes to take a peek at their design ideas or how they are utilising their property in an unusual way.

Villa to Venue – With a Little Pzazz

Husband and wife team TJ and Shiloh made the move from London to Lagos just before the lockdown in February 2020. Their plan was to convert their villa into a luxury event space. Both from the Arts industry – Shiloh, a Dancer/Choreographer and TJ, an Actor/Producer – they wanted to bring their passion for entertainment and production into their new venture. And so QO Events was born.

Tomorrow readers may remember TJ as the producer and star of the Bromley Boys, which he screened in Lagos to raise money for the Tomorrow charity ‘TACT’. TJ has set up a branch of his UK production company, Itchy Fish, at his property, Quinta das Oliveiras, with the sole purpose of making films and bringing overseas productions to Portugal. “There are numerous reasons to shoot here – landscapes, extraordinary light, local talent and, of course, the weather. You can see why Portugal is fast becoming the California of Europe – and the benefits to the town and community are exponential. I’d like to think that we can be a part of that.”

Quinta das Oliveiras has been rebranded as QO. It is best described as a mix of Portuguese elegance and ‘old school’ glam. Nestled in the secluded hills of Caliças, Meia Praia, and overlooking the Atlantic ocean, you can’t help but feel you’ve been transported to a little piece of paradise.

TJ explains, “Lagos has had a firm place in our hearts for many years so moving here was something of a no-brainer. Our daughter was of an age where she was adaptable and Shiloh and I were ready to write the next chapter in our lives. We wanted to create a space that could capture magical moments. The venue allows for what we hope is a lot of photo opportunities and wonderful memories!” Walking around QO, you can’t help but feel the love that has

gone into making the venue what it is. “The work took just over six months which, in the broad scheme of things, is pretty quick,” Shiloh explains. “We were lucky to work with a great team that bought into our vision. QO is a testament to all their hard work.”

TJ goes on “Don’t really like to mention the ‘C’ (COVID) word, but it has allowed us time to work on the QO brand, what it stands for, and in sourcing an array of amazing suppliers. The talent in the Algarve within the hospitality sector is truly amazing.” The main terrace and pool area can be configured for intimate events of 50 right up to 200 around/on the pool, where a glass platform can be built that doubles as a dance floor! Within the area, QO’s grand exterior and stair staircase feature as the dramatic backdrop to the event. For larger celebrations of up to 300, a marquee can be erected in a dedicated area. QO Events offer the property on a private dry hire basis (venue only) or alongside its experienced event services. The QO team

created

only the

any event

and execution

to think that’s

with a little

and the

The Artists’ Garden

Jan and Nigel Chapman, who have lived near Olhão for nearly twenty years, have created one of my favourite Algarve gardens.

WORDS Tamsin Varley

The couple have cleverly worked with the natural flora and numerous rocks on their land to create a fabulous retreat. Near the house, the garden is more developed with hard landscaping incorporating a stunning swimming pool area with raised beds on the north side of the house and a beautifully relaxing eating area on the other side. As a lot of the two-acre plot was inaccessible, paths have been created through the natural flora further away from the house so it can be explored more easily. Home-made artwork, such as metal birds, mosaics, arches and bottle art is also interspersed throughout the garden to add a different dimension. When Jan and Nigel acquired the property, it was just a ruin with some old carob, almond and olive trees that had been

neglected for at least sixty years. They bought a pick-axe, wheelbarrow, and chainsaw, essential tools to restore some sort of order to the land. After that, their first priority was to create some height. Over the years they have planted more than one hundred trees. I love that all the cypresses are named after family and friends who wanted to buy them a plant for the garden. Other plants came from local nurseries, gardening friends and local bins, where most of their Yucca plants were acquired. Their garden is constantly evolving; every time I visit, I can’t wait to see what changes they have made. For example, on a recent visit, a tired old Lantana hedge had been removed to reveal a surprisingly large area behind it, which is now a gravel garden planted with succulents.

The garden flows so well that I assumed they must have had a long-term plan. However, it transpires that they are quite impulsive and come up with an idea and then “just get on with it.” Their ethos is to work with the natural landscape as much as possible and try and limit irrigation by using plants from the Mediterranean or succulents. They try and bring more

than plants to the garden, and have created some distinct areas, incorporated whimsical ideas, and added some artwork for height and others to give movement or colour or simply to bring a smile to your face. They believe it’s fun to turn a corner and come across something unexpected. As they said, the garden is primarily for their enjoyment, but they get a lot of pleasure if visitors enjoy it too. They also encourage birds and insects into the garden and have numerous strategically placed bird baths.

The soil in their plot is extremely variable and ranges from sand to heavy clay. In some areas, it’s easy to dig holes, so planting with a generous load of compost gets plants off to a good start. In other very rocky areas, they work with the natural flora such as Pistachia lentiscus or Mastic bush which they either trim into bushes or encourage to grow into trees. As Nigel says, no water is needed - all you need is a hedge trimmer and some imagination. Mindful of water usage, they try to keep irrigation to a minimum and are developing more gravel areas with succulents to cope with drier, hotter summers.

at

of every month,

afterwards.

“Before you say why, think why not?!

Here at Espiche we can offer you a variety of memberships to suit your needs whether you are full time residents, long term stays or just regular visitors to the Western Algarve.

You will find friendly and accommodating staff, superb course set in idyllic countryside, award winning clubhouse serving food and drink, membership boasting sixteen nationalities and a golf committee that offer a wide diverse range of competitions. Maybe competitive golf isn’t for you, well no problem, join Espiche to play social golf, consider lessons with the resident professional and see where it takes you.”

Jag älskar att köra upp mot Espiche Golfbana, varje gång tänker jag: nu har jag 18 härliga hål framför mig! Jag trivs verkligen på Espiche, personalen och medlemmarna är så välkomnande. Jag visar gärna golfbanan för mina vänner från Sverige när de hälsar på.

Jag tycker att golfbanan är utmanande och utsikten från klubbhuset är magisk. Espiche Golfklubb har potentialen att bli den bästa i Algarve!”

“Nous apprécions l’ambiance de ce club, le cadre exceptionnel qui met en valeur les paysages de l’Algarve, la qualité du parcours qui bénéficie d’une équipe d’ excellents professionnels pour l’ entretien du terrain. Nous apprécions également l’ensemble du Staff qui est toujours disponible. Après une partie de golf il est sympathique de s’installer au Club House soit à l’intérieur soit sur la terrasse pour célèbrer le 19 eme trou, soit pour déjeuner au restaurant pour apprécier les plats ”gastronomiques” du Chef.”

Anders Jilken Espiche Golf Member since 2018

Gino and Michele dos Santos Espiche Golf Members since 2014

Allan Stavert - Captain 2021/2022 Espiche Golf Member since 2015

The Silent Patient

by Alex Michaelides

WORDS Dan Costinas

One does not need to be a book addict to enjoy a charming day in the hot Algarvian paradise with a cold drink and a twisty, wellpaced, intriguing psychological thriller.

“Alicia Berenson was thirty-three years old when she killed her husband. They had been married for seven years.”

Is the snippet above appealing enough to make you continue reading? If it is not, then I shall give you a twenty-four words spoiler (without disclosing too much at all): Alicia never spoke a word after the murder, and Theo, a criminal psychotherapist, became obsessed with unravelling the motive behind her act of violence.

Alex Michaelides – I had never heard of him before February 2019. When I got the book, my first curiosity was to check who translated it into English. But I couldn’t find a name, and then I understood why. The author was half-British, he studied at Cambridge and in Los Angeles, and he lived in London for a couple of years. Even if the name sounded Greek in my ears, he was born and raised in Cyprus (a country more or less 1,000 times smaller than the USA), he wrote it in English.

”I had a lot of individual therapy for a long time, and then I became interested in studying it. I moved around to different places. I studied group therapy. I studied individual therapy. And then, my sister is a psychiatrist and she got me a part-time job at a secure unit for teenagers, which was an incredible experience. I learned so much. I didn't have the idea then for writing a novel about it, but I knew it was a formative, life-changing experience.”

~ Alex Michaelides

It is highly probable that the above-mentioned experience provided material and inspiration for his launch as a writer. In a more recent interview, Mr Michaelides confessed that, after a ten-year writing effort, he entirely rewrote The Silent Patient upon receiving constructive feedback from Uma Thurman, the American actress.

When a debut novel spends more than one year on the New York Times bestsellers list and sold in fifty countries after the first two years, not much can do to understand why it has more than 90% positive and acclaiming reviews, but to look through it; and it is well worth a read, trust me.

The Silent Patient is being developed into a movie (upcoming release in 2022) by the heavy hitters Annapurna Pictures and Plan B Entertainment. Given the reputation of these two studios, anyone who does not typically read mystery-thriller genre novels would be advised to watch the movie when it comes out but for those bookworms like me, who don't like to have a movie ruin the book, make sure you read the book first!

After such an enjoyable, thrilling and well-written book, I was excited to explore what Mr Michaelides came up with next, so I can't finish without saying a few words about The Maidens, Alex Michaelides’ second mystery book. The plot is based on Greek mythology and a secret society (I know, it sounds a bit like Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code, but I honestly hope that it is more than a disappointing pastiche). I haven't read it yet, but I promise to come again with feedback because I have an inkling that it is as cleverly constructed as The Silent Patient.

Dan Costinas is a silent reader, translator, writer, globe-trotter, and former diplomat, whose choice was to retire in Algarve.

If, after this wordy review, you still want to discover Alex Michaelide’s The Silent Patient, you can find it in Bertrand Livreiros from 3.36€ (eBook) up to 11.58€ (paperback).

Meet the Artist

Alyson Sheldrake

Contemporary full-time artist Viktoria Ganhao tells us about her love of all things art, which began at a young age.

Viktoria currently splits her time between the UK and Portugal, but she was born in Kyiv. After graduating from the Kyiv National University of Culture and Arts, Viktoria worked in the fashion industry for 17 years and pursued an entrepreneurial career. She has lived in seven countries and has travelled the world but never stopped painting. Eight years ago, she decided to devote her time to what she loves to do most – painting.

“I’m a self-taught artist, but I was lucky enough to be born and raised in an artistic family. My mother was a professional artist working mostly with oils in classical and impasto techniques. Our house was filled with books about art with people from the artistic community constantly present. So, I started to learn everything about art almost from day one, painting alongside her and other artists, who always advised me and corrected me to improve my painting skills.”

Viktoria considers herself an intuitive artist. She describes her style as “close to abstract expressionism.” Although her paintings vary in character, the theme is always similar. Her works are translations of her feelings, reflections and visual recollections. In her work, they appear as abstract combinations of colours, contrasts, and light. “I’m seeking to evoke emotions, feelings and tell life stories. Each of my paintings has a story to discover. That’s why sometimes I don’t give any name to my paintings. I’m inviting the viewer to create their own story, based on their own life experiences, to feel their own feelings looking at the details, colours and texture differences.” Her inspiration comes from her life experiences and travels

and from observing other cultures. She also explores the abundance and beauty of nature in her paintings and is not afraid of experimenting with new painting techniques. She often tries different, sometimes unusual tools and mediums, studying the combination of colours, light and shadows. “Honestly, I believe you can get inspiration from almost everything. You just need to keep your eyes open, let your senses be in command and be open-minded.”

Viktoria sees her painting process as a meditation. She will start two or three paintings at the same time. By that, she means she will work on the background, choosing colours, and adding additional texture, before making the first layers. Then she continues to work on only one painting at a time – the one which she feels inspired to create straight away, leaving the others to rest. She prefers to work in silence in a quiet environment. “I really need the quiet to listen to myself better. I can work for hours and then leave the painting to see it from a different perspective later. Sometimes I take photos during the painting process. It helps me to define my next step. I can never tell how long it takes for a painting to be finished, sometimes one day, one week or a month. It depends on many factors, on the mediums and materials I’m using, etc. When I feel I am 100% happy with what I see, that’s when it’s finished.”

Christmas Bazaar

Eupheus International School, is holding its inaugural Christmas Bazaar. All of the proceeds will be donated to the non-profit charity Existir which supports children and young adults in the local community. There will be a wide range of stalls, including a grand raffle, hot food, mulled wine, a champagne bar, home baked cake stall, bouncy castles and lots of games to win a prize. Father Christmas will be making a magical appearance.

 When: 19th November between 11 am and 3 pm | Where: Eupheus School, Loulé penelope.best@eupheus.org | +351 918 024 433

Jack and the Beanstalk Summer is drawing to a close but the Algarve’s favourite English-speaking theatre group are hard at work on their next production; a typical British production to delight young and old. The Algarveans are excited (Oh no they’re not - Oh yes they are!) to return this autumn with a family-friendly pantomime, adapted and directed by Tracey Christiansen.

 When / Where: 26 November at 7.45 pm with a matinée on Sunday 27 November at 2 pm at Carlos do Carmo theatre in Lagoa Tickets: €12. Online at BOL.pt or in person at Auditório Carlos do Carmo, Convento de S. José in Lagoa and at Município de Lagoa - Balcao Único. Also available at all Worten and FNAC outlets. the algarveans.com

Saint

the skirl of the pipes

MacGillivray (who has

to play for them).

will be a bounteous

wine, followed by

dancing will

ceilidh band, “The Sound

Loose Ends

The idea of this group is for people who are on their own and at a 'loose end' to meet other like-minded people. There are lots of plans ahead for activities beyond the monthly meetings and plans are afoot for a Whatsapp calendar. The new venue at Gemma Events was a great improvement for the growing numbers and this month a Sunday lunch at Café Ingles in Silves is also planned for the 6th.

 When: 8 November 5.30 pm Where: Gemma Events, Lagos +351 919 918 733 tom@tomorrowalgarve.com

No, woman, no cry AORCA Association presents the dance-theatre show by the Italian choreographer Marion Sparber. ‘No, woman, no cry... But when they do?’ is an artistic invitation to redefine the role of women in the modern world. The idea is to present a profound exploration of gender through dance.



When / Where: 24 November 9 pm Teatro das Figuras in Faro and 26 November 9 pm Teatro Tempo in Portimão

Tickets: 10 € with a 50% discount for children under 30 years old. For reservations contact: +351 936 781 791 / 914 308 424 (AORCA) www.aorca.pt +351 289 888 110 (Teatro das Figuras) teatrodasfiguras.bol.pt

SPORTS ROUND UP

David Lugg

Men’s International Football World Cup: The draw for the World Cup sees Portugal begin their campaign against Ghana on 24 November. The tournament in Qatar also sees them up against Uruguay (28 November) and South Korea (2 December). The group winners and runners-up will advance to the last 16. Depending upon how these results go, they could see themselves face five-time winners Brazil in the next round.

European Championships: Portugal have been given a kind draw for the UEFA EURO 2024 qualifying tournament. They have avoided all the big guns and will face Bosnia, Iceland, Luxembourg, Slovakia and Liechtenstein.

Women’s International Football Portugal has qualified for the World Cup finals after a thrilling 4-1 victory over Iceland. Having been forced to go via the playoffs, they were handed a home draw against an in-form Iceland side that had only lost two games in two years. After a goalless first half, Iceland were reduced to ten players which shifted the balance of the game. Portugal

duly scored with a penalty, only for Iceland to hit back immediately. There were no further goals in normal time, but as Icelandic legs began to tire, the home side scored three beautifully-taken extra-time goals to send them to next year’s World Cup finals in Australia and New Zealand.

Rugby

The national men’s team head to Dubai to play three matches that will determine whether they will reach the World Cup in France. They face Hong Kong (6 November 6), Kenya (12 November) and USA (18 November) with only the group winner qualifying for next year’s tournament. Victory would see Portugal qualify for the first time in their history and take their place in Group C alongside Wales, Australia, Fiji and Georgia.

Footgolf

Carlos Calvo has won the 2022 Portugal Open at the Castro Marim Golf and Country Club. The Spaniard finished his round in 15-under par, three shots clear of Portuguese player Juan Jose Serraninho. The women’s competition was won by Rebeka Rezna of Slovakia, two shots ahead of Britain’s Claire Williams. One hundred and twenty-six players took part in this year’s tournament.

The sport, which combines golf and football, is growing rapidly in popularity and now has 35,000 players across the world. Due to its fine weather and myriad of golf courses, the Algarve has become a hotspot with more events taking place each year.

World Superbikes

Alvaro Bautista has taken another step towards his maiden World Superbike title with victory in race three at the Algarve International Circuit, near Portimão. His nearest challenger, current world champion Toprak Razgatlioglu, prevailed in races one and two, but the Spaniard still holds a 56-point lead with just three races to go. Northern Ireland’s six-time world champion Jonathan Rea has a great record at the Algarve circuit but was off the pace and sits third in the championship, 82 points off the lead.

Futsal

Portugal have won the inaugural Futsal Finalissima by beating Spain in a penalty shoot-out. This capped an extraordinary twelve months after they won their first FIFA World Cup and also retained the UEFA Futsal Euro title. Despite trailing at halftime, Afonso Jesus equalised midway through the second half to take the match to penalties. Goalkeeper Edu was the hero after saving two of the four Spanish penalties whilst Portugal scored with all four attempts.

Baseball

The Loulé Ravens have become the Portuguese national champions. During a seven-month campaign that saw them play sixteen matches, they were once again paired against the Piratas da Ria in the final. In a best-of-three match, they enacted revenge upon their Aveiro-based opponents winning 12-6 and 15-0. Their unbeaten season saw the trophy return to the Algarve for the first time in thirteen years.

Musings of a MOUNTAIN BIKER

WORDS Gilly Grateley

Hi, Gilly here, delighted to be back out biking. Last month I started looking at injury prevention strategies and mentioned that I was going to take a closer look at ‘bike fitting.’ I read that a poor fit could be a potential reason for overuse injuries. Well, I hooked up with Rui from One Bike in Portimão to check over my bike fit and find out just how important it is. As it turns out, it is something we should all think about.

I need to start by saying that bike sizing and bike fitting are two different things. Bike sizing is done prior to bike fitting and should be one of your top decisions when buying a bike (new or secondhand). It refers mainly to the size of the frame. There are two key measurements used to help with this, your height and inseam (inside leg length from groin to ground), which are then applied to bike manufacturer formulas (which you can find online). We all have different upper and lower body proportions, so two riders with the same height may suit different frame sizes. There are also different calculations depending on your weight and size for good weight distribution, balance and comfort – so the message here is to do your homework or get some help before you buy to make sure you get the right frame size for you.

Bike fitting is the process of adjusting the moveable parts and checking the points of contact (saddle, pedals and bars) to optimise comfort, performance and efficiency.

The three main checks are:

Saddle height is really important for comfort, power and knee health. It is easy to set (with help), sitting on your bike with both feet off the floor, you are looking for the sweet spot between your heel touching the pedal at the bottom of the rotation without being higher than your toes. If you then measure the distance from the top of the saddle to the centre of the pedal axle you can use this for regular checks as the post can slip from time to time. If you don’t have someone to help, an industry-standard measurement is to multiply your inseam measurement by .88 and use this.

Saddle setback ensures that your forward knee is directly over your pedal when your pedals are horizontal in rotation. Moving your saddle backwards or forwards to the correct position can alleviate pressure on your undercarriage and help to increase your power. You may find you have a ruler marked on your saddle rails so you can take a note and again check the position regularly.

Reach to handlebars is the distance you reach from your saddle to your handlebars. If you are overstretching, you can alter your weight distribution, which can be uncomfortable and reduce your control. If the distance is too short and you are sitting upright you will have less power when riding. Ideally, you should reach your handlebars with a slight bend in your elbows and a straight back. If you need to change your reach, you can buy stems in different lengths to move your bars forwards or backwards.

If after these have been fitted, you feel you are struggling with pain or niggles, it is also worth checking your cleats are straight (if you wear them), your saddle is straight (horizontally), your crank is the right size for your bike frame and your saddle is the right shape for you and your type of bike. If you ride a lot and have problems or want to seriously improve your efficiency then Rui recommends a professional bike fitting. There are a few companies in Portugal that use laser systems to get a custom fit. They tend to set up for a couple of days at a time in a bike shop and operate on an appointment-only basis. For more information about frames, fitting, or this type of technical bike fitting and assessment, Rui can be contacted at info@onebike.pt

stay safe and if you have

or advice to share with the local

then I would be delighted to hear from

WORDS David Lugg

Interview with Reinaldo Teixeira

- President of the Board of Directors of the Algarve Football Association

You became president of the Algarve Football Association in the summer of 2019. Within a few months, the country was under ‘lockdown’ during the pandemic. That must have been a tough start to your tenure. It was effectively a very difficult time, not only for the Algarve FA, but also for the families. It was, above all, an event with social and economic impact. Of course, the lockdown constituted a ‘brake’ for the normal pursuit of our project, but we had to look at this as an opportunity. We took the time to reflect in terms of the internal organisation, and we were able to carry out a series of additional initiatives.

The Estádio Algarve was built for the UEFA 2004 football championships and has been used for everything from music festivals to motorsport stages. How important is it for the Algarve to have its own stadium?

It is extremely important and prestigious. It's an essential infrastructure - just look at its regular use for clubs and teams. This term, the stadium hosted three national teams in a single season for the first time. It is also up to us to make Estádio Algarve even more of a hub for sporting activity and, consequently, many other things that are important for our region. We have the strategic vision of using this magnificent infrastructure as an anchor to capture major international tournaments. This would have a huge sporting, social, touristic and consequently, economic impact.

The popularity of women’s football is growing exponentially. Earlier this year, the region hosted the 28th edition of the Algarve Cup. You must feel very proud that the Algarve has promoted this world-class tournament for such a long period?

The Algarve Cup is effectively an ex-libris of the Algarve at sports level, particularly of women's football. It is indeed an enormous source of pride to have hosted an event of this magnitude in our region. As always, the Algarve FA is always available to collaborate with the organisation so that the event can endure and improve its quality.

Guia Futebol Clube Feminino play in the Campeonato Nacional (2nd tier). They have set a fantastic example for women’s football in the Algarve. What more can be done to help give women’s football the publicity it deserves?

Guia Futebol Clube has become the largest representative of women's football in the Algarve and is the result of work that started a few years ago. It is now expected that other clubs will follow the example in the development of women's football. This is already happening. Even in our internal staff, there has been a drive to recruit more women. Portimonense are the Algarve’s top men’s side. Despite their Premier League status, the average attendance for home matches in 2022 was only 1,376 (17th out of the 18th teams). What are the reasons for this?

There has been a huge growth in the supply of football through television and other platforms. Sadly, the pandemic has caused the fans to adopt a more passive stance when it comes to going to the stadium to support their teams. Habits were lost and, even with the easing of measures and the possibility of watching live football, some fans have preferred the comfort of their sofa, much to the detriment of the stadium environment. It is clear to us that in this context, all the clubs have a lot of room for progression. A recent Algarve success story is the promotion of Moncarapachense to the national league. Despite Moncarapacho having a tiny population, their promotion must

rank as a stunning achievement?

It is an absolutely brilliant achievement - the result of magnificent work headed by the President Nemésio Martins, but involving the managers, partners, athletes and coaching staff. The Moncarapachense achievement is, for us, a (reflection of) pride and we hope that this path is solidified so that more teams from Algarve join at that level.

Football is nothing without the youth. In what aspects does the AFA help children in the Algarve?

We organise competitions for a large portion of the young population. We highlight all the social and public health benefits that this brings to our society. We have tried to get closer to schools, in order to promote the values of the Algarve FA and bring more and more children to our sport. Above all, we hope that, besides coming to practise our sport, they will grow academically. There are more courses, degrees, postgraduate courses, master's degrees and even doctorates in the field of sport.

The AFA celebrates its 100-year centenary this year. What are the goals for the future?

Despite all that has been done, we still have a lot to do. Among other projects, we need to promote a true digital transformation - to modernise the services and ways of better serving the affiliated clubs.

After a challenging three years, do you plan to continue your role as president of the AFA?

As President of the Board of Directors, I feel enormous pride in the whole team that accompanies me. At the right time, in due course, we will decide what to do in the future.

Ward

Light

It is a British tradition at this time of year we look up at the sky for fireworks and gaze in awe and amazement at the spectacle of lights, colour and displays. And this got me thinking about looking up to the night sky, admiring the stars and the moon and how it reminds me of our inner light.

We all know the stars and moon are there, twinkling away, whether we can see them or not, it’s a fact, they are just not always visible to the human eye sometimes. Like our own twinkling inner light (your soul, your chi, your prana, divine, any name you chose) is always there, waiting for you to knock on its door and welcome you with open arms. How can you connect to your beautiful inner light? Here are some ideas that I use, depending on how I feel and the time I have available.

It is a British tradition at this time of year we look up at the sky for fireworks and gaze in awe and amazement at the spectacle of lights, colour and displays. And this got me thinking about looking up to the night sky, admiring the stars and the moon and how it reminds me of our inner light. We all know the stars and moon are there, twinkling away, whether we can see them or not, it’s a fact, they are just not always visible to the human eye sometimes. Like our own twinkling inner light (your soul, your chi, your prana, divine, any name you chose) is always there, waiting for you to knock on its door and welcome you with open arms.

How can you connect to your beautiful inner light? Here are some ideas that I use, depending on how I feel and the time I have available.

• On waking place your hand on your heart, breathe in for six, breathe out for seven and ask yourself “How can I support myself today?” Think of something in your day ahead that you can do for your own good.

• Meditation - any kind, any length, anywhere. Simply stopping and breathing deep is perfect

• Yoga - whether self-practice or joining a class, you are taking time to move, stretch and release unwanted energy

• Getting out in nature - take a walk, swim or play outside

MOON MAGIC FOR NOVEMBER

Tuesday

have

Detox your life

WORDS Paula Rey

Detox has become a buzzword in the health and wellness space. But what does detoxing mean? We often associate it with nutrition, but detoxing can be much more.

Detoxing isn’t just about removing toxins. It’s more about “adding in” healthier elements. The more nutritious foods, products, practices and thoughts you add in, the less space there will be for things that don’t serve you. It often feels easier and more enjoyable to add something rather than take them away, don’t you think?

As a Health Coach, I understand that health is multidimensional and includes interconnected physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual elements; that’s why I approach health through diet and lifestyle. Honouring the truth that everyone is unique and that there is no one-size-fits-all in wellness, my mission is to help you become your own wellness advocate.

Detoxing your life isn’t a quick fix; it’s more like an ongoing journey. When we start restrictive diets or changing too many things at the same time it becomes more challenging. Making sustainable shifts means experimenting with one new thing at a time and choosing to make changes that feel small but doable, things you can actually keep long-term. This makes it easier to determine if these adjustments support your individual needs.

The overall goal of detoxing is to energise your life by adding more nourishing elements as well as reducing toxic elements that hold you from thriving and expanding as a person. A good place to start detoxing your life is by adding healthier options to some of your “unhealthy” habits until your feel comfortable enough to drop what doesn’t make you feel good. For example, if you want to stop drinking coffee, you can start by adding a glass of water before a cup of coffee, or you can swap for tea, herbal infusions such as liquorice, tea or cacao.

Remember, the goal is a sustainable lifestyle approach, not a quick-fix diet. Detoxing is a constant process of selfexploration. You get to choose what to focus on and adjust as you need. You may even have fun with it!

DETOXING TIPS:

• Drink filtered water instead of bottled water

A PurposeDriven Business

WORDS Matt Deasy

In my work as a small business coach here in the Algarve, I see the same problem again and again.

When I ask, for instance, a yoga teacher why they teach yoga, (and I’m not picking on yoga teachers! Entrepreneurs from all industries do the same!), the answer is invariably “I like yoga”, or “I wanted to escape the rat race”.

Matt Deasy is a coach, author, and speaker specialising in helping entrepreneurs build purpose-driven small businesses, sharing lessons he learned from 15 years as an entrepreneur with multiple businesses across Europe. His book Fire your Boss and Change the World, is being published in March 2023.

But herein lies the problem. If you run a small business or perform a profession as a freelancer, the quickest ‘win’ you can have if you want to attract more customers, is to reframe your focus from ‘what you offer’ and ‘what you do’, into what’s the purpose for the customer.

To use my yoga teacher example; maybe you love that yoga can help people improve their mental health.

So, if you start each day by asking yourself, “how can I improve the mental health of my students today?”, you’ll vastly improve your business in three ways.

INCREASE SALES

Customers will buy from you if you address their needs. For example, a student wants to pick a yoga class to decrease their stress. Yoga teacher website # 1 says: “I became a yoga teacher to escape the rat race”. Yoga teacher website # 2 says: “I am passionate about helping my students improve their mental health and reduce their stress through yoga”, who do you think that student will pick?

Expand your reach through partnerships. Continuing with our example of helping students reduce stress, who might you be able to partner with to achieve that goal? Maybe you could partner with a massage therapist and offer a combined ‘wellness package’ to your combined audience, therefore increasing your reach for free.

GIVE YOUR WORK MEANING

Running a business is tough, and stressful. The spreadsheets, invoices and endless responsibilities do nothing for your enjoyment of life. But reminding yourself that your work has improved someone’s mental health can be a huge boost for motivation, well-being, and a sense of achievement.

Can Be Easy

WORDS Steven Dunwell

10,000 diverse types of cryptocurrencies that include such names as Ethereum, Ripple, Bitcoin Cash, Cardano, and Litecoin.

PURELY DIGITAL

If you search on Google for "Bitcoin," you will get thousands of pictures of metal coins. Don't be fooled! You can only see cryptocurrency in a special account on your computer or phone screen.

HEY BIG SPENDER

For the moment, you'll have a really hard time spending it in Portugal! Naturally, in America, a few stores accept Crypto, such as a Deli restaurant in New York. There, using a phone or computer, you create a special code called a Blockchain, and once the code is verified by the restaurant – lunch is paid for.

YOU BUY AND SELL CRYPTO WITH “REAL” MONEY

Using a website like Coinbase.com, you can buy Crypto with real money. You create an account, enter your personal information, verify your identity, and supply a payment method. Once completed, you can invest (for example 60€) and for that, you can be the proud owner of 1/1000th or so of one bitcoin!

THE FUTURE

pay

a glass of

Energy Efficiency

Susana Martinho Lopes investigates how Portuguese homes can become more energy efficient.

Energy efficiency is a broad concept influenced by factors such as the efficiency of electrical equipment, the quality of construction, the use of renewable energy, but also the behaviour we adopt in our daily lives.

Despite the mild climate, the energy efficiency of buildings in Portugal is low enough to make the Portuguese the citizens of the European Union, most exposed to the cold and heat inside their homes. Houses that are too cold in winter are too hot in summer, forcing excessive energy consumption with consequences for the environment and the country's economy, leaving families with fewer resources in a situation of energy poverty.

According to data from the Directorate-General for Energy and Geology, buildings - including homes, businesses and public services - represent around 30% of final energy consumption in Portugal. However, it is estimated that 50% of this consumption can be reduced through energy efficiency

WORDS Susana Martinho Lopes

measures, representing an annual reduction of 400 million tonnes of CO2.

Energy efficiency is, therefore a fundamental dimension of the energy transition process. Recognised as a serious problem, energy poverty has integrated the European Union's agenda in the design and implementation of policies and strategies for the energy sector which allow compliance with the objective of climate neutrality to be achieved by 2050.

In recent years, support programmes have been created such as the Support Programme for Sustainable Buildings and the Vale Efficiency Programme, which aim to combat energy poverty and reinforce the renovation of buildings. The programmes include various types of support such as the installation of self-consumption solar systems, solar thermal systems, reinforcement of insulation and replacement of windows, among others. Despite the relative success of the measures, the scope of the programmes was limited, notably because they were less accessible to the most vulnerable classes. Besides the fact that the maximum limit of eligible expenses is low - between 200€ and 4,500€, in a sector where prices are quite high - the programme is designed in such a way that the investment is made without the applicant having the certainty of receiving the support.

However, even after implementing measures that allow for greater energy efficiency, it is important not to forget some good practices: adjust the contracted power to your needs, analyse the hourly breakdown tariffs, choose efficient appliances, completely switch off appliances when not in use, switch off heating or cooling in empty rooms, use management and monitoring systems that optimise the operation of the equipment.

Remember that the cheapest and least polluting energy is that which we do not consume and therefore do not need to produce.

susana@ffsolar.com www.ffsolar.com

Green Vibe

The founder of Green Vibe, Marta Chan, took a degree in Education and Community Intervention, which gave her the basis to get out of the box and look at our planet in a different way.

WORDS Sophie Sadler

It was only after she went travelling that she realised the extent of the problem. “I was walking around Lake Attitlan in Guatemala and came across huge piles of plastic. I couldn't believe my eyes! After my travels I felt I should take up this cause tooth and nail. It was no longer enough just to talk to my friends about the wonders of the menstrual cup or the benefits of reusing a stainless steel bottle.”

She started the Green Vibe online store sourcing items that enable a greener, more sustainable and happier life, based on the philosophy of zero waste. She also started making her own items, like reusable sanitary pads and face cleaning wipes. One item that caught my attention was the bamboo re-usable cutlery set, wrapped in her own, hand-made recycled bags, so you can take them with you wherever you go.

Fim do Mundo

So many people ask about the best steak place to eat here in the Algarve and I keep coming back to Fim do Mundo. As a result, I thought I would let you all in on the delights of this place.

THE LOW DOWN

Jo, who runs this, is a lady that truly knows her stuff when it comes to steaks (I’ll explain more later). Born in Manchester, she started this place many years ago and turned it into somewhere that is always packed (booking essential), regardless of the time of year. With initially little experience, she has created a place where the chefs all say hello if sat near the kitchens and the other staff are always smiley and helpful. A real delight.

THE DECOR The place is decorated with farming memorabilia from her

Portuguese husband, who used to be a farmer and now helps run this superb place.

THE FOOD

When settled in, Jo will pull up a chair and tell you the offerings of the day. She had Argentinian, Uruguayan and speciality Portuguese steaks on the evening Yum Yum and chums visited, as well as humongous monkfish kebabs that are huge in length and portion. As well as prawns the size of small lobsters. A rack of lamb is on the menu too. Bearing in mind meat is her speciality, vegetarians are catered to, but steaks are her speciality.

There were six of us for this visit and we settled for the usual couvert to nibble on. I was aware of the huge meat feast to come. Two of us settled for a meat platter for two. Every kind of meat you would expect. Steak, lamb cutlets, pork strips and pork steak, chicken, sausage. You name it, it was on this plate. Cooked to perfection, bbq style, it was juicy, tender and meltin-the-mouth good, served on one of those oval platters. It was enormous. So prepare to ask for a doggie bag to take home. Yum Yum chums had one of the prawns, two would be piggy. It went down a treat. Other chums had the mushroom stroganoff as a veggie option that was superb and a peppered steak, again large portions and a sirloin too. Silence descended

people went about eating. I’m sure I saw

break out in meat sweats!

were again better than average

had accompanied

a long way. Deliberately scarce on other veggie options as this was about the meat. We added a side of pepper sauce to help with the big portion of fries as a dunker, generously supplied as befitting a place like this.

Sweets were shared

cream

just finished as well as a cheesecake. To quote a phrase, Yum Yum!!

coffee were the drinks of the evening.

THE

All

wine

chatty and polite.

Liquid Dreams

Aedan Ridley worked in the bar scene in Luz and Lagos for many years before he came up with a unique concept of his own. He became a mobile barman.

“I always loved making cocktails, it's something people really enjoy and the performance of making them is a bit of theatre.”

At a friend's wedding, guests kept asking for cocktails but the catering company were only offering beer and wine. Thus Liquid Dreams was born. Specialising in cocktails, Liquid dreams brings the magic of cocktails to a special event be it a wedding, birthday or just a reason to have a drink (or two).

Catering for all sizes and styles and covering the whole of the Algarve, Aedan's packages are fully customisable. He recently went to a hen do and taught the hens how to make the

Veganism

This month Tomorrow has a special feature on veganism with an article on the pros and cons of a vegan diet from our well-being coach Ann de Jongh and vegan recipes from our new food contributor, Lita.

Being Vegan

When I opened my vegetarian restaurant in the early 90s, being a vegetarian was not very common. Being vegan was a very small minority. Stereotypically it was “hippies” and animal activists - and often, they would look very thin and unhealthy! It was also based predominantly on eating brown bread/rice/ pasta and a very soya-based diet - so getting optimal protein was especially difficult.

Over the last ten years, being vegan has become a “normal” way to eat. When Veganuary started in 2014, 3000 people participated, and in 2022 over 629,000. There is a shift in people's thinking about veganism. This has coincided with more

WORDS Ann de Jongh

research and talk about following a plant-based diet.

Putting plants, especially vegetables, fruit, nuts, legumes and seeds as the main part of your diet is the basis of the plantbased diet, which is often interchanged with being vegan – but they are not the same thing.

Being vegan means having no animal products or derivatives at all. Plant-based is about having plants as the centre of your diet, where the majority of your nutritional requirements come from, but with the addition of some animal products.

Both plant-based and vegan will require more creativity in the kitchen to ensure a fully balanced diet. Being vegan can mean it is harder to get your protein requirements. It often involves a lot of planning to ensure enough complete proteins are consumed. A lot of plants have protein, but none of them are a complete protein. You need to combine them to ensure you get the nine essential amino acids needed to make a complete protein. This is often why people are plant-based, as they feel they are lacking in protein. If you are plant-based, you can have some animal protein (which is a complete protein) when your body needs it to ensure optimal nutrition.

There are many pros and cons to being vegan, as well as being a carnivore, both from a health point of view and an environmental point of view - which is increasingly becoming

a factor in what we put on our plate. However, we need to be careful if we are being vegan from an environmental viewpoint, thinking about where our food comes from, the seasonality as well as the distance it has travelled.

In the Algarve, we are all too aware of the problems that monoculture brings to the water supply from the massive avocado farms. Avocados are a big staple in a vegan diet, as they provide a lot of beneficial nutrients, but from an environmental point of view, they can have quite a heavy footprint from transportation and water. It is estimated to be around 200 litres of water to grow one avocado. By ensuring that we buy locally and in season, we can keep the environmental impact of our food choices much lower.

There is no denying the evidence that meat produces a bigger carbon footprint, so is therefore, less environmentally friendly. However, the choices we make in our plant-based foods can also have a negative impact on the environment.

From a health point of view, everyone's health can benefit from eating more fruit and vegetables; the greater the variety, the better it is for us. This is often one reason why people feel so much better when they become vegan or plant-based, as they are being more creative in the kitchen, eating a wider variety of plants, and reducing the amount of red meat that they eat.

We need to find a way to eat that suits our body, our ethics and has the least impact on the environment. We want to ensure our bodies are fueled correctly to perform as we need them to, but we need to do this in a way that keeps our weight healthy that enables us to have a nutritionally dense and diverse diet that covers all food groups. It is full of a variety of plants, getting a good dose of antioxidants, eating foods that help our guts to be healthy, and to ensure we are getting enough protein for our needs, whether that is purely plant-based or there is some animal protein as well.

you want to be vegan or to be predominantly plantbased, there is no doubt that increasing the number of vegetables and plants that you eat and reducing the amount of red meat has a positive effect on your health.

WORDS Lita Santos

wok)

peel if you prefer)

(If you like

HOW TO PREPARE BULGUR

It is very easy to prepare bulgur and takes only around 15 minutes. Put the bulgur in cold water and bring it to a boil. As soon as the water is boiling, lower the heat and let it swell for 10 minutes.

THE PUMPKIN

Peel and cut the pumpkin into slim slices and put it into a baking pan.

CASHEW COCONUT MILK SAUCE

Grind the cashew in a blender, then add coconut milk (6x tbsp), turmeric, salt and pepper or chilli, for the ones who like it spicy. Cover the pumpkin with the sauce and put it in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes at 160ºc.

CHICKPEA CURRY

Chop the red onion and the garlic, and cut the eggplant into cubes. Put sunflower oil in a pot or wok, then add the onions first. After one minute add the eggplant and the garlic along with two tbsp of water and stir fry for around 5 minutes. Next add the cooked chickpeas, the coconut milk, cumin, curry, salt and pepper or chilli, let it cook for 10 more minutes and it is ready to serve.

Top Tip

The easy way is to buy the chickpeas precooked in a can or glass.

If you have time and want to prepare other recipes with the chickpeas, like burgers, falafel or hummus, it is better to buy dry chickpeas and soak them in water for one day.

Drain the water into a separate container, put the chickpeas in a pot, cover them with fresh water and cook them until you can crush the peas with a fork easily.

You can use the water, known as aquafaba for other recipes, such as vegan mayonnaise, a stock for soups, sauces and stew or for baking vegan cakes, which will be described in the upcoming issues.

Lalitana Vegan Kitchen

is Portuguese but lived for several years in Germany. She is a

in

cooking with local

food is international, delicious and

was the owner of the

in Lagos. After

the

is back

food for private

and taking a break for two years,

this

Tom's Tastebuds Tom's tastebuds have been tingling again this month as he once again ups his calorie count to report on local restaurants!

Beers and Baos

Don’t pass by the Avenida without taking a chance to visit The Collab, a new bar which opened in June. It offers an eclectic meeting place for good food, local wines and a vast range of beers right on the city walls with superb views over the bay.

I met one of the owners, Alys, the wife of Nathan, and I was mesmerised by her enthusiasm for Lagos, and their efforts to bring a new ‘mix’ to the Lagos life scene. We need people like them to bring new energy and momentum to steady old Lagos life. Luckily they ended up here after they met at University in Aberystwyth at a pub quiz in 2011. It sounds like they got the right answers all around! They both have led very full lives already before moving

Don’t pass by the Avenida without taking a chance to visit The Collab, a new bar which opened in June. It offers an eclectic meeting place for good food, local wines and a vast range of beers right on the city walls with superb views over the bay.

I met one of the owners, Alys, the wife of Nathan, and I was mesmerised by her enthusiasm for Lagos, and their efforts to bring a new ‘mix’ to the Lagos life scene. We need people like them to bring new energy and momentum to steady old Lagos life. Luckily they ended up here after they met at University in Aberystwyth at a pub quiz in 2011. It sounds like they got the right answers all around!

They both have led very full lives already before moving eventually to Lagos. Nathan did a twelve-month aroundthe-world trip whilst Alys worked for a brewery. Alys told me jokingly that it all eventually brought them to Portugal, firstly Lisbon and ultimately here to Lagos. Alys describes their menu as street food. Their speciality is bao buns. They are deliciously warm, with flavour-packed fillings inside a sweet white dough. The kitchen serves a simple but incredible selection to suit veggies, vegans and carnivores alike. They have a wide choice of local and natural wines and their large range of craft beers adds to the authenticity for which

have

no mean feat from a

plans

make

me! It continues

this corner of the

bring so much new

Diwali

On the 21st of October Delhi Darbur celebrated the Diwali festival with a packed restaurant, its usual unbeatable Indian food and live music from Ashleen. Delhi Darbar is a family-owned Indian restaurant that opened at the start of 2015 in Lagos. Everything is made fresh, from scratch with love and passion!

Vikas Arora and his team are committed to offering a genuine Indian family dining experience with great service. He says, “in the tradition of Indian cooking, we believe that food is a celebration of life. It nourishes not only our bodies but our spirit.”

Their high-quality ingredients are prepared by expertly trained chefs, who specialise in local and regional Indian tastes and techniques. Every time I visit I always enjoy a truly authentic Indian dining experience and this year’s Diwali night was the spiciest yet!

Diwali is a festival of lights and is one of the major festivals celebrated by Hindus, Jains and Sikhs. It normally lasts five or six days and takes place between mid-October and midNovember. One of the most popular festivals of Hinduism, Diwali symbolises the spiritual victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance.

the lead-up, celebrants prepare by cleaning and decorating their homes and workplaces with diyas (oil lamps) and rangolis (colourful art circle patterns). During Diwali, people wear their finest clothes, illuminate the interior and exterior of their homes, and perform worship ceremonies to Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity and wealth. It is a time to partake in family feasts, where mithai (sweets) and gifts are shared and people will often light fireworks.

CABRITA WINES

The Cabrita vineyard is a family-owned business developed by the Cabrita clan. It is responsible for producing local wines from local grape varieties to create a taste that is unique to the region.

The delightful Quinta Cabrita (cabrita meaning goat) is situated on the border of the Silves/Lagoa districts. From the outside, it looks like an attractive country residence, but upon further examination, a full working vineyard and winery become evident. At the vineyard, we were introduced to Sr. Denis Gonçalves, the estate’s resident oenologist, who described the operation of both the vineyard and the winery. He has been with the estate, owned by Senhor Manuel Cabrita, since 2015.

The business has been in the family for over four decades and now comprises close to seven hectares of land. In the beginning, the estate was a fruit business, producing pears, cherries, melons and table grapes. ‘Homemade’ wines began as a hobby until it was decided that wine production would be a good addition to the family enterprise. The idea was promulgated that all Portuguese grape vines should be planted to make local wine varieties. Many vineyards, especially those being bought by other European nationals, were using imported grapes like Syrah and Cabernet because of their popularity. The Cabritas decided that the terroir was important. In other words, grapes that have survived and even improved in the local environment should be supported and encouraged.

A meeting with renowned Portuguese agronomist and oenologist, António Maçanita, in 2007 gave Senhor Cabrita the confidence to expand his business and develop his ‘Cabrita’ wine brand. Maçanita was employed as a consultant from 2007 to 2009. Subsequently, his sister Joanna, also a qualified and expert winemaker is the present consultant.

CELEBRATING THE NEGRA MOLE

The Negra Mole is a Portuguese grape and has long been popular in Portugal. The name translates to Black Soft. The variety is ‘indigenous’ to the Algarve and is one of the most common grapes to be found in the region. In bygone days, it was the most widely used grape for ordinary wine ( not always good). Now, after much experimenting and blending, it is becoming a quality product. The vineyard experimented with grafting; taking a new and young Negra Mole and grafting it onto an older vine to produce a better and more consistent grape with a deeper colour and sweeter juice. In 2015, the first excellent red Negra Mole wine was produced and in 2016, the Cabrita Negra Mole won the gold medal at the Brussels wine-tasting festival. "It’s been quite a journey," exclaimed Gonçalves. It is fair to say that the Quinta da Vinha and its Negra Mole wine is the regional leader and many wineries around the Algarve are rushing to emulate the success of this Cabrita brand.

The Cabrita winery also produces a light rosé from the Negra Mole grape; its red Negra Mole of 14.5 percent alcohol results from the sweetness of the grape. New trends tend to be for less alcoholic varieties, and Denis listens carefully to the comments of his customers. “To minimise the alcohol level, it’s necessary to harvest the grapes a little earlier so the sugar content is less. We are also experimenting with fewer additives like sulphur. Nevertheless, the oft-quoted reason for a wine hangover being the sulphur content is a myth.”

Along with the Negra Mole, this vineyard is using Arinto and Verdelho. These white grape vines were chosen by this innovative vineyard and winery along with the red grape vines, Touriga Nacional, Trinca Deira and Aragonez, the latter with an origin in Spain. Now Cabrita wines are sought after by wine connoisseurs worldwide. The annual total production of the winery is around 80,000 litres.

WINE TOUR

After this fascinating insight into wine production, my wife Monique and I were given a tour of the premises with new attractive additions and completely renovated and upgraded areas, all done when Algarve wine tourism escalated in 2015. Now there’s a bar and tasting centre, an office that doubles as a lab for various testing and measuring, a wine cellar where rows of oak barrels contain wine maturing at a specific temperature, a large winery with huge steel tanks and a grape

pressing station. We learned that the crushed juice of the white grape takes 20 to 30 days to turn into wine while the time period of the red is 30 to 50 days. For new white wines, a seven-month period is allowed before the wine is bottled. One to two years is considered a minimum time period to produce a good mature wine but usually the more time the better.

The new facilities are a great asset when it comes to wine tastings, vineyard tours and special events. The guided wine tour is highly recommended. You can expect a generous wine tasting paired with excellent tapas. Furthermore, the tasting is held in a beautifully designed tasting room. The winery is open to the public from Monday to Friday. A reservation is recommended.

There is also a wine club with great benefits. Selected bottles are reserved exclusively for members and discounts are available. There are many members from Northern Europe and Scandinavia where amateur winemakers come to enjoy the ‘Portuguese Experience.’ Portugal’s beach, sea and sun vacation now has another facet, the ‘wine tour, tasting and tapas journey.’

me silly but I

fryer is an ingenious

cook just about anything. What

love the most besides how convenient it is, is how much healthier it is to prepare

Imagine instead of deep frying, you are cooking the same dish with little or any oil. It is also a great tool for a

of my favourite

do in the air fryer is cauliflower.

are a great many ways to season air-fried cauliflower but the curried version is definitely one I favour. Perfect for a starter or even as an accompanying dish on a plate, it is quick, yummy, and nutritious. I hope you will absolutely love this curried cauliflower which features an accompanying yoghurt dip.

is a super

is a great source of

and

C, K and B. It is a fantastic low-carb, low-

Bring all your seasoning ingredients together in a bowl and mix properly. Clean and cut your cauliflower into florets. Place in a deep bowl and distribute the seasoning evenly. Drizzle with olive oil. Air fry for 15 minutes at 180ºc shaking every five minutes in between. If you prefer your cauliflower a little bit crisper, then give it another five minutes in the air fryer. If you like tangy (like me), then add a little squeeze of lemon on the hot cauliflower, leave to sink in for a minute and then dip into lemon garlic yoghurt and enjoy.

LEMON GARLIC DIP

1 cup Greek

1

1

Juice

Zest

1 Garlic Clove (grated)

Never discard the cauliflower stalks, they work perfectly in stocks or in soups.

A LAZY GIRL'S

NovemberWORDS The Lazy Tigers

Well, that’s Halloween over. We know it's hard to put away the black taffeta and the domino masks, but all (very) good things must come to an end. Speaking of good things, this month, we are going to urge you to do a little forward planning. We want you to do a little work now that will pay you huge dividends and gather you great kudos among family and friends. We want you to invest time and effort in something that will save you time and money next month. We want you to make your own Christmas cake.

Shop-bought cake is all very well, and we all (especially us Lazy Girls) do it sometimes, but at Christmas, you want

the best, and you want it to suit you right down to the ground. None of this `I like this cake, but not the candied peel' or `I prefer currants to sultanas' or in our case `this cake could have done with a lot more booze!’

this recipe, you can make lots of changes within the basic framework and end up with your perfect cake. Stir Up Sunday, the traditional day for getting all your

started, falls on the 20th this year, but it's never too early. The sooner the cake is baked, the sooner you can start feeding it the alcohol!

Next month, let's decorate the cake and make easy

cookies. Before that, come and see us at London Tiger Coffee in the Old Town.

FEEDING THE CAKE – EACH TIME

• 2 tbsp of alcohol of choice

• 1 tbsp of maple syrup

METHOD

In a saucepan, bring the apple juice to a simmer, melt the butter in it, and take it off the heat. Add the alcohol and maple syrup. Pour this over the fruit in a large bowl, cover tightly and leave overnight.

The next day, or the day after, put the oven on at 160ºc - 140ºc fan/Gas 3. It's important to protect the cake really heavily, so double line a 20cm, round, deep cake tin with strong baking paper.

Beat the butter and sugar until pale and creamy, then add the eggs one at a time. As usual, if the mix starts to curdle, add a little flour and keep beating. When all the eggs are in, add the flour, spices, salt, orange zest, and nuts, then fold in the bowl of fruit plus the liquid.

Put the mix in the tin and level it. Bake for 1 ½ hours, then reduce heat to 140ºc - 120ºc fan/Gas 1 and bake for another 1 hour and 45 minutes. Insert a skewer, which should come out clean.

Let the cake cool a little on a rack, then prick it all over the top and spoon over the alcohol and maple syrup mix for the first time, till it all soaks in.

When the cake is totally cool, remove the baking paper and replace it with a fresh wrap and store it in an air-tight container.

every week until Christmas!

Olá Olhão

Part two

Following the first part of the article, Bob Tidy switches his attention to the present day, where Olhão is gaining a reputation as an appealing and quality tourist destination. When the fish canning industry went into decline, the town followed suit and became famous for things that are better left where they belong – in the past. Despite the reasons for a visit, including the excellent fresh seafood restaurants, the locals’ market on the seafront on a Saturday morning, the town needed a serious facelift. A regeneration project that took

WORDS Bob Tidy PHOTOGRAPHY Bob Tidy

place on the waterfront back in 2008 was a step in the right direction.

Approaching from Faro and turning off of the EN125 towards the town, a huge “mountain” of salt can be seen in the salt pans. It is a reminder that we are in the Ria Formosa. This is an interesting area for evening walks and cycle rides. A little further on and the first line of new luxury apartments can be seen on the left. To be writing luxury and Olhão in the same sentence is a bit weird for me because I remember the place from around twenty years ago. Whilst the old town has its

place on the waterfront back in 2008 was a step in the right direction.

Approaching from Faro and turning off of the EN125 towards the town, a huge “mountain” of salt can be seen in the salt pans. It is a reminder that we are in the Ria Formosa. This is an interesting area for evening walks and cycle rides. A little further on and the first line of new luxury apartments can be seen on the left. To be writing luxury and Olhão in the same sentence is a bit weird for me because I remember the place from around twenty years ago. Whilst the old town has its charm and there was always something very gritty and genuine about the place, today’s advertising campaign that announces the town as a “good place to live” could be an exaggeration. I am here today to check out some of what has contributed to the change in status.

The first factor is the 5-star Real Marina Hotel, complete with an open terrace swimming pool that offers views of the nearby islands. As part of the regeneration project, access to board the ferries, the availability of guided trips and improvements

on the Island's infrastructures have made the visits far more appealing than in the past. And here lies the main reason for the town’s recent success, the potential was always there, it just needed investment, development and improvement. Naturally, there is nothing quite like a five-star hotel to raise awareness and attract some money spenders. The town and surrounding area now has its own slice of the high-end property market. Many of the older townhouses have been and are being renovated. The number of quality restaurants has increased (along with the prices), and this is still a great place to buy your fresh seafood or to dine out. Talking of slices, there are a couple of very good places for pizza.

On the other side of the road from the hotel is the marina, Porto Recreio de Olhão, where the old-time fishing boats that started the town's development have simply been replaced by others with sails and modern navigation systems. The sea-faring traditions live on. Construction works on the infrastructure began in 2001 with an investment of around 1.6 million euros. The development project increased the available moorings from 300 up to 700. This is only 125 less than the famous Vilamoura Marina, and it seems to represent a good alternative in many ways. Along with an administration office, today’s marina includes nautical services areas, restaurants and a fuelling area. It also follows a set of good environmental

practices, to be considered a green port, especially regarding oil and waste management.

From here the promenade begins and can be enjoyed by those of us who don’t have an expensive yacht or can’t afford to stay in luxury accommodation. Real attention has gone into landscaping the spacious waterfront gardens and I had a very pleasant feeling simply strolling along catching the sea air with the busy road to the left and the marina to the right. A children's play area, a traditional bandstand and an area dedicated to events and open-air concerts complete the picture, not forgetting a fair amount of seagulls. Halfway along are the restored red-bricked market buildings, iconic by Olhão standards, and an array of cafés and benches to sit and enjoy the views. If I were to cross over the road from here, I would enter the main shopping area, the maze of back streets where some fine examples of period buildings can be seen, to match any found elsewhere in the region.

Moving down to the other end of the promenade is the place to catch the island ferries. To be completely honest, catching the boats a few years ago was not that pleasant and even today parking your car anywhere near the pier is still a nightmare (be warned). However, improvements have been made. A trip to the islands is a must and the beaches really do live up

to their splendid reputation. Of course, you can always take a private taxi boat and avoid all the queues. Despite the updates and recent developments, the town has not lost its charm and identity. For those who like to explore and find it and at least (or some would say at last), it has not been left behind and written off as the Algarve continues the push for a more exclusive and luxury-based image for the future. On the contrary, further plans are in place, and the next phase of investment will soon begin.

From my point of view, if the local council continues with the same quality as the work that it has done so far, I feel that this town has a real stake to claim. Worth a day trip? Definitely. A good place to live and holiday? I think that there are better options travelling further east, but yes, it has some genuine appeal. One thing is for sure, I wouldn’t go elsewhere to buy my fresh crabs.

World Animal Day

WORDS Annie O’Dea

Like many countries around the world, Portugal celebrates annually International Animal Day on 4 October, the feast day of Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals. It is a global initiative aimed at raising the status of animals, improving their welfare standards and a day of action for animal rights.

Local vets and charities here in the Algarve promote the day not only for our beloved pets but more seriously for all those animals that are mistreated, abused, homeless and unwanted. They are the ones that sadly fill our shelters and who rely on our various local animal charities and sanctuaries for their survival.

It was at such a shelter, Bamboo, that my family and I adopted two beautiful collie-crossed puppies. Now named Max and Mel, they were inseparable siblings when we visited the shelter back in August, so we decided to home them both. They are a most loving pair and have been welcome additions to our family, keeping us very active and entertained.

Bamboo’s owner Anne, together with her family and dedicated team of volunteers, work tirelessly to help shelter, feed, walk, look after medically and care for donkeys and dogs that would otherwise die. Their adoption and sterilisation programme is thorough and effective as they know good, reliable forever homes are in the animal’s best interest once vetted. They are supported in their efforts financially by Nandi, a local Lagos animal charity. Nandi has agreed to provide 3500€ to Associação Bamboo to fence around its kennels as some of the existing fences badly needed to be replaced to prevent dogs from running off.

On a worrying note, two domestic rescue cats in Lagos, Cerro das Mos area, have recently been badly injured by someone. My own cat Boo Boo was shot at by an air rifle, but thanks to our vet Luis at PetVet in Lagos, no serious long-term damage was done. Local Lagos “Cat Lady” Sandra, who has been a Nandi volunteer for many years, found her cat Felix badly torn open by a wire trap and rushed to her vet Lars where he received emergency treatment resulting in surgery. He is slowly recovering thanks to Lars and the quick action of Sandra, together with her love and care for cats, as she nurses him back to health. Hence, World Animal Day's importance in raising awareness and the continued need and care for our four-legged friends.  bambooalgarve.org

Pet's Mate

WORDS Lars Ramquist

Where has this year gone? It is almost consigned to the annals of history. Unlike 2020, which we consigned to the anals of history!

As the colder months descend upon us, some of us have knees that now work like barometers. Dad always boasted he could tell the weather better than the pretty girl on channel 9, thanks to his knees. After his knee replacement, he has kept quiet on meteorology boasts (anyone who spots the hidden joke there will be in the draw for a 5€ prize)!

In the same way, our four-legged friends, maybe a bit slower getting up for their morning walk as the mercury falls and the humidity rises. Here is a short review of ways in which the veterinary community can alleviate the suffering of arthritis in your pet: We can incorporate a multi-model approach nowadays. Remedial treatments such as acupuncture and physiotherapy protocols and laser, CO2 and ozone therapies have great success in aiding old joints.

Light exercise, such as short walks and swimming, can help with circulation and lymph drainage away from diseased joints and can improve functionality.

Invest in a nice dog bed for your pet. Some dogs will insist on sleeping on the cold concrete, but you may be able to find ways of getting an old dog to lie on new tricks!

Omega 3 supplements are a great way to mitigate inflammation in joints whilst creating other health benefits in other (nearly all) organs. Please speak with your vet about this because you must balance omega 3, 6 and 9 fatty acids in the diet.

Anti-inflammatories have been a well-touted remedy for arthritic pets. The older (yes, cheaper) ones do run the risk of gastric ulceration and kidney failure. If you are using one of these for long-term management in your old pet, discuss it with your vet and consider alternatives.

Chondroprotectives improve cartilage and capsular metabolism and now come in an array of brands. As with all nutraceuticals, there is no obligation to guarantee the ingredients. So some brands are more effective than others. We make sure to use laboratories with quality control measures in place. Speak with your vet to ensure you are not throwing your hard-earned money at magic beans, which are

pet

much

possible.

is now a new drug called Librela (and Solensa for cats) to help. It gives powerful analgesia for all affected joints and is best used with a supplement to aid in cartilage health. One injection lasts for one month with no side effects. For cats and dogs!

you want some bespoke advice to help your mate as the colder weather impinges on their hinges, talk to your vet or drop us a line. We can help them now even better than we could in days of yore (like today will soon be).

to getting the fire lit and a roast in the oven. Happy

Investigating Orcas

WORDS Sophie Sadler

After numerous sightings of orcas off the Algarve coast and reports that they were ramming boats, Sophie Sadler spoke to marine biologist Èlio Vicente to learn more about this phenomenon.

Orcas are the largest member of the dolphin family. Although Portugal does not have a resident population of these cetaceans, they are often seen in our waters as they are a transient species. They follow food migrations.

Orcas are normally seen in the Algarve in Spring when they travel from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean following the tuna. The reverse happens in the autumn, so recent

Èlio Vicente

sightings off the Algarve coast are a pod returning from the Mediterranean. Preferring cooler waters, they usually reside in higher latitudes, such as Scandinavia and off the coast of the British Isles.

On 6 October, orcas made the news over an incident involving a Swedish couple on board a boat off the Cascais coast. They were left without a motor on their vessel after a group of orcas rammed their boat. This followed an intervention off Sines in July, where a group of orcas damaged a sailing boat so badly that it sank. The occupants were able to board a dinghy and radio for help.

So what is causing this behaviour? Élio Vicente, who works at Zoomarine, is an expert in dolphin behaviour. “If orcas see a boat, they get curious. The younger males, between three and 14 years old (who you could call ‘the teenagers’ in the pod), will go to investigate. They are acoustic animals, so they find boats with engines fascinating. In the last five years, we have witnessed an interesting trend in Cadiz and Gibraltar and now in Portugal, where young males interact with the rudder. The rudder makes noise and moves and this is interesting for them.”

What Èlio is describing is similar to a dog chasing a squeaky toy. “Yes, it is a play behaviour; it is not aggressive. Once they have destroyed the rudder, they then move on. They are not

trying to knock the people into the water and they will not kill humans.”

Yacht owners are calling for more information on how to handle dolphin interactions which can damage their boats. The advice from the ICNF is that if sailors see orcas, they should immediately switch off the engine.

So are orcas dangerous? “Well, dogs attack humans, yet we still call them our best friends. Orcas are not dangerous, but I personally would stay in the water with a shark, but I would always get out if I saw a dolphin. They are dangerous to interact with as they are so powerful and fast that the impact of their fins could kill us. The ocean is their habitat and we should not impose our presence on them. So if you see a dolphin in the water, never try to swim with it. They will not, however, attack a human being.”

Despite the obvious concern from sailing boats,

there is no doubt that anyone who spotted orcas off the coast of the Algarve during their migration will probably feel privileged to have witnessed such a magnificent creature in the wild.

Vicente is a marine biologist and Director of Conservation at Zoomarine Aquatic Park

A Facebook group devoted to orca sightings for sailors who are calling for more advice:

Did you know

Also called Killer Whales, orcas are the largest member of the dolphin family. They were given the name "killer whale" by ancient sailors who saw them preying on large whales.

A male orca can be nearly ten meters long and weigh 10,000kg. Their dorsal fins are up to 2m tall. Orcas are highly intelligent and able to coordinate hunting tactics.

orcas are thought to live to 80 years of age or more.

by Sandra Rio

Saving our Wonderful Wildlife

Following on from our ‘Animal Rescue’ series from RIAS, Tomorrow sent Vaughan Willmore to visit the Algarve's wildlife hospital to find out more.

It’s impossible to imagine the pain and the terror he must have been feeling, his fragile little body damaged by the impact of a motor vehicle. And now here he was, shaking and scared in the most unusual of surroundings. How could this poor little beech marten know he’d arrived at RIAS? But, thanks to their expertise, love and nurturing, his miraculous four-month journey of recovery was about to begin.

Located in the beautiful Ria Formosa Natural Park near Olhão, the Centre for the Recovery and Research of Wild Animals (RIAS) is the Algarve’s (and southern Alentejo’s) only wildlife rehabilitation and research centre. And what fantastic work they do.

Vera at Rias

Vera Marques has worked for RIAS for four years. Born in the Alentejo, she studied animal biology in the Algarve before moving to Lisbon for her master’s degree. When the chance came to return to the Algarve and help local wildlife, it was the opportunity she’s been looking for to put her skills into practice by helping local wildlife. Vera is joined in her work by six other staff members and four volunteers. It's a talented and enthusiastic team, led by co-ordinator Fábia Azevedo.

There’s been a wildlife centre on the site for nearly twentyfive years. It was only in 2009 that it came under the control of the conservation association, Aldeia. At this point, it took on a broader remit, focusing on not only the rehabilitation of wild animals but also the investigation of risk-related factors (such as causes of death) and environmental education.

Today, RIAS receives more than 3,000 injured animals a year. Wounded birds, reptiles (chameleons and terrapins, especially), and mammals (hedgehogs, foxes and bats) are all frequent visitors. Thanks to RIAS’s fantastic work, the vast majority of them go on to make a full recovery.

Education is another crucial factor. Vera and her colleagues regularly hold classes and visit schools. “One of the most rewarding aspects,” said Vera, “is when an adult brings an animal to us after having been advised to do so by their

children. It makes me feel like our message is really getting through. Also, when I ask schoolchildren what kind of wildlife we look after, and they say things like foxes, eagles, and storks. A few years ago, they would have been saying lions and zebras! It's fantastic to see our messages are getting out there.”

RIAS is heavily reliant upon financial donations from the local public and businesses. Donations of animal feed are also gratefully received. The RIAS website includes many examples of how we can help. Volunteering to work at the shelter is one option, but please be aware that a minimum of one month is required (there’s so much to learn!). In addition to financial donations, you can also sponsor the recovery of a specific animal, something which gives you the opportunity to witness first-hand the recovery of your animal.

You can also donate expertise. For example, if you’re an electrician, joiner, painter or plumber, why not offer your services one day a month? A helping hand is always welcome. Vaughan has donated his fee from this article to RIAS.

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