5000 FREE copies October 2017 | Edition 71
www.tomorrowalgarve.com |  TomorrowAlgarve
A COMMUNITY MAGAZINE COVERING LAGOS TO ALJEZUR
Community Could Portugal become the jazz capital of Europe?
Community Flying philosophy
Community Our arty bus shelters
What's On Get gardening Plus much more...
THE ALGARVE PROPERTY SPECIALISTS
Editor's Welcome SEDE: 86, MILBOROUGH CRESCENT, LONDON, UK , SE12 ORW. UK . PERIODICIDADE: MENSAL . TIRAGEN: 4,000 | TIPOGRAFIA: C/ AL MEDITERRÁNEO, 29, POLÍGONO DE SAN RAFAEL, 04230, HUÉRCAL DE ALMERÍA CIF: B04250056
Steven and Tom at our Charity Golf Day
Enjoy autumn in the Algarve This is a wonderful time of the year in the Algarve. It’s less busy and hot and everything’s starting to quieten down a little – for some of us anyway. Last month we held our fourth annual golf day with Espiche Golf Club and what an outstanding success it proved to be! Over €4500 was raised for our local good causes which include Madrugada, the palliative care charity, the Lagos soup kitchen, Mustard Seed, and CASLAS, the home for disadvantaged children. You, our readers continue to amaze us with your generosity whilst, at the same time, we have great social occasions to enjoy and remember.
contact Steven to confirm your table(s) for this superb night. Remember we only can sell 120 tickets so please email Steven as soon as possible.
To inspire more readers to get involved we launched TACT, Tomorrow Algarve Charity Trust, with a ‘What would you do for charity?' With an exciting sky dive by Steven Sutton from 14000 feet at the Skydive Centre in Alvor.
We are also having a Tomorrow Indian Buffet night on November 10th at Delhi Darbar, more details later in this issue.
At the end of September we also did a massive walk from Foia to Ferragudo to raise money and awareness for our chosen charities. On November 23rd there will be another walk from the Spanish border to Cape St Vincent, four to five days with hostels planned overnight each day. If you want to take part you can email Steven Sutton at steven@tomorrowalgarve.com. Our Christmas ball at Boavista Golf Club and Spa Resort takes place on Friday December 8th. Please
Please call us anytime with your suggestions, events, letters and anything that can help make life in the western Algarve more enjoyable and rewarding - we do listen!! We hope you have a great month. Best wishes, Tom and the whole team Tom Henshaw +351 919 918 733 Amber Henshaw amber@tomorrowalgarve.com
On the cover On our cover this month is an awe-inspiring photo of Steven Sutton doing a skydive for our charity, TACT. Read more on page 20.
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www.tomorrowalgarve.com
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Community
Michael Lauren
The jazz capital of Europe BY JAZZALI
Internationally renowned musician, Michael Lauren, moved to Portugal in 2003 and now has big plans to make his adopted home the jazz capital of Europe.
Michael Lauren – "Music is what I am, and not only what I do." Internationally recognised drummer/educator Michael Lauren, adopted Portugal as his home in 2003. Leaving New York where he was born in 1950 he said; "I think it was the right place at the right time; in fact, it was an opportunity to do something special for a country that I came to love". As the middle child of three siblings growing up on Long Island, Michael’s earliest musical memories are of his mother Annette who was a classical pianist, and his grandmother, a pianist who played ‘ragtime’. Michael’s father Joseph, a chemical engineer, was not inclined towards music, preferring the world of business but who supported his son’s interest in the drums. Growing up in a community that valued music education, Michael took full advantage of his opportunities. At the age of eight he picked up the
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drum sticks and launched himself into a magical world, performing in different school sponsored musical formations including: marching band, wind ensemble, orchestra and stage band (Jazz big band). These opportunities to interact, read music, play various styles of music and work under different conductors/band directors all contributed to a full and exciting musical childhood. Whilst in elementary school, Michael was fortunate enough to begin taking private lessons with the brilliant music teacher, the renowned drummer/ percussionist Nathan Foodman who was Leonard Bernstein’s handpicked drummer to play in the orchestra of the original Broadway production of Westside Story and also played alongside such greats as Harry Belafonte. Under Foodman’s tutorage Michael progressed rapidly; he also took piano lessons and was a member of a number of his school’s musical ensembles.
In 1968, in part to meet with his family’s approval, Michael embarked on a B.F.A. in Humanistic Studies at The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland. Graduating in 1972, he then migrated to The Peabody Conservatory which forms part of JHU. There, he progressed in his classical music studies and three years later enrolled at Berklee College of Music, Boston, Massachusetts. Michael believes that “for those transitioning, classical training could be an impediment to Jazz.” Under the private mentorship of Boston based Alan Dawson, a respected jazz drummer and widely influential percussion teacher Michael determined to dedicate his career principally to jazz. Dawson’s teaching style emphasized the importance of learning the melody and structure of the tune to better fulfil the role of accompaniment and had his students play over standards while also singing the melody out loud. Dawson constantly strived for the balance between musical ideas and strict technique. Big on rudiments, Dawson developed extensive exercises that benefitted Michael’s development and have influenced the work of many world’s most famous drummers. During the middle 60s Michael made his first recordings with The Gardeners of Eden: All My Life and Girl in the Window and also worked as a Teacher/Counsellor at the Empire State Music Camp - Hurleyville, NY. In the early 70s, Michael regularly performed at many popular venues with established musicians including: Paul Anka, Tom Jones, Milt Hilton The Atlantic Brass (tours across the US and Canada), Freeway - The Fillmore East, and a TV Performance on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. In addition he was featured in a TV Documentary: PBS Television Freeway. Come the late 70s, Michael’s continued to impress, performing with, Robert Kraft, Ludmila Evanova at Carnegie Hall, Kenny Davern, Bob Wilber and Jimmy Maxwell. He recorded the CD Moodswings with Robert Kraft & The Ivory Coast and was enlisted as a Staff Drummer for Famous Music, NYC (Publishing Company).
Back in 1977 Michael was a Founding Member of the highly regarded Drummers Collective based in Manhattan, New York City. The Collective as it is now known, offers full and part-time courses to musicians and singers and has since established a great reputation, something of which Michael is rightly proud. As a professor of drums (at The Collective) for 25 years, Michael’s students came from far and wide including Portugal and it was with their admiration and encouragement that, in 1998, he ventured to the stunning shores of Europe’s most westerly mainland coast. Two years later he returned to give workshops at Instituto Orff Do Porto, ESMAE (Porto) and The Hot Clube Lisboa. In 2003 it came as no surprise to wife and artist Kathleen when Michael accepted an invitation to become the Drum Set Professor at The Superior School of Music and Performing Arts (ESMAE). Two years later he took on the role of Co-ordinator of the Jazz Department. With Michael dividing his time between Lisboa, and O’Porto, Kathleen generally remains in Lisboa to concentrate on her own established career as a children’s book illustrator and fine artist, exhibiting in New York. Michael continually travels between the two cities and much further afield to perform in a number of regular venues with different bands. Throughout Michael’s career as both a performer and educator, travel has featured heavily but he admits it’s a younger man’s game “being on the road at 40+ is difficult”. Although a stylistically diverse drummer, Michael describes himself as a jazz drummer with a rock and roll heart; he prefers hard swinging bop, New York style, late 50s and 60s. Michael explains that he is constantly searching for new ways to express tunes he has played a thousand times before; “I have one foot in the past but my music sounds fresh.
Throughout the 80s, 90s and into the new millennium there followed 20 plus years of exciting opportunities, working with a plethora of renowned artists such as: Chuck Berry, Charles Brown, David Bowie, Clarence Spady, The Holmes Brothers, The Tim Ouimette Big Band, Jerry Jemmott, Grant Green Jr, Stanley Banks, Chris McDermott, Bobby Radcliff, Popa Chubby, Jimmy Vivino; regularly performing with the House Band at Manny’s Car Wash Blues Club (NYC) and at numerous prestigious venues in the US, South Africa and Europe. Michael features in a multitude of recordings and is the author of seven publications including: The Book of Silence (Schott Publishing) and The Encyclopaedia of Double Bass Drumming (Modern Drummer Publications).
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Postcard ; Michael Lauren
Community
Michael Lauren; The Michael Lauren All Stars
New York drummers excite me, they play dynamically, both loud and soft; I need musicians who can hang with me, that I can support, gotta give them space and at the same time, they’ve gotta be aware that I’m gonna push them but the last thing I want to do is bury them. I have New York manners, often confronting and stretching players to achieve a better understanding and sound.”
Michael places a great deal of emphasis on communicating with his audience, ensuring that they feel included and the music is as exciting for them as it is to play. He likes to set up his drums to the rear but with a clear pathway to the audience; “if I’m in the middle at the back, I can hear all the musicians and at the same time, have line of sight to the audience.” Notoriously fast at setting up his Yamaha kit (15 minutes), he prides himself on being able to take it down even faster! So what is Michael doing in Portugal nowadays and where might we catch a performance? Since 2003 Michael has performed and recorded with an impressive list of musicians here in Portugal, most notably: Orquestra do Jazz de Matosinhos, The Postcard Brass Band, Jorge Costa Pinto Big Band, The Mario Santos Quintet, Orquestra de Jazz do Algarve, The Hugo Alves Quartet, 2 Tubas & Friends and many others. Information about these bands can easily be found on the Web but lovers of the Big Band sound will be familiar with the frequent performances of nationally renowned, Orquestra de Jazz do Algarve; fondly calling Lagoa home, they were founded in 2004 and are led by Lagos born trumpeter Hugo Alves. Probably, Michael’s first love is his band “The Michael Lauren All Stars” consisting of some of Portugal’s finest jazz musicians including: Carlos Barretto, Diogo Vida, Hugo Alves, Jeffery Davis, José Menezes and Nuno Ferreira and playing accessible contemporary hard bop. Formed by Michael in 2007 and performing nationally, their 2016 debut album, is described by critics as a reference disc and Michael is recognised as “The drummer and pedagogue at the heart of all this production”. Once Upon a Time in
Portugal was selected as one of the 10 Best National Albums (Arte Sonora), it is swinging, passionate and dynamic and won critical acclaim from José Antonio García López,Tomajazz, who describes it as possessing “effort, talent and creative originality.” Illya Stemkovsky, Music Critic for Modern Drummer magazine says “For Michael Lauren, ‘It don’t mean a thing…’ are words to live by” whilst Mark Sullivan, All About Jazz, writes “Exciting music, rooted in the hard bop tradition without being mired in the past.” Most poignantly, given the influence of Michael’s earlier mentor Alan Dawson, Raul da Gama, Jazz da Gama, recognises Michael as “A master of time. You will be awed by Lauren’s ability to play in the pocket, while consistently referencing melody.” So what does Michael himself say about this album: "this project aims to bring to the Portuguese public my New York attitude towards how to make music. For me, music is passion, intelligence, joy, beauty, elegance, cohesion, sharing, exploration, enthusiasm, honesty, emotionality and dynamics. I want each song to be more than groovy, be it swinging or funky and fun to listen to. It's great to be able to work with musicians who want to share my musical vision." The album’s playlist includes original material written by Michael and most of the other members of the band and two of his favourite jazz standards and will be followed in the not too distant future by a second album currently under consideration. After 30 years of marriage, Kathleen and Michael certainly have got the hang of it; they met at a birthday party for a friend, hosted by Michael’s cousin, a fellow art student. Having two creative people in one marriage could present challenges but Kathleen acknowledges that Michael has endless patience with her and this is one of the attributes she loves about him. She attends as many of Michael’s gigs as possible because she still loves to hear him play his drums. Maybe their successful marriage is, in part, due to their mutual admiration of each other; Michael is an ardent fan of Kathleen’s work. When asked what has been the best day of his life, Michael’s response was immediate “the day I picked up drumsticks” and your favourite achievement? “Changing the level of drumming in Portugal”.
For more information: www.michael-lauren.com w84ml2005@yahoo.com +351 918 409 620
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Community
Portimão-based proconsul receives MBE BY LEN PORT
In times of personal trouble, a great many British residents and visitors have been able to count on essential help from Algarve proconsul Angela Morado, whose outstanding career has been recognised by Her Majesty The Queen in the form of an honorary MBE.
Angela (second from the left) with her Portimão consular colleagues
Angela began working for the British Diplomatic Service twenty-nine years ago this month as a support officer with the British Consulate in Portimão. The accolades that accompanied the presentation of the special award - given ‘for services to the British community in Portugal’ - gave an insight into the Angela’s dedication and professionalism over this time. Bestowing the honorary MBE at a reception held at Portimão’s Tivoli Hotel, the British Ambassador to Portugal, Kirsty Hayes, said: “Angie has proved herself to be a consummate professional in dealing tenaciously with hundreds of consular cases, and providing exemplary support to many distressed and vulnerable British nationals.” She added: “Angie always sees each and every person as an individual, an essential skill in consular work, where each person has a set of unique, personal circumstances, even if the type of situation is one she has dealt with many times before. “She has a seemingly limitless supply of empathy and compassion for fellow human beings, often facing up to the worst situation in their lives in a foreign country, sometimes alone, where they don’t speak the language or understand the norms” Clive Jewell, head of the Portimão consular team, points out that British nationals here sometimes find themselves faced with circumstances ranging from upsetting to tragic Whether it is the need for an emergency travel document to get home, serious illness issues, introducing isolated, older citizens to the Portuguese welfare system or the death of a loved one, the consular team is there to help. The team also focuses attention on prevention work aimed at helping people to avoid needing assistance. “Ever since I joined the team in 2010, Angie has given me, as well
as other colleagues in Portugal and beyond, terrific support,” says Clive. “For me, Angie is a wonderful colleague and and the epitome of diplomatic excellence”. Angela came to Portugal with her parents and sister when she was 18 years old. Despite her father being Portuguese, Angela did not have the Portuguese language skills to pursue a university degree here. Instead, in October 1988 she started working for the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office at the British Consulate in the Algarve, having been advised about the job vacancy by her previous employer, Zita Neto, director of the language school Interlingua in Portimão. The British Consulate was just up the road from the school. “I was interviewed by the then Honorary British Consul, Dr. José Pearce de Azevedo, to whom I am ever grateful for teaching me the Portuguese I am able to read, write and speak today,” she says. In rising through the ranks, she has served under seven successive consuls. Commenting on her MBE award, Roger Nuttall, the British Consul in the Algarve between 2000 and 2005 who now lives in retirement in England, said: “Among former colleagues in my 40 plus years in the Diplomatic Service, Angela Morado was simply the best consular officer I ever worked with. She was conscientious, professional, and wonderful with the public, British and Portuguese alike.” He added: “I wish we could clone Angela for every consular job in the Service”. On being made a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Angela said: “I am truly honoured for the recognition and proud to work for this organisation that has provided me with so many opportunities in my career to learn and develop and to travel. “Above all it is the great job satisfaction I have every day in being able to help vulnerable people. Within the consulate we have a saying that “there is never a dull day” and this makes my job exciting.” She continued: “I have always worked with fantastic teams who have been supportive especially when dealing with the more complex cases. It is a luxury these days to be able to say that I get paid for the job that I love doing”.
To read more of Len’s work please go to his blog: algarvenewswatch.blogspot.co.uk
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Community
A day in the life of... Sally Henman If Sally Henman wrote her life story it could easily follow the storyline of Gerald Durrell’s much-loved My Family and Other Animals. Sally who, with her husband and three children, runs a farm known as Aljezur Alpacas, finds her life revolves around an eclectic mix of humans and creatures that occupy her time from the moment she is woken by her alarm at 5.20am until she tucks everyone in - kids and creatures - at 10pm. Inside the house are Sally, husband Matt, three children, Selina, 17, Aiden, 15 and Jamie 10, with Selina’s boyfriend Colin Lanigan who is 20, plus a puppy and a guinea pig. Outside are five dogs, 10 alpacas, three horses, two Shetland ponies, two donkeys, five pigs, three piglets, an assortment of ducks and chickens, five dogs and five rabbits. Sally, who worked in the travel and tourism industry in Edinburgh before the family re-located to the Algarve, also boards dogs and cats, explaining: “We believe in looking after them in a family environment and currently have 12 puppies here. We have a pen that was built for puppies from our local animal rescue charity AEZA (Association for Environment and Animal Protection of Aljezur), so if any puppies come into their shelter we can give them a more family-oriented beginning, allowing them to socialise and get them vaccinated before re-homing”. Sally, whose husband Matt works from home for Continental Wealth Management, takes up the story: The whole family love animals, any and all, and our life revolves around all of the ones we keep here on the farm, which is in a beautiful, peaceful place here
on the west coast. We began the business four years ago, initially to breed pedigree alpacas which we sell, and we also sell the fleeces and (a very important by-product!) their poo, because alpaca manure, which is dry, formed in small pellets and is virtually odourless, is a highly efficient fertiliser. Once this was up-and-running we began to grow the farm, so to speak, and we now use the eggs from the ducks and chickens for ourselves, we breed and sell the pigs, whilst the horses and donkeys are pets although Selina rides and gives private individual lessons. Next year we hope to have the time to explore more areas of growing fruits and vegetables. Of course, all of this occupies just about every waking hour. In a typical day I wake at 5.20am have a quick coffee, drop Colin off for work at Intermarche in Aljezur in time for 6am (still in my pjs), dash back to grab a couple of minutes of headline news, dress, unload and re-load dishwasher and washing machine, then stack breakfast cereal in the kitchen for the hungry kids. At 7am Matt, Selina and Aiden emerge for the day and the start of the dog walks before cleaning the kennels then feeding the dogs on their return. After that it’s time to give all the animals their fresh water and food before we have our own breakfast and coffee. Matt starts his normal work around 8.30am, while I check e-mails and do a quick walk-round of all the paddocks to make sure all the animals are in good shape. Some days I will pop out for shopping -both for the family and the animals! -before picking Colin up from work, then it’s time to make lunch for us all and at the same time prepare the vegetables for dinner.
BY MATT D’ARCY
On one typical day at 1.30 I re-load the dishwasher, take Colin back to work, go the Camara for Selina’s bus pass, fill my car with fuel, back to the farm to wait for a new dog to arrive for her holidays, take Jamie to my parents’ villa so he can play in their pool, drag the hoover round the house and put the kettle on, all the while popping out to check on the animals. Then at 4pm it’s off the vet with three of the puppies for their second vaccinations, pick Colin up from work, and, after dogwalking duties with a friend’s pet in Vale da Telha, it’s back to the farm at 6pm to take all the dogs for their various walks. Then, all the animals need their second feeding and fresh water before securing them safely for the night, with another walk-around to make sure everything is secure. At 7.15pm I start cooking dinner and welcoming another doggy boarder before we all finally sit down and eat together for the first time that day. Later, after loading the dishwasher, another doggy boarder arrives and is settled in while we all have a little valuable “us” time to unwind, Matt and Selina having a go at a jigsaw and Aiden and Jamie on the playstation. Then we dash outside for a last check on the animals and to put the chickens and ducks away for the night, then a last coffee while watching Long Lost Family. At 9.30pm the boys go to bed and at 10pm it’s bedtime for the rest of us. It is hard, exhausting work, but I don’t regard it as work; every day is a full, enriching and enjoyable experience. I don’t just love this life - I adore it and I live it to the full with my family and other animals.
The Henmans offer a boarding kennel on the farm, in a family and animal-friendly environment, for more information: +351 927 722 476
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A brand new 'Algarve Art' venture has been launched which promises to bring a new focus and online showcase for art in the region. The idea is to promote art through a new website, a new Algarve Society of Artists, and the forthcoming launch of a unique Algarve Art! a quarterly online art magazine for the Algarve. It’s the brainchild of well-known local artist, Alyson Sheldrake. She told us: “The aim is simple - to bring together, encourage, support and promote artists and art of all genres across the Algarve.” There are already over 40 members of the new Algarve Society of Artists, with new enquiries being received every day. There will also be a range of discounts, special offers and benefits also available solely to the Members through a new membership card scheme, and future plans include hosting Algarve Society of Artists exhibitions and events. The first edition of the new Algarve Art! Magazine is due to be released in early October and will be free to read online. Alyson and Dave Sheldrake arrived here in the Algarve and were inspired to follow their lifelong dreams, for Alyson that of having her own studio space and working full-time as an artist, and for Dave of becoming a professional photographer. Alyson now works full time as a successful and popular artist, and can also be found walking her rescue dog Kat on the beach every morning. She is available for private art commissions.
For more information: www.algarve-art.com +351 91 202 7256 a3art@live.co.uk
Photo courtesy of Michael Klant
A new Algarve arts project Flying art If you looked up toward the sky over Ponta da Pieadade near Lagos on Monday September 4th, you might have been wondering about the banner that was towed through the air by a small yellow aircraft. Instead of promoting a product or a tourist attraction, the metaphorical statement reflected the phenomenon of time: "O tempo é uma imagem movel" - time is a moving image.
the Art Department of the University of Education in Freiburg, Gemany. Klant has been involved with banner flights since 1999, some of which took place in the US, Italy, France, Spain, Austria, and Germany. They comprised translocations of huge hand painted sky pieces from one country to another as well as flying phrasings on volatile phenomena like time, happiness, and memory.
What seemed to be an illustration of the flight itself at first sight, turns out to be the variation of a quotation by Plato. The Greek philosopher distinguished manmade time from everlasting, immovable, numinous eternity. With the eroded rocks of the Peak of Grace in the background, various dimensions of time came together in an amazing environment. The flight was a conceptual piece of art by Michael Klant, professor at
The Plato variation was Klant's first piece in Portuguese and at the same time a motive to explore nuances of the language together with Pedro Calhamar of Skyzone Ltd. in Lagos, the company which carried out the flight. Pilot João Carrapato stated that there were some turbulance in the air. As Klant assured, he has been concerning himself with more formulations in Portuguese, hoping to perform one of them in the near future.
Excellent equestrians Readers are being invited to go and support riders from the local charity NECI as they bid to get a place in the national finals of the Riding for the Disabled Special Olympics which is due to take place in Porto later in the year. The regional qualifiers are being held at the Bensafrim showground on
October 4th. Please support the NECI riders from Riding for the Disabled Barlavento. Last year two riders from NECI qualified for the national finals and won gold and silver medals respectively. This year the charity is hoping for even better results. Everyone is welcome.
SO Portugal: +351 213 629 424 specialolympics@mail.telepac.pt | Associação de Equitação Adaptada do Barlavento: +351 912 351 114 rdb.algarve@gmail.com NECI – Núcleo Especializado Cidadão Incluso: +351 282 788 692 info@neci.pt
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Community
The house that John built BY STEPHANIE GINGER
As I turn off-road down a steep un-made track and the car lurches from boulder to boulder, my heart is in my mouth. I’ve got a bottle of water but no phone signal. Out here, just a few kilometres inland from Lagos, this countryside is as isolated as it gets. Surrounded by gorseland dotted with megalithic rocks, neighbouring habitation seems nothing more than a distant promise. Just as I’m about to give up, Dutchman and Yacht Surveyor John Venner appears around the corner surrounded by wagging dogs. Sporting a wide smile, he jumps into the car and directs me the final furlong, followed by his excitable but loyal entourage. The last few rocks give way to paving and we turn into a wide calçada driveway fringed with generous potted palms and cacti. At the end, a simple, yet elegant wooden house wrapped around with raised verandahs and topped with traditional Portuguese tiles emerges from the landscape like a well-kept secret. When people talk of building a house, they usually employ an architect, a building contractor and any number of people to do the hard graft. Not John. Everything I see around us is testament to John and his wife Sandra’s dream of a better life. It’s taken courage, ingenuity, tenacity and nearly 14 years and is still ongoing; for every stick and stone of the house that the family now calls home, John has built with his own hands.
This chapter of the Venners’ story began in 1995. Originally a weapons systems engineer in the Dutch army, John’s civilian career in Holland had evolved from working at the sharp end of engineering and design to an office job for a company building dentists’ chairs. “By ’95, I was sitting in my smart office in a hyper-modern factory, financially secure but utterly miserable,” he recalls. Like many Dutchmen, John was a keen sailor and as an engineer one of his strengths is solving problems and he knew that something needed to change. “One day I was reading an article in a water sports magazine and said to Sandra, ‘you know what? I’m going to be a yacht surveyor!’ A year later he had qualified and was working for a marine survey company. This happy state of affairs lasted until 2002 when company changes forced him to re-evaluate his future once more. That year, whilst on holiday with Sandra’s brother who lived in the Algarve, John was asked to do a couple of boat valuation surveys and he had a revelation: what if it was possible to do the job that he loved in a better environment with a kinder climate and best of all, to work for himself? “We rented a car and drove up and down the coast researching the market, checking the marinas and boats for sale.” The idea was daunting and loaded with challenges but John was so convinced he could build a brighter future for them and their small
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daughter, Celine, in Portugal, Sandra agreed to the plan. By February 2004 they had bought their plot deep in the Algarvian campo and had packed up their life in Holland. Looking back, moving to Portugal was not an ‘easy option’ for the couple and Celine, then five years old. “Everything we owned in the world was in one container, a VW transporter and the caravan,” he says. It was definitely not ‘plain sailing’ he now admits. For the first six months the family lived at Valverde Camping and John cycled into the hills to work on the site. “Even before I could put in basic services such as sewage, water and electricity, I had to build a road so that the truck could deliver our container,” he explains. By August, he’d cleared the land and installed the necessary water tank, electricity and a reed bed sewage system using natural ecological processes and he was able to move the caravan and the family. Meanwhile, John also needed to find his feet professionally in the Algarve yacht brokerage and survey market. This was possible after a fortuitous and friendly beer with Paul Mallett of Bluewater Yacht Services in Lagos who wanted to expand. “It was a tough time for everyone,” John remembers. “We worked flat out to develop the business, but there was no money and in every spare moment, I was building this house.”
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And living up to the Dutch reputation (which for the uninitiated is akin to the Scots) nothing goes to waste in John’s house. He is the master of upcycling. Take the kitchen: With customary ingenuity, he’s extended the original shed, salvaged someone else’s dated, cast -off, white units and turned it into a delightful mix of white wood and warm cherry. John’s engineering skills and eye for detail have also paid off professionally. Having weathered the rough seas of the downturn, Bluewater’s services yard, chandlery, yacht brokerage and agency is thriving and John’s reputation as an expert boat surveyor is recognised both in the Algarve and further afield. He began with two Dutch sheds transported in the container. “One was a shower shed and the other, a makeshift kitchen,” he explains. “We lived in the caravan and bit by bit the house grew up around us.”
A decade on, John and Sandra, are proud of their achievement and rightly so. Sandra’s influence in the house they now call Rainbow House (after the rainbow they saw the first time they visited the plot) is evident: a happy marriage of contemporary chic with an eclectic and individual style. Their home is comfortable, well designed and built to an exacting standard by a man with an engineer’s keen eye and a Dutchman’s common sense.
But when times were toughest, did the couple ever consider packing it in and returning to Holland? “Failure was never an option,” John insists with a grin. As I look at everything he’s built here amid the tranquillity of the Algarvian countryside, I can see why. For a man whose talents are tied to the ocean, John’s dream was always firmly on dry land. To provide a comfortable home for Sandra, their daughter Celine, now a young woman, their dogs lounging in the shade under the verandah; this was always John’s dream. And hidden at its heart still lies the quirky surprise that sums it all up: the place that started everything. The caravan.
Beautifying our bus shelters
Budens
BY DAVID FOOT
It's the time of year when LAC (Laboratório de Actividades Criativas) invites renowned street artists from around Europe to decorate walls around Lagos. Our next issue will feature some of this year's new works but, in the meantime, here are some recent creations by Jorge Pereira that you will find on bus shelters in nearby villages namely Burgau, Budens and Figueira.
Originally from Mozambique, 43- yearold Jorge is LAC's resident artist. LAC currently has an Urban Art Exhibition which is open until October 28th from Wednesday to Saturday, between 2pm and 7pm (in LAC, the former Lagos jail).
Burgau
LAC is also offering Guided Tours on October 7th and 21st at 10.30am. Figueira
For more information and reservations please contact: lac.associacaocultural@gmail.com +351 967 218 207
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Community
Local businessman with a literary leaning Former golf professional and owner of Algarve Golf Discount also has another string to his bow. He’s an author with a number of titles to his name. He said the idea for the first novel, Without Justice we are Shadows, came from a real life situation - the murder of a young schoolgirl, Rebecca Aylward, by her then boyfriend, Joshua Davies, both just 15 at the time. This led to the creation of my protagonist, Edgar Randolph, a man who cannot stand to live in a declining society that seems more intent on protecting the guilty rather than the innocent. The first novel was purposefully ended on a 'cliffhanger' - thus leading to the two sequels that followed, culminating in the Edgar Randolph trilogy. Spencer explained some of the challenges of getting his books published: “I'm always contacting publishers, sending out my manuscripts to them but, unfortunately that has become akin to trying to win the lottery. As I've been told by the publishers themselves, they receive approximately 600 manuscripts per week - somewhere in the region of 30,000 a year - and tend to accept, on average, just six or seven new writers a year!” “There are plenty of publishers yes, but this does make it still very hard to get an editor to take one's
novels seriously - there is obviously a lot of junk being written and submitted. It is the same story with agents; their portfolios are full to the brim,” Spencer added. It therefore is very important to try and get ahead of the game, in this sense, and that these days means by building a following; upon social media, so Spencer has a Facebook Author page - www. facebook.com/SpencerKissackAuthor- and trying to gain as many great reviews (5 star only, preferably) from sites where the novels sell. For me that is Amazon, for downloads and paperbacks, and lulu. com for paperbacks only. My fourth novel, Through These Fields We Tread, is a departure, genre wise, from the thrills and spills of murder and mystery. It is a heartfelt story written much more in the vein of the classics, such as The Catcher in the Rye, and Of Mice and Men, Gone with the Wind and the like. It was entered, this year, into a major new competition hosted by Amazon and Kindle, which attracted almost 3,000 entries. My novel ended up being placed 14th. Alas only the top five were selected for potential publishing deals. I am currently working on ideas for a fifth novel - the working title, There's a factory, in Greenland. This though will be at least a year away from completion as that is the time it takes for me to write and edit a novel of, generally, 100,000 words.
Algarve Golf Discount Tue to Fri 09:30 -18:30 and Sat and Sun from 10am to 5pm Rua Dom Vasco de Gama, Lote 12, 8600-722 +351 913 326 039 | His novels are available on amazon Spencer Kissack Author
Pet cemetery Lagos Council was set to open a pet cemetery on September 8th, next to the municipal kennel. The construction of the graveyard for the area’s deceased pets was one of the three most voted projects in the Lagos Participative Budget which formed part of the 2016 municipal budget. This is a first for the Algarve as there are
only pet cemeteries at Lisbon Zoo and in Santa Maria de Feira, Aveiro. The first phase of the graveyard in Rua do Bairro da Abrótea provides spaces for large, medium and small animals, as well as pleasant green spaces for contemplation.
just over €40,000. The inauguration of this cemetery is in line with the principle enshrined in Article 13 of the Universal Declaration of the Rights of Animals, according to which "a dead animal must be treated with respect," says the council.
The contract was awarded to Obras, Construção e Manutenção, Lda and cost
Thanks to Algarve Daily News for this story. www.algarvedailynews.com
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Community
As my expert co-jumper and I hurled ourselves out of the plane, all my fears left me and a sense of sheer wonder came over me. The free-fall lasted 90 seconds, after which my co-jumper deployed the parachute and after a quick jolt came - sweet silence. It was amazing how quiet it was up there.
How will you help TACT? The sky’s the limit! BY STEVEN SUTTON
Tomorrow Algarve Charitable Trust (or TACT), is the charitable arm of Tomorrow through which we distribute all the funds we raise via events such as our Golf Day and Christmas Ball to local good causes. TACT also aims to shine a light on such causes, and to lend a practical hand where possible through our once-a-quarter Giving Back Days. We launched TACT earlier this year with very little fanfare, and so last month I decided to do something to really draw attention to the organisation - by agreeing to do a tandem parachute jump with Skydive Algarve in the name of the Trust! The entire Tomorrow team here in Portugal turned out to watch me jump on Saturday September 7th, so there was no turning back - even though I had more than a few last minute nerves. It wasn’t until I was in my jump suit and climbing high into the sky inside the aircraft that it hit me: ‘I’m going to jump out of this thing!’ Once we reached 14,000 ft, it was time to get ready. As I nervously edged to the door, I looked out and took in the incredible view of the Algarve. Then came the jump!
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As I got my bearings I managed to make out Lagos, Praia da Rocha, and the railway line, the land below dotted with all the swimming pools in the area. It was like being inside a computer looking at Google Earth but on a much bigger - and more real! - scale. My co-jumper was Pol Toussaint, who hails from Brussels in Belgium and is the chief instructor at Skydive Algarve. With thousands of jumps under his belt, he was perfectly placed to point out key sights and made me feel at ease as we got closer to terra firma. The company’s marketing director, Althea (who is also a licensed coach) arranged everything and jumped alongside us, taking the pictures you can see here. She is clearly passionate about skydiving, telling me: “I think it's a direct line to a source of joy for those brave enough to try it.” Alongside her role in the family business (which has sites in Spain and the UK in addition to the Algarve), she also has 10 years charity experience as a volunteer and director, working with homeless women and children, children from troubled families and animals. “I feel I have more purpose when I'm doing something that gives back,” she says. I have to say a huge thanks to Althea and the team at Skydiving Algarve for giving me the opportunity to do such an amazing thing. In the spirit of TACT, I must also mention the non-profit organisation they support, Right Choice Academy. This charity helps enables young people to take part in activities that may otherwise be inaccessible or unknown to them due to social, economic or personal disadvantage. A very worthwhile cause! We have plenty of fundraising and lend-a-hand TACT events planned for the future, which we’ll announce in the magazine, but we always welcome help. So what could you do for TACT? From coffee mornings to sponsored walks/bean baths/head shavings, let us know and we will support and promote you - and maybe even get involved!
toldos - awnings sun wind rain protection
toldolanda
info@toldolanda.com | www.toldolanda.com | 914 609 517
Community
From Spain to Portugal in under two minutes
BY JACKIE BILLINGS
On a sunny September morning I stood nervously on a small, wooden platform just below the castle at Sanlúcar de Guadiana, Spain, with seven other Association for the Protection of Animals in the Algarve (APAA) supporters. We were waiting for our turn to cross the Guadiana River whilst dangling from a 720-metre cable. Our landing stage in Alcoutim in Portugal, located just across the border, seemed a long way off - and the river was a long way down! With pounding heart and churning stomach, I quickly stepped forward as I wanted to get it over with as soon as possible. The longer I waited, the more chance there would be of backing out, which really was unthinkable as I’d have to return a substantial amount of money to my sponsors. My harness was checked, I was clipped onto the wire and I grabbed the metal bar. I instantly worried that my sweaty palms would cause my hands to slip off! I raised my legs to the correct horizontal position, the gate opened and I was off, whizzing through the air at 70 kph. I thought that I’d have my eyes shut tight with fear, but no - it was amazing! It didn’t feel as if I was travelling that fast and I was able to look around. I wanted to be up there for much longer. After landing I made my way (on sightly wobbly legs) to watch the rest of the APAA team descend. All back on terra firma and after a much-needed drink in the town, we made our way to lunch where we joined supporters of the day’s organisers,
Streetlife, a new animal charity that launched in the Eastern Algarve that day. I met Streetlife’s founder members, Linda and Graeme Cree, a couple of months ago, along with APAA president Jenny Tucker. As a long-established animal charity, they were keen to learn from the APAA and form an informal working relationship with us. That’s when we learned of their upcoming ‘zip for a snip’ day, organised to raise funds for their sterilisation programme. They suggested we join in to raise money for the APAA, and somehow Jenny convinced me it would a good idea! Our thanks must go to Streetlife for organising such a fun day, and we wish them every success with their sterilisation programme. Thanks too must go to our intrepid band of zippers: Gill, Heather, Maggie, Tony, Alistair and Miguel. Our champion fundraiser for the day was Maggie, who later told us that this was one way of thanking APAA for helping to pay for her dog’s life-saving surgery a few years ago. And of course, we have to thank everyone who sponsored us. When we first thought about doing this, Jenny and I hoped we would raise €500. However, through the generosity of our supporters, we raised the staggering sum of over €1,800! We understand that Streetlife also raised a similar amount, so it was a very successful day all round. We would be absolutely thrilled if we could make our total €2,000, so if you haven’t already sponsored us it isn’t too late - just drop me an email.
For more information: jackie.apaaportugal@gmail.com
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Community
Ten minutes with… Tim Motion Originally from Rathkeale in Country Limerick, Ireland, 81-year-old photographer Tim lived in Carvoeiro during the sixties and seventies. He recently launched photo book Algarve 63, which features a collection of 63 fascinating images taken during his time here. We caught up with him to discover more about his work and his life in the Algarve…
How did you become a photographer? My interest in photography began at school when I was about ten years old; I would make daylight prints at the kitchen window. However it was 1963 when I first developed a practical interest, taking the photographs for Patrick Swift and David Wright's book Algarve - A Portrait and a Guide. The photographs which appear in my book, Algarve 63, were taken at this time. What originally brought you to the Algarve? Port wine, a girlfriend and a Jaguar XK120. It was serendipity that saw us end up in Carvoeiro - we simply decided to turn right at the crossroads in Lagoa. What was the town and the people who lived there like at that time? It was a simple fishing village with two telephones, one television, a sardine canning factory, no mains water, numerous tabernas, and one car plus a local taxi. The inhabitants were predominantly fishermen with local farming connections. Work was poorly paid and life was hard. One old fisherman told me that his 'breakfast' was a sopa consisting of a clove of garlic, olive oil, a sprig of parsley
and hot water, plus a crust of bread. Were there any challenges to living here then? It depends what you mean by ‘challenges’. Life was very simple. If you were used to a life of luxury with 'all mod cons' then this was not for you! We showered in cold water drawn from the well or cisterna and our mattresses were stuffed with maize husks. There was no central heating in the damp winters and no air con in summer. We had no telephone, no TV. However, our fish lunch came up on the beach every day, unless there had been a stormy night at sea. What friends did you make here, and are you still in touch? Apart from the local people who were very friendly and whose children I still know, I met Patrick and Oonagh Swift and became part of their family. Patrick started Porches Pottery with the Portuguese painter Lima de Freitas in 1966, and it is now run by his daughters, Julie and Stella. I still see them both and stay with Julie on my visits to the area. I should also mention that I married a local beauty and our children were born in Lagoa and Lagos in 1966 and
1968. I always visit some of the family in Carvoeiro when I come to stay. When did you move on and why? After running the discotheque Sobe e Desce (now The Jailhouse) for eight years, revolution and divorce prompted my move to the UK. I now live in London and visit the Algarve as often as possible. What did you love most about living in the Algarve? The cheap living and fresh, seasonal food (if you were eating broad beans you knew it was January), plus plenty more: sunshine, the freshest fish, winter storms, chicken piri-piri, bifanas, lulas recheadas and, most importantly, the very friendly people. Tim’s book, Algarve 63, is available now. Contact Tim directly to purchase your copy, or else you can pick one up at various locations in the Algarve - see the ENFOLA website for details. tim@timmotion.com www.encontrosfotografialagoa.pt/algarve-63
Local loves: Tim’s favourite…
Museum or attraction I’m keen to visit Museu de Portimão there’s a photo in my book of one of the boats they refurbished. www.museudeportimao.pt
View It has to be looking back down towards the ocean from the top of Fóia in the Monchique mountains. Image © Graeme Maclean via CC
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Local bar I love sitting in Joaquim and Leticia Jacinto's bar in Carvoeiro (Doce Mar Café) eating snails. Look for the sign that reads ’há caracóis!’ Rua dos Pescadores, 57
Community
Drive your ambition Is it time to get your game going? Here Ethan Shaw, Espiche Golf Club’s professional golfer, shares some more top tips. This month ‘Normal Height Pitch Shot – Sand Wedge’.
Set-Up: Place the ball in the middle of your stance, with the clubface pointing towards the target and have 60% of your body weight on your left leg. Try and make sure the handle of the club sits naturally and reduce excessive shaft lean towards the target, this will deloft the club and go against what we are trying to do.
Backswing: Keep the body weight on the left leg as we swing the club back. Make sure that the club travels on the correct arc around the body, people often take the club back too steeply and outside the line, which if not recovered properly can lead to the dreaded shank! The variable with this shot is the amount of wrist hinge, some prefer a lot and some people would rather keep it to a minimum – if there is some wrist hinge I am happy
Impact: If we have done the backswing correctly the downswing should be a little easier. As we make our way back to the ball we are trying to rotate our body as early as we can. I see too many times people not rotating during a short shot and that can result in one of many bad shots. If we rotate the body as we bring the club down, we give ourselves the best chance of a good contact.
Finishing Position: As we continue to rotate we are trying to swing around our body, or ‘to the left’ as it may feel. Notice my wrists hinged again during the follow through, this action keeps the loft on the club instead of rolling the right hand over the top of the grip. Make sure the body is fully rotated at the end of the swing, have 90% of your body weight on your left leg and watch the ball finish close to the pin!!
Ethan Shaw Head Professional at Espiche Elite Golf Academies +351 910 862 832 ethan@elitegolfacademies.com www.espiche-golf.com
Honourable mention The Diesel Maiden, is an acclaimed documentary made by a group of expats living in the Algarve. Filmed by Miguel Cosme of SkyeVision and written by Carolyn Kain, it tells the story of a group of passengers on a train journey between Vila Real and Lagos. The film is in English with Portuguese subtitles. In August it was entered for the Faro Film Festival where it received an Honourable Mention. It has subsequently been submitted to four more film festivals. Partly sponsored by the Algarve History Association, the film is to be shown again as part of a wider talk by Peter Booker. He will explain the development and significance of train transport and its impact on the
local economy. The Diesel Maiden brings this history up-to-date including forthcoming plans and improvements for the Algarve line. Talks take place at Clube de Tavira on October 9th from 6pm and at Lagoa Library on October 24th from 6pm. Open to the public. Free of charge but donations are accepted.
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Loulé railway station. Photo credit – Peter Kain
Community my small embassy), soon found herself very busy as unpaid housekeeper/cook/hostess! Power cuts were frequent and we had our own highly efficient generator with its own housing in the garden. But after a couple of years, with the car journey to the office getting ever longer because of increased traffic, the air quality around our house deteriorating, and our landlord becoming increasingly irritating in ignoring our pleas for repairs, we were intrigued to learn from my American colleague that she would be moving to a new development to the north of the city. Although almost in the foothills of the nearby Tien Shan Mountains it was only about twenty minutes by car from the Embassy.
Diplomatic Ramblings BY DOUG MCADAM
Several Ramblings ago I described how, when we arrived in Almaty, at that time the capital of Kazakhstan, in November 1996, we found that our “Residence” was based in a largely diplomatic quarter on the outskirts of town about 40 minutes by car from the Embassy. We had the main arterial road to the west at the bottom of our garden and were located in something of a smog trap, surrounded by electric pylons. But it was functional and good for entertaining. We wondered, when initially checking the contents of the house, why it had been supplied from the UK with almost hotel-like proportions of crockery, cutlery and glassware etc. and soon discovered the answer! Large amounts of official entertaining, and accommodating visiting British VIPs, was all part of the job. My wife Sue, who was on special leave from the Foreign Office (as there was not a job for her in
I discovered from her Korean landlord that he was just finishing a house close to hers so we had a look. It was perfect so I started to negotiate with him and he quickly agreed a rent much less than we had been paying. The timing of any move had become crucial as I had learned that my neighbour in my existing house was planning to excavate a swimming pool in his garden adjacent to our generator housing, thereby removing the only possible access to a mobile crane to remove our large generator. I pressed the Foreign Office into agreeing our move in record time and as I was informing our landlord at our old house of our intention to terminate our lease, behind him I could see the crane lifting the generator housing. What a transformation! Stunning views of the mountains, clean air – and a shorter journey to the office into the bargain. It was equally good for entertaining but with an amazing backdrop as can be seen from the attached photo taken in our private sitting room. Doug retired to the Algarve 13 years ago after over 40 years in the Foreign Office
Getting started Next month we are going to introduce you to a couple from Germany who upped sticks and decided to start a new life. They are Manu and Kaja who met in Berlin in 2015 and shared a dream to do something different so they set sail for Lagos. Manu is a carpenter who has wide experience in doing shop fittings. He recently got his first job working on the interior of new restaurant Daura.
Through this lovely contact, Kaja also found her first job. She will be waitressing at Daura while also pursuing her career as a yoga teacher. Last month she started teaching yoga at the Casa Sakra (www.casasakra.com) in Lagos but is planning on doing some of her own 'glamping' yoga retreats on the beautiful plot of land in Montes de Cima where they live. You can find out all about Kaja, her evolving
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path here in Portugal and the yoga on her website or find her on Facebook and Instagram. Her classes are on Mondays 8am-9.30am and Wednesdays 7pm8.30pm at Casa Sakra. Manu´s website is currently still under construction but please check it out.
Laghavam www.laghavam.com www.laghavam-woodworks.com
Community
Promoting peace Many of you may have come across Alison Webster through her work for Algarve Network for Families in Need but when she was 11-years-old Alison had a life-changing experience – she got involved in a global exchange organisation that aims to promote world peace. With so much uncertainty globally it seemed the perfect time to get our reporter, Sophie Sadler to find out more.
CISV International is a global organisation, dedicated to educating and inspiring peace through building inter-cultural friendship, cooperation and understanding. Founded in 1950 by American Doris Twitchell Allen, today it is a federation of 69 Member Associations with over 200 Chapters or local groups. It is easy to understand how, when it was founded after World War II, the idea of creating greater understanding amongst different nations would have resonated. The concept is that children would be sent to a sort of ‘peace camp’ before they had formed any political opinions or fixed religious beliefs. These were the days before the internet or cheap travel, so this would have been an innovative concept. Alison was chosen by her primary school in Leeds in 1972 to enter into a selection process for the scheme. Eventually 32 people from Leeds and Newcastle were sent to a different camp in various places around the world. “We could have been sent to Newcastle,” laughs Alison, “I was just lucky we got Knoxville in the USA. It was completely extraordinary in those days for children to travel such a long distance “ Programmes were developed which offered young people opportunities to meet their peers from other countries and to form intercultural friendships and to learn about what life is really like where they come from. Alison tells me: “We stayed on a campus in the Smoky Mountains along with delegations from Sweden, Norway, Holland, France, Japan, USA, Brazil, Guatemala, and the Philippines for a month. It was a fantastic experience. We just played, but we formed the most amazing bonds which are still alive today.” She shows me the camp diary which includes heart-warming
snippets written by different delegates including: “For evening entertainment, the Swedes performed the “ox dance” and sang songs. The Americans danced and sang to the old Southern folk song Mississippi Mud. Other favourites were also sung... The day was a great success and everyone went to bed exhausted and looking forward to future international days.” Although Alison's parents paid for the trip, there is also a charitable trust which pays for the travel of those from low-income backgrounds. Many of these children have gone on to be high-flyers and Alison knows a member of the Filipino delegation is the mayor in their town and hopefully promoting peace! Alison went onto be a social worker and is now a volunteer for the Algarve Network for Families in Need. She believes it was her experiences as an 11year old that gave her the empathy to work with others. One of the Dutch girls planned a reunion in 1977 in Renesse, Holland. “We were then all 16 years old;” recalls Alison. “That was attended by around 20 of us, mainly Europeans but one Ike from Japan, one from the USA and one from Canada, he had been a JC at our USA camp. I have been amazed since becoming a parent 29 years ago, how my parents were happy for me to go to Holland aged 16 for two weeks with little adult supervision! Particularly in 1977!” Alison reconnected with a few of her old friends on Facebook in recent years, then out of the blue, she was contacted by Ike, who is now a novelist but still involved heavily with CISV. He is writing a book for CISV Japan commemorating 60 years of the organisation in his country and part of his remit was to go to all the continents and reconnect with as many CISV people as possible; “He asked me to plan a
www.cisv.org
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reunion in Portugal. I along with Corine from the Netherlands set about trying to contact everyone from our 1972 village. We managed to track around 95% of them so most of us are back in contact sharing photos and life stories. Our reunion will form part of Ike's book.” Thirteen of the originals attended the weekend reunion in the Algarve including Ike, Reg from Canada, Lisa, Marcelle, Cindy from the USA, Rein, Corine from Holland, Alison´s friend Estelle, Fabio, Bruno from Brazil, Keith from the UK and Ingrid from Sweden. The 11-year-olds were now 56! “Everyone was bowled over by the Algarve and one of my Dutch friends is returning for a holiday with his wife he enjoyed his time here so much;” Alison tells me. “We immediately re-kindled our friendships.” I ask her if they talked politics. “Yes and as you can imagine there was a lot of discussion about Donald Trump and the state of the world. But we also talked about the normal stuff like our families.” Alison shows me the keep-sake her friends wrote for her which says: “Our reunion Queen. Thank you for friendships that expand continents and memories that will last a lifetime.” This is a touching endorsement of the organization's mission statement “CISV educates and inspires action for a more just and peaceful world.”
Community
Poppy Day The Portuguese branch of the Royal British Legion and Boavista Golf Course are next month hosting a charity golf tournament, The Poppy Day Memorial Trophy, on a particularly significant day— November 11th. The 11th day of the 11th month marks the end of the First World War and this year in particular marks 100 years since the carnage of the Battle of Passchendaele. Janice Galloway, lady captain of Boavista Clube de Golfe, noticed as she was drawing up the diary for this year’s events that, in 2017, November 11th falls on a Saturday. She explained: “This is a normal club competition day, so as it was also Armistice Day I felt it would be a good idea to have a competition to commemorate the day, and to remember those of the club who had passed away. “This quickly turned into a charity event in aid of the Royal British Legion and the On Course Foundation, both charities associated with the armed forces. The RBL of course is known worldwide for the invaluable work they do supporting ex-service personnel. “The On-Course Foundation, which was introduced to Boavista by one of our deceased members, Guy Pilcher-Clayton, helps injured service men and women into work through the medium of golf, and that is why it was chosen as one of the charities we support. “We do have five On-Course Foundation ambassadors—one a double leg amputee—joining us for the golf, and we are hoping to get a few more. “Also, we are looking for more sponsors within the local community to help by donating prizes and
BY MATT D’ARCY
sponsoring holes…and of course, for any golfers who would like to join us on the day. “Any company or local business willing to sponsor the event will be greatly appreciated. All the monies raised will be split between both charities, so with the help of a committee formed of RBL members and Boavista Golf Club members we hope to raise much-needed funds for both worthwhile causes.” Jacquie Collins, President of the RBL, Portugal, added: “The Royal British Legion is grateful to Janice and to Boavista for their generosity in making the Legion one of the beneficiaries of this charity day, and for helping to put the programme for the day together. “While we have fundraising throughout the year for the Poppy Appeal, which helps service and ex-service personnel and their families, anything held during the Remembrance period has a special meaning, and this year in particular, as 100 years ago the Third Battle Of Ypres, more commonly called the Battle of Passchendaele, was raging in all its futility. “A great uncle of mine was injured both physically and mentally in that battle and it was for men like him that the Legion was formed just after that war”. Jacquie added: “It promises to be a great day and I know we will have great support from the golfing and non-golfing community here on the Algarve.” The competition will be a team event comprising four players, with the best two scores to count per hole. It will be a shotgun start commencing at 9am with a carvery lunch afterwards, followed by a raffle and auction to increase the funds raised. The three-course lunch, which includes half a bottle of wine, coffee and water, is also available at €25 to anyone attending the event, either as partner or friend of the participants or just as an interested spectator, and this also includes access to the club spa on the day.
Anyone interested in taking part should contact Janice Galloway for information and reservations on: +351 918 624 889 janicegalloway@hotmail.co.uk or alternatively contact golf.reception@boavistaresort.pt or +351 282 000 111. The On Course Foundation website is: www.oncoursefoundation.com
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What's on
Photographs by Sue Bedford
West coast expats keep the boule rolling! BY MATT D’ARCY
It did what it said on the tin, as the TV commercial so famously had it!
dignity as the Portuguese are expert League players!
The petanca tournament on the west coast, a joint partnership between the Portuguese and the expats in the Aljezur area, was created to forge strong bonds between the two communities.
A total of 28 players took part in seven groups of four for the initial stages after a draw to decide the make-up of each pair, to avoid the expats trying to partner themselves with the top Portuguese players! Each pair played three games of seven ends in the initial stages, with the winner of each group, plus the highest-scoring runner-up, went through to the traditional knockout stages. The tournament was eventually won by Germany’s Dieter Peschel, partnered by Jose Barbudo, of whom who Steve said ruefully: “Jose had a frustrating knack of consistently hitting the opponent’s boule out of the way”.
And any barriers that might have existed have certainly tumbled down in another afternoon and evening of camaraderie and community spirit at the HQ of AMOVATE— the local community association—which also now houses the petanca club. Steve Scott, one of the organisers of the event on September 2nd—the expats involved players from the UK, Germany and Belgium—said afterwards: “The only barrier that might have existed was the language barrier, but even that was swept away in the spirit of the sport.” The tournament involves the competitors playing in pairs, one of them a local Portuguese player, the other an expat— mostly to spare the expat’s pride and
They won the Petanca Cup which remains permanently in the HQ shared by both associations since they formed this partnership less than two years ago, but were also each presented with a smaller trophy to keep, and a bottle of wine. The presentation ceremony kicked off in
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good humour, with the award of a bottle of water to Dave Hill and Adelino Duarte, the “wooden spoon” pair finishing in 28th position. Steve, who won last year’s tournament, finished runner-up by one point with partner Maria Jose Martinez, after a fantastic fightback earlier in the knockout stage when they trailed by four points in their final end, but won through by scoring six! Ian Johnson and Carlos Palminha finished third, and Steve, a committee member of organisers AMOVATE, the local community association, reflected: “It was a fantastic afternoon in blazing sunshine and the competition played out over five hours was fierce but friendly. “The petanca club put on a barbecue of chicken, pork, sausage and salad and when the presentations were over, the playing area was taken over with players and spectators enjoying themselves dancing. “It was another great event and everyone is already looking forward to next year’s tournament.”
What's on
English by Dr Ricardo Canas of the University of the Algarve. 1pm - Keeping Your Home and Garden Safe from Fire - Eng. José Filipe will give advice on plant choices and garden planning to resist wildfires. He will also present a rolling slide show of his lovely photographs of native flowers of the Algarve for use in the garden in the lecture room between talks and be available to discuss and give information on them. Blog www. dojavaliconquilha.wordpress.com In Portuguese/ English.
Get your garden geared up When: Saturday, October 28th Where: Museo do Trajo, S. Brás de Alportel
The Algarve’s only specialist plant sale will once again be held this year at the Museo do Trajo, S. Brás de Alportel on Saturday October 28th opening to the public from 11am until 4pm. Entry to the Mediterranean Garden Fair 2017 this year remains at €1 per person, under-16s free, and there is parking around the Museo in São Bras. Following on the success of 2016, this is the second year the organisers, Mediterranean Gardening Association in Portugal, will hold the event in the leafy and spacious courtyard in the museum complex and the ninth annual autumn garden fair. This lovely historic space is ideal for visitors to browse in comfort, buy plants and shrubs, or relax and have a tasty meal before launching back to the nurseries for more plant buying or alternatively sit in on one of the following specialist practical talks, all of which are free. 11.30am - Potential of Barrocal native plants as Ornamentals - an illustrated talk in Portuguese/
2.30pm - Medicinal Gardens - by João Beles who lives and gardens in the Algarve and is a qualified naturopath. He will talk about how we can grow plants in our gardens which enable us to enjoy both their beauty and their medicinal qualities. In Portuguese/English. Visitors can enjoy the atmosphere and find some trees, shrubs, plants or native plant seed adapted to the Algarve and its Mediterranean climate – as always, you can ask for advice directly from the nursery owners or from the Mediterranean Garden Association’s Information Point. Nature Printing Workshops are a new exciting addition to the programme this year and are with renowned local Olhão artist and Life Member of the Nature Printing Society, Dr. Rachel Ramirez. Rachel will demonstrate how to make fascinating prints directly from nature and you will be able to try out the techniques for yourself. These are planned for 12.30pm and 2pm with the opportunity to buy special inks and paper to take home with you to continue making your own lovely art works. More info www.rachelramirezprints.weebly.com There also will be organic essential oils and organic local produce (fruit and veg) and the very popular MGAP books stand with titles covering all aspects of gardening in the Mediterranean climate. If visitors have second-hand gardening books to donate the organisers, Mediterranean Gardening in Portugal, will be happy to accept them at their information point. As mentioned earlier refreshments and food are available at this venue and the popular Plant Crêche service will be in operation as usual with a collection point with car access. There will be a drop-off point for less able visitors to the event. The Friends of the Museum and the Câmara Municipal de Saõ Brás de Alportel were very pleased with the event held last year and their help has been essential to the organisers who say the venue is almost purpose built for the Algarve´s only specialist Mediterranean Garden Fair.
Contacts for images and further information: mgapfairs@gmail.com Mediterranean Gardeners – Portugal Amigos do Museo: www.amigos-museu-sbras.pt Directions: www.museu-sbras.com/info.html GPS: N37,152617, W7.8 85442
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What's on
Indigenous Phoenicians BY JANE ROBERTSON
When: Tuesday, October 3rd Where: Museu do Traje in São Bras and Convento de São José in Lagoa
On October 3rd, the Algarve Archaeological Association (AAA) will be presenting two lectures, in English, by Professor Ana Margarida Aruda. The first lecture will be at 2.30pm at the Museu do Traje in São Bras, the second lecture will be at 5.45pm at the Convento de São José in Lagoa.
the first half of the ninth century BC, respectively, with the active collaboration of the indigenous people. Neither the presence of the Phoenicians or their early arrival is surprising. On the one hand the abundance of metallic resources such as tin, which is found in the western regions, was a source of attraction.
The talk will look at the arrival and presence of the Phoenicians in the area that is now Portugal. Their presence in this area dates back to the eighth or even as far back as the ninth century BC.
On the other hand, large areas that are now within Portugal have, since the late Bronze Age, formed part of a Mediterranean-Atlantic network where artefacts from various sources were in circulation since the end of the second millennium BC.
It is demonstrated in various ways, including in domestic and defensive architecture, building techniques, archaeological remains, language and texts. Found mainly on the coast, the Phoenician presence has had a deep regional impact on social, economic, technological, religious and cultural levels and reached the interior in a more or less marked way and at different rhythms. The arrival and settlement in Portugal of people coming from the east was part of a larger planned colonisation in the Iberian Peninsula by communities of Near Eastern origin. Preparations for this process had probably been undertaken by the western Phoenicians of Huelva since the 10th century BC and
Ana Margarida Arruda is a Professor and Researcher at the University of Lisbon. She has published more than 200 titles, including books, articles in national and international journals and contributions in conference proceedings. She works on archaeological sites in the Algarve and the estuary of the Tagus River where the Phoenician and Greek presence are important and well known. Lunch in São Bras can be arranged in advance – please call Maxine on 917267948. Non-members are welcome to attend the lectures for a €6 admission fee - all money raised by the AAA is spent on archaeological grants and speakers.
For more information: algarvearchass@gmail.com arquealgarve.weebly.com Algarve Archaeological Association. Please check the website or Facebook page for any last minute changes.
Charity Ecumenical Service When: Saturday October 7th Where: Vale Da Telha
West Coast residents are invited to attend an international ecumenical service in Vale Da Telha, outside Aljezur, to celebrate the bringing in of the harvest. Doris Wroblewski and Uwe Zelinsky will host the service at their home, Casa sa Paz at Lote 24, Sector M at 5pm on Saturday October 7th. The Monte Serranito choir, led by Doris Rohr on the piano will sing a selection of international songs and the service will be led by Pastor Manfred Otterstätter from the Germanspeaking Protestant church in Carvoeiro.
The St Vincent de Paul Society (Sociedade de São Vicente de Paulo) will be the beneficiaries of the service, and Doris explained: “The first weekend in October is usually the time for harvest festival, and traditionally the churches are decorated with the fruits of the harvest. “We ask those attending the service to bring not only something to eat for the sitting after the service but also to bring donations of durable foodstuffs to be distributed amongst needy families here in Aljezur”.
For directions to her house, Doris asks that anyone planning to attend should contact her on +351 282 997 007
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Daura
BY TOM HENSHAW
Daura Restaurant opened its doors last month on Lagos Marina. We went along to take some photos and to meet the full team. Laura and Dan have really made the restaurant look stunning. They have a great selection of food and drink on offer. We were really impressed with the front of house and kitchen team. We wish them all well and we look forward to telling you more about Laura and Dan over the next month or so. Please see their main advertisement in this issue.
+351 964 850 965 lauraburgess@daurarestaurante.com
Fancy a bit of a tweet this autumn? For all you nature lovers out there, don't forget that it's the superb Sagres Bird Festival this month. This annual event, which is taking place from October 4th to October 8th, brings visitors from across Portugal and in fact, Europe. Every year it becomes a little bit bigger and better. It’s open to anyone with an interest in birds, wildlife and the outdoors. Throughout the festival there’s a huge range of activities on offer. There will be five days full of different activities such as bird watching, hiking, sightseeing geology,
flora or even local heritage, among many others. You will be able to give scuba diving a go and can also try out surfing. It will also be an opportunity to make or meet old friends and watch the fantastic Sagres sunset. There’s plenty of activities for children and adults alike. The schedule for this year is already online so you can plan your trip before you arrive. All you have to do is to register by going to www.birdwatchingsagres.com and simply fill out an individual registration form, or in a group, and choose the activities in which you want to participate. Then you will receive information on your registration in your e-mail.
For more information: festivalbirdwatchingsagres@gmail.com
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What's on
October Calendar Promote your events and activities here - it’s FREE! Email your listings to us: for.tomorrow@hotmail.com
Classes Dog Training Tue 11am (Rally-Obedience) | Fri 11am & Sat 4pm (Agility), €25 4 sess. Espiche +351 968 086 320 Dog Instruction Sat 5pm Hotel do CÃO Rasmalho, Portimão, +351 964 083 602 African Dance Classes Mon 7pm (TEL Lagos) & Tue 10.30am (Aljezur), €10 +351 964 588 588 Music Lessons all styles, 1-2-1 guitar, piano & voice beginners & intermediate theory & performance, €25 p.h Lagos & Sagres area +351 964 201 904 Life drawing Mon 11am Beginners & Professionals, €10 p.sess Marina de Lagos +351 916 035 308 Portuguese Language Beginners Class Tue & Thur 9.30, €6 Portelas +351 912 417 994 Colour Your Life Healing painting classes Wed & Thurs 3pm| +/- 70yrs, €10 Barão S. João +351 962 039 574 Computer Classes Sat 10am, All levels Lagos, +351 918 764 613 Painting Atelier Wed & Thurs 11am for women to explore their creative potential, €10 Barão S. João +351 962 039 574 Meditation Classes Thur 5.15pm Boavista Golf Luz +351 963 614 499 Watercolour Lessons Thur 10.30am (Beginners welcome) €10, Fortaleza da Luz , +351 912 149 839 Classical Guitar Classes (English Speaking) Sat & Sun children, adults & seniors ABRSM certified €20p/h , Lagos, Paulo +351 962 690 582
Events
Activities Football Academy Mon 4.45pm (5-11 yrs) & 6.15pm (12 -16 yrs) & Sat 9am (7-11 yrs), 10.30am (3-6 Yrs) & 12pm (12-16 yrs) | €5, Adults Touch Rugby Thurs 7.30pm | €4, Burgau Sports Centre +351 282 697 350
Live Saxophone Music Tues 7pm Boutique Hotel Vivenda Miranda, Lagos +351 282 763 222
Walking Football Wed 9.30-11am +50yrs welcome, €3 Boavista +351 282 790 930
October 1st Harvest Festival with Holy Communion 11.30am, St Vincent’s Anglican Church Praia da Luz, Chaplain: +351 282789660
Netball Wed 7pm All ages & abilities, Behind Bombeiros Building, Lagos charlie.milsom@gmail.com Group Lesson - Short Game Area & Driving Range Wed 10am - 1pm | €20 p.p & Fri 3 - 4.30pm €15 p.p, Espiche Golf +351 282 688 250 Swimming Lessons Mon & Thurs pm & Sat am €10 (mem.) /€12.50, Holiday Courses 3x per week €20 (mem.) /€25, Boavista +351 917 953 914 ROLL UP for experienced bowlers Mon & Fri 10am, For Beginners Tue 11am (1st FREE), €10 (non mem.) Floresta Bowls Club Luz +351 919 707 635 Adult Ballet Mon & Wed 1pm | €9/€50p.m, Baby Ballet Sat 9.30am, Kids Dance Mon-Sat, €3 Move-Ment Dance Academy +351 913 832 335 Golf Academy with PGA Pro | call (919724833), Tennis Doubles Round Robin Thurs 3.00-5.00pm €7.50, Tennis Academy with Pro, Call for details Golf Santo Antonio +351 282 690 008 Weekly Walk with Rosie & Laurie | Thurs 9.30am, Boavista Golf & Spa, +351 914 573 373 or +351 282 789 358
Bridge Tue & Fri 1.15pm Marina Bar, Lagos +351 963 977 642
Live Music Sat 10pm, Atabai Bar Barão de S. João, +351 282 688 072 October 21st | João Pedro Cunha & Elena Tsouranova from the Lagos Music Academy 3pm €19.50 Quinta das Alagoas +351 924 204 343 October 20th Concert Dell'Acqua 9.30pm €8 Auditório Municipal de Lagoa +351 282 380 434
October 4th Motown collective AKA Funky Latin Soul 9pm Proceeds go to the Bombeiros Fund, Cafe Algarve Porches +351 913 730 376 October 2nd, 4th & 7th Streetdance /Hip Hop Classes FREE try out Mon 6pm Level 1 (11+) & 7pm Level 2 (16+) | Wed 6pm Adults | Fri 6pm Level 1 & 7pm Level 2 | Sat 11am 6-10yrs, Alma Verde Luz +351 916 022 719
Fitness
Mat Classes Mon Wed & Fri 9.15 & 10.30am & Mon 6.30pm €10 /€90 for 10 Equipment Classes Duet Reformer | Semi Private & 1-2-1, Ashtanga Class Sat 10.30am, Pilates Room, Lagos +351 926 514 613 Tai Chi/Qi Gong Wed 11am & Thurs 2pm Pilates Thurs 11am Yoga Wed 2pm, €7 Madrugada Centre, Luz 282 761 375 Hatha Yoga Tues 6pm Yin Yoga Sun 6pm €10 / €50 for 6 with Helen at The Pilates Room Lagos +351 912 176 914 Hatha Yoga Mon Wed & Fri 9.45 €10 Classes for Children Sat 9.15am (4-7 yrs) & 10.30am (8-12 yrs) Booking required Boavista, Luz +351 282 790 930 Yoga for all Ashtanga Vinyasa Tues & Thurs 10.30am, Slow Flow and Yin Yoga Wed 9.15am, €10 drop-in (€65 for 8 residents) Above Clube do Grupo Desportivo Burgau, +351 913 202 621
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Gentle Hatha Mon 6.30 The Yoga Place, Burgau & Wed 12.15 - 2pm Hotel Belavista, Luz €8 +351 965 201 477 Hatha Yoga Mon & Fri 1pm 1xwk €32, 2xwk €45, Kundalini Yoga Tues & Thurs 6.30pm 1xwk €30, 2xwk €40, Meditation Group €7.50 Casa Sakra, Lagos +351 916 060 814 Gymn for a fit back Mon 6pm €7 Hotel Belavista, Luz +351 965 211 996 AR Mat Pilates Mon -Fri 8.30 9.30 10.30am & 6pm €10 Lagos +351 966 784 280 Circuit Training Wed 10am Ladies Sport Fri 1.30pm €5 Zumba Mon & Wed 6pm €5 Burgau Sports Centre +351 282 697 350 Zumba Mon & Fri 9.45am €6 Alma Verde +351 918 461 840 Bootcamp Class Mon - Fri 7.30am 10am & 7pm, Yoga Tue & Thurs 9am, Pilates Mon Wed & Fri 9am Mobile Bootcamp Sat 9am, €10 Luz, AXN Club Cascade Resort, Lagos +351 915 183 888
Fitness Tue 9.30am, Pilates Tues & Thurs 11am, €5 Golf Santo Antonio +351 282 690 086 Pilates Wed 11am, Yoga & De-stress Fri 11am, Zumba Dance Wed & Fri 10am, Step! & Tone (prebook) Thurs 10am, €7.50 Hotel Belavista, Luz +351968 288 258 Tai Ji Quan Mon 10am (beg) & Thurs 5.30pm (adv), €10 Dojo Zen de Lagos Barão S. João, +351 919 718 955 Legs Bums & Tums Mon 1pm, Burgau Sports Centre, Boxercise Tues 8pm Behind Bombeiros on basketball courts Lagos, Buggy Fit Thurs 10am Wacky Boavista Resort Lagos, €5 Soames Fitness (1-2-1 & Group Training available at your location or studio), +351 913 425 892
Charity/ Support Depression and Bipolar Support Group No charge, first Monday of every month 6.30pm to 8.30pm upstairs at Casa Inglesa Portimão +351 914 878 927 October 18th Alzheimer's/ Dementia Support Group 11am Restaurant Pirilampo, Lagos +351 926 297 527 +351 968 084 946 Riding for Disabled Mon, Wed, Fri 10.30 | Volunteers welcome, weather permitting, Bensafrim, +351 915 090 044 Cadela Carlota Animal Charity Three hour shifts am or pm, Almadena Shop, Trudy +351 912 444 666 AA International English Speaking Meeting Wed 7.30pm, Rua Da Freguesia Lote 12c, Lagos +351 282760506 AA Hotline: +351 917 005 590
Faith
Useful Numbers General INFO: WWW.CM-LAGOS.PT EMERGENCY 112 HOSPITAL 282 770 100 RED CROSS 282 760 611 FIRE SERVICE 282 770 790 POLICE SERVICE 282 762 930 NATIONAL GUARD 282 770 010 TELECOM NAT. INFO 118 CITY COUNCIL 282 780 900 TOURIST OFFICE 282 763 031 TOWN INFO 282 764 111 TOURIST SUPPORT 808 781 212 TAXI SERVICE 282 460 610 BUS STATION 282 762 944 TRAIN STATION 282 762 987 TAXI : PEDRO COSTA 917 617 675 LAGOS CINEMA 282 799 138 CULTURAL CENTRE 282 770 450 HEALTH CENTRE 282 780 000 LUZ DOC (LUZ) 282 780 700 PRIVATE HOSPITAL 282 790 700 CHIROPRACTOR 282 768 044 DENTAL CLINIC 918 366 646 LAGOS VET 282 782 282 FUNERAL SERVICES 282 769 827 MOBILITY VEHICLES 964 230 225 ALL MOBILITY AIDS 282 760 611
Pharmacies/Chemist LACOBRENSE NEVES CHEMIST RIBEIRO LOPES TELLO CHEMIST SILVA CHEMIST ODIAXERE CHEMIST
282 762 901 282 769 966 282 762 830 282 760 556 282 762 859 282 798 491
Consulates/Embassies Communion Services Said Holy Communion Thurs 10am & Sun 8am, Sung Holy Communion (with hymns) 11.30am, CoE | St Vincent’s Anglican Church | Praia da Luz (church by the sea), Chaplain: +351 282 789 660 Sound Healing 2nd Thurs 7.30pm, Figueira +351 914 523 636 Zazen Zen Meditation Tue & Thurs 7.30am & Wed 7.30pm, €3 B. S. João +351 919 718 955 Catholic Mass in English Sat 7 pm (Everyone Welcome), Church of Our Lady of Light | Luz
BRITISH FRANCE GERMAN NETHERLANDS CANADA SWEDISH IRISH
282 490 750 281 380 660 289 803 181 289 820 903 289 803 757 213 942 260 213 308 200
No job too small PORTUGUESE LESSON 912 417 994 TRANSLATIONS 916 618 527 ALICE (PORTUGUESE) 914 269 118 GAVIN COX (BUILDER) 916 430 132 TRISTAN (HANDYMAN) 282 101 010 HELIO (ELECTRICIAN) 917 288 966 LUIS (LOCKSMITH) 964 605 213 CHIM. & WIN. CLEANER 926 860 123 RUSSELL (MECHANIC) 282 639 778 ANA (SEWING) 919 747 591 STEVEN (COMPUTERS) 936 387 512 PEDRO (COMPUTERS) 917 165 238 XELI (FLORIST) 282 768 129 UK DELIVERIES 0044 208 123 1966 DESIGN 916 606 226 ALISON HAIRDRESSER 918 663 352 PAINTING - INT / EXT 925 374 624
What's on
Inaugural Algarve Dance Open A exciting new event takes place this month in the form of the first ever Algarve Dance Open. Set to take place on October 7th and 8th at Centro de Congressos do Arade in Parchal, the dance competition is designed to encourage the artistic and technical development of young people from four to 21 years old in a wide variety of dance styles, including ballet, contemporary, jazz, tap, folklore and musical theatre in a competitive but friendly environment. When: October 7th and 8th Where: Congress Centre of Arade in Parchal, Lagoa
National and international schools and have been invited to take part in the event, with various prizes to be awarded by the international jury. The competition will be divided into sections with different ages, classes and styles within each section. Three sections will take place on the Saturday and
two on the Sunday. An improvisation competition is scheduled for the Sunday, and the urban dances of hip hop and street dance will also have a separate convention on the Saturday night, starting at 8pm. There will be various workshops during the weekend too. Things will then come to an exciting climax with the closing gala on Sunday evening, due to take place no later than 6.30pm. Schools will be invited to submit an example of their work, winners will be celebrated and special prizes will be distributed. The public is, of course, welcome to share in the experience by witnessing the dedication and skill of the dancers and the choreographic inventiveness of the incredible teachers. Tickets are €3 a session (including the hip hop convention), €12.50 for the two days and €10 for the closing gala. They can be bought on the day at the front desk.
For more details: www.algarvedanceopen.com Algarve Dance Open
Get together The next meeting of the Alzheimer's/ Dementia Support Group will be on October 18th at 11am at Restaurant Pirilampo in Lagos. It’s a group that supports people who are dealing with challenging behaviour, continence issues, nutrition and carer’s contacts. It provides tips and help for people dealing with dementia.
Golf extravaganza The Intersky Group, based in Liverpool, is hosting a golfing extravaganza on October 5th and 6th. Playing at Golfe Santo Antonio and Espiche respectively, this is a great time to get down there and get autographs or pictures with Liverpool legends such as Terry McDermott, Roy Evans, John Aldridge, Ray Clemence, and David Johnson. All of whom will be taking part in the two-day corporate event.
including the Grand National at Aintree; 2) the newly-created Toffees Racing Club; 3) Intersky Villa, a villa available to rent on a holiday basis in Salema, 4) Celebrity Golf events. The founder and MD of the Intersky Group, Bill Murphy, who is an avid Everton supporter, has been coming to the Algarve since Euro 2004. Being a keen golfer himself, he immediately became smitten with Algarve's plush golf courses and has brought his hospitality expertise with him to great effect by bringing celebrity golf to our shores.
The group can also help UK citizens to obtain attendance and carers’ allowance where applicable. There’s also help to get power of attorney or a living will sorted out.
The Intersky Group has a few arrows to its bow: 1) vast experience in the horse racing hospitality industry in the north-west of England and Ireland,
Carol +351 926 297 527 Kirsteen +351 968 084 946
For more information: www.interskygroup.com billm@interskygroup.com (+44) 1695 420 586
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What's on
A different perspective Kindertransport by Diane Samuels, the play being staged this autumn by The Algarveans Experimental Theatre Group, is one of the most-performed plays in the last 10 years around the world. Kindertransport was a plan, formed in 1938 in reaction to Kristallnacht and the rising Nazi threat, to evacuate children from Germany and Eastern Europe. Before World War II erupted nearly 10,000 youngsters, most of them Jewish, had made it to England. This show approaches the subject from the unusual perspective of a child, who escaped the immediate horrors but paid a heavy price anyway. The play is set in the attic of a suburban London house in the 1980s. Evelyn, a brusque middle-aged housewife, and her daughter Faith are sorting through the cardboard boxes and old possessions. Theirs is a touchy relationship, which unfolds as the show progresses; the air is charged with animosity and
misunderstanding. At the same time, in a series of flashbacks, we follow the progress of Eva, a frightened 9-year-old Jewish girl. Tagged like a piece of luggage, she leaves her mother in Hamburg and travels to England where the well-meaning Lil takes over her upbringing. Little by little the distraught child grows into a reserved young woman. Her accent fades as do the old traumas, or so you would think. It will not take long for audience members to figure out that the two parts of the play are really halves of the same story. The audience has to discover how Eva relates to Evelyn and how quarrels of the present are tied to the upheavals of the past. “We are thrilled to be producing this thought-provoking show, which tells its story in a charming yet powerful way, you will smile with tears in your eyes,” said the show’s director Chris Winstanley
Annette O’Shea, set designer and builder, along with those helping her have been scouring people’s garages, attics, charity shops and car boot sales bringing together a load of old junk for the set. “We have felt a bit like Steptoe and Son for those of you old enough to remember those characters from ‘70s TV,” Annette mentioned. “We are starting to create an amazing set which will be full of surprises and hopefully be a big part in bringing the show to life.” Kindertransport will be performed at Lagoa Auditorium starting at 7.45pm on November 22nd to 24th, this autumn. Tickets are priced at €12 and are already available. Join the group’s Facebook page for up-todate information about the group and its activities.
Tickets and more information: algarveansboxoffice@gmail.com +351 913 723 611 / 282 496 635 / 966 211 634 The Algarveans
Weekly walks Laurie and Rosie’s popular weekly walks will start again on Thursday October 5th. Meeting as usual in the car park at Boavista Golf and Spa Resort at 9.30am. After the summer break they will commence with a couple of easy walks
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to break everyone in gently. If you wish to receive details via their weekly email please contact them on ros.lol@sapo.pt All ages and nationalities are welcome providing they have a level of fitness enabling them to walk two half hours.
What's on
African dance on the West Coast BY MATT D’ARCY
Instructor Ana Rute de Arouca Teixeira Pereira da Costa — better known simply as Anitxa — is hosting two African Dance classes each week in Aljezur. One is each Monday evening at Moagem, a former flour mill and now a cultural centre in the centre of Aljezur from 7pm to 8.30pm. And the second is each Friday morning at the Old School House, HQ of the AMOVATE community association in Vales, near Vale da Telha, from 10.30am-12 noon. Anitxa, from Porto, says that each 1.5-hour class involves live music and voice, explaining: “The workshop is a beautiful time to interact with the rhythm of the drums and the beat of our heart. The live music of percussion, strings and songs lead the group to live an authentic experience of African culture, based on the West Coast of Africa movements and traditions, adapted to a personal educational structure and awareness of the body.” Anitxa says she is a dance lover and has shared her passion as a performer and teacher of African dance for the past 12 years. “Everybody is welcome,” she says. “Just be prepared to move, groove, sweat and smile all over as you learn some funky dance moves and songs.” Anitxa learned classical ballet from the age of six and as a teenager switched to contemporary dance, flamenco and jazz. “For me, life is dance,” she smiled. After studying landscape
architecture she says and went to study dance around the world. “I realised that each culture expresses itself differently and for me there was a powerful connection of my body with the African dance of the continent’s west coast. “It has been an integral part of my life since 2005, for its traditional rituals and movements. It is a Malinka culture and one I studied in Mali, Burkina Faso and Senegal. Now I love to perform, and teach this beautiful dance art”. Anitxa’s classes begin with welcoming games followed by a specific body warm-up then an explanation of African Dance technique. After that it is motion learning and movement exercises, before a small instructional choreograph sequence, then communication with the music through movement. This is followed by African chant, after which a circle is formed in a ritual applying everything so far experienced. The class ends by stretches using yoga positions, followed by a period of relaxation. Anitxa concluded: “The aim is to share a culture rich in diversity of movements, sounds, chants and ancestral rituals, to give joy to people through dance and music. “It is a workshop full of energy, colour, inspiring music, culture, union and lots of beautiful dance moves with an amazing group spirit. It is a wonderful path to body wellness and flexibility. It is about connection with other people and helps to energise our body, soul and spirit”. The cost of one class is €10 or €30 for one month.
For more information contact Anitxa: +351 918 047 263 anarootsnamoh@gmail.com
Fundraising at the drop of a hat The West Coast animal charity AEZA is hoping for a hat-trick when they stage their annual Ladies Lunch on Wednesday October 4th. It doesn’t have to be a Bearskin, a Deerstalker or even a Pork Pie Hat—similar to a Fedora—to pull off the big prize. For the charity’s fund raising partner Friends of AEZA, who are organising the lunch, plan
to award a prize for the best-dressed hat with an animal theme. The lunch will be held at the Restaurante Vale da Telha, scheduled for 1pm with a 1.30pm sit-down, and will also include a raffle and an auction with all proceeds going to AEZA (Association for Environment and Animal Protection of Aljezur).
For more information: Sheila +351 772 120 or Lynda +351 915 968 260
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What's on
30 years of golf success The 1st Pepe Gancedo Trophy was played at Santo Antonio golf course to celebrate its 30th anniversary and was hailed as a great success. The Parque da Floresta golf course opened in 1987 was designed by Pepe Gancedo (1938-2016). One of Spain´s most famous golf course architects, his design philosophy was to make courses enjoyable, traditional, challenging and memorable, with minimal alteration to the existing terrain. The competition was a Singles Stableford format with the trophy being awarded to the best nett Stableford score. There were also prizes for best gross scores, nearest the pin and longest drive. At the end of the competition around 100 people attended the Prize Giving Buffet with a delicious menu, professional service and live entertainment by Lexie Marcela. Michael Brown, the first Golf Director of Parque da Floresta, attended the meal and the Prize Giving. He then spoke fondly of Pepe and reminisced about the inception and construction of the course to the delight of all present.
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The event was sponsored by Sol Capital Currency and hosted by World Golf Awards Ambassador Ela Clark. Also present was the Portugal PGA President, José Correia. The Trophy was won by Francisco Borges with a nett score of 38 points. It is very fitting that Francisco won because he knew Pepe and was one of the first workers on the golf course. The best Stableford Gross was won by Steve Juster. Other winners on the day were: Nearest the pin 3rd - Duane Wessels 5th - Jack Brown 7th - Steve Summers 11th - Barry Gordon 15th - Steve Leech Longest drive 18th Ladies - Yarida Kabingpong Men - Cristiano Marcela Best Pro Score 1st place - Ethan Shaw
golf.reservations@saresorts.com +351 282 690 054 www.saresorts.com
What's on
Photo credit: Nico Arnoldi www.arnoldivideo.com
Another winner day The fourth annual Tomorrow and Espiche Charity Golf Day raised massive â‚Ź4500 for charity. Once again Espiche Golf Club put on an amazing day on behalf of the new Tomorrow Algarve Charity Trust (TACT) where money was raised for Madrugada the palliative care charity in Luz, the soup kitchen in Lagos and CASLAS the home for disadvantaged children also in Lagos. The weather was perfect and the event ran extremely smoothly with over 80 golfers taking part. We have produced a page on our website to mark our appreciation for those generous sponsors and prize givers so that their support does not go unnoticed. Thank you all.
Also we want to thank the directors at Espiche and their totally dedicated team who made this event so successful and enjoyable for all-even the non golfers like me! Thanks also must go to Phil Harding who provided the trophy and so much more to ensure the day raised as much as it did and turning it into another memorable fund raising day. The Mary Sutton trophy was awarded this year to Kevin and Helen Gould, Bob and Jenny Milne with 61.1. Second Alan Becher, Neville Richards, James Calydon and Peter Corbett with 61.4. Third Mick Furlong, Chris Jones, Alan Washington and Ethan Shaw with 62.2. Nearest the pin Ethan Shaw and Helen Gould. Longest drive Jason Brown & Shirley Willis.
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What's on
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Letters
Help with holidays Dear Editor, One man’s first experience in holiday organising. I have holidayed in the Algarve now since 2013 using a UKbased company that specialises in a holiday package for brain injury/ disabled clients. Returning home this year I set about planning for next year only to find that they’d now ceased trading!! So what to do now? ‘Organise it yourself then’ I was continually told so using previous holidays as a template this is what I’ve now done – my experience follows.
simplicity itself. Being disabled with walking difficulties I need help out and about so a carer was next priority. Looking through Tomorrow Magazine I spotted an ad for Mais Vida healthcare who have a scheme ‘Holiday assist’ which looked exactly what I wanted, and emailing them with my requirements I received an estimate within 24hrs. This was accepted and paid for using Pay Pal – perfect. For travel insurance I kept with Stay Sure, who in my experience seem to be one of the few companies who insure pre-existing medical cinditions and also were slightly cheaper than this year’s price.
Firstly, I decided was to secure my accommodation so I emailed Luz Beach Apartments enquiring for suitable dates and vacancies receiving a prompt reply from Claire confirming my preferred dates and chosen apartment were available.
The flights can be booked early next year as per previous company’s timing. So at the time of writing this my 2018 holiday seems all arranged, taking around only one week! See you in June, Algarve.
I duly paid a deposit with a quick phone call using my debit card –
I’m looking forward to it. Richard (UK)
Well done Lagos Câmara
We are always really pleased to get letters from our readers. If you would like to send us your views on anything that’s going on in the western Algarve or if you have any suggestions to make about the magazine please email: amber@tomorrowalgarve.com
Correction Last month we got the contact details for a business we featured wrong. Our apologies.
One of our readers wrote in to say that whilst Maia Praia beach was very clean but the dunes behind were pretty dirty.
Please send in your good news happenings in the western Algarvewe love them!!
Tomorrow called him the next day to see if he had managed to take some photographs of the dunes and he advised us that the Câmara had already cleaned the dunes!!
The correct contact details for Algarve Swan are: Office: +351 289 591 534 Mobile: +351 963 807 162
This is the sort of news we love to hear!! The Câmara are proving more and more that they really are on top of things in the city.
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FISH & CHIP EATERY
RUM BAR. Local CRAFT BEER. Good Tunes. Great Vibe. Y’all Come See US! For Reservations: FACEBOOK.COM/olbASTARDs olbastards.lagos@gmail.com
Tomorrow 90x65 06-17.indd 2
19/06/2017 10:52
Health
‘Just-a-minute’ parenting BY LAURA NEWMAN
There’s a new trend in parental conversation which has come into fashion in recent years. It seeps through the cracks of parents’ resilience to deal with their daily time pressures and children's fundamental need for attention. It can become their ‘modus operandi’ in response to all requests for attention by their children. It’s the preface ‘just-a-minute’ and I’ll be with you…… The mammalian brain is finely-tuned, habit-forming instrument. If you give it enough stimulus in one direction, it will happily create neural pathways to support that behaviour or response. This frees it up to create more neural pathways and build complexity. Young children are naturally primed for developing neural complexity. This means that children learn from stimuli that is repetitive, like language and how parents behave/talk with them.
it’s possible and often likely that the child will interpret this in the negative and eventually expect this ‘semi’ rejection. How often does your child say: “You’re always on your phone, you never have time for me.” For most children they become resilient to parents’ attitudes and grow up ‘in spite’ of whatever conditions are not optimum. This forces the child to adapt (and adaptation is a good thing) as well but it can be at the expense of harbouring negative beliefs, like ‘nobody’s listening to me, nobody cares, I’m not important’. One of the fundamental reasons for children reaching out for their peers and digital devices, is a feeling from the child of lack of a deeply satisfying connection with their parents. Connection is the context in which children mature and learn. Connection needs to be fulfilled and if it’s not supplied by parents it will be sought out and satiated elsewhere.
When a child hears the phrase over and over again, ‘I’ll be with you in just-a-minute’
Yes we are busy, yes we have more to do than ever before, yes there are many things
that have to be prioritised before our children, yes children can be excessively demanding. The aim here is for parents to find a balance in their lives and prioritise connection time with their children. Daily, quality connection time goes a long way with children to soothe their emotional wounds from the day and feel ‘wanted’ ‘cared for’ and ‘important’. Changing attitudes and language will help a child to ‘feel’ their invitation to exist with a parent. “It’s not what you say, it’s the way that you say it, that’s what gets results!” Laura is a speech therapist, parent consultant and health educator
www.connectedchild.net myconnectedchild@gmail.com connectedchildfamily +351 961 633 995 www.booklaura.acuityscheduling.com
Backpacks… how to prevent back pain BY DR. GEOFF OATES
This summer was the busiest ever at Lagos Health Chiropractic…Dr Wen and her team helped more holidaymakers with back and neck pain than ever before. We also saw plenty of golfers struggling with shoulder and elbow pain.
strain and irritation to the spine joints and rib cage.
Now, as we head into autumn, we will certainly see more golfers…and probably a few school children walking through our door! The cause of pain for the children often comes from overloaded backpacks. Although the back is pretty good at compensating for any load applied to it for an extended period of time, extra-heavy backpacks can:
Remember too that carrying backpacks over one shoulder will make your child’s muscles strain to compensate for the uneven weight.
• Distort the natural curves in your child’s middle and lower backs, causing muscle
So here are a couple of tips to help prevent pain:
• Pull on the neck muscles, contributing to headaches, shoulder pain, lower back pain and/or neck and arm pain.
The spine leans to the opposite side, putting extra stress on the middle and lower back more on one side than the other, leading to muscle strain, muscle spasm and back pain.
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• Always use both shoulder straps and wear the backpack on the back, rather than over one shoulder. • Lift the backpack by using the leg muscles, not by bending over with arms extended. • Do not lean forward when walking. If you have to, there is too much weight in the backpack. If your youngster comes home from school complaining of back pain, come and see us at Lagos Health Chiropractic…we’re in the big, pink building by the Lidl supermarket in Lagos or give us a call. +351 282 768 044 Follow us on: www.lagos-health.com/en
Health
Cardiac First Response Course Have you promised yourself to learn CPR but never got around to it? Well now is your opportunity as there is a course being run in the Algarve and you can find more details in this magazine. The course covers how to recognise if someone needs CPR, use of a defibrillator and responders’ safety being a priority. You will also learn how to use the acronym F.A.S.T (Face, Arms, Speech, Time) to assess a person who may have had a stroke. You will also get a better understanding of Angina and its
relationship to heart attack. The course will also cover how to deal with a choking victim – adult, child and infant and the differences applied to each. Role plays form part of the course to give people an insight into real situations. Successful course participants will receive a two year certification in Cardiac First Response. Take the opportunity now to learn something you always said that you would love to do.
For more information: firstresponder@sapo.pt
Fall in love again... BY ANN DE JONGH
...with your fitness and healthy eating habit After a busy summer full of visitors, too much wine, too many late nights, entertaining kids, eating out too often, not enough sleep and lots of work, it can seem that trying to get back into your fitness habit is an uphill task. Whilst the mind might be willing, you just can’t seem to find the energy to get started again. Don’t wait until the New Year; start now. With 12 weeks (yikes) until Christmas, it is long enough to get back into routine, to change habits and make them stick. Try to follow as many of these steps as you can: Sleep – early nights and between 7-8 hours sleep Vegetables – load your plate up with veggies, the more the merrier. Water – drink lots. A minimum of 1.5 litres a day Alcohol – limit – 1 glass of wine a day is better than a binge on a Saturday night
sweet, fruit or dark chocolate is what to go for. When it comes to getting back into an exercise routine: • Walk at least 30 mins a day • Plan exercise into your diary so you commit to it. • Join up with a friend to encourage each other and keep accountability • Find a Personal Trainer to work with. This can help you to stick to a routine and also give you a plan to work with. Before you know it your will be running up that hill, bouncing out of bed in the morning feeling amazing and your food choices will bursting with goodness. Ann is a trainer, yoga teacher, sports massage therapist
Sugar - avoid all refined sugars. If you want something
+351 913 202 621 www.fit2lovelife.com ann@fit2lovelife.com fit2lovelife anndejongh
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Health
Pets Mate This October is dental month again at Lagos Vet Clinic. Throughout the month our nurses will be conducting FREE dental health checks for our canines and felines. And when I say canines, they will look at all the other teeth as well: molars, incisors, you name it! Dental health affects the whole body, not just the breath! When an animal has a bad case of caries (not Carrie that was the scary 1970s movie) the immune system is constantly fighting this infection. As long as there is tartar for the bacteria to ensconce themselves in, they will continue to mount an attack on the immune system as a whole. If you think about it, this immune fight is going on night and day. This takes its toll on the entire body, especially in our older patients. It is very common that we see dogs or cats at a follow up consult following a dental surgery and the owner
BY LARS RAHMQUIST
tells us that they haven´t seen their pet so happy and energetic in ages! Older pets with organ disease such as heart failure, kidney problems and liver disease; are also at a higher risk from dental disease. As you know from your own experience on munching a Granny Smith, gums can bleed very easily. When a mouth is full of tartar, there are literally billions of bacteria in that mouth, so when these gums bleed, a massive load of bacteria are absorbed into the blood stream. Compromised organs, like a leaky heart valve, are easily colonised by bacteria and this makes the organ disease much worse! Once we complete a dental clean we dispense a choice of products to ensure that the mouth then stays clean and we don´t need to see the dog again for another clean in a year´s time. These products range from powders and liquids, to put in the animal food or water source. We also stock special chews which are impregnated with enzymes to stop tartar from adhering to the enamel of the teeth. Note to the wise – ´Dentastix´ DON´T work. Go on Mars, sue me, you know it´s true! So if there is a hint-of-halitosis, a taint-of-tartar or a placard-of-plaque in your pets’ mouth then call us at Lagos Vet Clinic for a free dental check this October. Your pussy or your pooch may well thank you for it!
For more information: www.lagosvet.com
The digestive system So you have chewed your food into a bolus – what next? The pharynx (throat), a funnel shaped tube connected to the back of the mouth, receives the bolus and is responsible for passing it onto the oesophagus. When we swallow various mechanisms come in to play! Food is squeezed into the pharynx by the pressure of the tongue moving upwards and backward against the roof of the mouth (soft palate) which in turn pulls upwards to close off the nasal cavities – so we do not have food coming out of our noses!! The sides of the pharynx move inwards
forming a slit through which food must pass. The vocal cords in the larynx close as it is pulled upwards and forwards by the neck muscles and ligaments causing a flap of elastic cartilage, called the epiglottis, to fold over and block it. This flap sits at the end of the point of the pharynx where it splits into the larynx, which leads to the trachea and the lungs, and the oesophagus, which leads to the stomach. This whole process lasts about 2-6 seconds so it does not interrupt breathing!!! If food or liquid get into the larynx accidently it stimulates a strong cough reflex to expel the substance in order
Niki Medlock is head nurse at www.luzdoc.com
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BY NIKI MEDLOCK
to protect the lungs. The act of swallowing starts off something called peristalsis which begins in the pharynx and carries on all the way through to the rectum. Peristalsis is the successive waves of involuntary muscular contraction passing along the length of the whole intestinal tract, causing the onward movement of any food bolus. This peristaltic action allows the food to pass from the mouth to the stomach in 8 – 10 seconds, slowing down once it reaches the stomach and gets even slower further along the rest of the intestinal tract. Next month – the stomach.
Health
Double act Phil and Lisa Soames met at the tender age of 10 after Phil relocated from France to the quaint village of Crowhurst in East Sussex where they attended the local school together. Education took them in different directions but they reconnected some years later in London. Phil was a qualified Personal Trainer and Lisa was a Lettings Manager. From here Phil was accepted into the London Fire Brigade as a firefighter and ran his own London-based PT business. Once married, Phil and Lisa relocated back to the village that they had met to be close to family. Lisa retrained to join Phil as a PT and together they formed Soames Personal Training offering a mobile PT service, holding classes at their local village hall and running all fitness classes at an exclusive celebrity detox retreat. This led to several TV appearances where they could showcase their passion for everything fitness. After
the birth of their two children Phil and Lisa were ready for the next challenge which was to relocate to the Algarve! So, six months ago they packed up their life and boarded the ferry with their children and boxer dog Angel. Since they have arrived they have launched Soames Fitness offering a mobile PT service, Studio Training and have set up boxercise in Lagos, Buggy fit in Boavista and LBT in Burgau. Phil is making the most of his passion instructing kitesurfing in Alvor lagoon and teaching Stand Up Paddle boarding when he is not Personal Training. Phil and Lisa have fully embraced Portugal and its way of life taking advantage of the warm climate they are always out and about and when they have the occasional free time they will be found surfing, kiting, hiking and spending family time together. Their children are at a local school and nursery and are thoroughly enjoying their new life making lots of new friends and have lots of new experiences. "The decision to relocate was very exciting if a little scary but it was definitely the right choice for us and we very much look forward to the future. You only live once!"
For more information: soamespersonaltraining@hotmail.co.uk +351 913 425 893
Fitness for the over sixties There are many more people these days aged 60 and over wanting to build a better physique or simply wanting to have a more active and healthy lifestyle. No one likes to be told they can't do something but as we get older we do have to take age into consideration when we get active. Performing certain exercises will be easier for some than others due to their ability and age but that is the case for everyone as we all have different levels of fitness and strength. There will always be something we can do no matter if we are beginners, athletes, young or old. Each month I will be giving you tips and exercises that will help keep the over 60s fighting fit. Remember that age is just a number. Stretching: An extremely important part of any workout which is to be done before and after your exercises. Stretching will ensure your body and
BY RYAN SMITH
muscles are fully warmed up which helps prevent injuries. You can perform stretching either seated or lying down whichever is more comfortable for you. I would advise you perform at least 5-10 minutes of stretching before and after your exercises. A combination of aerobic exercise, strength training and balance exercises will help keep you fighting fit. 30 minutes a day 5-7 days a week is what I would recommend as a sustainable amount of exercise. We can exercise anywhere! In a gym, in our own home or in the great outdoors that the Algarve has to offer. But the main thing is to get up and get your body moving. I have tailor made a number of different programmes on my website designed for those over 60 and I also offer one-to-one personal training with clients of all ages and abilities.
Ryansmith_fitness@hotmail.com www.ryansmithfitness.com Rysmith_fitness Ryan Smith
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Business
Sell, sell, sell! le a s for for sale
for sale
BY DAVID WESTMORELAND
As discussed in my September article, we are now in the golden quarter where we sell 60% of our total annual property sales. If you are looking to sell, now is the time to get your property on the market! So, what do you need to do to ensure your property is at the top of its game? Whether you are a full time resident or a second home owner, take a good look at your property and ask yourself if you need to declutter or de-personalise. Do you really need that old broken lounger or that gift from auntie that you haven’t even got out of the box? Remember you don’t need to go to the extremes and empty your house as you still want it to feel like a home. However, you do want to showcase a home that a future owner can imagine themselves living in. Clear surfaces with simple decorative ornaments is a good start. Also remember that most buyers are looking to send time outdoors as well as indoors, so it is helpful to create a easy and clear path through your home to the terraces, patio and garden. Ask yourself if the furnishings are too large or too plentiful to allow for
for sale
this, and you may want to remove an armchair or end table and tuck it away in the garage. Then you can decide if you need to redecorate the interior to give a fresh feel and look. A lick of paint in neutral tones can really help create the illusion of a space and additional light. Kitchens and bathrooms are other areas to look at. It isn’t always necessary to upgrade your kitchen or bathrooms, but here it is wise to ensure they are clean and clutter free. The next step is to step back, and have a look at your property from the outside. Are the gardens or balconies looking there best and can your buyer imagine themselves relaxing in this space? What can you do to create the WOW factor, as soon as the potential buyer arrives? If you're selling a permanent residence, it is great to pull out all the stops with the freshly cut flowers, plumping of the cushions and a last 10-minute dash to ensure the home is tidy. For second home owners, a regular clean during your absence to keep the property feeling fresh is always a good idea.
For an assessment of your property, please contact us at david@bpaproperty.com
Spotlight on a spa This month is spa month so I wanted to focus on the MacDonald Monchique Resort which I had the pleasure of visiting. It reopened in May 2016 after a €5 million makeover. Since then almost 50,000 guests have gone through its doors which is a huge step forward for the region which is attempting to encourage tourists to enjoy different parts of the Algarve – not just the coast. The hotel is located at a bend in the road before you reach Caldas de Monchique, from Lagos it is less than a 30-minute drive. Spa manager Carolyn Brown, tells me; “We have the most advanced thermal suites in the Algarve at this time.” The sauna offers views over the outdoor pool and to the stunning scenery beyond and its Himalayan salt wall works to purify the air, giving a totally different
BY SOPHIE SADLER
experience. The steam room has four different scents to choose from including lavender and acacia flower. I decided to cool down in one of the sensorial showers which draw on the natural surroundings of Monchique. The shower starts with a mist, which emulates light rain as you listen to bird song, a crack of thunder suddenly erupts over your head and a torrent of water floods down on you, giving the sensation of being caught in a thunderstorm. In the eight treatment rooms, therapists use ESPA products and Monchique Cosmetics, which draw on local mineral water and mountain herbs and flowers. The products use aromas from the mountains which have been adapted especially for the resort so it’s a truly unique experience. Macdonald Monchique Resort Sensorial Spa will also be participating in spa week, where 5-star resorts offer a range of discounts on treatments, between October 7th and 15th.
Contact: +351 282 240 155 recepcao.spa@macdonaldmonchique.com www.macdonaldmonchique.com
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Business
I.T. can be easy
BY STEVEN DUNWELL
Time to say goodbye - Microsoft Office 2007 On October 10th 2017 Microsoft will end support for the ever-popular product, Office 2007.
Free options:
I have Office 2007 - what does this mean for me? At the end of its supported life Microsoft stops releasing security fixes (patches) to plug vulnerabilities in the product which means your computer maybe unsecure. While the risks are not too severe it is still recommended to upgrade to a newer version. I’d like to keep using it If you’re determined to carry on using Office 2007 then it is recommended that you install a trusted antivirus application like Bitdefender, Kaspersky or AVG and keep it up to date. Also, be wary of opening Office documents from unknown sources as these can contain malicious code very much like Malware (malicious software) which can infect your PC. I don’t want to risk it, what else can I do? If you’re willing to pay and want the latest version,
you could sign up for a subscription to Microsoft Office 365. For a yearly payment of £79.99 (or a rolling subscription of £7.99 a month) you will have the latest, most secure version which you can install on up to five PC’s. There are other payment and product options, search for Office 365 UK on the internet for more details. Pay? No thanks, what can I get for free? You could always switch to a free alternative such as LibreOffice or Apache OpenOffice. Both have features that rival Office 2007, they support all the standard file types so you will be able to open all your existing documents. They have a very similar look to MS Office so you should feel right at home. Visit www.libreoffice. org or https://www.openoffice.org/ to download your free copy. If you have any questions regarding the above topic, suggestions for future tips or require assistance with any I.T. challenges, I am very happy help. Have a great month, see you for another tip in the November issue.
For more information: sdunwell@sky.com +351 936 387 512
Local hotel up for top award Baía da Luz, luxury resort managed by CDBResorts group under the wing of Bruno Correia, was nominated amongst the elite of national resorts in different categories of the prestigious World Luxury Hotel Awards 2017. Established in 2006, World Luxury Hotel Awards are the pinnacle of achievement in the luxury hotel industry offering international recognition as voted by guests, travellers and industry players alike. Over 300,000 international travellers vote each year, during a four-week period to select the winners. For this reason, Bruno Correia, Operations Director of CDBResorts and Baía da Luz comments with satisfaction: “We’re incredibly excited to be participating in the 2017 World Luxury Hotel Awards this year! This is a culmination of several years of effort by the entire team to present to the guest the treatment of excellence that they deserve. Being this a nomination from our clients it reinforces the idea that we are going in the right direction.” Baía da Luz is located in the town of Praia da Luz, in
the Western Algarve (Portugal) just 200m from the superb sandy beach. The resort is situated within tranquil Mediterranean gardens and combines a mix of high specification one, two and three bedroom apartments, and three bedroom townhouses. The resort facilities include outdoor swimming pools, a multipurpose sports pitch, tennis court, pool tables and a children’s playground with slide, swings and play areas. It is, without shadow of a doubt, a welcoming resort for beach and family holidays. This is the reason they say: “We appeal to all those who have already experienced or know the Baía da Luz lifestyle. Baía da Luz was nominated for 3 categories: Luxury Serviced Apartments, Luxury Beach Resort and Luxury Family Resort. Voting has now closed so we will keep you posted.
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CAN BE DEVASTATING! MAKE SURE IT DOES NOT HAPPEN TO YOU
Mr. Sweep +351 919 498 280
20 years sweeping experience algarvesweep@gmail.com
Business
Shade sails for your home A couple of the benefits of (not to) living here in the Algarve are the climate and the outdoor lifestyle it provides. Although alongside the continued sunshine come the many risks of UV exposure, skin cancer and premature aging just to mention some. This is why more and more people are realizing the need of having a reliable and safe shade structure that protects from UV, withstands bad weather, and most importantly a stylish addition to whatever the space. Oz Shade are now busier than ever installing shade sail systems enabling people to maximize their outdoor
space, but its not just in the Algarve we are in demand, this summer alone we have installed shades in Senegal and imported to Madeira. As the company has expanded so have our needs. We relocated last year to a warehouse in Chinicato, just outside of Lagos, where the whole team work together to design and manufacture the sails. As the summer is drawing to an end it is a perfect time to think about your shading needs, especially for commercial premises. Having a shade installed in the winter is less intrusive to the business, and by the time summer rolls around again it is one less thing to think about. No project is too big or too small so give us a call for a free quote.
For more information: abi@ozshade.com +351 910 251 148 www.ozshade.com
The largest Primark in Portugal Primark was due to open its “biggest store in Portugal” at Loulé’s Mar Shopping at the end of last month.
fill around 150 job vacancies. The Loulé store will be Primark’s 10th in Portugal, and second in the Algarve.
Primark’s Iberian Peninsula boss Stephen Mullen told Barlavento Newspaper that the store would boast a 4500 square meters area and feature an “innovative layout, rest areas and Wi-Fi for clients”. He added that the Irish company was still recruiting employees to
The first opened at the Dolce Vita Tejo mall in 2009. Primark owns 343 stores in Portugal, Ireland, the UK, Spain, the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Austria, France, Italy and the USA.
Nordic walking is coming to Lagos! A company offering Nordic walking is about to open in Lagos. Nordic walking is said to suit every age group from eight to 80. It’s essentially an enhancement of ordinary walking using poles. The use of poles means the upper body muscles are used as well as the legs. The poles help to propel the walker along –
this means he/she works harder than usual yet the support given by the poles makes it feel easier! Nordic Walking is a specific fitness technique and is not to be confused with trekking, hill walking or trail running as the poles are not planted in front of the walker/runner but in a specific way that increases the use of the
upper body. If you want to find out more get in touch with Marc Botterill. He will offer people free tasters so you can decide if you like it before you try it. You can read more about Marc and Nordic walking in this magazine next month.
For more information: lagosnordicwalking@gmail.com
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Lagos
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Portugal
Open at 4pm everyday until 2am
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All brought to you by the friendliest crew in Lagos!
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Food & drink
Os Lambertos Os Lambertos is at the top of town and top of my list too. Firstly, if you could cut this restaurant in half, like a stick of rock, it would say Portuguese inside. The look and feel is traditional too, in that it is nothing fancy and you get excited that the food you are about to be served is as fresh and Portuguese as it can be. And it is. Do book as it gets packed both during the day and evening, by mostly local people. They clearly know a secret about this place.
Please get in touch with our editor at: amber@tomorrowalgarve.com if you want to tell us about a restaurant that you have been to lately.
BY THE YUM YUM BOYS each were served as a generous portion (I could see a doggy bag coming on).
When you enter, you are greeted by the fresh catch of the day all lined up in the fridge. This probably changes daily so no two days fish will be the same. We were a party of four and in being shown to our table, we were greeted by the starters, already on the table, of octopus salad and cod roe (both separate). Other days, expect something different. I guess it may be down to what is fresh that day.
The tuna was moist and firm as it should be and the lamb was cooked to perfection. The steak was just right (clearly an experienced chef here). Even the omelette was huge. Delightfully, all were served with fresh vegetables on the side with Broccoli, cauliflower, beans and carrots. Boiled potatoes done with garlic and butter finished it off with home-made crisps and chips with the omelette. A huge portion of rice then appeared and a side plate portion of bean and bacon stew. By this time, I think I was going to pop if I ate it all and few extra holes needed on the belt. I looked around and some other Portuguese parties were tucking into a huge cataplana which you must order a day in advance. The wine was good too and the whole experience was great and far removed from the usual hustle and bustle of a non-Portuguese place to eat.
As a party, we ate the given starters with the usual fresh bread, cheese and sardine pate. For mains, we had lamb steaks, tuna steak, beef steak with one person going for an omelette. All were delicious and
If you prefer what you eat to be good, homemade and superbly cooked, make a visit. A second visit is already lined up and yes, we did leave with a doggy bag!!! See you next month.
Rua do Compromisso Maritimo | Largo da Assembleia Municipal, Lagos 8600-564 +351 282 085 953
The taste of Uruguay If you are looking for something a little bit different then why not try out Parrilla Natural. It’s a little bit further away in Almancil but definitely worth the drive. We wanted to find out more about this South American restaurant so we sent Simon Moulson to check it out. It's a Wednesday evening, a little after 7pm and already this enchanting restaurant is getting busy. If ever you wanted to go to a naturally beautiful restaurant in the grounds of an old finca, then you're in luck. The calçada driveway leads you to clearly labelled parking spaces. However, the entrance is actually quite understated and doesn't give you a clue or even a snippet of what potentially lies beyond. Once you pass through the entrance then the understated elegance and a serenity greets you. Your eyes are simply drawn to the individual tables each adorned by their own individual lamps and all nestled between a myriad of trees, palms and foliage.
There are two main events, the open grill kitchen which is powered by an enclave of hugely proportioned wood-burning grills which have an intensity of heat whilst adorned chefs in their whites (blacks in this case) carry out their cooking in carefully controlling the searing heat and is the nucleus of the amazing steaks. However, the main focus is the 200-year old pine tree which stands majestically in the centre of the decked area, it provides a stunning canopy for dining tables positioned underneath. Adorned and decked with fairly lights, like a Christmas tree awaiting the arrival of treats. Wherever you venture throughout this amazing restaurant, the enchanting pathways, the
numerous bars it simply oozes class. The belle of the ball, surely has to be the Dom Pérignon lounge bar. They have a new addition in the form of the children's area which, as you would expect is simply in a different league. Attentive staff ensure your little cherubs are kept amused, with face-painting, children's activities, playground, it's like a crèche almost. They even have a cinema-like foyer for the little ones and so everything is catered for and the thought-process of the restaurant designer is something else. The lady or guy is a genius! Open daily for dinner from 6:30pm until late
www.parrillanatural.com +351 289 350 040 info@parrillanatural.com EM 527, Encosta do Lobo 8135-855 Almancil
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HAVE YOU TASTED OUR ALGARVIAN
?
CAIPIRINHA
www.mardestorias.com
Kiko’s Tasca
Wine, food and friends. Portuguese food. Tapas, lunch and dinner. Come and try for yourself. Open from 11am to 11pm. Closed on Tuesdays.
Tel.: +351 282 046 037 • Email: one.destino@gmail.com Centro Naútico Sopromar - Estrada Sopromar (Meia-Praia) • LAGOS • GPS - N 37º 06.433' / W 08º 40.176' • f facebook.com/tascadokiko
Food & drink
La Esterella Restaurant BY JULIE BATTERSBY
This restaurant is situated in Rua da Olivera, 32 Lagos off the main hub, in the wonderful back streets of Lagos. The restaurant fits in perfectly in this up and coming lively area surrounded by other eateries. A Belgian couple Oliver and Inga found themselves here after searching around Portugal for a place to start their new life and business and Lagos gave them a good feeling. It was hard work and determination that got them though the changes they had to complete to get started, with simple design and decor they have made their mark on this restaurant. It has a feeling of being intimate, informal and relaxed. Inga and Oliver are very engaging and passionate about the food and beers on offer. Inga has been a chef for 20 years whilst travelling and describes her restaurant as a world kitchen. At one time Inga even cooked for a ballet school. Her wide and varied experience has given her the ability to be creative with her food she said, adding that it is all about the ‘flavours’.
have, but what Oliver poured us was something very different smooth and light I had Brugse Zot (blonde ale with a lightly fruity taste) very nice . We also experienced another beer with our meal and it worked very well complimenting the food. The starter soup was tom yum which gave me mouth melting moments with a surprising tang and lovely texture. This was no ordinary soup! One of the main tasters was dourada, beautifully grilled and crisp outside with a moist white fish inside. It was a delight and a light sauce added to the whole experience. Another main taster we tried was beef stew in a dark Belgian beer sauce with chips made with very good Portuguese potatoes this dish was beyond good. One dessert offered was Belgian chocolate cake-what did it taste like??-Well, Tom didn’t really want to share!! Inga with her fresh bright smile explained she looks for quality and gives great attention to the food she cooks- it is honest healthy food with a touch of glam. This restaurant is for all ages. It’s eclectic with easy music floating from the speakers. There are vegetarian and vegan dishes and the restaurant has already made it number 40 on Tripadvisor. It’s open in the evenings and closed on a Mondays.
Oliver offered us a Belgain beer which he imports from Belgium the only one around that does this, with 13 assorted beers to choose from we had no idea what to
For bookings: +351 968 545 440 @LaEsterella
Cabanas
Spice up your life
Last month we featured a restaurant review about Cabanas just outside Burgau. Please note that everything on the menu is home made even the tartar sauce!!!
The Indian restaurant, Delhi Darbar, in Lagos and Tomorrow are hosting a buffet evening for our readers. The event will take place on Friday November 10th at 7pm and everyone is welcome.
a chutney tray. There will also be four curries including a vegetarian option, naan bread and rice. This is our third evening at Delhi Darbar and it tends to be a very popular, well attended event. Please book early if you do want to come. Delhi Darbar is opposite to Repsol Petrol Station in Lagos.
Thanks very much to David Flockhart for that review. If you would like to send us a restaurant review you can email amber@tomorrowalgarve.com
The cost is €18 per person which includes a welcome drink, a full Indian buffet of two starters, popadums and
www.cabanasbeachrestaurant.com
Bookings: +351 923 206 701 or call Tom from Tomorrow +351 919 918 733
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Serge & Satoshi pâtisserie française Croissants, Roasted chicken, Quiches, Oven ready meals, French pastry and more...
Open everyday except Mondays
Praia da luz, Next to the pharmacy Tel: 960 028 647 | Facebook.com/SergeSatoshi.pf
Food & drink
The Ultimate Thai Steak BY CHRIS WINSTANLEY
For you steak lovers out there here is a recipe I tried with friends last weekend and really did get the thumbs up. I have to say I think I am going to be hooked on this way of cooking steak as it is so easy yet so tasty. I know there is a lot of things in the media regarding sugar, but the brown sugar in this recipe really does achieve the right sweet and spicy taste that goes so well with the steak. I hope you like it! Ingredients for four people: • 4 Beef Steaks, preferably Ribeye with the fat left on • 2 Tbsp. vegetable oil Marinade: • 6 Tbsp of good soy sauce • 4 Tbsp Hoisin Sauce • 2 Tbsp Fish Sauce • Half cup of finely chopped onions, best to use shallots if you can • 6-7 minced garlic cloves • 1 Fresh red chill, leave out if you do not want heat • 8 Tbsp soft brown sugar Method:
1 2
Rinse steaks in cold water and set aside
Combine all the marinade ingredients in a flat baking dish or a bowl large enough the lay the steaks flat. Stir well until all the sugar is dissolved.
3
Place the steaks in the marinade and turn several times to coat well. Spoon more marinade over the top of each steak. Cover and place in a refrigerator to marinade for at least 2 hours and or better still up to 24 hours.
4
Heat up your grill to a medium hot heat. Brush the grills with vegetable oil and grill the steaks to your taste turning once.
5
The steaks go well with a simple salad and Thai Jasmine Rice cooked in coconut milk.
Many thanks to Chris Winstanley for this recipe. Please send one of your recipes for us to share. Email amber@tomorrowalgarve.com
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Environment
Hell and high water BY CLAIRE FRIEDLANDER
Now is the summer of our discontent. Whilst continental America, Europe and other global hotspots are a tinderbox, hurricanes of unprecedented magnitude lash American coastlines and Caribbean islands, leaving utter destruction in their inundated wakes. Vast swathes of Asia, too, are drowning in post-monsoon floodwaters. Over half of Bangladesh is submerged! This is climate gone mad- predicted by science and an apocalyptic warning about disregard for climate change. This isn’t even an El Niño year. North Atlantic cyclonic storms are nothing new to the people of Texas or Florida. Hurricanes do happen, perhaps partially explaining the White House’s reticence in acknowledging links to global warming. Wind speeds, precipitation and storm surges, however, are all unequivocally influenced by warmer weather and ocean surface temperatures. The Clausius-Clapeyron equation indicates an increase of about 7% in atmospheric moisture for each degree (Celsius) of sea surface warming, and ocean surfaces have been noticeably warmer this year. As a result, unheard of quantities of rainwater have been dumped in hurricane zones. The onshore deluge has been exacerbated by storm surges, several feet higher than historical surges thanks to rising sea levels and increased storm intensity. Storm surge is the onshore rush of water caused by the storm’s wind and atmospheric pressure changes, and provides the most deadly aspect of a hurricane. For Houston, like many other flooded coastal cities, the main cause of flooding is the inability of its topography to cope with the sheer quantity of water. This year, floods in China have cost an estimated US$45 billion in damage, and from early estimates the economic costs of Harvey alone are likely to exceed a billion dollars. Cities can be re-built but storm amplification and rising sea levels are likely to ravage
humanity’s best attempts and engineered solutions are prohibitively expensive for most. By the time Harvey dissipated, a record-shattering 20 trillion gallons of water had fallen in the Houston area. No urban area could withstand that quantity of water without some flooding, but Houston can shed light on how to avoid similar extreme vulnerability. Houston’s population growth in recent years has led to rampant developer-led urban sprawl in previously green wetland areas. Concrete and asphalt surfaces have paved over nature, sacrificing earth’s natural sponge effect. Soil and vegetation filter water as it percolates through to be dissipated slowly or stored in aquifers. No engineered solution can match Mother Nature’s capacity for managing floodwaters. Various cities globally are waking up to ‘Green Infrastructure’ as a huge cost-saver over engineered storm-water management systems, and which can provide additional benefits too. Returning green space to urban watercourses quietly sequestrates carbon and manages drainage, whilst providing pleasant recreation areas. Rainwater can be harvested at domestic scale to reduce impact on municipal systems, but also at city scale. Aesthetically pleasing rain-gardens and bio-swales can naturally handle storm water disposal and replace endless hot, grey, impermeable pavements. Green roofs manage rooftop water collection and increased vegetation reduces storm water runoff velocity and soil erosion, all the while providing a natural cooling effect on urban environments. The benefits are irrefutable. As population and related development accelerate here, there are lessons to be learned from a green approach to infrastructure. Remember the destruction of the Algarve floods in November 2015? We should pay attention- the waters are rising…
Further information on rainwater harvesting and management: www.skyharvest.pt www.friedlanderdesign.com
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Outdoor
Lagos garden of English artist Ray Gilman and his wife Vi. (Ray will be remembered by many of you for his fascinating series The Seven Wonders of Portugal – a history in tiles in Tomorrow.) Ray and Vi retired to Portugal in 1999 and he became interested in the art of Portuguese azulejos which he began to paint – fired by an artist friend with a kiln. The object of our visit was to view the ceramic tiles hand-made and painted by him and to learn how to appreciate the addition of such ornaments and how they can enhance space and offer inspiration. It proved an unusual and fascinating visit. Ray and Vi´s home and garden reflect a strong Moorish design element, with different garden ‘rooms’ – whether shady and secluded, or sunny court yards planted with perfectly clipped Calamondin (Citro Fortunella, a hybrid between bitter orange and a kumquat and perfect in your G&T!) in strict geometric order around a centre statue on a tiled plinth, a vine covered veranda – and wherever one looked there were artfully placed handmade tiles, individually or combined to create wall murals, surprising and delighting the eye.
Art in the Garden – Azulejos BY JEANETTE FAHLBUSCH
Ornamental handmade ceramic tiles and their use in the garden Gardens are art. Each of us that is passionate about plants and gardening is, at heart, an artist: designing and creating living colour palettes, patterns and structures that reflect our individual personality. But planting aside, for many of us a garden isn´t complete without the right art to complement it. But what art? And how do you find the right spot for a piece and chose the plants to complement it? The first step is to find a work that really speaks to you – be it stone, wood, ceramics or whatever. It does not have to be expensive – one can find wonderful pieces in junk shops or second hand markets that can really spark imagination. Choose something you really love – chances are that if you´re placing it in a garden you have designed and planted yourself, it will work, because it´s the same esthetic. Consider from where and when the work will be viewed. White or silver will make for a great moonlit garden, whereas a daytime mossy shaded garden can be spiced up with fiery hot coloured art. And for inspiration, visit artists’ gardens! With this in mind, WAGS (Western Algarve Gardening Society) September outing did just that. It was the first in a series of Art in the Garden events which are planned over the next few seasons. WAGS members Jenny and Geoff Bertenshaw organised a visit to the
The highlights however were the Seven Wonders of Portugal, chosen on July 7th 2007 by the Portuguese nation, including, amongst others, Guimarães Castle. Ray decided to depict each of the seven wonders on a series of large panels to decorate one of his garden walls. We were treated to a short history of each of the wonders and so learned not only about the art of tile making and decorative use, but something about Portuguese architectural history as well! The highly inspiring morning was rounded off with our very generous hosts, who welcomed us to their shady verandah where, over clinking glasses of Prosecco and locally produced dried fruits and nuts, we had the chance to discuss the morning´s inspirations and impressions. A most inspiring and educational visit to a wonderful Lagos garden. Our Garden Group meets on the first Tuesday of the month. Our members take it in turns to host a month´s event, and whilst we are all there primarily because of our passion for gardening and plants, it is also a wonderful opportunity to meet ´like-mindeds´ and make new friends and meet old ones! We are open to all nationalities, backgrounds and ages – the more variety the better! Anyone interested in our autumn/winter programme, please email: wagardeninggroup@gmail.com. There is no membership fee for our local group, but paid membership of the Mediterranean Gardening Association Portugal (of which we are the Western Algarve offspring) is well worthwhile and will give additional benefits.
For more information: www.mediterraneangardeningportugal.org
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REAL ESTATE. AGENCY LAGOS WESTERN ALGARVE
GENERAL AND FAMILY MEDICINE MEDICAL SPECIALTIES COMPLEMENTARY EXAMS OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE AESTHETIC MEDICINE NURSING WE CARE FOR YOUR HEALTH
www.luzdoc.com
HOME CALLS
Luzdoc: Rua 25 de Abril, 12, 8600-174 Luz, Lagos 282 780 700
282 780 709
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