Tomorrow Portimão, Alvor, Ferragudo & Carvoeiro April 2018 Edition

4,000 FREE copies April 2018 | Edition 22

www.tomorrowalgarve.com |  TomorrowAlgarve

A COMMUNITY MAGAZINE FOR PORTIMÃO, ALVOR, FERRAGUDO & CARVOEIRO

THE ALGARVE PROPERTY SPECIALISTS

OVEISON

o u t d o o r

l i v i n g

Editor's Letter 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

Photo © www.birchphotography.com

Welcome to our April edition!

We hope you all had a good Easter and are now getting ready for the season to well and truly start.

March saw a wetter than usual start to the year which we hope means we will have a much longer summer.

The storms brought havoc to many of the beach bars and restaurants along the coast line which was heartbreaking to see, and I know owners are all now rushing to get them ready to re-open. Let’s all support them when we can. Nature is a very powerful beast and this shows how important it is to respect the environment and look after what we have been given.

As part of our 2018 campaign to ‘Clean It Up’ we are asking local people to help by picking up bits of rubbish and plastic as they go about their day. It was nice to see in one bar the offer of a free coffee for every bag of plastic brought in by customers. Keep up the good work.

One of the highlights of March was The Marley Benefit at Quinta do Paraiso, Carvoeiro which raised over €5000 on the evening for this brave little man and we are all still fundraising if you want to contribute. You can read more about the event and see how to make a donation on page 18. The evening was so successful they are planning a 70s evening at the end of the summer. We will let you know more as soon as we can.

In April (on the 14th and 15th) we are having our second Giving Back Day of 2018, this time we are going to be

looking at doing something for the environment. We will be looking at cleaning up another area of rubbish.

This time, we will be in Lagos, clearing up the area around the beach and also the area by the old railway station on the 14th and on the 15th we will be at Armação de Pêra helping on the beach. If you wish to join us and want to help, drop me an email and I will let you have the details which are still being confirmed as we go to print.

We hope you have a great month, Amber, Steven and the whole Tomorrow team.

Steven Sutton:  +351 919 185 677  steven@tomorrowalgarve.com Amber Henshaw:  amber@tomorrowalgarve.com

On the cover There's a spring in the air and it's time for nature to come back to life. Look out for butterflies as you are out and about over the next few weeks.

Stay Connected... 

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TomorrowAlgarve

www.tomorrowalgarve.com

+351 919 185 677

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Community

The best of both worlds Bicycles from the Black Forest

BY STEPHANIE GINGER It may have been growing up in the Black Forest that gave German carpenter, Raphael Much, his passion for wood; yet it’s in a workshop in Mexilhoeira da Carregação in Estômbar - a short ride from the sea – where Raphael now builds stunning hand-made wooden bicycles, bespoke high-end furniture and a lot more besides.

his belt, ranging from industrial and marine carpentry to house interiors, not to mention the bicycles I’ve come to see.

I’m meeting Raphael at the workshop he shares with fellow fine carpenter Ronald Kennedy and, coincidentally, this month they celebrate the first anniversary of their collaboration.

He goes on. “My grandfather had really thick fingers, the hands of a craftsman. His hands told a story.

When I am 70 or 80-years-old I would like to look at my hands and see the same thing.” I can’t help thinking that’s a long way off but his passion is palpable.

"Now, I’m finally at the stage where I can imagine something and know how to make it work"

The short row of workshops is easy to miss, nestled as it is amongst the narrow, winding streets of residential Estômbar.

Opposite, two storks perch high up on their chimney nest and I can smell the salty whiff of the Arade River in my nostrils.

I find Raphael inside his workshop, working at his bench. The first thing that strikes me is how young he appears, although he already has 10 years of woodwork experience under

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He’s never wanted to do anything else he explains. “I always wanted to create something with my hands.

When it came to choosing a job, the only thing that came to my mind was a carpenter.”

“My father always used to make everything at home,” he goes on. “I always tried to do things on my own and ended up having to go to him when it didn’t work out. Now, I’m finally at the stage where I can imagine something and know how to make it work.”

After leaving school, Raphael went on to do a threeyear apprenticeship in industrial carpentry. Although the work wasn’t as ‘hands on’ as he would have liked, the training in Germany is excellent. “To learn every process from start to finish is really good,” he says with a smile “and once you know those processes

you can transfer them to different areas, like making bicycles.”

But it’s a world apart isn’t it – making chipboard furniture and melamine kitchens in the Black Forest to creating bespoke fine furniture and heirloom bicycles by the sea? So what led him to sunny Portugal?

“Surfing!” Raphael laughs. Given the Algarve environment of sun and sea, it’s a familiar story but I have to admit not one I was expecting. Raphael fills me in. “It was April 2008 and I thought that maybe this wasn’t what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. So I took six months leave from my employer in Germany and came to Portugal to learn to surf.”

But after six months the pull of the waves was as strong as ever and in his own words Raphael wasn’t quite ‘done’ so he went to New Zealand for a further six-months of surfing. However, man cannot live on air and water alone and Raphael never lost sight of his relationship with wood. A temporary job as a carpenter in a sawmill sorted out the practicalities and gave him valuable wood-working experience of a completely different sort.

“Everything in New Zealand was a complete contrast to everything I’d learned in Germany,” he chuckles.

“There were just the three of us; my sixty-two yearold boss, another employee also in his sixties and me!”

“I had a belt with seven different pockets and in each pocket there were different lengths of nail. With those I would make whatever was required; tables, chairs, pergolas, dog-kennels and chicken runs.”

By 2009 Raphael was back in Portugal for another surfing season and by the end of it he’d made the decision not to return to Germany and his everhopeful employer. Instead, he found work with SouthWest Shiprights in Portimão, fitting out interiors and maintaining boats. Raphael admits that was when he really learned how to carpenter by hand and crucially perfected the skills necessary to make his bikes.

“We didn’t have any of the big computer-controlled machines that are usually used in Germany these days, so we had to hand craft the curved furniture that’s needed in the boat-building profession ourselves. And if you can build a three-dimensional shape from wood you can build anything. ” It was also at South-West Shiprights that Raphael first met Ronald Kennedy.

And Raphael might indeed be there still if it hadn’t been for the economic downturn and a chance phone conversation with his brother in 2012.

His brother, an engineer, had always been a big bicycle fan and had been thinking about building a wooden bicycle for a couple of years. He’d seen one but was convinced Raphael could do better and set him the task.

Raphael rose to the challenge and built his first wooden prototype while still in Portugal. But in order to move forward commercially, he and his Portuguese girlfriend needed to return to Germany and steady employment. Fortunately, his long-suffering previous employer was happy to take him on once more and Raphael worked for eighteen months on the design.

By August 2013 he had completed a mountain bike and a city bike and was ready to take orders.

But isn’t a wooden bike very heavy?

Not at all, Raphael explains. Wood is very strong in comparison with its weight. The extraordinary fact is that his racing bike frame, for example, weighs in at only 2.1 kg. His design means that he builds up the wood from more than 30 thin layers of wood cut and glued together, then sanded and shaped into a hollow frame for maximum strength and flexibility.

“There isn’t a straight edge anywhere,” he explains, “that’s what I love about it.”

Different woods have different qualities: the paler German Ash on the outer layers contrasts well with a finer wood on the inner; the strong lively character of walnut or the dark red elegance of mahogany. 

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Community Joining forces with Ronnie in the workshop is part of finding that balance. Ronnie’s specialism in luxury carpentry, marine carpentry and boat interiors as well as making unique pieces to order such as ornate keepsake boxes in fine woods dovetails nicely with Raphael’s bespoke joinery and hand-made bicycles.

I can see that in the graceful curve of wooden handlebars beside the intricate geometry of a yacht deck, stacked like an oversize jigsaw puzzle. Working independently or together, if necessary, pooling their resources and talents in the same workshop makes perfect sense.

Raphael enjoys working on individual projects directly with the client from concept to completion, but is also keen to work with architects on bigger design projects. Like the one for Studio ARTE, highend architects in Portimão for whom he’s currently building a custom-designed contemporary bed and library archive for an elegant town house renovation.

“By playing with different kinds of wood we can offer the individual customer a bike that suits not only their size, riding style and terrain but also their character.”

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Each bike takes between sixty and seventy hours to make and costs from €4,290 but will last a lifetime.

In these ‘throwaway’ times when everything from clothes to cars seem to have built-in obsolescence, Raphael’s commitment to timelessness and longevity is refreshing. “50 years ago, my grandmother would buy a piece of furniture and she would appreciate it for 20, 30 or even 40 years! Nowadays people buy a kitchen from Ikea and five years later they’ll throw it out.”

Although their workshop is fully-equipped and set up for traditional carpentry using veneers and solid wood, they also work with contemporary materials like MDF as well. For large projects such as stores or hotels, Raphael can source multiple quality furniture from a high-end industrial carpentry company in Germany to support the work they do in Estômbar.

“I get a lot of pleasure applying traditional methods and skills to a contemporary project,” he says. “That way you have the best of both worlds.”

And Raphael does seem to be on the way to having both. He grins. “Oh absolutely! To be able to surf in the morning and build beautiful things for people the rest of the time. For me, that would be the best of both worlds!”

Not so with Raphael’s bikes. He’s still in touch with the customer who bought that first mountain bike five years ago. He is 1.95 metres tall and weighs 95 kilos” He’s crossed the Alps with it twice and uses it on a daily basis, he tells me proudly. “So I think it’s safe to say that they last!”

Add to this, the advantage of being able to sand down and re-varnish any bumps and scratches and you have a unique and individual piece that will last for years.

Building bicycles is only fifty percent of Raphael’s business and he hopes that demand for his bespoke design and build service, LJ Woodworks, supplying stylish and beautifully-made interior furniture for discerning customers will increase over the coming year.

But it’s not all about work, Raphael insists. It’s also about finding a satisfactory work life balance. To that end, just over a year ago he and his girlfriend decided to move back to Portugal.

 Lj-woodworks.com  Kennedyfinecarpentry.com  Lot L, Quinta da São Pedro, Mexilhoera da Carregação

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Community

Naval world history coming to Portimão A replica of the historical French frigate, which played a crucial role in the history of the American Revolution War, will be in the port of Portimão next month. Edgar Naveda fills us in on the L’Hermione’s historical significance.

Launched in 1779, this amazing war ship was built in the city of Rochefort as an urgent response to the maritime combat raging between France and Britain, loaded with 32 cannons aboard.

It was on the Hermione that The Marquis de La Fayette, a liberal aristocrat, officer and an important political figure during the French Revolution, sailed to the United States in 1780 to come to the aid of the American insurgents in their fight against the British colonialists, playing a crucial role to secure their independence.

The 1,166 tons of nautical marvel, one of the fastest frigates of its time, had an overall length of 66 meters, 11.55 meters wide and a main mast of 56.5 meters high.

In 1992 the Association Hermione-La Fayette was conceived by initiative of a few members of the Centre Internacional de la Mer to honour the achievements of the ship by building an exact replica of the ship.

Similar to the HMS Victory, moored in Portsmouth, L’Hermione was built in the very hometown of its original at the Rochefort arsenal in less than six months.

The challenge was to construct a replica of the 18th century frigate using the same techniques, including bringing together skilled artisans capable of reproducing former practices but also guaranteeing the security of the public complying with

modern health and safety standards.

When Patrick Mangin, President of Union des Français de l’Etranger Algarve (Union of the French Abroad), heard that the ship was going to pass by our coast he was convinced they must bring it to the Algarve. “Two years ago,” he recounts, “ I was told the boat will pass here to go to the Mediterranean and I thought it must stop here. Then we made contact with the Association Hermione-La Fayette and started to raise the funds to make it happen.”

“This is a very important” says Patrick, “it is a symbol of liberty and fraternity between different people. The existence of this ship has changed the picture of the world, because of its journey and its help to the United States in their independence process and therefore to become the power that it is now.”

“On the other hand” he continues “the Portuguese have been the greatest of navigators, they opened the doors of the world to civilization, spreading the principles of liberty, so we, the french, have a lot in common in that respect.

Bringing the Hermione here is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate those values and the fraternity between our nations.”

During May 8th, 9th and 10th at the port of Portimão, the Algarvian community

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will enjoy a variety of attractions, music, food, street arts, etc, take a closer look at the boat and connect with this important part of history. The 80 crew members, including 15 professional sailors and 55 trained volunteers, will be dressed in period costumes and working as they used to do through the wonder years of achieving freedom for many. “We expect around a thousand visitors per day and we’ll also see the participation of the community and the local schools.” adds Patrick.

This event wouldn’t be possible without the participation of the Municipality of Portimão, which is providing, free of charge, the security, firemen, electricity, toilets and all the necessary facilities to provide a wonderful experience for its visitors.

At the moment of the printing of this issue L’Hermione would be already sailing its way through the Mediterranean visiting cities like Tangier (Morocco), Barcelona, Marseille, Toulon and Monaco, before stopping in Portimão then going on to visit Pasaia in Spain and Bordeaux to finally go back to Rochefort and get ready for its next adventure.

Don’t miss this incredible chance and bring your family and friends to go back in time on board this magnificent piece of nautical history.

Aljezur

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THE ALGARVE PROPERTY SPECIALISTS

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Community

Azure-winged wonders

BY LEN PORT April sees the start of the breeding season for many birds in the Algarve, none more remarkable than the Azure-winged Magpie, which is strongly defying predictions that it may be facing extinction.

About the size of a blackbird but appearing bigger because of its multi-coloured body and much longer tail, the Azure-wing’s brash and boisterous behaviour also make it easy to spot. Male and female are identical in appearance and they remain gregarious even though winter flocks are now loosening. Young couples, as well as monogamous pairs that have already bonded for life, will this month be homebuilding on the basis of a single new nest per tree.

In Europe, Azure-wings occupy the southwest corner - the Algarve, southern Alentejo and the neighbouring Spanish province of Andalusia. They are found

nowhere else except on the other side of the world - in China, Korea and Japan.

Pleistocene fossil evidence has ruled out any notion that exotic Azure-wings were imported from the Far East by early Portuguese explorers.

Once fairly scarce in the Algarve, they are now flourishing in woodlands, parklands and orange groves all across the region.

Their numbers seem to be ever increasing despite an ominous study published some years ago in the international science journal Nature. The authors of the study named the Azure-winged Magpie as one of the top ten climatically threatened bird species in Europe.

While, even now, they do not care for sparsely vegetated, wind-swept areas and would be forced out by desertification, Azure-wings are extremely adaptable when it comes to diet.

In addition to all sorts of creepy-crawlies they enjoy fruits and nuts and are thus regarded by farmers as a menace. Their popularity is also tainted by the fact that they will take eggs and young from the nests of song birds. Their audacity commonly stretches to swooping into gardens and backyards to raid kitchen scraps or leftover biscuits in cats’ and dogs’ bowls. Cheeky!

While aggressive in some ways, Azurewings within their own communities show compassion. Individuals within loose breeding colonies help each other with nest building, supplying food to incubating females and feeding fledglings. Along with other fellow members of the crow family, this is one of the brainiest species in the bird world. Its brain-to-body ratio equals that of the great apes, whales, dolphins and porpoises. It’s only slightly less than ours.

Extinction? Not in our lifetime.

Pickleball…

It’s the fastest growing sport that you have probably never heard of but 75- year old Irish woman, Eve Gillmon, who lives in Carvoeiro, is on a mission to change that. An enthusiastic player of Pickleball, and member of the First New Forest Pickleball Club in the UK, she wants to raise awareness of the sport on the Algarve. Here she tells us all about it.

What is Pickleball?

A game which combines tennis, badminton, paddle tennis and table-tennis. It can be played indoors or outdoors. It should not be confused with paddle tennis. It originated in the USA in 1965, and has now spread world-wide with more than 150,000 players to date. In the UK, it is estimated that 2000 plus play the game every week and new clubs start up every year. Many newcomers to the sport are former tennis players, but experience is not necessary.

How is it played?

On a court approximately the size of a badminton court, but with a net of similar height as in tennis. It can be played as singles or doubles, but doubles is the most popular.

What is the attraction?

It is a game for all ages, but particularly attractive to those who no longer find themselves able to get around a tennis court. It combines hand-eye and

ball co-ordination with strategic play, and combines exercise with social life.

How is it scored?

Similar to badminton or table tennis. Each side alternates under-arm serving, scoring 1 point at a time.

The first to reach 11 is the winner. At 10-10, the game is continued until one side has a clear margin of 2 points.

Equipment?

Just a specialist graphite Pickleball paddle and plastic balls. These can be bought online from various sources, including Spain.

If you are interested in playing then please get in touch with Eve - she’s definitely as keen as mustard!

To find out more - Google Pickleball and watch the game on YouTube!  eve.gillmon@btconnect.com

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Community

Brussels trip for Nobel students A group of 19 secondary students visited the European Parliament in Brussels earlier this year. The visit was an enrichment activity for the group that is taking part in the Youth Parliament competition. The group toured one of the most famous institutions in the world and were able to engage in discussion with the guide to gain a deeper understanding of the visit.

Prior to the visit, the students, aged 15-17, had been preparing to participate in the Youth Parliament and learning about Politics and History in their lessons, and this visit provided them with the opportunity to see, in practise, the European Parliament and other European institutions.

Rita, 15, said: “Without hesitation, I would recommend other students to take part in this visit.

As a group we had a very memorable time and it was fantastic to be able to see, in reality, the day to day environment of European politics and to find out what the role of Portugal is in the European Parliament, and what a significant part we actually play.”

Head of School Mike Farrer said: “Opportunities such as this, to take learning outside the classroom, are fundamental for raising the achievement and interest levels of our students. They are able to see real political life in action and in the context of the capital city of the EU. At a time when negotiations with Brexit are so important, it is a fantastic time to go, to bring politics and economics alive. The students have been able to share their experiences with their fellow students at school, to hopefully inspire more interest in politics.”  nobelalgarve.com

Burns supper in Silves

BY DOUG MCADAM, CHIEFTAIN The Saint Andrew’s Society of the Algarve duly held its Burns Supper at the Ponte Romana restaurant in Silves on January 27th and with over 100 people, it was a resounding success.

As usual bagpiper Malcolm MacGillivray got the evening off to a scintillating start by welcoming guests outside the restaurant. Guests enjoyed a glass or two of excellent bubbly arranged by Joaquim Tinoco of Catuna & Silva. The restaurant has been used for this event for many years and is now well practised in preparing and serving the traditional MacSweens haggis, tatties and neeps (must be fun peeling 5 nets of them)!

I addressed the haggis after it had been piped in and a dram offered to the piper and accompanying “kilties”.

After the main speech - the Immortal Memory of Robert Burns by Peter Williams (who had travelled all the way from Huelva in Spain with his wife) - the lighthearted and teasing Toast to the Lassies was made

by Ray Bentley and the more than adequate response on behalf of the lassies was made by his wife Mary. The assembled company then partook of lively and enthusiastic Scottish dancing – which included an Eightsome Reel piped heartily by Malcolm MacGillivray – and the proceedings were brought to a close just before midnight with Auld Lang Syne.

Anyone interested in knowing more about the Society is welcome to ring me or Kathy Prentice. Our Society is small and comprises many nationalities so no need to be Scots!

And if you would like to give Scottish dancing a try (again, no need to be Scots) why not speak to Mardie Cunningham. It was she who introduced all the dances at the Supper and runs the dancing at the Nobel International School in Porches on Monday evenings from 7.30 - 9.30.pm.

Doug McAdam:  +351 935 577362 Kathy Prentice:  +351 919 635 246 Mardie Cunningham:  +351 282 356 029

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Community

Help tackle the nurdles

BY LOIS, YASSIR AND ARJAN

We currently live in a world inundated with plastic – wrapping, kitchenware, car parts, disposable crockery and cutlery, bottles, furniture – not forgetting clingfilm and the ubiquitous plastic bag. But have we any idea what damage these are doing to the environment, especially the ocean?

Great rafts of plastic litter in the ocean are a well-publicised from of pollution. Less recognised are the problems of microplastics.

Defined as being less than 5mm in size and observable down to the nanometer scale (multiple particles can occur within a single cell) these are ubiquitous in the oceans, at scarily high concentrations. Estimates put the global weight of floating microplastics at 5,500-35,000 tonnes. This excludes all the particles which have sunk to the seabed, washed up on beaches or accumulated inside marine organisms! Microplastics are not just affecting wildlife: humans are eating them in contaminated seafood. (A Rocha International News, Issue 60 – December 2016).

Two young men, Yassir (French) and Arjan (Dutch) have been working for the past year as volunteers at A ROCHA Portugal, a Christian Environmental Centre on the Alvor Estuary, conducting research on a number of local beaches into microplastic pollution caused by what is blown or thrown into the ocean. There has been no previous study in the Algarve so this is pioneering work.

As part of the 2017 Environmental Education week of the Algarve (SEIVA), run by the National Agency of the Environment (APA), A ROCHA arranged two separate workshops on the beach aimed to alert the English speaking community about the danger to the environment of microplastics, and how they can help to prevent further damage. Before demonstrating their method of obtaining data, Yassir and Arjan gave an introductory talk.

Microplastics are generally divided into two categories; primary and secondary microplastics. Primary microplastics are particles that have been specifically produced in their small size. A well known example of this is the use of microbeads in face-scrubs, shampoo, toothpaste or sandblasting.

Since they are produced as small as 0.5mm, they often go through our water filtering systems and end up in our rivers and oceans. Not as well known are nurdles; these are plastic pellets the size of a lentil used in the manufacturing of larger plastic items. Manufacturers of plastic objects buy these nurdles in bulk, melt them down and reshape them into the required form.

Carelessness in transportation and use often leads to spilling large quantities of nurdles into waterways, which eventually lead to the ocean.

particles for food. Beside the likelihood of toxins being released in the organism, microscopic particles of plastic have been found to migrate into the muscle tissue, which is the part we eat.

Yassir and Arjan are keen to promote the idea of Citizen Science, i.e. encouraging folk like you and me to learn how to collect data and communicate information to help protect the environment. It is vital to find citizens willing to collect data. Schools can be encouraged to take samples and record the quantity and type of microplastics being washed up on to our beaches. So what small changes can we make in our daily lives to help reduce the damage caused by plastics?

- Reduce the use of ‘single use’ plastic, such as cling film and plastic packaging. Use foil or greaseproof paper instead.

When exposed to UV-light for an extended period of time, the plastic will lose its flexibility and become very brittle. The plastic will break down into smaller and smaller particles. The pieces broken off of a larger object are called secondary microplastics. They come in the shapes of fibres, film, foam and fragments.

- Cut down the use of plastic bags. Use re-usable bags instead of plastics and save bags for re-use and when finished with, make sure they are recycled.

Studies have shown that plastic attracts POP’s (Persistent Organic Pollutants) like pesticides and other toxic chemicals. Many of these chemicals are no longer being used in agriculture or manufacturing, but they are still present in the marine environment.

Plastic absorbs these chemicals, thereby becoming toxic themselves.

- Pick up any plastic debris when you see it and dispose of it properly.

Many marine animals can ingest plastic particles floating in the ocean. Filter feeders like bivalves, worms, basking sharks and baleen whales will capture them along with their food. Active hunters like storm petrels, crabs, sardine and many other species of fish will often mistake the

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- Contribute to initiatives to fight further pollution or clean up plastic pollution present in the environment.

- Avoid using public bins without lids which can be got at by birds or animals – if necessary, take your litter home.

Check out the website Beat the Microbead to find a list of personal hygiene and beauty products that contain microbeads.

Another helpful site is The Great Nurdlehunt. An informative book is titled Microplastic Pollution.  www.arocha.org

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What's on in April Moncarapacho Drift Day Car fanatics prepare for a fantastic day of drifting in Moncarapacho but what is drifting I hear you say?

Drifting is a style of racing that was born on the mountain roads in Japan in the 1990s. Car drifting is caused when the rear slip angle is greater than the front slip angle, to such an extent that often the front wheels are pointing in the opposite direction to the turn (e.g. car is turning left, wheels are pointed right or vice versa, also known as opposite lock or counter-steering).

Thirty-one cars from all over the Algarve whose owners simply adore the art of drifting, in their words ‘a lot of fun legally’! To some it’s a stressreliever to drive your car sideways and gain as much smoke out of your tyres. As you can imagine it’s not the cheapest of hobbies, what with the

Get ready for the Nightshift For some years now, the band Nightshift has supported the Association for the Protection of Animals on Algarve (APAA) by playing for them at two dinner dances (one in

modifications to transform your standard road car to a finelytuned drift car and then all the burning rubber.

The Drift Day will take place in association and approval with the Junta Moncarapacho on April 14th - subject to weather conditions.

The event is to be filmed by @ ChilliPepperProductions so if you can’t make it, look out for the May edition of Tomorrow where you be able to see how it went. Early indications from the Junta Moncarapacho is that they will be making a regular quarterly feature of the event.

Aquatic theatre This month LAVRAR o MAR, an organisation which combines art and creativity to boost the region, is presenting Mar Adentro an aquatic theatre performance that will bring the power of the ocean and its multiple themes to the municipal swimming pools.

 Drift Algarve  drift.algarve@sapo.pt This will take place at Monchique's Municipal Swimming pool from April 5th to 8th after the premiere on the March 29th to the April 1st, in Aljezur's Municipal Swimming pool where the rehearsals have taken place. the Spring and the other in Autumn) at the restaurant O Caseiro in Arão. Both events are always sold out so this year an additional dinner dance will be held on Friday 27th April at the restaurant Ponte Romana in Silves. Tickets for the event will cost €25 and includes a full meal, wine, beer and water, and the opportunity to dance to some great music.

Later on in April on the 24th, 25th, 27th, 28th and 29th, at Malhadais, Odeceixe they will present a sensitive, magnetic and magnificent new circus show, by the French-Catalan company Baro d'Evel. It's called Beasts and it delves into the symbiotic, fragile and timeless connection between animals and humans.

For more information, or to book places, please email clearly stating that you want to go to the Silves event. Alternatively, you can call.

Last year’s circus show Klaxon attracted about 2700 people Monchique’s Heliport and it’s hoped this will be just as popular.

 info.apaaportugal@gmail.com Jenny:  +351 919 041 903 Jackie :  +351 912 651 819

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 www.lavraromar.pt

Speeding through the skies Skydive Algarve is excited to be hosting the ISSA World Series Speed Skydiving event on April 20th to April 22nd. The International Speed Skydiving Association (ISSA) is an association of Speed Skydiving enthusiasts. This is the first time the event is coming to Portugal since its debut in 2014 and this will be the first round of the 2018 competition. The event will attract many skydivers from around the world as well as nationally.

is about 200 kmph (about 120 mph).

Stable freefly, head down, position has a terminal speed around 240-290 kmph (around 150-180 mph). Further minimizing body drag and streamlining the body position allows to reach speeds in vicinity of 480 kmph (300 mph) and more.

Speed Skydiving is a skydiving discipline with a definition as simple as it gets. Speed Skydiving was developed in 1999 and represents the fastest non-motorized sport on Earth.

In the essence, speed skydiving is the discipline where the only one aspect of the skydiving counts – vertical freefall speed.

The score for a Speed Skydiving jump is the average vertical speed in kmph that the competitor achieves through the course (vertical kilometre starting at 2700 m (8858 ft) above the ground and ending at 1700 m (5577 ft) above the ground.

The speed achieved by human body in free fall is the function of two factors, body weight and body orientation.

In stable, belly to earth, position terminal velocity of the human body

 skydivealgarve.com  +351 914 266 832

Get out there This month Quimera Experience, a new company dedicated to active and nature tourism, has a whole string of events taking place. Its run by Michael Guerreiro and Catarina Araújo who both have backgrounds in running nature, tourism and adventure activities.

This month there is a weekend of walks in Costa Vicentina on April 7th which cost €10 a day.

Another walk along the Miller Route starts at Chorões Square in Monchique takes place on April 15th. This lasts for four hours and costs €20 to include a meal, a guide and a visit to the Água do Poucochinho mill and tasting of regional products at the end: dry-cured sausages and ham, liqueurs,

sweets, brandy and melosa liqueur.

There will be another walk on April 22nd in Bordeira.

There will be a monthly beach clean up on April 21st at Meia Praia in Lagos.

Please take gloves, trash bag and a good mood. Participation is free, but requires registration. To do this simply send us your data (name, date of birth and telephone contact).

 +351 962 647 741 / 969 467 275  quimeraexperience@gmail.com  www.quimeraexperience.com

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Reaching and holding high free fall speed in a controlled body position is the goal of speed skydiving.

Skydive Algarve has become one of Europe's most sought after skydiving locations for championships, training locations of the industry's most elite athletes and a popular location for people wanting to make a first time skydive.

What's on

Fabulous fundraiser for Marley

BY KATE INACIO

The Marley Benefit on March 15th was a huge success. As Marley’s mum I want to thank absolutely everyone who was involved. We raised over €5800 and donations are still coming in!

We had a simply lovely evening in Quinta do Paraiso, Carvoeiro with over 150 guests and enjoyed a fabulous meal. Not only that we had the pleasure of being entertained by the wonderful Big John, Abba Divaz and Daddy Jack Band. The programme was put together by the one and only Danny Maverick.

Ricardo Martins, manager of Quinta do Paraiso, ensured everyone had a marvellous time and we even managed to get a bus put together by a friend of mine at Vialgarve so no one had to worry about driving.

Thanks to all the people and businesses who supported the raffle and auction which featured amazing items such as a weeks holiday in the hotel, Sam Smith tickets donated by Direct Transport and a Man United shirt donated by Tomorrow magazine.

Peter Mills was a great auctioneer.

Marley is currently undergoing treatment which is predicted to last the next couple of months. By which point we’ll be ready to make our way to Barcelona for his operation. We are fundraising for his current treatment and testing, his operations and once we are out of the danger zone we’ll be ready to equip the house for his recovery.

We still have a long road ahead but this event really has given us a great start, more fight and we are so grateful for everyone’s love and support.

Only through this experience with Marley have I realized my huge responsibility to him as his mother and equally my responsibility to raise awareness for disability in the Algarve.

Thanks to everyone who helped with this event (Marilyn Clarke and Shelly Dancer deserve a big mention) and I’m sorry I can’t name everyone personally but we appreciate every single one of you.

 www.marleyandmum.com  www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/marleyswheels

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April Calendar Promote your events and activities here - it’s FREE! Email your listings to us: for.tomorrow@hotmail.com

Useful Numbers General

Fitness Fab Fun Fitness | Fri 11.30am, €6 Buganvilia Fitness Club, Alvor 915 396 263 Pilates Mon & Wed 7.15pm, Tai Chi Mon & Fri 11.30am Clinical Pilates Tue & Thurs 11.30am, Yin Yoga Wed 11.30am(2x week €45 p.month), Meditation Wed 6pm & Fri 8.30pm (By appointment), €10 p.m Villa Prana | Portimão, 282 484 256 Aerobics & Abs Mon 10am, Total Toning Wed 10am, Body Conditioning Thurs 10am, €4 Alvor Community Centre, 934 393 233 Qi Gong Class Thurs 7.30pm, 35€/month | Centro Serenity, Lagoa (make a left at the roundabout after Fatacil), 962 009 703 Taekwondo Mon Thurs & Fri 7pm | €45p/m (child) €60 p/m (adult), Fitball Mon & Thurs 9.15 - 10am, Yoga Tue 11am, Power Circuit Tue 6.30pm, Body Shape Wed 10am, Power Hour Thurs 10am, Qi Gong Thurs 11am, Zumba Mon, Wed & Fri 11am, Kids Yoga Wed 5pm, €8.50 Carvoeiro Clube 282 350 800 A Taste of Yoga Tues 11am Rocha Brava Carvoeiro, Yin Yoga Mon 11am Vale d'Oliveiras Carvoeiro & Tues 8.15am | Serenity Lagoa, Hatha Yoga Mon 4.30pm | V.d'O .Carvoeiro & Thurs 8.15am | Serenity Lagoa, Gentle Yoga Fri 11am | V. d’O. Carvoeiro Sat 11am | Rocha Brava Carvoeiro, €10 911 510 641 Hatha Yoga Mon 8 & 10am €10 | Pilates Thur 9.45am €25p/m Espaço Portas do Sol Portimão | Ideias do Levante, 965 017 845 Dance Fusion Fitness Mon 3.30pm €3 Moley’s Bar, Campsite Alvor, 07580117863

Classes Piano Lessons Mon & Thur 5pm €45 p/m | Private Singing Lessons €30 | Painting Classes Fri 6pm €35 p/m Music Theory & Study Group €50p/m | Espaço Portas do Sol Portimão | Ideias do Levante, 965 017 845 Tap Dance Classes Tues 5pm (7-18yrs) & Wed 7pm (Adults 16+yrs), BOA Esperança Atletico Clube Portimonense, Portimão, 282 422 976 Adult Tap Dance (from 13th) Fri 10am €6 Alvor Community Centre 07580117863 Sevillanas Dance Classes Wed 8.15pm €22 p/m, Private sevillanas or Flamenco Classes avaliable, Academia Dança Mais | Portimão, 962 556 856 Private Piano Lessons | €80x8/ €15 p/less. Parchal Svetlana 936 786 266 Dog Socialisation Walk Sat 9am, €5 | Porches, 967 925 099 Private Yoga & Partner Yoga €15-25 p.session, Portimão 936 786 267 Latin American & Ballroom Dancing Tues 10am (imp.) | 11.45 (beg.)| 12.30 Dancers practise & new variations Salsa (beg.) 11-11.45am Alvor Community Centre Wed 7pm (All Levels practise) & 8pm (beginners) Carvoeiro Club de Tenis, €5, 961 916 821 Scottish Country Dancing Mon 7.30- 9.30pm, €1.50 Nobel International School Lagoa, 282 356 029 Dog Instruction (Group lessons) Sat 5pm | 1st by appoint., Hotel do CÃO | Rasmalho | Portimão, 964 083 602 Portuguese Beginners Class Mon 10am, €7, Portelas, 912 417 994

Events Bridge Sat 1.45pm All Welcome, Holiday Inn Algarve | Armação de Pêra, 962 585 622 Quiz Night Mon 8.30pm, Rodizio of Tapas 7pm (call for dates), BBQ Meat Feast Sun 2pm – 9pm, €6.50, The Courtyard Bistro & Bar Alvor Richard 912 44 1143 Group Lesson - Short Game Area & Driving Range Wed 10am - 1pm | €20 p.p & Fri 2 - 3.30pm | €15 p.p, Espiche Golf 282 688 250 April 21st Law of Attraction & Vision Board Workshop | 10am - 3pm, €15 (inc. refreshments), Portimão, 913 350 308 April 30 - May 7th Yoga Spring Retreat, €790 Shared accommodation (if local poss. quote for no accomm.) Villa Prana Guest House & Therapies Portimão, 282 484 256/ 918 457 657

Charity/ Support April 18th Alzheimer's/ Dementia Support Group 11am, Cafe Bom Dia, Rua Moinho do Azeite | Lagos, Carol 926 297 527 or Kirsteen 968 084 946 AA Meeting Portimão: Mon 7.30pm - 9pm & Fri 730pm, Beco das Hortensias Lote 18 R/C/ B Vale Franca | Porches (Lagoa): Thur 7.30pm Centro Cultural D. Dinis Rua da Praça 2 | Albufeira: Tue 8pm | Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Albufeira 919 005 590 Depression & Bipolar Support Group | First Monday of every month 6.30-8.30pm, Upstairs Casa Inglesa, Portimão | 914 878 927

EMERGENCY TOURIST SUPPORT AIRPORT TRANSFER

112 808 781 212 965 026 176

Consulate/ Embassy BRITISH FRENCH (FARO) GERMAN (LAGOS) DUTCH (LISBON) CANADIAN (FARO) SWEDISH EMBASSY

282 490 750 281 380 660 282 799 668 213 914 900 289 803 757 213 942 260

Alvor TAXI DIAGO SILVA HEALTH CENTRE PHARMACY HOSPITAL FIRE POLICE STATION AERODROMO SPORTS CENTRE COMMUNITY CENTRE PHYSICAL THERAPY

966 214 517 282 459 268 282 459 588 282 420 400 282 420 130 282 420 750 282 496 581 282 457 841 282 457 499 928 022 464

Portimão HEALTH CENTRE PHARMACY PRAIA DA ROCHA HOSPITAL CENTRO FIRE POLICE STATION MARITIME POLICE TRAIN STATION THEATRE TEMPO TOURIST BOARD

282 420 161 282 425 858 282 485 641 282 450 300 282 420 130 282 417 217 282 417 714 282 423 056 282 402 470 282 402 487

Carvoeiro CITY COUNCIL 282 356 690 TOWN INFO 282 357 728 TAXI COMPANY 282 460 610 BUS STATION (LAGOA) 282 341 301 PHARMACY 282 357 463 HOSPITAL 282 357 320 FIRE STATION (LAGOA) 282 352 888 POLICE STATION 282 356 460 PLUMBER ANTÓNIO 962 870 665 BUILDER BOTO 282 461 336 PAINTING BY STEVE 916 666 210

Ferragudo TAXI ANTÓNIO 965 881 971 HEALTH CENTRE 282 461 361 PHARMACY 282 461 232 HOSPITAL (PORTIMÃO) 282 450 300 FIRE 282 420 130 POLICE STATION 282 420 750 PAINTER MARIO 967 881 062 FIREWOOD 917 601 798

Silves CENTRO DE SAÚDE 282 440 020 GNR 282 440 290 BOMBEIROS 282 442 411 PHARMACY 282 442 191 TAXIS 282 460610 SWIM/SPORTS COMPLEX 282 440 270 JABUTIVET VET 282 445 648 EVA (BUS) 282 442 338

Health

Pets Mate

BY LARS RAHMQUIST

You don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows. Or at least ol’ Bob said it… Well, you don’t need to search weather charts to know that it has been lashing it down around these parts lately … just check your garden.

Dealing with emotions

BY REINALDO DINIZ Sometimes it is not easy to deal with emotions, especially if we experience intense feelings that take up a lot of space in our daily lives. Difficult feelings like anxiety, anger, stress, panic, among others, can end up taking control of our life especially if we fight against them.

The strategy of avoiding or even blocking the feeling of pain promotes internal relief, it is a protection, which at the same time creates distance, which distances us away from solving the problem, perpetuating it. However, emotion has a set of important roles.

It's like the red light that lights up on a car dashboard and tells us that something is going wrong. Emotion tells us not only what we feel, but also what we need.

When we hear the voice of emotion, which is, when we concentrate our attention on fear, sadness, shame, guilt, or other, and we can feel the information that is shared internally with curiosity, calmness and clarity, the decisions of our life tend to be taken more safely.

If you want help to deal with your emotions Reinaldo is a clinical psychologist. He offers different approaches that guide others to discover a unique and sustainable body-mind healing process.

 www.reinaldodinizpsi.com  +351 961 529 174  reinaldodinizpsi@gmail.com

I have spent the morning yanking those small yellow flowering weeds out of me lawn, A process which is, at once, frustrating and satisfying. As I yanked and sweated I pondered the analogy to life, itself. Frustrating and rewarding. Then I remembered that I was gardening!

I digress. Or, at least, I digress from my intended article. This month I was going to write about Leishmaniasis.

This is a follow up to last months article about heartworm (and Ziggy).

Both heartworm and Leishmaniasis are spread by mosquitoes (and sandflies).

As the weather warms dogs are now being exposed to both of these fatal diseases.

Leishmania (like heartworm) can be prevented by one injection, lasting the whole season. Now, at the start of the season is the time to give these lifesaving injections.

A salty tale Regular use of unprocessed salt helps to balance the human body.

The salt that most of us grew up on, and is still consumed today by most of the human population is the white processed salt. In its unprocessed form (e.g. uncleaned grey sea salt) it contains more than 90 elements that are useful to the human body. Where as the bleached and manufactured variety contains just two elements (sodium and iodine) after refining and cleaning. Its consumption can cause, high blood pressure and metabolic problems, etc.

Researchers believe that saltwater drinking water balances and even lowers blood pressure (of course the use of normal salt should be completely abandoned).

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However, whilst pottering around in the garden this morning amazed at the springing of all manner of life-forms, I realised I had best discuss ticks.

With loads of rain followed by sunshine the ticks come out in plaguelike numbers. At the time of writing the rains are still coming down on us, but I bet a fiver that by the time of publication pet owners are finding ticks on their dogs and cats (and horses). Ticks in Portugal spread a number of parasites to animals, all of which can kill them (sounds like Australia), so it’s better to talk about prevention!

There are three options for tick control: - Tablets like Bravecto (the best) - Spot ons like Aktivyl - Collars like Seresto Contact us at Lagos Vet Clinic for free advice about controlling ticks, as well as Leishmania and heartworm.

Now, I’m to my pansies.

 www.lagosvet.com

BY PASI JOKINEN-CARTER According to Dr. Jacques De Langre (Seasalt's Hidden Powers, 1987) sea salt normalizes blood pressure, i.e. blood pressure too high or too low.

He studied Atlantic seawater salt for 30 years and also found that sea salt removes liquid accumulation, can eliminate constipation and prevent muscle cramps and arrhythmia.

The good news is that pure sea salt is more commonly available, even supermarkets in the Algarve are now stocking the Himalayan variety, normally pink in colour. Half a teaspoon in a full glass of water is ideal, once a day, to keep the body hydrated and in general good health.

 www.naturaljokiflow.com

Business

commercial laundries and constant use, this product is different to the product you buy from home linen stores.

Linen etc products are designed specifically for commercial laundries suitable for rental/hotels and home use. The number of bed sizes has increased considerably, we now sell 13 sizes of fitted sheets from ranging from 80cm wide up to 220cm wide.

Customers want the best product at the best price, they require quotes so they can make comparisons, saving time is also more important. So as well as being able to visit our retail outlet, our customers order by email, online and more customers request our delivery service.

Leading the way Algarve-based Linen-Etc celebrates its 10year anniversary this year. We wanted to find out how the business had changed and adapted to cope with the tough times of the last decade so we spoke to the owner, Karen Carfree.

Karen and her husband Ian moved to the Algarve in 2003, straight away Ian joined the Good Time Jazz Band playing saxophone and clarinet. Ian also formed a 10-piece band, both were very successful.

Karen set up a villa management company, which led them on to sourcing bedding and towels on behalf of private owners and small villa management companies across the Algarve. Now they supply a vast range of bedding, towels and soft furnishings.

The company deals with private retail customers at their showroom in Budens, delivers to many of the leading villa management businesses and hotels across the Algarve.

Ten years on how would you assess the economy in Portugal for businesses like yours?

The Algarve is seeing tremendous tourist growth, all using bedding and towels so more business and a lot more stock, choice and new staff. We have taken over all three of the buildings to match current stock needs and added two extra staff to our team to ensure we can maintain service levels.

Looking forward, what are your ambitions for the business for the next 10 years?

Having returned to the business after chemotherapy I have had plenty of time to plan the future. We have just partnered with our manufacturers, we will continue to increase our range of products and improve quality and delivery services.

We have been offered exclusive rights to specific products in Portugal from manufacturers.

We have a completely unique product that we plan to launch by 2019. And as I am 60 on April 1st this year….may be a business partner to manage growth and product development.

Happy birthday Karen and Linen-Etc. We wish you every success for the next 10 years.

What was the business landscape like when you started the business 10 years ago?

In September 2008, many of us in the Algarve felt the recession deeply. Linen-etc.com quickly changed the marketing direction and the business grew.

How have things changed during that time?

We buy directly from the manufacturers in Portugal in such big quantities we have our own label and dictate our own quality specification. We now beat our competitors and the big department stores in the UK on product design, quality and price.

How have customer needs changed?

Now 75% of the properties in the Algarve put their bedding and towels through the commercial laundry and they need a product that is suitable for

 +351 282 697 791  info@linen-etc.com  www.linen-etc.com

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Speed up your computer - 4 x faster

All Things Apple

Newteq has opened a new Apple Authorised Service Provider in FARO. To celebrate we have a

Diagnostics

An SSD uses high speed memory chips to store your operating system, programs and data instead of an

Service & Repair

fantastic offer for you. Upgrade to an SSD drive and get an amazing improvement in speed. old spinning disk. “So what” Well it works up to 4 x faster!!!

Training & Advice

For example starting up the old way can take around 45-60 seconds.

With an SSD (Solid State Drive) you looking at 9-15 seconds.

Our offer to you – upgrade to an SSD now and we will give your transformed Mac or PC a

Data Backup & Transfer Hardware Upgrades

FREE Spring Clean worth €59.

Come and see us in FARO or LAGOA and talk to one of our friendly technicians.

We also service

Quote the code TM917 to qualify for the offer.

FARO:

T: (+351) 289 247 722

Rua Baptista Lopes, 36A

LAGOA: Rua Marquês de Pombal, 49

T: (+351) 282 356 799

www.newteq.pt

info@newteq.pt

GLO adverts x3 designs v2.qxp_Layout 1 19/05/2017 16:42 Page 3

SELLING YOUR PROPERTY AND NOT SURE HOW TO TRANSFER YOUR MONEY TO THE UK?

When it comes to selling your house and moving back to the UK we understand that you are looking for a fast, simple process that gives you great exchange rates.

We have been helping clients transfer money to and from the UK for over 13 years. Talk to us to find out how we can help you transfer your money simply, safely and quickly.

To find out more about all of our products and services please contact us at: Vilamoura Office 289 093 137 Lagos Office 282 768 136 / UK rate 01622 815 201 E portugal@gcen.co.uk www.gcen.co.uk GCEN is fully authorised by the FCA to provide payment service as an Authorised Payment Services Institution. Registration No. 504346.

Food & drink

28 Lounge Bar

BY STEVEN SUTTON A new experience in Ferragudo square Bound together by the number 28, friends Maria and Sara have embarked on a new venture in the heart of Ferragudo.

One of the newest arrivals in the town, this is a bar with a difference. Portuguese with an Italian twist, whether you are after a traditional coffee or something a bit stronger, they can meet your needs. Local beers and cakes to Italian bread and dishes.

At first glance this looks like a very welcoming place with great décor and

friendly smiles. It isn’t until you are inside and start to look around, you see something really special happening.

In the girls own words: “The main theme is recycle, infact the seats are made out of used pallets, the tables are made using fishing octopus nets. We used old bottles and glasses to make the chandeliers. The bar was designed by an Italian artist and all of the works are made by us.

We both love to travel and we will always want to introduce new elements from other

culture and countries in our bar”.

From a leisurely breakfast to a quick lunch, or at the end of the day when the sun is setting, this great space will warm and captivate you and leave you wanting more.

Thank you Maria & Sara for this experience and we wish you all the luck in the world.

Do go in and visit them, and try the coffee.

AMAZING!

 +351 919 781 322  28 Lunge Bar

Top five Tripadvisor local seafood restaurants

A Lot, in Alvor This restaurant was set up in 2002 by two friends who shared a passion for great food and wines so it is no surprise that they take pride in our carefully selected ingredients. +351 282 458 444

O Arco Da Velha, in Alvor This is a typical Algarvian small, cheerful and welcoming place.

Sirloin steaks and other meats are an alternative.

There’s also a great choice of puddings. +351 282 458 468

A Ria, in Ferragudo One reviewer said: "The staff, particularly Umberto and Rui, are so friendly and attentive and the food is excellent too. If you have room for dessert the orange cake really is to die for." +351 282 461 790

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Marisqueira Coral, in Praia da Rocha This restaurant could be easily missed but one customer said: “Great find. Does not look much from the outside but great traditional place with really good food, wine and service!” +351 282 419 058

Marisqueira Mare Viva, in Ferragudo One customer said: “Best fish I've had in years but it's not for people who do not like 'foreign'.

Be prepared to be treated and served like a local, you will be rewarded with amazing food.” +351 282 461 297

And Finally...

was now working at Winkworths, but unfortunately it was a backwards step and the job was merely coldcalling. I had a lucky break as I managed to secure a real estate agent job in Stoke Newington which at the time was an up and coming trendy place to work and live.

10 mins with….

Marcelo Machado was born in Paderne and lived there until he was 25 when he set off to the UK on holiday. He decided to move to Camberley after his seasonal job in a restaurant came to an end that winter.

What was your first job in the UK? I started work at Frankie & Benny’s as a waiter and soon my translation skills were put to use as the manager was English and the staff were all from Angola.

What was one of the best things about living in the UK? One of my most special moments in my life was on February 5th 2012 (my birthday) when one of my colleagues who went outside for a cigarette break, came rushing back in to tell me it was snowing! I had never seen snow and it was truly a magical spectacle, which I will never forget. Unfortunately, my girlfriend Ana was still in Portugal and she too had never seen snow. The following year, Ana, moved to the UK and made the UK experience so much better because she was there to share it.

Did you have any other jobs in the UK? I then changed jobs and was working at Le Meridian, Piccadilly, just before the London Olympics and the busiest period ever and I remember all of the UPS staff staying at the hotel. I was in charge of the reception, which was silly busy with a daily 150 check-outs. I had the tiniest bedsit in Fulham, a lovely area and I was very happy.

Marcelo Machado Mediaimo Real Estate  +351 967 198 626  marcelo@mediaimo.com  www.mediaimo.com

One year on and I moved to GetLiving, London, which was a company owned by Arabs. They bought 1500 flats for the Olympics and massive purposed-built office alongside. They hired 15 property consultants with no sales experience, so no bad habits, but they wanted customer service skills. I then got headhunted by my previous manager, who

26

Did you dream of coming back to Portugal?

I returned to Portugal in 2015 for a holiday and found that my cousin had opened a real estate agency in Albufeira. A few months later my mother told me that he wanted to sell the real estate agency. I thought this was perfect, I could implement what I had learnt in the UK and run my own real estate agency in Albufeira. I initially, thought I could manage my real estate agency whilst working in the UK, but I soon realised that I needed to be there. My girlfriend, unfortunately, wasn’t too happy as she was working at KPMG in the UK. Before I left the UK I bought a BMW car, which is now my drifting car.

How is the business going now?

I then worked everyday in my estate agency and turned around the fortunes of the company. I changed the website and implemented a CRM – Customer Relations Manager – to provide reports, stats, website – specifics about your own business – intrinsic. It proved to be more efficient, I was then creating key-specific adverts and shared with many portals. Today, I spend a fortune on portals, but it helps me target clients to purchase properties and is an essential tool.

How did your experience in the UK help?

I know that my training, being customer services based, helps me massively in my job and allows me to focus more on the end result and then get rewarded. I always try and maximise the chances on Portals – spend a good percentage of the budget on this and because my agency is independent and not part of franchise etc, I have flexibility in my approach to business in an ever-changing market. I am a local lad done well. I speak both English and Portuguese and every couple of weeks have lunch with a group of other real estate agents to help us all improve our skills. My passion is ‘drifting’ and am always spending my spare time with tinkering and improving my beloved BMW. You can read more about drifting on page 18.

There will be more about drifting for those of you that are intrigued in one of our next editions.