algarvePLUS - March '24

MORE TO TASTE THAN YOU EVER IMAGINED

do you own a villa in the golden triangle?

Spring is here – well almost. The days are getting longer (to be correct, the hours of light are) and warmer, and that means time for more outdoors stuff. Rain may have stopped play and delayed Carnaval last month, but that didn’t spoil the fun... it just put it off for a day. The kiddies dressed for the occasion still loved every minute of the belated dancing, the singing, the trundling floats and the joyous spirit, despite puddles on the pavements and brollies at the ready!

The countryside is wonderfully green, bright and verdant, and veggies and plants that have been sleeping are awake, reaching upwards and showing off their colours. It is gorgeous all around.

And this month it is Easter, with traditional services, classical concerts, foods of the season (don’t miss out on the folha, with or without the boiled egg), theatre, all those reasons to overdose on chocolate, and more.

This issue is especially gorgeous, we think, with special places to visit (those off the tourist radar), classes to sign up for, Michelin-starred restaurants right here on our doorstep, areas to invest in, home-grown designers making a statement, and projects that have been in the longtime workings (think Casa Amor in Olhão) now ready to open the doors to welcome guests. And if there’s a Steve McQueen, or Tom Cruise in you waiting for an opportunity to get out – turn to page 64 and make vroom for the whole new world that awaits you.

SUSI ROGOL-GOODKIND, EDITOR +351 965 581 831 | susi@rogol-goodkind.com

There is a remarkable selection at Dunas in Almancil. dunas-living.com

Short and sweet, 100% cotton herringbone jacket by Ikikiz. One size fits all (well virtually). €196.65, from Alquatro in Almancil. 289 395 732 / alquatro.pt

FRONT COVER:

Fresh strawberries, for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Perfect.

Limited edition hand-blown glass candle holder from Baobab’s Jukurrpa Oceania collection, which like its matching diffuser becomes a precious decorative object in the home. The light pink glass is dotted with randomly-placed multi-coloured oval shapes.

Designed in Berlin and made here in Guimãres, the Sal Sol Sul collection of cotton T-shirts and hoodies has a distinct slow-style personality. Meet the makers, Olhão-based Julie and Felix and see the new range online.

sal-sol-sul.com

Bleep-free timer! Hourglass from Zara Home, €15.99

Feathery friends, pale blue viscose satin duster coat with a removable feather trim at the hem. Tweet tweet. By Twinset, €390, from Xanadu in Quinta Shopping. I: xanadu_boutique

wish list

The colours of spring. 100% linen collection of cushions, quilts, bed and table linen, in citrus green, terra and ocean. From Zé e Maria, Rua Almirante Reis 88, Olhão. €30 to €150.

I: zeemariaolhao

Sterling silver wrap-around rings with a choice of stones, including citrine, green or purple amethyst and topaz. €69–€129, from Martina, Loulé. martina.loule.com

Algarvian plastic artist Carlos Ferreira follows the contemporary minimalist abstract trend of recycling our ecological footprint. The art speaks for itself. And you’ll want it! “The entire artistic world is magical and limitless,” he says.

I: Portucale.love

A fragment from an original bronze statue created by Monti in the early 20th century reveals all the finesse and power of this animal. 40cm high. corterealarte.com

For over 50 years, family-run Porches Pottery has crafted beautiful hand-thrown, handpainted pieces in unique designs drawn from the ancient cultures of the Mediterranean. This Primavera Única bowl is €22. porchespottery.com

TAVIRA - LAGOS - OLHÃO

20 questions...

people and taking care of them; making them feel good about themselves and seeing amazing results.

13 Who are your key clients? The majority of my Comfort Zone customer base are residents in the Algarve, while SPArty has a good mix of holidaymakers and residents.

WELLNESS AND SELF-CARE IN THE ALGARVE HAS ONE THOUGHTLEADER AT THE FOREFRONT. WE TALK SPARTY AND COMFORT ZONE CONCEPTS WITH ERIKA HARDING, OWNER OF TWO BUSINESSES, MUM OF TWO KIDS AND MOTHER OF TWO CATS...

1 So, your main brand is Algarve Self Care? Yes, under that I’ve got SPArty and Comfort Zone Concepts, which are both wellness-driven brands.

2 What exactly does each offer? SPArty is all in the name, it’s a SPA + party and gives groups the opportunity to celebrate with self-care. Comfort Zone Concepts is a resultsdriven brand that offers mobile treatments to individuals or couples.

3 What’s the people limit? SPArty takes four people or more, while Comfort Zone Concepts focuses more on being in the comfort of your zone for one person or smaller groups.

4 Do you have a ‘usual’ type of client? No, both brands have a multicultural, variedin-age range of clients.

5 Tell us about your background I’ve been a qualified aesthetician and massage therapist and holistic therapist for over 20 years. I don’t just work in wellness, I breathe, sleep, and live it.

6 Where are you from and how long have you been here? I’m South African born, but I’ve lived in a few different

countries, always working within the wellness industry. I’ve been here for six years.

7 Why did you start a business here? There was definitely a gap in the market for a mobile therapist, that’s where I started.

8 Where are you based? Both brands are primarily mobile but I do have a treatment room at home for clients who choose to come to me.

9. When were the two brands launched? CZ has been going for five years, SPArty was launched March 2023.

10 What makes you different from other similar services? Experience is key, I believe. I really know what I’m doing and I use only the highest-end products. Not only did I study for three years but I’ve continued my education throughout my career.

11 What is your most in-demand treatment? I have so many, Topical Botox Facials are popular as well as skin peels, reflexology and lymphatic drainage massages. Actually all my facials are hits!

12 What is your favourite thing about what you do? I love connecting with

14 So holidaymakers can book oneoff treatments? Absolutely. We can offer special packages for families holidaying here or even groups of golfers. This segment is growing considerably as a result of our strategic partnerships with, for example, B&Bs, guesthouses and villa rental agencies.

15 SPArty is an interesting concept, what’s the customer base like there? We’ve got Speckle SPArty for kids aged four and up, Teenage SPArty, and then our usual SPArty packages for adults.

16 How does it work? It’s a cool concept. Give us the number of guests, choose your treatment such as massages or facials, add catering or décor, and even custom-made headbands and gift bags. And you’re set! We even partner with some great venues if you don’t have the space to host yourself.

17 The SPArty team must be fun, right? Oh yes, hosting a SPArty with us is definitely fun but what makes us different is our qualified team – we have all studied and worked hard. You’ll have fun but you’ll be pampered, too.

18 How do you find time for both brands? It’s about balance, we do long hours but it is worth it; I love what I do.

19 Anything new on the horizon?

This year SPArty will expand into other areas of Portugal. And I’ve recently launched Workplace Wellness by SPArty, which focuses on self-care in the work environment.

20 Where can we find out more?

Check out the contact details below or find us at @comfortzoneconcepts or @spartyalgarve on Insta and FB.

Contact T: 910 024 600 / E: comfortzoneconcepts@gmail.com | spartyalgarve@gmail.com / W: algarveselfcare.com

BRAGA a walkable wonder

Opposite page: Looking down over Braga from Bom Jesus do Monte. Below: The organs of Sé de Braga Cathedral

RECENTLY RECOGNISED AS ONE OF EUROPE’S TOP TEN CITIES WITH THE BEST QUALITY OF LIFE, BRAGA IS THE ONLY PORTUGUESE DESTINATION TO APPEAR ON THE LIST. COME EXPERIENCE ITS UNIQUE CHARM FIRSTHAND; STROLL THROUGH THE STREETS, EXPLORE MUSEUMS, INDULGE IN LOCAL TREATS, AND JOIN IN THE VIBRANT CELEBRATIONS

Words:

KAYLA MEIRINHO

BRAGA COMBINES colourful flower beds, architectural wonders, and a rich heritage waiting to be explored. It is the perfect spot to wander and roam the streets, where countless corners offer a fascinating sight. Crowned the oldest city in Portugal, there’s no lack of history here, from historical churches to ancient ruins and pretty palaces.

Begin your hunt with a sweet treat and delight in the signature pastry, Tibias de Braga, a crispy fried dough with a slight resemblance to the tibia bone, originating from a convent.

For a sip of local flavours, try Vinho Verde, a green wine produced from young grapes, or venture into the world of regional craft beer. Embrace an unusual tradition around the holidays at Casa das Bananas, where you’ll encounter

the intriguing pairing of Muscatel wine and yes, a banana.

May brings the lively Romana festival, a vibrant six-day event where the streets come to life with blazing energy. It pays homage to Braga’s historical significance as a key city in the Roman Empire.

With a variety of options to explore, Braga is not only a well-connected city to Porto and Lisbon but also an ideal destination for a short trip or as a home base to discover other Northern cities.

For now, we’ll share all the spots within walking distance in the heart of Braga for those interested in an adventurous stroll. Discover the city at your own pace, pausing to enjoy anything that catches your attention.

Centro Histórico de Braga: Explore the historic city centre, surrounded by cafés, shops, ruins, and castles. Rua do Souto, established in 1466, connects Arco da Porta Nova to Avenida Central. The city’s original shopping lane has been lined with merchants selling their wares since its inception.

Largo do Paço: A spacious square on the north side of Rua do Souto, framed by the former Bishop’s Palace. You’ll find an 18th-century fountain called Chafariz do Castelo alongside colourful buildings on Rua do Souto.

Chafariz da Praça da República: Discover the beauty of the city square at Praça da República, adorned with a fountain and enchanting gardens, hosting numerous events throughout the year.

Park Avenida Central: Once a rural route to St. Victor Church, this avenue was transformed into a public green space in the mid-1800s, featuring monumental statues and flourishing trees.

Museu Nogueira da Silva: Once the former residence of philanthropist Antonio Nogueira da Silva, it now showcases fine Portuguese and international artworks, along with a French-inspired garden.

Praça Mouzinho de Albuquerque: Relax in the smaller square with colourful flower beds, situated beside Palacete dos Condes de Carcavelos.

Archbishops’ Court Antigo Paço Arquiepiscopal: Enjoy the beautiful, well-maintained gardens of the Archbishops’ Court, a serene escape in the city’s heart.

Cathedral of Braga: Marvel at the oldest cathedral in Portugal, which dates back to 1089. The face of the building, constructed in the 1400s, and Baroque embellishments added in 1723, contributed to its selection as a National Monument in 1910.

Jardim de Santa Bárbara: Admire the small, colourful flower garden in the heart of the city, which offers a beautiful sight just outside the walls of Paço Episcopal de Braga Medieval Palace.

Theatro Circo: Experience the arts at Theatro Circo, a performing arts theatre with stunning 20th-century architecture. Explore their upcoming events before your visit. theatrocirco.com

Casa Rolão: Explore the oldest residential building in Braga, hosting different shops, including the charming bookstore on the main floor.

100° Página Bookstore: For book enthusiasts, step into this historic building and support the charming Livraria Centésima Página, showcasing captivating architecture with a café.

Mercado Municipal de Braga: Discover the distinctive blend of old and new at the Municipal Market,

Top left, clockwise: Jardim de Santa Bárbara; ancient watermill in the Cavado River; Museu Nogueira da Silva; Palácio do Raio. Opposite page left: the signature pastry, Tibias de Braga; right: delicious dining at Águas de Bacalhau

where farmers, butchers, and fishmongers sell goods in the traditional square. Sample local food or dine in at the food court.

Palácio do Raio: Explore history at Palácio do Raio, a beautiful blue-tiled palace built in the 18th century, featuring baroque architecture.

Arco da Porta Nova: Pass through the iconic pedestrian entrance arch, Arco da Porta Nova, adorned with stone, featuring baroque and neoclassical details.

Biscainhos Museum: Step into the elegant 18thcentury residence of a noble family at Biscainhos Museum and Gardens, offering a glimpse into Braga’s sophisticated past.

Braga City Hall: Admire the City Hall of Braga, initiated in 1754 and completed in 1865 by architect André Soares. cm-braga.pt

Braga Tower: Check out the remnants of a medieval castle tower from the Middle Ages in Central Historic Braga.

Avenida da Liberdade: For the best shopping and strolling experience in Braga, head to Avenida da Liberdade where you’ll also enjoy interesting architecture.

Parque do Monte do Picoto: Looking to get out of the city? Take a hike to Parque do Monte do Picoto and up to Miradouro do Picoto, where you can catch a breathtaking sunset.

Altice Forum Braga: If you’re in the mood for events, head to Altice Forum Braga, an event venue not far from the city centre. Check their schedule for upcoming events.

Roman Thermae of Maximinus: Explore the excavated remains of the Roman Thermae of Maximinus, a large public bath complex active during the 1st-3rd centuries BCE.

Bom Jesus do Monte: Visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site and Portuguese National Monument, Bom Jesus do Monte. While many steps lead to the top, a funicular is also available. The stunning surroundings and city views make it a must-visit.

Braga Municipal Stadium: For football enthusiasts, catch a game at Braga Municipal Stadium, originally built for Euro 2004.

need-to-knows

The streets of central Braga are lined with shops

WHERE TO EAT

aTípica Built on top of old Roman ruins, aTípica offers a unique experience where you can admire ancient stones through glass floors while enjoying regional flavours, including their highly-rated bacalhau and alheira sausage.

Restaurante Águas de Bacalhau Traditional Portuguese cuisine gets a modern twist here where no little detail goes unnoticed. From artistic presentation to infusion of exotic flavours, the chef creates delicious experiences. The glazed octopus is a treat to the senses.

Frigideiras da Sé Cozy, affordable, and welcoming, the beers are cold, the food is hot, and the service is friendly. Take your time to enjoy traditional Portuguese plates, including Bife à casa.

Adega Malhoa This familyowned restaurant is known for its small selection of quality dishes. Have a taste of their Braga-style cod and delectable cod bolinhos.

Porta Nova A gem in the centre of the city where they capture the essence of the iconic Portuguese sandwich of the north, the Francesinha.

WHERE TO STAY

To complement your exploration of the city, we’ve put together a list of centrally located 4-star accommodation to fit different styles and needs.

Burgus Tribute & Design Hotel This stylish contemporary retreat offers attentive hospitality, and a range of on-call services. burgushotel.com/

Porta Nova Collection: A blend of historic elegance and contemporary comfort, housed in an old, historic building. portanovach.pt/

Hotel Moon & Sun Braga

This boutique hotel boasts a minimalist and elegant style, decorated with artworks by Portuguese artist Pedro Guimarães, who explores surrealism through various mediums (he is represented in the Algarve by ArtCatto, Loulé). Enjoy suites with magnificent balconies over city views. moonandsun.pt/ moon-sun-braga.html

Braga Heritage Lofts An art and design hotel housed in a building with a rich history. From its industrial roots it became a school and later an architectural atelier, and now welcomes guests to unwind in heritage charm. bragaheritagelofts. pt/en/home-en

Hotel Vila Galé Collection

Once an old monastery, this historic 1508 building has been transformed, with indoor/outdoor pools, a spa, fine dining and great rooms. vilagale.com/pt/hoteis/ porto-e-norte/vila-galecollection-braga

In the nick of time

WHAT BETTER TIME TO RE-ACQUAINT YOURSELF WITH THE ALGARVE THAN IN A FRESH NEW BLOOMING SEASON? NICK ROBINSON CROSSES THE REGION FROM ONE SIDE TO ANOTHER

THERE ARE so many ways to cross the Algarve… Some people use a bicycle, others use their feet and some other crazier types use a paddleboard. That’s me, I’ve done it twice on a SUP and both experiences were the best ever.

However, that is not what I am suggesting you do this spring – I reckon you should drive down to the east and aim to get to Vila Real de Santo Antonio for breakfast. Watch the sun slant over those roofs that have faced off Spain for so many years. Delve into the gridlike pattern of streets and sample some easy Portuguese breakfast in the square. There is absolutely nothing wrong with torrada and a galão (toast and a latte), but if you’d prefer the full works head over to The Grand House and enjoy a prebooked breakfast.

A walk down the banks of the Guadiana River might be appropriate before continuing your tour westwards through the pine forests towards Monte Gordo. I’d suggest you move on towards Cacela Velha where there is a remnant of a fortress that once protected the Algarve from pirates in the 1600s. Built in Moorish times, it was reconstructed in the 16th century and helped protect Algarvians from the Barbary Corsairs.

Drive westward through Altura, an uninspiring town that explodes into life in summer, heaving with Portuguese tourists from up north. Great deals and typical food are found here along with calmer beaches and warmer waters due to the more gradual dropoff into the Atlantic.

Tavira might be a great place to stop for a coffee. Tons of little spots are dotted along the Rio Gilão and whilst I enjoy Cafetaria Originato for their excellent

I’d suggest you move on towards Cacela Velha where there is a remnant of a fortress that once protected the Algarve from pirates

coffee, many options abound. Tavira actually warrants a full day out with a possible ferry ride to the beach, lunch, coffee and medronho afterwards, but this is a whirlwind stop and we have a long way to go. Grab a lunch in Olhão, a lively, fun place to be with many foreigners gravitating to its busy social life. Check out Cestaria, and while you’re enjoying that lunch and marvelling at the sound of seagulls, the glittering Ria Formosa and people strolling past, spare a thought for the fact that you could have been enjoying a fantastic fish at À do Rui back in Fuseta. Oh well, you can’t do it all and you need to save some gems for the next time.

If you’re taking this mission seriously, and have dedicated a full weekend it should be nearing 3pm on Saturday. Find your car and head up through Pechão and Estoi before crossing the ancient Roman Road and joining the N2. This is the longest single road in Portugal and carries on for 740 odd kilometres up to Chaves near the northern Spanish border.

But now, São Brás de Alportel is far enough. Stop off for a leg stretch in the main square (if you can find a parking space) and then loop west along the N270 through to Loulé, one of the homeliest towns in the Algarve. It just feels good. Saunter around Loulé without missing t he market. It’ll very likely be empty right now as Saturday morning is when it really buzzes, but that’s not where we’re going. Head for O Postigo, a small bar/café filled with culture and history that serves as a headquarters for the local biking community. On the calçada the members’ names are etched on the cobblestones.

Make your way south now and settle for a long walk along Quarteira’s promenade or around Vilamoura’s marina or just along the beach enjoying the sunset. We’ll tackle your Sunday outing next month!

ALGARVE

FASHION HONEST

HATS, CLOTHES, SNEAKERS... NOW THAT SPRING IS APPROACHING FAST WE SUGGEST THREE BRANDS TOTALLY MADE IN PORTUGAL THAT WILL MAKE EVERYONE (OF EVERY STYLE, GENDER AND WALK OF LIFE) LOOK AND FEEL GORGEOUS!

Words: SANDRA GATO

MARCH is a month that has everything going for it. Winter grey days make way to sunshine spring mornings; sunsets begin to feel interesting again; holidays seem to feel just around the corner... and in between all of that there is International Women’s Day – on the 8th – and Father’s Day – on the 19th (here in Portugal) – to celebrate.

Pamper yourself or your closest girlfriends or a special dad in your life – yours, the father of your kids, a guy that is like a father to somenone you love – and, at the same time, support national brands that are born from creative minds who make a point of producing in Portugal. The good thing about our chosen three is that they are a perfect fit for everyone in your life, regardless of their age, sex or lifestyle.

I believe I speak for everyone – mainly women to be totally honest – that had to endure all kinds of ‘elegant’ shoes in order to look professional in our jobs. How many times did we walk to work in flat shoes and quickly changed to high heels in the lift? A common 90s scene...

But then came the blessed trend that made trainers fashionable! Suddenly top designers began to include them in their collections and colaborated with sport brands like Adidas or Nike. And to add to that we had COVID and months of confinement that validated the tracksuit and trainers look for almost any occasion.

In short: trainers left the gym and entered the boardroom for good. In terms of style, sporty became classy and classy become sporty. And new brands were born, incorporating the values that became compulsory in this new postpandemic world.

That is Hirundo’s case. Hirundo means swallow in Latin, a bird very much associated with the Portuguese collective

personality: a bird that flies away searching for warm weather but that always comes back home. A cool brand that perfectly combines sustainability and handmade work with fun!

And, more than that, these are tainers ‘made to slowdown’ – Hirundo’s biggest claim. “When sourcing our materials we wanted them to be local and sustainable. They are not perfect, but we believe sustainability is not about perfection but about commitment and consistency”. Not perfect but handmade by artisans in the Porto region, with organic materials (some are even made of a kind of leather that “ages”, becoming darker as time passes) and certified CO2 carbon neutral. And, very important: they are fun! Soles with bright colours and there are even some accessories (socks and T-shirts) to add to the look.

Embaixada, Lisbon: Praça do Príncipe Real 26

Porto: Largo dos Lóios, 73, Porto

“Fairly Normal was born from the need for high-quality and responsibly-made garments for those who work, live and surf in Lisbon. Driven not only by the peculiar combination of city and seaside, but also by a wide range of multi-generational influences, our collections promote active lifestyles while exploring the balance between the classic and the contemporary. From Lisbon, Portugal”.

This is the statement of a brand created by two young Portuguese young men –João Morais Leitão and João Berbaran – who some four years ago decided to leave their corporative jobs to embark on an adventure: to make clothes for urban guys who want to feel comfortable in a meeting in the city and then drive for a surf afternoon with their friends, wearing the same garments.

Although it was created by men with men in mind, it can perfectly be worn by women – I invite all females to visit their website store and tell me that you wouldn’t love to have a pair of those soft trousers or one of the beautifully cut shirts in your wardobe! I personally fell in love with an

oversize sweater made of soft wool and with lovely details, like a small hole in the sleeve where you can insert your thumb to keep the hands warm in the absence of gloves.

Fairly Normal – the name comes from one of the songs of Brazilian musician Caetano Veloso – is entirely manufactured in Portugal, one of the brand’s core values is the respect for the national heritage and the belief that investing in Portuguese craftsmanship and know-how leads to a final superior product.

More than a trend word, sustainability only makes sense when it’s real. And nothing is more sustainable than a piece of clothing that lasts the test of time. The classic design is aimed to resist the seasonality of fashion and the high quality fabrics (organic cottons, twills, natural woods) allow wearability for many years.

Quality. Sustainability. Versatility. And sharing. Fairly Normal is a men’s brand that women love to love.

Lisbon: Rua de São Paulo, 102 Embaixada: Praça do Principe Real

When you meet Rui Dias, the first feeling you get is hope. Hope in the existance of a future that makes space for the relevant things of the past and that values real respect for those who brought us where we are today. Rui is a young gentleman, with a hipster vibe, who lives and works in São João da Madeira (not far from Porto), who has a ‘normal’ job as a graphic designer but who has a hobby, a kind of odd job that, in fact, is so much more than that.

He makes “Quality Handmade Custom Hats”. He inherited the talent (and the tools!) from his grandfather who made hats as a side line, as a way to earn extra money to provide for his family. Different time, same passion.

Rui learned everything he knows about the art of making a lifelong hat with the old men who, like his grandfather, spent their free time doing something that brought extra income home.

And if meeting Rui Dias gives one hope, having the privilege of watching him work fills us with a new found admiration (in our heart) but also restlessness (in our mind). Admiration because it is such tough, skilled work: stretching the felt material over the wooden head model,

using a heavy old iron to give it shape. It raises the question – why does a young guy still want to make hats the hard way? Is it respect? Is it ancient and modern values coming together (a Maraus hat lasts a lifetime, few things can be more sustainable than that)? Is it love for craftsmanship?

I dare say it’s all that but also something else that comes from genes and the need to keep doing what he feels he was made to do.

Getting a Maraus hat is not shopping. It’s being involved in a process that means talking to Rui, taking measurements, choosing the material – mainly from sheep or rabbit (hats are a by-product of the shoe industry), picking the colour, the details, the brim size. Then it takes Rui some 60 hours to complete it.

And when you finally receive it in its beautiful hatbox you get one other feeling: pride. Because you are the owner of a beautiful custom-made piece that will be yours forever. And also pride in guys like Rui who no matter the generation they are born in, know that the way to an interesting future can only start with knowledge of the past.

Open by appointment

Finally… Portugal’s very own MICHELIN GUIDE

THERE ARE NOW A TOTAL OF 45 MICHELIN STARS AWARDED TO 38 RESTAURANTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

LUCKY FOR US, TEN OF THOSE STARS ARE HELD BY SEVEN RESTAURANTS RIGHT HERE IN THE ALGARVE

Words: CHRISTINA MORENO

ALGARVE

Chef Dieter Koschina, of 2-star Vila Joya is known for presenting a different menu every single day for years

IT’S BEEN a long time coming: Portugal has finally received its very own Michelin Guide, exclusively dedicated to its award-winning national restaurants. On February 27, the Algarve had the privilege of hosting the exclusive Michelin Gala celebration organised by renowned chefs Dieter Koschina from Vila Joya and Rui Silvestre from Vistas. It was a sensation.

Before we introduce you to the awarded restaurants and their chefs, let’s delve into the background with a brief history of the Michelin Guide.

The Guide started in 1889 as the world-famous tyre company’s free little red guide containing maps, tyre changing tips, gas station locations and recommended restaurants and accommodations. When the Guide’s restaurant recommendations unexpectedly became extremely popular, the tyre company decided to hire secret-diners to visit restaurants and rank them with a star if they were impressed. Ten years later, the threestar criteria was introduced. And so the little red guide eventually evolved into a prestigious ranking system and became one of the most competitive international guides of its kind.

Guide basics

Michelin star-awarded restaurants are thought to represent the cream of the crop of dining experiences. To receive a Michelin Star, a restaurant must meet or exceed the expectations of the inspectors who visit it several times over the year to ensure consistently good food. A one-star rating means the food is ‘good’, a two-star rating signifies the food is ‘worth a detour’, and a three-star rating lets us know that the restaurant is ‘worth a special journey’.

The stars are bestowed twice annually during Star Sessions, where the Guide’s editor-in-chief, the involved inspectors, and the international director of Michelin Guides gather to make unanimous decisions.

The rating criteria

1. Quality of products

2. Mastery of flavour and cooking techniques

3. The personality of the chef represented in the dining experience

4. Harmony of flavours

5. Consistency between inspectors’ visits

Guide Worth knowing

FACT: Restaurants can only be awarded up to three Michelin stars. Stars can also be lost – Inspectors will visit a restaurant anonymously multiple times before awarding or taking away a star. Lack of consistency is the most common reason a star is taken away.

FACT: There’s no such thing as a Michelin Star chef. The award is given to the restaurant, not an individual.

Download the free MICHELIN guide app (restaurants and hotels), available on your app store

While the chef has everything to do with it, the award is meant to recognise the whole team that works together to create the culinary experience. This means that Michelin Stars stay attached to the restaurant and therefore are not transferable when a chef leaves.

FACT: The Michelin Guide doesn’t only list fine dining restaurants – stars are awarded to a spectrum of eateries from street vendors to formal restaurants. Bargain-savvy epicureans will also be happy to hear that the Guide also includes a category called the ‘Bib Gourmand’, which recognises restaurants that serve “good quality, good value cooking”.

FACT: Michelin inspectors come from different parts of the world and are openminded towards all kinds of international cuisines. Perhaps this dispels the common myth that inspectors must have a tendency to be biased toward French cooking.

FACT: The Michelin Guide – in theory – may not give out stars based on how fancy a restaurant looks but they do take into consideration how the personality and talent of the chef are evident in their dishes. This is usually what makes the difference for a two-star rating.

FACT: Michelin now has a special Green Star Award Category. Introduced in 2020 during the presentation of the Michelin Guide France selection, the Green star recognises restaurants that go above and beyond when it comes to sustainable gastronomy. The annual Green Star is not intended as a quality label so it can be awarded to any type of establishment recommended by the Guide.

FACT: Currently there are only about 3,000 restaurants worldwide that have earned at least one Michelin Star.

FACT: Fewer than 100 restaurants worldwide have been awarded three Michelin stars.

FACT: Once named ‘chef of the century’, the late chef Joël Robuchon held the record for the most Michelin-starred restaurants, with 31 stars spread across three continents.

What the guide says about our

Algarve MICHELIN restaurants

“Eating here is akin to ascending to culinary heaven! The excellence of his cuisine is evident in every mouthful – the result of superb execution, and a bold, playful approach to less conventional flavours which occasionally include tropical fruits.”

“Chef Hans Neuner delights the palate with his ‘Memories of Brazil’ menu… His well-prepared dishes of varying intensity explore the flavours of the tropics and of Copacabana beach thanks to a fusion of indigenous [ingredients].”

“The attentive married couple in charge, Cláudia Abrantes (sommelier and front-of-house) and her chefhusband Luís Brito at the helm in the kitchen, are extremely committed to creating the perfect experience”.

VILA JOYA ALBUFEIRA

GUSTO ALMANCIL 

“…has plenty of personality… The cuisine here is under the baton of the highly-regarded German chef Heinz Beck (three Michelin stars at La Pergola restaurant in Rome).”

“With an emphasis on sustainability, Chef João Oliveira creates meat dishes as part of a culinary repertoire that champions local ingredients, including olive oil. The experience here begins with appetizers in the kitchen before heading into the elegant dining room to choose between two menus: Vista (exclusively based around locally caught fish and seafood) and Terra (vegetarian).”

AL SUD LAGOS

“Chef José Lopes showcases modern cuisine with a regional flavour that focuses heavily on recipes from the Algarve, all of which are prepared with a keen eye on presentation, textures and harmonious flavours.”

Above, left: Gusto’s Resident Chef Liborio Buonocore with Chef Heinz Beck.

“Chef Louis Anjos conjures up contemporary cuisine with a creative touch, yet free of eccentricity, that takes as its point of reference ingredients from the Algarve and its coastline, with special attention given to fish and seafood that he sources daily from the auction in Sagres.”

DECO . WITH SOUL . ARTISANS OF THE WORLD.

class act A

INSPIRED BY OUR LEARN FROM THE EXPERTS

FEATURE IN FEBRUARY, READERS HAVE ASKED FOR MORE. THIS MONTH, IT ’ S ALL ABOUT DANCING, MUSIC, AMATEUR DRAMATICS AND COOKING UP A TREAT

Words: LUCY MAYER

lgarve Dancing If you have dreams of becoming the next Strictly star, this could be for you. Algarve Dancing offers “rhythm and spice and everything nice” whether you want to take up a new hobby or to learn your very own choreographed wedding dance.

Based in Albufeira, Algarve Dancing offers a large and eclectic range of classes, including the Merengue (we’ve all seen Dirty Dancing), Bachata, Salsa and Burlesque. Dance instructor

Naomi describes herself as The Dance Doctor, prescribing rhythm for health and happiness, and believes that dance can be a great stress buster. She founded Salsa Brisa in The Netherlands in 2004, eventually growing it into the largest Latino dance school in Limburg.

Naomi has 20 years of teaching experience and has organised dance festivals and bootcamps, including in Italy. Prior experience is not necessary for her group dance classes as they are tailored to all skills and levels and although dance, they can also be classified as a workout with up to 500 calories burned per hour. They are great fun, too, so perfect for a hen activity, a birthday or a girls’ afternoon.

But if a class with lots of people isn’t your thing, but you still want to learn, then Naomi recommends a private session in your own home, which is one of the benefits of Algarve Dancing. An instructor will come to your place, which makes the whole

thing really accessible, there’s a personalised approach with feedback at the end of each session. This option is perfect for people with busy schedules as they can be built in around other commitments. The best thing about a private lesson is the fact that they are distraction free as they are either one on one or with your partner.

Group sessions at the Albufeira studio last for an hour and a half and you will receive a direct quote when you email the team. The workshops include a photo opportunity and a special certificate of participation. A private session is €75 for one hour, solo or with a partner. There are no travel costs in the price if you live within Albufeira, but outside of that, it’s 23 cents per kilometre. You’ll also need to add on €50 if you want to learn a dance for a specific event like your wedding.

naomi@algarvedancing.com algarvedancing.com

Barre Algarve When you hear the word, Barre, most of us will think of a cocktail or beer, rather than a full body workout. But head to Quarteira’s Al Sakia Village and you’ll find luxury boutique studio, Barre Algarve. Run by fitness trainer Gabby, who professes to “sparkle” rather than sweat, this type of workout is all about conditioning your body.

So, what is barre? The workout technique is inspired by elements of ballet, yoga and Pilates. It combines low impact and high intensity movements that work the whole body. Participants will focus on toning, increasing flexibility, sculpting, strengthening the upper body and muscles and building endurance. But at the same time, barre is gentle on the joints, and although the aim for some can be to lose weight, it is also to improve mental health. The barre part comes in because exercises are done using the ballet barre for support.

The classes Gabby has devised, like ‘Burn at the Barre’ are designed to encourage and build confidence. They can be fast paced or low impact with no jumping for those of us who worry about high intensity workouts. As well as the barre, which is the star of the show, there are props on hand to help with workouts, including weights, bands and balls. There’s also an app that studio-goers can sign up to and

At Luz Cultura, Luiza not only teaches the piano, but she works with choirs and those who want to use their voice as an instrument.

book classes and keep up to date with availability.

The studio’s social media is a lot of fun with Gabby regularly posting Instagram reels that show how to complete a particular move at home, or affirmations designed to motivate you into exercise.

The studio is extremely popular with women and their girlfriends who like to enjoy a group workout to music and then celebrate with a drink after (non-alcoholic, of course). There are group classes for all levels or personal training sessions with the first class priced at €15 and then unlimited classes for €150 per month. Workout mats, props and water are supplied, so all you need to take is yourself and maybe some grip socks.

Pop up classes are also in the planning stages. barrealgarve@gmail.com I: @barre_algarve

The Algarveans am-dram For those who love the theatre, one am-dram group is always looking for new members – Os Acting Algarveans Angloluso Associação Teatro Experimental. They aim to produce two plays a year that range from comedies and musicals to whodunnits and drama. Members age from 10 to 100 and productions are staged at the Carlos do Carmo Auditorium in Lagoa, which seats up to 300 people. There is also a rehearsal hall, affectionately referred to as the “Little Theatre”, where the club holds social events, workshops, rehearsed play readings, choir practice and much more.

The am-dram club was founded in 1991 after an advert was placed in a local newspaper. As a result, 20 people ended up getting together. This month – March – there is a dance workshop on the agenda, exploring dance through improvisation with Shelley Dança (for more information email Callie at algarveansevents@gmail.com) and on the 25th and 26th performances of Murder Mystery will be staged at the Little Theatre. Single membership is €15; family membership, for two adults and two children aged between 10 and 18, is €25. algarveansinfo@gmail.com thealgarveans.com

ALGARVE

Figs on the Funcho Cooking is another skill that many are keen to master, especially in a place like the Algarve where fresh produce is in abundance. Enter Figs on the Funcho at Monte de Ribeira Santana. This stunning and secluded retreat is set on a beautiful farmhouse on the Barragem do Funcho to a backdrop of hills surrounded by fig and carob trees with pathways winding down to the water’s edge. It offers a range of activities, including walking, painting and of course, cooking, in which you’ll work with fresh fish and seafood, local preserves, and fruit and veg.

You don’t have to be a master-chef to take part either; you can enjoy a three-hour cooking masterclass whether you are a novice or experienced chef, or even on holiday, as the team hosts cooking retreats, which include food preparation, recipe execution and wine pairing.

Portugal’s Spice Route and Beyond gastronomy retreat taking place in April will allow you to recreate flavours traced from Portugal’s famous spice route. You’ll travel through time and continents, immersing yourself in a fusion of history, culture, and gastronomy that shaped Portugal’s legacy.

Participants will also master seafood and vegetarian recipes, sample fine Portuguese wines and delve into Indian and Portuguese flavours, which have become a testament to Portugal’s rich ties with Goa. You will enjoy producing traditional dishes like cataplana and bacalhau (in Portugal, it is said there are more than 365 ways to cook bacalhau!).

Figs on the Funcho’s founders and owners Cheryl and Graham draw inspiration from the likes of celebrity chef, Yotam Ottolenghi, and after an afternoon of intensive cooking, participants can enjoy a relaxing stroll around the beautiful grounds. The 100-year-old farmhouse where Figs on the Funcho is based is an award winner, having been crowned the Algarve’s Most Idyllic Riverside Retreat 2023 at the LUXLife Hospitality Awards.

cheryl@figsonthefuncho.com

Figsonthefuncho.com

What would capture your attention and your interest? There are classes right here on the Algarve that cater to all tastes and every sense of adventure

Luz Cultura Learning a musical instrument takes patience and passion. You need to pick the right instrument for starters, find the right teacher for tuition and have the time to dedicate lots of practice to make perfect. This is where Luz Cultura comes in. The centre is based in Rua da Praia, a short walk away from the picturesque promenade at Praia da Luz. The centre is run by piano teacher Luiza who started learning the piano at the age of six in Moldova. Her family moved to Portugal to seek a better life and she earned a Bachelor degree at the Music School of Lisbon before heading to Amsterdam where she achieved a second Bachelor degree and a Masters in classical singing from the prestigious Conservatorium of Amsterdam. Today, Luiza not only teaches the piano, but she works with choirs and those who want to use their voice as an instrument. No experience is needed and Luiza also welcome babies and toddlers to her centre so they can learn to appreciate music from a young age. Prices range from €27.50 for a child’s piano lesson and €32.50 for an adult piano or singing class. There are various packages available. luzculturalalgarve@gmail.com I: @luz_cultura

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Getting ready to open

AND HERE WE ARE, LEAVING JACK AND WALTER AND THE CASA AMOR ADVENTURE! IT HAD TO HAPPEN...

Words: ELAINE JOYCE

WE STARTED following the intrepid twosome in August 2021 and you loved the story of Casa Amor with its ups and downs, good and bad surprises, delays, stress (a lot of stress), and then the excitement of an upcoming opening, the first reservations, the first Yoga and well-being retreats, and finally... the decoration. The light at the end of the tunnel is starting to shine bright with Casa Amor opening this month, on 20 March.

The new team joined Jack and Walter at the end of February: Justina, François, Eunice, Anna, Sangita and Pedro were the first to arrive, chosen for their enthusiasm and their desire to make the project grow and be part of its story.

On the eve of the completion of this issue, Jack and Walter sent us the latest photos which we are sharing with you. Long live Casa Amor.

The finishing touches are coming together, slowly but surely and ever-so-beautifully. Guests are already looking forward to a wonderful stay surrounded by favourite things

Hot property

ONCE UPON A TIME THE EAST ALGARVE BASKED IN ITS ANONYMITY, BUT RECENTLY WILY PROPERTY INVESTORS HAVE UNEARTHED SOME HIDDEN GEMS, NOT KNOWN TO MANY, WHICH ARE FAST BECOMING THE REAL ESTATE HOT SPOTS

Words: DEBBIE REYNOLDS

WHEN THE Algarve first blipped my radar around ten years ago, Albufeira, Lagos, Portimão and Vilamoura topped the pops on investment potential and dream destinations. And, of course, if you were a golfer, you looked no further than Quinta do Lago and Vale do Lobo.

It seemed then that it was a case of west is best and don’t bother with the rest.

But that’s all changing – and changing fast –with Loulé and Tavira recently included in the top ten most expensive cities to buy property in Portugal. And according to the experts, these are among the Algarve’s new up-and-coming property hotspots, along with the likes of Castro Marim, Fuseta, Olhão and Vila Real de Santo Antonio (VRSA) in the far east.

According to Roseanne Bradley, of international property buying resource, Your Overseas Home, the east Algarve is fast becoming a property hotspot for international buyers –especially those looking to invest in luxury homes or splash the cash on their dream family villa.

“Areas that were once unknown like Olhão and VRSA offer an attractive alternative to being in the centre of the touristic Algarve,” she says.

“VRSA lies on the eastern edge of the Algarve and borders Spain. It has a real cosmopolitan feel and has a welcoming community of both Portuguese and Spanish locals who often cross the border. This area is a great choice for anyone looking to enjoy the best of both countries, without it being too far away from home.”

There are a range of luxury homes for sale in VRSA on the

Left: Tavira is one of the cities of great interest to investors currently while prices are still attractive. Below: Castro Marin, a short distance away, has a villagey charm and interesting properties both old and new

Your Overseas Home property portal, with properties starting at €1,300,000. For that price you can expect to buy a threebedroom villa on one of Portugal’s prestigious golf resorts, with views across the Atlantic and a private pool.

Bordering VRSA and just across the Guadiana River from Spain is the once sleepy hamlet of Castro Marim, most widely known for its medieval fair in August. Nestled below an imposing castle and fort this town offers an authentic Portuguese experience with its winding cobbled streets, delightful period houses and picturesque views.

According to Elysium Estates’ Sarah Willis Locke, this all adds to the town’s charm. “It’s also close to some beautiful beaches like Praia Verde and Praia do Cabeço and the Quinta do Vale and Castro Marim golf courses. Then, of course, there is the close proximity to Spain.”

She says for buyers who are more budget conscious, Castro Marim is still less expensive than other areas in the Algarve.

“It’s not that people look for fashionable areas per se, but with changing conditions, some areas end up becoming more sought after because they offer what people want, whether it be more space or better value.”

Moving along the coast, another one to watch, suggests Sarah, is Cabanas in Tavira, and having lived and worked there for 17 years she’s certainly got an inside track.

“Cabanas is like Marmite,” she laughs, “you either love it or hate it. The haters are usually put off by the people, but not, however, by the landscape.” But that aside, it’s got a seaside fishing village charm wrapped up with beautifully landscaped public areas, well-kept condominiums and some great restaurants and bars.

“At the moment there are some lovely new builds coming up and it has a good infrastructure and easy access public transport,” says Sarah. Next on her most-wanted list is

Fuseta, a fishing village on the Ria Formosa between Tavira and Olhão, which has long been a popular holiday destination for the Portuguese, because it was so authentic and unspoilt.

Which is exactly why it’s also now appealing to expats, who want to be more integrated into the local community.

“For a long time, budget-wise it was very accessible and there were very few new builds,” says Sarah. “Then they started building enormous apartments to the west of the village, which ten years ago were selling for around €1,000,000. These were largely bought by people who had property in the west Algarve and wanted to be somewhere less touristy.”

However, it was only more recently that Sarah began suggesting Fuseta to her clients. “I always thought it was slightly shabby, but in recent years I had to eat my hat at how charming it is. It has a lovely beach, bars and authentic grill restaurants offering fresh seafood.”

Just to the east of the village is a vast unspoilt playground for water sports enthusiasts, with windsurfers, paddleboarders and canoeists making the most of the calm and warm waters of the Ria Formosa lagoon.

Three-bedroom townhouses in Fuseta are selling for around €550,000, with new-build luxury three-bedroom apartments going for around €1,200,000.

Continuing east up the coast, we get to the ‘Cubist City’ of Olhão, which is making big waves on the property scene. Not more than ten years ago, many expats and tourists would give Olhão a wide berth because of the high rate of crime, prostitution and drugs. Today, take a turn down to the waterfront and the authentic Olhão is captivating.

Centred around the famous red brick municipal markets, the city is being rejuvenated and refined by tenacious entrepreneurs who recognise the potential.

Roseanne Bradley says being just 10km east of Faro and the Algarve’s international airport, it’s an ideal holiday home destination for frequent fliers and business people.

“While you can get on the Olhão property ladder for under €300,000, there is a blossoming luxury market there with magnificent mansions, farmhouses and villas available with hectares of land to enjoy for upwards of €1,250,000.

“If you’re looking for something more modern, there is a range of seafront apartments in Olhão. With prices starting at €1,200,000, you can find a luxurious two-to-three-bedroom apartment with sea views and first-class amenities to enjoy within a private condominium.”

She says both Olhão and VRSA offer a laidback lifestyle and homes with more land, which isn’t always available on the seafront, as well as being well-connected with train stations.

Real estate agent Karina Mazuch agrees that the shift with foreign buyers now seems to be towards towns and cities that have original Portuguese characteristics, which is mostly in the east Algarve.

“Because they have not yet reached their peak, places like Olhão, Castro Marim, VRSA and Tavira are very attractive as you can find bargains for investment purposes on a relatively smaller budget than the west coast,” she says.

“It’s also about saturation with the previously more popular areas suffering from a limited availability of land for new developments, whereas a lot of the east Algarve is still an open book.”

Adding to its attraction, she says, is the increase in infrastructure projects, such as transportation improvements, new amenities and urban development initiatives.

By nature, trends come and go, but for now this one is definitely on the up and up.

ALGARVE PLUS

Olhão, the ‘Cubist City’ is regarded by many as THE place to be today with a multitude of shopping and eating delights, art galleries, exhibition and music options, closeness to the islands across the Ria Formosa, and with really great markets for the freshest produce

The woman who saved

DOURO WINES

DONA ANTÓNIA ADELAIDE FERREIRA IS AN EMBLEMATIC FIGURE WHO BECAME A SYMBOL OF DOURO ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND VITICULTURE, AND ALSO AN EXAMPLE OF GENEROSITY TOWARDS THOSE MOST IN NEED

Words: LÍVIA MOKRI

DONA ANTÓNIA Adelaide Ferreira challenged the English domination of the Port wine industry, pushed the borders of the Douro wine region to the limits of the national territory, was always on the side of the poorest, stood up to the most powerful politicians of her time, and refused titles and honours from the Court and the king. She had a family life that met misfortune, dared, dreamed and took risks, and she built one of the greatest fortunes of the 19th century.

Despite the enormous success that the industry is now enjoying, 200 years ago it was close to extinction. In a business historically hostile to women, Antónia Adelaide Ferreira not only persisted but also sustained the entire industry.

Her life and times

Better known as Ferreirinha, Dona Antónia was born in Régua in 1811. She descended from a local family who took advantage of the commercial boom in Port wine after the demarcation of 1756, to establish itself in the business of

producing and raising wines among small farmers.

In 1808, her father, José Bernardo, divided the family inheritance with his brother, António Bernardo, who revealed an extraordinary business intuition that quickly made him a protagonist of business in the Douro and Porto; he was responsible for the construction of Quinta do Vesúvio, outside the limits of the region demarcated at that time. From there, they began exporting wine to England in 1815, and those wines were among the most expensive at the time. Today, this Quinta remains one of the most beautiful places in the entire valley.

Dona Antónia married her cousin, António Bernardo Ferreira’s son in 1834. Despite it being a planned marriage, there was love between the first cousins. At least in its first phase. Over time, sadly, the clash between Antónia’s rural and simple side and her husband’s cosmopolitan, frivolous and expensive tastes led to a formal separation.

António died in Paris, in 1844. He was 32 years old. His widow, with two children and a colossal fortune to manage, assumed leadership of the family business, concentrating all resources on the production and marketing of Port wine. But all did not run smoothly and the Port wine industry experienced a strong downturn when, in 1850 onwards, a disease –powdery mildew – ravaged the Douro vineyards, causing

drastic reductions in production, poor quality wines, and increasing the cost of cultivation through the use of sulfur.

Even more serious, from the 1860s onwards, was a new pest, phylloxera, that threatened to ruin the entire national viticulture and caused greater damage in the Douro than powdery mildew. When the insect that came from the United States appeared in Europe, it devastated entire vineyards and left owners financially ruined.

A fighting spirit

Together with José da Silva Torres, administrator of her companies, Dona Antónia headed by boat to England to learn about effective means of combating this pest, as well as more about sophisticated wine production processes, and with their new-found knowledge they decided to implement ways of protecting Douro plantations through grafting techniques.

She ordered sulphur from England to treat powdery mildew, tried cures for phylloxera – she was open to innovation and risk and astute in the way she managed crises. She also knew how to wait for the best opportunities, preserving every single barrel of wine from her late husband’s fortune (he left her 5,000, a colossal stock) and when she did sell she

Quinta do Vesúvio, regarded as the quinta of all quintas, overlooking the Douro, owned for five generations now by the Symington family

made enormous gains, which allowed her to buy watermills, hills, olive groves, and houses in Régua, Porto, Lisbon and Vila Real.

At the height of the crisis, she also dedicated herself to helping the poorest. She distributed money to them and contributed the most to the installation of a hospital for choleric patients in Régua.

She married again, and with her new husband, Francisco José da Silva Torres, she visited Porto regularly and spent time in Lisbon, acquiring the Calhariz Palace. The marriage of her daughter Maria de Assunção to the son of the Marquis of Loulé, grandson of King João VI linked them to the royal house. But Dona Antónia preferred to be in the Douro, visiting vineyards daily.

In 1877, Francisco purchased, in Dona Antónia’s name, some 300 hectares of wild land in Monte Meão, until then belonging to the Municipal Council of Vila Nova de Foz Côa, in Superior Douro.

In the absence of roads, the safest means of transport to get there from Porto was in small boats pulled by oxen, capable of crossing the river’s numerous rapids, in a journey that took around 12 days. But Dona Antónia invested in the completion of the Douro railway line, which in 1877 had only reached Penafiel, around 30km from Porto. Ten years later, the train finally arrived in Pocinho, some 3km from the farm.

Francisco passed away in 1880 but her second widowhood did not affect her. On the contrary, in the 16 remaining years of her life, she revealed admirable energy. And she made fabulous profits as well. At the age of 76, she dedicated herself to building the imposing Quinta do Vale Meão from scratch, in the Vila Nova de Foz Côa area to make it the first property in the Douro.

Over eight years, vineyards and olive groves were planted there, and two wineries, a small hospital, a school, and two chapels were built. The work was completed in 1895, but Dona Antónia enjoyed little of it as she unexpectedly died in March 1896.

The royal family and the apostolic nuncio sent their condolences by telegram. On the day that she was buried, many hundreds of people formed a human wall to the Régua cemetery. The Porto newspapers

reported that, as the coffin passed, men and women knelt, paying a last tribute to the woman who had given them work, alms, hospitals, and above all, a belief that in the Douro of the 19th-century hope was possible. They called her “mother of the poor”. She died as the richest woman in Portugal, who preferred walking in the vineyards to the opera in Lisbon, and playing cards on her farms to moving among the high society.

Her legacy

Her material legacy was fabulous –24 farms in the Douro, houses and palaces in Porto and Lisbon, gigantic warehouses in Gaia, and shares in national and foreign companies.

Her assets were divided between her two children and 18 grandchildren, and her heirs were obliged to respect the instructions in her Will; they created the company that is the predecessor of the current Ferreira to maintain the unity of Dona Antónia’s empire.

For three generations, until 1987, Ferreira would be managed by her successors. That year, its sale became a State matter, with the Government’s involvement in preventing its control from passing into foreign hands. Two years later, Vesúvio was purchased by the Symington Port wine group. Around 140 descendants had to sign the transaction. But some heirs kept Dona Antónia’s direct inheritance in their possession. And another branch of the Ferreira family owns the well-known Quinta do Vallado.

Anyone who appreciates wine and wine culture cannot fail to recognise Dona Antónia’s heritage. Ferreira’s wines, starting with the mythical Barca Velha, are among the best in the country. At Vesúvio, a Vintage Port of the highest quality is created; in Vallado, excellent wines include top-of-the-range Adelaide.

In the company’s wine cellar, there is an impressive oenological archive, with more than 12,000 bottles stored, the oldest of which dates back to 1815. Some years ago, the head of winemaking, Luís Sottomayor, checked their condition in a corkchanging operation that happens every 20 years. And they were all excellent, showing the greatness of one of the most fascinating personalities of 19th-century Portugal.

Must tries

BARCA VELHA TINTO 2011

Created in 1952, Barca Velha is the unquestionable symbol of the highest quality of Douro wines. It has a complex aroma, and a vibrant acidity in the mouth, very lively, very firm tannins, notes of spices, black fruits, and balsamic flavours. The finish is extremely long with great elegance and complexity. granvine.com/pt/marcas/ casa-ferreirinha/barca-velhatinto-2011

VINHO ESTEVA TINTO

A deep ruby colour and an intense and harmonious bouquet, where strawberries, raspberries and plum, and aromatic notes of resin and tobacco predominate. Its fine structure integrated with high-quality tannins, and balanced acidity that gives it freshness and an elegant and harmonious finish.

portugalvineyards.com/ pt/ douro/1251-estevared-2018-5601007001332.html

CASA FERREIRINHA PLANALTO RESERVA BRANCO

Planalto is one of the biggest references for white wine in the Douro Valley. It presents an intense and complex bouquet of aromas of white fruits (melon and pear), and tropical fruits (apricot and passion fruit), with some mineral notes. portugalvineyards.com/pt/ douro/1303-planalto-reservewhite-2018-5601012115505.html

QUINTA DA LEDA TINTO

Quinta da Leda is a wine of superior quality, an exceptional symbol of the richness and contemporary nature of the great Douro wines. It has intense and complex aromas on the nose – dried fruits such as almonds and hazelnuts, as well as floral notes of lavender, cedar balsamic notes – and a slight menthol aroma. millesima.pt/casa-ferreirinhaquinta-da-leda-2018.html

Lisbon

THE OTHER SIDE OF

LISBON IS TRULY ATMOSPHERIC. AS YOU ROLL (OR INCH, DEPENDING ON THE TIME AND DAY) OVER THE TAGUS RIVER INTO THE CITY ’ S MOUNDS COVERED WITH HAPHAZARDLY-STACKED BUILDINGS, THE ENERGY AMPS UP. THE TRAFFIC IS FAST, THE SOUNDS LOUD, AND THE STREETS BUZZ WITH LIFE. AND THERE ’ S ALWAYS SOMETHING THAT CAPTIVATES

Words:

CARRIE-MARIE BRATLEY

LISBON’S BEAUTIFUL Tagus riverside and famous Seven Hills are laden with grandiose monuments that attract visitors in throngs. Little surprise, seeing as Portugal’s capital is one of Europe’s most popular city-breaks, hence long queues for the most famous attractions – which, FYI, in my view as a regular visitor, are worth the patience.

If you’re staying a bit longer and have time to venture off the beaten track or simply fancy a few days seeing Lisbon from a different angle, there’s a whole host of alternative locales waiting to be explored; above-ground, below-ground, some hidden, some in full sight and part of the local daily routine. Lisbon is one of those cities where you have to keep your eyes peeled at all times, because enthralling experiences are around every corner.

First stop

One of the first things I love to do in any new destination to get a genuine feel of the area is head to a local market. Municipal markets, farmers markets, street markets… they’re packed with colours, sounds, and smells distinctive of the environs. These are places where you can sample local produce and feel the local buzz.

On the fringe of Lisbon city centre, approximately five kilometres north of the downtown Baixa, Lisbon’s Campo de Ourique market, in the residential Campo de Ourique neighbourhood, is a wonderful hub of old-meets-new and an opportunity to soak up authentic community vibes. Inaugurated in 1934 and remodelled in 1991 and 2013, the market balances tradition with a touch of modernity, with time-honoured fish, meat, and fruit and veg stalls working side-by-side with gourmet food stands and regular live entertainment.

Not far from the Campo de Ourique market, a five-minute walk away, is one of Lisbon’s more unusual attractions: the Prazeres Cemetery. This unassuming point of interest offers peace and panoramic views. It is one of the main cemeteries in Lisbon, purportedly houses the biggest and oldest collection of cypresses in the Iberian Peninsula, and is home to the largest mausoleum in Europe. A stroll through a cemetery might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but this one is worth a look.

Personally, I love riding on trams (and I’ve a big soft spot for a hop-on, hop-off bus, too); they’re a great way to really get into a city’s nooks and crannies and see a lot in a little time. Lisbon, of course, is home to one of the most famous trams in the world, the iconic yellow Tram 28, and the Prazeres/Campo de Ourique stop, at the terminus of the Tram 28 line, is a great excuse to jump onboard and trundle along to the end.

Enjoy the views

A 20-minute walk up Campo de Ourique’s tree-lined main street, Rua Ferreira Borges, leads to the contemporary Amoreiras towers. Built in 1985, the mirrored towers house high-end

apartments, offices, and Lisbon’s first-ever major shopping mall. Situated atop one of these towers is Amoreiras 360º, an observation deck providing panoramic views of almost the entire city. At over 170 metres above sea level, the open-air platform is also one of Lisbon’s highest spots.

On the topic of viewpoints, Lisbon has many of them, thanks to the city’s hilly topography. Lisbon’s top ‘miradouros’ are well documented. But besides the obvious candidates, in Graça, Bairro Alto and Alfama, there are a number of lesser-known viewpoints where you don’t need to navigate dense crowds for a selfie.

One of these is atop the gorgeous Estrela Basilica, in the affluent Estrela neighbourhood, another of central Lisbon’s lovely residential suburbs. Occupying the Basilica’s roof terrace, the Estrela viewpoint boasts a privileged view of the city, from the Sintra Mountain Range to the Tagus River. A visit to tranquil Estrela is always an enjoyable change of pace from the hustle and bustle of the city centre, with its peaceful local gardens and cosy cafés offering a quiet and calm refuge.

Another magnificent and less crowded viewpoint is from the 17th-century mannerist masterpiece Monastery of São Vicente de Fora, walking distance from the Alfama neighbourhood.

Offbeat experiences

If, like me, you have a penchant for unusual attractions, Lisbon has plenty of those too, and the nearly 200-year-old Dolls’ Hospital and Museum has to be among the quirkiest.

Founded in 1830, this unique family-established shop, on Figueira Square, in the downtown Baixa, carefully restores much-loved dolls, teddies, and toys that have seen better days.

The bottom floor houses the shop and ticket office while the first floor is a warren of little rooms housing the restoration workshop and the museum, filled with historic dolls; a real blast from the past.

Another unusual experience lies beneath the streets of Lisbon: the below-ground Roman Galleries. Usually open only once a year (a few days in September – I’ve yet to make it), a visit to these catacombs is one of Lisbon’s most exclusive and sought-after experiences, so reservations should be made well in advance. An impressive part of the existence of the Roman city of Olisipo in the 1st century AD, these fascinating vaulted constructions showcase an ancient world that once occupied Lisbon’s capital.

Get walking

In my opinion, one of the best ways to explore Lisbon is on foot, getting lost in the maze of quaint streets that make up Lisbon’s enigmatic historic neighbourhoods, often overhung by charming balconies and colourful laundry.

For a stroll with a difference, head to Lisbon’s Green Street. While everyone has heard of the Pink Street – a bright pink pedestrian lane at the heart of the Cais do Sodré neighbourhood, one of the city’s top nightlife hubs – the Green Street is a less crowded passage of lush, shady greenery that pours from every window and door frame. Located between the Santos and Santa Catarina neighbourhoods in the downtown, Rua Verde (Rua da Silva) is a photogenic street awash with foliage and lined with quaint bars, restaurants, shops, and arty ateliers.

Art is all around

Bursting with energy, Lisbon is a creative’s dream. This is evident in the abundance of street art found throughout the capital. One of my favourite pastimes when in traffic or wandering the alleyways is spotting murals.

Portuguese street artist and ‘artivist’ Bordalo II, real name Artur Bordalo, grandson of acclaimed painter Real Bordalo, has created some of Lisbon’s most iconic murals – from rubbish.

Two of these, The Raccoon and The Giant Bee, are located next to two of Lisbon’s most famous sites, near the Belém Cultural Centre and the Lx Factory, respectively.

Lisbon is also home to mosaic artist Eileen McDonough, who swapped the US for “the breathtaking beauty of Lisbon” over 20 years ago. Drawing inspiration from Portuguese heritage, incorporating such as the classic ‘azulejo’ tiles and illustrious Portuguese people like Vasco da Gama into her art, she has exhibited in Portugal and the USA. Eileen’s commissioned pieces can be found in private collections in homes and establishments on five continents. In 2015 she founded the Lisbon Mosaic Studio, where she runs workshops that offer a relaxing and creative way to spend an afternoon in Lisbon.

An architectural melting pot

Lisbon has a diverse and unique mix of architecture. As well as a vast range of architectural styles that span the eras, Portugal also has styles of its very own: the 15th-16th century Manueline, the most famous examples of which are the landmark Jerónimos Monastery and the Belém Tower both in Belém, and Pombaline,

Previous page: David Bowie mosaic by Eileen McDonough. Opposite page, top left clockwise: The bustling Campo de Ourique market; Braganza Pantheon at Monastery of São Vicente de Fora; Casa do Ferreira das Tabuletas; the doll museum. This page left: The famous number 28 tram; right: the Estrela Basilica

a style of architecture associated with the reconstruction efforts in Lisbon following the devastating earthquake of 1755, a term derived from the Marquis of Pombal, Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo, who played a key role in the city’s rebuilding.

But beyond the monuments and grandiose cityscape, Lisbon also houses unique buildings.

Once used to reflect the wealth of the property’s owners, by the 18th century, tiles were a more common finish for façades due to their weather-resistant properties. Demand for traditional Portuguese azulejo finishes peaked following the 1755 earthquake, and there are many examples of stunning tilework to be seen throughout the capital. Metro stations, shops, cafés, important buildings – there are thousands of decorative façades to be admired. Perhaps the most-photographed tiled building in the capital is Casa do Ferreira das Tabuletas (on Rua da Trinidade, near the Carmo Convent), the home of the late-19thcentury artist, Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro.

When in and around the Alfama quarter, famous for Fado, keep an eye out for Lisbon’s oldest house, on Rua dos Cegos, which withstood the 1755 earthquake. Elsewhere, on Rua São João da Mata, from the Santos metro station climbing to Lapa, on the right-hand side, is purportedly Lisbon’s narrowest house, a sky-blue building which at its slimmest point is said to be just 1.65 metres wide.

Eat Lisbon

Of course, no visit to Lisbon is complete without sampling the Pastel de Belém (just as no visit to Portugal is complete without trying the Belém’s omnipresent peer, the Pastel de Nata!).

While the Pastel de Belém is arguably one of Lisbon’s most famous sweets, contenders for the title of Best Pastel de Nata, its wider-known counterpart, include the Manteigaria factory, in the trendy Chiado neighbourhood, and Confeitaria Nacional, one of the oldest pastry shops in Lisbon, located in the Baixa district. But to be honest, most cafés in Portugal will offer a most enjoyable Pastel de Nata.

When it comes to eating in Lisbon, the options are many and varied. There are plenty of excellent eateries, from high-end haute cuisine to trendy tapas bars, and a handful of restaurants have a cult-following.

But what really gets me excited is coming across traditional bijou tavern-like places where Lisboetas eat. Often little more than a door and a window from the front, these typical restaurants inside stretch back a while and the noise levels can be vibrant.

One of my favourites is somewhere I happened upon in the Belém area. It was summer and temperatures in the high 30s. Despite the heat, I really wanted a traditional place for an honest, home-cooked, value-for-money lunch. A brief (and slightly sweltering) stroll around the neighbourhood took me a couple of streets back from the riverfront, behind the new Quake Museum, to O Prado. With its azulejo façade hugging one door and a window, it looked the part, and, with only a handful of tables outside (on a bustling road), inside, late lunchtime and still packed, was confirmation that this was indeed a popular, typical, local restaurant.

Simple, traditional Portuguese food coupled with great prices and friendly service that makes you feel like a regular, it was a real find. And this gem keeps me coming back. As does the unique allure of Lisbon, which always offers more to explore.

Carrie-Marie Bratley has lived in the Algarve for over 30 years. She is the author and photographer of three travel guides on Portugal – Moon Portugal, Moon Lisbon and Moon Azores – part of Moon Travel Guides, published by Avalon Travel, a Hachette Book Group company. hachettebookgroup.com/contributor/ carrie-marie-bratley/

Enjoy a pastel de nata or two, or three; they are irresistible. More of Lisbon’s mosaics, in front of the city’s oldest house that survived the 1755 earthquake

Some like it hot

STANDING ON THE NEVER-ENDING PLAINS OF PORTUGAL’S ALENTEJO, THE ARTIST WILL SWAYNE IS A LONE FIGURE. SURROUNDED BY HEAT BEATING DOWN FROM A PECULIARLY CLEAR BLUE SKY, HE OBSERVES CLOUDS OF THIN RED EARTH AS THEY BLOW TO THE HORIZON

Words: CAROLYN KAIN

GAINING INSPIRATION from the landscape, Will Swayne hovers on the verge of creating an image that will interpret this view. The temperature is a stultifying 40 degrees celsius but to experience such a place provides him with a savage pleasure. Intrigued by the extremes of the semi-arid, almost featureless scene, he conjures up the atmosphere by painting with explosive colours.

Using his own inimitable style, he does not create reality but presents the ambience of the Alentejo, its austere beauty and overpowering heat. Working in oils using an impasto technique he layers the paint, coat upon coat so that it is textured and three dimensional. On close inspection there is great attention to detail in the array of brush strokes, knife marks, hidden shapes and symbols. Controlling the play of light across the painting, he gives the impression of shimmering desert heat.

With the advance of climate change, the Alentejo is at risk of more severe heat waves and longer periods of drought. Following global patterns, the region is

about the artist

The first time you visited the Alentejo?

It was in one October.

Was it love at first sight?

Not exactly. It was dark, pouring with rain blowing horizontally and cold. We love it now though.

What was the first subject you painted here?

A view from the studio, looking out over the Olive Groves towards the valley.

predicted to experience temperature rises of up to three degrees and a drop in annual rainfall of ten per cent. The prospects for its inhabitants are worrying and already many farms and homesteads have been abandoned.

Life in the Alentejo has always been harsh and the dread of heat waves and extended droughts are centuries old. Most of the people were subsistence farmers and lived in fear of famine. In times of drought and desperation they prayed to religious figures to bring them much needed rain. If they failed to do so it was common practice to throw the statues in the empty riverbed. In the 16th century, penalties were imposed by the See of Évora to prevent the destruction of these icons.

Today more practical solutions in urban settings are helping to have an impact on temperatures and public health. Part funded by the Gulbenkian Foundation, new green spaces planted with 50,000 native trees will occupy towns and villages, helping to create cool areas. In some places, young city dwellers have moved to disused farms in the region. Using new techniques like permaculture and alternative crops they are breathing new life into the Alentejo.

Will Swayne has recently moved to Portugal with his French wife, Agnès Lacombe, a fine artist in her own right. Previously based in Bayonne in Southwest France where they had a studio in the centre of the town, Will’s first solo exhibition took place in 2001. Subsequently he has exhibited across Western Europe. His latest paintings are on display at Galeria Côrte-Real located in the countryside near Paderne.

You are moving to Portugal full time – where will be your home?

Close to the historical town of Tomar. We discovered an old farm with buildings to convert into studio space.

What has inspired you most about your new surroundings here in Portugal?

It has to be the incredible colour and light, especially in the winter months.

Will you spend much time working outdoors in the sunshine?

Sometimes, but I do prefer working from my studio without any wind or insects to mess up my canvases. My paintings take time to complete so painting plein air doesn’t really work for me, apart from the initial sketches. The real work involves multiple oil glazes, which are slow drying and needs plenty of patience.

MOD JEWELLERY

MOD stands for ‘made of design’ and it is what defines this brand best. Portuguese in its heritage, MOD Jewellery brings together the best national and international collections of contemporary jewellery under one umbrella.

This unique Pearl Shell Gold-Plated Silver Brooch is a celebration of creative craftsmanship. The brooch combines the classic elegance of pearls with the organic form of a shell, creating a piece that is both sophisticated and whimsical. This versatile accessory is so pretty, and eye-catching brooches are destined to make a come back. mod-jewellery.com

What a jewel

WHILE TRADITIONAL CRAFTSMANSHIP REMAINS AT THE HEART OF PORTUGUESE JEWELLERY, CONTEMPORARY DESIGNERS ARE BRINGING A FRESH PERSPECTIVE TO THE SCENE

Words: PIPPA O'KEEFE

CLAUDIA AFONSO

Claudia uses her jewellery to express her creative freedom, together with traditional techniques of which wax casting is a favourite as it allows her spontaneity and sculptural freedom in her designs. Her pieces of art are closely linked to the life of the sea, incorporating undulating organic shapes. An example of her one-ofa-kind accessories is this Anemone necklace, which mimics the delicate beauty of sea anemones, in a piece that is both graceful and captivating. claudia-afonso-jewellery. myshopify.com

TASHI

Tashi was born to share the beauty of Portuguese craft with the world. They blend traditional craftsmanship with a modern vision drawing on cultural influences. Tashi means ‘good fortune’ in Tibetan and their jewellery brings a little of that luck to you. This Black Sand V-Ring exudes minimalist sophistication with a touch of mystery. Inspired by the enigmatic beauty of black sand beaches, it’s a statement piece that effortlessly transitions from day to night. tashijewels.com/en

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LUISA ROSAS

Luisa is another great example of designers paving the way for the limelight on fabulous Portuguese jewellery designers. Her work draws on the nature and environment she surrounds herself in. This exquisite SEA yellow gold and diamond necklace with its intricate design, reminiscent of ocean waves and marine life, captures the essence of Portugal’s coastal beauty and is a testament to the artist’s dedication to creating timeless pieces that should be treated as heirlooms. luisarosas.com

VERA MANZONI

Born in Lisbon in 1978, Vera grew up among beads and necklaces. She is the trailblazer of contemporary Portuguese jewellery, often her pieces incorporate unconventional materials, bold shapes, and experimental designs. Crafted with precision, these earrings are a harmonious blend of elegance and tropical charm. veramanzoni.com

CRISTINA R NUNO

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Originally from Cáceres, Spain, Crisitina relocated to Lisbon in 2005. Her passions for painting and fine art led her to experiment with jewellery design and techniques. Her pieces are sustainable in their vision as she recycles materials she finds and also quality silver. Her rings are inspired by the moon’s radiant glow, making a bold statement while maintaining an ethereal charm. Crafted with precision and passion, these rings are a testament to her ability to infuse daily inspiration into wearable art. cristinarnuno.com

RECIPE of the month...

Barbequed pepper chicken curry

WHAT STARTED OFF AS A SIMPLE CURRY RECIPE BECAME A 15-NIGHT BBQ HIT AT AN OPEN-AIR FESTIVAL. THE AUDIENCE COULDN ’ T GET ENOUGH OF THE ADVENTUROUS FLAVOURS, AND THE COOL YOGHURT AND CUCUMBER DRESSING PROVED TO BE EQUALLY IRRESISTIBLE

SERVES 6 PREPARATION 2 ½ HOURS BARBEQUE 25 MINUTES

INGREDIENTS

 4 long fat green chillies

 2 short hot green chillies

 8 garlic cloves, peeled

 Sunflower oil

 Juice of two large lemons

 2tsp ground turmeric

 1.6kg chicken, jointed for sauteing, skin removed

 1tsp cumin seeds

 2 onions, chopped

 2tsp crushed coriander seeds

 2tsp freshly cracked black pepper

 12 fresh curry leaves

 1 cup coriander leaves, chopped

 ½ cucumber, chopped

 100g plain yoghurt

 Salt

 Freshly ground black pepper

METHOD

1 Purée the chillies and garlic in a food processor, adding a little oil if necessary. Place the purée in a bowl with the lemon juice and turmeric. Add the joined chicken and mix well. Leave to marinate in the fridge for a minimum of two hours.

2 Remove the chicken from the fridge and allow it to come to room temperature.

3 Preheat you barbeque hotplate to medium or place a flat griddle pan over the barbeque coals. Pour a little oil onto the

hotplate and start to cook the chicken, turning it so that the meat is evenly coloured. Allow the barbeque to burn down to a medium-low heat.

4 Pour a little more oil onto the hotplate and add the cumin seeds, onions, crushed coriander seeds and black pepper. Fry until the onions start to colour and the aromas of the spices begin to develop. Add the remaining marinade and curry leaves. Continue to cook, turning the chicken until cooked through - this could take 25 minutes in all.

5 When the chicken is cooked, add the coriander leaves.

6 Combine the cucumber with the yoghurt and season with salt and pepper. Either drizzle the yoghurt mixture over the chicken, or serve it separately.

This recipe is from Ben O’Donoghue’s about-to-bepublished BBQ Companion (Quadrille, €30.13 from bertrand.pt)

Built in or freestanding, gas or charcoal or electric – for the biggest choice of quality BBQs from the key names, as well as the best possible advice from the experts in the know, go visit BBQs Algarve at Rua Manuel Viegas Guerreiro, 272-A, 8135-016 Almancil. bbqs-algarve.com

Passionate about providing the

best healthcare

IN THE START OF A NEW SERIES, WE WILL BE LOOKING EACH MONTH AT A PARTICULAR HEALTH ISSUE AND THE TREATMENT OFFERED BY THE SPECIALISTS AT THE FAMILY MEDICAL CENTRES. THIS MONTH, WE INTRODUCE YOU TO THE PRACTICE, AND THOSE BEHIND ITS SUCCESS

DR THOMAS Kaiser and Dr Robin Thomson are joint owners of the biggest private medical practice in the Algarve, the Family Medical Centres. They operate from two newly refurbished clinics in the heart of the Golden Triangle.

The original clinic is located in Quinta do Lago, where Dr Thomson started to work in 1988; ten years later the practice in Vale do Lobo was opened and Dr Kaiser joined as partner in 2000.

Over the decades, the two doctors have created a fantastic medical facility, which now includes more than 20 specialists who can deal with most medical conditions.

Family Medical Centres are committed to give every patient the special attention, care and empathy they need. Patients are guaranteed a same-day consultation and time is dedicated to deal with their problems... and their concerns. The GPs emphasize the importance of house calls and facilitating the best further care in hospital if the patient is in need of admission. Dr Kaiser and Dr Thomson have an excellent network in the Portuguese and international medical world and use it to help their patients access the best possible treatments.

For some seven years, Dr Kaiser was the

lead doctor in the emergency department in the private hospital HPA in Faro, Gambelas, and knows all the key medical specialists personally. He is very focused on continuing an intergenerational medical training project where doctors teach and coach doctors in a new, collegial and supportive way. Many medical students have been trained in internships and share the view that Family Medical Centres is a special place to learn.

In 2023, the inititiave entered a new era with Dr Luis Miguel Farinha joining the facility as partner and general manager. Previously with the HPA group, he recently built a private hospital in the Azores; with his involvement, the Family Medical Centres and the services they offer will move to an even higher level, with the addition of high end imaging facilities including MRI scans in Vale do Lobo, and also an ambulatory operating theatre.

From tree to table

NESTLED CLOSE TO THE SALINAS OF BEAUTIFUL TAVIRA YOU’LL FIND AN OLIVE-PROCESSING FACTORY THAT HAS OPENED ITS DOORS TO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WANTING A PEEK AT WHAT LOCAL ALGARVIAN OLIVE PRODUCTION LOOKS LIKE

Words: SALLY DIXON

AS A TEENAGER of the 90s, I used to shy away from olives thinking they were mostly all fat and that I couldn’t possibly have them in my strict fat-free diet. Little did I know then how beneficial to our health the monounsaturated fat of olives is and what deliciousness I was missing out on. Show me a bowl of olives now and I’ll eat the lot in minutes, you’ve gotta be quick if you’re dining with me! Hands down, they’re my most favourite snack, I can’t get enough of them.

A smashing story

Delighted was I then to connect with the lovely Andreia from Tavira-based olive aficionados Hélder Madeira to find out all about olive processing right here in the Algarve. If you’ve eaten at a restaurant in the Algarve, it’s pretty much a given that you’ll have eaten

Hélder Madeira olives. As a young man, the company’s namesake, Hélder, worked in an olive mill learning the techniques of transforming these nutrient powerhouse fruits (yes, they’re a type of fruit called a drupe!) into olive oil. Some 37 years ago, Hélder took what he’d learnt from his grandmother, including how to handsmash olives, and made the bold step into starting his own business. His entrepreneurial drive and passion for olives meant he found a more efficient way to recreate the smashed olives by using machinery, and smashed olives are the brand’s most popular product to date.

In 1986, Hélder found an old chicken factory in Tavira, the site of the brand to this day, transforming it into a table olive production site. But 12 years ago, disaster struck in the form of a tornado, destroying half of the olive factory. Seeing this as an opportunity rather than a setback, Hélder reinvested in the damaged property to build new cold storage rooms, providing essential new housing for the olives which are stored

without preservatives, just a traditional brine of salt and water. The now 1,500m2 site is still home to Hélder Madeira, and if you fancy a nosey around, they now do guided tours!

Andreia is one of three longstanding staff, the other two being her mother and sister, who run the entire ship from start to finish. Production, marketing, sales, promotion, tour guide – it’s fair to say Andreia wears a lot of hats and seems to excel at all of them! Coming from a former career of handling the manifest for a sky-diving company you can imagine she’s pretty organised. Andreia runs the 1.5-hour tours in Spanish, Portuguese, English, French, and is currently learning German to add that to the list.

Take a tour

The Hélder Madeira factory opened to the public in October 2022 and a year later they started offering guided tours of the factory together with wine tasting, cheese, olive oil, honey (I’m liking the sound of their rosemary honey), and olive tasting of course! On the tour you can see first-hand the production line and machines that get the olives table ready, together with interesting insights from Andreia. Olive season is September, October, November, so if you want to see the olives in action flowing through the machines then bear this in mind. But olive and wine tasting plus a sneak peek of the factory is good all year round, right?

Hélder Madeira champions local produce, as Andreia says: “We buy from local producers, especially in Eastern Algarve. The olives are harvested on a Monday, and we need to receive them into the factory either the same day or no later than the following day. The olives go into the brine very quickly as we don’t use preservatives. In a good harvest year, we store around 300,000 kilos of olives but this can go as low as 30,000 kilos in a bad year.” Good business clearly depends on whether the olives decide to show up each year!

The infamous smashed olives stay in their ‘salmoura mãe’, also known as mother brine, storage vats for at

Olive growing has a rich history in Portugal, with the country ranking within the top ten in the world when it comes to total area size of olive groves.

least two months, to get maximum flavour into the fruit. Salt for the brine comes from the saltpan 50 metres away from the factory and the lemons come from Hélder’s own farm, keeping it local indeed.

Now in his 60s, Hélder is still very much involved with the company. Keeping the connections alive with restaurants far and wide that serve Hélder Madeira olives and products, including lupin beans, aromatic herbs, honey, and Piri Piri sauce; I have it on good authority that their Piri Piri sauce is one of the best around. The olives come in five types to cater to a variety of tastes – spicy, salt cured, seasoned with garlic, smashed, and bladed. The on-site factory shop sells the full range plus specialist local products to the public. If you’re a Makro shopper, then you’ll have seen Hélder Madeira olives on the shelves there, too.

I, for one, can’t wait to visit the factory in olive season and see the olive production line run by the three dedicated, hardworking women. “My mum is in charge on the operations side, she’s been working here around 24 years.” Andreia laughs. “She’s the boss, we do what she says! Normally my sister is more at the computer doing invoicing and paperwork, so I am on the production side and everything else.”

Olive season can see them sometimes working a 14hour day to get the olives through the production line and out to customers. What an impressive trio!

Olive growing has a rich history in Portugal, with the country ranking within the top ten in the world when it comes to total area size of olive groves. It would be rude not to learn more about this wonderful crop and how it gets transformed from tree to table. Hélder Madeira factory is also handily located on the way to the beach. So, you can do an olive factory tour and tasting, have a wander round beautiful Tavira, and go to the beach all in the same day! A pretty good day out if you ask me.

Tours cost €15 per person. Email Andreia direct at geral@heldermadeira.com to book or WhatsApp 964 482 078 or on landline 281 326 175

BENEFITS OF OLIVES

Rich in monounsaturated fats that may be beneficial in protecting against cardiovascular disease.

Vitamin E, the main vitamin found in olives, may be protective against oxidative damage we are exposed to both in our external environments and as a result of internal metabolic processes. Vitamin E may also be protective for the nervous system and cognitive function.

Olives are rich in antioxidants, particularly polyphenols, that may provide antiinflammatory benefits.

Olives contain fibre, adding to our daily fibre intake that helps keep our bodily systems running regularly

Hélder Madeira Estrada do Arraial Ferreira Neto

Santa Bárbara de Nexe

€785,000

Three-bedroom south-facing villa with great sea views, close to the fabulous resorts of Quinta do Lago and Vale do Lobo and only a 15 minute drive from Faro International Airport. Ready to make it your own, this classical 300m² villa, designed and built in 1993, is set high on a hillside between Santa Bárbara de Nexe and Loulé, and paved with in-demand Santa Catarina terracotta tiles throughout. The dining area is perfect for entertaining and there’s an outside barbeque on the terrace, ready for your guests.

BEDROOMS

Three big sunfilled bedrooms, two upstairs leading onto a private terrace. Three bathrooms

LIVING ROOM

Spacious, airy living room with fireplace, leading onto a covered terrace with stunning views

KITCHEN

Big kitchen and laundry room which could be developed to create a fourth en-suite bedroom

For complete details and to view Ref 7Q23246

GARDEN

Garden, low maintainance, with space for the swimming pool of your dreams. Make it yours

+351 919 136 146 / info@sevenquintas.com / sevenquintas.com AMI

into the woods

AFTER OUR FEBRUARY ISSUE CAME OUT, WE WERE ASKED BY READERS, ARCHITECTS AND INTERIOR DECORATORS ALIKE FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT BANEMA LAB ALGARVE, WHICH IS NOW ESTABLISHED IN VILAMOURA.

HERE ’ S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THIS IMPRESSIVE INITIATIVE AND HOW IT CAN INFLUENCE DESIGN DECISIONS

photography: ANDRÉ MATOS

Words: SANDRA GATO

THE LATEST Banema LAB –opened in October – is proof of the continued dedication to quality, innovation and sustainability in the company’s DNA. Located in Vilamoura, this space, like the Labs in Porto and Lisbon, is intended to be an inspiration-driven meeting place for architects, designers, industry professionals and architecture and interior design enthusiasts so that they can explore the vast universe of possibilities in the wood and wood-based products segment.

The main objective behind the concept of this new space, designed by Campos Costa Arquitetos studio, is to create a professional environment with a relaxed, informal personality, where innovative materials can be introduced.

Following Campos Costa’s original ideas for the Banema Lab in Lisbon, the studio opted for simple colours and shapes, all made with materials sold by Banema – an extensive range of exclusive and premium brands that are included in the company’s portfolio, which contains outdoors products such as Accoya, Grad and Zwarthout, and those for indoors, like Baux (new), Honext, Cleaf, Timberwise, Hiram Habitat, HIMACS and Decospan.

The Banema Lab concept

Created in Porto in 2016, and 2020 in Lisbon, the Banema Lab platform has emerged as a way not only to meet the very specific needs of architects and interior designers but also to get closer to the end customer. We are talking here about a creative laboratory supported by a vast library of materials with different and selected origins, where inspiration and creativity go hand in hand and products merge with design, innovation, sustainability and well-being.

Banema Lab’s main mission is to help not only specialists in the technical and creative fields but also the private client, to meet and discover materials and new possibilities for their use and application. With the support of a knowledgeable and experienced team and a portfolio rich in ideas and materials, the raison d’être of this space is, above all, to find solutions for specialist architectural and design projects.

Unmatched tremendous support

In addition to its commercial offerings, Banema Lab provides a range of educational initiatives, including training, seminars and conferences, designed to inform architects, interior designers, students and other professionals and their clients about materials and products used in interior design, construction and refurbishment.

Banema’s educational programmes are geared towards providing a comprehensive understanding of the latest developments in the industry, ensuring that both the end customer and professionals stay up-to-date with contemporary trends and best practices.

TASTES great

THERE ARE THOSE who eat because they have to, and there are those who eat because they enjoy it. The former want a huge slab of their choice in front of them, with quantity being more important than taste, and the latter want the sensory experience of a mixture of flavours coming together and arguing for dominance whilst, at the same time, complementing each other. If you are of the second persuasion then read on.

There is a hop, jump and skip away from the original gateway to Faro an enigma. Epicur is either a restaurant with a great wine list or a place to enjoy really good wine

together with fabulous small dishes and, after eating there I still can’t make up my mind, for it is both, which is precisely what its owners, Jorge Santos and Pedro Rodrigo wanted.

Don’t expect a large, hushed room with be-swagged curtains and crisp linen for that it isn’t. The room seats a maximum of 24 at plain wood tables and bar-type seating and has that buzz that comes with people enjoying themselves.

The carefully put together menu is full of flavours that both complement and bounce off each other and each dish can be paired with one of the 400 bottles kept on the premises.

Although Jorge and Pedro are

native Algarvians, the menus have been inspired by their travels and work experience across five continents. This is the type of place where you look across at your fellow diners table, as I did, and think: “don’t know what that is, but it looks so good, I want some”. And doubly so when you see their look of absolute joy as they bite into whatever it was on their fork.

It is just as well that there are no table time limits in Epicur because I could more than happily spend an entire evening with small plates together with the recommended paired wines. And with every wine available by the glass from a surprisingly well priced €5 it could be a long evening. (Elsewhere, in the tourist-frequented eateries, you could pay close to that for a bog-standard red, opened the day before.)

More elaborate dishes are available designed for sharing, such as Pani Puri, shrimp from the coast with truffle and mango (€7), purple corn tacos with pork belly and green apple pico de gallo (€12), or octopus with sweet potato and blood sausage (€19). And do those taste buds a favour and have dessert; try the small bomb of chocolate, dates and salted caramel (€7) with a suggested pairing of dry Madeira wine (€8) – I challenge you not to grin from ear to ear as the combination hits you.

Should you wish there is also a set menu of taster courses at €52, which would be a very special treat indeed, but for me there is only one choice and that is lots of small dishes with paired wines as recommended by your charming and highly knowledgeable server.

be wild BORN TO

The unmistakeable ‘Uninvited’, Harley Davidson shovelhead, with Xiko Correia, owner of Loulé’s Rusty Wrench Motorcycles

WHETHER YOU ARE A BIKER, ADORE A BIKER, OR ARE SIMPLY BIKE-CURIOUS, WE INVITE YOU TO STEP INTO YOUR WILD SIDE — ON YOUR OWN TERMS — RIGHT HERE NEAR THE CENTRE OF LOULÉ

Words: CHRISTINA MORENO

MOST PEOPLE look forward to a time in their lives when they can finally break free to live the way they truly want. Others, like bikers, actively seek the feeling of ‘wild and free’, often even amidst their busy work lives. Apart from the thrill of regularly heading out on the highway showing off their sleek rides, their passion is also firmly grounded in living life on their own terms and sharing that joy with like-minded others. Being a biker is a way of life and a fun way of reconnecting with your primal ‘wild self’.

To learn a little more about motorcycles and the lifestyle that rides parallel with them, I connected with Xiko and Vera Correia, the founders-creators of Rusty Wrench Motorcycles in Loulé.

The most influential bikers of all time

The popularity of motorcycles has continued to skyrocket ever since Daimler and Maybach introduced the first internal combustion gas-fueled motorcycle in Germany in 1885.

Biker culture and lifestyle started gaining significant traction in the 1950s and 60s with the emergence of a legendary group of riders. You might recall Steve McQueen, aka ‘The King of Cool’. The actor was a car enthusiast and avid motorcycle rider who performed many of his own stunts. He was also known for his impressive collection of around 200 classic and exotic motorcycles.

Another iconic rider was Evel Knievel. He captivated crowds with his insane daredevil stunts. Then there was James Dean, the bad-boy flicks actor and biker who also became a legendary heartthrob. And of course, let’s not forget the very young but freakishly talented artist, pinstriper, metal fabricator and motorcycle mechanic Von Dutch (Kenny Howard) who also left an indelible mark on the custom motorcycle scene. He was the son of a sign painter who had learned to paint, letter and pinstripe professionally by the age of 10. His fame came out of his work on both cars (hotrods) and motorcycles. Later in life he became one of the fathers of Kustom Kulture.

With each successive generation, more legends emerged, further shaping the evolution of biker culture. I asked Xiko and Vera about contemporary bikerinfluencers, particularly within Portuguese culture.

They highlighted Tom Cruise, Maverick in Top Gun, and Hollywood’s nice-guy biker, Keanu Reeves, who founded his own custom shop, ARCH Motorcycles in Los Angeles. Other notable modern biker-personalities include collectors such as Jason Momoa, and Jay Leno who has one of the most extensive private bike collections in the United States.

don’t miss

11 May

19 May

The Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride.

As a tight-knit community, bikers try to make a difference on a global scale.

One example is the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride, in which bikers from all over the world ride together in dapper dress to raise awareness and funds for men’s mental health and prostate cancer research.

Triumph is the official motorcycle partner and this year marks their 10th anniversary of bringing classic and vintage style motorcyclists together for good causes. Join the Algarve ride. Registration opens 25 March at gentlemansride.com

18-21 July

Concentração de Faro

Thousands of motorbikes, beer, concerts, exhibitions and street entertainment make up one of the biggest motorbike gatherings in Europe. A highlight is the motorcycle parade through the streets of Faro. Lots of info can be found at hotelfaro. pt/en/algarve/events/ international-motorbikemeeting-in-faro And… on any Saturday morning you can head out to mingle with the group of bikers outside the Loulé municipal market, at O Postigo or in the RW lounge.

About Rusty Wrench Motorcycles

With their down to earth demeanor, genuine friendliness and immeasurable passion for all things motorcycle, Vera and Xiko live, work and breathe the biker life.

Despite humble beginnings, where each ran their own separate shops out of their grandparents and parents’ homes, the couple have since grown and consolidated their businesses into one large, all-in-one mecca and meeting lounge for people who love or are curious about bikes. Drawing inspiration from esteemed establishments like Hero’s Motorcycles, and Bike Shed London, their tastefully curated space is trimmed like a bike, in leather and metal with a cool, upscale, classic vibe.

Wander in any day but Sunday to explore what they have to offer. You can browse and shop your way through Vera’s section of fashion and accessories for you and your bike, or treat yourself to a haircut or classic shave at El Rato Barber, or schedule an appointment for a tattoo session with Rui at Needle Mark. You can also just enjoy a coffee or a drink in the lounge area while marveling at the impressive custom bikes on display in the showroom. And of course, if you are in need of motorcycle repair and maintenance or looking to transform or build your dream bike from scratch, venture into the shop at the rear, where Xiko or one of the other super friendly team members will be more than happy to assist you.

Art, luxury and craftsmanship right here in Loulé

RW’s mission is simple: to make your two-wheeled dreams come true. The magic happens at the hands and imaginations of Xiko and the other exceptionally talented team-family

Rusty Wrench Motorcycles Anniversary Party (live music, bikes on display, etc)

Rusty Wrench is far more than a showroom. It is a hotbed of biking creativity, where anything can be achieved

members: Remy (Shop Lead), Edgar (Lead Mechanic) and Helder (Master Painter). On average, at least 40% of their business is custom building for new or seasoned bikers between the ages of 20 and 70, a truly creative act involving multiple built-to-order layers of craftsmanship such as engine work, reliability modifications, performance upgrading, visual aesthetics, and functionality/ergonomics; and there are so many styles, such as cafe racers, choppers, scramblers and street fighters.

Every bike is a unique, never-replicated work of art. Xiko emphasizes that building someone’s dream motorcycle involves delving into the soul of that person and discovering their detailed preferences and what moves and inspires them. He has his unique methods of distilling all that.

He says on his website: “A motorcycle is not just a vehicle; it is an extension of your personality, of yourself... it’s freedom to create, to be different, and to breathe life into what sets us apart, be it a complete ground-up modification or just the simplest personal touch.”

Maverick, the legend

Despite the original movie being filled with exhilarating fighter-jet action scenes, it was Maverick’s motorcycle sequences that took most people’s breath away, leaving a permanent mark on biker culture.

Tom Cruise is the real deal – in movies and in real life, apparently. He performed many of his own two-wheeled stunts in his movies. He loves sport bikes and all the

Building someone’s dream motorcycle involves delving into the soul of that person and discovering their detailed preferences and what moves and inspires them.

motorcycles he has ridden on set. So it isn’t surprising he has become quite a collector, too. For example, he owns a rare Vyrus 987 C3 4V, an Italian-made chopper, which at the time he rode off on it from his 51st birthday in 2013, was the most powerful and one of the most expensive production motorcycles in the world. And yes of course, he owns a Top Gun classic Kawasaki GPZ900R and several Mission Impossible motorcycles, too.

So, what’s the connection with RW Motorcycles?

In 2023, Xiko and his team seized an opportunity to participate in a tribute project competition.

In response to a national call for a Custom BMW R18 Design with a movie theme by BMW Motorrad Portugal, the RW team ended up building the very bike that represented Portugal at BMW’s International R18 Customizing Championship; it was a creative nod to BMW’s aeronautic history as well as a fantastic tribute to the iconic on-screen fighter pilot and biker.

Far from being flashy or gimmicky as apparently many themed bikes are, ‘Maverik’ stood out for its ergonomic and aesthetic perfection. This Portuguese build is a true stunner and is now on display in the RW showroom. It’s worth a drop-in just to appreciate its intricate details, such as the aluminium mufflers with end caps resembling the afterburners of fighter jets. And also to see ‘Speed Raf’, another stunning bike in RW’s showroom.

Motorcycles as art

The concept of owning a motorcycle as a piece of art is far from new. Probably the most famous example is the Cosmic Starship Harley-Davidson painted by Jack Armstrong. In 1999, Armstrong created a unique style of art which he named Cosmic Extensionalism, or Cosmic X. The motorcycle he painted gained global recognition, being featured in numerous publications across the world, including The Life of Luxury and on the cover of Ultimate Motorcycling, formerly known as The Rob Report. Jack Armstrong’s creation reached an astounding US$3,000,000 in 2012, making it the most expensive example of a motorcycle as an art form as well as the most expensive art piece in the world by a living artist.

Of course, the true essence of art transcends fame and price tags. One could argue that there are many motorcycles worldwide that exude equal levels of coolness. Custom classic and vintage style motorcycles are rolling objects of art with real, often compelling stories and are usually fully functioning motorcycles, too.

In today’s art scene, with a growing trend towards sculptures and larger objects, people are starting to buy or build one of these captivating ‘bad boys’ as a striking statement piece in their ‘man caves’ or living rooms.

What brought you here?

THE LATEST AND JUST-PUBLISHED BOOK FROM MUSICIAN, COMPOSER, EDUCATOR, TRAVELLER, HOUSE BUILDER, CAT CARRIER, DR PAUL FRANCIS, TELLS THE STORY OF STARTING A NEW LIFE HERE IN THE SUN

PICTURE the scene. It’s 6am and because my wife, when she decides to, can follow instructions, we arrive at Manchester Airport two hours before our flight time. After a 3.30am wake up, (where few words were exchanged), and then a frosty journey to the airport, we are waiting in a long line to check in our luggage for our annual holiday. Energy was low, tolerance was lower and at least one of us felt we could have stayed in bed a little bit longer. I was bored. There was nothing else to do but look at the ‘Arrival’ and ‘Departure’ boards.

Me: “Where’s Faro?”

home in Portugal. The same Marli who on hearing the letters V.E.T could suddenly show an Olympian turn of speed, guile and agility to evade her travel basket.

How would she cope with the journey? How would I cope with the journey, especially if my wife does that annoying voice she uses when she is talking to the cat and thinks there is some possibility that the cat will answer?

Then there were some other teasers to consider. What if we fall victim to someone we thought bore a resemblance to someone we once saw on Crimewatch, who then goes on to steal all our money? Then we would have to appear as victims in a consumer affairs programme about the dangers of

There was nothing else to do but look at the ‘Arrival’ and ‘Departure’ boards. Me: “Where’s Faro?”

Wife: “Portugal. I went there once. It was really nice.”

Me: “Shall we go there next year?”

Wife: “Yeah. Alright.”

Little did we know, that fleeting conversation would plant the seeds for our future. Portugal not only inspired our next holiday destination, but after deciding to live here, its many charms went on to pose us a serious challenge – driving a cat to Portugal and building a house when we get there.

Marli, our much-loved 16-year-old cat, was prone to car sickness and had to be driven from Slaithwaite, Huddersfield, UK, to her sunlit but yet-to-be-built, retirement

property deals abroad.

We were expecting an interesting journey, and I thought it might be interesting for others to read about it, so the idea for a book was formed. What I didn’t know then is that the process of writing it became a way of dealing with the laughs, frowns, the ups and downs we encountered along the way. We hope others learn from our mistakes, then again, no doubt they’ll make their own. And therein lies the fun!

The title, Driving A Cat To Portugal and Building a House When We Get There, hopefully speaks for itself and follows our tale from whimsical date-night daydreams to the concrete steps of buying land and

building a home in a foreign country.

With Marli taking centre stage, alongside our major life decisions, our story presents a candid and humorous exploration of love, hope, challenges, and the sheer unpredictability of life. The pages of the book came together quite quickly. Getting a publisher interested enough to stick their neck out and take a chance on it, not so quickly. I knew there were books out there like the one I wanted to write and now I had written one, where were the publishers?

So how did I get it published? In short, the answer is perseverance, (something we learnt during the entire build process). I was asking someone to believe in me, in us and in our story. I’d worked hard on the book, and I wanted to share it. Getting a publisher on board involved many rejections and the feeling that maybe our story just wasn’t that interesting. But my perseverance paid off and not only do we have a new house, but I now have a published book out there.

It was suggested that these few words should contain lots of advice for others who are thinking of doing a similar thing to us. Rather than advice, I offer only words of experience:

1. Get ready for the ride – things won’t go according to plan but that’s where your story begins.

2. Enjoy every minute of it – you’ll have some dark days so remember to laugh.

3. This is Portugal – you will need one more piece of paper.

Good Luck.

Driving a Cat to Portugal and Building a House

When We Get There, is published by Austin Macauley. Find it at FNAC, and on Amazon.es and UK For more about Paul, visit pafrancis.com

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Blessed volunteers

or cursed weeds

WITH THE RAINS COME THE VOLUNTEERS/WEEDS. AFTER OUR SCORCHING ALGARVIAN SUMMERS AND MONTHS OF BRITTLE, DRY TAWNY GRASS AND RAW GASHES OF EARTH, AN AMAZING TSUNAMI OF EMERALD CASCADES OVER THE COUNTRYSIDE, SPLASHING OVER HILLS AND INTO VALLEYS, ENGULFING THE WORLD IN GREEN. NOTHING ESCAPES... EVEN PILES OF FORGOTTEN BUILDERS ’ RUBBLE GET A COVERING

Words: BURFORD HURRY

IN OUR PART of the world, the billiard mantle of greenery, especially on arable land, is largely a result of a covering of acid yellow oxalis (Oxalis pes-caprae). She arrived decades ago as an import from South Africa and is a striking example of a highly successful invasive plant. So successful, she even cocks a snoot at international borders and is found in many other parts of the Mediterranean.

Although disliked by gardeners, oxalis is not all doom and gloom. Costa’s wife picks armfuls for her chickens, local grasses and plants shrug off her presence and oxalis shrivels with the onset of summer. In hindsight I think we could forgive South Africa for this unwelcome gift for she has given us gardens of lovely plants from agapanthus to arctotis and strelitzias and so much more.

Growing up in South Africa, I was aware that it was also a recipient of an unwelcome plant, Khaki weed, (Tagetes minuta). The weed was introduced with the imported fodder from Argentina for the British Army’s horses during the Anglo Boer War. She, like the yellow oxalis, has crossed borders into the neighbouring countries.

Left: Oxalis might be a weed, but to many it’s a welcomed one that comes out to play before the start of the summer months. Above right: Verbascum thapsus

l

It is amazing when you think about it. Tiny seeds or roots that carry life in them for days and weeks, sometimes for years, and have invaded countries and continents. They illustrate the strength and reliance of nature.

However, this abundance of new growth in the winter and spring, whether native or invasive, is often a challenge for us Algarve gardeners. We view our local greenery as ugly or intrusive. Very often, the new growth chokes the plants that we would like to see grow more strongly. What’s worse, the invaders themselves seem to grow more strongly than the plants that we are cultivating. How should we respond?

The plan

Weeding is the obvious answer but how should that be done? In the old days the simple answer would be to reach for the weed killer. Today, there is legislation designed to prevent us gardeners from contaminating the soil and the environment so any chemical spraying to kill the intruders must be done professionally by contractors. The alternative is to weed by hand with the aid of a garden tool. Of course, hand weeding then means work and the right equipment to do it and apart from the right tool, suitable gloves and possibly a mat to kneel on.

Weeding by hand is a daunting task but it works, and over the years it becomes easier. We learn to recognise the plants that need special methods of weeding –those that need to be pulled up firmly from the base of the plant, those that should only be pulled out when a flowering stem emerges, those that need a tool to dislodge them and those, like the wild garlic or oxalis, which need a large garden fork and soft soil to be gently lifted out so the bulblets don’t break away and exponentially provide us with another year’s crop of weeds and more weeding.

When I weed the calçadas and the garden, I weed with some anticipation –it’s not a job... it’s a voyage of discovery.

I think it would also be helpful if we started by identifying the plants that make up the intruders. You never know, the intruder might be a friendly volunteer rather than an unwelcome weed. Of course, although we do not know their names we would recognise those plants we do not want in our gardens so certain plants such as oxalis, geraniums, nettles, euphorbias and dandelions with their numerous relatives could be pulled or dug up and put on the compost heap so their premature contribution of growth is not lost. The exceptions would be the oxalis and wild garlic; their leaves, flowers and bulbs must be put in the garbage. You could also cut up the nettles and leave them to soak in water for a few days then use the resulting liquid manure to enrich the soil.

What should be left?

It will probably depend on where the plants make their appearance. If this is outside the designated garden we could perhaps have a more relaxed attitude to them. Here in the Algarve there is a wild spinach which grows on recently disturbed earth and once correctly identified, then picked and cooked makes a rich and tasty addition to our table. For those of us who forage there are other edibles, as well.

Probably the most prominent and most easily recognisable of these is the crown daisy (Glebionis Coronaria), a leafy nutritious annual that is used both in cooking and medicine. Their leaves and flowers can be added to salads, as well. There are lots of crown daisies around me, usually growing on the edge of fields and on disturbed ground. Tall, fine-leafed plants with yellow and white flowers which create a glorious splash of colour in early spring with their exuberant growth. Glorious enough for two or three simple daisy flowers to find their way every year into a tiny vase on a small table for two when Patricia, my gifted and wonderfully eccentric friend invited me for a Portuguese lunch. Also enough to inspire her to

ALGARVE

Left to right: Shaped buckthorn (Rhamnus alaternus); Poppy (Papaver rhoeas); Mosquito bush (Plectranthus neochilus); Cape sorrel (Oxalis pes-caprae)

dedicate a book of poems to them and for another pal, Lionel, to cut generous long-lasting bunches to fill the vases in his home.

Apart from the volunteers that could be used in our homes and kitchens, there are others that would be a welcome addition to any ornamental garden in the Algarve. Once this is acknowledged then nothing beats the excitement in recognising and leaving a serendipitous wild red poppy (Papaver rhoeas), an opium poppy (Papaver somniferum), a verbascum (Verbascum thapsus), a red valerian (Centranthus ruber) or a tough little plectranthus (P. neochilus) emerging between rocks.

Every year when I weed the calçadas and the garden, I weed with some anticipation – it’s not a job... it’s a voyage of discovery. Poppies? I’ll leave them so that they give a splash of blood red in the river of cobbles in March/April. Or finding a pink or red valerian in the wall and leaving it to tumble down and explode in colourful spikes, and cheerful yellow sedum (Sedum Palmeri) volunteering in walls. The bonanza in recognising a wild honeysuckle in a crack in steps or in my garden a caper. Places where you would have liked them to grow but in which it would have been impossible to plant.

And then thinking of finding seedlings of larger shrubs such as a tiny cistus (C. albidus or C. crispus), viburnum (V.tinus) a frequent exotic volunteer in the garden, a Pistacia (P. lentiscus or P.terebinthus) or a rhamnus (R. alaternus) waiting to be popped into a suitable pot for planting elsewhere in the garden or left to flourish in situ, and which can be trimmed and shaped without any of the problems of other exotic plants and with the added advantage of growing unaided without extra water or attention.

A valued volunteer or an unwanted weed? I suggest it all depends on our attitude, but I recommend that we look at these courageous adventurers with different eyes and make more use of them in our gardens when we can. Many of them were here long before us – millenniums ago – and they do what’s best in this climate. So let’s allow serendipity and common sense to play a more important part in our gardening lives.

PHOTOGRAPHY: ESTER EKHART

THERE’S A SAYING “ GOLF ISN’T JUST A SPORT, IT’S A LIFELONG PURSUIT ” , AND IT MIGHT JUST BE THE LIFELONG PURSUIT TO HELP YOU ON THE ROAD TO LONGEVITY

Words: SALLY DIXON

THE LONG WALK I

F YOU’VE been reading our fitness series regularly you’ve probably been thinking, when are they going to talk about golf? No one would know it’s one of the most popular sports in the Algarve, right!

We are nestled in amongst some of the most beautiful courses in Europe. The iconic 16th hole at The Royal Course, Vale do Lobo, with its stunningly picturesque views of the Atlantic Ocean (just don’t pull left). San Lorenzo with its pine forests, ocean views, and Ria Formosa Nature Reserve location. Quinta do Lago and its championship courses. If it’s panoramic views you’re looking for with your game, then the Algarve has them aplenty.

My mum was a golf widow, as the saying goes. So much so that she eventually decided to play my dad at his own game and take it up herself. My brothers were and still are (one of them anyway) golfers, my nephew

is now also a golfer. Even I was a golfer, until the age of 18 when I moved to London and got distracted by the bright lights of city living. And I have golf to thank for considering Portugal as my second home, having visited here for holidays since I was a tiny girl, thanks to dad’s love of golf! Anyway, I digress, let’s get on to the fitness side of things.

If you can ditch the buggy, then golf is great for physical fitness. The infamous saying claimed by many goes something along the lines of: “to play golf is to spoil an otherwise enjoyable walk”. But we all know the benefits of a good walk, especially if you’re carrying or pulling a golf bag (those things aren’t light!). May I remind you from our previous article on walking, that chalking up a step count of between 6,000 and 9,000 steps a day may be associated with a 50% lower risk of cardiovascular disease compared to those who take fewer steps.

A 2016 scoping review found that golfers take between just over 11,000 and 16,667 steps per 18 holes (just over 6,000 if using a golf cart), making golf the perfect way to get your steps in and enjoy a good sport (depending on how you play!).

The same review found that golf is a sport that can provide both mental and physical benefits, as well as improve longevity in older adults. The bonus being that golf can be enjoyed by a wide age range and at varying physical intensities, depending on how hilly the course is, and whether you carry those clubs yourself.

Of note is that “golf may improve proprioception, balance, muscle endurance and function particularly in the elderly.” A 2009 Swedish study even found a 40% lower mortality rate and a corresponding five-year increase in life expectancy when they compared 300,818 golfers with non-golfers. Let’s not get too excited about that statistic though as there could be many other factors involved in their longevity, but get dusting off your clubs anyway.

Golf is very much a social sport, wherever you play, and building relationships over a round can be beneficial to mental wellbeing and reducing stress (if you don’t get too wound up by the duff shots). And a bit of healthy competition is good every once in a while, right? Plus, you can’t beat time in nature for adding years to your life. Spending time outdoors has been shown to boost mood and reduce anxiety. And, I don’t know about you, but there’s something about whacking that tiny ball down a fairway that helps release any pent-up negative energy!

Get it right

It’s worth knowing that the most common injuries in golfers result from suboptimal swing techniques. Which is why it’s important to train for golf as you would any other sport. Quinta do Lago-based personal trainer, Gabriel Ruivo, works with clients with a range of fitness goals, including golfers.

“Performing a golf swing is a complex movement,” says Gabriel. “Your core must generate power, while other structures have to be equally strong to allow the movement to occur, minimising the injury risk, and optimising performance. As a personal trainer, after evaluating the available range of motion in my client, I try to realize their golf ability and training goal.”

Gabriel adds: “According to a 2021 systematic review, if you want to increase your club head speed (CHS) and hitting distance (HD), higher degrees of movement specificity should be part of your training program (such as seated cable rotations, medicine ball throws). Although, compound movements (squats, upper body pressing and pulling) should also be included to maximize effectiveness. An eight-week training programme seemed to improve CHS in 2.0% to 16.0%, and HD between 1.9% and 10.9%. Of course, individual results will always be influenced by your skill level, age, and personal limitations. But theoretically, injury risk decreases when you have a stronger body, and are more able to deal with the stress that golf can put into your joints.”

References ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5256129/ pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18510595/ pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34224506/ pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21547836/ researchgate.net/publication/7845632_The_Role_of_Biomechanics_in_Maximising_Distance_and_Accuracy_of_Golf_Shots

Consider this

It’s clear that complimentary exercises alongside your golf game may not only improve your prtformance but also reduce the risk of potential injury. Some key areas to focus on when thinking about a training program are:

1Stability

Golf is a complex interplay of stability and mobility. A good exercise programme will include both – if you over focus on one then imbalance can occur.

2 Coordination

The golf swing involves coordinated movement from different areas of the body. The more efficient you can make this, the more improved your swing will be.

3 Spinal flexibility

Improved spinal flexibility, particularly in the thoracic region, may allow for greater rotation in your swing.

4 Core engagement

As Gabriel mentioned, golf requires power at the core. Swinging from a weak core can have implications for the rest of the body and may result in a lower power swing.

5 Planes of motion

Golf involves movement outside of our everyday range. Planes of motion refer to movement of the body, including side-to-side, front to back, and rotation. Think how much rotation happens when you power up that golf swing. Most gym exercises tend to work in one plane of motion, but training all three (sagittal, frontal/coronal, transverse) is key.

As with any exercise, there are risks of injury if performed incorrectly. If you’re new to exercise, then seeking the advice of a professional like Gabriel, and having them design a programme tailored to your specific needs is always a good idea.

Get in touch with Gabriel on Instagram @gabriel_ ruivo_pt or email gabrielruivo25@gmail.com

Napoleon’s Algarve Nightmare

what a performance

BOOK YOUR TICKETS! A THEATRE DINNER

AT QUINTA DAS BORBOLETAS IN ALMANCIL PROMISES TO BE A DELICIOUS HIGHLIGHT ON THE SPRING ENTERTAINMENT AGENDA... AND A LOCAL CHARITY WILL BENEFIT!

Words: CAROLYN KAIN

ABOUT THE SHOW. Napoleon never set foot in Portugal, and he certainly did not anticipate that the peasant people of the Algarve would show stiff resistance to his invasion.

The problems that resulted for 4,000 of his troops must have caused him sleepless nights and alarming dreams. This unlikely but accurate scenario forms the basis of a humorous play, Napoleon’s Algarve Nightmare. Filled with eccentric characters from history and performed by an international group of ‘random players’, the story includes the Portuguese royal family who fled to Brazil in 1807 when Napoleon’s troops arrived.

The heroes who fought to save the Algarve are its ordinary people equipped with farming tools, kitchen implements and tremendous guile. Stretching the audience’s imagination and mixing up the genres, Napoleon’s soldiers are glamorous ‘drag kings’ in fishnet tights and tutus and Queen Maria of Portugal is played by a gentleman drag artist.

This is ‘Pythonesque’ story-telling; the difference being it is well-researched and accurately follows events that really happened in the Algarve early in the 19th century. Featuring the towns of Tavira and Faro, there is admiration for the fisher folk of Olhão who sailed

across the Atlantic Ocean to Rio de Janeiro bringing news of Napoleon’s demise to the Portuguese Prince Regent. If there is any doubt about the accuracy of the tale today, a replica of the Bom Sucesso, the boat that made the epic journey is tied up alongside the promenade in Olhão.

The Bom Sucesso

Described as a small caique with two sails, prior to the crossing to Brazil it had never journeyed further than 1,000 leagues from the Portuguese coast. Its normal routine, travelling south through the Ria Formosa to its fishing grounds, was not the sort of preparation needed to tackle a journey of more than 4,000 nautical miles.

Apparently, the master of the boat was prepared to take the risk. With one brief stop to re-provision their stocks at Funchal in Madeira, the Bom Sucesso departed from Olhão on 7 July and arrived in Rio on 22 September. This voyage is simulated in the play together with the arrival of the fishermen and their reception by an amazed Portuguese royal family!

PHOTOGRAPHY: PETER KAIN

Cast and crew

Says Carolyn Kain: “Performing at different venues across the Algarve since 2016 we are committed to entertaining audiences by producing laughter-filled presentations of Portuguese history. Coming together as a group of 12 thespians, we originate from seven different countries. Apart from participating in theatre shows we share a common love of the Algarve and Portugal. Over the years, we have acquired a reputation for unusual presentations always written in rhyme, extraordinary costumes and a following of enthusiastic theatre goers. Often performing in auditoriums that are full to bursting, it is essential to book a place in the restaurant well in advance.”

Carolyn Kain is the writer and director (and a regular contributor to AlgarvePLUS) with a background as a drama teacher, published author and scriptwriter. “This is the first time we have ventured into the sphere of performing in a restaurant, which gives us an opportunity to mingle with the audience and try out new theatrical techniques,” she says. “If it all goes wrong the audience will have seen something totally unique! We have musicians opening and ending the evening with live music. All-in-all, we anticipate that audiences will go home smiling with some knowledge of an important period of Algarve history.”

Where and when

Quinta das Borboletas is located in Areeiro on the outskirts of Almancil with ample parking nearby. The English and Dutch owners provide home cooked and prepared meals with choices for vegetarians. The show will be performed in a large and attractive marquee seating around 35 guests. Wine, beer and soft drinks are included in the price of the ticket. Additional drinks and coffees can be purchased at the bar.

On arrival, there will be nibbles at the table and live music with a Brazilian theme. The first act will be served up after the main course; the second after dessert. And finally there will be more live music to dance to.

There will be three performances –23 March, 9 April and 11 April each starting at 19:00. Tickets for dinner and the performance are €30 and need to be reserved. 963 812 846. The menu for the show is on the restaurant’s Facebook page.

A scene from the production of the Passionate Pilgrim, with members of the group who will also be appearing in Napoleon’s Algarve Nightmare

Inside story

DANIELA SOARES

Title Redemption

Where Igreja Matriz de São Brás de Alportel

When 23/01/2024

Camera and settings

Canon R8, Sigma Art Prime Lens 35mm; 1/80; f/3.5; ISO2000

What makes it special

“My husband agreed to be my inspiration for ‘Redemption’ as I had a vision of a high contrast between the traditional Church environment and someone who wouldn’t typically be seen to ‘fit in’ with the traditional.”

Professional commercial photographer Richard Sprengeler (richardsprengeler.com), who specialises in architectural photography, took on the challenge to judge submissions from members of the Algarve Photographers Group. Church Interiors was the subject.

Here are his top five choices

FRED BOS

Title Upstairs

Where Church, Tavira

When 02/2024

Camera Nikon D80; F4; 0.1 sec; ISO 640

What makes it special “The richly-decorated interior.”

ALGARVE

NIGEL MOORE

Title Evora Cathedral

Where Evora

When 19/11/2023

Camera Fuji X-T5, Lens

Fujinon 16-80mm F4, F5.6, 1/125, ISO 6400

Focal Length 16mm

What makes it special “I was fortunate enough that there were no other people around at the time. I got that shot without having to rush.”

ROBERT POOL

Title Maria

Where Igreja Matriz de São

Brás de Alportel

When 20/01/2024

Camera Nikon Z7ii; shutter speed 1/50 sec; aperture f/8.0; focal length 24mm

What makes it special “I was struck by the complimentary blue and gold of the colours and all those daggers.”

KEVIN SAUNDES

Title Electric Homage

Where Lucca, Italy

When 27/12/23

Camera iPhone 14Pro

What makes it special “A composition reflecting the modern world even in a church.”

WIFI? WHY NOT

AWAY FROM YOUR HOME ON THE ALGARVE? RENTING YOUR PLACE OUT IN THE HOLIDAY SEASON? STAY SAFE WITH THE RIGHT SYSTEMS UP AND RUNNING. WIFI 6 IS ONLY JUST OUT AND ITS SUCCESSOR, WIFI 7, HAS JUST BEEN APPROVED

Words: CHRIS PARTRIDGE

FAST, FREE and ubiquitous wireless internet access is a basic human right these days, up there with food and shelter (ask any teenager), so second homeowners face the challenge of establishing and maintaining wifi systems even when they are back at base.

Security is a particular concern as wifi can be the means of entry of all sorts of bad stuff from bots that hijack your system for criminal purposes to sniffers that send your data to scammers.

This is particularly important if the property is rented out, both to protect innocent holidaymaking tenants and to prevent abuse of the system by the ill-intentioned. A secure wifi system helps safeguard their personal information and online activities during their stay.

Luckily, the most important security measures are simple to implement remotely as long as the system is set

up correctly in the first place.

Up-to-date wifi systems often come with the latest security protocols and encryption standards, making it more challenging for unauthorised users to access the network. This helps in protecting sensitive data and preventing potential cyber threats. Don’t assume, however, that the system will be secure out of the box - read the manual to ensure the optimum settings are selected and, crucially, you have the permissions and passwords for remote access.

Advanced wifi systems often provide features for remote management and monitoring. Owners can check and control their network even when they are not physically present, enhancing overall security and control.

Start by consulting the router’s documentation and setting up a secure admin account. This will mean changing the default password for the administrator account. If possible, change the username too, as

“administrator” or “admin” are a bit obvious.

Next, again using the router documentation, set up remote access. This will allow you to connect to the router remotely and check what devices (if any) are connected, and it will tell you if someone is using your router without permission – and perhaps accessing the property without your knowledge.

Of course, tightening up security does not necessarily provide the zippy internet speeds regarded as essential to life these days. You need reliable broadband, too.

On average, Portugal has very good internet coverage, providing speeds of up to a gigabyte per second, which is in line with the rest of Europe. In certain parts of the country, including Faro, you can get 10 gbps internet, which is ten times as fast as the average.

Internet speeds in the Algarve generally are good due to the presence of a lot of digital nomads or remote workers, particularly in Lagos. If the internet is good enough to attract so many people that work online, it’s probably pretty good.

Away from the buzz

However, homes in more rural areas are less likely to enjoy the benefits of full fibre broadband and the alternatives may be slower and more expensive.

In theory, you can find out whether fibre broadband is available at the property by entering your address in any online checker; the site will not check your actual address but just the postcode. That means that if you share a postcode with a large town like Albufeira but live several kilometres away, the computer may say yes but it’s not always the case.

Lazer Telecom is an Algarve-only ISP that like MEO, NOS, and Vodafone offers speeds of up to 1Gbps. However, their fibre only covers part of the Algarve (mainly around Faro) and doesn’t extend to most towns and cities in the region. However, in places like Boliqueime and São Brás de Alportel, they are also able to offer AirFibre, which is a 4G internet solution.

Not only are mobile phone internet speeds

Make all the right enquiries, source the best and most effective options and you will enjoy peace of mind.

Until the next round of opportunities arise, that is! Left: Netgear Orbi works with any internet provider and keeps you in the picture

In certain parts of the country, including Faro, you can get 10 gbps internet, which is ten times as fast as the average.

generally slower, the networks have been sized to serve the local population and many people claim that the influx of holidaymakers in the summer severely slows the system down.

Hi five... and six and seven

5G may cure this and it is rapidly rolling out across the Algarve. The easiest way to get internet access in the absence of broadband is to buy a mobile data hotspot or dongle, a device that contains a mobile data link, a sim card and a wifi router.

Don’t buy in the UK as you would need a mortgage to keep the roaming charge topped up - buy locally from one of the networks (Vodafone, TMN or Optimus Kanguru).

The average dongle costs about €30 plus €10 to top up. This is when you discover how much data you are really using when your children play video games online.

One thing the average dongle will not provide is the latest wifi tech, Wifi 6 (technically known as 802.11ax).

Wifi 6 provides faster data transfer speeds, making it ideal for handling multiple devices simultaneously and bandwidth-intensive applications.

It also improves capacity, handling more devices connected to the network at once without sacrificing performance, making it suitable for smart homes and crowded environments.

For many, the big draw of Wifi 6 will be its better performance in crowded areas. Wifi 6 utilises advanced technologies and new frequencies to better manage and distribute bandwidth in environments with many connected devices, reducing interference.

Wifi 6 also features enhanced security, including WPA3, the latest encryption protocol.

Barely has Wifi 6 appeared on the market that the next generation, Wifi 7 (802.11be), has been approved. Wifi 7 is expected to deliver even faster data transfer speeds and lower latency, which will be welcomed by online gamers and people who have to interrupt their hols to attend Zoom meetings.

Wifi 7 is also expected to bring more efficient use of spectrum, enhancing overall network efficiency and performance, and even more advanced security standards.

Spring is round the corner and it is time to remove your boots and socks and slip into your summer footwear. I have a favourite sandal, which definitely dominates my shoe cabinet.

If you are not yet a member of the Shangie family, let me introduce you to these trendy sandals.

They come from Denmark and are especially designed to be durable, lightweight and super comfortable. The soft straps come in many colours and in two styles, in sizes from 35-46. Made from materials and fibres of natural origin like the jute insole, they feel airy and have a cooling effect on the foot.

Now I have these sandals in 7 different colours and wherever I go the Shangie is my companion.

DOMINIC COOPER

British actor Dominic Cooper, now probably best known for his role as Sky in the two Mamma Mia movies from 2008 and 2018, based on the music of ABBA, actually didn’t know what he wanted to do when he left school. His mother was a teacher and a theatre-lover but it was a girlfriend who persuaded him to apply for drama school and he was accepted by LAMDA (the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts).

His career began with small parts on TV and in the theatre and he was first really noticed when he created the role of Dakin in Alan Bennett’s smash-hit play The History Boys in 2004. While at LAMDA he had not been given a part in the students’ end-of-year musical because he had “no sense of rhythm", so it was ironic that the ABBA musical was the first to bring him to major international stardom. Since then he has worked in both Britain and America, including a starring role in Captain America, The First Avenger in 2011. Dominic used to share a flat with TV personality James Corden and has been linked romantically to actresses like Amanda Seyfried, but for some years now his partner has been Gemma Chan, whom he also met on a film set. The couple live in London and are both music fans. While his career continues to go from strength to strength, he says it’s important, as an actor, not to take yourself too seriously and has listed himself on X (formerly Twitter) as a ping-pong expert!

Where are they now?

WE ’ VE GOT ANOTHER REAL MIXED BAG OF PERSONALITIES WHO HAVE FIRMLY DONE THINGS THEIR WAY, FROM THE FOUNDER OF FEMINISM TO THE PROMOTER OF PUNK, WITH A NICE GUY AND WARMING THOUGHTS THROWN IN

Words: JILL ECKERSLEY

70s

GERMAINE GREER

Once described by a leading Australian newspaper as “a human headline”, writer, academic and campaigning feminist Germaine Greer has been causing controversy ever since her ground-breaking book The Female Eunuch was published in 1970. Her brand of feminist thought, which she once described as “not equality, but asserting difference and insisting on it” and her outspoken opinions on everything from homelessness, the menopause, contraception in the developing world and the ‘Me Too’ movement, have been making waves ever since. Born in Melbourne, she studied at the Universities of Melbourne and Sydney before coming to the UK in 1964 and obtaining academic posts at Warwick University and Newnham College Cambridge. As a journalist she wrote on literary and environmental issues as well as appearing in ‘alternative’ – and occasionally pornographic – 1960s publications. She owned a property in Essex where she hit the headlines again by offering her hospitality to anyone who had become homeless. She was voted ‘Woman of the Year’ in 1971 during her brief and stormy marriage to Welsh builder and author Paul du Feu. She continued teaching and appearing on TV in Britain while campaigning to restore an area of rainforest in Queensland where she also had a home. Now in her 80s, she has chosen to live in what Australians refer to as ‘aged care’ – in other words, a care home –where she continues to comment on the issues of the day in her inimitable style!

70s

JOHNNY ROTTEN

The Irish-American singer and songwriter – real name John Lydon – actually hails from North London where he grew up in modest circumstances and was often the butt of anti-Irish prejudice.

As a teen he dyed his hair green and met another disaffected youth called Simon Ritchie, later known as Sid Vicious. The pair were persuaded by manager and Svengali Malcolm McLaren to form a rock band… and the result was pioneer punk outfit The Sex Pistols. Britain does love a moral panic and the Pistols certainly achieved that, spitting, swearing on TV and performing – if not exactly singing – songs like Anarchy in the UK and God Save the Queen. Parents hated them, teens loved them, and spiky hair and bondage trousers instantly became ‘cool.’

After the Pistols broke up in 1978, Lydon formed another band, Public Image Limited, which continued, on and off, alongside his solo career until the early 1990s. Since then he has hosted TV shows in Britain and the USA, advertised butter, and somehow also become an alternative ‘national treasure’ even appearing on the TV show The Masked Singer.

Britain does love a moral panic and the Pistols certainly achieved that, spitting, swearing on TV and performing songs like Anarchy in the UK

EIDERDOWNS

Eiderdowns date back to the days of the Vikings, when down from eider ducks was used as a filling for bed covers in Northern Norway. The common eider duck is a migratory bird found on Northern coasts. The down is plucked from the female bird’s breast feathers and used to line the nest and protect the eggs.

‘Featherbeds’ are listed in medieval Wills. They were much prized by the aristocracy and the better-off and were often handed down from generation to generation. In some families servant girls were permitted to collect duck or goose-down to save for their marriage beds.

And there is another side to him. He cared devotedly for his wife Nora Forster until her recent death from Alzheimer’s and also made a home for her grandchildren. He remains a rebel, saying: “I support no Government anywhere, ever, no institution and no religion.”

Eiderdowns began to be fashionable in Victorian Britain and were used on top of sheets and blankets in chilly bedrooms, then topped with a bedspread.

The Danish fairytale collector Hans Christian Anderse described his Princess in The Princess and the Pea sleeping on “ten eiderdown quilts” but still being able to feel the pea!

The introduction of central heating in the later 20th century meant that eiderdowns fell out of fashion, especially after Habitat founder Sir Terence Conran began to import continental quilts or duvets, which had been popular in Europe for many years. However, they are still available from specialist suppliers who assure buyers that the down now comes only from abandoned nests and that they will give modern bedrooms a ‘vintage look’. Interestingly, the Ritz Hotel in London says it is willing to provide guests with eiderdowns “if requested” instead of the ubiquitous duvets!

Kit and Caboodle are making life easy for customers with our new on-line store and delivery service, simply choose the items that you want, add to your cart and request delivery.

The delivery charges are cheaper and easier than arranging your own transport and it’s a one-off fee regardless of how many items you buy. For Loulé to Faro postcodes the delivery is just €25. Albufeira, Olhão, São Brás €34 and even far away places such as Alcoutim, and Vila do Bispo it’s still only €95!

Don’t need the delivery service? you can collect from our Almancil warehouse. What are you waiting for? get ordering!

Website: 24/7 www.kitandcaboodle.com

Warehouse: Mon-Fri 10am to 5.30pm, Sat 10am to 1pm

with oodles of ideas

High quality pre-loved and upcycled furniture plus gift centre

Browse: www.kitandcaboodle.pt Chat: 00 351 289 394 257

Email: sales@kitandcaboodle.pt Visit: Almancil, next door to Algarve Express

Manuela, a German beautician with 30-years experience, offers the latest technologies at her Almancil salon, including:

•Non-invasive Facial & Body Lifting

•Anti-Ageing Treatments

•Body Sculpting

•Hydrating & Oxygen Facials

•Peeling Treatments & more

The newest arrival is the mind blowing Space Oxygen Machine which gives you an instant glow!

Ageing can wait and beautiful skin is no coincidence!

Book your complimentary appointment with Manuela.

T 927 599 283 W magicbeauty.info

f

Investment strategy

AS RATES ON DEPOSITS BECOME LESS ATTRACTIVE, MORE INVESTORS ARE TURNING TO INVESTMENT PORTFOLIOS TO MAKE THEIR MONEY

WORK HARDER. MARK QUINN AND DEBRAH BROADFIELD OF THE SPECTRUM IFA EXPLAIN THE TYPE OF RETURN YOU CAN EXPECT

DUE TO THE increase in interest rates over the past couple of years, cash has been a relatively attractive investment. But that is not the case now and many are looking to an investment portfolio.

The return you achieve from your portfolio is determined primarily by the make-up of the underlying portfolio i.e. the split between shares, bonds and other assets such as property and commodities, etc. This in turn is determined by your tolerance for risk and volatility.

ARE INVESTMENTS REALLY ‘RISKY’?

Risk is misunderstood and is often confused with volatility. Risk can be more accurately defined as the chance of permanent loss of capital whereas volatility is simply the degree to which investments move up and down.

Although many feel shares in companies are a ‘risky’ investment, if we look back over the past several decades, we can see the chance of permeant loss is very small when investing in blue-chip companies. These types of companies are in the business of trying to make a success of themselves, not run themselves into the ground!

Volatility is what scares most investors, the ups and the downs. But putting this into perspective, most of us own a home and are aware of what the property market does, it goes up and down. But unlike with an investment, you don’t have a ticker on your post box telling you the daily price, so you don’t see the volatility and therefore, do not ‘feel’ the risk.

THE REALITY

Figures from Credit Suisse show that over a 123-year period starting in 1900, shares in developed equity markets have generated returns at 5.1% above inflation and emerging equity markets have achieved 3.8% over inflation.

The Credit Suisse figures also show that shares have outperformed cash (and bonds) in every one of the 21 countries their data covers over that 123 year period.

This is quite remarkable given this period covers two world wars, two global pandemics, the great depression, the dot-com bubble, and the global financial crisis!

So, shares could actually be considered lower risk than cash or property because of their proven ability to keep

pace with inflation over time and therefore protect your money in real terms.

WHAT STEPS CAN YOU TAKE TO STACK THE ODDS IN YOUR FAVOUR?

The return you receive will be determined by a range of factors besides your portfolio composition and there are certain steps you can take to increase your expectations:

Select the right funds: The difference in fund performance can be startling – in a recent analysis we carried out of the US equity sector, the top performing funds was up 67% whereas the worst was down -25%!

Review regularly: Whilst a buy-and-hold approach is one of the most popular strategies for investors, reviews are essential. Not only to ensure your risk level, asset mix and diversification are in line with your objectives, but also to ensure your portfolio remains relevant. Looking over a 40-year period at the FTSE 100, only 24 companies (or arguably 35 including mergers and acquisitions) are still in the index today.

Minimise fees: Minimising fund management and advisory costs puts more money back into your portfolio and leads to better net performance.

Minimise tax: With interest, dividends and capital gains tax at 28% for standard residents (note, 28% capital gains tax does still apply to Non-Habitual Residents), tax is one of the biggest eroders of investment return. So, give some thought to how you hold your portfolio and take advantage of the different tax ‘wrappers’ available to Portuguese tax residents but keep an eye on fees and only seek advice from qualified advisers.

ASK THE EXPERTS

Debrah Broadfield and Mark Quinn are Chartered Financial Planners (level 6 CII) and Tax Advisers (UK ATT) with 20 years of combined experience advising expatriates in Portugal on cross-border financial and tax planning issues.

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YOUR money

RICARDO CHAVES OF ALL FINANCE MATTERS IS HERE TO HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND AND DEAL WITH WHAT IS ALLOWABLE – AND NOT – WHEN IT COMES TO FINANCIAL MATTERS IN PORTUGAL.THIS MONTH, QUESTIONS INCLUDE BORROWING MONEY AGAINST BUILDING COSTS, AND CHANGING FROM A SOLE TRADER TO LIMITED COMPANY

QThe building works on my new home are taking longer and proving to be more expensive than originally quoted. What is the best way here in Portugal if you are NHR, to borrow money? I am looking at around €100,000 to €150,000 and would want to pay it back on a monthly basis, from the monies I receive from a property rental in the UK?

It’s quite common that building works take longer and become more expensive, one of the main reasons is that we find unexpected issues or decide to make alterations to what we initially planned.

You should explain the situation to your bank or mortgage adviser and even if you already have a mortgage on the purchase of the property, you can release equity for improvement works.

The mortgage for improvement works normally is released in stages during construction, and the bank will value the property and the project before it starts and before each capital release. On average, you need to make sure that the total mortgage of the property does not exceed 70% of the bank valuation.

Also, as banks will assess the mortgage based on affordability, you need to make sure that all your monthly credit instalments do not exceed 30% of your net income. The maximum term will be 30 years, with an age limit at term of 70 or 75 years old, depending on the lender.

QI would like to be able to give money each month to my two grandchildren who live with their parents in the Netherlands; they are 12 and 16. What is the best and most tax efficient way to give them, say, €500 a month each? I am retired and living off my savings and investments in Portugal?

Yes, you can give money to your grandchildren in Portugal. As for the tax implications, Portugal does not have a specific gift tax, but it does apply a stamp duty. However, donations between spouses, descendants (like your grandchildren), and ascendants are exempt.

You may want to check with a Dutch tax adviser if

your grandchildren will be liable for any tax in the Netherlands, as the amount you are giving them may be above the threshold. Also, there are different implications, depending how long ago you, as the donor, moved out of the Netherlands.

Please note that as tax laws are complex and change frequently, it is always a good idea to consult with a tax professional or legal adviser in the Netherlands to understand the specific implications for your situation.

QMy business has been in my name as a sole trader. Would I not be better off from a tax standpoint being a limited company?

There are different aspects when looking at a sole trader taxation versus a limited company. When you are a sole trader, you and your business are the same entity and share the same fiscal number. You may be taxed on the simplified regime or in the normal accountancy regime.

If you are a sole trader in the simplified regime, it means that you always pay tax on a percentage of your gross income. Depending on your expenses, you may want to move to a normal accountancy regime, in which case you are taxed on the profit of your business.

The main issue with this is that as you are taxed as an individual, you are liable to progressive tax rates, and the more profit you have, the more you pay (except if you are NHR with an eligible occupation). The same applies to the social security payments, which are linked to your income or your profit.

All the above need to be considered before moving to a limited company. The limited company is a different entity than yourself, so it means that in this case the income and profits belong to the company.

The profits are normally taxed between 17% and 21%, and you can also set the social security to a fixed amount linked to your salary. However, at the end of the year, the money is in the company, and you will pay additional tax if you want to distribute the profits to the shareholders.

It is necessary to make some business simulations before choosing the business model that is more adequate to your personal circumstances.

Email your finance questions to martin@algarveplusmagazine.com for inclusion in the first available issue of AlgarvePLUS.

To consult directly with the experts at AFM, email helpdesk @allfinancematters.pt

GOING LEGAL

LEGAL EXPERTS NELSON RAMOS AND ROBERTA RAMOS, TOGETHER WITH THEIR SPECIALIST TEAM AT RAMOS & ASSOCIADOS IN ALMANCIL, WHO HAVE MANY EX-PAT CLIENTS, ANSWER A QUESTION FROM AN ENGLISH PERSON WHO IS RESIDENT HERE AND WANTS TO KNOW HOW BEST TO PROTECT ASSETS IN THE ADVENT OF DIVORCE

QI am a resident here, married abroad. Can I divorce in Portugal and is my estate protected?

A Yes, any foreigner can divorce in Portugal as long as at least one of the couple resides here. There two types of divorce, by mutual consent or without consent.

To apply for a mutual consent divorce, the couple themselves or their legal representative must submit these documents to the civil registration office:

1. Divorce petition

2. List of the common assets

3. Agreement of parental duties, if the couple have underage children

4. Agreement on alimony to either of the spouses, if needed

5. Agreement regarding the home

6. An agreement regarding pets

Please note that under Portuguese law, the agreement on child custody, alimony, visitation rights (designated as exercise of parental duties), must be approved by the Public Prosecutor, which ensures that the parents do not agree to anything which may be harmful to the children.

If the Public Prosecutor does not approve the terms of the agreement proposed by the parents, amendments are ordered, and if the parents do not accept the amendments, then the matter will be decided by the Court.

Should either one of the couple refuse to divorce, then a request has to be made to the Court to grant a divorce without consent.

(The grounds for this are very wide in Portugal so that nobody is forced to stay married against his/her will.)

Those grounds are:

1. De facto separation for one year

2. A change in the mental capacities of either party that has lasted for more than one year, or that, due to its seriousness, does not allow for a normal matrimonial relationship

3. The disappearance without news of a spouse for a year

4. Any other circumstances that, regardless of guilt or wrongdoing, render it impossible for the couple to stay together

Regardless of the grounds for divorce, if one of the couple breaches their legal duties within the marriage, there can be financial consequences. The legal duties set in the law are respect, fidelity, cohabitation – meaning living and sleeping together unless there are justified reasons not to – cooperation and support to the spouse.

In practical terms this means that if one party commits adultery, for instance, causing suffering, depression or social humiliation to the other, the adulterous spouse may have to face financial compensation for ‘moral damages’.

When it comes to matrimonial property, or the lack of it, the law differs between here and England and Wales. In Portugal there are three pre-established regimes; at the time of marriage the spouses can choose one – if they don’t, then the subsidiary regime applies.

There is joint ownership of assets, in which all the property belongs to both spouses in equal shares; or, separation of assets, in which there is no common property and all assets belong either to one or the other. If the spouses say nothing –which the most common situation – their

matrimonial property regime by statutory law is ‘communion of acquired’, which rules that all property acquired after marriage is common, except if gifted or inherited, and all the property and estate that the spouses had before marriage remains their own individual property.

Under Portuguese law, when a real estate property is bought, the law demands that the buyers declare under which regime they are married, and as there is no matrimonial property in UK, often British declare ‘separation of assets’, sometimes registering the property in just the name of one of the spouses, under the expectation that they are protected in a divorce. As our readers may imagine, this can lead to an unexpected situation in a divorce case, or succession by death if the spouse dies intestate.

It is therefore important when registering property in Portugal to either register in the name of both spouses, or to register with the express reference that the marriage regime is the English regime of separation of assets, which, while not giving total protection, at least allows the argument before the Court that the division should be done under English rules, as under Portuguese law, the regime of marital property or separation of assets is governed by the rules of the common nationality of the spouses at the time of marriage.

If the spouses have different nationalities, the estate of the couple is governed by the law of their first residence as a couple.

Email questions for Ramos Associados to martin@algarveplusmagazine.com

Algarve's classiest Italian restaurant

Open daily from 12h until late for dining, takeaway and delivery. Booking is recommended.

WILL KELLERMANN

Quadro Molduras

Rua República 97 Loja B

8135-132 Almancil info@willkellermann.com willkellermann.com

Kumquats, oils, 100x100cm, part of Will’s exhibition of oil and silk colours as ‘Artist of the Month’ for March in Quadro.

PEDRO RODRIGUEZ

Tavira d’Artes, Tavira 962 012 111 taviradartes@gmail.com taviradartes.com

Blue, mixed media on paper, box framed, 50x50cm

ART 

Alain Bertrand

ArtCatto

289 419 447, info@artcatto.com, artcatto.com

Home of the Brave, oil on canvas, 130x97cm. Part of a new exhibition that opens in April. Watch this space.

Jacqui Ashworth

Art Gallery at Equilibrio, Estrada Vale do Lobo 289 397 159, equilibriointeriors.com

Koi I and Koi II, oil and acrylic on canvas, each 120x120cm.

Terra & Mar

In the Pink Gallery for Fine Photo Art

Praça da República 69-75 Loulé

in-the-pink.com

Until 21 March

Group exhibition featuring works by João Mariano, Maria Oliveira, Nuno Cera and Vasco Celio.

PHILIPP KEEL

Opening 29 March

Solo Exhibition

In the Pink Vietnamese Water Lilies, 2005

VISION ART FAIR

21-24 March, 11:00–20:00, FISSUL Pavilion, Silves

Modern and contemporary art fair with more than 100 emerging and established artists – painters, photographers, illustrators and sculptors.

9 March

MUSIC

República 14, Olhão

republica14.pt, Reservas@republica14.pt Email for ticket prices, and to book. Concert times, 19:00 and 21:30

Sunshine in Ohio:

The Polyphonic Blues Orchestra. Five French musicians from varied backgrounds present a mixture of North American folk music ranging from Cajun to Bluegrass, old swing, and Voodoo blues, with great vocal arrangements and less conventional instrumentation.

16 March

Susana Travassos Trio with Simon Seidl, piano, and Gonçalo Sousa on the harmonica. The repertoire is a journey

through different sonic landscapes, where written and improvised music hold hands weaving jazz, classical, and pop together.

23 March

Elody Bouny, the Brazilian classically-trained guitarist, presents her recent work Luares, an album featuring original compositions.

30 March

João Pires, Portuguese composer and guitarist, with André Xina on electronic programming and Juninho Ibituruna on percussion, with a stunning instrumental repertoire.

Amigos de Música

Os Agostos, Sta Bárbara de Nexe, reservascontertos@gmail.com, amigosdemusica.org

12 March: Pianist Andrey plays Gugin. Schumann, Liszt, Stavinsky, and on 14 March: Beethoven, Franck, Chopin and Rachmaninov.

Doors will open at 18:00 and concerts start at 19:00. Wine, fruit juices and canapés will be available for self-service before the concert.

ORQUESTRA DO ALGARVE

Igreja do Carmo, Tavira, 31 March, 18:00, free entrance

This special Easter concert features the music of Joseph Haydn, whose Seven Last Words of Christ on the Cross translates seven moods into music, ranging from the greatest serenity to the turmoil of the earthquake that took place on Mount Calvary after Christ’s passion.

FESTIVAL SOL DE INVERNO

Largo José Joaquim Jara Tavira

16 March 11:00–18:00 Music, poetry, markets, street food, children’s workshops, sport and environmental sustainability – lots to see, enjoy and take part in.

JAZZ NAS ADEGAS

Herdade Barranco do Vale Estrada Municipal 510 Sítio dos Campilhos, 8375-021 São Bartolomeu de Messines 938 867 881

8 March, 21:00

9 March, 17:00

The 7th edition of Jazz nas Adegas brings numerous names in jazz to the wineries in Silves. This month, it’s The Pocket Band playing at Herdade Barranco do Vale.

Amigos do museu ALGARVE PHOTOGRAPHERS GROUP

On now, Black and White

ARCHAEOLOGICAL TALK

5 March, 14:30

Tickets €5

QUIZ – HELPING HANDS ALGARVE

12 March, 19:00

€3.50 to take part

MEDIEVAL CONCERT

EDUARDO RAMOS AND RUI AFONSO

17 March, 19:00

12€ / 10€ (Amigos)

SECOND HAND BOOKS

28 March, 10:00–13:00

FOODIES THINGS

AUSTA

Almancil, eat@austa.pt austa.pt, 23 March

Guest Chef Bruno Caseiro will cook alongside austa’s head chef, David Barata, for a special four-hands dinner. After working with Nuno Mendes at Chiltern Firehouse and with culinary luminaries such as Nuno Diniz, Alex Atala, and Kobe Desramaults, Bruno created his own restaurant group, Cavalariça, now one of Portugal’s pioneers in cool and casual, farm-totable dining with locations in Comporta, Evora and Lisbon. The multi-course menu will focus on deeply rooted partnerships with small producers and endemic, seasonal ingredients. Tickets €100pp

AUSTRIAN WEEK

Vila Vita Biergarten

282 381 177 to book vilavitabiergarten.com till 15 March

The tasty menu includes delicacies such as Goulash soup with Vienna bread, the famous Tiroler Gröstl (potato sauté with veal and bacon) and Wiener Backhendl (breaded and crispy chicken with warm potato salad and lamb’s lettuce) and for a sweet ending, an irresistible Kaiserschmarrn (pancakes with walnuts and vanilla sauce).

FARMERS MARKET

Quinta Shopping

Sunday 3 March, 10:00–13:00

Vale do Lobo

valedolobo.com/en/events to book

SPRING MARKET

Vale Do Lobo Auditorium

29 and 30 March

10:00–18:00

Favourite local businesses alongside a huge selection of exhibitors presenting exciting and interesting products including handicrafts, wines, flowers, cookies, cakes, gourmet products, toys and more. Entertainment for children (face painting, balloon modelling, games etc) will be provided by Oficina de Sonhos.

GET INVOLVED

Social Running Thursdays

17:00–18:00

Tennis Academy

Yoga Friday 11:15– 12:15

Sunday 09:00–10:00 Tennis Academy

Social Padel Challenge

Fridays 18:30–21:30 Tennis Academy

Cardio Tennis Saturdays

10:00–12:00, Tennis Academy

Round Robin Tournaments

Wednesdays, 16:00–18:00, Tennis Academy

Walking Tour Tuesdays, 10:00–18:00, Tennis Academy

ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATION

Parque do Golf

22 March, 18:00–20:00

After a brief lecture, through a large motorized telescope, you can observe the moon, which will be nearly fully illuminated by the sun, making it possible to see its craters, mountains, and valleys, and also the mighty planet Jupiter with its four Galilean moons, the Pleiades star cluster, and the grand Orion Nebula.

ITF VALE DO LOBO WILD CARD

Tennis Academy

7–9 March, 08:00–21:00

This international event is a highlight in the world of tennis and consists of several stages. Players/ athletes are approved by the International Tennis Federation.

Registration opens 25 March at gentlemansride.com

See page 66, and get the whole picture in our April issue.

Loulé Criativo

loulecriativo@cm-loule.pt, loulecriativo.pt

FB: @loulecriativo, IN: @loule_criativo

WOMEN ’ S DAY SPECIAL WOODEN RINGS WORKSHOP

8 March, Palácio Gama Lobo, Loulé

Partner: Wesley Sacardi

Registration: loulecriativo@ cm-loule.pt

NEW! SPRING FLORAL ARRANGEMENT EXPERIENCE

23 March, Palácio Gama Lobo, Loulé

Partner: Aude Touly

Registration: floweraude@ gmail.com

EASTER SPECIAL WOOD OVEN TRADITIONAL EASTER CAKES WORKSHOP

23 March, Nave do Barão, Loulé

Partner: Casa da Tita

Registration: casadatita@ gmail.com

NEW! MACRAMÉ WORKSHOP VASE SUPPORT

23 March, Oficina dos Têxteis, Loulé

Partner: Desi Cornelisse

Registration: jomohandmade@gmail.com

EASTER SPECIAL CORK WORKSHOP FOR CHILDREN

28 March, Palácio Gama Lobo, Loulé

Partner: Sandra Louro

Registration: sandra_ louro@likecork.com

EASTER CAKE FESTIVAL

Odeceixe, Rua 19 de Junho and surrounding area

29-31 March, Friday and Saturday, 12:00– 01:30 Sunday, 12:00–21:00, cm-aljezur.pt

Celebrate Easter and try delicious folares, one of the region’s most beloved Easter pastries, and shop for goods ranging from handmade ceramics and clothing to food and drink. Live music, theatre productions, and kids’ entertainment.

THE DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN ’ S RIDE

AND f inally

ANTHONY MARTIN USUALLY LOVES THE MONTH OF MARCH AND THE START OF THE NEW SEASON THAT IT HERALDS. THIS YEAR, HOWEVER, WITH PROBLEMS OF SUCH MAGNITUDE ACROSS THE WORLD, HE ’ S NOT SURE WHAT TO THINK. COULD HE BE CALLED UP IF NEEDED IN HIS BIRTH COUNTRY?

HELLO MARCH nice to see you again, it’s been a while, well eleven months to be exact but now we can relax a little. The past three months, due to December and January’s demands for gravitas, have been partially stressful. Understandable I suppose, as one had to deal with the responsibility of hosting Christmas and another the beginning the New Year. February is of course a bit of a wuss, all cupids, hearts and teenage angst, and anyway, being a few days short of a real month, she’s the runt of the litter.

But now, welcome to you March because you herald spring, longer days, little yellow flowers covering the fields and blossom everywhere, which puts me in an altogether lighter mood. Yes, old friend, we in this most southwestern point of Europe take our daytime strolls on the beach, spend evenings in front of our warming log fires with a glass of our favourite tipple in hand, and sit wonderfully content with the fact that all is well in our world.

Except of course it isn’t, for as I write there are currently 32 armed conflicts worldwide, countless people displaced and homeless and, due to our declining defence forces numbers, the UK is seriously thinking of bringing back conscription. I missed it the first time round as it was rescinded before I reached the age of eighteen.

blue is a dashing colour, particularly when teamed with a cut glass English accent and a David Niven moustache, of which I have neither, but I could work on it.

However, I am familiar with the theorem of Pythagoras, the basic workings of the internal combustion engine and my thirteen-times-table, so I reckon I would be a shoo-in as officer material, and at reasonably high rank. The minimum I would accept would be Group Captain, and my reasoning for needing that rank, as I shall explain to the recruiting officer, is that I have an arthritic right shoulder and being a Group Captain there would be only five ranks above me that I would have to salute, as saluting would put rather a lot of strain on said shoulder.

I am familiar with Pythagoras, the basics of the combustion engine and my 13-timestable, so I reckon I would be a shoo-in as officer material

But should it now come back will I have another chance to give my life for my country of birth? And this presents problems for which of our honourable services should I choose? The army is out as I am not too partial to clomping about on Dartmoor, in filthy weather, for days on end, and anyway I don’t like the colour khaki. Equally the Navy, for when younger I was prone to seasickness. But I do like the idea of the RAF as air force

I am also not too confident at standing to attention for a period of time as I have a tendency to wobble. Therefore, saluting whilst standing to attention is a definite no-no – I wonder if the RAF give out sick notes? Plus, as icing on the cake, Group Captains can have a batman to function as a valet, and I could carry a swagger stick, and own a Triumph motorcycle for dashing between nightclubs with a cocktail waitress called Maisie riding pillion. Memo to self: Must stop watching 1940’s black and white movies and return to reality.

And the reality is that the doomsday clock is currently at 90 seconds to midnight, the closest it has ever been to forecasting Armageddon. A UK wide poll last month showed that 45% of 18–45 year olds, if called up would refuse to fight, even if there were punishments involved.

Are you hearing this, March? It must be upsetting for you, being named after Mars, the Roman god of war, and that 2,000 years ago your month was the beginning of the season for warfare. But times change and it appears that nowadays there is no season for warfare. Any megalomaniac with a following can attack at any time and the hands on that clock are still moving.