Tomorrow Lagos - Aljezur March 2018 Edition

A COMMUNITY MAGAZINE COVERING LAGOS TO ALJEZUR

CLEAN

THE ALGARVE PROPERTY SPECIALISTS

IT UP

interior

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

Spring forwards!

2018 seems to be going as quickly as 2017. We are already in March and Easter is around the corner.

Tomorrow has had a very good start to the year with the first 'Giving Back Day' bringing together more than 20 volunteers to help clear the land and make fences for the Mayday Dog Rescue Sanctuary at Vila do Bispo where more than 80 dogs are saved from cruelty and neglect.

Karen, who runs the centre, was bowled over by the level of support she received - it certainly felt good being able to positively make a difference.

From L to R: Steven, Amber and Tom

support. We are pleased to announce that we will be paying their rent for the foreseeable future. Once again it’s thanks to you all out there who feel you can give the community something back.

It may seem a long way away but please remember to book your tickets for the Summer Ball on June 9th at the revamped (hopefully) Tivoli Beach Club on Meia Praia. Please email Steven at steven@tomorrowalgarve.com to book your tickets.

PLEASE keep us informed of your forthcoming events as we are very happy to publish and promote, free of charge, any good cause that we hear about from you; maybe you wish to raise money for a chosen charity, or coffee mornings etc, we would like to hear from you.

We are very pleased that TACT (the Tomorrow Algarve Charity Trust) is helping Leonor Rijo (who has a small knick-knack stall in Intermarche's main store) regain her speech after many years being mute. A great and worthy local community initiative which relies totally on the efforts of our loyal readers and supporters.

Happy Easter to you all,

As most of you will know the Mustard Seed, the soup kitchen in Lagos, is another of our charities needing a helping hand all year round and one we are pleased to

Amber, Tom and the whole Tomorrow team.

Tom Henshaw:  +351 919 918 733  tom@tomorrowalgarve.com Amber Henshaw:  amber@tomorrowalgarve.com

On the cover This beautiful photo of Praia Dona Ana was taken by Dave Sheldrake. This month we are calling on people to pick up plastic and rubbish they see on all our beaches when they are out and about.  davesheldrakephotography.com

Stay Connected... 

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TomorrowAlgarve

www.tomorrowalgarve.com

+351 919 918 733

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Community

The best of both worlds Bicycles from the Black Forest

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

But isn’t a wooden bike very heavy?

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

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

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

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Community

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



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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Community

Burgau and the surrounding areas along with a knowledgeable and witty commentary throughout.

Tuk tuk time in Burgau

BY REBECCA SIMPSON After years of witnessing tourists and locals attempt the spectacular climb up the hills of Burgau, Gary Docherty had the ingenious idea of introducing a Tuk Tuk service to the village. Last year a beautiful looking blue and white vehicle very quickly became a fantastic feature in the village of Burgau. The name Bucky originated from Gary’s love of a particularly famous Scottish tipple.

Traditionally a three-wheeled vehicle the Auto Rickshaw (Tuk Tuk) is a frequently used method of urban transport, particularly in countries with warmer climates. The Tuk Tuk originated in Thailand and the name is onomatopoeic mimicking the sound of a small engine. These small and trusty vehicles have become a popular feature around the globe for efficient transportation purposes.

Make no mistake however, Bucky is no Thailand Tuk Tuk! He is a Classy Burgau Blue Southern European cruiser!

Bucky is able to transport up to three people and the driver around the village of Burgau and goes as far as the Pigs Head, Cabanas, Spice Cottage and the Burgau Sports Centre. Gary is often seen driving multiple journeys up and down from the beach. At a very small fee Bucky is an affordable, fun and ingenious way to get around the high terrain of the village without having to worry about parking particularly during the summer months. Bucky also offers the opportunity of 30-60 minute tours around

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Bucky is also available to hire for weddings and parties and is a unique and quirky way to add some extra fun to your celebration.

Gary and his wife moved to the Algarve eight years ago after being frequent visitors for many years.

They opened a small and very popular beauty salon called Beleza de Burgau in the heart of the village that offers a wide range of excellent treatments including manicures, pedicures and spray tanning.

Gary is available for massage all year round but in the Summer months only in the mornings from 8am until 12pm before he takes Bucky, Tuk-tuking all over Burgau until 10pm, 7 days a week.

The name Bucky originated from Gary’s love of a particularly famous Scottish tipple, on his infamous Saturday Driver maintenance night!

Bucky can be booked by calling the number below and also has a popular Facebook page which features a range of photographs and updates on Bucky’s latest adventures in Burgau.

 +351 912 485 515

+351 282 780 870

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO SELL YOUR HOME?

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AFTER A FANTASTIC YEAR TO DATE WE ARE IN NEED OF MORE PROPERTIES TO SELL.

Why Casas do Barlavento?

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One stop shop approach - clients requirements can be met under the same shop

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Dedicated, motivated and multilingual team that consider all clients needs and preferences

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Provide simplicity and transparency throughout the whole selling/buying process Knowledge of the local market

IF YOU WOULD LIKE A FREE VALUATION AND INFORMAL CHAT, PLEASE GET IN TOUCH WITH US HERE AT CASES DO BARLAVENTO.

www.casasdobarlavento.com

Community

Call for new hospital in Lagos

BY PEDRO OLIVEIRA A petition has been launched by the Municipal Câmara of Lagos calling for the government to provide funds for the construction of a new hospital in Lagos.

Lagos has a long history of having a hospital. It’s thought the first one dated back to 1412.

By the end of the 15th Century the current hospital already existed in the area where it is now. It has been altered several times since then. The location of the current hospital is in the historic part of the city which means it is hard to access because of narrow roads that date back to medieval times. The hospital can’t be made any bigger because it’s built against the walls of the castle which is a national monument.

The hospital serves the populations of Lagos, Aljezur and Vila do Bispo. The local câmara says that it is essential that the hospital is improved so it can

provide it’s patients a sufficient level of care and service.

In 2008/2009 the then Health Minister approved a project and studies for the building of a new hospital for Lagos. The Municipal Câmara has already secured the land for the new hospital site.

But there has been no progress, so the Câmara has decided to launch a public petition for the population of Lagos, Alzejur and Vila do Bispo, to be sent to the Assembleia da República hoping that this will result in the release of funds.

If you would like to sign the petition then please go to: peticaopublica.com/pview.aspx?pi=PT88065 You can also sign at the Câmara.

Give Leonor a voice

BY TOM HENSHAW

Many people will probably have seen Leonor Rija in the main Intermarché store in Lagos where she has a small stall selling knick knacks to make ends meet.

I didn’t know that she could not speak for a long time but one of the western Algarve choir tipped me off about her situation and also suggested the title for this report.

Leonor lives at Casa de Santo Amaro the centre for the disabled and close to the Centro de Saúde. So I visited the centre and met with Patricia Canolimo the head social worker at the home.

We asked Leonor if she would like to be able to speak again and she just burst into floods of tears at the thought that she could be helped! So we called on Ines Gois, a speech therapist, who confirmed that the problem was the muscles in Leonor’s throat and that

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with therapy she could be helped to speak again.

Her first weekly treatment was due to take place on February 16th. We hope that she will be able to see results within the next three months.

We at Tomorrow are thrilled that we can, with your continuing support, help people like Leonor in our community to get more out of their lives once again.

If you wish to contribute to Leonor’s speech therapy please send donations to TACT, the Tomorrow Algarve Charity Trust. The account is: PT 50-0033-0000-45513973438-05 ‘LEONOR’.

We will make sure that through the magazine we will readily update you on her progress.

If you have any questions relating to this please email Tom.  tom@tomorrowalgarve.com

Aljezur

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Community

Finland-Swedes in the Algarve

BY LENA STRANG

Monday February 5th was a very special day for the small but growing group of Swedish speaking Finns in the Algarve. It was the national day of Johan Ludvig Runeberg, (1804 – 1877) the national poet of Finland and the author of the Finnish National Anthem. He was also a Swedish speaker. It seemed the perfect occasion to have the first ever get-together of the group in the Finnish café Koivu in Portimão.

While Portimão is host to the 1200 strong Finnish community, Lagos tends to attract a large number of people from Sweden. Both communities are vibrant with their respective organisations and offer a plethora of activities.

Together with some other Swedish speaking Finns in the region, we thought it was about time for us to start organising too. It may be a little known fact that there is a separate group of people in Finland (about 5% of the population) who speak Swedish as their mother tongue. It is thought that they settled in Finland in the 12th century and have retained their separate strong cultural identity ever since. The language spoken is similar to that of Sweden but with distinct pronunciation and some variations in

vocabulary. Both Finnish and Swedish are official languages in Finland but it’s interesting to note that there are no similarities.

Finnish belongs to the FinnoUgric group of languages, related to Hungarian while Swedish is a Germanic language, along with German, Dutch and English.

The reunion on the day attracted a number of my compatriots now living in Lagos, Alvor and Portimão who have decided to make the Algarve their home.

Many of them are refugees from the cold winters in the north although tend to return for the summer to enjoy the midnight sun! We were treated to special Karelia pasties (Karleska piråger) and delicious Runeberg torte, flavoured with almonds and often rum. Legend has it that Runeberg enjoyed the torte with punsch for every breakfast. They are typically only eaten in Finland – or as it happened, in Portimão - on this day.

More activities are planned. If there are any more Swedish-Finns out there do get in touch!

 Finlandsvenskar i Lagos med omnejd  lena.strang@gmail.com

From Sagres to Istanbul Last month two French adventurers embarked on a 10,000km walk from Portugal to Turkey that will take them through 17 countries. The Two Steps Towards the Other journey started in Sagres.

Deux Pas Vers l'Autre is the project born from the desire of a young French couple, Marie and Nil. The journey, which is expected to take 500 days, aims to promote walking in Europe as as well as promoting social, cultural and environmental sustainability, involving local populations on the way and minimizing the ecological footprint. They are also walking in collaboration with the ‘1kg for the Planet’ programme, according to the Rota Vicentina Association.

The Rota Vicentina Association works in partnership to promote nature tourism as an essential development path for the southwest Algarve region.

It is lending its backing to the couple’s trip as it

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passes through the ancient Caminho Histórico on the Rota Vicentine, followed by the Via Alpina and the Via Dinarica.

The Rota Vicentina (Vicentine Route) is a network of walking trails along the southwest coast of Portugal, which currently totals around 450 kilometres of marked trails to walk between Santiago do Cacém and Cabo de São Vicente. People are invited to take part in different stretches of the walk in places where they live. Marie and Nil, 29 and 31 years old respectively. Marie worked in Human Resources and Nils in photography and video before embarking on their great adventure.

The journey will take them through 17 countries including Switzerland, France, Bulgaria, Greece and Macedonia. If you would like to follow their progress of take part then please go to the website.  www.deuxpasverslautre.com/the-adventure

Community

Burns Supper in Silves

BY DOUG MCADAM, CHIEFTAIN

The Saint Andrew’s Society of the Algarve goes from strength to strength.

This year’s Burns Supper at the Ponte Romana Restaurant in Silves was a resounding success with over 100 participants.

As usual bagpiper Malcolm MacGillivray got the evening off to a scintillating start. Guests enjoyed a glass or two of excellent bubbly arranged by Joaquim Tinoco of Catuna & Silva. This restaurant has been used for many years and is well practised in preparing and serving the traditional MacSweens haggis, tatties and neeps. I addressed the haggis after it had been piped in and a dram offered to the piper and accompanying ‘kilties’.

from Spain) - the light-hearted and teasing Toast to the Lassies was made by Ray Bentley and the more than adequate response on behalf of the lassies was made by his wife Mary. The assembled company then partook of lively and enthusiastic Scottish dancing and the proceedings were brought to a close just before midnight with ‘Auld Lang Syne’.

Anyone interested in knowing more about the Society is welcome to ring me on 935 577362 or Kathy Prentice on 919 635246 – there’s no need to be Scots to join. Please speak to Mardie Cunnigham if you would like to try Scottish dancing (again, no need to be Scots).

Mardie runs the dancing at the Nobel International School in Porches on Monday evenings from 7.30pm to 9.30pm.

After the main speech - the Immortal Memory of Robert Burns by Peter Williams (who had travelled

Mardi  +351 282 356 029

Lent appeal The Bishop of the Algarve has noted the construction of a new church in Rogil, Aljezur in his Lent message and has appealed for people to contribute.

The construction of the Rogil church, supported by Aljezur council, began nearly six years ago, in May 2012.

As a temporary church solution, the Rogil community used the local parish council hall for 20 years, moving on to an old supermarket in 2011. The new church in Rogil will be the first in the Algarve dedicated to Saint Vincent, martyr and patron of the Algarve diocese.

What a great idea Ravin and Stephen from the Oasis Restaurant and Cafe on the Marina came up with a very good idea to support local charities and make new friends at the same time - a home fundraiser!

In the process they raised €280 for TACT the Tomorrow magazine's official charity.

They invited friends and clients of Oasis to their own home and instead of paying a fee for the wine and food they gave money instead for our charities.

 amber@tomorrowalgrave.com

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In their case they offered champagne cocktails, a live singer, a casino quiz and loads of ‘booze’ Stephen’s- word not ours -and it all ended at 2am!!

They were packed at the restaurant next day, New Year’s Day and struggled to cope after the night before!

Splendid idea and one we are very happy to promote. So please send Amber an email if you wish to do your own thing and we will be very happy to help and use the money for good local and worthwhile causes.

Community

A Day in the Life of...

Noeline Oldham I was born in Liverpool, England in 1967. I became a hairdresser at the age of 19 after serving a three-year apprenticeship in a local salon. Within two years I went on to owning eight hairdressing salons and employing 60 people. These were the first ‘green’ salons in the UK using biodegradable products, avoiding the use of CFs. My work demanded total commitment with long hours and no time for anything else. My health was deteriorating and after a year I was finally diagnosed with M.E. With little help from orthodox medicine I realised that my thought system, lack of selfnurturing and all the long hours had brought my body to an utter stand still.

I began to look deep into my illness and decided to sell my salons and start to treat myself with herbs, nutrition, exercise and space to heal. Within three months I not only cured myself but I was stronger and more balanced than before. At this point I knew I had to help others.

Since 1996 I have proceeded on my spiritual path.

I have become an Aromatherapist, (I simply love essential oils and their benefits), Swiss Therapeutic Masseuse, Reflexologist, Baby Massage Instructor, Crystal Energy Healer and Yoga Teacher.

After the tsunami in Thailand I decided to help by setting up an orphanage there in 2005. I have been involved with several charities before, but this was doing something close to my heart. I felt honoured to be part of this. On my return I flew back from Kuala Lumpur Airport and it was there I met my husband-to-be!

In 2010 the next phase of my life began. We moved to Lagos for a softer more fulfilling way of life.

I still lead a busy life but doing something I really love. My average day starts with yoga. I do some pranayamas (breath work) whilst still in bed, and then some soft yin asanas. I run yoga classes on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 9.45am at Boavista Golf and Spa Resort in Lagos. This usually takes up most of the morning.

On other mornings I usually have clients for a

range of different therapies. Some come for reflexology, massage or crystal healing. Others are doing weekly sessions during a six-week healing programme I offer.

For lunch I make a nutritious soup or have salad with organic eggs or sardines with some organic gluten free bread.

My work is my life. The sixweek healing programme is special as it allows clients regular sessions with crystal healing. This releases layers of stuck energy, which can manifest itself in the form of chronic diseases, depression, anxiety or a feeling of not being able to move forward in their lives. The programme also involves inner healing and creative work. I give some homework, which is assessed during the following session. I think the programme works because it‘s based on individual needs and clients are totally comfortable with it.

I’ve had great feedback from previous clients telling me how much it has changed their lives for the better. This gives me a great sense of satisfaction and joy, as I know I’m making a difference in people’s lives.

My day usually ends with me preparing our evening meal. I love food and working creatively with great organic ingredients, along with herbs and spices to make a wonderful wholesome evening meal.

I usually like to relax by watching a movie, preferably about true-life stories. I guess you could say I really do love listening, helping and learning about other people’s lives. This is what I’m here to do!!

For more details about six-week programmes, retreats, workshops, yoga and more, contact Noeline.

 +351 963 614 499  www.zengardenretreats.com  zengardenretreats@gmail.com

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Community

Tackling trash on our beaches

BY JEFF MORGAN

At first glance our local beaches appear clean and walking along them you could continue to think that way. Tune in your eyes though and all of a sudden a new world will appear before them. A dark sinister world bringing chaos to our way of life.

After spending a mere five minutes on Meia Praia with Tomás Tigchelaar Lourenço from People, Planet, Plastic it is apparent that the problem of plastic rubbish is everywhere, even on the beaches contracted by the council to be cleaned. In just a short time we have found a plastic bag to carry an assortment of other materials including, short lengths of nylon rope, fishing line and netting plus a bottle top, we have not moved more than three metres. “These are all small enough to be eaten by creatures that depend upon the sea and it is much worse on the beaches that are hard to access,” explained Tomás.

Born and raised locally to a Dutch mother and Portuguese father, Tomás moved to the Netherlands in 2011 to complete a civil engineering degree where after he spent one-and-a-half-years at a railroad consultancy agency in Amsterdam.

During a beach walk at Christmas with his mother on Praia das Cabanas Velhas, confronted by vast amount of rubbish on the beach Tomás determined that something needed to be done to deal with this emergency.

“If a turtle had hands instead of fins it would pick the plastic waste itself. I have hands, so I should give turtles and other

sea life a hand, and a hand. A hand to collect the rubbish and an artistic hand created from the materials to be shared on a social media platform”.

And so the hashtag #GiveSeaLifeAHand came to life along with an Instagram page called PeoplePlanetPlasticTV. It's name derives from the definition of sustainability

by John Elkington which states that to obtain sustainable growth People, Planet and Profit must be balanced out.

The hashtag was first intended to share pictures and data of a beach cleanup Tomás and a few friends completed at Burgau, though the power of social media meant that, within a couple of days, the concept had inspired many people around the world resulting in photographs being posted to the webpage. In the initial month Hands have been appearing from six out of the seven continents, from as far afield as Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Malaysia, Mexico, Mozambique, New Zealand, Philippines, Spain, Sweden, Tanzania, Thailand, Turks and Caicos, UK, Ukraine and United States.

“We have to concentrate on the local environment that we love but if we can also inspire others to do the same where they are then we can make a difference. If anybody has friends or family in Antarctica, please send us a message!”.

In January Tomás’s group of friends cleaned the pebble beach of Rebolos, situated between Burgau and Cabanas Velhas. “As it is a deserted beach, most of the plastic

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we found was washed ashore by the waves.

We filled more than 80 big trash bags and it’s safe to say that more than 70% of these items were bottles”. Over the coming weeks the collected materials will be washed, sorted and recycled using recycling tools created by the Dutch designer Dave Hakkens of the Precious Plastic project.

“The amount of rubbish collected is mostly as a result of consumption, so if we are going to tackle the issues then we must stop compounding the problem,” says Tomás who says that there are a few simple choices that we need to make. “Consume less plastic, try to avoid purchasing any single use containers and investing in a reusable water bottle is a good start. Buy your produce fresh, not wrapped in plastic packaging, and stop buying foreign wine in a plastic box when we have so many home grown, glass bottle, varieties produced locally.”

“Secondly, start collecting not only during a beach walk but anywhere you see plastic, intercept it before it ends up in the sea, out of sight and becoming another statistic.

We, the people, need to act, we are not saving the environment, we are saving us ”.

That may sound dramatic but according to the United Nations latest research figures 600 marine species are affected by plastic, of which 15% are already endangered and by 2050 99% of all seabirds will have ingested plastic.

You can follow or post your images to the PeoplePlanetPlasticTV Instagram page and make a #GiveSeaLifeAHand hand.

Community

Tell us about your new business.

BSily Socks is for those people who agree with the phrase ‘Life is too short to wear matching socks’. It encourages people to show their true personality through fashion and to be themselves whether that’s different from what society says. Being different and unique is something that we truly support.

Where did the idea come from?

Sam and I always wanted to start our own venture and he was constantly coming up with new business ideas. Sam is also known in the family as the person who never wears matching socks and one day he just proposed the idea of starting our own company where we design the coolest odd socks.

What’s the company philosophy?

The odd sock philosophy is mainly about expressing yourself as an individual and not caring at all! Our slogan explains it very easily ‘Be You, Be Different, Be Silly.’

Embrace your inner oddie (sock that is) Most of us just end up with odd socks (where do they go?) but a year ago Sam Remus and his partner, Lily Ramos, decided to actually start a business selling odd socks! They called it BSily Socks and their motto is simple: ‘Life is too short to wear matching socks!’ We got together with Lily to find more about the sock silliness.

Please tell us about yourselves.

Sam was born in Germany but moved to Portugal at the age of three and lived in the Alentejo area for a few years until his family moved to the Algarve.

After attending school in Loulé, Sam started working for his mother’s property management company, Management Works!, where he soon after became a partner.

What brought you to Portugal and where are you now based?

I was born and raised in the Algarve and attended school at Colégio International de Vilamoura. Once I completed high school, I moved to England to take my university degree in Birmingham where I studied Business Management. I then moved back to the Algarve and joined my mother’s real estate company, Mapro Real Estate, where I now am a digital marketer.

Sam’s family moved to Portugal as they were looking for a change from Germany, and once they found this paradise, they never wanted to go back. I moved back to Portugal after attending university as I did not see myself living in England and honestly the weather really does make a difference! We both now work in the Golden Triangle area and live in Loulé.

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How long have you been going and what kind of reaction have you had.

We started around this time last year, so around January we started putting the logo together to get us motivated, contacting manufacturers and designers. We soon after set up the company legally and around a few weeks later we went live with our website in May 2017.

We think that family and friends weren’t really expecting it to be honest, only our closest family/ friends knew about it and I think that it is quite common to hear about people’s ideas and projects but never really making it a reality. So when we did go ahead with it people were quite surprised. In regards to our target market, most people seem to really love the designs and how colourful they are, particularly the Italian market. Our emails flooded with collaboration requests from Italy!

What are your hopes for the future?

We hope that we can create a community where people feel comfortable expressing themselves through their fashion sense and push people to embrace their differences. And that we are able to make BSily our full time job!

Our target market is Europe, but Ireland and Italy are the most popular countries. Very soon we will be coming out with new designs and we have some fun projects planned out for 2018 so stay tuned!

You can purchase our odd socks online. We will package your order at home and it gets sent out the next day.

The idea for this interview came from an Algarve Addicts podcast which was set up by Nick Robinson.

You can find more of his interviews on the Algarve Daily News website (https://algarvedailynews.com/ algarve-addicts-podcasts).  www.bsilysocks.com

Community

Rustic chic to boutique a labour of love

BY SOPHIE SADLER

In 1981 Denise and Hans Kortekaas bought a holiday home in Lagos, 27 years later their daughter remodelled the property into a boutique hotel. What happened in between is a heart-warming family history which has evolved around the Quinta´s thick white walls, which climb up the hillside, offering an array of terraces and verandahs with far-reaching views.

a friend and I remember lots of BBQs in the pool house, playing in the gardens and the excitement of visiting the grottos in one of the old fishing boats. Then in my teens, my mother invited four of my friends to come and stay and in return, we had to paint the whole Quinta! She would ring the old cowbell outside our bedroom doors every morning to get us up to begin work!”

Denise and her Dutch husband, Hans, ran a successful tour operating business from Richmond in the UK. They craved more sunshine and the area around Lagos reminded Denise, originally from Zimbabwe, of her homeland and offered a similar amount of sunshine!

The Quinta became a family hobby with Denise and Hans, who are keen gardeners, creating the now much-admired grounds which cover 10,000 sq ms and create an atmosphere of tranquillity for guests.

They planted the Italian garden by hand, establishing over 1500 plant in this section alone. Walls were built around the perimeter and the former farm building was converted into a cottage.

The property, located on the Matos Morenos ridge, between Luz and Lagos, was made into a house in 1972 by a Yorkshire couple and at that time was the only property on the ridge, having originally been the site of a farm.

Hans recalls of this time: “Then there was no development between here and the old town of Lagos. The shepherd grazed his cattle on the land surrounding the Quinta and there was nothing to be seen between the old Portuguese farms at the top of the ridge and the Monchique hills in the distance.

The air would ring with cowbells and we kept one for years as a memento of this time.”

They had one of the first telephones in the whole area and can recall a time when people used to knock on the door and ask to look at it, as it was such a novelty. Their daughter, Chantelle, who was then seven remembers; “We would stay in the Quinta every school holiday, I would always come with

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Denise always loved hosting and filling the home with friends and family. She recalls; “At this time there were no large supermarket chains. I remember being incredibly excited when a convenience store opened where Tezenis is now in Lagos. Before that we used to visit the farm to buy milk and our suitcases would always be packed full of supplies when we arrived.”

In the days before budget airlines scheduled flights were rare and expensive and so Hans and Denise would go to Faro airport and try to get onto a charter flight when there were empty seats and Chantelle remembers having to sleep in the hire car overnight when the gamble was not successful!

There is no doubt that the Kortekaas´s were one of the first pioneers of the second home market in the Algarve and their love for travel is reflected in the momentos you still see around the Quinta. 

toldos - awnings sun wind rain protection

toldolanda

info@toldolanda.com | www.toldolanda.com | 914 609 517

Community

Cut to 2007, the Quinta was now no longer being used so much by the family with Chantelle now in her 30s, an events manager in Sydney living with her Scottish partner, Fraser Lindsay a fanatical mountain biker, who ran a bike shop.

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The property was becoming tired and was now too much work for Hans and Denise, who, with regret, put the property on the market. Chantelle and Fraser had an interest in travel and in their 20s had loved staying in boutique hotels and had even started a folder of clippings from places they had stayed; “Starting a B&B was always something we thought we would do when we were older;” recalls Chantelle, “but when we heard Quinta Bonita was on the market an idea started to form!”

“As a family that had worked in hospitality, tourism, event management, interior design and retail we felt we had the right skill sets to make this work and now a property to do it with. We sold up in Sydney and Scotland to fund the project.”

In 2009 the whole family embarked on a building programme, which would have given Grand Designs a run for its money! They had plans drawn up by a local architect to transform the private home into an 8 bedroomed boutique hotel while trying to retain the integrity of the much loved Quinta. “We wanted to maintain the Quinta Bonita’s laid back and friendly atmosphere so that people instantly feel at home and relaxed whilst having their every need catered for.

Our mantra is laid-back luxury,” explains Chantelle.

There were many challenges, including the language barrier, with the couple becoming experts in sign language! A major set back was that, while the roof was off, the Algarve experienced the wettest winter since 1870! “It was a challenging time;” laughs Chantelle, “We welcomed our first guests in June 2010 and we literally kicked the builders out an hour before the first guests arrived. We learnt to practice patience and modify our expectations of deadlines!”

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So how have the couple found the experience and do they have any regrets: “ I have at times felt a bit like Basil Fawlty, in terms of crisis management but I hope this never comes across to our guests!” grins Chantelle “When we first opened booking.com did not have an email option for bookings so we relied on fax, but we could not find a machine locally that distinguished between a phone call or fax arriving to the hotel line. Every time the phone rang in the middle of the night we had 30 seconds to jump out of bed rush up the garden path to the hotel and press “fax” or we would lose the booking and risk being taken offline by booking.com.”

“Inevitably with the level of the sort of bespoke service we offer it is an all-consuming way of life!

Two years after we opened I had my first child and then a second 18 months later, so it has been a juggling act. Our family grew out of the cottage and needed to move off-site, but we now rent it very successfully so it worked out for the best. Also whilst we have been trying to build up the business we have not been able to delegate, so I will greet guests and then run into the kitchen to wash up! However, the enjoyment people get from their holidays and from the house that I have known all my life makes it all worth it.”

It is this level of personal service that makes their guests return, Chantelle uses her years of knowledge of the Algarve to give her guests advice on the best places to visit, places to eat and off the beaten track beaches, thus enhancing their stay and giving them experiences beyond the norm.

It is clear that far from being Fawlty Towers, this new period in Quinta Bonita´s history is a fitting end to its history as a family holiday home and with Chantelle's children now three and four, enjoying playing in the gardens, maybe there will be another chapter when the next generation comes of age.

 www.boutiquehotelalgarve.com

Community

Left to right: Igreja de Santo António, Lagos; Praça de Gil Eanes, Lagos; Coming in to land

Meet the Artist This month we are introducing you to a fairly new Lagos-based artist, Malcolm Hyde, who moved to the Algarve five years ago. He divides his time between Portugal and Bristol.

Please can you start by telling us a little bit about yourself.

I am originally from Manchester, I studied and qualified in Graphic Design at Salford Art College and was then invited to spend a further year on an advanced typographic design course at the LCP in London. Upon returning back to Manchester I struggled to find a job within graphics. It was 1973 and unfortunately the time of the three day week and jobs were scarce, so I worked as a brewery labourer for a few months and then in a Manchester menswear boutique for a short time.

Out of nowhere, I was fortunate to be offered a position as an interior designer, not quite what I was looking for but better than cleaning beer barrels. For the next 10 years I learnt my skills whilst working for that employer, then I took a leap of faith by setting up and running my own interior design consultancy, which successfully took care of almost 30 years of my working life.

In 2008 I semi-retired from my company and became a part-time marketing consultant with an international European telecoms networking organisation. That’s when I made a few business trips over to Portugal and immediately fell in love with the place, especially the Algarve. Five years ago my wife Joyce and I bought a

home here in Lagos. We then have recently downsized our UK home and moved down to Bristol, which has enabled us to make a lifestyle decision where we now spend our lives six months at a time in each country.

Joyce is an Astrologer and Yoga Teacher, which are both transportable occupations, I needed to find something for myself.

Tell us about your art and what you specialise in.

I love architecture generally but especially here in the Algarve with its combination of both grand design and unique quaintness.

I want to share this with others by creating my own feel and vision of urban street and property scenes as well as developing different styles for portraying my landscapes.

Have you always been an artist?

No, not as I would perceive an artist to be, because as an interior designer I was very good at drawing lines, squares and boxes even when doing perspective sketches, my style was still very rigid.

It was after taking early retirement that I felt now was the time for me to try and return to my artistic roots and learn to be more free and expressive again. Something I hadn’t really done since my college days, so in June of last year I decided to start

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taking watercolour classes here in Praia da Luz. Making that decision has helped massively with my confidence and has allowed me to gain a deeper understanding and to experiment again with colour. It also gave me that ‘something for myself’ I was looking for.

What mediums do you work with?

As an old school interior designer (before CAD) I have always enjoyed working with pen and ink, so when I started drawing again earlier this year I felt comfortable with this medium. Now with the addition of watercolour I am able to take my urban pictures to a new level. On the other hand my landscape paintings have now allowed me to escape from my comfort zone totally, where no pen is involved at all, just paint.

Can you tell us how you create your work, where do you source your ideas from - and how do you decide what to do with each painting?

Most of my paintings originate from photographs that I have taken whilst I’m out and about walking or cycling. I then go home and go on to my terrace where I benefit from the special light we all enjoy here in the Algarve. I start by cropping and editing a selected photo, once I like the composition I then transfer it onto the paper using pencil guidelines and an initial sketch. 

Community The longest part of the process happens next which is building up the picture using pen and ink, before finally bringing the picture to life by introducing watercolour. When it’s a pure watercolour painting there’s just a small amount of pencil work at the beginning, after that it’s about you and the watercolours having fun.

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How would you like people to respond to your work?

With my local paintings, I hope they will give people a sense of pleasure as they may recognise a building or a street and that will maybe act as a fond memory of their visit or of their life here in the Algarve. If they end up on somebody's wall, then that would be just wonderful.

Do you have a favourite painting?

It’s always the one I have just completed, at some point with every painting I have doubts or I’m unhappy with the way it’s going but then as it all comes together those feelings disappear and my latest little creation takes shape and becomes a finished piece.

Do you have any advice for an aspiring or hobby artist?

Don’t do what I did and delay in getting started, just

get going and enjoy the process. What helped me the most was involving myself with other like-minded people by enrolling into classes and joining an art society.

Is there anywhere else that we can buy your work - and are you available for commissions?

By appointment anyone is welcome to visit my studio at our Lagos home. If I may have interested anyone in possibly commissioning me then my contact details are below.

This article has been provided by the Algarve Society of Artists - a group formed to support and promote art and artists across the Algarve. They have a website www.algarve-art. com and publish a free quarterly online magazine entitled Algarve Art! Visit their website for more information.

Top to bottom: Portas da Cidade de Silves; Malcolm and Joyce

 malcolm.hyde@me.com  www.algarve-art.com/art/malcolm-hyde/  +44 7776 216 391

Kelly’s quiz master

BY REBECCA SIMPSON For almost 20 years Fred Sephton has been coming up with quirky questions for his pub quiz at Kelly’s Bar in Luz which have entertained thousands of residents and visitors alike.

It all started when the sports bar opened in 2000 and manager Fred was asked whether he fancied doing a pub quiz. What started as a casual request has become a local tradition. During the summer months, Fred normally has around 20-30 teams every Monday and Friday - one night last summer he broke the record with 34 teams.

Every week he writes at least 150 questions combining a huge variety of fact and fun.

So what has made it so popular? Fred said: "Making sure it’s fun for everyone with up-to-date

questions that keep it entertaining for everyone and definitely not boring!”

Fred has also made it his mission to defy the age of technology by using as many questions as possible where the answers can’t be found on Google!

Over the years there have been many a funny coincidence during Fred’s quiz.

For example, during the music round a couple of years ago Fred was reading out a question about the popular band Bucks Fizz only to realise Cheryl Baker was sat across the room taking part in the quiz.

Last year whilst on the sports round Fred highlighted a Ginger McCain question only to realise his daughter was also on one of the quiz teams that evening.

Fred is originally from Southport and claims he is a ‘Woolyback’ from the outskirts of Liverpool. He is now 71 and sees himself carrying on the Kelly’s Fun Quiz tradition for many years to come. He is well-known for being an avid and life-long supporter of

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Liverpool Football Club and if asked what his religion is will answer ‘Kopite’. When he worked in London in the 1970s and 1980s Fred was the chairman and one of the co-founders of the London branch of the Liverpool Supporters Club.

Fred’s fun quiz starts at 9:30pm every Monday and Friday (between March and October) and has eight rounds of six questions with categories including pot luck, movies, sport, television, music, general knowledge and two themed rounds which change every week.

The main quiz is then followed by a very popular trivia bingo round of 25 questions which anyone can win depending on how the answers appear that night.

The quiz is free and open to anyone with the prize being a full round of drinks for the winning team. Please call Kelly’s Bar. Kelly's Bar:  +351 282 788 631

Community

Get away to the Algarve The BBC series Get Away for Winter which follows friends and families as they work out how to fund and find rental properties abroad to escape the worst of the British weather focused on the Algarve last month. We asked Len Port to speak to some of those involved in the programme so we could hear more.

Trish and Dave Guilford from Sussex stayed in Ferragudo from mid-December to mid-February after their specially filmed search for an ideal winter getaway. They chose a two-bedroom apartment at €650 a month and enjoyed their first stay in the Algarve so much that they have booked accommodation in Ferragudo for six months throughout the whole of next winter.

Mandy Hughes, a Lagoa-based property consultant, who managed the majority of the venues for the Get Away for the Winter filming in the Algarve last October, says the winter rental market here is very buoyant.

“Every year we are seeing more visitors from both Europe and further afield, particularly America and Canada.” She says the winter trend provides a great option for local owners who rent their property out in the summer months but often have it standing empty over the winter. A quality, two-bedroom house or apartment in a good location can often be rented for between €500 and €800 per month plus utility costs in the winter.

“There is not a great demand for villas over the winter as those visiting from November to April tend to be retired couples.” As many of the major holiday resorts almost shut down over the winter months, less publicised places such as Lagos and Ferragudo are entertaining the bulk of the winter visitors.

Mandy says.

“The long term rental market, involving lets of twelve months or more, has also become increasingly busy.

Property sales are a very important side of our business and we see that many overseas purchasers are opting to rent before they buy – giving themselves time to decide on their preferred area over a twelve month period rather than basing their property choice on relatively short holiday experiences.”

Mandy notes that many of those investing in an Algarve property may be well placed to enjoy it either as solely a second home, or making the most out of their investment with holiday and long term lets. “In Algarve Sales and Rentals we have found that property owners are turning to us to manage the whole rental process for them. That includes advertising, finding tenants, arranging contracts and then getting the tenants settled into the property.

“The incentives to do this are many, not least of which is no longer having to pay utilities, gardeners, and pool maintenance.

“Once they have taken all their costs into account, 95% of owners come to the conclusion that they actually make more profit for a long-term rental than they do for the summer holiday market.”

Trish and Dave Guildford, retirees who have fallen in love with the Algarve as a result of taking part in the first episode of the BBC’s Get Away for the Winter series, are also expecting to make a profit next winter. While renting in Ferragudo again, this time for six months from next October, they intend to rent out their Sussex home. They anticipate a far higher income per month from their own house than they will be paying in Ferragudo, plus saving on UK heating bills, food and other less expensive items here.

Trish and Dave, who stayed in Ferragudo from midDecember to mid-February, say they would consider renting elsewhere in the Algarve in future years. “We love the Portuguese and especially the Algarve area with its beautiful scenery and glorious beaches and walks. The feeling of friendliness from the locals is really lovely. We feel safe here and less stressed.”

Mandy Hughes, of the Lagoa-based company Algarve Sales and Rentals, did the background research and suggested accommodation in the €650 to €800 a month in locations other than the already most publicised places. Mandy, a consultant with the company Algarve Sales and Rentals, co-ordinated details of the property search that spanned five full days early last October. On camera, another agent with much experience in all sections of the property business here, Nick Austin, gave Dave a guided tour around a fisherman's cottage and a two-bedroom apartment in Ferragudo, a two-berdoom apartment in Vilamoura, and a typical Portuguese townhouse in Lagos.

They visited a property in Porches too, but it did not feature in the show as it was out of the price bracket.

An unusual feature of the series is that one of the couple – in this case Dave's wife – stays at home.

Trish, was not in the Algarve in person during the filming, but was filmed daily in their Sussex home taking part in her husband's guided tours via Skype.

Dave, is a 74-year-old retired independent financial adviser, while 71-Trish worked as a baby sign teacher and vibrogym exercise coach. Of the four properties they were shown, the Guilfords went for the Ferragudo apartment.

The Algarve programme can be watched on BBC1 Catch-up.

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Trish & Dave

Community

Diplomatic ramblings

BY DOUG MCADAM

I should have realised the first time I tried to open the door of my office car in Hamburg in late 1999 that my posting as Consul General would not be quite as straightforward as I had envisaged. It seemed to weigh a ton and turned out to be bullet proof!

front and rear entrances and patrolled the grounds on a regular basis: the screech of walkie-talkies under our bedroom window during the night became a necessary evil. They were still there when we left 18 months later.

It was apparently a throwback to the bad old days when the British Ambassador in The Hague was murdered by the IRA and cars provided for senior British officials in western Europe were armoured. Anyhow the aged Rover was almost a death trap in itself: it went very well on the autobahns but stopping it was another matter. I was able to resist pressure to replace it with a similarly protected vehicle.

We were also obliged to install rising bollards in our drive which were highly temperamental and we lived in fear of ‘skewering’ an innocent visitor’s car. I was also asked by the police to remove the Consular number plate on my private car (since each mission had a designated number which would have made identifying me easier) and instead to have an ordinary Hamburg plate – some wag in the police department issued me with anonymous plate number HH-ER-220!

When I was eventually able to obtain a normal vehicle I was not permitted to dispose of the armoured one locally as it had been protected to UK government specifications which were of course of a classified nature! I was told, perhaps apocryphally, that on its return to the UK it was destroyed on a tank firing range.

But security always had to be taken seriously and over the years there had been a number of scares at our unprotected building. Matters became rather more complicated after the 9/11 World Trade Centre attack for which the plot was hatched by a Hamburgbased cell. The threat levels gradually rose until I received a ‘phone call late one night from a senior Hamburg police contact to say they were aware of a specific bomb threat against my building.

They had decided not to send visible security and would instead keep the perpetrators under observation. A few minutes later at around midnight he rang to say they had changed their minds and very quickly afterwards twenty or so heavily armed police arrived. They set up portacabins at our

We were fortunate that our building was some 40 metres from the road and therefore not easily prone to bomb attack. The American Consulate at the end of our road had traffic running alongside the building so the police were obliged to close that part of the road. The danger to Consular premises from roadside suicide bombers was very sadly illustrated during my time in Hamburg by the deadly attack in Istanbul which killed Consul-General Roger Short (who had been my close colleague in Rio) and his secretary in his office.

The Foreign Office agreed with me that I should decline close protection: but my lady US counterpart was shadowed at every move outside her building by armed police officers. So she was denied the opportunities my wife and I had to sneak out of the back door of our Consulate on foot from time to time to a local favourite restaurant or pub.

Doug retired to the Algarve 14 years ago after over 40 years in the Foreign Office

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Make Lagos accessible

BY KEVIN APLIN I have some good news to report, proposal 18 to improve the accessibility of pedestrian crossings in Lagos was passed by voters. The proposal came in first place in Lagos and third overall in the county. The top three proposals are certain to get the go ahead.

The Orçamanto Participativo (participatory budget) process began in the summer of 2017 when meetings were held in Lagos and in the Freguesias.

Anyone can attend the meetings and submit a proposal for up to 50,000 euros, that they feel would improve life and the environment in Lagos.

Thirty-four proposals were submitted.

Each proposal was then reviewed for feasibility by the technical department of the county. Twenty proposals ultimately made it to the ballot and voting took place in December and January.

Here are the vote totals and a brief description of the top three proposals: Proposal 30- 71 votes- To construct a water conduit in Monte Lemos, Luz. Proposal 32- 66 votes- For a Basketball, Futsal, and handball court in Odiaxere.

Proposal 18- 65 votes- For accessibility of pedestrian crossings in Lagos A total of 562 votes were cast and as you can see from the margins between these proposals every vote really does count!

I will be keeping up with the administration on implementation of this proposal, and I am looking forward to advocating for more infrastructure improvements to ensure that the disabled are included in daily life in Lagos.

Interested in adding your voice, please contact me by email.

 kacitizen@gmail.com

Community

Walk with the wildlife Marine biologist, Nuno Barros, was a passionate birdwatcher from a young age.

For over 10 years he worked in bird and wildlife conservation before moving back to Aljezur to start Birdland Tours. We sent would-be twitcher George Ford on a tour.

If you are a keen twitcher or simply looking to learn more about the environment around you, Birdland Tours is (not are) ideal. Founded in 2015 by Nuno Barros, Birdland links a knowledge of science, environmental awareness and tourism in one unique package.

The tours are tailored according to the preferences of the group as well as the season and location which makes each one unique.

Coming from an Aljezur family, Nuno grew up in Lisbon. He has been a birdwatcher from a young age and recently decided to move back to the Algarve to launch Birdland. For over 10 years his work in conservation took him around the world considering and addressing issues such as the impact of humanity on marine environment.

This relatively new venture hopes to draw people’s attention to nature which can be overlooked. Fullday and half-day tours are available from Aljezur, Lagos or Sagres and their surrounding areas. While birds are the main attraction and focus, Nuno draws on his wealth of knowledge of other aspects of nature such as wildflowers, butterflies and tidal pools.

It is this knowledge which drives these tours, making them a thoroughly educational experience. But they offer more than academic information. They offer

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a chance to retreat from the chaos of modern life and to simply spend a few hours looking, thinking and feeling in the presence of beautiful natural surroundings.

During our half-day tour, which lasted around four hours, Nuno observed 56 species of bird, by either sight or hearing alone, in the Boca do Rio area. In the quiet and coastal valley wintering and resident birds were the main attraction. The evergreen vegetation of juniper and grey-leaved rock roses were the perfect hideout for Serins, Siskins and Ring Ouzels.

On a tour every member of the group gets a set of binoculars. Nuno is always prepared, too, with an additional telescope. This was particularly useful at one point when we were able to use it to observe a mid air scuffle between two Buzzards, a Sparrowhawk, a Peregrine Falcon and a young Bonelli’s Eagle. This was perhaps an allusion to the brutal reality of nature, which the tour does not ignore.

Drawing on his passion for local history, Nuno provides historical accounts of the surrounding landscape whilst out on tour. By the ruins of an old Roman fish farming settlement, we saw Common Sandpipers and Linnets feeding and Sweet Allison, a delicate white wild flower.

The extent of Nuno’s passion for wildlife was showcased once again when, as we were about to depart, he pulled into the side of the road at the sighting of yet another species of bird. Insisting that we all followed to observe alongside him, we managed to see the incredible Hoopoe, feeding in the grass. This, for me, encapsulated the brilliance of the Birdland Tour experience. As it is delivered with such contagious enthusiasm, it is clear that this is much more than a job for Nuno. It is his passion.

It is an unforgettable day that I urge you to experience, visit the Birdland website for booking and information.

 www.birdland.pt

What's on

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

Events March 1-3 - Whole Foods Nutritional Workshop 3pm €20/€30 | 4th Flower Workshop 10am €25 | 8 -10th Watercolor Painting Workshop 3 pm €50 p.p / €80 for two 12&13th | Persian Cuisine 5.30pm €80 (+dinner) | 17 - 20th Photo & Video Workshops 3pm €45 | 27- 29th Film Production Workshops 4pm €10, Casa Mãe Lagos, 968 369 732 March 24th Musical Revolutions in the Mediterranean Gonçalo Pescada (diff. types of accordion) Musical journey through Mediterranean countries - Italian Tarantella, Spanish Flamenco. Booking: €19.50 inc. buffet with wine, cheese & homemade products, Quinta das Alagoas nr. Almadena, 924 204 343 March 25 Palm Sunday 8am, Holy Communion 11.30am, Holy Communion with the Blessing & Distrib. of Palms, 29th Maundy Thursday 10am Holy Communion, 30th Good Friday11am Music, Readings & Prayers, April 1 Easter Sunday 8am Holy Communion | 11.30am Festival Holy Communion

March 10 St. Patrick’s Society Dinner & Dance, 7pm, €30/€35 Non mem. (inc 3 course meal & drinks) Black Tie or Lounge Suit, Pestana Viking Hotel Armação de Pêra, 282 4315 95 / 966 846 267 March 4th Indian Buffet Staters Main Course Naan & Rice 5 - 10pm €12 (not inc. Drinks) Reservation Needed, Sangam Jardim, Luz, 282 760 882 March 3rd Dreams: Doorway to Spiritual Freedom 3pm FREE monthly discussion series on dreams in En, Pt, Sp, Gr, Fr. Hotel Mira Sagres, Vila do Bispo, 968 64 1314 March 3 Beginners Yoga 11am €5 | 4th Monthly Restorative Yoga 2.30pm €22 (R.S.V.P) | 17 & 18th Mind Calm - Meditation course 2pm Reg. ‘till 14th €50 | 24th Self-Healing Course for Women 2.30pm Reg. ‘till 21st €25 | 25th REIKI Share & Course 2pm Reg. ‘till 21st, Donation | 8th & 22nd Yoga Nidra Deep Relaxation 7.30pm €5.80-10, InLight Lagos, 913 127 421

Walking Football Wed 9.30am +50yrs Welcome, €3 Boavista Golf Resort | Luz, 282 790 930 Netball Wed 7pm, All ages & abilities, Behind Bombeiros Building Lagos, charlie.milsom@gmail.com

Zumba Gold (for softies & the more mature, €5 Lagos, 914 731 772 Gymnastik for a fit back Mon 6.15am, €8 Belavista, 965 211 996 Pilates Mat Classes (All Levels) Mon - Fri 8:30, 9:30 & 10:30am & 6pm, €10 or €90 x10, AR Pilates Studio Lagos, 966 787 280 Pilates Mat Class Tue & Thur 6-7pm Clube da Raposeira, & Thur 10-11am Centro Cultural Barão S. João €5, 911 754 890 Hatha Yoga Mon Wed & Fri 9.45-11.15am €10 | Kids Yoga Sat 9.15am Boavista, Bookings: 963 614 499 Gentle Hatha Mon 6.30 Old School Burgau & Wed 12.15, Hotel Belavista Luz €8, 965 201 477 Tai Ji Quan Mon 10am (beg) & Thurs 5.30pm (adv), €10 Dojo Zen de Lagos, B. S. João, 919 718 955

Pilates Mat Classes Mon Wed & Fri 9.15 & 10.30am & Mon 6.30pm (1hr), €10 or €90 for 10 | HathaYoga Tues 6pm | Ashtanga Class Sat 10.30, Pilates Equipment Classes | Duet Reformer | Semi Private & 1-2-1, Pilates Room | Lagos, 926 514 613 Body Push Tue & Thurs 9.30am | Pilates Mon & Fri 9.30 & Tues & Thurs 11am, €5, Golf Santo Antonio Budens, 282 690 086 Yoga (Ashtanga) Tues & Thurs 10.30am | Slow Flow & Yin Yoga Wed 9.15am €10 , €65 for 8 (resid.) | Yoga for Men Tues 6.30pm €20 for 4, Grupo Desportivo do Burgau 913 202 621 Healing Meditation with Sacred Geometry Mon 8pm Sug. donation €10 | Barre infused Yoga Tue 12.30pm | Hatha Yoga Wed 6pm | Yoga Flow Thur 6pm | Vinyasa Flow Sun 9.30am,€5.80 - 10, InLight Lagos, 913 127 421

Pre natal Yoga & Hatha Yoga Group Classes, €10 or 1 x week p.m €30 or 2 x Week p.m €40, Casa Sakra Lagos, 916 06 0814 Pilates Mon & Tue 10am & Fri 6.30pm, Yoga Dance Flow Wed 6.30pm, Power Yoga Thur 10am, €5.50 - €8.50, Lalitana Yoga & Pilates Center, Lagos 914 061 143 Legs Bums & Tums Mon 1.30pm | Total Fitness Mon 7.30pm | HIIT Yoga Fri 9.30am, (€7) Burgau Sports Centr | Boxercise Tues 7pm Lagos nr.

Skatepark | Buggy Fit Thurs 9.45 - 11am Wacky Lagos, €6 Soames Fitness (1-2-1 & Group Training available at your location or studio), 913 425 893 Pilates Wed 11am | Yoga & De-stress Fri 11am | Zumba Dance Wed & Fri 10am | Step! & Tone (pre-booking) Thurs 10am, €7.50 Hotel Belavista Luz, 968 288 258

Classes Open Painting Atelier Thurs 10.30am, €12.50 (+ materials) Barão S. João, 962 039 574

Activities

Tennis Doubles- Round Robin Thurs 3-5pm €7.50, Golf Santo Antonio Budens, 282 690 008

Fitness

Dog Training Tue 11am (Rally-Obedience, Fri 11am & Sat 4pm (Agility), €25 4 sess. Espiche, 968 086 320

ROLL UP for experienced bowlers Mon & Fri 10am, Bowls for Beginners Tue 11am (1st lesson FREE), €10 (non mem.) | Floresta Bowls Club, Rua Direita Praia da Luz, 919 707 635

Drumming Classes Thurs 11am, AmoVate, Vale da Telha Aljezur, 960 305 141

Group Lesson - Short Game Area & Driving Range Wed 10am - 1pm €20 p.p & Fri 2 - 3.30pm €15 p.p, Espiche Golf 282 688 250

Classical Guitar Classes (English Speaking ABRSM Certified) 1-2-1 for children, adults & seniors €20p/h (References available), Lagos, Paulo 962 690 582

Portuguese Beginners Class Mon 10am, €7, Portelas, 912 417 994

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Mediterranean Gardening Classes (Beginners) Green & brown thumbs welcome, small groups | Classical Homeopathy Classes Certified expert | Theory & practice | English & German, €45-€65 (35hs), Nr.Lagos, SMS only: 918 264 864 Watercolour Lessons Thur 10am - 12.30pm (Beginners welcome) €10, Church Hall Praia Da Luz , 912 149 839 Oriental Dance Class (beginners) Mon 7pm €6, LAC Lagos, 914 851 331 Healing painting classes Wed & Thurs 3pm| +/70yrs, no experience necessary, €10 | Barão S. João, 962 039 574

African Dance Classes Mon 7pm (Teatro Experimental de Lagos) & Tue 10.30am Tertúlia, Aljezur & Tue 7pm & Thurs 10.30am Rogil-Aljezur, €10 964 588 588 Life Drawing Mon 11am Beginners & Professionals, €10 p.sess Marina de Lagos, 916 035 308 Computer Classes Sat 10am All levels Lagos, 918 764 613 Swimming Lessons Mon & Thurs pm & Sat am, €12.50 (non-mem.) €10 (mem.), Holiday Courses 3x per Week €25 (non-mem.) €20 (mem.), Boavista Golf Resort, 917 953 914

Charity/ Support March 21st Alzheimer's/ Dementia Support Group 11am, Cafe Bom Dia, Rua Moinho do Azeite | Lagos, Carol 926 297 527 or Kirsteen 968 084 946 Riding for Disabled Mon, Wed, Fri 10am | Volunteers welcome, weather permitting, Bensafrim, 915 090 044 Cadela Carlota Animal Charity Extra hands needed to help Three hour shifts am or pm, Almadena Shop, More Info: cadelacarlota.comp@ gmail.com AA International English Speaking Meeting Wed 7.30 - 9pm, Rua Da Freguesia Lote 12c, Lagos, 964 201 904 / 282 760 506, AA hotline: 917 005 590

Faith

Meditation Thurs 9.15am, Boavista Golf Resort | Luz, 282 790 930/963 614 499 Communion Services Said Holy Communion Thurs 10am & Sun 8am, Sung Holy Communion (with hymns) 11.30am, CoE | St Vincent’s Anglican Church Praia da Luz (church by the sea), Chaplain: 282 789 660 Zazen Zen Meditation Tue & Thurs 7.30am & Wed 7.30pm, €3 | Dojo Zen de Lagos | Barão S. João, 919 718 955

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

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

Pharmacies/Chemist

LACOBRENSE NEVES CHEMIST RIBEIRO LOPES TELLO CHEMIST SILVA CHEMIST ODIAXERE CHEMIST

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

Consulates/Embassies BRITISH 282 490 750 FRANCE (FARO) 281 380 660 GERMAN (LAGOS) 282 799 668 NETHERLANDS (FARO) 213 914 900 CANADA (FARO) 289 803 757 SWEDISH (FARO) 213 942 260 IRISH 213 308 200

No job too small PORTUGUESE LESSON 912 417 994 TRANSLATIONS 916 618 527 ALICE (PORTUGUESE) 914 269 118 GAVIN COX (BUILDER) 916 430 132 HELIO (ELECTRICIAN) 917 288 966 LUIS (LOCKSMITH) 964 605 213 CHIM. & WIN. CLEANER 926 860 123 RUSSELL (MECHANIC) 282 639 778 ANA (SEWING) 919 747 591 STEVEN (COMPUTERS) 936 387 512 PEDRO (COMPUTERS) 917 165 238 XELI (FLORIST) 282 768 129 UK DELIVERIES 0044 208 123 1966 DESIGN 916 606 226 ALISON HAIRDRESSER 918 663 352 PAINTING - INT / EXT 925 374 624 CARPET CLEANING 915 532 850

What's on in March Sausage Fair This year the annual Monchique Traditional Sausage Fair will take place on March 3rd and 4th.

The aim of the event is to promote and familiarise people with locally crafted sausages from the serra made from the meat of Iberian pigs and produced

in accordance with the region’s traditional methods.

The fair also promotes other produce from the uplands such as medronho brandy, typical homemade confectionery, honey, liqueurs and handicrafts.

The venue is the Municipal Heliport in Monchique.

 +351 282 910 200  www.cm-monchique.pt

Easter event An Easter fair is being held at Fortaleza Restaurant in Luz on March 24th between 11am and 3pm. The event will raise money for the palliative care charity, Madrugada.

There will be lots of fun for all the family from Easter treats, games and surprises. Please bring along your decorated Easter eggs and bonnets for competitions at 2pm. There will be chance to meet the Easter bunny and live music all day.

If you would like to have your own stall at the event please call.

 +351 282 761 375

Gardening spring fair The MGAP (Mediterranean Gardening Association Portugal) will be holding its annual Spring Fair on Saturday March 3rd at Quinta da Figuerinha, near Silves. See www.qdf.pt for directions.

There will be excellent opportunities to buy the most appropriate plants for your garden and to benefit from advice and guidance from knowledgeable nursery suppliers.

Catering and bar service also will be available at the Quinta bar and from a pop up café run by the volunteers from the charity, Friends of the Canil of

Portimão. The proceeds will help fund a sterilisation campaign for the dogs of homeless and low income owners.

Entrance fee is €1 per person (under 16s free) and there is free on-site parking as well as the popular plant crèche where you can leave your purchases in safe hands while you continue to enjoy the many attractions of the day. The event opens at 10am to members and 11am to the public.

More information and updates will be posted on the MGAP Facebook events page and website.

 /events/177142883058782/  www.mediterraneangardingportugal.org

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Historical walks Peter Kingdon Booker is offering guided walks around the historical town on Tavira. On Wednesday March 7th the Walled Town, Wednesday March 14th the Medieval Town and Wednesday 21th the Northern Suburbs.

Meet at 11am at the Roman Bridge, Tavira. The tours cost €2.50. Please email Peter to book tickets.

 peterbooker1347@gmail.com

Sequential skydive Skydive Algarve will be hosting the Sequential Games between April 4th and April 8th. The event will involve about 100 skydivers in three different teams. Each team has 28 participating skydivers.

This is a formation skydiving event.

Formation skydiving is when the skydivers all jump out of the plane at the same time and form attractive shapes, joined together, in the sky during freefall.

They will perform formations of 28 skydivers as well as 45 skydivers at a time- this means Skydive Algarve will be using three of their Dornier G92 aircraft. Each plane carries 15 skydivers to the 14,000ft altitude. A formation of 45 skydivers is the unofficial

national record here in Portugal of the maximum number of skydivers jumping together in formation.

The event is organised and coached by three well known skydivers Dieter Kirsch from Germany, ‘Milko’ aka Ian Hodgkinson from the UK and Patrick Passe from France.

There will be participants flying in from all over the world for this event.

Skydive Algarve are very excited to be welcoming this event here for the third consecutive year.

 www.skydivealgarve.com

Ahoy me hearties The sleepy town of Alcoutim and its Spanish neighbour across the water Sanlúcar de Guadiana will be hosting The Smugglers Festival 2018 between March 23rd and 25th.

Thousands are drawn to this event which celebrates the two communities’ mutual history of late-night smuggling which includes a pedestrian floating bridge built across the river linking the two villages for the weekend.

The event in the Guadiana recreates a period market from late 1930s, a time when war was rife and basic products and goods were scarce.

The event combines all the activities related to smuggling, customs and border guards, and old trades and professions into a festival of street

arts, with a focus on topics related to rural affairs, depopulation, the aging of the population and the habits and customs of the region.

Street theatre, story-telling, popular music, exhibitions and other arts will be taking centre-stage at this event.

The footbridge has a motto which is ‘local communities’ dreams can come true’.

The Smugglers’ Festival is a combined tribute to an activity, which throughout history and to the people living along the border, was as important as the arts and culture.

Cultural centre concert This month Luisa Sobral will be in concert at the Cultural Centre is Lagos.

The musician will be performing on March 10th at 9.30pm.

Luisa’s wrote the song that helped her brother Salvador to win the Eurovision Song Contest last year. The song was called Amar Pelos Dois, the title of which means "Love for both".

She came to prominence in 2003 after coming third in a Portuguese version of Idols. She released her debut album, The Cherry on My Cake, in 2011.  +351 282 770 450

 festivaldocontrabando

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What's on

Are you ready for a challenge?

This year’s Guadiana Challenge, one of Portugal’s key stand up paddle events, which takes place in April looks set to be bigger and better than ever.

one of the event organizers said: “In 2017, we were so happy to see families from all over Portugal travel to be part of the festival”.

Last year’s Guadiana Challenge "exceeded all our exceptions", explained Nick Robinson from Algarve SUP, founder and organizer of the event.

This year, the event is not just about the, now 23 km, race from Mertola, but about showing the public the amazing sport of stand up paddle and having fun at the same time. You will be able to try out boards from many different brands and meet and watch top paddlers in action.

In 2017 over 140 paddlers and hundreds of spectators came out to enjoy an amazing three days of fun in Mértola, Southern Portugal on the Guadiana River. Stand up paddlers flew in from all over Europe, some opted to compete in the race section, others to enjoy a long but stress-free paddle along one of Portugal’s most remote and historic water courses.

Nick said: “In 2014 when I first paddled the 32 km from Mértola to Alcoutim, I couldn’t wait to share this incredible experience with as many other paddlers as possible. Thankfully the event we now call the Guadiana Challenge has enabled us to do that.

“Adventure paddling is surging in interest as many people are packing their boards and heading out for a weekend of fun in nature. This challenge will prove that it’s not actually that tough to paddle much further than you ever thought you could,” Nick added.

Tom Longhurst from Algarve Marquees

The days adventures are split into three: one is the 23 km race (which professional paddle boarder Leonard Nika has won for the past two years); there’s also the 23km fun paddle where participants are able to stop for lunch if they choose to and enjoy the stunning unspoiled river and there is also a 10km paddle route. Last year five-year-old Noah and Lily Longhurst, aged seven, proved it could be done at any age.

In 2017, we were overwhelmed by the public's enthusiasm, 100 people enjoyed the riverside dinner which completed a fitting end to the days events. The party went into the earlier hours with campfires and live music and Sunday was filled with fun events too.

The date is set for the weekend of April 21st 2018, book your accommodation now as the town is almost full.

 www.guadianachallenge.com  guadianachallenge  nick@algarvesup.com  +351 916 634 007

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Sunday afternoon tea dance

BY LENA STRANG On Sunday March 5th at 5pm Clube Artístico Lacobrigense will host another one of their popular Sunday afternoon Tea Dances. Do come along to listen to the swinging tunes of the Orquestra Ligeira de Lagos and if the fancy takes, have a twirl on the dance floor!

The orchestra has been entertaining audiences in the Algarve since 2009.

Musicians from a range of different countries often join the eleven permanent orchestra members, extending the musical repertoire. We are assured that the talented young singers, Rui Estavão and Isabela Vanderlei, both 17, will be enchanting listeners once again.

The event is supported by Lagos Municipal Council and the Junta de Freguesia de Gonçalo. The entrance fee is €5 and includes a cup of tea and a cake. There is no need to reserve tickets – just turn up on the day.

Further Tea Dances will take place on the first Sunday of April and May.

 Rua General Alberto da Silveira, no.

8, 8600-594 Lagos (Diagonally opposite the Municipal Museum and St António Church.

Kiko’s Tasca

Wine, food and friends.

Portuguese food. Tapas, lunch and dinner.

Come and try for yourself.

Open from 11am to 11pm. Closed on Tuesdays • Tel.: +351 282 046 037 • Email: one.destino@gmail.com Centro Naútico Sopromar - Estrada Sopromar (Meia-Praia) • LAGOS • GPS - N 37º 06.433' / W 08º 40.176' • f facebook.com/tascadokiko

Charity news

Meeting the call from May-Day

BY STEVEN SUTTON On Sunday February 11th TACT members and readers of Tomorrow met up at the May-Day Dog Sanctuary for the first Giving Back Day of the year.

In total there were over 20 volunteers who helped during the day, all armed with tools and a determination to help a very worthwhile cause! The sanctuary in Vila do Bispo is a safe haven for dogs that have been ill treated or found abandoned. We were told of dogs from all kinds of situations that were heartbreaking. As we walked around we could see the work that goes into the day-to-day running of this amazing place and the help that we gave was very well received. Last year over 100 dogs were re-homed from there and this is all down to the hard work of the people who work there.

The day was spent re- building the pens, clearing the runs and play areas. In addition we fixied the roofs of the shelters and making them more comfortable and water tight. Another team fixed and made secure the fences around compound.

The dogs watched with some curiosity and eagerness as we worked the day away. All of them have their own personalities and characters, and were all overjoyed to see us. It was sad to leave the dogs as they had found a way in to our hearts that day but we leave knowing that we have created something special for them to enjoy and be safe in. We still have three more Giving Back Days this year.

The next one will be focused on the environment in April, the third will focus on people in July and the fourth will be decided later but it will be in October.

We will tell you more details over the next few months.

If you would like to take part in one of our days or would like to know how you can get involved with our charity. Send your enquiry to Steven at steven@tomorrowalgarve.com

Family fun run Last month as part of the Tomorrow charity (TACT) events we joined forces with a school in Lagos to raise funds for two local good causes. More than 100 people turned out for this joint event which was held with Bambino School. The money raised - a fantastic €707 - was divided between the Red Cross and Associação Dream It. During the one hour run, over 300 laps were completed by all participants. The day began with a warm up for all participants followed by the run itself which kicked off at 10.30am. All the runners completed the 1st lap together, then the more adventurous carried on to complete as many laps as they could.

The day was a huge success thanks to the efforts of Collegio Bambino and all the staff that attended on the day and supported the race. The Tomorrow Algarve Charity (TACT) and Bambino donated the refreshments and also the bouncy castle that kept the little ones happy. A special thank you to the Red Cross and Dream It who also attended and participated in the race.

The idea for the charity fun run came from one of Collegio Bambino’s students, Harrison Harding (aged nine), who said he wanted to raise money for worthy charities and have fun at the same time. TACT hopes that this will become an annual event so look out for next year’s fun run details.

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What's on

Much ado about the ‘Grande Embrulho’

Get jazzy

BY LENA STRANG

On Saturday March 17th , at the Lagos Cultural Centre, Thorsten Grütjen will perform a contemporary circus show where the clown, dance, music and object manipulation come together around a cone shaped paper bag.

The 50-minute performance is based on mime and accompanied by the musician, Gil Abrantes.

Behind the humour and surprise elements of the show there is also a message. “Today our planet is undergoing difficult times because of our actions. The performance aims to raise awareness of the excessive use of plastic in society,” Thorsten explains.

His inspiration for the play is based on his own childhood experiences when paper bags were used when buying traditional products.

German born Thorsten has been entertaining audience with his performance skills for over 20 years.

Since arriving in Portugal in 1992 and settling in Aljezur, he has been involved in clown art, juggling, improvisation

and object manipulation. He has travelled extensively and participated in many international street theatres and juggling festivals. Along the way he has amassed a number of performance awards.

O Grande Embrulho (The Great Package) should appeal to both adults and children (over four) with its ecological message packaged with elements of humour and fun.

Thorsten is no stranger to Lagos. As the Juggling Postman he was last seen entertaining children and adults at the Lagos Carnival last month. Over the years he has given a variety of performances in Lagos.

The show is a co-production with the Teatro Municipal de Faro.

Tickets cost €7 for adults (concessions for retired and students) and €3 for children.

 +351 282 770 450

The New Orleans Jazz Band will perform for the third time this year at the Beira Rio Restaurant in Tavira on March 24th at 6pm.

The Beira Rio Restaurant is a favourite haunt of the band. The restaurant has a large space to dance and there will also be a buffet supper.

The New Orleans Jazz Band was formed in 1998 by a group of international jazz musicians, all now living in the Algarve.

Tickets are €22.50 per person. 3 x 50 minute sets, an umbrella parade and a buffet supper! A whole evening’s entertainment by the River Gilão in Tavira.

Early booking is recommended.

 tony.pendleton@hotmail.co.uk

The Boca do Rio necropolis On Tuesday March 6th , the Algarve Archaeological Association (AAA) will be presenting two lectures, in English, by Prof João Bernardes. The first lecture will be at 2.30pm at the Museu do Traje in São Bras, the second lecture will be at 6pm at the Convento de São José in Lagoa.

Prof João Bernardes will be presenting the findings from his archaeological excavation at the Roman necropolis at Boca do Rio, Vila do Bispo in the summer of 2016. With the support of the AAA, Prof Bernardes undertook an archaeological excavation assisted by a number of Archaeology undergraduates. They uncovered and excavated nine Roman graves of people who inhabited the nearby fishing site in

the 3rd and 4th centuries AD. The oldest grave excavated was a cremation which was dated to the second half of the 3rd century AD, the other eight graves were inhumations cut into the bedrock.

Only three of the nine graves contained any human skeletal remains due to the limestone geology having destroyed the skeletons in the others. Only one complete skeleton was recovered, that of a woman aged between 30 and 40 years of age, who had been buried within ground with a lower lime content.

Analysis of the complete skeleton revealed some deformation of the bones resulting from the person undertaking heavy work

BY JANE ROBERTSON

during their life on the site. The teeth revealed a large amount of wear which seems to be related to the use of the teeth as a third hand. Studies of Roman skeletons recovered from sites in Faro, Algarve reveal the same pathology which was associated with the use of teeth at work with nets and fishing wire.

Prof João Pedro Bernardes is Associate Professor at the University of the Algarve (UAlg) where he has taught since 1997.

Non-members are welcome to attend the lectures for a 6 euro admission fee, with all money raised by the AAA being spent on archaeological grants and speakers. (Please check the website or facebook page for any last minute changes)

 algarvearchass@gmail.com  arquealgarve.weebly.com  Algarve Archaeological Association

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Out and about

Photo © Lena Strang

It’s Carnival time!

BY LENA STRANG This year again Carnival was a huge affair with rousing music, lively entertainment and fanciful parades up and down the Algarve.

On Friday February 9th many of the schools, sporting associations and clubs entered into the spirit and took to the streets of Sagres, Vila do Bispo, Budens, Lagos and Monchique to name but a few.

In Lagos the turnout this year was considerable. Along with numerous school children, an irrepressible contingent from Teatro Experimental de Lagos (TEL) and the University of the Third Age, formed part of the colourful parade along the Avenida to the main square. Here Thorsten Grütjen, the Juggling Postman, enthralled the audience with his antics.

During the time leading up to Tuesday February 13th, many parades, activities, parties and dances took place. Tuesday, which is always an unofficial holiday, was the culmination.

The Carnival in Loulé, lasting three days is said to be one of the oldest in the country. Every year there is as special theme with a satirical twist.

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This year the motto was Summit of Loulé, a parody of the Web Summit of technology and entrepreneurship in Lisbon. The 14 richly decorated floats offered a sharp satire of the main national and international events of recent months. Needless to say the Portuguese Prime Minister, António Costa, Donald Trump, Angela Merkel, Putin and Cristiano Ronaldo weren’t spared!

Yes, the samba tunes are catching and the women clad in feathers and a few strings might be more at home in Rio de Janeiro, but contrary to popular belief, Carnival didn’t come from Brazil. It originated in Italy several centuries ago when people dressed up in costumes and celebrated the day before Lent.

As Catholics couldn’t eat meat during this period, they called their festival carnevale ('to put away the meat'). It soon spread to other Catholic countries in Europe, including Portugal. Carnival was brought to Brazil via Madeira by Portuguese colonisers.

Today, Carnival takes place as a huge party where fantasies and costumes reign, where children and adults alike party in colorful masks and costumes.

It’s a time of fun and games following the popular proverb ‘No Carnival leads to evil’.

vegetarian & vegan food

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Health

Don’t grin and bear it!

BY POPPY BURR Women tend to grin and bear PMS, pain or heavy flow as if it’s the norm - yet it really doesn’t have to be this way.

The female hormones oestrogen and progesterone fluctuate naturally each month according to each stage of the menstrual cycle. PMS happens either when the body becomes over-sensitive to this fluctuation, or when there is too little or too much of a particular hormone in circulation.

Progesterone connects with GABA receptors in the brain and has a soothing, calming action. It is also anti-inflammatory and boosts thyroid function.

This lovely hormone is produced in the ovaries each month by the developing ‘corpus luteum’, so the only way to make sure you’re getting enough of it is to have a strong, healthy ovulation.

Magnesium, vitamin B6, zinc and selenium are essential for ovulation. It’s a good idea to check your thyroid or blood sugar levels and, most importantly, take measures to reduce or manage stress, as this affects ovulation too.

Too little progesterone also leads to too much ‘unopposed’ oestrogen, which causes symptoms like breast tenderness and irritability, fluid retention,

heavy or painful periods, fibroids and endometriosis.

A great herb for boosting progesterone is Vitex agnus castus. At the correct dosage it promotes ovulation by suppressing prolactin secretion from the pituitary gland. It also contains opiate-like constituents which explains its calming effect, helping with premenstrual anxiety and sleep problems.

Underlying inflammation is another thing that affects ovulation and lowers progesterone. My favourite herb for inflammatory period pain, uterine or gut inflammation is turmeric, or curcuma longa.

This golden wonder spice is better at reducing inflammation than aspirin and ibuprofen, and has none of the side effects.

I will be running a Healthy Hormones Workshop in Aljezur on Saturday March 17th if you’re interested in learning more about hormonal health, including how to live in tune with your menstrual cycle for greater wellbeing throughout the month. Get in touch for further details.  +351 969 091 683  poppytheherbalist.com

Text neck: Time to be careful

BY DR WEN OATES DC MCHIRO We see them in restaurants waiting for their cataplana de peixe, in the coffee shops waiting for their pastel de nata and in the Finanças waiting to pay for something – people who seem inseparable from their mobile devices!

Heads down, shoulders hunched, they can be seen texting or scrolling through their messages on social media. Keeping the head and shoulders in this position for prolonged periods can lead to what is now commonly called ‘text neck’ (the Americans call it ‘tech neck’).

But what causes it and how can it be alleviated?

Pain in the neck: One of the main signs of text neck is a stiff or aching neck, caused by spending too much time with the neck in a downward position while looking at the phone or laptop. We tell our patients to try to hold their phone in such a way so as they won’t be tilting their head down as much.

Gentle neck stretches may also help.

Shouldering the burden: In addition to neck pain, the other tell-tale sign is shoulder pain. Many people hunch their shoulders while holding onto their phone and texting.

We suggest giving your shoulders a rest by stretching them out periodically and practicing gentle forward and backward shoulder rolls.

Headaches: Headaches can be common, either from tilting the head down to look at the phone display or having the head too far forward over the shoulders while reading from a tablet or laptop. Try to lift your phone up to eye level or re-adjust your sitting position.

Chiropractic care has long been proven to help relieve neck pain, shoulder pain and headaches.

If you’re in pain, come and see us at Lagos Health Chiropractic…we’re in the big, pink building just across the road from the Lidl Supermarket in Lagos. Or call us.

 +351 282 768 044  www.lagos-health.com Find and like us on Facebook and Twitter

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5 inlight.pt f inlight.lagos

Travessa do Forno, 4 - Lagos

1 (+351) 913 127 421

info@inlight.pt

Health

Sports massage - why it is good for everybody

BY ANN DE JONGH

Massage is still thought of as being a luxury, and sports massage is something that elite sports people have, but massage is something that we can all benefit from. I think of massage as being a bit like servicing the body, checking the muscles are all moving properly, and where there are problem areas massage can then help to stretch and lengthen the muscles. Poor posture can lead to muscle tension, and to help to correct the posture, the muscles that have become tight need to be loosened to allow the body to start to return to its correct position.

Sports massage is a term used to describe a massage that goes a bit deeper, and uses a combination of techniques dependent on the person.

It will have a combination of typical massage moves,

along with trigger points and also releasing the fascia. Fascia is often overlooked in massage but it is the connective tissue that interweaves through all the muscles. By releasing fascia tension this allows the muscles to release. Fascia is also very affected by hydration, so when we do not drink enough water, our fascia becomes dehydrated which in itself can cause stiffness and tension.

Sports massage can help a whole host of niggles and problems, from tight neck & shoulders, lower back pain, tennis elbow, tightness in the hips, to problems with the feet and legs. If the body does not feel as if it moves as easily as it used to then treat yourself to a sports massage and allow it to move freely again.

Ann is a trainer, yoga teacher and sports massage therapist

 +351 913 202 621  www.fit2lovelife.com  ann@fit2lovelife.com  fit2lovelife  anndejongh

The digestive tract; the pancreas

BY NIKI MEDLOCK Yet another ‘big gun’ in the process of food digestion and, as with my previous article on the liver, I am only going to give you an idea on how important this organ is.

Six to eight inches long it extends horizontally across the top of the abdomen. The largest part is on the right side and sits next to the duodenum. It then tapers off to the left side next to your spleen.

A duct (basically a tube!) runs through the centre of the pancreas which has several smaller branches embedded in its glandular tissue. This duct is connected to the bile duct, coming from the liver and gall bladder, forming a junction just before entering the duodenum.

The pancreas is called a gland organ. Basically a gland is a group of cells that can produce substances which are released either directly into the blood stream (endocrine gland or ductless gland) – e.g. the thyroid gland or the ovaries; or cells that specialise in the production of secretions which are released through ducts (exocrine gland) - e.g. salivary glands or mammary glands. Both the liver and pancreas are called mixed glands as they are capable of both functions.

Around 95% of the pancreas is exocrine tissue and this produces approximately one litre of a clear, watery, alkaline digestive juice per day, containing several enzymes (small proteins that act on specific molecules within foods to break them down into smaller elements).

This 'juice' passes into the duodenum and mixes with the food that has left the stomach and it continues the breakdown of proteins, carbohydrates, fatty acids and cholesterol into molecules small enough to be absorbed by the intestine and into the blood supply.

The other 5% of the pancreas comprises of endocrine cells which produce and release hormones directly into the blood stream. These regulate pancreatic secretion production and control blood sugar through the hormone called Insulin – but this subject would be for a future article!!!!

Next month - the large intestine.

Niki is head nurse at Luzdoc  www.luzdoc.com

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Health

Heartworm and babies

BY LARS RAHMQUIST

Until very recently there had not even been a tenuous link between canine heartworm disease (HWD) and babies.

HWD is fatal in dogs if left unchecked.

Last year we saw 3 dogs die from end stage heartworm disease, which is a PREVENTABLE disease.

Heartworm is spread by mosquitos feeding from dog to dog. The mosquito is an essential (intermediate) host or the parasite. Part of the heartworm life cycle occurs within the mosquito, so it is needed to infect another dog. A dog cannot catch it from another dog, only the MOSQUITO. Heartworms can grow to 25-30cms in length(!). All within the right atrium of your dog´s heart. In extremis they can extend back into the vena cava and forward into the pulmonary arteries. Adult heartworm cause irritation to the walls of these blood vessels (and the heart), this causes thrombus formation and emboli (clots) in the lungs. This is what kills the dog...

HWD-infected dogs can present with coughing or increased respiratory rate and effort. Some dogs present only with lethargy and some don´t have any clinical signs at all!

So, it can be a silent killer. Even treatment for HWD is dangerous and potentially fatal, as the dying worms fly off into the lungs. Treatment often involves hospitalisation of the dog for several weeks to ensure dead worms don´t make for a dead dog.

But … it is safely PREVENTABLE. There is an injection

Zinc the mineral It might be old fashioned but Zinc is a super speed heal mineral as it stimulates the white blood cell function (which defends the body against infection).

It can regulate the amount of testosterone and helps to balance the skin oils.

Zinc even has a part in helping to reduce acne scars.

It is also required for the production of collagen, a connective tissue that is required for skin repair and regrowth

we use at the Lagos Vet Clinic which lasts through the entire heartworm season, giving full protection against the disease. It is at this time of year, just leading into the warmer (mosquito) seasons that we encourage dog owners to get their little mate the cover for the rest of the year.

If your dog has lived in Portugal for a time before it started on heartworm prevention it is recommended to do a very simple and cheap blood test before the injection. This test can be done in the consult to give and immediate result. The injection is safe to use in dogs with heartworm but then owners may have a false sense of security, if their dog has a non-clinical infection already.

So contact your vet and book your dog in for a heartworm check and prevention before the dastardly mosquito returns to your backyard.

And now the (very) tenuous link between heartworm and babies: Jenny and I just had a new baby boy.

Ziggy Anders Rahmquist joined us at the and of January and, so far, he seems very happy to have done so.

Jenny will be closing Lagos Groomers for a while to hang out with her new best mate full time (Ziggy and I are equal best mates...) and I will be doing as much of it as I can as well! We´re very happy to have our new little mate and we both (all 3 of us) would like to thank all our friends and lovely clients at the clinic who have left pressies for the boy and well wishes for us. It is all greatly appreciated and we are warmed to the cockles by them! Thanks again.  www.lagosvet.com

BY KARMA SKIN CARE It can also help with Eczema which is an inflammatory and chronic disorder of the skin, and can be caused by deficiency of zinc in the body.

For chapped skin, minor burns and sun burn you can also use Zinc. Give it a go!

 www.karmaskincare.co.uk

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Business

I.T. can be easy

BY STEVEN DUNWELL

Free IT Support and help sessions for March 2018 The Tropical Café Nº. 33, Avenida dos Descobrimentos, Lagos Tuesday 6th & 20th 11am until 1pm Artesão Café Marina de Lagos Lojas 11/12, Lagos Tuesday 13th & 27th 11am until 1pm No appointment necessary. Bring your device, purchase at least a drink from the establishment and I will give you 10 minutes free support. If the issue cannot be resolved, an appointment can be booked at a later date, at your convenience.

Time to say goodbye… disposing of your old computer.

So, what do you do when you get a shiny new computer and you need to get rid of your old one?

Before you take it to the local recycling point, ensure its hard drive doesn’t become a potential treasure chest for pesky identity thieves.

Hold on, what exactly is a hard drive? www.Wikipedia.org defines it as: A hard disk drive (HDD) is a data storage device that uses magnetic storage to store and retrieve digital information using one or more rapidly rotating disks (platters) coated with magnetic material.

Understand Your Hard Drive Computers often hold personal and financial information, including: - Passwords - Account numbers - Addresses and phone numbers - Medical and prescription information - Tax returns - Internet browsing history When you save a file, it is scattered around the hard drive in bits and pieces. When you reopen that file, the hard drive gathers the bits and pieces and reconstructs them. When you delete a file the links to reconstruct the file disappear. But parts of the file can remain on your hard disk and they can be retrieved with special programs. To remove this data permanently, the hard drive needs to be wiped clean.

How to Clean a Hard Drive Before you clean a hard drive, don’t forget to save the files you want to keep to: - USB pen drive - CD-ROM - An external hard drive - Your new computer

Utility programs to wipe a hard drive can be found online and can be inexpensive or in some cases free.

Consider using a program that overwrites or wipes the hard drive many times; otherwise, the deleted information could still be retrieved. Or you can remove the hard drive, and physically destroy it. It is most satisfying drilling holes through an old hard disk! But please remember to wear proper protective gear!

How to Dispose of Your Computer?

Recycle There are many local electronic recycling points on the Algarve, the two I use can be found by the Bombeiros in Lagos and the other in the underground car park of the Aqua shopping centre in Portimão.

Donate Many organizations collect old computers and donate them to charities.

Resell Some people and organizations buy old computers.

Check local internet and Facebook pages.

Remember, most computer equipment contains hazardous materials that don’t belong in a landfill.

For example, many computers have heavy metals that can contaminate the earth. Please recycle responsibly.

If you have any questions about this topic, suggestions for future subjects or require assistance with any I.T. challenges, I am very happy help.

Have a great month, see you for another tip in the April edition.

 sdunwell@sky.com  + 351 936 387 512

Looking for a job?

If you are looking for a job then it might be worth getting in touch with Intermaché which is opening one of its new construction stores in Lagos.

They are looking for staff who can work in all of the store's departments.

These will include DIY, decorations, construction, garden and the pet shop area. If you

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are interested and think you may have the skills required by Intermaché then please send your CV to bricolagosrh@gmail.com Intermarché is the brand of a general commercial French supermarket, which form part of the large retail group Les Mousquetaires founded in 1969 under the name EX Offices, by Jean-Pierre Le Roch.

EX Offices was renamed Intermarché in 1972.

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Business

A great experience

BY TOM HENSHAW

Some people go along for a massage with some trepidation and nervousness not knowing what to expect and I have to say that includes me!

But that’s where Graham Jones is different to others as firstly he explains that your visit is divided into five stages. First, there is a general chat on what you want to achieve out of your visit. This stage is very important to Graham as he will adapt his treatment to fulfil your needs. Then you move onto stage two.

He will ask you to complete a form telling him a little bit yourself and any medical conditions that you may have. Stage three involves a discussion with you to tell him a little bit more about any more recent conditions that he should be aware of, like recent broken bones or any other medical treatment that may, or may not, make the massage more effective.

He will then explain the different techniques that he can use to dovetail your massage, so you get the

best possible results. Stage four involves the massage itself, targeting the areas you have discussed with him. Finally, stage five and that is when the massage has been concluded, he will give you some very important aftercare advice on what to do (and what not to do) to ensure that the massage takes full effect and you will both discuss if the massage was effective and if a follow up treatment is necessary.

I have to say that I was very impressed with my massage and felt very much at ease and realised that a massage like this brings great benefits for relaxation and a sense of wellbeing.

Well done Graham as I feel you have definitely overcome my cynical opinion!

 + 351 932 598 747  GJJ massage  gjmassage@gmail.com

Spring has sprung

BY DAVID WESTMORELAND Well, it may feel like the coldest winter for many years with temperatures consistently getting as low as two to three degrees in the evening but the property market is hotter than ever.

Not just in terms of property sales, which I may add, a January best this year but enquiries, viewings & website hits are all hitting new highs for the month.

January saw B&P hitting a sale every 36 working hours or 1 ½ days. Sales of luxury villas, touristic apartments & residential properties all selling.

What we have also seen is prices are now pushing 2005 levels.

This has continued into February and shows no sign of a down turn. Properties priced correctly, in good condition and location often sell within a matter of a few weeks. While some properties aren’t even hitting our website as we have a back log of clients waiting for specific opportunities.

Therefore, and it seems like a monthly request, we need more properties to sell. The B&P machine is in full flight and needs stock, to fill the gap, where

56

we have sold! The upturn isn’t just for selling of apartments.

Holiday lets are already around 90% booked for August and we need more luxury villas for the summer. If you are considering renting this year Resort Rentals offer a professional service with sensible rates. Call Victoria on +351 282 771 132.

Residential letting is also steaming ahead with most properties having several potential tenants as soon as they become available. We receive around 12 enquiries a day for long lets. The short fall of long let properties is huge and this shortage is driving rental property prices up. Average yields are around 5-6% therefore giving great returns not just for the investor but also for clients not using their property enough.

If you want more information on any of the topics covered this month please call in to the office of mail me.  mail@bpaproperty.com

TOM-7-14-engl-2_Jens-ESA 16.07.15 16:39 Seite 1

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Food & drink

Delightful Daura

BY SUSIE GREEN

From the outset let me say that Daura is no ordinary restaurant.

Laura and Dan have been visiting Lagos for many years and have both fully committed to providing locals and tourists alike with a wonderful dining experience.

Laura's warm welcome sets the tone, followed

by Bruno's expertly mixed selection of wonderful cocktails is a relaxing start to any evening. Dan's enthusiasm shines through when chatting about his choice of ingredients which are paramount to the quality of his menu.

Our starters of rabbit gnocchi with wild mushrooms, roast quail, caramelised onions with onion purée and wild mushroom risotto with truffle oil were delicious and introduced us to Dan's eclectic choice of ingredients.

The main event included pan seared turbot with mussels, celeriac gnocchi, seafood veloute, Daura's gourmet burger with madeira shallots, fois gras and truffle fries, and a scrummy seafood risotto for me.

Only one of us managed a dessert of panettone

bread and butter pudding with Cointreau mascarpone, light as a feather. Even though Daura offer a full selection of both local and international wines, it's hard to get past their house wines which are served straight from the cask at a very reasonable €3.50 per glass. Many glasses later we relaxed in the very comfortable and stylish bar area. Feeling a glass of fizz would nicely finish the evening, Kaja suggested a glass of Blanc de Blanc champagne. The best €5 I've spent in a long time!

Kaja very attentively took care of us for the rest of the evening and with no apparent rush to go anywhere, it was the perfect end.

Daura is a friendly, welcoming and unpretentious dining experience which wholeheartedly deserves to succeed. Whether it's brunch, their great value small plates lunch menu, or just to sample a glass of wine or cocktail, venture round to the quieter end of the Marina, they are right get next door to the Portuguese Museum of Waxworks, and support this exciting new venture.

If you would like to submit a review please email amber@tomorrowalgarve.com  daura-restaurante-bar.business.site/  +351 964 850 965

Whirlwind Chicca is at it again!

BY TOM HENSHAW One of the surprising things about Chicca is her unpredictability and so out of the blue and in a mad panic she calls me to tell me her big news - she will be opening all day from 9am until 10.30 pm (except Saturdays) from March 1st at her restaurant in Luz. Serving homemade breakfast, lunch, and dinner all day. In true Chicca style nothing will be ‘normal’ but you certainly can expect everything to be ‘absolutely amazing’!

Posh breads, sandwiches, wraps and toasties, salads, pancakes, giant crostini and yes - again they are all homemade!

Imagine healthy porridge with coconut or almond milk somewhere that does proper eggs Benedict, Florentine and smoked salmon or a toasted

Manchego, sage and Serrano olive ciabatta for elevenses?

Smoke salmon cream cheese leek quiche then wild king prawns or avocado lemon alioli wrap for lunch and obviously far more than I can describe here.

The menu is both extensive and yet so appetising.

Maybe you get hunger pangs for something a little extra on your way back from the beach well you have the choice, maybe a piece of carrot cake for example.

So anytime you are hungry Chicca’s got it covered!

Takeaways available too.  +351 962 742 033

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Food & drink

Salmon risotto

BY TIAGO CUSTÓDIO Chop finely the leek (the white part), the broccoli, the pepper and add to the sautee.

Serves: 4 Ingredients: 250 gr risotto rice 2 salmon steak 6 garlic cloves Parsley Pennyroyal - a type of mint 1 leek 1/2 red pepper 150gr broccoli 1 onion Olive oil Butter 10 cl white wine Salt to taste Pepper to taste Grated São Jorge cheese

Add the rice to the sautée and leave to cook a few minutes before adding the white wine.

Preparation:

Tiago from Budens recently took part in Junior Masterchef. We featured him in our magazine last month. You can read more about Tiago and his culinary exploits at his blog.

Why not pop along?

Slowly add spoons of the salmon stock. Without stopping stir until the rice is cooked (15-20 minutes) Shred the salmon and add it to the risotto.

Sweet Home in Lagos, which is next to Banco Popular, is starting a new ‘popin’ centre this month. You are invited to go along and make new friends in the comfort of Marzena’s cafe.

Finally add the grated cheese and add a knob of butter, stir and turn off the heat.

The coffee mornings will be held every Monday, Wednesday and Friday between 9.30am and 11.30am during March.

Serve in a deep dish and sprinkle with chopped pennyroyal (mint).

Bring a pan of water to boil mix with parsley, pennyroyal (mint) and the green part of the leek. Add the salmon and bring the water to the boil again.

Then remove from the heat and set the covered pan aside for five minutes.

Meanwhile braise the onion and garlic.

Coffee and scone will cost €2.00 per person (only one scone per person!).

Call Tom if you cannot find Sweet Home.

You can read more about Sweet Home on Facebook.

Tom  +351 919 918 733

 culinariapraputos.blogspot.pt

Ready for business Open every day between 10am and 11pm

I was pleased to see that Cafe do Mar had opened its doors again after a well deserved brief winter break. The views speak for themselves but don’t for a minute think that’s all Cafe do Mar has to offer. Far from it.

Whether you just fancy a really good café galão, a chilled glass of wine or my personal favourite - their signature, freshly made jug of sangria - it really is a must have during your time in Lagos.

Dining wise there’s plenty to choose from. You might fancy a little snack like a toastie or burger. There’s also more substantial dishes on offer. You might like to choose your own piece of fresh fish.

There are daily specials which depend on the ‘catch

 +351 282 788 006

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BY SUSIE GREEN

of the day’. For the slightly adventurous there is a black spaghetti with seafood option. They also offer a daily ‘Pratos do dia’ (or dish of the day’) which is great value for money.

With friendly staff and views to die for, what’s not to like? Nonetheless, be patient, lots of people have discovered this gem and it’s very popular so you might have a little wait but it’s well worth it. Enjoy!”

It’s not just popular with Susie it has rave reviews on Tripadvisor too.

One recent visitor said: “This is the most outstanding bar to sit outside and take in the scenic views of the ocean and Meia Praia - with a lovely Restaurant inside, you will not visit a more amazing bar.”

Food & drink

Fine dining in a rustic setting

BY TONY AND ANNE Gulli Bistrot is a subtly trendy, informal Italian restaurant just south of Aljezur on the EN120. A pleasant drive from Lagos, six of us went there for lunch to celebrate our friends anniversary.

On arrival we were immediately greeted and seated (we chose to eat outside on a balmy December day – try telling that to friends in Northern Europe!)

We liked their attention to detail, the couvert was beautifully presented on a wooden board, with small jars of olives, flavoured butter, fresh bread & breadsticks etc. We all skipped the starters (although they sounded tempting) apart from a huge platter of freshly baked garlic bread which came piled high with rocket and parmesan shavings.

However for the main course we all diversified! Two of us chose scaloppini, thin slices of black pork, which melted in your mouth, served with tagliatelle dressed with pesto, sundried tomatoes and almonds.

We sampled each other’s, and they were all unique and delicious. They ranged from thinly sliced red tuna (which was like cutting through butter), tasty

prawn risotto, steak with Italian vegetables and fresh pasta with smoky bacon. The presentation was amazing and the portion size was good.

Again, we all chose different desserts, tiramisu with fruit (served in a jam jar), lemon ice cream with cardamom topped with a syringe full of lemon curd which you injected into the centre, tiramisu with espresso and whisky served in a large brandy glass.

We all returned to Lagos with huge smiles on our faces. We cannot fault this restaurant, the food is both original and delicious yet reasonably priced, the staff are friendly, efficient but not obtrusive.

Opening times are 12.30pm to 10pm, (3.00-6.30pm pizzas only) Tuesday to Sunday.

They have recently opened another restaurant in Aljezur called Varzea which specialises in Portuguese food. If Gulli is anything to go by, we can’t wait to try it!  +351 282 994 344

Chocochic A new café has opened to satisfy all chocolate lovers. Chocochic, located opposite the Câmara building, serves coffee and various hot chocolates from the indulgent to the alcoholic. Grab yourself an after eight Chocolate Quente or even a Chocotail including Baileys, Tia Maria or even Jim Bean, all with chocolate of course!

Nayara and her husband, Alessandro, opened the café at the end of January after closing their restaurant in Meia Praia. Originally from Brazil, Nayara has lived in Lagos for over 15 years. The café has outside seating so you can catch some sun.

The choc heavy menu doesn’t just include drinks, you

can treat yourself to a waffle with Nutella and fruit or a gelado crepe. It’s the perfect place for a lunchtime snack too, if you haven’t got the sweetest tooth then you will find toasties and soups are on offer throughout the day, just check the specials board.

Nayara and Alessandro greet their customers with a warm smile and hot chocolate on tap, so beat the lunchtime rush and head over for a bolo or two.  Chocochic-Lagos

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Environment

Bringing house construction in from the cold

BY CLAIRE FRIEDLANDER

Despite abundant sunshine and relatively warm days this winter, temperatures recently dropped enough that most of us have needed to heat our homes.

A recent news article suggesting that Portuguese houses are amongst Europe’s coldest has met with agreement all round. It seems incongruous that houses in colder countries are cosier than ours, but central heating is uncommon here and expensive to run. Many people rely on electric heating, but domestic electric systems generally lack capacity to cope with much loading and electricity is costly.

Portugal’s fuel bills are amongst Europe’s highest, and vulnerable people risk dying in their own homes during winter, being unable to afford to heat them.

The usual excuse is that houses are designed for the hot summers and to maximise our enjoyment of the fabulous weather. In truth, many are not comfortable in summer either, highlighting the fact that much domestic design is ill-considered and construction inferior where thermal comfort is concerned. Poorly designed and insulated buildings require more fuel to heat them and most fuel types impact negatively on the environment. Buildings are responsible for 40% of energy consumption and 36% of CO2 emissions in Europe so the EU is justified, if ambitious, in setting goals for all new buildings to be nearly energyneutral by December 2020.

Retrofitting older houses is more complicated but not impossible. Much existing housing stock lacks insulation and damp-proofing, and cheap, poorly installed insulation in newer homes can be inefficient.

Simple physics and laws of thermal equilibrium prove that building fabric is seldom designed to prevent heat transfer and loss. Furthermore, damp is common, exacerbating uncomfortable interiors.

Poorly constructed roofs, walls and floors permit moisture ingress and warmer internal air temperatures encourage moisture retention, increasing relative humidity. This moist, warm air migrates to cooler exterior surfaces, condensing to form unhealthy damp areas prone to fungal growth and mould.

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Most of this is avoidable with properly considered construction, and the most effective solutions involve insulation and damp-prevention. Insulation should be the filling layer sandwiched between an internal air-tightness layer and an external weather-tightness layer. Optimised building fabric reduces the need for heating and cooling, but proper orientation of the building in the first place is key to achieving minimal heating demand by harnessing the sun’s energy to modify internal temperatures.

Careful design for passive solar heat gain via windows and apertures, alongside retention of that heat using the thermal mass capacity of the building materials themselves, can make traditional applied fuel heating largely unnecessary. It allows for the sun’s warmth to soak into the structure during the day for slow release by heat transfer as the house cools at night, providing warmth and comfort.

A good ventilation system is also important.

Increasing the rate of change of indoor air can have a drying effect on the air, even in winter when relative humidity levels are higher. If a mechanical heat recovery system is used in tandem with the ventilation system, minimal heat loss will occur.

By using energy-efficient appliances at home, and going a step further to create one’s own energy using solar panels, the EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive goals are perhaps not overly ambitious after all. Positive energy homes are not only possible, but also preferable. They are comfortable, healthy to live in and will ultimately save money on fuel and energy requirements. Considering that our buildings are likely to be around long after we are gone it is irresponsible not to construct them sustainably.

Furthermore, conserving and sharing our resources more equitably would lessen the burden of fuel poverty on those less fortunate than us.

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Outdoor

Using a colour wheel for planting schemes

BY TAMSIN VARLEY

Left to right: Monochromatic white garden at Sissinghurst; Analogous Purple Aeonium with Pinks; Cool border at Sissinghurst; Complimentary - Orange rhododendron with bluebells

I should really be the last person writing about using colour wheels as I am technically colour blind. However, when I learned about it on my garden design course, I found it a fascinating topic and one, I think, worth sharing.

The colour wheel shows the colour spectrum of the rainbow essentially bent into a circle. The hot bright colours of red, orange and yellow are followed by refreshing green and then by the cooler darker colours of blue, purple and violet.

There are different triads within the circle with the primary triad being made up of red, yellow and blue which are the pure colours and can’t be made by mixing any other colour together.

The secondary triads are orange, purple and green which are made by mixing different combinations of the primary colours together. For example, green is made by mixing blue and yellow together.

The tertiary colours in the colour wheel result from mixing primary and secondary colours together.

Another important point when considering colour is what colours are considered neutral in gardening. They include white, black, greys and various shades of brown as well as green. Neutral colours can be used with any other colour without changing the

effect you are trying to achieve, can tone down other colours and also be used as a buffer between potentially clashing colours.

So, now we understand a bit more about colour, let’s explore different planting schemes using the colour wheel.

Monochromatic This is the easiest colour scheme to pull off as is basically combining shades of a single colour in one bed. In a monochromatic colour scheme, you can keep all plants the same hue, or you can integrate different tones of the same shade. Success is easily achieved by choosing plants that offer the same bloom colour but mixing up the foliage size and shape.

Analogous This is where you use two colours next to each other on the colour wheel such as red and orange, orange and yellow and blue and violet. These colours tend to blend well with each other.

Harmonising This takes an analogous planting scheme a step further by using three colours - a common pigment is shared so the colours will be adjacent to each other on the colour wheel. Examples include red, orange and yellow to create a “hot” border. Bright or hot colours draw attention and make

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a large space feel smaller. Use them to highlight an entrance or a piece of artwork.

Putting bright colours by a terrace or deck creates a festive mood and is a great idea for areas where people gather for entertainment. A “cool” border can be created using green, blue and violet. These dark colours create an oasis of calm and will appear cool even in the worse heat.

They are ideal for areas where you want to unwind and relax. Dark colours also make small areas appear larger than they are, so if you have a small garden, they will make it appear more spacious.

Complimentary This is a bit more adventurous and can make quite a statement. Such planting schemes use colours that are opposite each other on the colour wheel such as yellow and purple or orange and blue.

So, there you have it – a very brief and high level explanation of the colour wheel.

Now, go out there and experiment and have some fun.

Tamsin Varley is chairman of Clube Dos Bons Jardins, a small, friendly multinational garden club that meets at different locations throughout the Algarve on the 2nd Tuesday every month except over the summer with an optional lunch afterwards.

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