Tomorrow Portimão, Alvor, Ferragudo & Carvoeiro February Edition 2017

FREE February 2017 | Edition 8 | 3,000 copies

www.tomorrowalgarve.com |

TomorrowAlgarve

A community Magazine for PortimĂŁo, Alvor, Ferragudo & Carvoeiro

Carnival 2017 Events in our area

Maine Coon cats The gentle giants living locally

Walk this way Hiking the Via Algarviana

Winter warmer A tasty soup recipe to try Plus much more...

The AlgArve ProPerTy SPecialiSTS

Tomorrow 190x65 01-17.indd 2

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 www.tomorrowalgarve.com

17/01/2017 09:07

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SEDE: 86, Milborough Crescent, London, UK , SE12 ORW. UK . PERIODICIDADE: MENSAL . TIRAGEN: 4,000

Useful Numbers General

Emergency 112 Tourist support 808 781 212 British consulate 282 490 750 French Consulate (Faro) 281 380 660 German Consulate (Faro) 289 803 181 Dutch Consulate (Faro) 289 820 903 Canadian Consulate (Faro) 289 803 757 Swedish Embassy 213 942 260

Alvor

Taxi Diago Silva 966 214 517 Private Airport Transfer 965 026 176 Health Centre 282 459 268 Pharmacy 282 459 588 Hospital 282 420 400 Fire 282 420 130 Police Station 282 420 750 Aerodromo 282 496 581 The Salon Alvor 282 415 460 Portas do Sol (music lesson) 965 017 845 Sports Centre 282 457 841 Community Centre 282 457 499 Hair Salon 966 103 601

Portimão

Private Airport Transfer Health Centre Pharmacy Praia da Rocha Hospital Centro Fire Police Station Maritime police Train Station

965 026 176 282 420 161 282 425 858 282 485 641 282 450 300 282 420 130 282 417 217 282 417 714 282 423 056

Carvoeiro

| TIPOGRAFIA: C/ Al Mediterráneo, 29, Polígono de San Rafael, 04230, Huércal de Almería CIF: B04250056

City council offices 282 356 690 Town Info 282 357 728 Taxi Company (TAXIARADE) 282 460 610 Private Airport Transfer 965 026 176 Bus Station (only Lagoa) 282 341 301 Pharmacy 282 357 463 Hospital (centro de saúde) 282 357 320 Fire Station (only Lagoa) 282 352 888 Police Station 282 356 460 Plumber António Cruz 962 870 665 Builder Boto 282 461 336 Electrician Eurico 968 778 953 Mechanic Carlos 282 085 027 Hairdresser Vitor Picardo 282 356 894 House sellings Nelson Reis 919 839 299 TV & satellite repairs Rui 926 459 429

Ferragudo

Taxi Antonia Private Airport Transfer Health Centre Pharmacy Hospital (Portimão) Fire Police Station Painter Mario Lawyer Celia Tree Surgeon Firewood

965 881 917 965 026 176 282 461 361 282 461 232 282 450 300 282 420 130 282 420 750 967 881 062 282 476 305 964 384 613 917 601 798

Welcome to the February edition of Tomorrow Congratulations all round - we made it through January, AKA as the most depressing (and this year, it seems, the coldest) month of the year!

Whilst our new year’s resolutions have already been broken, one thing the team here at Tomorrow is committed to all year round is making a difference in our local community.

One way we aim to do this is through regular ‘giving back’ days, the first of which happened in January. It saw the team (along with a few roped-in friends and family members!) roll up their sleeves to lend a hand at Happy Donkey Sanctuary, where Robert (who walked all the way from Granada to Monchique with his five donkeys) is attempting to rejuvenate and hopefully cultivate the long-neglected land. There we are above getting ready for an afternoon of clearing, digging and mud lugging!

We will be organising three more giving back days this year, so if you know of a worthy cause or would like to help, do let us know. We’ll also be hosting two charity dinners, the first of which is our Summer Ball on July 15th at Tivoli Marina Portimão. Whilst full details will be announced shortly, early bird tickets are on sale now - contact Steven to secure your place.

So what can you look forward to in this issue of your community magazine? First up there’s a fascinating feature on Maine Coon cats, a gentle giant that can now be found in the Algarve thanks to breeder Rose-Anne Burgunder. Editor Stephanie meets her - and her 11 cats - on the next page. Elsewhere there’s details of this year’s local carnival celebrations, an article on what it’s like to walk the Via Algarviana trail (all 300 kilometres of it) and, of course, a few features to get you in the mood for Valentine’s Day! Have a great February and, as ever, get in touch if you have a story that you think we should feature in the magazine.

Steven, Stephanie and the entire Tomorrow team  Steven Sutton (advertising and sales) |  steven@tomorrowalgarve.com |  +351 919 185 677 Stephanie Wood (editorial) |  stephanie@tomorrowalgarve.com |  +351 964 187 303

On the cover This month’s cover shot was taken by Dave Sheldrake at last year’s carnival in Loulé, and is a great example of the vibrant colours and energy that can be enjoyed at the annual celebrations. Be sure to join in this year!  www.davesheldrakephotography.com

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Community Crazy about Maine Coon cats

By Stephanie Wood

Maine Coon breeder Rose-Anne Burgunder with one of her cats

Anyone arriving at Rose-Anne Burgunder’s villa would quickly realise she is mad about cats. Stepping into the Porches property that she and husband Andreas have called home for the past two years, I am met by feline figures everywhere; depicted in the artworks on the walls, stitched into cushions on chairs - and then the real-life versions appear.

But these are not your regular domestic cats. For one, the bushy figures that appear at my feet are at least double the size of any cat I’ve seen before. No, these are Maine Coons, a gentle giant of a cat (adult males typically weigh between 12 and 18 pounds) that Rose-Anne has been breeding for 20 years.

She first came across the distinctive breed shortly after her 40th birthday when, having never been allowed a pet cat as a child, she was given a red-haired European house cat that she called Roucky. Sadly he passed away not long after, and so Rose-Anne set about replacing him with another red-

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haired cat. After much searching, the one she discovered just happened to be a Maine Coon, which she also named Roucky - and from thereon in she describes her love of the breed as “like a virus”.

“I got one Maine Coon, another Maine Coon, and it just went from there,” she reveals. But what was it about this specific cat - other than its impressive size - that so captured her heart? It was their character, she tells me, which differs from a typical house cat. “A Maine Coon is more like a dog,” she explains. “They love people and need a lot of affection. It really is a nice cat.”

Taking their name from the northeastern US state of Maine (of which they are the official state cat), the breed’s distinguishing features include a silky, shaggy coat which comes in a variety of colours (Rose-Anne’s vary from black and brown, soft red and a striking deep grey), as well as a long, bushy tail that can be wrapped around its head to combat cold conditions.

Got a story for our Community pages? Email stephanie@tomorrowalgarve.com

As Rose-Anne’s collection of Maine Coon cats grew she established herself as a breeder, naming her cattery Roucky’s Spirit in tribute to her first feline friend. Back then she and Andreas were living in Luxembourg (she originally hails from France whilst he is German), and they soon found themselves with a house full of cats, including a couple of prizewinners. One - Mona, a lovely female with a coat of silver-grey - is now an old lady and has sadly gone blind, but Rose-Anne proudly tells me that she was Grand European Champion in 2014.

Whilst Rose-Anne’s love for her cats is clear, I wonder if Andreas has always shared this passion. “Not until I met my wife! “ he jokes. “No, I was a cat person but with other people’s cats; whenever I visited people that had them, I would sit down and find one on my knee. Cats can feel when you are a calm person, I think.” He adds that when he first moved in with Rose-Anne she had a total of 18 cats. “That was a bit too much!” he chuckles.

Nowadays the couple have a slightly more manageable number in their charge: 11. In addition to Mona, the others are Do Menica, Faja, Faro, Froucky, Kiss Me Kate, Kesia, Money Penny, Cura Ba and Wally Wakka, as well as their European house cat Cameo. I spot the Portuguese connection in Faro’s name and ask how he got his moniker. “He was born in 2014, just before we moved to the Algarve, and that year all the names of newborn cats had to begin with ‘F’,” Rose-Anne explains. “It’s a rule of FIFe (the International Feline Federation) for pedigree cats - each year it’s a new letter. For cats born in 2014, it was ‘F’, in 2015 it was ‘G’, and so on. So my husband had the idea for the name because we would be landing in Faro.”

Their move to Portugal was prompted by a 2008 visit to a friend’s holiday home in Armaçāo de Pêra. They loved it so much that they returned in 2010, and then again in 2012. With retirement just a couple of

be alone, so someone who is more or less home all day or has at least one more cat in the house is ideal.”

Rose-Anne adds: “They are especially good for elderly people. Some care homes in Germany have introduced cats because it’s proven that having a purring cat on your knee reduces blood pressure.”

Rose-Anne and Andreas

years away at that point (Rose-Anne worked in electrical grids, whilst Andreas was the manager of a building technics company) the couple set their hearts on swapping chilly Luxembourg for the sun-drenched Algarve, and they made the move in April 2015.

With Maine Coons an uncommon sight in the Algarve (Rose-Anne believes she is the only breeder in the region) their arrival in the area prompted a lot of local interest. “The first time I visited my vet in Alcantarilha, there was a procession of people coming in to see how big and pleasant a Maine Coon cat is,” she tells me. “Even now when my vet comes to our villa she is rarely alone - our cats are a real attraction!”

Despite the harsh winter climate that the breed is adapted to withstand, Rose-Anne says that - like her and her husband - the cats are happily settled in Portugal. “We had a special fence constructed to secure the garden so they can go outside and lie in the sun,” she says, adding: “It’s another life than the one they had in Luxembourg.”

Rose-Anne is clearly pleased to be introducing Maine Coons to the Algarve, and even gave one of her latest kittens to her local doctor. Yet, despite the time and effort that goes into caring for her cats, she reveals she has never yet sold one. “It is a hobby,” she says. “I’ve always given the babies to friends or to people that I know will send me regular updates and photos.”

She adds that there are strict stipulations for anyone who takes one of her cats.

“They have to sign a contract, and there are rules to respect. For example, if a couple gets divorced and they can’t decide who will take the cat, it is not allowed to go elsewhere - it has to come back to me.”

So what sort of person makes an ideal Maine Coon owner? “There’s one thing you must be and that’s a person who loves cats, because they need a lot of attention” says Andreas. “Also, a Maine Coon must not

Of course, for all the benefits of owning cats, there are challenges too. It’s especially hard, Rose-Anne tells me, when one of her brood passes away, and when I visit she is mourning the loss of her cat Yin-Yin just days earlier. “We discovered her cancer in June last year,” she tells me with palpable sadness. “We said no to surgery because it would have been a major operation and we did not know whether the cancer had already spread. She had anti-inflammatory medication and pain relief, and she was happy. But you know that the time will come when you have to make that decision.”

She continues: “It’s a good thing that you can take the decision - it’s not the same for a human - but you still feel guilty. We had her six or seven months longer, but eventually the vet told us the moment had come. These are difficult times.”

Now retired, Rose-Anne and Andreas have found plenty to fill their time here in the Algarve. Care of their cats alone takes up two hours a day (not to mention the uncountable time spent playing with them) and once a fortnight they spend a couple of hours grooming them.

Unsurprisingly, cats play a central role in their lives outside of their home too. They are actively involved with Carvoeiro Cat Charity, where they have recently taken on administrative duties. In addition, once a week Rose-Anne goes to the charity’s quinta in Ferragudo to help with the cleaning and feeding of the 350 street cats it houses. And, as if that wasn’t enough cat >> Continues on page 6

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Community >> Continued from page 5 time, the couple also drive into Armação de Pêra every evening where they feed a colony of four cats. “When they see the car they run to us - they know we have food!” says Andreas. “We can even cuddle two of them now.”

Just before I leave, I compliment RoseAnne on the necklace she is wearing, a beautiful gold Maine Coon silhouette

hanging from a hoop. It turns out to be a Christmas gift from Andreas, who had it specially made by a jeweller in Germany.

Thinking of the lovingly wrapped toys and treats my family’s dog received on December 25th, I ask if their cats also receive Christmas gifts. “No, they have presents from us every day,” Rose-Anne smiles, before Andreas adds: “We are crazy about cats, but we are not crazy!”

As I make my way home, I feel a little bit crazy about these gentle giants too.  For more information, visit Rose-Anne’s website (in French, but readable with Google Translate) or get in touch.  www.casadolobo.pt  +351 916 335 350  rose-anne@casadolobo.pt

Maine Coon cats: a history Another fanciful tale traces their ancestry to the long-haired cats belonging to Marie Antoinette.

According to this story, an American captain named Clough brought the French queen’s cats to America after her execution, where they bred with other short-haired breeds.

Maine Coons have inhabited North America for centuries, but there is very little knowledge of how they first came to the continent. There are many tales relating to their origin, though the authenticity of these is doubtful.

One far-fetched story claims that the Maine Coon's ancestor was a raccoon - an interesting idea, but biologically impossible!

Others say the breed was produced by the crossing of the indigenous bobcat with a domestic cat.

Yet another narrative is that they were brought to the United States in the 1700s by an American captain named Coon, who hailed from the northeast coast of America.

This last tale may contain some grains of truth. Naval captains often brought cats from foreign lands on board to counter the problem of mice, which thrived on the ships. On their arrival in the US they may have made their home on the northeast coast in Maine. The climate was terrible and only the bravest and toughest cats could survive.

However they came to be, the Maine Coon was one of the first breeds to be officially recognised in the early 19th century, and gained rapid popularity. Mr. F. R. Pierce, who owned Maine Coons as early as 1861, mentioned in 1903’s The Book of the Cat that a Maine Coon named Leo was awarded Best Cat in the 1895 New York City cat show, and was a consistent winner in Boston in 1897, 1898, and 1899.

The breed’s popularity plummeted in the early 1900s when more exotic cats arrived and became instant favourites. By 1950, the breed had dwindled alarmingly and very few numbers were left.

However, a few breeders displayed an active interest in the cat, throwing it a life line by holding Maine Coon-only shows, and in 1968 the Maine Coon Breeders and Fanciers Association was founded to “preserve, protect and promote” the breed. 

Thank you from Castelo de Sonhos Christmas 2016 was particularly heartwarming for the Castelo de Sonhos charity as so many people and organisations helped the underprivileged families of Silves over the festive period.

On behalf of the charity, a non-profit organisation that provides support to struggling families and underprivileged children in the area, president Liliana Rodrigues would like to thank the following individuals and groups: - Silves Town Hall & Parish for loaning the venue for the kids’ Christmas party, including all the entertainment & decoration, and Dave Sheldrake of Dave

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Sheldrake Photography for taking the photos of the party.

- Iceland supermarket in Albufeira and their very generous customers for supplying children's presents and over 200 boxes of chocolates, which meant that families registered with the charity received a decorative box of chocolates together with their basic food bank supplies this Christmas. A total of €483 was also donated by the supermarket’s customers.

- Silves Rotary Club for their generous donations of toys, warm clothing, basic food supplies and many Christmas shoe

Got a story for our Community pages? Email stephanie@tomorrowalgarve.com

boxes for the elderly.

- Julia Bardill, Eve Wood & Colin Robinson of Balaia Golf Village for collecting & delivering 44 Christmas shoeboxes.

- All the members of the public who responded to the 12th Annual Shoebox Campaign for the Elderly.

- And last but not least, the fantastic face painters Lara & Annette and all the charity volunteers, especially Marianne, Jacqueline and Olivia, from the Silves charity shop.   www.castelodesonhos.pt

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Community

Drones could be used to tackle major disasters Six people from the bombeiros and civil protection authority in Portimão are being trained to operate small drones. It’s the first move to evaluate whether drones should be used to help during major accidents or disasters.

"For now, this training is taking place and then we will use the equipment in training situations to evaluate if it is a useful tool," said Richard Marques, commander of the firefighters, in an interview with Correio da Manha.

The drones could be used to capture live images in inaccessible areas and would be helpful for the bombeiros when they are tackling forest fires, amongst other emergencies.

Totalling 375 hours, the training is being carried out by a specialised company at the fire station and at Portimão aerodrome.

The elements integrate the Teams of Recognition and Evaluation of the Situation,

within the scope of Municipal Civil Protection.

"The potential of the equipment, the introduction to flight and fundamental safety concepts of the operations, as well as the use of aircraft software and maintenance were taught,” explained Mr. Marques.   www.safecommunitiesalgarve.com

Walking the Via Algarviana enthusiastic about the project and secured the EU funding necessary to make the trail a reality. It was opened in 2009.

In its guide, Almargem recommends walking the route between February and April when the landscape is at its most beautiful and the weather is pleasantly warm; however, we weren’t free until early May. Harri Garrod Roberts and Tracy Burton are outdoor writers and publishers from Newport, South Wales. Having hiked all 300 kilometres of the Algarve’s Via Algarviana route (and written two books about it), they told Tomorrow about their experience…

It was our first visit to southern Portugal and yet we weren’t heading to the region’s stunning beaches, but inland to a littleknown Algarve few holidaymakers see.

We would be exploring an Algarve of sleepy, unspoilt villages, rolling hills, dry orchards and cork forests – a place where life hasn’t changed much in decades.

Having hiked the length of Wales the previous summer, we were keen to complete a second end-to-end challenge.

The waymarked Via Algarviana sounded perfect because it was possible to complete the 300-kilometre distance from the Spanish border to the Atlantic Ocean in two weeks.

It was an Englishman – the late Maurice Clyde – who came up with the idea for a scenic walking trail between Alcoutim and Portugal’s most south-westerly point at Cabo de São Vicente. Loulé-based environmental group Almargem was

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We left Alcoutim on a cloudless morning, uncertain of what lay ahead but hoping we wouldn’t be forced to pitch our tent too often (we wouldn’t) or face sweltering temperatures (we would). Such is the meandering and often demanding nature of the trail that on that first day we walked 24.2km to finish in Balurcos, just 7.3km and 12 minutes away by road from our starting point.

Day after day our eyes feasted on the spectacular landscape, tranquil except for the birdsong and hum of bees. We passed depopulated villages, disused water mills and long-abandoned agricultural terraces, and followed for hours the snaking shoreline and turquoise waters of the Barragem do Arade.

In traditional villages like Furnazinhas, Cachopo, Barranco de Velho and Salir, we wined and dined like kings. We often struggled to make ourselves understood, but were treated with unbelievable kindness by our gracious Portuguese hosts, who would phone ahead to ensure we had a bed for the following night.

Our original plan to cover the total 300km distance in 10 to 12 days rather than the suggested 14 was quickly abandoned.

Got a story for our Community pages? Email stephanie@tomorrowalgarve.com

Inland Algarve was far hillier than we’d anticipated and, as we trekked through the Serra do Caldeirão and the Serra de Monchique, those steep climbs kept coming and coming.

The Via Algarviana climbs the Algarve’s second highest peak, the alpine-like Picota (Harri is pictured at the top), and wanders below the summit of its higher neighbour Fóia (902m). The panoramic views from both made every upward step well worth the effort.

Five months later, we returned to walk the routes linking the Via Algarviana with Loulé, Mexilhoeira Grande and Aljezur, and check out an alternative, mostly coastal finish from Aljezur to Cabo de São Vicente along the Trilho dos Pescadores (Fishermen’s Trail) and Rota Vicentina.

Did the Via Algarviana live up to our expectations? You bet it did! In fact, we were so bowled over with the Algarve, we are spending our first winter here, and in December we were delighted to have the opportunity to meet members of the environmental group Almargem and some of the British hikers who made the Via Algarviana a reality.  The Via Algarviana - an English guide to the 'Algarve Way' by Harri Garrod Roberts is available from online bookstores, including Amazon and Apple, priced at £2.99.

Never Too Old To Backpack: The Via Algarviana by Tracy Burton is available from Amazon and is priced at £2.99 (£5.99 for the paperback).  www.camau.co.uk  www.viaalgarviana.org

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What's On Try something new: Scottish country dancing

Organiser Mardie Cunningham says: “I love Scottish country dancing because it is very active and good exercise. One lady said it also exercises the brain as you have to remember the movements. It is very social too, and I enjoy meeting up with likeminded people.”

Who can take part?

All are welcome to join the classes, whether you’ve experienced Scottish country dancing before or you are new to it. Help is given to beginners, and the more experienced dancers will dance with them. The classes are currently made up largely of retirees, mainly Brits, but there are also Danish, Dutch and Thai ladies that attend.

With a vibrant expat community, there is a wealth of activities to get involved in around the local area. Each month we’ll shine a light on one of these activities, providing information on how to to get involved and hopefully inspiring you to give it a go. This month: Scottish country dancing.

What’s it all about?

Scottish country dancing is a traditional form of dance, involving sets of three, four or five couples dancing pre-determined choreography including jigs, reels and strathspeys. It’s a very social activity, as you

do not dance with just one person at a time - instead the whole set is involved. Set to Scottish country music, it’s lively too.

Tell me more Weekly classes have been running at Nobel International School in Lagos for around 20 years. Sessions last two hours, and generally start with a quick chat before the dancing begins. There are usually between 12 and 20 people at any one session. There are generally a few more ladies than men, but this is not a problem - ladies who dance the men's part wear a tartan sash.

What do I need to take part?

No special clothing is required, simply wear whatever feels comfortable - shorts, cut-offs, trousers, skirts, etc. The only stipulation is that soft flat shoes should be worn to avoid doing damage to the other dancer’s feet!

How can I get involved?

Contact Mardie using the details below, or simply turn up - classes take place on Monday nights from 7.30pm to 9.30pm.

There is a charge of €1.50 per session, which goes towards paying for a group dinner at the end of the summer season.   +351 282 356 029  mardie@sapo.pt

Marking 90 years of Portimão’s bombeiros

Charity dinner

Portimão’s volunteer fire brigade is celebrating its 90th anniversary, and the town’s museum is celebrating the occasion in a special way.

Cat lovers, here’s a date for your diary!

On Sunday 12th March Carvoeiro Cat Charity will be holding a charity dinner to raise much-needed funds to continue their good work. Starting at 8pm, the dinner will be held at A Tasquinha in Carvoeiro and will feature a vegetarian buffet and live music.

A new exhibition at Museu de Portimão details the vital work done by the force, which operates under the motto ‘do good without reservation’. Whether firefighting, responding to medical emergencies or performing rescues in water or at height, Portimão’s residents can always count on the firefighters to come to their aid.

Titled Firefighters of Portimão - A Force of Civil Society, 90 Years in the Service of the People, the temporary exhibition outlines the historical evolution of the force and the sense of mission that guides these

10 |

‘peace soldiers’. Key objects used in the firefighters’ daily lives are also on display.

The exhibition can be viewed during the museum’s usual opening times: Tuesday from 2.30pm to 6pm and Wednesday to Saturday from 10am to 6pm. It runs until April 23rd.

Entry to the museum is free for children aged up to 15 and €3 for everyone else, with a 50% discount for 16-25 year olds, adults over 65 and families with two or more children (the discount applies to one of the adults’ tickets). Admission is free on Saturdays between 10am and 2pm.   www.museudeportimao.pt  @bombeirosportimao

Tickets are priced at €25 per person, half of which will go directly to the charity in order to help them feed and care for the 350 street cats currently housed at their headquarters. Call to book your tickets today.   +351 916 335 350  www.friendsnotfoes.org  @CarvoeiroCatCharity

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What's On

Ballroom gala

Jazz in the cellars A series of ‘Jazz in the Cellars’ events is now in full swing (as it were!).

Devised by Silves câmara, the programme of events kicked off in January with two special evenings at local adegas that celebrated both local wines and good music.

Limited to around 15 tickets per night, the intimate events feature local and international jazz artists performing in beautiful locations, with the audience able to chat to the musicians following the show.

Paraiso, Quinta do Lagar February 18th – Algarvian trio What About Sara at Quinta do Barradas, Venda Nova March 10th – Hugo Antunes Stands Trio at Quinta do Frances, Odelouca March 17th – Beatriz Cruz at Quinta da Rosa, Pinheiro e Garrado The programme is part of the wider 365 Algarve initiative, which aims to fight the typical seasonality of tourism in the region.

If the end of Strictly Come Dancing has left a hole in your life, then be sure to head down to ACD (Associação Cultural e Desportiva) in Ferragudo on April 1st, where a ballroom gala will be taking place.

Featuring the Algarve Jazz Orchestra and organised as part of the 365 Algarve initiative, attendees are invited to take to the dance floor to show off their best ballroom moves, or simply sit back and enjoy the music.

There are still four concerts you can enjoy over the coming months. The dates and details are:

Tickets cost €7.50 per person and can be obtained from the venues. For more information, contacts Silves câmara. 

Starting at 9.30pm, the setlist for the event will feature blues, gospel and a pinch of swing. Tickets can be bought from the venue. 

February 11th – Barcelona-based three piece Biel Ballester Trio at Convento do

 +351 282 440 800  cultura@cm-silves.pt

 www.orquestradejazzdoalgarve.com  @Orquestrajazzalgarve

A trumpet meets an accordion…

No, it’s not the beginning of a bad joke, but instead a description of an exciting musical event set to take place in our local area this month.

Morphosis pairs up two unlikely instruments, a trumpet and an accordion, played respectively by jazz musician Hugo Alves and Algarve-born João Frade, who together perform much-loved American Standards - with a generous helping of improvisation - in this unique show.

Portuguese trumpeter Alves is recognised on the national and international jazz circuit, and has worked with great names of the jazz world including Peter King, Kirk Lightsey, Carla Bley and many more. He has released four original albums, is one of a few specialist jazz teachers in Portugal, and is the founder of the Algarve Jazz Orchestra.

The duo will play four shows this month, one of which will take place in Monchique.

Full details are as follows…

February 3rd: Cine-Teatro de São Brás de Alportel February 4th: Monchique, venue TBC February 10th: Espaço Guadiana, Alcoutim February 11th: Igreja da Misericórdia de Tavira All shows start at 9.30pm. Tickets can be purchased from the venues. 

Enjoy carnival 2017 February in Portugal means one thing: carnival! This year’s celebrations will typically take place between February 24th and 28th, the latter being Shrove Tuesday (carnival always immediately precedes the start of Lent - indeed, the Spanish term mardi gras translates as ‘fat Tuesday’, referring to the traditional using up of foodstuffs ahead of fasting in the run-up to Easter).

And there’s plenty to enjoy in the local area. Incorporating its 2017 theme Heritage: Look to the Past & Toward the Future, Lagoa câmara has two parades planned. The first will be in Mexilhoeira da Carregação between 3pm and 6pm on February 26th, and the second will take place next to the municipal auditorium in Lagoa at the same time on February 28th.

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Meanwhile, the Enterro do Entrudo - a ‘funeral’ ceremony that traditionally marks the end of carnival season - takes place in Ferragudo on March 1st from 8.30pm. The procession begins at the ACD office before travelling through various streets.

There is an extensive programme of events taking place in Portimão too, with various organisations taking part in parades at the following times: Boa Esperança Atlético Clube Portimonense: February 25th-28th at 9.30pm, children’s parade on February 28th at 3pm Clube União Portimonense: February 25th at 9pm and February 27th-28th at 9.30pm

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Clube Desportivo Recreativo Pedra Mourinha: February 25th and 27th, 9.30pm Sociedade Vencedora Portimonense: February 25th, 27th and 28th at 9pm Sociedade Recreativa Figueirense: February 26th and 28th at 3.30pm in Mexilhoeira Grande (float parade), live music at 5pm Sporting Glória ou Morte Portimonense: February 11th, 18th, 25th, 26th, 27th and 28th, 9pm Further afield, Loulé always throws an impressive carnival, and it’s worth heading to the town to take in what is sure to be a colourful celebration - check out our front cover for an idea of last year’s festivities! 

What's On Promote your events and activities in the Tomorrow Calendar - it’s FREE! Email your listings to us: calendar@tomorrowalgarve.com Lagoa

Portimão Yoga | 8am - 9.30am Mon & Wed Pilates | 1pm - 2pm Wed & Fri | 5.30pm - 6.30pm Tue & Thu Yoga | 6pm - 7.15pm Mon Meditation | 8pm - 9pm Fri - By appointment €25 p.m | Villa Prana, Portimão |  studio@villaprana.pt |  +351 282 484 256 Live music events at Bar Marginália - Rui Arco Maravilhas, Portimão Every Thursday “The Chuck Noris” Covers Friday 3rd, Iron Maiden Tribute Saturday 4th, February Moki + Miss Baila Sunday 11th, February Panther Tribute Saturday 18th, Queen Tribute Friday 24th, La Plante Mutante Monday 27th, Carnaval Party

Carvoeiro Fitball with João | Mon & Thurs 9.15am - 10am | €8.50 Taekwondo with Miguel | Mon & Fri 7pm - 8pm | €45p/m (child) €60 p/m (adult) Yoga with Jane | Tues 11am - 12pm | €8.50 Power Pump with Julie | Tues 6.30pm - 7.30pm | €8.50 Body Shape with Jaqueline | Wed 10am - 11am | €8.50 Power Hour with Julie | Thurs 10am - 11am | €8.50 Qi Gong with Gabriele | Thurs 11am - 12pm | €8.50 Carvoeiro Clube, Urb. Monte Carvoeiro |  +351 282 350 800 A Taste of Yoga | Mon 10am, Vale d’Oliveiras | Tue 4.30pm, Rocha Brava Yin Yoga | Tue 8.45am, Serenity Hatha Yoga | Tues 4.30pm, Vale d'Oliveiras | Thurs 8.45am, Serenity Gentle Yoga | Fri 11am, Vale d’Oliveiras | Sat 11am, Rocha Brava  www.ishani-yoga.com

Latin American and Ballroom Dancing | Nobel International School Every Thursday, 6pm beginners, 7pm improvers/intermediate | €5  +351 961 916 821  strictlydancingcarvieiro@hotmail.com Scottish country dancing | Mondays, 7.30pm - 9.30pm | Nobel International School Algarve, Lagoa | €1.50 |  +351 282 356 029 Dynamite Fight Night - Kickboxing event | February 4th, 8pm | Arade Congress Center, Parchal Lagoa |  www.dfn.pt

Alvor Latin American and Ballroom Dancing | Alvor Community Centre Every Tuesday, 10am beginners, 11am improvers/intermediate | €5  +351 961 916 821  strictlydancingcarvieiro@hotmail.com Aerobics Fitness | Monday 10am Total Toning | Wednesday 10am Body Conditioning | Thursday 10am Alvor Community Centre |  +351 934 393 232

Further afield Segredos da terra - Secrets of the Land Fair | February 3rd - 5th Silves | Free 17th Al-Mutamid Festival | February 10th, 9.30pm New Brazilian Music | February 11th, 9.30pm and 12th, 5pm Rita Redshoes Concert | February 24th, 9.30pm Cine-teatro, Loulé | For more info and prices:  www.cineteatro.cm-loule.pt Monthly Classic Car Meeting | February 5th, 10am | Armação de Pêra

Tide Table for February LOW TIDE Moon 1 WED 2 THU 3 FRI 4 SAT 5 SUN 6 MON 7 TUE 8 WED 9 THU 10 FRI 11 SAT 12 SUN 13 MON 14 TUE 15 WED 16 THU 17 FRI 18 SAT 19 SUN 20 MON 21 TUE 22 WED 23 THU 24 FRI 25 SAT 26 SUN 27 MON 28 TUE

Morning

Height (m)

11:07 11:53 00:11 01:13 02:31 03:58 05:16 06:18 00:52 07:55 08:36 09:14 09:51 10:27 11:03 11:41 00:43 01:47 03:13 04:38 05:39 06:24 07:03 07:39 08:14 08:49 09:26

0.79 0.92 1.07 1.20 1.29 1.26 1.11 0.92 3.41 0.61 0.55 0.55 0.62 0.74 0.89 1.08 1.39 1.54 1.60 1.52 1.36 1.17 0.97 0.78 0.63 0.53 0.49

HIGH TIDE Afternoon 23:21 12:47 13:53 15:12 16:32 17:40 18:35 13:21 20:05 20:44 21:22 21:59 22:36 23:14 23:55 12:23 13:14 14:24 15:49 17:00 17:53 18:35 19:13 19:49 20:25 21:01 21:39

Height (m)

Morning

Height (m)

0.94 1.07 1.21 1.27 1.23 1.10 0.94 3.30 0.69 0.64 0.66 0.73 0.86 1.02 1.21 1.26 1.44 1.55 1.57 1.47 1.32 1.13 0.95 0.78 0.66 0.58 0.57

04:58 05:44 06:37 07:41 08:56 10:17 11:29 07:10 01:40 02:24 03:05 03:44 04:22 04:59 05:37 06:17 07:06 08:11 09:35 10:53 11:50 00:08 00:49 01:26 02:03 02:40 03:17

3.47 3.35 3.19 3.03 2.92 2.92 3.02 0.74 3.56 3.66 3.67 3.61 3.48 3.30 3.09 2.87 2.67 2.52 2.47 2.54 2.70 2.93 3.14 3.34 3.51 3.64 3.69

 TomorrowAlgarve

Afternoon 17:25 18:14 19:11 20:21 21:39 22:54 23:58 12:30 19:22 14:06 14:48 15:27 16:05 16:43 17:20 18:00 18:45 19:41 20:54 22:14 23:19 12:35 13:13 13:49 14:25 15:02 15:40

Height (m) 3.22 3.10 2.98 2.90 2.91 3.03 3.22 3.16 0.80 3.39 3.43 3.42 3.35 3.23 3.08 2.91 2.75 2.61 2.55 2.60 2.74 2.88 3.07 3.25 3.40 3.49 3.52

 www.tomorrowalgarve.com

| 13

Health Find the food that’s good for you

By Andrea Schoonheim

Say as a two year old you didn’t like vegetables and now you do - how does that work? What is good for you can change over time. You grow older, your body changes, you move to another part of the world where the availability of food is different, you are happier, more stressed, you exercise more, you see less daylight whatever it is, it will influence what is good for you food-wise at that time.

A way of finding out what is good for you is to go back to the beginning for a few days by fasting. There are many different ways of fasting and there are professionals that can help you find a way that suits and is safe for you. After fasting you start adding foods slowly, so you can feel how they benefit you - or not.

As January comes to an end, many people will no doubt be kicking themselves for ‘failing’ at their new year’s diet. Before you give yourself a hard time, realise that everybody has a diet; it’s not only about restrictions, it’s also just the way we eat.

But finding the approach that’s right for you can by tricky.

Ancient eastern philosophies tell us there is no such thing as a healthy diet. It is different for different people. Apart from allergies and intolerances, some food is good for one and not for the other. According to these philosophies you can’t say, for example, that milk is healthy, because for some it is and for others it isn’t.

Many western governments encourage healthy eating, providing advice from various experts and organisations. However, these recommendations change regularly, making it difficult to assess their validity. Besides that, people in different regions in the world have very different diets. Who knows if what people eat in Japan, India or the Mediterranean is more or less healthy than what we eat - but it is a different perspective.

So, in these times of conflicting information and viewpoints, how do you know what’s good for you? Young children know. What they don’t like is not good for them. Nature has given all of us the talent to follow this easy principle, but when we grow up we learn to listen to our educators. With the best intentions, they tell us what is supposed to be good for us and we start to believe them.

Working this way a friend of mine found out, to his surprise, that potatoes don’t agree with him. He’s not intolerant or allergic, but when he had his first potatoes after fasting they caused massive cramps and that’s what triggered him. When he adds potatoes to his diet now they don’t bother him in the same way, but he says: “I just feel a lot better when I don’t eat them.”

So try listening to your body - and not all those experts, fads and points of view - to find the diet that’s right for you.  Andrea is a qualified yoga teacher who leads classes in Carvoeiro and Lagoa.  andrea.schoonheim@gmail.com  www.yogalagoa.com  www.yogacarvoeiro.com  +351 911 510 641

Infant CPR: a guide (compression only) By John Clifford Whilst cardiac arrest in infants (12 months and under) is extremely rare and most of the steps are similar to adult CPR, there are some small differences it is important to be aware of.

only, pressing down to just below the nipple line. * You need to use appropriate pressure and press down about one third of the infant’s depth – roughly four centimetres.

* Ensure the infant is placed on their back on a firm, flat surface. Due to their size, it is easier to use a table or something similar.

* Aim for 100-120 compressions per minute.

* When opening an infant’s airway to check for breathing, only tilt the head back to a neutral position.

* If you are by yourself, you should aim to do two minutes of CPR (150 chest compressions) before calling 112.

* Draw a line between the two nipples and perform compressions using two fingers

Follow the adult CPR guidelines for all children over 12 months, using appropriate

14 |

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pressure (maybe one hand may suffice).

Many thanks for all the positive feedback on the courses we have held - it makes it all worthwhile. Our next course is planned for March/April. If you are interested in attending please get in touch.   firstresponder@sapo.pt To read John’s first article on adult CPR, visit www.tomorrowalgarve.com/publications and select our January issue.

The scent of love By Lesley Wall The history of Valentine’s Day is a long and interesting one. One legend is linked to Saint Valentine of Rome (AD 496). Jailed after he was caught performing secret marriages for soldiers (which the emperor had banned), he fell in love with his jailor’s daughter, signing a letter to her “from your Valentine” just before his execution. I do not know if this tale is true, but it’s a very sad story.

Meanwhile, in ancient Rome a festival called Lupercalia was held in February where men sacrificed goats and used thongs made from their skins to whip women for fertility. I think I will stick with a card…

It was not until the 18th century that the occasion became associated with flowers, when a 1784 collection of nursery rhymes featured what is now one of the most favoured Valentine’s poems: “The rose is red, the violet's blue / The honey's sweet, and so are you.”

Floral scents have since become synonymous with St. Valentine’s Day - and for good reason. The following flower-based essential oils have various properties perfect for a romantic February 14th: * Rose: The symbolic essential oil of love, it enhances self-esteem and gives confidence whilst also easing stress and nervous tension.

It’s also a great oil for hormone balance and male fertility. * Ylang Ylang: As well as soothing anxiety, anger, worry and fear, this wonderful oil is also an aphrodisiac. * Sandalwood: One of the oldest known perfume oils. It is a potent oil that relieves tension, relaxes muscles and is very calming. * Rosewood: Another very calming oil, especially for the mind.

Rosewood helps build confidence and optimism, too. * Neroli: An uplifting oil that is used as a natural aphrodisiac. It gives confidence and is often used to soothe panic attacks. * Patchouli: A natural mood-lifter, patchouli relieves stress, calms nerves and is another aphrodisiac oil. * Jasmine: A potent oil which has a balancing effect on the nervous system and restores confidence. A great, uplifting oil.

These oils are all safe to use on the skin, although note that they are for external use only.

So why not treat your loved one to a sensual massage this Valentine’s Day? Use four teaspoons of ‘carrier oil’ (such as coconut, sweet almond or grape seed) with one of the following combinations: four drops of rose oil, three drops of jasmine oil and three drops of sandalwood; three drops of ylang ylang, four drops of rosewood and three drops of patchouli; or four drops of neroli, three drops of sandalwood and three drops of rose.  Lesley is an ITEC-qualified aromatherapist and the owner of Beautylicous Me in Alvor.  beautylicousme@yahoo.com

 TomorrowAlgarve

 www.tomorrowalgarve.com

| 15

Business Sustainable growth By Sophie Sadler

I ask how she ended up in Portugal.

“When my degree came to an end, I saw an advert for the Head Gardener position at the boutique hotel Vivenda Miranda in Lagos,” she explains. “I applied and got the job. I didn't speak Portuguese and had actually never been to the Algarve before my interview! I spent 18 months learning about managing a garden in this climate, which I found hugely exciting.”

Then the opportunity arose to work as Garden Manager at the 11-hectare Hapimag resort near Albufeira, supervising a project which would transform large parts of the lawns and conventional gardens into a landscape of native plants - a dream project. It was also here that she married husband Pedro, with whom she now has a two-year-old daughter, Sofia.

Marilyn Medina Ribeiro has turned her passion for gardening and design into a successful enterprise creating beautiful gardens without the water bill. After moving to the Algarve from the UK in 2008, she is now the brains behind Waterwise Gardens, a new sustainable approach to gardening.

The ethos behind the fast-growing business is to create gardens which emulate the balance in nature, rather than imposing artificial conditions. Marilyn bases her garden designs around the Mediterranean-climate plants that are native to this region. These species feel so much more "of their place”, she says, and provide an alternative to the typical lawns, palm trees and subtropical shrubs which demand a huge amount of water and maintenance to look good.

It is not rocket science that with aquifers running out, reservoirs getting low, boreholes drying up and less rainfall occurring each year, we cannot justify the quantities of water traditionally used on gardens. Instead, we need to learn to appreciate the beauty and the massive diversity of a new range of native plants.

It is on this simple premise that Waterwise Gardens is expanding and gaining popularity.

Marilyn is passionate about the natural environment of the Algarve and its plants.

She enthuses: “All the amazing plant

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species that grow and flourish here should be the model for our garden.

There are many plants that continue to produce flowers despite the heat. Beyond this, I emphasise the value of foliage. You can achieve beautiful colours without flowers.”

Marilyn’s career in gardening was by no means a foregone conclusion. Growing up she had two grandmothers who had green fingers and were enthusiastic gardeners, and she developed an interest in horticulture early on. “Then, in my teens, I decided gardening wasn't all that cool so I qualified as a graphic designer and lived and worked in London for a short time, but quickly realised something was missing.”

It was only after she moved to Ashdown Forest and reconnected with nature that she remembered her childhood passion for plants. In this area of England, there were lots of nurseries and gardens offering work, and within a couple of weeks she was fully employed between gardening rounds and part-time work in a couple of nurseries.

She then took a BSc in Landscape Management at the local horticultural college in Hadlow. She obtained the RHS Level 2 certificate in Horticulture via evening classes at the same time and continued to work for private clients and nurseries during the first two years of the course.

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By the time her contract at Hapimag had concluded, the budding entrepreneur realised there was a big gap in the market for more climate-appropriate landscaping and felt the time was right to start out on her own.

In the beginning, Marilyn did literally everything - designs, planting, path laying, pond building, you name it! Although she still loves to be hands on, as the company has grown she has made links with trustworthy gardeners to help on the ground and now has three landscape architects in the office to assist. Now that she is expecting her second child she is trying to delegate more.

Marilyn is keen to pass on her passion to others and advocates gardening as a fantastic way for people to connect with the natural landscape, but warns that you do need some help from an expert before embarking on this type of garden. Daily watering through the summer is the total antithesis of the natural instincts of the plants in the Algarve; they don’t want to be forced into growth with water and feeding, and many people kill plants through overwatering. Ultimately, you will save money if you use an expert who can guide you, and Marilyn offers as little or as much support as her clients needs.   www.waterwisegardens.com  info@waterwisegardens.com  +351 92 648 4864  waterwisegardens

Aiming to empower women

Pamper packages

Transformational coach Ria van Doorn set up Circles of Empowerment in Portugal two years ago. It’s a group that is aimed at supporting and empowering women to achieve their goals – both personally and professionally. She tells Tomorrow more…

Beauty Angels in Ferragudo is offering a special deal so you can treat your loved one to some TLC this Valentine’s month and treat yourself at the same time.

"I’m originally from Holland. I graduated from Amsterdam University of the Arts as a drama teacher, but started to work as a coach and meditation teacher immediately.

I moved to the Algarve seven years ago after I met my current husband, who invited me to come on a holiday at his house in Querença. I immediately fell in love with the valley and the country, and within six months I made the move.

My vision for my personal life and what I do for a living are one: it is my calling to help people create a better life for themselves, and I particularly love supporting and empowering women. Having worked with women as a transformational coach and trainer for more than 30 years, I identified

what is holding them back from living the life they are yearning for, and also how to create a breakthrough in the area that is most important to them - whether it’s relationships, health or work.

That’s how I came up with the idea to form groups, which I call Circles of Empowerment. A Circles of Empowerment course is a high-quality trajectory for women who want to change their current situation with the support of others. It is based on trust, mutual respect and creating space for each individual to be authentic.

Throughout February you can take advantage of a 10% discount on their special couples’ packages. There are three options to choose from, each made up of two treatments: one for you and one for your partner. The options are a massage and a 30 minute facial (€70), reflexology and a facial (€80), or a pedicure and a facial (€60). Drinks on arrival are also included.

As a professional I do a lot of international courses and I see that the cultural differences are more visible, from north to west and from continent to continent. As a result I decided to start running online Circles from January 2017 that are available virtually to any woman in the world.” 

Alternatively, treat your partner to some ‘me’ time with Beauty Angels’ special gift package of a manicure, pedicure and facial for just €70. Gift vouchers are also available so your other half can choose their own treatments. Get in touch with Andrea and her team to book! 

 www.riavandoorn.com  +351 926 404 076

 www.beautyangels.pt  +351 282 418 221

Aljezur

A2

A

Lagos

A 22

N 12 5

Carvoeiro

A 22

Vilamouraloulé Partner Office Albufeira Quinta do Lago

Tavira

A 22

vila real

N 12 5

N 12 5

A 22

Sagres

N 12 5

Faro

Faro

The AlgArve ProPerTy SPecialiSTS

 TomorrowAlgarve

 www.tomorrowalgarve.com

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Food & Drink chunks of vegetables, meat, rice, grains, beans, noodles, spices, etc. Then all you do is simmer until the ingredients are cooked, blending if you prefer a smoother consistency (this then falls under the pureed soup category).

Warming winter soups By Kate Inácio

A meat or vegetable soup is also a fantastic way to get rid of leftovers. With my business, Algarve Gardens, one of my most popular soups is ‘Algarve Gardens Soup’ which is made with whatever we have in plenty on our farm at the time. Utilising seasonal produce is the key to scrumptious dishes.

For those cold winter nights, a cream soup is just the ticket. You can make one by thickening the broth of any soup with milk or cream. Since the focus is the velvety texture, you don’t normally have chunks of veggies or meat. I find that creamed soups work well with tomato, courgette and mint, and cauliflower.

It is still so cold outside of an evening, and we all fancy something nice and warm to make us feel comforted on the sofa.

What better way than with a nice, healthy homemade soup? The good news is that it isn’t hard at all to whip one up.

First of all you need to start with a good stock, which adds depth of flavour. You can buy it in cans or cubes but, if you have the time, it really is worth making it yourself - that way you have full control over what you are putting in your food, which boils down (excuse the pun) to less fat, less salt, no additives or preservatives and more flavour.

With so many different types of soup, it can be difficult to know where to start.

Generally you can fit any soup into the following categories to make it a bit easier:

• Clear soups • Meat soups • Vegetable soups

• Pureed soups • Cream soups • Fish soups

The simplest soup you can make, and a good starting point for beginners, is a clear soup. They don’t involve lots of ingredients; instead the focus is on the stock itself, with the aim of intensifying the flavours of the stock ingredients. The main trick is to concentrate on the consistency, as there is a big difference between a broth and a jellied soup. A chicken broth is just perfect for the flu which has been circulating around the Algarve this month!

There’s a huge array of meat and vegetable soups, from Thai chicken noodle minestrone to tomato chowder with croutons - the ideas are endless.

For this type of soup you must start with a vegetable or meat stock and add

The soups I was most uncertain of making before I came to the Algarve were fish soups as I simply didn’t have the right fresh ingredients - not a problem here! Fish is quite special in soup as it has a pretty distinct flavour which sets it apart from the rest and can be a bit trickier to prepare.

The fish needs to be added at the right time as it doesn’t take as long to cook as the other parts of the soup.

So get your saucepans at the ready and try some tasty recipes! Or alternatively, why don’t you order a soup from us at Algarve Gardens? We deliver all our fantastic homemade soups to your home, or we can put together a box of all the ingredients you need for any soup you fancy, along with the recipe! All organic and fresh from our farm.   algarvegardens@outlook.pt

Recipe: Thai beetroot soup This is one of Kate’s favourite soup recipes, which also works well with carrot or pumpkin.

Ingredients: - 3 beetroots, peeled and chopped - 1 onion, peeled and chopped - 3 garlic bulbs, peeled and chopped - Small piece of grated ginger - Can of coconut milk - 1 tbsp red Thai curry paste - Juice and zest of one lime

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- Salt & pepper Method 1. Fry the onion and garlic with olive oil until golden brown.

2. Add the beetroot, ginger and red Thai curry paste and simmer, allowing the flavour to really absorb.

3. Add the coconut milk, salt, pepper and

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some water depending how thick you would like the soup to be, then simmer for 20-25 minutes.

5. Add the lime juice and zest and simmer for a further five minutes.

6. Blend to your desired consistency.

7. For a lovely finishing touch, add a dollop of sour cream and some fresh chives. 

 TomorrowAlgarve

 www.tomorrowalgarve.com

| 19

Outdoor

Brachychitons such as the llawarra flame tree work well on the Algarve

It is generally agreed that there are around 60,000 species of tree in the world, plus numerous hybrids. Despite hot, dry summers, the Algarvian coastal strip is home to an amazing range of tropical and subtropical species; casuarinas, araucarias, metrosideros, tipuanas, lagunarias and brachychitons to mention just a few.

Even in the windy west there are gardens containing frangipani, bauhinia and a wide range of exotic palms.

Go a kilometre or so inland and you can find many frost pockets where succulents are cut back every winter, yet thrive only a short walk away. But even within exposed areas we are not powerless to change things and produce some botanical surprises. The key to success is pioneer planting and scrub known as maquis. If you are developing a new site, go easy with the JCB as a wild clump of pistachio or a stunted bushy olive will almost certainly protect new planting from winds and exposure. Later on you can consider making adjustments once things become established.

In small gardens, pepper trees (Schinus molle), grevilleas (Grevillea robusta) and melaleucas (Melaleuca diosmaefolia) will do the same job. Unfortunately specimen planting typically involves bringing in ancient olives bearing only a few tufts of foliage, or staked single stem trees several metres high – all of which are initially useless for cover or shade. Equally, pruning

20 |

back existing carobs, olives and almonds to within an inch of their lives doesn’t help in establishing a benign microclimate.

For quick shade, little beats Phoenix canariensis, but unfortunately red palm weevil has more or less eliminated it from the Algarve, except where treated with a monthly application of nematodes or insecticide. Alternatives include Washingtonia palms, queen palms (Syagrus romanzoffiana), and the native Chamaerops humilis for hardiness above and beyond the call of duty. A wide variety of figs also provide excellent protection, including ficus nitida, also known as F. Australis, and F. macrophylla, otherwise known as the Moreton Bay fig or Australian banyan.

A good, tough evergreen tree grown mostly for its foliage and attractive shaped trunk is Brachychiton populneus, originating from Australia and otherwise known as the kurrajong or bottle tree. It is easy to ignore these trees because of their passing resemblance to poplars - however, while their three-lobed shiny leaves may be similar, that’s about as far as it goes.

Brachychitons develop into large, singlestemmed trees with attractive smooth, green-grey, fattish trunks that flare out at the base in a bottle shape. Their small bellshaped flowers are cream with spotted pink insides and are followed by large, boatshaped seed capsules which contain many large seeds, similar to corn kernels.

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A must for coastal areas is Lagunaria patersonni, otherwise known as the primrose tree, for its open pink flowers and felted green-grey leaves. The deciduous Koelreuteria paniculata, commonly known as the golden rain tree, or Pride of India, is equally tough and decorative, starting in spring with its beautiful unfurling pink leaves, through summer with masses of yellow flowers, and into autumn with reddish brown seed pod lanterns.

Finally, where frost is a problem, soil is poor and water scarce or too abundant at times, the tongue twisting Robinia pseudoacacia ‘frisia' is hard to beat. This deciduous tree from northern China grows almost anywhere yet has beautiful compound foliage turning from pink to yellow or green. White flowers appear in early summer, developing into long hanging seed pods before the tree drops its leaves. Its only downside is a tendency in some soils to sucker – often at a considerable distance from the main trunk. 

Flowers on the silk floss tree

Washingtonia palms give good shade

Picture credits: www.flickr.com/photos/tgerus (main image), Argo_Navis via Wikimedia (Washingtonia palm), www.flickr.com/mauroguanandi (silk floss tree)

In amongst the trees By Clive Goodacre

For something outstanding then the llawarra flame tree (Brachychiton acerifolius) with spectacular crimson flowers is hard to beat, but is much more tender. Equally spectacular and a little easier to grow here is Chorisia speciosa (silk floss tree). Notable are its rounded, hibiscus-shaped rose-pink flowers and heavily studded spiked trunk that looks like a bulldog’s collar and changes from green to grey with age.

 TomorrowAlgarve

 www.tomorrowalgarve.com

| 21

And Finally 10 minutes with… Pennie Best

I Spy Algarve: roundabouts

Seven chairs, Lagos Especially stunning when lit-up at night, this roundabout has historical significance it was constructed in 1999 to mark 25 years of Portuguese independence.

Pennie is Head of Primary at Nobel International School Algarve in Lagoa. She lives in Ferragudo with her husband and daughter Octavia. We caught up with Ms. Best, as she’s know to her students!

Where are you from originally?

I was born in Scotland but lived most of my life in Hull, East Yorkshire. I studied at Leeds University, graduating in the early nineties with a B.Ed honours degree in Education.

How did you end up in the Algarve?

I first came here after leaving university.

I worked for Martin Holidays (now First Choice) and was in charge of all of the children's reps. I then went back to the UK before returning to the Algarve, where I’ve lived for the past 16 years.

Tell us about your role at Nobel International Algarve.

Initially I was employed as a primary school teacher, and was then promoted to Head of Primary. I coordinate all aspects of the primary schools, including the primary curriculum, pastoral care, overseeing the teaching staff and liaising with parents.

What do you love about your job?

Working with children everyday and educating the adults of tomorrow has always been my passion. I think it stems from my parents, who have fostered more than 200 children. Nurturing children from young learners into well-rounded, multilingual, caring young adults with a desire for knowledge is very rewarding.

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What challenges have you faced?

I established the first bi-lingual pre-school in the Algarve, which is recognised by the Portuguese Ministry of Education.

Maintaining the level of educational excellence in the primary schools for more than 16 years has been a challenge, but I’ve loved it.

Tell us about the charity initiatives you’re part of.

The main charity we've supported over the last 16 years is Nossa Senhora da Conceição, a Portuguese children's home in Portimão. The main fundraising event is the annual Christmas fair at the school, which I organise with support from teachers, parents and children. Over the years I have also organised a charity bonfire night at the Fatacil in aid of Lagoa bombeiros, as well as helping with the Samaritan's shoebox appeal for several years.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

I enjoy discovering new restaurants, dining out and socialising with friends. I also have a love of travel and clothes shopping!

What do you love most about living in the Algarve?

The mix of different nationalities and cultures within my close circle of friends, the relaxed outdoor lifestyle compared with the UK and, of course, the wonderful beaches and fresh seafood restaurants.   www.nobelalgarve.com

Got an idea for And Finally? Email stephanie@tomorrowalgarve.com

Canning women, Portimão These statues pay tribute to the women of Portimão’s former canning industry; one is bent over a basket of sardines, another is removing their heads, and a third is breastfeeding a child.

Chicken and wine, Guia This roundabout celebrates both the local wine industry and the town’s claim to chicken piri-piri - the dish was supposedly first served at local eatery Ramires in 1974.

Shopping lady, Almancil Unveiled in December, this sculpture by Teresa Paulino (the artist behind Os Observadores near Faro airport) is hand-painted with colourful patterns representing the various nationalities that visit and live in the area.

Compass points, Lagoa You’ve no doubt passed this roundabout a million times before, but it’s only from above that you can fully appreciate its navigational design (which isn’t exactly handy if you’re lost…).

Two worlds, Albufeira Albufeira is the Algarve’s capital of weird and wonderful roundabouts.

There are plenty to enjoy, including this abstract ode to Portugal’s age of discovery. We rather love the massive watches, too! 

Roundabout picture credits: Albufeira and Guia courtesy of Kolforn, Lagoa courtesy of Lagoa Câmara, Lagos courtesy of David F, Almancil courtesy of Loulé Câmara, Portimão courtesy of Santos Armindo

They sure seem to love a statement roundabout here, huh? We’ve picked six of our favourites along the Algarve how many have you spotted?

Wine with victory flavour.

In 2016 the Intermarche exclusive brand Selecção de Enófilos was already awarded with 15 medals on 3 prestigious international wine competitions.

Selecção de Enófilos: Unique wines.

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 TomorrowAlgarve

 www.tomorrowalgarve.com

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