Tomorrow Portimão, Alvor, Ferragudo & Carvoeiro March Edition 2017

FREE March 2017 | Edition 9 | 3,000 copies

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TomorrowAlgarve

A COMMUNITY MAGAZINE FOR PORTIMÃO, ALVOR, FERRAGUDO & CARVOEIRO

Wildflowers of the Algarve Spot these beauties this spring

A royal connection…?

One local man’s incredible story

Tried and tested Lagoa’s new public bikes

Cooking with oranges Two tasty recipes to try Plus much more...

THE ALGARVE PROPERTY SPECIALISTS

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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 your March edition of Tomorrow In addition to the much-celebrated 300 days of sunshine and laid-back lifestyle that we enjoy in the Algarve, another reason to love living here is the endless cast of interesting characters that come to call the region home. Our features writer Lena has met and interviewed many such individuals during her time with Tomorrow, but the subject of her story this month is perhaps one of the most fascinating yet. Turn the page for her exclusive interview with François Graftieaux, a man living locally who claims Edward VIII was his grandfather.

Meanwhile, we had the pleasure of trying out a fantastic new initiative in our local area last month: Lagoa Câmara’s new bike share scheme, which is similar to London’s ‘Boris bike’ initiative. Steven is pictured above taking one of the electric-powered cycles for a spin, and you can read editor Stephanie’s tried-and-tested guide to the scheme on page eight before giving it a go yourself!

If fun on two wheels isn’t your thing, there’s plenty more for you to do this month. From operas, jazz concerts and a comedy revue show to Monchique’s annual sausage fair and the return of the Algarve International Music Festival, plan your month ahead with our What’s On section from page 10 onwards.

Elsewhere in the issue there’s an appeal for musical kids to join a children’s opera set to be staged in Lagoa, the story of how local shooting complex O Pinhal came to attract the world’s best shooters to the Algarve, and - following last month’s Festa da Laranja in Portimão - two tasty recipes to try incorporating oranges.

Have a wonderful March and, as ever, if you have a story for our next issue or feedback on this one, then please do drop us a line - we always love to hear from you.

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 Spring is one of the most beautiful times of year in the Algarve, not least because it’s when wildflowers - like the poppy captured in Dave Sheldrake’s gorgeous cover shot - bloom along country lanes and across clifftops. Discover six more flowers to look for this month on page 22.  www.davesheldrakephotography.com

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Community just the beginning.” Due to his father’s career as an army officer, the family lived in various European countries, as well as the United States and Africa. His own career as a hotelier took him to various parts of the world, and he ended up spending 20 years in Africa. “I do like travel but I always thought I needed to move on and find something better somewhere else. I now know the problem was inside me,” he explains.

Who do you think you are? By Lena Strang

He experienced a constant unease about his family situation along with his father’s apparent rejection, which he could never understand. His father’s own childhood and background were never a topic for discussion. “As a child you feel guilty, thinking you’re not good enough to earn your father’s attention and trust.”

François Graftieaux believes he is the grandson of the late Edward VIII

It was whilst enjoying a cup of coffee seated on a sunlit terrace after a session of yoga that the newcomer to the group dropped a bombshell: “I believe I am the grandchild of Edward, the Duke of Windsor.” Judging from his frank and earnest demeanour, I knew he wasn’t pulling our legs. In fact, 70-year-old Frenchman François Graftieaux, who now calls the Algarve his home, has an extraordinary tale to tell.

In his book, launched in Paris last September and mischievously called The Man Who Should Have Been King, François argues that his father is the illegitimate child of a love affair between the future King Edward VIII and his grandmother. I note that if this were the case, François would be the first cousin once removed of the current British monarch, Elizabeth II. I’d already observed his rather distinguished bearing, with his tall build and regular facial features. When I later look up photos of the Duke of Windsor - the king who notoriously abdicated the throne in 1936 to marry

François at the age of 10 in 1956

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his twice-divorced mistress, Wallis Simpson - there seems to be more than a passing resemblance. I am intrigued. Why has François published a book after all these years and what does he hope to gain?

I am invited to his apartment, situated in a pleasant golf resort in the western Algarve. It is tastefully furnished in a style that wouldn't be out of place in fashionable Paris. Comfortably seated, I slowly begin to appreciate his need to tell his story to the world. He speaks in a measured way in slightly accented English. “To me, identity and establishing one’s roots are all important,” he tells me. “I don’t want fame, titles nor money, but yearn for acknowledgment of who I am and where I come from.”

His journey of self-discovery has been a long one. He was born in Morocco, which was under French administration at the time, and where he spent the first 10 years of his life. An interesting childhood then, I remark. “Yes,” François smiles, “but it was

François at the age of 20 in 1966

François’ father, PierreEdouard, aged 20, 1936

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Years later, the pieces of the jigsaw puzzle of his life began to come together.

Psychoanalysis and later psycho-genealogy convinced him that he needed to delve into his family history. He remembered that an old girlfriend had once remarked that he looked like the Duke of Windsor – someone he’d never heard of before. “When I looked him up on the internet I realised he was the spitting image of my father,” François says. “I knew that, whatever the outcome, I needed to find out who my grandfather was and where my own roots lie.”

It is a remarkable claim to make that he is of royal descent. Is there any hard evidence? He believes there are too many coincidences and historical facts to discount his assertions, and that a simple DNA test (which he has already requested from Buckingham Palace) would resolve the matter.

François thinks the Duke met his grandmother on one of his jaunts to Paris in 1912 and that their affair began at the famous Luna amusement park, which was open to everyone regardless of social class.

Pierre-Edouard at the age of 23 in 1939

The cover of François’ book, released in French last September

Would he have persevered with his enquiries if his grandfather was proved to be someone other than the Duke of Windsor?

Yes, is the categorical answer. Reaching the truth and knowing where you come from is what matters the most to him.

Marie-Rose, mother of François, at a fashion show in Casablanca, 1955

The Duke’s own memoirs and his grandmother’s diary corroborate the dates.

Marie-Léonine Graftieaux, the daughter of a butcher’s assistant and a cleaning woman who worked as a poorly-paid seamstress in Paris at the time, gave birth to a baby boy in 1916. Only two years later did she register the birth of the boy, naming him Pierre-Edouard. It is usual in France for the son to be given his father’s first name as his second Christian name. On the birth certificate, however, the father remained ‘unknown’. The baby was looked after by a nanny and later lived with a family in Marseilles before being sent to boarding school. “My grandmother subsequently changed her name to Marcelle Dormoy, and suddenly had the means to open a fashion house and become a popular designer,” says François. “I think her silence was bought by money.” As it seems unlikely that she had other means of gaining money at such short notice, this hypothesis doesn’t seem too far-fetched.

More coincidences followed. When François was born, his mother received a mysterious gift: a Van Cleef & Arpels diamond bracelet from a design created by the Duke for Mrs Simpson. “Where did it come from? My father would never have been able to afford something as expensive as that,” he muses.

Only recently was François provided with what he considers to be conclusive evidence.

He has proof that at the age of 19 his father travelled first class on a P&O ferry from Marseilles to London and stayed at Grosvenor House, the club frequented by the Duke. “He must have been sworn to silence and I don't think my mother ever knew the truth. Only now can I begin to understand the traumas that my father must have gone through and the fact that he couldn't deal with his own children.” He adds wistfully: “Commitment to others is difficult as you don’t want problems to go further down the line.” François himself has never married and has no children of his own.

I can’t help asking François what he thinks about the Duke’s rather controversial past, and whether this makes him feel uneasy in any way. Edward was a popular figure in British society before the war, but his reckless bachelor lifestyle and his subsequent abdication from the throne “to be with the woman I love” caused a constitutional crisis. When abdicating, Edward renounced the throne for himself and any of his descendants. There is also the little-known fact that when Germany invaded the north of France in May 1940, the Duke and Duchess fled to Lisbon and spent some time in Cascais. Because of his sympathies for the German cause, he was appointed Governor of the Bahamas in order to be kept well away from European affairs. The couple returned to France after the war where they spent the rest of their lives in effective exile.

François shrugs his shoulders. “No, his past doesn’t make me feel bad at all. I know that people loved him before the war but then he was forgotten. I can’t feel responsible for what my ancestors did.

All I want is the truth, regardless of what people think.”

And has the publication of his book helped? He pauses before considering the question. He has already made it clear that he communicated with the Foreign Office and even wrote directly to the Queen before going public. He was anxious to go through the right channels and show respect for the royal family. It is no surprise that the only response he received was to say that Buckingham Palace does not deal with matters like these.

François with his parents and sister in Switzerland, 1950

>> Continues on page 6

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Community >> Continued from page 5 Despite the reluctance of his now deceased mother and his sister living in Paris with her family, he went ahead with the book’s publication. He explains that it took courage and determination but he simply had to tell the story.

Seeing the book in print was perhaps not the cathartic experience he had imagined but it is the first step in trying to gain recognition. The book will most likely be

published in English in the near future, and several other countries have expressed an interest in obtaining publishing rights.

He has chosen to retire to the Algarve and enjoys the climate, lifestyle and the architecture, which reminds him of his childhood in Morocco. This tranquil corner of western Europe is the place he wants to call home. He spends his days playing golf, doing yoga and trying to come to

terms with his situation. His mission is still ongoing: “I believe many people are experiencing dislocation in different ways.

We live in an uncertain world and many feel lost. Discovering your roots and your own identity and being acknowledged for who you are is all important.”

François, I wish you well in your continuing journey. 

Calling all musical kids! that time the sort of music you had for children was icky-sweet and I thought it was an insult to their abilities,” she told Tomorrow. “What I do is basically music theatre. Kids love the combination of singing, movement, a bit of dance and acting.”

Does your child have a love of music and singing? Preparations are underway for a children’s opera set to be staged at Christmas, and the organiser is looking for local youngsters to get involved.

Heading up the project is Gita Nasta, a retired music teacher and composer who has been working with children for over 50 years. The former Head of Music at the International School of the Algarve has staged many other children’s operas during her career and her 16 years in the region, including the ambitious production of The Little Mermaid that she pulled off in 2012 (with no less than 50 performers) and her adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s The Happy Prince last year (pictured).

She started composing operas for children after a back injury cut short her original career as a concert pianist. “At

The next children’s opera on Gita’s agenda is another self-composed work, Christmas Is…, which is scheduled to be performed at Lagoa Auditorium on December 8th and 9th. “It starts in the 21st century, and then goes into the traditional Christmas story, although with a slightly different slant,” she told us. “It’s very child friendly. It’s one of my earliest works and the easiest, I think, so a new group of children will be able to do it without difficulty.”

Gita is ideally looking for “kids with imagination and musicality” aged between eight and 18 to join the existing group, a mix of boys and girls who come from Lagos through to Albufeira. After meeting with interested children on a one-to-one basis, she initially plans to work with the new group separately so she can get to know them and they can bond with one another. Closer to the performances, the children will come together with a group

of adult singers from the Ideais do Levante choir to complete the opera’s line-up.

She endeavours to ensure every child gets a chance to shine, too, saying: “I try to give them as many character parts and solos as I can.” She adds: “I don’t cast until the very end. Instead, everyone learns everything and gradually it emerges who plays the part the best. The kids can see it for themselves, so they find it correct. It’s a democratic way of casting.”

Rehearsals for Christmas Is… take place every Friday night during term time from 5pm to 6.15pm at CEFLA, next door to the Conservatoire in Lagoa. There is a cost of €30 per month (with a 50% discount for additional children from the same family), which goes towards production costs including costumes, make-up and staging.

Gita also works with soloists, small groups and duets at mutually convenient times, and there is no extra charge for this.

If your child is interested in getting involved, contact Gita directly using the details below. And put the dates for Christmas Is… in your diary now!   gitanasta@hotmail.com  +351 917 092 157

Porches community centre meeting Residents of all nationalities living in the Porches community in the municipality of Lagoa are invited to attend a special meeting to offer and discuss ideas about the setting up and running of a new community centre.

The meeting has been called by the president of the Junta de Freguesia in

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Porches, Luis Bentes, at 6pm on Wednesday March 8th in the former administration office at the end of Rua Direita.

All are welcome at this initial ideas meeting. The president will be open to all suggestions as to how and when the double-storey facility might be used by various groups or individuals for any sort of

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

helpful social activity.

The centre is already equipped with computers and a small library. It would be well suited to things such as Portuguese and English lessons, music classes and other get-togethers.

Come along and have your say. 

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Community

Tried & tested: Lagoa’s new bike share scheme By Stephanie Wood Alternatively, casual users can gain instant access to the bikes via the station kiosks or the mobile app.

Hourly rates are €5 for one hour, €8 for two hours and €12 for four hours. Deluxe visitor passes are also available for one day (€18), three days (€30), seven days (€60) and 30 days (€80).

Lagoa Câmara unveiled its pioneering bike share scheme last month, the first of its kind in Portugal. Twenty state-ofthe-art electric bikes are now available for public use in the municipality, with collection stations located in Ferragudo, Carvoeiro and Senhora da Rocha - and I was lucky enough to be one of the first to try them out.

The scheme was launched following a survey by the câmara that asked residents what they would like to see local money spent on. The bikes were one idea put forward, and a public vote made the dream a reality. The câmara employed operations company Wegoshare to implement the scheme using Bewegen’s bike-sharing technology.

Exclusive access to the bikes is currently being offered to residents of the municipality, with a free trial available until March 31st. So my colleague Steven and I signed up and took the bikes for a spin here’s how we got on…

REGISTERING & PRICES Access to the bikes is gained via one of two methods; a mobile app is available to all or, if you live locally, you can apply for a resident’s card which grants special reduced rates.

Getting a resident’s card is a doddle; simply register your details online at www.bewegen. pt, confirming you are a local resident with proof of address (easily uploaded from your computer on the website), and choose your membership option. Six month and one year memberships are available, priced at €72 and €108 respectively. These give you free and unlimited access to the bikes for 30-minute periods, with each additional 30 minutes charged at €3 (although you can avoid this charge by switching to another bike, which will reset the 30 minute ride time).

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ACCESSING A BIKE Before setting off, it’s worth consulting the app which gives live updates on how many bikes are docked at each station, so you can check you’ll be able to pick one up no problem. And that’s exactly how our experience was: problem free. A quick swipe of our cards on the built-in reader on the handlebars was all that was needed to release the bikes from their charging docks, and soon we were cycling around the local streets.

Meanwhile, app-users simply need to locate the bike they wish to use, enter its unique four-digit code (found below the handlebars) in the app and hey presto! The bike is automatically released remotely via Wegoshare’s sophisticated software system.

EASE OF USE The first thing that struck us about the bikes was their size. They’re bigger than an average push bike, with wide handlebars, a six-inch-thick frame and a large, shiny cover on the back wheel. They’re also heavier than an average bike, but this isn’t an issue when you get riding thanks to the DynaMe Propulsion electric motor.

If you’re not used to riding an electric bike, it’s important to be aware that the assistance kicks in pretty much as soon as you start riding - so be prepared to get moving rather quickly. There are no gears on these bikes - instead the electric motor adapts to the situation. For example, when the bike feels you exerting more pressure on the pedals as you tackle a hill, the power is increased in order to make light work of the incline - so you won’t find yourself out of breath at the top!

There’s a digital display on the handlebars which gives all sorts of handy information: the speed you’re travelling at, how much distance you’ve covered and how far you could cycle on the bike’s battery reserves.

There’s no need to worry about running

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out of juice, though - the battery can last up to 60km without recharging.

OTHER USEFUL FEATURES Worried about where to put your bag, or want to use the bikes to do a spot of shopping? Not a problem. There’s a handy basket on the front that is deep enough to comfortably and safely hold your belongings.

There’s also an easy-to-use secondary lock - handy if you fancy stopping for a coffee. Located in the basket, simply wrap it around something secure - such as a lamppost or railings - and push the end into the built-in lock on the front wheel using an ‘in and up’ action. Hold it there for a few seconds and you’ll hear the lock mechanism snap shut. A message on the digital display will also confirm the bike is secured.

However, I think we had the most fun using the bell button, which sounds a digital version of the traditional bicycle bell. It was lovely to ring it as we passed people in the street, giving them a wave as we went!

SAFETY The additional speed the electric motor gives is thrilling, but don’t expect to be flying around town at hair-raising speeds - legally, the bikes can only give assistance up to 25km/hr. Speed control measures in certain areas - such as near schools are also programmed via the company’s central operating system.

Helmets are not provided with the bikes and aren’t mandatory for cyclists in Portugal, but there’s nothing to stop you bringing your own - visit one of the many bike shops in the area to pick one up.

FINAL THOUGHTS There are many reasons to love this brilliant new scheme; the convenience factor and the obvious health and environmental benefits, to name just a few. But, for me, perhaps the greatest reason is the simple pleasure that comes from cycling along with the wind in your hair and the sun on your back.  Visit the website for more information, or search ‘Bewegen Lagoa’ on the App Store or Google Play.  www.bewegen.pt

Statue unveiled at Cape St. Vincent Bishop of the Algarve on January 22nd as part of the municipality of Vila do Bispo’s wider St. Vincent Day celebrations.

The three-metre-high statue stands at the final stop for modern pilgrims walking the Via Algarviana from the east or the Rota Vicentina from the north. The statue was delivered to Vila do Bispo after being built in Finland, whilst its granite base was produced in Monchique.

It’s worth finding the time to take a trip to Cape St. Vincent sometime soon, where Algarve resident Riki Grahne has achieved what everyone said was impossible!

Riki is the designer - and, indeed, the driving force - behind a new statue of Saint Vincent at Portugal’s most south-westerly point. It was officially inaugurated by the

Explaining his enthusiasm for the project, Riki said: “My interest in the Cape of St. Vincent arose a few years ago. By then I had moved to Lagos and had visited the peninsula several times. However, I was never given a credible answer to the question of when and why the cape, the Holy Promontory, had been renamed Cape of St. Vincent.

“After witnessing a procession at Vila do Bispo one January 22nd, I decided to start collecting information about the forgotten deacon, St. Vincent of Saragossa, who was being celebrated. His fascinating history has resulted in me producing two books related to the martyr, and now I have also designed

a statue that symbolises him."

Riki put all profits from his book sales towards the project, as well as his own money. But why this personal financial investment and all the effort - and why a statue? “I believe it enhances local knowledge of the saint and the peninsula, which in turn could also revive the once flourishing pilgrimage activities along the ancient pilgrim route. Most of the hundreds of thousands of tourists who now visit the cape have no idea of its historical significance.

“With my contemporary statue, placed here in a central location in a highly visible place, I think I can arouse considerable interest in this magical promontory. Perhaps some of the tourists will be coming back as pilgrims?”  To support the project, you can buy The Saint, Vincent and The Cape or A Modern Day Pilgrimage to The Cape of St. Vincent (both €20). Please contact Riki.  +351 968 811 717  rikigrahne@gmail.com

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| 9

What's On Try something new: ladies’ rock choir

thought, ‘That’s not a bad idea, actually.’

After thinking it over I started to make enquires. I tracked down a great teacher who has years of experience in the singing industry, and got a great response from over 60 people who wanted to join. That’s when I realised the choir had vast potential.”

That potential came to fruition on February 22nd when the choir held its first session, with great success. The venture is still very much in its infancy, so everyone is a ‘newcomer’ - making now the perfect time to get involved. Now start warming up those vocal chords! Even Donna is relatively new to it all, confessing: “I did sing in a choir at church as a child, but gave it up when I then moved to London.”

Every month, we shine a light on a different activity you can get involved with in the local area in the hopes of inspiring you to give it a go. This month we profile a ladies’ choir with a difference that’s just started down the road in Guia…

What’s it all about?

Calling all ladies who like to sing or enjoy music! A new choir started last month in Guia and the organisers are looking for members to join them for weekly sessions.

But don’t expect to be singing hymns or classical pieces - this is a thoroughly modern choir! The pieces you’ll be performing will be fun, upbeat rock and pop numbers.

Tell me more The choir was started by local events planner Donna McFadden. “I decided to start the choir after a friend mentioned it over lunch… a suggestion I laughed at!”

Donna told Tomorrow. “But I got home and

Who can take part?

Everyone is welcome to join the choir, regardless of vocal ability and prior experience - all that’s required is a love of singing! The experienced teacher will be on hand to help get the best out of everyone’s voice.

How do I get involved?

The choir meets every Wednesday night at Patrick’s bar and restaurant in Guia (Rua das Escolas) from 6pm to 8pm. Sessions cost €3 per person. For more information, get in touch with Donna directly.   donnaevents180@gmail.com  +351 911 525 899

Algarve International Music Festival returns will take part in 11 of the 20 planned concerts. Other groups on the bill include the Academy of Ancient Music from the UK, the Orquestra de Extremadura (Spain), Portugal’s Orquestra Metropolitana de Lisboa, the Danish Carion Quintet and the Israeli Jerusalem Quartet.

The Algarve International Music Festival (FIMA) returns this month after a seven year gap.

One of the oldest Portuguese music festivals, FIMA’s mission is to promote access to classical music. Running until May across the Algarve, the programme will feature a diverse repertoire and first-rate musicians. The Orquestra Classica do Sul (pictured with conductor Rui Pinheiro)

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The varied programme incorporates a range of musical styles, eras and composers, ranging from Baroque (Vivaldi, Bach and Telemann) and Classicism (Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven) to Romanticism (Schubert, Brahms and Tchaikovsky) and Modernism (Debussy, Schoenberg and Stravinsky).

Great examples of contemporary Portuguese music, such as pieces written

by Luís Soldado, Sérgio Azevedo, Eurico Carrapatoso and Luís Carvalho, will

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also feature - some of them in a world premiere.

The festival’s opening concert, Ode To Joy, takes place at Faro’s Teatro das Figuras on March 18th at 9pm. Concerts in our local area include Chamber Music: Great Quartets I at Lagoa auditorium on April 27th and Danses Concertantes at the Centro de Congressos do Arade on May 26th. Other locations include Lagos, Loulé, Albufeira and Tavira.

Ticket prices range from free to €20, with most concerts costing between €8 and €12. The festival runs from March 18th to May 28th. For tickets and to view the full schedule, visit the FIMA website.   www.fima.com.pt/en

Carvoeiro Cat Charity dinner A fundraising dinner is being held to help with the upkeep of about 350 cats currently being cared for by the Carvoeiro Cat Charity Associação.

It is hoped the event on Saturday March 12th at Restaurante A Tasquinha, Monte Carvoeiro, will attract around 100 diners of various nationalities. “In addition to contributing to the cost of feeding the cats, all money raised will go to paying vet bills and building a new shelter within the refuge that will give our cats a better life and make cleaning easier for our volunteers,” says Corinna, president of the CCC.

The dinner will be an informal evening, starting at 8pm and featuring live music by popular performer Adelino. A similar event two years ago attracted Portuguese, English, German, Dutch and French members of the community.

It costs €25 per person with either a chicken or vegetarian three-course menu, a drink and coffee. Half of this price will help feed the 350 cats while permanent adoption homes are sought for them.   +351 916 335 350  ccc.carvoeirocatcharity@gmail.com

Monchique sausage fair Do you know your chouriço from your paio? Discover all at the Monchique sausage fair! As in previous years, the 2017 edition aims to promote and sell the traditional sausages of Monchique, made with knowledge handed down through the

generations by the people of the serra and perfected with modern techniques. Stalls will be set up at the municipal heliport from March 3rd to 5th and entry is free. 

Hot food and cool jazz Holiday Inn Algarve in Armação de Pêra is pleased to announce that jazz band Cool Manouche will be returning to the Raj Indian restaurant on Thursday March 30th. For just €27 per person, guests will be treated to a three-course Indian meal with wine and water whilst they enjoy the swinging sounds of the good-time jazz group.

With stunning views over the ocean, the restaurant is a firm favourite with locals and holidaymakers alike. The hotel is also offering special rates for overnight accommodation and breakfast should you wish to make a night of it. For more information or to book get in touch now.   +351 282 320 260  info@hialgarve.com

 www.cm-monchique.pt

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| 11

What's On

Catch The Algarveans’ latest revue show with air travel, comprising 16 short, humorous sketches with musical interludes.

David Butler-Cole, a long-time member of the group, conceived the revue and is also directing the cast of fifteen.

Following the success of God Save Our Leaking Roof two years ago, The Algarveans Experimental Theatre group are back with a sequel. Their 2017 revue show, Flights of Fancy, takes flying on budget airlines as its theme. It’s an hilarious take on what we have no doubt all experienced

One sketch features mother and daughter Gloria and Lara Costa (pictured), in which Gloria lampoons an expert from the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow with Lara, having found a picture in a dustbin, wondering whether she has hit the jackpot. Another rib-tickling sketch features a man in his twilight years who likes nothing better than to soak up the sun on a park seat. But what happens when an odorous bag lady plonks herself down beside him and declares that she was

once married to Attila the Hun? She has a bracelet of human teeth to prove it!

Three evening performances of the production (for adults only) are taking place at the Mascarenhas Gregório theatre in Silves from March 2nd – 4th, starting at 8pm. The following week there will be two more performances at Vale de Lobo Auditorium, on March 10th and 11th at 8pm and 5pm respectively. Tickets cost €12 and can be reserved by calling the numbers below.   +351 966 211 634 / 913 723 611  www.thealgarveans.com

International Women’s Day dinner

Network was the only women's business association in the Algarve for more than 20 years, and was finally wound down by members in 2011 due to new financial regulations and a downturn in the economy. Throughout its time it raised funds for charity, supported local businesses, was responsible for initiating the Mamamaratona, and organised various fairs, training seminars, informative talks

Scottish country dancing Last month’s edition of Tomorrow included an article about Scottish country dancing classes. These take place every Monday night from 7.30pm to 9.30pm at Nobel International School in Lagoa, not Lagos as we originally printed. We apologise for the error. Anyone interested in joining in should contact organiser Mardie Cunningham.

To read the full article, visit www.tomorrowalgarve.com/ publications and select our February edition.   +351 282 356 029  mardie@sapo.pt

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and other events.

The dinner takes place at Raj Indian restaurant at Holiday Inn Algarve on International Women's Day, Wednesday March 8th, from 7.30pm. It will raise funds for a registered charity for young women and newborns in the district of Lembá in São Tomé and Príncipe. Its Mames and Mininus project aims to provide childbirth kits composed of basic, aseptic and disposable material to assist new mothers and their newborns. It also provides training for health technicians in the use of these kits, as well as primary health care in an

area that has high rates of infant mortality.

Through better care and health education, lives can be saved.

So celebrate International Women's Day with other women, your girlfriends, colleagues and female family members and support this well-worthwhile cause.

For further details and essential booking, contact ex-Network president Linda Smith.   casadouglas@mail.telepac.pt  +351 916 881 170

A night at the opera This month, Lagos Music Academy presents Henry Purcell’s Dido & Aeneas, the most iconic baroque opera, in a unprecedented production on the Algarve.

The performance takes place at 9.30pm on March 3rd at Lagoa auditorium. It will bring together the Algarve’s resident chamber music orchestra, Algarve Camerata, the choir and soloists from the early music department at the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague, and visual artists from Escola Artística de Soares dos Reis in Porto. Guest musical director Adrian Van Der Spoel, stage director Carlos Meireles Sousa, and Belgian tenor Jan Van Elsacker (Aeneas) will join locals singers Joana Godinho (Dido) and Margarida Marreiros (Belinda), together with many other amazing artists.

Want us to promote your event in What's On? Email stephanie@tomorrowalgarve.com

The project is part of both the academy’s and the municipality of Lagoa’s strategy to promote the arts in a strong educational context, and is part of the 365 Algarve programme, which seeks to combat the traditional seasonality of tourism in the region.   www.academiamusicalagos.pt  @amlgs

The Algarveans photo courtesy of BJ Boulter

Network, the former Association of Working & Business Women, invites all women to support and celebrate International Women’s Day at a special charity dinner.

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 Maralgarve sea fair | March 23rd - 25th 10am to 7pm | Free | Exhibitions, conferences, economic activities, street food with the goal to promote all sea related activities

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 March 12th, 8pm Carvoeiro Cat Charity fund-raising dinner at A Tasquinha restaurant, Monte Carvoeiro | €25pp including a three course meal, drink, coffee and live music. Half goes directly to help feed the CCC’s 350 cats | Reservations and more info:  +351 916 335 350  ccc.carvoeirocatcharity@gmail.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 Algarve Archeological Association's monthly talk: Archaeology and the Historical Interpretation of Cacela Velha in the Islamic Period Tues March 7th, 5.45pm, Convento de São José, Lagoa  +351 917 267 948 |  algarvearchass@gmail.com  www.arquealgarve.weebly.com |  Algarve Archaeological Association Tango Party | March 3rd & 4th | Cine Teatro Louletano | Tango Workshop, booking:  289 414 604 €20 single/ €30 couple | Tango Show €12 / €10 Fado Festival with Raquel Tavares | March 4th 9pm | Arade Congress Center, Parchal Lagoa | Tickets are €8 |  www.ticketline.sapo.pt Humor Fest | March 24th & 25th at 9.30pm | Lagoa Municipal Auditorium | €8 | Tickets:  www.ticketline.sapo.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

Tide Table for March 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 29 WED 30 THU 31 FRI

Morning

Height (m)

10:04 10:45 11:30 00:53 02:15 03:51 05:12 06:13 07:00 07:41 08:17 08:50 09:22 09:54 10:26 11:00 11:37 00:54 02:15 03:50 05:01 05:51 06:32 07:09 07:46 08:24 09:02 09:42 10:24

0.53 0.65 0.82 1.12 1.26 1.26 1.13 0.94 0.78 0.66 0.59 0.58 0.63 0.72 0.85 1.01 1.20 1.46 1.57 1.53 1.38 1.17 0.94 0.73 0.55 0.43 0.40 0.45 0.59

HIGH TIDE Afternoon 22:19 23:02 23:52 12:22 13:28 14:53 16:23 17:34 18:27 19:11 19:50 20:25 20:59 21:32 22:06 22:40 23:17 23:59 12:21 13:22 14:50 16:17 17:19 18:05 18:45 19:23 20:01 20:39 21:19 22:01 22:47

Height (m)

Morning

Height (m)

0.63 0.75 0.93 1.03 1.24 1.35 1.32 1.18 1.00 0.84 0.72 0.65 0.64 0.69 0.79 0.93 1.11 1.29 1.39 1.55 1.62 1.54 1.37 1.15 0.93 0.72 0.56 0.46 0.44 0.50 0.64

03:57 04:39 05:25 06:18 07:22 08:42 10:09 11:24 00:42 01:27 02:07 02:44 03:18 03:52 04:25 04:59 05:35 06:18 07:16 08:39 10:08 11:14 00:16 00:56 01:35 02:15 02:55 03:37 04:21

3.68 3.58 3.41 3.19 2.96 2.81 2.79 2.90 3.32 3.46 3.54 3.56 3.51 3.41 3.26 3.07 2.88 2.68 2.51 2.42 2.48 2.64 3.11 3.34 3.54 3.69 3.75 3.73 3.60

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Afternoon 16:20 17:03 17:51 18:48 19:58 21:22 22:43 23:49 12:22 13:10 13:51 14:28 15:03 15:36 16:10 16:43 17:18 17:57 18:45 19:52 21:17 22:33 23:30 12:02 12:43 13:21 13:59 14:37 15:17 15:59 16:44

Height (m) 3.47 3.36 3.21 3.03 2.89 2.85 2.95 3.13 3.05 3.20 3.32 3.38 3.40 3.36 3.27 3.14 2.99 2.82 2.67 2.56 2.55 2.67 2.88 2.86 3.09 3.31 3.49 3.60 3.64 3.59 3.47

 www.tomorrowalgarve.com

| 13

Health Osteoporosis can sneak up on you

By Dr. Bock

The International Osteoporosis Foundation provides a free risk assessment quiz; search online for ‘IOF one minute osteoporosis test’. You will immediately receive a result that will give you a general indication of your risk factors for osteoporosis and possible future fracture.

If you are at risk, a simple and pain-free bone mineral density test will give an idea of the strength of your bones before a fracture occurs. There are a variety of types of density tests, which you should discuss with your doctor.

Osteoporosis can be helped and prevented by getting adequate calcium and vitamin D, a healthy diet including fruits and vegetables, getting regular gentle exercise (weight-bearing and muscle strengthening), avoiding smoking and limiting alcohol to no more than two to three drinks a day.

If you are over the age of 50 or you have parents or grandparents past this age, osteoporosis - the silent and gradual weakening of bones - could be developing without you realising it.

One in three women and one in five men are affected annually and, unfortunately, every year we needlessly lose too many people to osteoporosis-related hip fractures. I lost my mother two years ago in this way. To help you or your loved ones avoid a similar situation, there are several early warning signs to be aware of: 1. A gradual loss in height of three centimetres or more, and/or the back becoming stooped or rounded. When the bones of the spine weaken they can

gradually collapse, with a settling of the bones which causes a decrease in height.

There can also be a humping or rounding of the back as the vertebrae collapse.

2. Sudden back pain without any apparent cause. The vertebrae can spontaneously collapse or fracture from something as simple as bending over to pick up a newspaper. Any time an adult has sudden or very intense back pain from little or no activity, they should have an immediate bone examination and assessment.

3. A fracture occurring from minor activity such as a simple slip, bending over, or even a cough or sneeze. This is a red flag that something is not quite right and needs assessment.

My mother was doing everything right except, with her dementia, she refused to exercise! So talk to your doctor about any other risk factors that you may have so these needs can be addressed.

Prevention is always the best course of action, so now is the time to take action to stay healthy and strong!  Dr. Bock can be reached at Active Quiroprática. Please consult a healthcare provider for specific advice regarding your health.  www.drbock.pt  +351 966 706 606

Make time for mindfulness Are you craving some quiet time to escape the crazy world we live in? A local organisation is on hand to help you achieve just that. Mindfulness Algarve offers courses, retreats and holidays in this increasingly popular practice.

Mindfulness is a way to find stillness in our busy world. It is a mix of science and psychology that draws on many eastern meditation practices. Recognised by the NHS for the proven benefits it has on our mental and physical health and our

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general wellbeing, it is particularly good for reducing stress, dealing with pain and finding calm.

Explaining the benefits of the practice, Sofia from Mindfulness Algarve said: “You can learn how to live in the now and practice mindfulness in your everyday life. You can learn to be more open and curious to the world around you with loving kindness and compassion.”

Examples of upcoming courses include

Want to contribute to our Business section? Email stephanie@tomorrowalgarve.com

the five-week Mindfulness for Creativity and the eight-week Finding Peace in a Frantic World, whilst a week-long retreat incorporating meditation, mindfulness, yoga and juicing is scheduled for May. Online courses are also available for individuals and groups.

Get in touch for more information.   +351 965 080 287  www.mindfulnessalgarve.com

 TomorrowAlgarve

 www.tomorrowalgarve.com

| 15

Business Local shooting complex on target for world domination By Sophie Sadler

Meanwhile, the Portuguese team have used O Pinhal for their qualifying shoots for many years, and the complex is increasingly used by the international teams from France, Great Britain and Luxembourg too.

Explaining what draws big names to his complex, Rui says: “One of the main reasons is the weather. We have lots of sunny days in the Algarve, and the light is great throughout the year. I am also focused on quality; my traps are some of the best in the world and that means the teams keep coming back.”

If you thought that clay pigeon shooting was synonymous with the muddy fields of England, think again. The Algarve is home to what is fast becoming one of the most visited shooting centres in Europe.

Rui Terra was working in bars until 1996 when a request from friends to use his family's land for clay pigeon shooting gave him an idea. More than 20 years later his shooting centre, Complexo O Pinhal, is rated one of the best in Portugal and attracts the world’s premier shooters.

The complex at Vales de Pêra features six shooting ranges, an accommodation building with six bedrooms, and an on-site restaurant run by Rui’s wife, Silvia, which serves traditional Portuguese food at very reasonable prices.

“Shooting is not as big in Portugal as it is in the UK, so I am attempting to bring the top competitors from around the world here to promote the sport in my country,” Rui tells me. A highlight in his journey came in 2012 when O Pinhal hosted the Universal Trench World Championships. “It really put us on the map,” he says.

Abbey Ling (née Burton) is one of those competitors who visited the complex in 2012. Now the five-time British Champion, World Cup & Commonwealth medalist visits the complex regularly with her husband, Ed Ling, a Team GB bronze medallist in the men’s trap at Rio 2016.

London 2012 gold medalist Peter Wilson MBE is another regular. Now a coach, he often brings his protégées such as James Dedman to practice in the Algarve.

Recent world championship silver medallist and former Essex Ladies shooter Jacqui Poole is a coach at the complex. She shows me the ranges, where flying targets appear from traps in the ground. “With numerous different targets available, this provides a good introduction to the sport,” she says, adding: “If I am working with beginners I don't like anyone to leave without having hit a target, so we adapt it to your level.” I ask what makes a good shooter. “It’s just instinct and good co-ordination,” says Jacqui. “It’s a lot of fun having a go and we get lots of groups coming for a day out or for stag dos.”

For a better understanding of the sport, check out the next competition set to take place at O Pinhal, the First Algarve Premier Olympic Trap (which is on the FPTAC calendar) on March 4th and 5th.

To enquire about lessons or group bookings, get in touch.   www.ctopinhal@gmail.com  +351 282 322 563 / 914 082 704

Equity markets buoyant despite political uncertainty

By Alan Belcher, Senior Partner, Private Fund Management First the Brexit referendum, then Donald Trump. In 2016, investors were surprised by events that pollsters and other experts said wouldn’t happen, although on both occasions stock markets swiftly recovered before reaching new highs.

Germany. Italy could also go to the polls if the government appointed following Matteo Renzi’s referendum defeat and subsequent resignation doesn’t last. Any of these events could cause investors to become less relaxed about the outlook for their investments.

Uncertainty and political risk remain key themes for financial markets in 2017.

Following his inauguration, President Trump’s policies will start to become clearer, whilst the UK is expected to trigger Article 50 sometime in 2017 and the eurozone faces important elections in the Netherlands, France and

With so many sources of political uncertainty (in the UK and US, but also Europe and throughout the emerging economies), we suggest that the risk premia demanded by investors are not commensurate with this uncertainty, which has caused us to start the year cautiously. Over the past 12 months,

16 |

Want to contribute to our Business section? Email stephanie@tomorrowalgarve.com

global equities have risen by more than 20% in sterling terms and many portfolio strategies have delivered over and above investors’ required rates of return. To be clear, our base case does not include a recession in 2017, and equity bear markets do not occur without one. So we at Private Fund Management recommend staying invested, and adopting a cautious, proactively managed strategy during this period of uncertainty.   +351 289 392 484  alan@privatefund.management

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To reserve your place please contact PFM: 289 392 484 alan@privatefund.management

Work with GCEN to: › Save money with no fees or charges To find out about these & other products & services we provide contact us at: Vilamoura Office 289 093 137 Lagos Office 282 768 136 UK rate 01622 815 201 E portugal@gcen.co.uk www.gcen.co.uk

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| 17

Food & Drink Cooking with oranges

Roast goat with oranges, potatoes and spinach This recipe serves six and is used courtesy of Mercados de Portimão (www.mercadosdeportimao.pt). In the supermarket, look for cabrito - a young goat meat.

Ingredients 1.2kg goat meat 8 garlic cloves 5 tbsp olive oil 2 bay leaves 150ml white wine 2-3 sprigs of thyme

6 potatoes 3 small onions 2 oranges 300g spinach Salt and pepper Paprika

Method 1. Peel and crush the garlic. Add a teaspoon of salt, one tablespoon of paprika and two tablespoons of olive oil, mixing well until a paste forms.

Here’s two ways to cook up a storm with the Algarve’s hero fruit - delicious, juicy oranges!

Sarrajão with cucumber and gin foam and orange compote This recipe - featuring sarrajão, a fish similar to tuna - was cooked live at last month’s annual Festa da Laranja in Portimão by Chef João Oliveira from VISTA restaurant at Bela Vista Hotel and Spa. It serves four.

Ingredients 1kg sarrajão cut into fillets (skin on) 4 oranges Fresh chopped chilis Fresh dill Salt and pepper 130g sugar 1 cucumber

1 cup of cream Gin 1 radish 100ml white balsamic vinegar 100ml vermouth Rosemary Thyme

Method 1. Marinate the sarrajão fillets in the juice of two oranges, the chilis and dill. Season with salt and pepper and leave for two hours.

2. For the compote, slice the zest from the used oranges, then peel the other two oranges and slice thinly. Combine in a saucepan with 70g of sugar, a pinch of salt and two tablespoons of water. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer until a syrupy liquid forms, stirring occasionally.

Leave to cool.

3. Score the fish skin. Heat a frying pan over a medium heat but don't use oil - there is enough in the skin for cooking. Put the fish in the pan skin-side down and leave to cook to your desired level without turning.

4. Juice the cucumber and add the cream, 60g of sugar and a glug of gin. Then use an N20 cream charger (available on Amazon) to create a delicate foam.

5. For a garnish, slice the radish thinly and place in a bowl with the white balsamic vinegar, vermouth, rosemary and thyme.

Mix together and leave to marinate for 1015 minutes.

2. Spread over the goat meat, drizzle with white wine and cover with clingfilm. Leave in the fridge overnight.

3. Peel and cut the potatoes into chunks, and cut the onions in half. Season with salt, pepper and paprika and spread in a baking tray. Drizzle over two tablespoons of olive oil and bake in an oven preheated to 180°C for 10 minutes.

4. Place the meat on top of the potatoes and onions. Pour some of the marinade over the meat, along with the juice of one orange. Add the thyme and return to the oven for 40-50 minutes. Regularly baste with the juices.

5. When the meat is almost cooked, sauté the spinach with one tablespoon of olive oil.

6. Slice the other orange and serve with the meat, along with the potatoes and spinach.

Enjoy! 

New location for Algarve Gardens café Algarve Gardens has relocated its café to new premises in Portimão. Green Bifes (formerly Flor das Laranjeiras) is now open on Rua da Pedra, where the team will continue to serve up homemade food, takeaway meals and other healthy deli eats, all made using the freshest fruit and vegetables from their nearby organic farm. The new space features a lovely

18 |

Zen garden which clients can enjoy, and they will also be holding yoga sessions. Plans are a-foot for a kids club, too.

The team invite you to their official opening party on Saturday March 4th, an all-day affair with a special taster lunch buffet from midday and live music from 3pm. If you can’t make

Want to contribute to our Food & Drink section? Email stephanie@tomorrowalgarve.com

that date, stop by another time to enjoy something from the tasty menu, which caters to all dietary needs. The café is open 7am10pm Monday to Saturday - and you can also place veg box orders there!   @greenbifes  +351 927 094 49

Julie Ansiau for Fermob

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17/01/2017 | 09:07  www.tomorrowalgarve.com 19

Outdoor Gardening au natural By Clive Goodacre

produce huge areas of ground cover from a single stem and seem to flow around trees and any other plants they encounter without strangling them. They respond well to trimming and integrate well with new planning.

Building a natural garden is the subject for a book, but here are some additional guidelines that should help your quest.

The easiest style to develop is of course to use rocks and gravel landscaped with low mounding shrubs, perennials and architectural plants such as succulents, palms (multi-stemmed give a marvellous large bonsai effect) and trees typically found in Mediterranean climates. A browse through Graham Payne’s essential book Garden Plants for Mediterranean Climates will point you in the right direction.

Lotus berthelotii makes striking ground cover

When someone recently asked me about making a ‘natural garden’ for a new villa development, I jokingly asked them if they wanted one that predominantly flowers in the spring and turns into a scrub-infested dustbowl in the summer! Of course, what they really wanted was something that looks natural with year-round interest.

This can be surprisingly difficult to achieve; after all, the balance that nature casually displays throughout the Algarve has taken generations to develop. Ironically, when a site is cleared for a new villa, many owners later want to emulate the original vegetation and any remaining on the other side of the fence. If you want inspiration for a natural rock garden, take a walk this spring down Bordeira beach on the west coast or out on the Sagres promontory.

Back at our new plot, the first planning decision is what to do about areas of exposed soil. Simulating the effect created by years of natural plant debris normally comes down to lots of ground cover - pine bark, stones or pebbles, or a combination of these. If you have pine trees then pine needles, ideally put through a shredder, can be used in moderation as they acidify the soil.

There are many pros and cons regarding alternative top dressing materials. Tree bark can blow around and end up floating in the swimming pool while also encouraging slugs, snails and woodlice. Avoid putting it too high up the stems of plants as it may

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suffocate them – succulents are particularly susceptible to continuous damp and have no natural protection against mildew related diseases.

Crushed rock (brita) is widely used, sometimes over a weed-suppressing membrane, although natural riverbed pebbles look best of all, and can be used in different combinations of sizes and colours to create the sort of flowing garden design pioneered by Beth Chatto in the UK. A good approach is to lay the mulch before planting – in this way you get a better overview of the landscape, enabling you to easily even up any irregularities and position plants on a blank canvas. You will certainly use fewer plants, while also avoiding burying their stems too deep. You may even prefer a minimalist Zen-style garden design, which is much easier to maintain.

Ground cover plants such as Lampranthus and members of the Mesembryanthemum family should be used with care. They are nature’s survivors and will engulf virtually any surface. Also, it is very difficult to remove weeds from ground cover that has a multiple root and stem structure.

If you want perfectly behaved ground cover then I highly recommend the two varieties of Lotus that originate from the Canary Islands: L. berthelotii with its fern greygreen foliage and beak shaped red flowers, and L. maculatus, which has slightly larger foliage and yellow beaked flowers. They

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Apart from obvious natives like olives, carobs, arbutus and wild palms (Chamaerops humilis), my planting list would have to include Teucrium fruticans - a tough, bluish-green flowering shrub that can be shaped or left natural. Lavender must also come high on any natural planting list, and looks particular natural when planted in drifts under olive trees.

Also essential are daisy-like plants like Felicia, Gazania and Osteospermum, which suit both natural and more formal gardens in the Algarve. Growing naturally in semidesert areas of southern Africa such as Namaqualand, these ‘Cape Daisies’ look perfect in rockeries and gravel gardens.

Remember, less is definitely more – throughout the year, a single Agave, Yucca or Dracaena draco will visually outperform a group of shrubs or intensive planting of perennials. If your plot is surrounded by open natural land then try and blend it with the outer features of your garden.

Finally, making a natural garden is an instinctive thing that requires patience and observation. You will know when it looks right and when it just looks untidy.  Natural planting of Cape Daisies looks great in rockeries

 TomorrowAlgarve

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And Finally 10 minutes with… The Outsiders

I Spy Algarve: wild flowers By Clive Goodacre From March until May, the Algarve is a magic carpet of wild flowers, particularly along the coast west of Odiáxere. Here are just six of hundreds of varieties that can be seen - see if you can spot them this spring!

When Tomorrow reader Julie Thompson got in touch to let us know how much she loves this local band, saying they are “guaranteed to get people dancing and singing along”, we figured we should find out more about them!

Who are the members of The Outsiders?

We are Daniel Silva (keyboards and vocals) and Paulo Contreiras (guitar and vocals).

Daniel comes from a little town called Iserlohn near Dortmund in Germany. He lives in Silves with his wife, two kids and pets. Paulo is French and lives in Loulé with his wife, who is also a singer and keyboard player.

How did you both get into music? Paulo: I’ve been playing guitar since I was nine years old. At first I wanted to be a drummer, but then one of my brothers got a guitar and I was curious. I would listen to classic rock ’n’ roll tunes by the likes of Elvis, Johnny Cash and Eddie Cochran, and wanted to play like them.

Daniel: I come from a family of musicians.

My great grandmother was a fado singer and my dad was a keyboard player. When I was growing up, the radio would be on all day, my dad would be playing eighties tunes, and that was it! The music bug was inside me.

How did The Outsiders start?

We met through Daniel’s sister and became firm friends right away. We played our first gig together in December 2004

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and we’re still going strong now! We play a little bit of everything: pop, rock, old tunes from the fifties through to the eighties, and current hits.

Where might Tomorrow readers have seen you? We mostly play around Carvoeiro and Quinta do Lago. In Carvoeiro we often play at Brady’s, Round Up Saloon and other cafes and beach restaurants. Some people come every year to listen to us, which is amazing.

What’s the best - and worst - gig you’ve ever played? We’ve had lots of good moments, but the gig we played for the captain of a Royal Caribbean cruise liner in Australia was memorable. The worst is when we’re playing and all the audience want is to get signal on their mobiles!

What are your plans for the future? We have a full schedule for summer 2017, which we’re looking forward to. We’ll be playing in our regular places and also at private parties, charity events and the like.

Come and see us!

What do you love most about living in the Algarve? The Algarve is small but huge at the same time because it is so diverse compared to other places. The weather, beaches, food and lifestyle are also great. We’re very lucky to live in this small paradise.   theoutsidersalgarve@gmail.com  +351 966 901 050 / 968 041 409  @outsiders.band.5

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

Phlomis purpurea A hairy evergreen shrub that flowers April to June on dry hills and stony places such as pathways.

A rarer yellow variety, P. Lychnitis, is sometimes grown as a garden plant.

Ophrys apifera A member of the relatively large Bee orchid group. Flat, smooth green leaves appear in January and then it flowers with an amazing bumblebee-esque rear end from March to May. Anacamptis pyramidalis (pyramid orchid) Grows in open grassland, May – July.

Usually found in large colonies like the similar but much rarer and lighter Orchis italica (sometimes known as naked man orchid - look it up and use your imagination!)

Fritillaria Lusitanica Flowers from April onwards in mixed vegetation and on cliffs in pockets of earth. A beautiful bell-shaped flower with yellow interior that can be hard to spot.

Anagallis Pimpernel Often found growing on paths and mixed in with other wild flowers, this flower grows in the driest spots in full sun amongst sand dunes from March to October. 

Picture credits: Phlomis purpurea © Stickpen, Ophrys apifera © Hans Hillewaert, Anagallis © Luis Nunes Alberto, all other images © Clive Goodacre

Cistus ladanifer (gum cistus) Found on garrigue and maquis from March until early summer, they have five white petals and yellow stamens.

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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