Before I go any further, I’d like to stress that the receptionists at my local health centre are usually very patient with my inadequate Portuguese and do their best to understand and help me. This is a welcome change from my first experience of the Portuguese health care system inRead More →
‘Get rid of brambles’ has been on our To Do List ever since I moved to rural central Portugal. That was almost five years ago. After a long, prickly process, I can finally tick this as done. Well, almost. Here’s how not to deal with brambles, followed by the easyRead More →
What does it take to feel comfortable if you live abroad? I was interviewed for a television documentary about my experience as an expat in Portugal. The producers were exploring the concept of home comforts; how certain objects might affect the way that people living away from their home countriesRead More →
It’s been two years since Louise and Ben Taylor made their dream of moving from London to the Algarve a reality. Time enough to give proper consideration to whether or not it was a wise move, and to write a book which tells their story and may help other potentialRead More →
During an unanticipated trip to the UK, I couldn’t help making several comparisons between life in Portugal and in Britain. As a Brit who’s lived abroad for more than 10 years, there are things I notice when I go back to see family and friends in my native country thatRead More →
A friend recently visited me here in Portugal and when I asked her what she liked about the country, I wasn’t surprised when she said, “I feel safe here.” I do too. When you consider that Portugal currently ranks as the 7th safest country in the Global Peace Index, perhapsRead More →
One of the things I find most frustrating about living in Portugal is how difficult it is to get quotes for work that needs doing. To my way of thinking, it’s in a company’s interests to provide potential clients with the information that they need promptly and with a smileRead More →
Who exactly should you kiss in Portugal? When should you kiss them? I don’t mean full on romantic smooches, which are obviously reserved for very special people. I’m talking about the friendly, everyday cheek kisses, one on each side of the face. Although it’s an integral part of life here,Read More →
It’s coming up to Mimosa time in Portugal so I’ve skipped a few letters in my Personal A to Z of Portugal to get to M is for Mimosa. Find out more about why these trees are so pretty but such a pest in Portugal.Read More →
