brambles on a hill

‘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 →

Moura Morta, Portugal

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 →

Bench, Manuel Braga park, Coimbra

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 →

kitchen renovation

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 →

delicate yellow mimosa flowers

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 →