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Expert financial advice Keep up to date with our Finance expert, chartered accountant Ricardo Chaves from All Finance Matters. READERS Q&A Each month we receive In this case you would reinvest partially in the Q I received a tax bill for my IRS 2022, different questions from our pension product and partially into another is this normal? I never received readers, although some of product and this would save you the CGT. such a bill and this one seems too these questions are related to Obviously the tax should not be the only low for the income I declared in my IRS specific situations, sometimes driving factor on your decision, but if you 2021, that was just submitted. the answer may help you to plan ahead you will be able to minimise your better understand the tax system in Portugal tax exposure and still continue enjoying the A The tax bill you received is not the and answer the queries from other readers. weather in Portugal. tax bill for your tax return that was recently submitted. That tax bill is Q My NHR status is finishing at Q I tried to become a Non Habitual normally issued in July and the payment will the end of 2024, can you give me Resident, but my application was be due by the end of August. some advice about what I should denied because the tax office says The bill you just received is the payment in be doing after this date? I am considering I have been resident in Portugal. I never advance for your 2022 taxes. As you have a registered business activity, they issue a tax selling my property and moving back to the filled a tax return here, the only thing I paid bill based on your previous income. These bills are issued for payment in July, UK. Will it be better to It's important that was my council tax. Is September and November and will be do this while I am NHR? this correct? deducted from your 2022 tax bill, which will A Under the NHR A It's important that be submitted in 2023. regime, the capital people realize people realise Please feel free to send us the questions you gains from the sale that if the address that if the address may have to [email protected]. We will of Portuguese property, registered at the registered at the tax select some of these to be published. are treated in the office, is a Portuguese EastAlgarveM A G A Z I N E same way as any other tax office, is a address, your property Portuguese tax resident. for instance, then the PROMOTE YOUR BUSINESS WITH US This means that the fact Portuguese address, tax authorities consider FROM ONLY €25, that you lose the NHR you resident. If you are UP TO €295 FOR your property for status in January 2025, non-resident, you should A FULL PAGE won’t affect your capital gains liability. That would instance, then the tax either appoint a fiscal If you would like to representative in Portugal promote your only happen in case you authorities consider or give the tax office the business with the East became non-tax resident. address in your home Algarve magazine contact us on My suggestion is that you resident. If you country. you try and exhaust most are non-resident, If your address was [email protected] of the pension income in Portugal, but you or Tel 961 700 200 before the end of 2024, you should either never submitted a tax As an advertiser you this way this income declaration here, we can automatically become a will not be taxed, as appoint a fiscal contest and revert the distributor, and will be after January 2025, the decision made by the tax provided with a number of representative in pension income will be office concerning your copies to issue to your customers. taxed in Portugal under Portugal or give the Non-Habitual Residency the progressive tax rates request. You will need (with an exclusion for the tax office the address to show a tax residency first 4.104€ of pension certificate, issued by the on your home income). country. tax authorities in your With reference to your country and this needs main residency, when to be officially translated you sell it, if you reinvest to Portuguese and the full proceedings, this means that you will submitted to the relevant tax department be able to avoid CGT. The reinvestment can in Lisbon, that will deal with all the NHR be made into another property in Portugal applications. Contact us to find out how this or in the EU. As the UK is no longer eligible can be done. for the reinvestment in another property, As a Non Habitual Resident, you can be you may consider buying a smaller property exempt on several income streams from in Portugal (although this needs to be foreign sources, such as dividends, or pay a your main residency) and reinvesting the lower tax on pensions (10%). If you are still remaining of the proceedings into a pension working as a sole trader, you can benefit from or life assurance plan. The reinvestment in a a flat tax rate of 15% on your income, which financial product is accepted provided that may be even lower in the first year. This can the taxpayer is demonstrably in retirement, or be particularly attractive for taxpayers wishing has, 65 years of age. to relocate to Portugal. 52 www.eastalgarvemag.com
We’ll look after your tax a airs while you look after your lifestyle www.eastalgarvemag.com 45
Expert financial advice By Andy Oliver, CEO of Private Client Consultancy PANDEMIC-FUELLED EARLY RETIREMENT For many, early retirement may cost-of-living crisis. Older demographics are numbers to plummet. This has been attributed seem ideal. Who wouldn’t want to spend less time working and largely feeling these effects. Energy prices to several different factors. The UK’s Office more time with their friends and family? However, if the person have risen significantly. This jump is said to for National Statistics (ONS) reported that retiring early has not been given the choice and was instead forced into be equivalent to over a month’s worth of the health concerns and new work patterns were retirement, how ideal really is it? The problems with forced early retirement mean state pension. Since the pandemic, at causing older workers Since the pandemic, at least 500,000 people from ages 50 to 70 have left the British Pensioners typically to revaluate their life workforce. In many cases, they were forced into retiring earlier than they had wanted. As the spend a larger least 500,000 people from choices. Specifically, cost-of-living crisis continues to rear its head, percentage of their their careers. It is many of these people may experience severe problems when it comes to having enough income on heating their ages 50 to 70 have left the estimated that close income to fund their retirement. homes than younger to a fifth of workers While not ideal, being forced into an early British workforce. In many retirement by pandemic-related causes may not demographics. This cases, they were forced between the ages of be as much of an issue for those who can afford makes them some of 50 and 59 attribute it. However, data is indicating that this surge in the most at risk when it quitting their jobs to early retirement is due in part to ill health. This is a cause for concern because it will greatly comes to rising energy into retiring earlier than mental health issues. impact the living standards of those retiring. costs. A sixth said they were In addition to this, it will consequently create a significantly reduced economy for society at It is also being they had wanted. seeking a lifestyle large. reported that an even change. Of course, it does not help that the world has steeper increase in The ONS data shows gone straight from a pandemic and energy bills will occur in October. If this is to that three in five workers over the age of 50 left into a be the case, retirees will not be able to rely on their jobs earlier than they had planned since their pensions as their main source for living the start of the pandemic. Apparently, 15% expenses. Instead, they may need to pull from attribute their resignations or early retirements their savings and investments. to COVID-19 and 13% to either disability or Older workers were made redundant at a illness. higher rate than those from other age groups. Many are referring to this mass exodus as Additionally, once they became unemployed, The Great Resignation. Individuals who do reports show that older workers found it more want to return to work may now be looking difficult to re-emerge into the workforce. History for more flexible working conditions. These supports this trend. Studies have shown that include providing employees with the ability when older people leave work for an extended to work remotely and making changes to their period, they are not likely to return. Additionally, hourly requirements to accommodate other many who have expressed that they would like personal responsibilities. Experts are arguing to return to work are claiming that they have that companies must take this more flexible experienced age discrimination during their approach. It encourages employment and search for a new job. ensures they are not contributing to forcing While we do not yet know the full extent of older people out of their roles. Of course, the consequences of mass early retirement, though, new working conditions may not be it is apparent that there are dangers that sufficient in gaining back the one in six over-50s may arise for these people later in life. who lost their jobs during the pandemic. As inflation skyrockets, the state Fortunately, unemployment in the UK has pension will struggle to keep up. The dropped from the 5.2% pandemic-high to Centre for Economics and Business now 3.8%. As of January of this year, the EU’s Research is predicting that it will unemployment rate was at 6.2%, with Czech rise by 3.1%. However, inflation Republic having the lowest rate and Greece may increase prices by 8.7%. This having the highest. This is an improvement from will cause millions of pensioners to January 2021, where employment had reached lose hundreds of pounds over the 7.5%. upcoming months. If inflation does It is because of instances like this that it pays to reach the high of 8.7% and the start planning early. If you have any questions state pension only increases by £289 about how Private Client Consultancy can help per year, it will cost pensioners over make your money work for you, please email us £2,000 more a year on their outgoing at [email protected]. payments. A new future for working conditions For decades now, people have worked well into their 50s or longer. The pandemic has reversed this trend and caused employment 54 www.eastalgarvemag.com
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Sara de Melo Castanheira is an expert in Occupational Therapy and Quality of Life. She is also the Technical Director of SER Igual, an Association of special rehabilitation services in Tavira SERhe SER Verão 2022 – VERÃO 2022 summer activities, starts to their needs. We will have children who are Be with us and together we will transform the this month. And we are tube fed, children that speak with gestures, paradigm of inclusion in the Algarve. absolutely amazed with all children that have difficulties communicating How can you help Associação SER Igual? and others that are very sensitive to sounds Associação SER Igual is a non-profit Tthe activities that will occur! and textures, and we will have children that association for handicap people and Once more, the summer can understand everything and tolerate a lot with Public Utility that is helping children, camp accepts children between 6 and 12 of experiences who will develop their empathy teenagers and their caregivers to get better years with different conditions. We will have and solidarity by playing together. life quality and helping change the paradigm kids with motor delays, autism, ADHD, The team of therapists and activity monitors of inclusion in the east Algarve. By sharing cerebral palsy, speech delays, and without have already had the basic training in life this article, you help spread the name of SER disabilities, all playing together and doing the support and emergencies and a training in Igual, so more people can contact us. You can same activities. We will be doing activities all sexual abuse of children with disabilities sponsor one of our social projects or sponsor over Tavira, and we receive kids from Tavira, and abuse prevention, as well as a course in a child from our Association and help him/her Vila Real de Santo António and Castro Marim. hygiene for children with disabilities. to carry out their therapies. We will be glad to Once more and as in the previous edition, we So, we are ready! Kids be prepared… this talk about our ideas and projects. If you are will practice the same prices as other typical summer will rock and you will love all the interested in our work, please visit us on our holiday camps. And we are very proud of that, activities! FB page (@SerIgualPT) and IG (@igual.ser) or for sure! We have to thank all of you who consigned make an appointment to [email protected] A summer camp including kids with and your IRS last year. The monetary value that or by phone 918 180 020. without disabilities, doing the same activities, was donated served to make this holiday Thanks once more for your attention. Stay and practicing different types of sports, camp even more accessible and adapted tuned for next article. make it very expensive. Equipment needs to all children who want to get together and to be adapted, special transport for kids in have fun, with structured activities, sports, wheelchairs need to be provided, therapists in contact with nature, adventure activities, like speech therapist and occupational among many others. therapist need to be hired and all members As you can see, your help makes sense, of the team need to be prepared and trained and helps us to continue with these social to welcome all children and adapt activities projects. 56 www.eastalgarvemag.com
WALKING INTO THE LION’S MOUTH Farah Naz ´´I will not leave my country and my people´, is the powerful voice of many Ukrainians today as they triumph over their fear. The bravery and resilience of the Ukrainian people, going because of our crumbling resilience. How we scientifically proven ways we can become to unimaginable lengths navigate a crisis or traumatic event depends, more courageous and, in turn, develop our to protect themselves and in part, on how resilient we are. Resilience is resilience to the challenging world we live in: their country, is inimitable. the ability to recover from difficult experiences We see selfless people, and setbacks, to adapt, move forward and 1Review your values and actively practice who have joined the war as soldiers, Ukrainian sometimes even experience growth. Courage them. The more you consider your values mothers taking their children over the borders builds resilience and, in turn, resilience builds the more you will courageously act and speak and returning to help in the fight. We see courage. out for what you see as important. Russians, too taking the risk of imprisonment The Ukrainians can be a brilliant inspiration, and speaking out against their regime. How like others, who have courageously spoken up 2Consider doing something that scares you do some people find the strength to be this against oppression like William Wilberforce, to strengthen the courageous pathway in brave, to pursue what they see as morally Harriet Tubman, Abraham Lincoln, Susan your brain. Walk into the lion´s mouth. But right, and to even risk their lives? It is plain B. Anthony, Mahatma Gandhi, Rosa Parks, consider doing something that fits with your from the Ukrainian plight that courage is not a Martin Luther King, and Malala Yousafzai. values. scarcity as we see people clearly valuing their All have acted with courage, that indubitable freedom above their lives. We admire this as ´grace under pressure´. 3Being courageous is about not seeing the we watch on and wonder if we would act in Courage seems to be an elusive quality, but it blocks but about seeing the options. We this courageous way? is something we can cultivate, and the more can become more divergent in our thinking Do we in the West value courage, and its we do, the more we will become masters of by listening to podcasts rather than watching components - facing fear, taking risk, making our minds and be better equipped to face Netflix, by spending time alone reflecting decisions that we think to be morally right, societal issues. Courage comes from facing rather than connecting on social media, persistently - as virtues? Have we let our challenging situations, from metaphorically by listening to philosophers rather than values slip as we have become more afraid? walking into the lion´s mouth. And, so, instead politicians. Or is it because our values have changed that of avoiding stressful situations we need to we have become more afraid? face them more, and even allow ourselves to 4. To consider something old feel some stress. Too often, we are afraid of fashioned like our duty to ourselves and ´The most courageous act is still to think feeling bad, but if we endure this bad feeling, each other and others. Reflect upon your for yourself.´ we become more able to deal with more role in your family, work, in the community. challenges. Consider doing something selfless for your Coco Chanel family, your community, somebody you do not ´Do one thing every day that scares you´. know every day. We have resisted little. Whilst giving into Eleanor Roosevelt the fruits of capitalism, the alluring soporific 5Build self-confidence through mastering stupor of instant gratification of - online We know from neuroplasticity that we can a new skill, or identifying what you do everything - we have inadvertently given change our brain through learning new well each day and identify how you want to away or sacrificed our freedoms. We are less ways and practicing them. Here are some do better. This pushing yourself out of your in control than we think but not comfort-zone, is practicing courage. just of our freedom to choose - we are less in control of our 6Feel hope and see possibility makes you brain state and as a result, want to act. If the Ukrainians thought their less resilient. Increasingly, our situation was hopeless, they would not act. micro-fears including not feeling How often do you decide not to act because beautiful or smart enough, not being wealthy enough, not being you cannot see a way forward? We loved enough are a parasitical can increase hope by increasing presence in our brains creating positive emotion. the new pandemic of the West – Anxiety. 7Courage is contagious, the Anxiety is a sign of the times. Ukrainians are encouraged by Trauma, too. In the world of one another. To increase courage, psychology, we are increasingly spend time with courageous working with people with people. traumatic responses, many With courage we learn `to accept of which are occurring partly the things we (sic) cannot change; change the things we can; And wisdom to know the difference´. When we have courage - when we walk into the lion´s mouth - we can look at the uncertain future not as a source of threats, but as a land of hope and opportunity. www.eastalgarvemag.com 57
Health HOW FIT IS YOUR HEART? Expert advice from Elaine Godley founder of the Perfect health HUB a self-help repository with hundreds of health resources, videos, podcasts and weekly group support L ast month I wrote about how to lose weight, The incidents of iatrogenic deaths are of health mentoring which involves simple improve energy, and considered by some sources as the third lab testing undertaken by the lay person at reduce joint pain. These leading cause of death in the United States. home. Dry blood analysis and hair tissue are all areas of health You will find some interesting data and mineral analysis form part of my mentoring which are easily measured evidence at http://www.ourcivilisation.com/ programme and reveal cardiovascular medicine/usamed/deaths.htm Iatrogenesis is challenges plus many other underlying health by visible signs. The lay death from the side effect of medicines and challenges. We get to the root cause of what’s person can see and experience benefits was the underlying cause of my own Mother’s wrong with your body so that a recovery plan over time if they choose to focus on working death. For years, Mum had low blood can be put in place. Some clients experience towards improvements within their diet and pressure, which is not good, but doctors don’t instant results where others may take longer. lifestyle. fuss over it because they currently have no Either way, clients gain peace of mind and How then can you measure and manage medication to resolve it. Low blood pressure take control of your own health with no aspects of your health that can’t be seen or can be as dangerous to some as high blood guesswork and experimentation. experienced on the surface? pressure – it's like running around on flat tyres Do you take supplements? Cardiovascular health is a major problem – you get by but are not firing on all cylinders. Did you know that the average monthly cost world-wide and the leading cause of death. Four top tips for good health of supplements taken by people who think The chart below is provided by https:// In a recent interview between Dr Rangan they are helping themselves is between 30 ourworldindata.org/ Chatterjee and Cardiologist Dr Pradip and over 100 Euros? By guessing and taking Causes of deaths for 50 to 69 year olds, World, 2019 inappropriate supplements which don’t suit your body, you can be doing more harm than Annual number of deaths – by cause – for people between 50 and 69 years. good as well as wasting money. Take calcium Cardiovascular diseases 5.11 million for example. Too much can cause your bones to snap because they become thin and brittle. Cancers 4.01 million Calcium has a huge impact on cardiovascular health. Calcium in the arteries is referred to Respiratory disease 944,727 as plaque. Plaque build-up causes blood clots and heart attacks. Digestive diseases 923,500 In 2015, when I had stage IV cancer, I was also given a diagnosis of osteoporosis and Liver disease 641,924 osteopenia. Medics wanted to inject me with regular infusions of bisphosphonates. You Diabetes mellitus 581,447 guessed, I refused. Instead, I take a mineral supplement that we might all consider for Kidney disease 439,469 optimising bone strength. Conclusion Tuberculosis 409,876 In short, I highly commend taking control of your own health and wellbeing. Start by Lower respiratory infections 381,558 checking what’s truly going on within your body rather than concentrating on symptoms Road accidents 305,516 and guessing. Getting to the root cause makes sense, saves, time, money, provides peace of Diarrheal diseases 233,400 Suicide 196,527 HIV/AIDS 182,403 Dementia 107,114 Malaria 97,464 Alcohol disorder 75,855 Homicide 63,651 Drowning 41,492 Parkinson's disease 38,717 Drug disorder 30,271 Nutritional deficiencies 29,308 Fire 23,718 Protein-energy malnutrition 20,860 Hepatitis 20,544 Heat-related deaths (hot or cold exposure) 16,677 Natural disasters 1,028 0 1 million 2 million 3 million 4 million 5 million Source: IHME, Global Burden of Disease (GBD) OurWorldInData.org/causes-of-death • CC BY mind, and will increase your chances of living a longer, happier, healthier life. What’s not to For some years, I ran cardiovascular health Jamnadas, the following four suggestions like?! clinics in the UK. Clients who were on statins were put forward to lead a happy, healthy life:- and medication for high blood pressure ● Eat only whole foods in their natural state Elaine Godley MBA, O.A. Dip (Psyche) was wanted me to suggest natural alternatives to ● Reduce your food intake – eat only when judged Best Health and Wellbeing Mentor their medication. The majority of my clients hungry 2022 – UK in the Business Excellence reduced or eliminated their medication, under ● Enjoy good quality sleep for 7 hours each Awards. Elaine is a qualified nutritionist, guidance. night but not medically qualified. Always check The side effects of long-term medication ● Find pleasure in everything you do with a registered medical practitioner and especially from the inter-action between I concur with these points and add more before changing any health routines. To drugs, most of which have never been trialled suggestions when guiding my menteess. engage with Elaine go to https://discplus. with each other, is something rarely spoken Whilst I no longer run clinics and see clients in health/ about (and definitely not by medics). person, I have developed an unusual method 58 www.eastalgarvemag.com
ENJOY LONGER LASTING, BEAUTIFUL EYE LASHES One of the simplest ways to change your look is with Everything you need to know about a lash lift a lash lift and tint. After the quick, painless, and and tint, by Amazing Mara from Alegria Beauty affordable treatment, your eyes will look instantly Salon in Vila Real de Santo António brighter and more open, making you seem more youthful and awake. Plus, your lashes will get that Alegria sexy curl and flutter you’ve always wanted! Think of it like permanently curling your lashes and applying mascara that Beauty Salon never wears off. What is a Lash Lift and Tint? Beauty Treatments · Plasma Jet · Lash/Eyebrow A lash lift-and-tint treatment involves two separate processes, both Lifting and Colouring · Microblading designed to give you beautiful, fluttery eyelashes for weeks. The lash lift mimics the effect of an eyelash curler. It makes your lashes bend · Eyeliner/Lip Liner Tattoos · Facial Waxing upwards, leaving them looking longer, and your eyes more open and · Massages · Manicure/Pedicure · Chiropodist bright. Meanwhile, a lash tint is similar to a brow tint – or applying several coats of mascara. It makes your eyelashes look darker, thicker, AMmaarziang and fuller. It’s particularly striking on those with naturally blonde or red Alegria lashes. Beauty Salon Lash Lift Before and After Rua 5 Outubro 41, Vila Real de Santo António. The natural shape, direction, and thickness of your eyelashes will Tel.; 961 818 625 determine how dramatic your results are. If your lashes lie almost Email: [email protected] flat – or even point downwards – you’ll see a big difference after having a lifting treatment. Most women notice their eyes look more open, brighter, younger, and more ‘awake’ following their lash lift. Additionally, the eyelashes themselves will appear far longer, fuller, and more defined. How Does Lash Lift Work and How Long Does it Last? I will discuss the final result you want – for example, extra curved lashes, a cat’s eye effect, or a defined, fanned-out look. Next, I will cleanse and separate your top and bottom lashes. The top lashes will be attached to a silicone patch on your eyelid and combed into place. Then, an eye-safe perming solution is applied. The process works similarly to a hair perm – the solution breaks down the bonds in the eyelash, allowing it to change shape. After a few minutes, a setting solution will be applied to seal in the curl. The results last around six to eight weeks, depending on your lash growth cycle. Lash Lift Aftercare Avoid water, steam, eye make-up, and make-up remover for the first 24 hours after your lift. As with any perming treatment, exposure to moisture and humidity straight afterward can ruin the result. After 24 hours have elapsed, you can treat your lashes as usual – there’s no need to change your make-up routine or stop cleansing your face. Some professionals advise using a conditioning treatment like coconut oil to keep your lashes healthy and nourished post-lift. For more info contact Alegria Beauty Salon www.eastalgarvemag.com 59
Gardens Even in the peak of summer, there’s no reason your garden can’t be as 7Plants colorful, vibrant, and lush as your springtime landscape. In fact, you that Love can keep your garden blooming theSun all season long by adding these stunning, heat-loving plants to your beds, borders, and containers as soon as the mercury starts rising.While most are perennials in mild climates, they can be planted as annuals to replace springtime varieties that struggle in the heat. Lantana As a native to the tropics, lantana likes it hot and humid, and grows best in moist, well-draining soil (but can withstand drought conditions). It thrives in the sun, especially afternoon sun, and blooms year-round in tight clusters of red, orange, yellow, pink, or white. The flowers are ideal for planting along the perimeters of vegetable gardens, as they’re irresistible to bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Place them near crops that need to be pollinated, such as squash and melons. Cosmos Lemon Verbena These tall, showy annuals with This hardy, sun-loving herb hails from South America but is now silky, daisy-like flowers are grown around the world. It’s said that in summer, Victorian women used to find relief from the sweltering heat by packing lemon native to Mexico, able to take verbena leaves in their handkerchiefs and inhaling the sweet, citrusy the heat and the drought— aroma. Nowadays, you can simply plant lemon verbena near your thus making them ideal for doors and windows for a whiff of the pleasing scent. It needs only desert gardens or areas weekly watering with the Gilmour Flexogen Super Duty Hose and a with poor soil. In fact, soil watering nozzle once established, and puts out pretty white flowers in late summer to early fall. that is too rich will make them weak-stemmed and floppy, so plant them in beds you’ve long neglected if you want to inject a lot of color in your space with little to no maintenance. Marigold www.eastalgarvemag.com Marigolds appear on almost every list of ideal warm-weather flowers, and for good reason: they’re classic (especially as container plants and bedding plants), easy to grow, come in cheerful tones of orange and yellow, and bloom in summer and fall when many other plants are griping about the heat. Plant them in well-draining soil in full sun, and water well at the root zone, allowing the soil to dry a bit between watering. 60
LANDSCAPING & GARDEN CENTER BEM-VINDO • WELCOME QUINTA DAS PALMEIRAS CENTRO DE JARDINAGEM EN 125, c.p. 126-E 8800-118 To To Moncarapacho Luz de Luz de Tavira Olhão EN125 Tavira e-mail: [email protected] Fuseta To Tavira www.geojardim.com Tel: 281 961 189 Look out for the flags Find us on facebook at: Geojardim Landscaping & Garden Center Salvia Salvias (also known as sages) are long-blooming, deer- resistant, easy to grow, and easy to care for. Being native to the Mediterranean, salvias are heat-tolerant, prefer full sun, and thrive with minimal summer watering, making them ideal for dry gardens and drought-friendly landscapes. The most striking salvias have masses of showy blue or purple flowers that bloom all summer long and attract a variety of pollinators. Geranium Sedum Geraniums have always been known to tolerate heat better than most Sedums (stonecrops) are a group plant species, but the recent development of hybrid geraniums has of succulents that are as low- meant varieties that can take on tough climates like Texas and Arizona, maintenance as they come. Resistant where 100-plus-degree summers are the norm. To keep them healthy, to drought, heat, humidity, and poor however, they need consistent moisture and should be watered with a soil, sedums survive in less-than- Thumb Control Watering Nozzle when the first 2 inches of soil are dry. ideal conditions by storing moisture They’re also happier in the long run if given dappled afternoon shade in their thick, succulent leaves. These in the height of summer. qualities make them excellent choices for arid climates and rock gardens www.eastalgarvemag.com that still want a bright infusion of color when the dense clusters of flowers appear in summer. Sedums don’t like having wet feet, so make sure to put them in well-draining soil in full sun. 61
Sport Bringing Pickleball to VRSA W If you build it they will come... By Nancy Whitemanhile Denise covered) and was available to rent. We sent and I are to Portugal. Denise tried to find a tennis/ an email with a YouTube video, to the facility both avid padel club that would consider introducing director. Within days we had permission to golfers we the sport…but no luck. She even took a rent the facility on Mondays and Thursdays used to play padel lesson! Perhaps she would enjoy this from 11:00 to 13:00. We paid 240€ to rent the sport as much as she liked pickleball. But p i c k l e b a l l nope.. she found the additional weight of facility for the month of March. “If you build more frequently than we played golf. We would the paddle unwieldy and hitting off the walls it…they will come.” often say, “We play golf 3 or 4 times a week. was not her thing. She tried to convince her Our first week we had two people that had We play pickleball only on the days that end padel instructor to try pickleball… but then played a few times before. in ‘y’.” My competitive pickleball days ended lockdown hit (in earnest) and the instructor’s We had brought a pickleball net with us a few years ago following complications interest fizzled with time. when we moved to Portugal. Denise also of knee surgery. Denise’s pickleball days Twice Denise drove 90-minutes to Vau to play had packed a large box that contained balls seemed to end when we moved to Portugal. pickleball indoors. The group was primarily and paddles. I sent a WhatsApp message But she persisted… French-speaking immigrants and while to the Americans that participated in the Last week we introduced 3 new players to the welcoming, the drive was just too long. language group. We also placed a few events game. Hello VRSA on Facebook groups. The first week we had What is pickleball? We thought there might be a possibility the people shown above. Only two, besides As we started playing the sport in 2007, of introducing pickleball in VRSA for three Denise, had ever played the sport before. were active members of the USAPA (USA reasons: (1) there is a large tennis/padel But we offered lessons and encouragement Pickleball Association), played in dozens club that is lightly used, (2) on the roof of our and by the end of the first two-hour session, of tournaments in the States, and played in new home we could squeeze in a full-size everyone was able to play on the court. Thailand, Scotland, and the Netherlands…we pickleball court, and (3) VRSA is the home of a We continue to post on Facebook groups assume everyone knows about the game. But huge, well-equipped sports complex that is a and encourage those that have participated for those that don’t, here is your primer: training facility for European Olympic athletes. to bring a friend. In the last two weeks, we Pickleball is a court sport that combines Within days of settling in VRSA Denise took have added 5 people to the group. We can elements of tennis, badminton, and table a trip to the tennis club. It didn’t take long for easily fit 3 courts in the area we have rented. tennis. her to get the message. She was told clearly We own a second net and are working to have It is played on a court the size of a badminton and directly, “This is not possible. This is a it brought to us from the States. If we can court, over a net that is just a little lower than tennis and padel club!” Strike one. get 10 people that participate regularly we a tennis net. But each night before retiring we chanted our can charge a modest fee (no more than 5€ a The sport was invented by a Washington mantra: “if you build it …. they will come.” session) to cover the court costs and create a state legislator on Bainbridge Island, 57 years Then the city’s Pombaline architectural kitty for paddles, balls, and another net. Only ago. He wanted an easy to learn, fun sport standards required us to add a fake tile roof time will tell. that all generations could enjoy together. to the front of our building which takes up This past week a physical education teacher Pickleball went crazy in the States as baby about 7’ of our rooftop deck space. There from the local school stopped by. He watched boomers flocked to retirement communities. went the full-size pickleball court on the roof. for a bit and then asked if we would be willing As the court took up less space than a tennis Strike two. to introduce the sport to his students. After court, many developers included courts in We had to find a way to utilize the sports the Easter break, Denise and I will be taking their communities. The sport was easy to complex facilities. But how? As it turns out, our equipment and limited Portuguese learn and gentler on seniors’ joints. Over 4 I was hanging out in the Continente bom dia language skills to the local school. Personally, million Americans play pickleball today and it parking lot with Onix, while Denise shopped I love teaching kids! is also played in 46 other countries. inside. Behind the store, I discovered a huge Se o construir … eles virão (If you build it… In roughly 2015, we saw more and more covered court. It had 4 basketball hoops and they will come). younger people participating in the sport. what appeared to be soccer nets. I anxiously Update: We recently moved play to the Many were former NCAA Div I tennis players. awaited Denise’s return. When she exited the Tennis/Padel Club in VRSA. Yes, the very The sport was transformed and now has two store I dragged her breathlessly to the rear of same club that originally told us no. During new “professional tours”. the store. There it was…pickleball nirvana. our very first session, several padel players Pickleball in Cascais We stopped at the reception desk of the decided to give it a try and LOVED it. Spoiler Alert: There is no pickleball in Cascais Sports Complex the next day. We learned For more information please email which is where we first lived when we moved the area was called “semi coberto” (partially [email protected] 62 www.eastalgarvemag.com
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