Last June, dog behaviourist and assistance dog trainer, Karin Holmström Forster, announced the new Pawsitive Dogs Algarve project to train two guide dogs that in early 2018 will be delivered to two visually impaired young people living in the Algarve, where she has lived for 18 years.
Karin and her two dogs began their training on August 21st in Devon, England, with Alan Brooks, one of the most experienced British guide dog trainers, with several articles and books edited, and a former Guide Dog UK regional manager. In this training period, which will last for 12 weeks, each dog has two daily training sessions. In addition to this practical component, Karin has to do an intense theoretical work, composed of reading articles and viewing videos about guide dogs training and animal welfare.

While in the North of Europe rain and storm is daily business, it seems in Algarve the summer is still lasting. However nights already get very fresh.

Soon we will get the humidity coming in at night, wetting cars and  metal gates, after that it is a matter of time before all damp comes in our homes again if not well insulated.

SHS INTRODUCES INFRARED HEATING SOLUTIONS !!

Through the “Citizen Advice Bureau”, ASMAA aims to assist individuals that are facing challenges with the bureaucratic aspects relating to living, visiting, owning a holiday home and/or business, and investing in Portugal.
It is ASMAA’s objective to assist not only the foreign resident community but also local Portuguese residents and business owners.

CLICK HERE to see more information.

Our young people now face more pressure in their lives than at any other time. The combination of our society of social media, peer and academic pressure together with all the physical and emotional change of becoming an adult can prove too much for many youngsters. The effects can be overwhelming and if left untreated can develop into more severe mental and physical illnesses.

Even the most well-meaning and supportive parents can fail to get through to their offspring, leaving them feeling helpless and inadequate as they watch their ‘child’ suffering or harming themselves. Communication can break down for all concerned.

British owned Monte da Palhagueira Nursing Home offers the ultimate blend of high quality care and peaceful tranquility from its convenient location in the delightful Gorjões hillside, just 20 minutes drive from Faro International Airport and less than 5 miles to the east of Loulé town centre.

Monte da Palhagueira is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, having been the very first retirement village to open in the Algarve. The village is part of the family owned Amesbury Abbey Group, which operates a further three villages in Wiltshire and Hampshire in England.

We all love our pools. Hardly possible to imagine any home in Algarve without one. Unfortunately many people don’t know that they are one of the biggest running costs of our home.

This is because of the Pool pump which filters to prevent algae blurring your pool. Even when you are not there it needs to filter, especially in summer. The sun in Algarve is 5 times stronger then in the Northern countries, so water heats up more quickly, again stimulating the algae.
Also nowadays sun cream with factor 50 are a standard to protect our skin. This however has an affect on the water quality of the pool, often resulting in the need to filter even more hours.

Until recently, a group of ladies, Portuguese and expats, has been feeding a few strays at the waste bins near the A22 Junction 15 roundabout outside Moncarapacho. One of these dogs was a Portuguese Podengo that they had named “Alfaroba” and she had recently given birth. On a regular visit to check on the dogs, one of these ladies then found Alfaroba’s dead body, surrounded by 6 of her healthy pups – still alive. It seems that Alfaroba had been poisoned. The pups were rescued and taken into care by this lady. 

The Poppy Appeal is currently taking place and ends on Remembrance Sunday 13th November 2016.
The main Remembrance Service in the Algarve will start at 10.50am on this day at St. Luke's Church, Palhagueira, when wreaths will be laid on behalf of the British Community by the British Consul, Mrs. Simona Demuro, and by members of the Royal British Legion.