For a fully independent republic like Portugal to officially declare a three-day period of national mourning for a foreign monarch is remarkable, but such is the respect for the late Queen Elizabeth ll and this country’s centuries of close ties with Britain.

How many philosophers does it take to screw in a light bulb? There is no clear answer to that yet, because they are still discussing their moral position regarding artificial illumination.

Both online and in Portuguese papers, I have been writing on BEST PRACTICES in government, to avoid disasters as fires, floods, health queues, etc. For some 30 years fires in Spain and Portugal have been destroying yearly 200-400 thousand hectares of forests and fields.

We love Portugal but hate these ATM machines run by Euronet.... Twice now I have had to withdraw money and both times the machine does not mention anything or show commission rates or what they take from your account.

No EU country charges any foreign national vehicle differently for driving its highways. Portugal is different - highway robbery!!

For some 30 years, fires in Spain and Portugal have been destroying 200-400 thousand hectares of forests, fields and pastures yearly!! Since 2004, after a terrible fire in Monchique, I have been suggesting ways to prevent and avoid them.

How people dress tells you a lot about them.  Did you glance in your full-length mirror just then?  A man in rags will ask for a euro to fill his stomach (allegedly), whereas a toff wearing white tie and tails will ask to fill your dance card with his name.  You certainly sound popular.

A financial expert once told me arithmetic is the only part of the banking system that can't lie.  He clearly never tried to withdraw money from my Instant Access account by going into a bank and asking for it. Or at least, I hope he didn't.