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Newsletter February 2009 - archive
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by: Carol Carpenter |
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Hi Everybody – I hope you all enjoyed your Christmas and New Year
Celebrations, I would like to wish you all Health and Happiness for 2009.
A lot has happened since my last newsletter. Firstly, I would like to
say the Christmas Party that was arranged by the
Freemasons of the Algarve (to whom the Carvoeiro badge money
www.carvoeiro.com/badge/ was donated) for the
children of Pirilampos was a great success. We arrived on Sunday
morning 21st Dec to find the children playing with all the new toys. They
were then given new Tee-shirts, pretty pastel colours for the Girls and
this Seasons Football Shirts for the Boys all with their names printed on
the back. After this if they wished they could have their faces painted,
anything from Pirates, Butterflies, Clowns or Flowers. Lunch followed and
then it was off to the Cinema to see “Madagascar”.
Well that was the plan, but we were running a little late, due to me
taking photos of the children whilst they were having lunch. I was asked
to leave the dining room by the cook, who was actually laughing, as they
needed to finish their soup before they were allowed out. Unfortunately,
because of this we missed the first showing, so instead of going to the
play area after the film and having a McDonald’s meal, we went before.
There were two fantastic young people in the play area who kept them
amused with painting, sticking, dancing and even a music lesson. They had
an absolutely wonderful time and they all thoroughly enjoyed their day.
After watching the film we returned to the home with tired but very happy
children. Just as we arrived Santa turned up with even more presents, the
children then said a big thank you to all of us, then ran into see Santa.
It was a superb day and if anyone asks me what part of Christmas I enjoyed
the most, it would be this day, just to see the smiles on these children’s
faces. It definitely made my Christmas.
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Please find
these photos and more in large formats
here [opens new window] |
As you may remember we went to La Manga, Spain to spend Christmas and the
New Year with my sister and her partner. I thought Carvoeiro was quiet but
this place was absolutely deserted!! On Christmas morning, the only people
in our block of apartments were us on the sixth floor. I found this a
little eerie to say the least. It was definitely’ Hunt the Human’- in fact
I let out an enormous scream whilst preparing the veggies, when, on
looking out of the window I spotted one lonely soul on a bike. We had a
really great time though and the Tapas Bar was busy on Christmas Eve and
Christmas Day. The New Years Eve party which was also held at the Bar also
proved to be a great success.
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Please find
these photos and more in large formats
here [opens new window] |
Roy has always wanted to take me to Benidorm; apparently 25yrs ago he had
a great holiday there. I have never fancied Benidorm but as we were only
2hrs away we decided we would give it a go, it would also give my sister a
little break. It was absolutely packed out mainly with Spanish who were
there for the New Year celebrations. Apparently the City Council provide
the Champagne at Midnight. As you will see in the photos the Credit crunch
has also hit Spain badly, with a lot of shops going into liquidation. I
was right about never wanting to go there, it was horrid - all those high
rise Hotels and bars advertising chip butties, fish n’ chips, bangers n’
mash yuk! “Never again” We did stay in a nice Hotel though, Hotel Royal
mainly Spanish and with very good food. Benidorm was just like the TV
programme and I even got a picture of the trike!
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Please find
these photos and more in large formats
here [opens new window] |
On returning to the Algarve I was informed by my daughter that our
granddaughter who had a tonsillectomy on 29th December was still very
poorly. The poor little thing had this operation cancelled twice. Once
when they lost her notes cancelling after giving her the pre-med and the
second time when the Doctor was called away and another Doctor was off
with Flu. She is only four years old and the poor thing looked as if she
had been mugged. Apparently the operation took longer than they thought
1hr 40mins instead of 40mins as they could not stop the bleeding. They
also managed to cut her tongue and the side of her mouth she looked a real
sorry state. Because of the traumatic time she had our granddaughter was
only allowed back at school for half a day and my daughter was due back at
work, so off I went to the UK to look after her. Boy had I forgot what its
like to rush around in the mornings. I am never up at 6.30am - what a
shock! Then fraught because they would not eat breakfast or clean teeth,
out at 8am on the school run, mega traffic jam, Thomas our grandson beside
himself as he thought I was going to accompany him into the playground,
“Nanny that’s so un-cool” quote. Millie-Rose has now decided that she did
not want to return to school anyway- mega stress and its only 8.45. ‘HELP’
I need a coffee and a couple of Vallium before I return at 12pm to collect
Millie. Joking apart I really enjoyed my week they are both great fun and
help to keep me young. I also enjoyed the morning I spent at my daughters
pre-school and learnt quite a few different things to keep the children
amused. I would love to try them out on the Pirilampos children sometime.
Spending time-out with my daughter on the following Saturday was an added
bonus, enjoying a shopping spree and having lunch was great fun and also
gave me a chance to spoil her a little, as she gets very little time to
herself. |
December and January have been the coldest months on record. Carvoeiro has
been almost deserted with a lot more shops and restaurants closed,
compared to last year and there are definitely fewer tourists around. The
alterations to Carvoeiro have been started as I am sure most of you know
from reading the forum. The square looks like a bomb-site at the moment
and all the rain has not helped, I feel quite sorry for the workmen. The
out road is now two way traffic and the in road is closed. I was coming
down the back road past Dirty Nellie’s and was unaware of this until I got
to BPI bank, where I had to turn left; I then turned left again to go back
up the out road – not realizing that I could have turned right!!! Straight
into the path of on- coming traffic there were no signs on the back road
at all, apparently an old man was knocked over as he was also unaware and
forgot to look left. They have dug up the in-road twice the first time was
for new pipes and drains and now it’s being prepared for the re- laying of
the flagstones. If you come down from Monte Carvoeiro there is now a ‘No
entry’ sign at the start of the road that runs past the back of the
Castelo Indian restaurant and Mare Darte, although I did notice a couple
of cars ignoring this. If you go the back way past the new school and
where they are building the new Health Centre you can still get into this
road, but I’m not sure for how long. There is nothing happening at Algar
Seco at the moment (I think the square takes priority) or the site with
those odd looking plants. The new Bar / Restaurant opposite Café Fino is
coming along nicely. There is another Chinese gift shop along the in road.
John from Blue Rock butchers has returned to the UK with his family, I
think he still owns the shop but it’s now run by Portuguese.
There are also major works going on in Armacao de Pera along with
Albufeira and Lagoa. Apparently the reason for all this is because it’s
Election year.
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Please find
these photos and more in large formats
here [opens new window] |
Brian and Penny Dobson who visit the
forum are
over from Ontario, Canada at the moment they are here until April. Roy
first met them after they answered his request to buy dollars. We have
seen them on several occasions and last Friday we all went to the Raj
Indian Restaurant at Hotel Garbe for a Murder Mystery evening. Luckily we
were given first choice of the characters. ‘Silver Screen’ was the name of
the play and we had to find the murderer of Sam the film producer well
known for bedding all the young actresses. I chose Malicea Forthought- a
film critic, Penny was Losta Morals- dressed to kill all in pink, Brian
was Cecil Lothario- who had an affair with Melanie Makeover- a make-up
artist and Roy was Donne Cosi-Nostra dressed all in black- a Casino and
Hotel owner. It was a really enjoyable evening. (Photo supplied) I’m
wearing the ginger wig, Penny on the left, as you look at the picture, Roy
at the back and Brian caught taking a photo. The only downside was the
meal we were very disappointed which is unusual as normally the curries
are very good at these events. |
I have some disappointing news for you all (some of you of course may
already know about it) - White Crow (Nigel and Barney) are no longer
together and also Klonakilty (Nigel and Linda) who play at
Brady’s Bar
are taking a break as Linda is taking a year sabbatical. I am absolutely
gutted about this. Apparently Nigel has got together with Iona and will be
playing gigs soon. I mentioned Iona before in one of the newsletters
saying I liked her singing and they sounded good - as yet they have no
name. |
Well that’s about it for this month. I have included some photos that I
took of the Christmas lights from various towns and the Network Christmas
fair which was held on 1st December I’m sure some of you will recognise
the exhibitors Suzie-bear and hubby with their smoked fish, Lesley ‘Elise
Cards’ and Stefan ‘Magna Carta’ to name but a few.
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Please find
these photos and more in large formats
here [opens new window] |
I have also included photos of the Monte Santo Resort, which we visited
just before Christmas. It is really lovely and very tastefully furnished
[probably with the money they never bothered to pay for
advertising on carvoeiro.com - webmaster].
They were very helpful and we were shown around one of the apartments and
were also allowed to take photos of the public areas. They have day passes
for anyone who, wish to use the pool areas and gym facilities.
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Please find
these photos and more in large formats
here [opens new window] |
I will continue to keep you updated on all the improvements going on in
Carvoeiro, although the next newsletter will be at the end of March as we
are on a cruise to the Panama Canal from 18th February until 6th March. I
think by then things should look a lot different in CVO.
Ciao (From a VERY wet and windy Algarve, lucky for us though, no snow)
CAROL |
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