|
| |
Newsletter October 2008 - archive
|
by: Carol Carpenter |
|
Hi everyone - great to be back from a very wet ‘ Blighty’.
We have really enjoyed our summer with the family this year and having the
grandchildren here for three weeks gave us great pleasure. I was fortunate
enough to return with them to the UK where I spent a further three weeks,
visiting friends and family and also to give my daughter moral support.
The results of her tests proved negative, which was a relief for everyone,
but they still cannot say exactly what is wrong. She now has to wait for
further tests, but I do hope they get her sorted out and hopefully on the
road to recovery very soon. I was only back for a couple of weeks before
we were off again, this time to visit my sister in La Manga Spain. She has
just recently opened a Tapas Bar on Thomas Maestro Marina. We were really
unlucky with the weather though as it rained constantly - and when it
rains in Spain it rains!! Every road was under water and at one point we
thought the Mar Menor would meet the Med. We did go for a jolly on her
partners rib (rigid inflatable boat – not his chest!!) though which was
great fun.
|
|
please find all the photos for the
newsletter
here |
I hope everyone enjoyed the summer especially those of you that were lucky
enough to escape the worst UK weather on record. I only had a few dry days
in the three weeks I was there which proved very windy and cool to say the
least and as I took the wrong clothes, I almost froze to death. Although
it was great to spend so much time with the grandchildren, they knew that
I was missing the sunshine and needed to return. I am sure they would have
preferred to fly back with me if only they didn’t have to return to
school.
Carvoeiro seemed busy to us this year but apparently takings were down in
shops, bars and restaurants compared with last year with many visitors
preferring to eat at home. Slide n Splash, Zoomarine, Aqualand and the
Sand sculptures all seemed to be just as busy though. Friends of ours took
their children to Aqua Show Park located on the road between Quarteira and
Almancil this year and had a fantastic time, maybe next year, we will try
it? All the beaches have been packed and our grandchildren choose Praia
Grande at Ferragudo to be their favourite. It is a really pleasant beach
for children as there are no huge waves and they can paddle or swim
safely. On this beach there were also huge inflatables in the sea for
everyone to climb on. This looked to be great fun but as our grandchildren
have only just learnt to swim they were not allowed on this year - maybe
next year?Many of the festivals and fairs taking place this year proved
to be popular. We went along to the Silves Medieval festival again, taking
the grandchildren with us, and they really enjoyed this event especially
the jousting in the arena. Our granddaughter thought the Knight on the
white horse was the best, whilst we all cheered the Black Knight and what
a splendid horseman he was. Unfortunately I was unable to attend all fairs
and festivals but I have heard they were all very well supported.
|
|
please find all the photos for the
newsletter
here |
We discovered a super Italian Restaurant the other day, simply by chance,
as we were driving around. ‘La Gondola’ at Clube Rio in Ferragudo - some
of you may already know of it. Head for Praia Grande but instead of
turning left to go to the beach turn right and go up the hill, about 100
mts on the left you will find the restaurant. They were actually closed on
that day but both Ludovica and Roberto her husband were in the kitchen.
They had just made a Lasagne and as it was lunch time they kindly offered
us some. Of course we could not refuse their kind offer and Ludovica
brought out some brochette as our starter, followed by a fine bottle of
Chianti it was a truly delicious lunch. The restaurant is quite small
inside but has a lovely terrace overlooking the sea. They were a very
friendly couple and very accommodating, considering they were closed and
we shall definitely make this a regular restaurant. |
We attended the opening of Rascals Bar and were welcomed by Mandy the bar
owner, who explained that due to a hick-up with the beer delivery she had
been racing around all afternoon trying to fill the bar. The delivery
actually arrived while we were there, only one guy, who was getting grief
from motorists because he was blocking the road. I felt quite sorry for
him - how else was he supposed to deliver the beer? It was a good opening
night and although we did not stay long, as we had already booked a table
at Bon Bon in Sesmaries, we did manage however to consume several
champagne cocktails before we left. We found all the staff very friendly
and welcoming and they all willingly agreed to a photo shoot. I personally
didn’t like Bojangles as it was not my type of bar but after chatting with
Mandy I think she has lots of plans for this one. We wish Mandy, Amanda,
Steve, James and Karen the best of luck they are only trying to make a
living after all.
|
|
please find all the photos for the
newsletter
here |
We had a super evening at The Bon Bon restaurant where, every Friday night
is Jazz night. On this particular evening, performing with them was Matt
Lester, who usually plays at Café Ingles on Sundays. We had a really
superb meal whilst listening to fine music. We have also paid a visit to
Restaurant Troppo as it was their first anniversary. During the month of
September they have been offering a free bottle of champagne to all their
customers. This is one of the restaurants that has not fared well during
the summer months, which is such a shame as they are a lovely couple and
Maria always greets you with a warm smile. There is now an outside terrace
for those wishing to dine outside. I think this restaurant is very
spacious and would make a very nice venue for all those Christmas parties
that are just around the corner. Speaking to Maria today they have quite a
few bookings for October already so we wish them well and hope trade picks
up for them.
The original owners of Restaurant ‘Tia Rosa’ are back again thank goodness
and we enjoyed a nice meal with them the other evening. Rosa has been very
ill but is now on the road to recovery and they were very pleased to see
so many old customers.
|
|
Last Sunday we attended a memorial service for Tim Thomas, well known in
Carvoeiro and a founder member of AFPOP. Tim was a fighter pilot in the
war, shot down, spent 3 years as a P.O.W. in Germany and post-war rose to
the rank of Wing-Commander. Several speeches were made by friends all of
whom remembered him fondly. Roy spoke of how, 2 years ago, after Tim had
suffered several strokes which had affected him badly including left side
paralysis and badly impeded speech his wife asked if it was possible for
him to have one last flight. After a few minutes Roy asked him if he would
like to have a go at flying the plane and in Roy’s own words “it was like
a miracle” – he sat up, spoke completely lucidly telling Roy about his
experiences of flying starting with Tiger Moths and finishing with
Lightning supersonic fighters, and flew the plane perfectly for over 20
minutes. On landing he returned to his previous pre-flight stroke-affected
state. Roy said that for him it was a rare privilege to have been perhaps
the last person to see the ‘real’ Tim. |
|
|
There is not a lot to report on CVO as nothing really changes, it has gone
very quiet here. There is a new Restaurant being built on the land next to
the road where the Thai restaurant is, opposite Catz Pyjamas. Apparently
according to the workman it is owned by an Irish man. There is also a lot
of movement on the land next to the hotel Mira Chorro, a lot of weird
shapes appearing on concrete supported with wire, I am not sure if they
are trees or not (see photos) maybe it’s my eye sight, I must book an
appointment with Roy! They are being erected at different intervals but I
cannot see anything else being built there. On the road out of CVO towards
Lagoa there is also a lot of movement on a piece of land, I could not get
into the Camara as they were closed, but it was rumoured that Intermarche
were hoping to move to new premises, I will keep you updated on this. I am
sworn to secrecy about what the old Intermarche might become, but as soon
as it is definite I will let you know. There is also a new development
being built next to CVO tennis club, villas etc, I can hear you all saying
“Oh no not another one” nothing else to report at the moment.
|
|
please find all the photos for the
newsletter
here |
There are a lot of people here from the
Forum, Sandy and Gordon
(Rampage) over from Borneo, also Richard and Ingrid along with others
whose names escape me, but hopefully we will all meet up somewhere for a
meal to catch up, it will be nice to see them all.
I do feel that this newsletter is really boring, as despite my orders for
Roy, to get all info on what was going on in and around CVO whilst I was
away, he failed big time, typical man, you just can’t get the staff these
days. Obviously my offer of 50 cents an hour was way too low – well it’s
all I could afford- credit crunch!!
Ciao
Carol |
|
archive |
|
|
 |
|
