On Saturday, September 27th, members of the Rotary Club Estoi Palace International, together with members from Almancil International Rotary Club, friends and family, took the ferry from Olhão to visit the town of Farol on Ihla da Culatra, in the barrier islands off Olhão.

Culatra is the most visible of the barrier islands, due to its tall white lighthouse. The Portuguese word for a lighthouse is farol.

“A crucial Reminder of the sacrifices made” in Commemoration of the 100 year Anniversary of the First World War, an event will take place at The Palace of Estoi on 4th October 2014.

A Garden Party is being arranged to be held in the Formal Gardens of Estoi Palace during the afternoon and evening of 4th October.

A special ride and lunch was organised by David Shirley on Monday September 1st to welcome the ASB's most distant member.  

Madeleine Marques was in the Algarve on holiday with her partner Greg Hartmann.

There is a new association in Portugal dedicated to plants and gardens of the Mediterranean climate zones created by an international group of enthusiastic gardeners: the Mediterranean Gardening Association.

The association was founded after the recent changes in national legislation. Earlier events and activities were part of the Mediterranean Garden Society, but as this had no legal status in Portugal it was necessary to form a new group in order to continue and to develop activities.

Alentejo blue skies and warm sunshine was the order of the day for the 29 riders of the ASB when they visited the beautiful town of Mertola on the Guadiana River for lunch. 

The ride was organised by Stan Green with the assistance of Martin Taylor. Stan leading the first half of the ride from the start in Paderne to Cachopo where a stop was made for refreshments in the shade of the vines on the terrace at the cafe in the square.

Anyone who remembers Helen Shapiro’s hit from fifty-three years ago qualifies to take part in the latest fitness craze sweeping the UK, and about to be introduced to the Algarve.

Walking Football, a slow-paced version of the beautiful game aimed at the over 50s, will be launched in Olhão in September.

ASB members started July with a cool visit to the World Superbike racing at the Autodromo do Algarve on a chilly showery weekend at the beginning of the month. The changing weather conditions made for some exciting racing.

Then there was the Moto Clube of Faro Concentration with the thousands of bikers from all over Europe.  Many ASB members attended this annual event with the spectacular closing parade through Faro on Sunday the 20th.

Jackie O'Grady's group showcased their "Garden Theatre" format in the tropical beer garden of the Quinta fe Figuerinha last week (3rd July).

Innovative props and clever stage management turned the stage, normally reserved for musical events, into a bleak, mid-western farmhouse. When the powerful stage lighting snapped on the audience were almost propelled into the midst of the action.