Yearly Archives: 2015
Amovate 2015 Summer Solstice At O Paulo
by Matt D’Arcy
Oh, what a night!
One of our guests summed it up perfectly when she wrote on her Facebook page: “What a fantastic night, with great company. Thank you Amovate and O Paulo—O PAULO RESTAURANT, you did us proud!”
And certainly Amovate would like to thank Restaurante O Paulo and all the staff there for a wonderful evening. They were quick, attentive and very professional which really boosted the enjoyment of the 90 people who attended. And thanks to Taxi Luis for providing the efficient Taxi service to and from the venue.
Thanks also to singer Emma Louise whose beautiful voice and song selection helped to create such a wonderful atmosphere for our 2015 Summer Solstice event.
Of course not everything was in our control; the 8:57pm sunset we hoped would provide the perfect backdrop to our evening was sadly hidden behind the clouds.
(And even the Space Station fly-past we had gone to so much trouble to organise was obscured, much to everyone’s disappointment! J )
But what was very clear was that the evening was a major success—and we should also mention that Paulo Silva, the owner of the restaurant, was kind enough to donate €50 to our Charity Fund.
Amovate President John Bergstrom-Potter observed: “What a great night. The food was plentiful, the singer was great and it was clear that everyone there enjoyed themselves. In fact we even picked up a few new members!
“We should also say a special thank-you to the Entertainment Committee who organised the event.”
Here you will find a selection of photographs that we hope will sum up the spirit of Amovate’s 2015 Summer Solstice Event (If you click on an individual photo, then click on it again, it will present itself in a larger format). We will be giving you early notice in 2016 of next year’s Summer Solstice Dinner at O Paulo so you can make sure of your tickets.
Amovate Player of the Year
L to R: Paulo Borges, Ian Bedford, Celia Santos
Amovate Player of the Year
Ian Bedford, Amovate Administrator presented Paulo Borges with the Amovate Player of the Year Trophy at a recent get together of the team and officials.
This year with no senior side Aljezurense entered the Under 19 Algarve District League but with mixed fortune. Importantly the side, made up from players between the ages of 14 to 19 were blooded into a highly competitive league which will stand these lads in good stead however the competition was fierce and the team finished bottom of the league.
The best news was that they won their last match…the first victory of the season, Well Done to ALL.
Aljezurense President Celia Santos said that Paulo deserved the award for his outstanding play and hopefully next season Aljezurense could well re-enter the Senior Section of the Algarve District Football League.
Beware – Car Park Theft
Thanks to 2 Amovate Members who have advised us of the following e mail they have received from Afpop, who both thought it would be useful information to other Members.
“Dear Members,
We have advised you in the past via UPDATE and also by e-mail, about some of the scams that are perpetrated on unsuspecting shoppers in supermarket carparks, amongst other places. Following a recent communication from a Member about a theft in Lagos recently, we thought it was a good opportunity to remind Members to remain vigilant when approached by people asking for assistance.
The current scam is the one of people asking for directions, thereby diverting your attention whilst an accomplice enters your vehicle and steals a handbag or other goods. The people who approach are usually a couple and may have a map or an address that they are looking for and approach you as you have begun to unload bags into your vehicle, whilst a third person then opens the door and removes what they are after.
The recent event was in the ALDI car park in Lagos, but of course these things happen across the region.
We are not saying that you shouldn’t help people of course, but do make sure that your vehicle is locked and any bags that are in your shopping trolley stay in your sight. Anyone who truly wants assistance will be more than happy to wait while you do this. We would also advise that if you are approached you should re-enter the store and advise the security personnel inside that there may be a team operating in their car park.
Please remain vigilant – remember that these people are looking for those who they think may be most distracted and therefore less alert. If you intend to help then lock your car first and safeguard your property. Don’t rely on video surveillance to identify these people, because many stores do not have cameras covering their car parks.
If you see someone is being approached, most probably a lone female or mother with children, you could perhaps go and make sure that there is nothing untoward taking place or at least inform the security team at the store.
Remain vigilant and have a theft free summer.”
Summer Solstice – 21st June – Update
TAXI Arrangements
We have now spoken to Luis the taxi man and have made these arrangements:
Luis will arrange for two or three taxis to begin the service at 6.00pm on Sunday evening. Don’t forget that although the doors of O Paulo will not be opened until 7.30pm to allow diners to take their (unreserved) seats there will be an outside bar serving drinks beforehand, so getting there early is not a problem.
The cost will be €10 per taxi each way, so if four people travel in each taxi the cost per head will be €2.50 for each journey. If only two people are in the taxi the cost will still be €10 for the vehicle, so it obviously is best to arrange to have four people making each trip.
Luis tells has tickets for the Summer Solstice and will therefore be on the premises at O Paulo all evening.
Please e mail info@amovate.com if you require a Taxi for the evening, so that the correct number of Taxis can be secured.
Amovate Summer Solstice 2015
It’s the longest-running party in history—the Summer Solstice.
The first one ever recorded took place 5,715 years ago in Egypt and people have been partying at the solstice—one way or another!—ever since.
Back in 3700 B.C. at the Temple of Amen-Ra in Karnak alongside the River Nile a beam of light illuminated a sanctuary in this temple’s interior for about 2 or 3 minutes on the solstice.
The day of the solstice, typically June 21st which signals the start of summer, has the longest period of sunlight in the calendar year—16 hours and 38 minutes, for example, at Greenwich in London.
That means the day ends with the shortest night.
But we’ll be doing our best at this year’s Summer Solstice party on Sunday June 21st at O Paulo on the Fortaleza headland at Arrifana to make you enjoy it so much it will feel like the LONGEST night of the year!
As we said last year, we can’t promise you Druids—unless any of you wish to don the appropriate regalia—but we do hope for one of Arrifana’s most spectacular sunsets to highlight this year’s event.
And, of course it is worth pointing out once again that prior to last year’s event Paulo had glass walls fitted permanently all around the exterior parts of the restaurant, so the wind will not be an issue should it spring up.
So, why not join us?
Tickets cost €20 for Amovate members, €22.50 for non-members (a reduction on last year’s prices) and again, for reasons of comfort, we have reduced the number of tickets to 90, so it is important you book early if you wish to attend.
The dinner comprises a three-course meal (set menu with course options below), plus a complementary sunset drink.
There will be a seating plan to direct you to your table, and as people purchase their tickets we ask that they inform us of their choice between meat or fish. This way we can then give the restaurant the accurate numbers for each dish.
Throughout the evening there will be entertainment provided by the highly-recommended singer Emma Louise.
Emma is a 23 year-old professional singer based in Lagos, and she has a varied repertoire consisting of mainly pop, country and soul genres, so there is plenty of music to appeal to all tastes.
Once again, following on the success of last year’s operation, we will be arranging a shuttle taxi service with Luis, so you can enjoy the evening without worrying about having to drive home.
More information about that to follow, so keep watching this space.
PLEASE NOTE:
The evening starts at 7.30pm when the doors will be open, with dinner being served from 8pm.
If anyone wishes to arrive before 7.30pm they will be guided to an outside bar that is being provided for the evening.
* * * *
What and when is the Summer Solstice?
The solstice heralds the beginning of summer in the Northern Hemisphere. In 2015, the solstice falls on June 21 at 6:51 A.M. EDT.
The word “solstice” literally means the stopping or standing-still of the sun, as it is derived from two words “sol” meaning sun and “sister”, to cause to stand still
This is because, as the summer solstice approaches, the noonday sun rises higher and higher in the sky on each successive day. On the day of the solstice, it rises an imperceptible amount, compared to the day before. In this sense, it ”stands still.”
Amovate Summer Solstice Menu At Restaurante O Paulo
Couvert (Bread, Olive and carrot Salad, Butter, Tuna pate)
Starter
- Cooked Shrimp
- Fish and Meat Canapés
- Octopus Salad
Main Course
- Grilled Mixed Fish or Meat with French fries, mixed salad, vegetables
Dessert
- Mixed cake plates
- Coffee and Medronho
- Sunset Drink.