There will be another Car Boot sale at the Old School House on Sunday August 4^th as Amovate tries to breathe new life into a traditional monthly event dealt a devastating blow by new Government legislation concerning such fairs and markets.

You may recall an article 2 or 3 weeks ago in the local English newspapers reporting on our attempt to re-launch the Car Boots by following the original concept of these gatherings.

The article read:

Death of the Car Boot Sale?

Expats on the Algarve’s West Coast are asking: “Has the Portuguese Government killed off the traditional Car Boot Sale?”

Residents Association Amovate, in Aljezur, decided last Sunday (July 7^th) to re-launch its monthly car boot, but this time strictly adhering to its original concept of selling only still useful but unwanted domestic items that otherwise might have been thrown away.

Professional traders and people making goods, or growing plants and foodstuffs, to sell on for profit were asked to stay away.

Amovate (Association of Residents and Friends of Vale da Telha) had suspended their car boots sales—proceeds from which go to charity—following the outcry of the police raids on the Barão de São João flea market.

They were hoping that the re-launch would rekindle the community spirit of the monthly gatherings—a hope their spokesman admitted was quickly dashed.

“We usually attract between 30 and 40 stalls to the grounds of our Old School House headquarters, but this time only six stallholders fulfilling our requirements turned up,” he said.

“Although the authorities showed no interest in the resumption of our car boot, people are now obviously afraid that they run the risk of arrest and fines if they sell goods at such fairs and markets and therefore decide they can no longer afford to take that chance.

“It really is a sad state of affairs that law-abiding people who enjoy such a harmless activity are now denied that opportunity.

“And unless the authorities re-think their strategy and ease people’s fears in this regard we fear that we are seeing the death knells not just of the car boot sale in Portugal but also of some other traditional and wonderful markets unique to this lovely country.

Despite that setback Amovate has decided to give the Car Boot another go, in the hope that people’s confidence is being restored, and will be open for business on Sunday August 4^th, the gates opening at 9:00 am for stall holders.

JUST TO RECAP ON THE NEW REQUIREMENTS IN ORDER TO COMPLY WITH THE LATEST LEGISLATION:

The Portuguese Government crackdown on tax avoidance is clearly intended to target anyone who sells goods at a higher price than they paid to buy them in the first place, or who sells items they make to sell on for profit

Sadly, in order to comply with these new Government legislations covering markets etc, we can no longer allow professional traders to pitch their stalls and sell their wares on Amovate property.

That means we can only permit access to those people selling their own unwanted goods in the original spirit of the car boot sale; i.e. (as the article above stipulates) unwanted domestic items that might previously have been thrown away but are now being sold for less than the price originally paid for them.

Nor can we allow access to anyone selling foodstuffs or fruit and vegetables as these almost certainly require separate licences and are subject to health and safety issues.

We believe that this decision to go back to the original Car Boot concept satisfies the spirit of the new legislation.

Hopefully it also falls in line with the anticipated decisions of a review apparently planned by the Government and tax authorities to address those parts of the legislation causing confusion in relation to such informal markets.

So, if you are planning a stall at Amovate on August 4th, please make sure you comply with these requirements.

That way we should all enjoy a traditional, old-fashioned car boot sale…

Silves Medieval Festival
2 – 11 Aug 2013
Step back in time as the streets of the historic town centre are transformed with typical scenes from everyday medieval life. Beggars, travelling musicians, jugglers, exotic characters and processions of wealthy citizens are among the attractions.
Open: From 6pm-1am

This month marks the 70^th anniversary of the aerial battle over Aljezur which ended when a Luftwaffe plane crashed into the cliffs with the loss of all seven crewmen, shot down by an RAF Beaufighter.

It happened at 8.52am on July 9^th 1943, and the seven Luftwaffe airmen, all of them painfully young when they were killed, are buried—and still remembered—in the graveyard at Aljezur.

And on Saturday a series of events will be held to commemorate the battle and for the local community to pay their respects to the brave young men who died in the service of their country.

Their plane crashed crashed into a cliff just south of Atalaia Point, Vale da Telha, where the archaeological ruins are located.

The programme of events on Saturday:

11am: A gathering in the Aljezur cemetery for the placing of wreaths on the graves of the German aircraftman buried there.

3pm: Espaco+ em Aljezur for the inauguration of the exhibition of documentation of the Battle of Aljezur followed by a film presentation about the Battle of July 9 1943.

3.30pm The International Choir Of Aljezur will perform, then there will be a presentation of the third edition of the book “The Battle Of Aljezur” by Dr Jose Augusto Rodriguez, which has been revised and enlarged, followed by a book signing session.

To read Matt D’Arcy’s description of the battle, first published on this website in December 20, 2010, click  When World War 11 came to Vale da Telha

UPDATE:

Brian “DJ RockinDad” Jutsum wishes to thank everyone who attended the Chicken Night at the Karisma on Saturday.

Everyone had such a good time and, most importantly, the event raised €75 for the “Help For Heroes” Charity.

Brian says: “The generosity of those who attended was wonderful, and it’s great to see that having a good time can produce such a beneficial spin-off.” 

DJ Rockin’ Dad is asking: “What the cluck’s going on?”

It’s the Taska Do Karisma Chicken Night, on Saturday July 6^th, a party and disco that is part of the Amovate In The Community programme—THAT’s what’s going on!

Food will be served from 5pm (Antonio crosses his heart!), and music starts at 7pm—but we can’t promise that the Muppets’ “Chicken Song” will be on the agenda!

Brian “DJ RockinDad” Jutsum will be taking requests (50 cents a time, all proceeds to  HELP FOR HEROES charity) between 7 and 9pm, before launching into his own musical mix for the remainder of the evening, guaranteed to get people on their feet and dancing.

Brian will again present his “Beat The DJ” challenge when anyone asking for a record to be played that Brian doesn’t have in his massive archive will be rewarded with a free alcoholic drink.

Buy your tickets for a €5.50 chicken dinner directly from Antonio at the Taska do Karisma bar on the Pines Roundabout (tel: 91 243 73 33), and make sure you book them early (you don’t need to have a meal to attend).

Antonio will be the only source for tickets—none are being handled by Amovate.

We are aware that there were problems last year with the late arrival of food; the principal and perfectly justifiable gripe being that it wasn’t available at the promised time.

Brian and Ogy have had a meeting with Antonio and made it very clear that we did not want a repeat of last year.

He promises that, this time, preparations in the kitchen will begin earlier, and that the food WILL be available from 5pm onwards.

He also hopes to number each diner’s ticket as they arrive, and meals will be served in that order, much like the ticket machines at the butcher’s and delicatessen counters at the supermarket.

Keep on cluckin’!