Category Archives: Features

Amovate In Action–Completing The Lakeside Walk

AMOVATE’S COMMITTEE has made it possible for walkers to complete the full uninterrupted circuit of the lake.
On the last Friday in August a work party finally bridged the gap in the lakeside circuit, so it is now possible to take a comfortable walk all the way round for the first time in many years—if not for the first time ever!


This completion work was done entirely by members of the Amovate committee, not the Camara, after we grew tired of waiting for the Camara to complete the job.You will remember that at last year’s AGM several of the district’s high-profile Portuguese residents joined the Amovate committee—with a number of others becoming members—because they felt Amovate was beginning to make a difference and now represented ALL members of the community.
The benefits of their participation have been considerable.
And on the day in question committee members and developers Armindo Santos Almeida and Alvaro Figueiredo, (plus some of their workforce) along with committee colleagues Steve Carmichael, Maria Franca and Amovate President Peter Johnson brought some heavy machinery to the lakeside.
And in the blistering heat of a very hot day they brought the huge drainage pipes into place to bridge the gap, then shifted tons of earth into place above those pipes to finally complete the pathway around the lake.
The accompanying photographs were taken by Peter Johnson as the work progressed.

Incidentally, we have been told the full circuit is 4 kilometres, which is approximately 2 and a half miles.

Can any of you verify this–perhaps someone who has one of those marvellous pedometers that measures the distance you have travelled?

Just e-mail us on info@amovate.com

 

 

PS:….

Judith and Leo have now calculated the length of the lakeside walk, after completing the circuit with two dogs and a pedometer!
Their calculations show that the full circuit is 3.13 kilometres, which, at 1.944, is a fraction under two miles.
They say: “Many people walk down to the lake, so that would bring it closer to the 4k estimate—for example it is 3.81 kilometres as a round trip from our house.”
So, now you know exactly how far you are walking you can make this a regular part of your weekly exercise.
And it also gives you a target to set a time you should always aim to maintain or beat!

Lost Cat

Amovate President Peter Johnson has asked that we post this photo of a cat that has appeared in his garden.  It has a collar and is very friendly, so obviously belongs to someone.  If you have lost your cat, or you know who it belongs to, please phone Peter on 961 666 825

Portugal No.2 in the World’s Best Places to Retire To

from the Yahoo Finance website:

Find your place in the sun: The 10 best countries to retire to

Fed up with bad weather, high prices and whatever TOWIE is meant to be? Yahoo! Finance and Castle Cover have teamed up to work out the best country to move to.

Escaping Britain for a new life overseas has rarely seemed more attractive, as economic distress, rain and rip-offs fill the news. But where can you go to escape it all?

To offer a helping hand, Yahoo! Finance and Castle Cover took a look at everything from rainfall to crime rates, healthcare (availability and cost), tax, crime and how much homes cost to work out what the best options are.

This is what they found:

Aljezur To Go Back In Time

Aljezur is planning to emphasise its Moorish roots.

The town, founded by the Arabs in the tenth century, is going back to its roots as a new heritage pedestrian circuit is to be built.

The works are aimed at “restoring the authenticity” of the historic centre and will include the recovery of medieval roads with authentic oil lamps, to create self-guided tours.

The project, to be completed by the end of this year, representing an investment of €200,000 and will be financed by EU funds.

The Association for the Defense of Historical and Archaeological Aljezur (ADPHAA) is a partner in the project, along with the city of Lagos and other regional institutions.

Mayor José Manuel Marreiros explained that the works focus on the historic core of the town where a four kilometres circuit is being developed to enable visitors to move easily through the narrow streets and get to know in more detail the key historical aspects of the town.

See:

http://algarvedailynews.com/

You can also read our own history of Aljezur Castle and the town’s Moorish roots in our features section by going to:

http://www.amovate.com/index.php/2011/06/aljezur-castle/

The Vale of Tears

A BOOK CHOICE

By Matt D’Arcy

Cormac Murphy, Amovate member and one of Vale da Telha’s newest permanent residents is, like a lot of people up here, an avid reader.

And it certainly helps to keep your bookshelves stocked when you have a well-published author in the family!

Cormac’s brother Jim has just completed his sixth book—his fourth novel—which is already receiving good reviews.

And we’ll be pressing Cormac to let us have a copy for the Amovate library!

Hopefully, Jim will autograph it as well, as Cormac is hoping his brother will be flying over for a visit later this year.

Jim’s book, ‘The Vale of Tears’ has just been released on Amazon/Kindle, the download costing only £1.99, and you can get details from:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=node%3D341689031&field-keywords=the+vale+of+tears

It will also be released on Apple, Waterstones, WH Smith, Barnes and Noble, for download onto any mobile device in a few more days.

The book, (which I have not yet read!) appears to have a touch of Dan Brown about it, a novel blending fiction with fact as it poses the question about whether Princess Diana’s death was an accident or not.

THE STORYLINE:

Thirteen years after Princess Diana’s death, Laura Ross, an assistant professor of history in Virginia, receives word from her grandfather in England that her life is in danger: she is being stalked by a fanatical secret society which, since the days of the Tudors, has manipulated and controlled the royal succession through conspiracy and murder. He himself is a member.

However, conscience-stricken in his old age, he has stolen certain incriminating documents, the Folio, which he intends to publish and expose the society’s criminal and murderous past.

Ross makes her way to England only to find he has been kidnapped by the society. Joining forces with Ed Carson, a former soldier, she sets off in search of her grandfather and the Folio, hotly pursued by the society’s killers.

The chase moves to a remote abbey in France, where they unearth the ancient prophesies of an obscure monk. Forced to return to England, Ross and Carson find the Folio and uncover a link between the prophesies and the Testament of an eighteenth century priest, a connection which forewarns of the society’s murderous role in the present.

In a chilling climax, Ross and Carson are confronted by the society and learn the awful truth behind the terrible tragedy in Paris of August 1997.

About the Author

James Murphy was born in Liverpool and educated at St Mary’s College (my old Alma Mater!), and Leeds University.

In addition to The Vale of Tears, he has written a trilogy of spy novels, Cedar, Juniper and Ash; and two works of non-fiction, The Murder of Julia Wallace and Liverpool VCs, an absorbing account of the unusually high number of servicemen from that City who have won the country’s highest award for Valour.