Winter in the Algarve

It’s been a lovely mild winter so far here in the Algarve. There have been no frosts here and although the temperatures are a bit sharp first thing in the morning, by about nine o’clock things are starting to warm up. We have had clear skies and a lot of sun. Lunch in shirt sleeves in the garden is the norm.

It’s lovely having the sun shine day after day, but that is not good for the plants. Once again, we are short of water. The stream at the bottom of my garden should start flowing again around the beginning of November. But apart from a couple of days of serious rain we have just had the odd short shower. That is not good for the gardens, nor is it good for those of us who depend on well water.

Everything seems peaceful here. We seem far removed from the troubles and bad vibes across most of Europe and the Middle East. Long may that be the case. There is a lot to be said for living on the edge of a continent, and it does pay to live in a somewhat unpretentious place.

Property prices are still rising, while food prices have apparently dropped 2.3%. Gosh! Wonders will never cease.

The other side of the coin is that nothing ever seems to happen here. I looked through the local paper for any news. There was nothing of any consequence. In a sense, that is reassuring, but I have to admit I do prefer to live somewhere where things happen, and the area seems to be bouncing along, preferably on an upward trajectory.

No chance of that happening here, of course. However, that does make writing a letter from the Algarve rather difficult.

Spring is really nice here, and spring generally starts some time in December with the jonquils, and the early irises. I’m hoping that by next week I will be able to start picking the mimosa. I always feel that really is a sign that the days are seriously beginning to lengthen and the worst of the cold will be over. Although we haven’t really had any real cold this year. So far this is the second year I have experienced no frost at all.