Community Development
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Blue Eyes and the Secret – A Novella
Coming soon on Kindle Blue Eyes and the Secret. A novella – Venture into the heart of the Algarve with Blue Eyes, a Balinese-spirited feral cat, as she uncovers ancient secrets and fights to protect her home on Monte Agudo. In a land where olive groves meet modern orange farms and water is scarce, Blue Eyes speaks with plant devas and heeds the whispers of the earth. When a devastating threat emerges in the form of disappearing trees, poisoned lands, and a foretold prophecy of end times, Blue Eyes must embark on a transformative journey. Guided by the wisdom of Ceres of Old and aided by a motley crew of animal…
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Writing Workshops begin again in September
Over the last 12 weeks, I’ve enjoyed hosting six writing workshops at my home in Santo Estêvão, near Tavira. The sessions attracted writers from across the Eastern Algarve. Some of us will be away from home for the very hot months of July and August, so, we decided to start again on a Thursday morning in September, and thereafter, we will meet once a month. The format will be similar, as we usually agree on a topic and write about a specific aspect of the chosen theme. As the group has built some trust, we’ll prepare beforehand so that the time can be used for sharing our work, reflections, and…
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Developing dialogue and character
Join me for the fourth of six writing workshops. This session focuses on developing dialogue and character. Are you passionate about storytelling or memoir and eager to learn and improve your craft? We will consider ways to create compelling dialogue to reveal inner worlds. Dialogue is valuable in character development because it helps us identify mood, inner conflict, and more. In this session, we’ll explore: How to write dialogue that feels natural. Introduce body language and setting to add depth. Uncover the subtext of what characters are expressing beyond their words. Build atmosphere and mood through dialogue and description. Explore distinctive voices and emotional intensity to deepen the layers of…
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Writing for change – Workshop Friday 30 May 2:30
Are you inspired by stories that can shift perspectives or spark action? Do you have a cause or idea that fuels your passion? This workshop is your chance to explore how storytelling and narrative can become powerful tools for change. This workshop the fourth of six writing sessions will be on Friday, May 30 at my house in Santo Estevão, near Tavira. Why does writing for change matter?Because stories connect us and they bridge divides, challenge societal norms, and highlight injustices. Our words can inspire understanding, provoke thought, and even influence policy change. One example is Braiding Sweetgrass Robin Wall Kimmerer’s book. She weaves indigenous wisdom with scientific knowledge, using…
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Come to Tavira’s community garden party: open to the entire community
The association Ecotopia Activa is inviting local people to a party in the community vegetable gardens in Tavira on 24 May 2025 between 9:30 am and 7:30 pm. There will be music, workshops, a competition and activities to promote healthy eating. The event “Há Festa na Horta!” – from the garden to the plate for a healthy life!, is part of the municipal program Equinócios, promoted by the Municipality of Tavira. The initiative will take place in the Amendoeira Community Garden, in the Posto Agrário de Tavira, and entry is free. “This event is a unique celebration,” says the association, and an opportunity for the entire community to visit the community…
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Writing workshop Friday 16 May – Memoir and Ancestral stories
The third Discovery Writing Workshop will be at 2:30 p.m. on Friday, 16 May 2025, at my home on a hill near Santo Estêvão, Tavira. In the first workshop, we examined origin stories and worked on prompts. We also learned about each other’s writing practices and built some trust. The second workshop considered Magical Realism, Fantasy, and Fabulism. In this week’s genre, we will consider how memoir can take many forms and reflect ancestral connections and cultural differences. Through poems, stories, cultural narratives and research, we will uncover how memories and moments in time may bridge different worlds of experience. A memoir is not about being fair to everyone and…
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Earth Day – Tuesday 22 April 2025
Earth Day.org, the global organiser of Earth Day, observed annually on 22 April, has set the theme for 2025 as – Our Power, Our Planet™. 2025 marks the 55th anniversary of EARTH DAY. To honour this milestone, they have invited one billion supporters in 192 countries to unite behind renewable energy to triple the global generation of clean electricity by 2030. To mark Earth Day, here are a couple of examples of local actions. There are many more that could be acknowledged, so please mention what you are doing or any you know about in the comments. We have 30 solar panels and have been generating solar energy on a…
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Tavira Climate Change Plan Consultation
If you have not already responded to the Tavira Climate Change Action Plan Consultation here are the dates, link to the plan and an English translation.Also an English translation of the presentation given in the library.You have till 8 April 2025 to respond. English translation of Tavira Climate Change Plan over 10mb download Participatory Public Consultation Sessions – PMAC Tavira The Municipal Climate Action Plan (PMAC) is still being analyzed and the Camara want your participation! Join the participatory sessions in villages and contribute to a more sustainable future for Tavira. Schedule of Sessions: Sta. Catherine F. Bishop – 25.03 | Parish Board | 18h00 📍 Luz of Tavira –…
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Community Gardens available! Apply Now!
Do you want an opportunity to grow your own food locally around Tavira? Some community gardens are available but you need to act quickly. Angela Rosa, one of the promoters sent me this message. I have translated it from Portuguese into English. We are letting people know that registrations for the community food gardens in Santa Luzia, Santa Catarina, Cabanas, Santo Estevao and Tavira are now open. The closing date is soon February 3rd, 2025. Many people may not be aware of this initiative and that the registration deadline will be closing soon. So, there will be an information session later today, Friday January 31st 2025, 18:00 Lisbon time. Here…
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Writing workshops and get together sessions for writers in the Algarve
Hello writers and dabblers, I will facilitate some Discovery Writing Workshops this spring and summer at my home on a hill near Santo Estêvão, East Algarve, Tavira. We have lots of space for inspiration. The first session will be Friday, 18 April 2025, at 2:30pm. Writing with a group can often spur writers to accomplish more than when writing alone. Why I write. From seven to twenty-eight, I drank the cool aid of a cult. My family are still believers. When I left, my life was rudderless without family connections, as shunning was what they were instructed to do. I had to find my own community. As a child, education wasn’t encouraged…
