Easter 2026 São Brás – Torch Flower Festival The Resurrection Procession in the eastern Algarve town of São Brás de Alportel is a deeply felt, singular expression of local faith and community connection. Yesterday, Sunday 5th April 2026, we visited the vivid, communal, and welcoming celebration of renewal that invites everyone to share in São Brás’s traditions. The procession route usually winds from the Igreja Matriz through the historic centre, pausing at small chapels and squares.

Easter 2026 São Brás – Torch Flower Festival

The Resurrection Procession in the eastern Algarve town of São Brás de Alportel is a deeply felt, singular expression of local faith and community connection. Yesterday, Sunday 5th April 2026, we visited the vivid, communal, and welcoming celebration of…

Matthew John - NGO Leader visiting Portugal - Fair Trade YouTube video by Sue Hall

Just chatted with Matthew John NGO Fair Trade leader visiting Portugal
He will be speaking at In Loco in Sao Bras 23 March at 18:00.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=tG2e...

Free Trade NGO leader to share experience and network with Portuguese food producers Denis and Carol Bergin based in Tavira asked me to share this information. Sue Hall In Loco, a development agency based in São Brás de Alportel, Portugal and other local partners will host an in-person session with Mathew John, a leading international practitioner in product development and marketing on Monday, 23 March at 18:00.  Early 2026 extended inclement weather has directly affected Portuguese producers, exacerbating longer-term changes in rural life and complicating access to new markets, particularly among the foreigner communities crucial to the Algarve and Alentejo economies.

Meet Matthew John while he is in Portugal. Free Trade International Practitioner. Monday, 23 March at 18:00 at In Loco in Sao Bras
#FreeTrade #Growing #Portugal #Algarve

A spring treat in the Algarve. Join us for a travel writing retreat 18-21 May. Scan QR code for more information and to register.
#Algarve #Portugal #Writingretreat #travelwriting

Join us, 18-21 May in #Algarve #Portugal for a 4 day writing #retreat
Near #Tavira
Share and find beauty through writing together.
Find out more and register www.suehall.net/join-us-in-1...

Join us in Portugal on 18-21 May 2026 for our Travel Writing Retreat This retreat is not just about improving writing skills. It is also about discovering why travel writing matters. We draw inspiration partly from 19th century English art critic John Ruskin, for whom ...

Looking for a writing treat? Travel writing in the Algarve 18-21 May. 4 days of sharing, learning and fun. More details below. #travel
#writing #Portugal

www.suehall.net/join-us-in-1...

Stephen Powell, sharing some thoughts about Travel Writing. YouTube video by Sue Hall

Listen to Stephen Powell sharing his thoughts about focus in Travel Writing. Check out the Retreat in the beautiful sunny Algarve 18-21 May 2026. We will share more gems as the weeks pass leading up to the in-person session. DM for more info.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Ywb...

4 day Travel writing retreat 18-21 May 2026 My neighbour Stephen and I are both writers. During my last writing workshop in 2025, we discussed the possibility of a shared Travel Writing Retreat and created an event page on Facebook.We both live on Monte Agudo, near Tavira, in the Eastern Algarve. I live at Casa Alexandra and Stephen at Casa Anatôlio. Both venues will be used for workshop sessions during the retreat.

4 day Travel writing retreat 18-21 May 2026

My neighbour Stephen and I are both writers. During my last writing workshop in 2025, we discussed the possibility of a shared Travel Writing Retreat and created an event page on Facebook.We both live on Monte Agudo, near Tavira, in the Eastern Algarve.…

Celebrating Connection at the Open Mic Night Last month, towards the end of an autumn day, some of the artistic community in the Eastern Algarve, came together to transcend borders, languages, and backgrounds. The Open Mic Night, held on November 20th, was a celebration of neighbours and an opportunity for us to weave our individual stories. We paid homage to Tela Leão who brought us together under the umbrella of the…

Celebrating Connection at the Open Mic Night

Last month, towards the end of an autumn day, some of the artistic community in the Eastern Algarve, came together to transcend borders, languages, and backgrounds. The Open Mic Night, held on November 20th, was a celebration of neighbours and an…

Your neighbour – Seu Vizinho-Celebrating Creativity and Connection – Open Mic Night Every year, as the nights darken and the air cools in Tavira, a special event during the Festa dos anos de Álvaro de Campos brings the community together for the Open Mic Night, dedicated to celebrating poetry, music, and storytelling. It’s an evening where voices are heard in both Portuguese and English, and where neighbours touch shoulders amid shared words, poetry and song.

Your neighbour – Seu Vizinho-Celebrating Creativity and Connection – Open Mic Night

Every year, as the nights darken and the air cools in Tavira, a special event during the Festa dos anos de Álvaro de Campos brings the community together for the Open Mic Night, dedicated to celebrating poetry,…

Next Writing Workshop Thursday 4 September 10:00am – Join us Portuguese Somersault, published in 1934, is a travel story in the vagabond style by two eccentric Brits, Jan and Cora Gordon. I have been thinking about the September workshop and the stories we write, and this book came to mind. The book sits in the Portugal section of a bookshelf in my home. It is old with a fading red cover and bound.

Next Writing Workshop Thursday 4 September 10:00am – Join us

Portuguese Somersault, published in 1934, is a travel story in the vagabond style by two eccentric Brits, Jan and Cora Gordon. I have been thinking about the September workshop and the stories we write, and this book came to mind. The…

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.

News of my latest book a novella - Blue Eyes and the Secret - soon to be published on Kindle. More information email sue@suehall.net or DM

Writing Workshops begin again in September Over the last 12 weeks, I have 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 f...

Short update on the recent writing workshops. We will start again in September. Have a wonderful creative summer.
Sue.
Want to join in September drop me an email or DM
sue@suehall.net
www.suehall.net/writing-work...
#WritersLife, #WritingWorkshop, #writeinthealgarve

A dragonfly spoke to me in the forest garden this morning. #forestfood #food #dragonfly #growyourown #gardening

My first aubergines from the food forest. Planting about 8 weeks ago. #algarve #Portugal thank you for the sun and rain. So happy! What is growing in your garden? #food #foodforest #growing #gardening #growyourownfood

Writing workshops on this hill
#Books #writing
www.suehall.net/writing-for-...

Blue sky in the Algarve
#gardening #aplacetowrite #writers

Happy Freedom Day red carnations for 25 April 2025 in Tavira #Portugal #carnationrevolution

Happy #earthday25 #earthday #gardening we are trying to look after our small part of the planet in southern Portugal with #recycling, #solar #watersaving # mulching #living #loving #spiritual-practice

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...

My latest article for #earthday2025
Water recycling, solar and planting trees.
@earthdayorg.bsky.social

www.suehall.net/earth-day-tu...

Sweet Peas. They smell so heady. Have a good day everyone.
We need smellagram
Writers how would you describe the smell of sweet peas?
#gardening #writing #environmentalwriting #algarve #Portugal

Spinach My spinach beds and what to do with abundance

My spinach patch and what I do with it
communitycreatesconnection.substack.com/p/spinach?r=...
#growyourownfood #Writing #shorts

#HappyIWD
Just watched Daughters of the Forest shown by permacultureeducationinstitute.org/permaculture...
Uplifting story of group of girls in a remote forests who attend a radical high school where they learn to protect the forest & forge a better future for themselves. Free link for 48 hours DM

Some photos of what is coming up in the garden in February. Also what is out in seed trays (acorns and carobs) and herbs. I have also started a forest garden. #growyourownfood #growyourown #gardeninginportugal

Some photos of what is coming up in the garden in February. Also what is out in seed trays (acorns and carobs) and herbs. I have also started a forest garden. #growyourownfood #growyourown #gardeninginportugal

#newgrangesolstice
Light is coming through the chamber. www.gov.ie/en/news/579d...

Watching #wintersolstice at #Newgrangewintersolstice
Visisted June 2024

Biko | Peter Gabriel | Playing For Change | Song Around The World YouTube video by Playing For Change

It's Sunday, so it is music!
#playingforchange #music
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWNE...

Faber Members' Summer Reading Recommendations 2024 | Journal From comic classics by Wodehouse to contemporary literary fiction favourites like The Bee Sting and Demon Copperhead, this selection is an ideal starting point for putting together your summer reading...

What are you reading? The Faber Summer reading recommendations just arrived.
I am listened to Demon Copperhead. I take it in small doses as it is an emotional ride, but worth it.
💙 📚
#books #authors #reading

www.faber.co.uk/journal/fabe...

Madrid’s summers can be brutally hot. So why are so many of our trees being chopped down? | Felicity Hughes Increasing tree cover in urban areas could reduce heat-related deaths – but a fight has ensued between corporate interests and residents, says journalist Felicity Hughes

"While we still mourn the wholesale destruction, every tree saved provides hope to other people around the globe that these fights can be won." 🌎 #Trees #madrid #savethetrees #Environment
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...