We have just moved to a house in Almadena, its great being here now, living the dream, it hàs been stressful but boy, was it worth it!! Maybe someone nearby can visit at O Poco restaurant to meet up!

Congratulations on your move. Hope you enjoy your new life in wonderful Portugal.

Congratulations & welcome to paradise.

Bem Vindo Chris

Yes, paradise it is. I can't believe that we managed to buy the place in our dreams. The village is great and the people are so welcoming.

Keep living the dream. Ignore the day-to-day and keep giving thanks that you have managed to grab a piece of paradise. Be good to your neighbours and understand their concerns because, unlike you, they are not here by choice. Try to blend in and learn to speak the language (even a little), because this is an old and rich culture.

I write this whilst looking out over the hills, listening only to the gentle clanging of the sheep bells. December 1st, in shirt sleeves and with windows open - even on this level alone, it is heaven. Bem vindo.

Great news, congratulations, i hope it all works out well

Yes congratulations and welcome to Paradise!!!!
We're here not quite 10-months and our daily breakfast toast to each other is "Good morning luv, welcome to paradise." Bought our beach apartment in Cabanas but found that we NEEDED land to putter around, make things, dig in the soil/garden (find those garden worms) and such so we took a country cottage in Loule.
We are SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO VERY HAPPY! We'll start language lessons in the New Year as we absolutely MUST speak Portuguese! It's just respectful not to mention necessary.Why come to another country and then only speak to fellow expats? Anyway, yes we too were working outside in t-shirts yesterday, dry and sunny....mesorejoints&bones are quite pleased with me right now.

Just a small thing; MePat was sanding the front door preparing to refit, I was concentrating pulling some weeds nearby, dog at my feet, a sweet warm breeze came up and rustled the grass next to me, just for a moment a rush of contentment washed over me and I knew I had just experienced what the late monologist Spalding Gray called a "Magic Moment."........"Life is good Sabu."

To macliam, do you live near Almadena , cos there is a lot of village politics going on! We do stay out of it but sometimes get included. We are just trying to settle in at our house and are not really interested at the moment. Too busy getting residential cert. and signing in with doctor! Oh, and we just been told we need a social security number and S1 form. Do we need s/s number as we are retired and receive state pension from the uk.?
Regards, Chris

From the Gov.Uk site....
Therefore if you reach State pension age while living in Portugal, it will be necessary to request the form S1 from the DWP and hand it to your nearest social security office (Posto de Atendimento da Segurança Social) so that they can change the way you are covered.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/living-in-portugal#health


Don't think you need an s/s number if you have a form S1. That form means the UK pick-up your tab.

No, I'm in the Alentejo hills - an hour away from the Algarve coast (and the Costa Vicentina). There's always a lot of "politics" in Villages, here and elsewhere ..... best keep your powder dry. I'm retired early and still a part-time resident for now, but people on the forum will advise you of the do's and don'ts of residency.

OK, will just settle in here and enjoy our retirement in the sun and beautiful scenery. Many thanks,
Chris