Hi, I am new on here and thought I would introduce myself.

I am Debs, married with 2 children. We still live in the UK but we're planning to move to the Algarve later this year. Its something we've given a great deal of thought to and we've been planning for some time. We are currently looking for a property to buy and have been spending time going to and from the Algarve trying to find something suitable (as well as having some very enjoyable holidays!)

I'm not really looking for any advice in particular, although there are quite a few things (minor points really) that we need to get sorted out. For example we will be looking for a nursery for the children and somewhere to buy cars etc.etc. We are moving to the Algarve for a better way of life than we have in the UK. We are quite prepared for hard work and know its not going to be easy!

So I just wanted to say Hi and if anyone has any pointers or advice it would be gratfully received!

Debs

Hi Debs

Welcome to the forum, hopefully you will make lots of friends on here who will be able to help you out and of course you get to join in the fun

I am afraid I am of little help as I am UK based and simply visit cvo for holidays, but there are lots of people on here that can offer you a broad range of experiences.

Good luck and enjoy

Maddi

Hi Debs

We took the plunge and moved out last October after spending 17 years holidaying here. We don't have kids so can't help on that score, but will be glad to help with anything else....

Send me a pm if there is anything you think I can help with.

Good luck

k

if you look back as i am sure you have done so on prevoius headings you will find a lot of info on the points you raised.also suggest you join AFPOP who provide information on many things

For tips on how NOT to successfully move to the algarve, watch "living the dream" about the mona lisa bar, next time they show it, a good laugh!

Also, just through curiosity, are you planning to open your own business out there, or find employment?

Matt

Hi matt k,i totaly agree with your posting about the mona lisa,and yet for all their total disregard for the basic right way to do things they are there doing their thing and we are still in ireland or england or whereever wishing we were there.At this stage it would just kill me to see them fail.Maddi i just know you,ll read this ,so are we o.k or what

Hi again

Thanks for all the replies. I will check out the other postings on here.
I have to say I do find those programmes about people moving abroad on what seems to be a whim, absolutely hilarious. They seem to have no idea about what they are doing! I wish I'd seen the one about the mona lisa. If its ever on again I'll do my best to catch it.

We will most likely be self-employed when we get to Portugal. That sounds a bit vague I know, but we do have a plan! My husband is planning to open his own business and I am self-employed here, planning to move my business with me where it whould work just as well. But we do have a back-up as well and plenty of skills should we need to find temporary work while we sort ourselves out, should it come to that.

We're certainly not planning to move thinking that life is going to be one long holiday. We're not looking for an easy life (although it would be nice) just a better one.

Anyway, don't want to bore with long postings, looks like I can get to know a fair bit from the posts on here. Thanks for replying and its nice to meet you all.

Debs

Keep posting Debs, and don't worry about asking questions, or telling us stuff, for many of us it is our chance to live our lives nefariously through what you are about to do (and what many of us haven't got the capital or guts to!!!)

Maddi

p.s. Gerry, I never fell out with you, I made a joke which didn't translate well and you just thought I did xxxxxx

great stuff mads,....nefariously...its 8 pm ...nefariously .... is this a state of mind or a word ,or have yourself and rod got together or what?jaysus ,now i have to go wandering through the study to find a dictionary which i cant even spell to see if there is such a word and what it means ,and its 2 am.to hell i,m goin to stick in a load of them little yellow heads and go to bed
gerry

Know the feeling Gerry but I am prepared now- have a dictionary permanently next to the pc now and that is just to help me with my kids homework And nefarious means wicked

Pammie

I don't think we knew you had kids!!!!!!! How Old? Girls, boys, both? Do you work as well? You know all the usual stuff you learn about someone when you get to know them.

It is not like you haven't been here a while but mainly in a slightly wicked, pop in and give the boys a run for their money sort of way

Mads