Our new home in Albufeira

The street outside our home

I've been a fan of Channel Four's Place in the Sun for as long as I can remember, but if I'm honest (and I always try to be) my longing to live somewhere warm and sunny always felt something of a pipe dream. For a long time, there were family commitments (my youngest daughter is ten years younger than my eldest ... and there's one inbetween), a large mortgage fixed when interest rates were much higher (what idiot decides to move house in June 2007?), job security, then redundancy, unemployment and job insecurity.

Then all at once, several things happened and the impossible began to feel like it might just be achievable. First, after a long time without a job I got two (one part-time for 18 months, one freelance) and my partner Harri's freelance editing work picked up significantly. Having got used to being frugal(ish), we decided to throw the extra cash at our mortgage. Our efforts were boosted unexpectedly by an inheritance which happened to be £120 more than our outstanding mortgage ... incredibly in five years we'd gone from a monthly mortgage payment of £907 to being mortgage free!

Next door's Moorish chimney but our flower

With all three daughters now working and self-sufficient, we realised if we didn't seize the opportunity now, we never would. The plan was to spend three months here as a sort of 'test run' to see if the reality of living abroad lived up to the dream. Harri would continue with his freelance work and I'd focus on my writing ... first finishing my travelogue about walking the Via Algarviana last year and then picking up the novel I started er ... too long ago! 

Our next decision was where to stay. For me, the Algarve was always the first choice, but we'd had an enjoyable holiday in the Costa Brava earlier in the year so Harri was torn between the two countries. I was adamant that we chose somewhere with a bit of life in the winter, but with bills to cover at home (council tax, water, insurance, etc), we weren't in a position to spend a fortune on rent. 

In some ways, it was a happy fluke that we ended up in Albufeira. The lettings agent just happened to the first to respond to several enquiries I'd sent out and he could guarantee internet access from day one (essential when you're self-employed and your work arrives via email). The property in question was free for the three months we wanted so we snapped it up without hesitation. Our two-bedroom villa is costing us €550 a calendar month and we have to pay the electricity bills on top (which the agent estimates to be around €80. We also paid a €300 cash deposit on arrival. And that's it! No gas, no council tax equivalent, no additional charge for the internet ... 

Enjoying the December sunshine outside the mercado municipal

Our villa is traditional with terracotta tiled floors and azulejos (painted tiles) on walls, the drinks counter, the kitchen bar, even the food trolley. We have two large bedrooms with fitted wardrobes, two bathrooms (one with bath), a large lounge with a separate cosy area around the real fire at one end and a kitchen with seating. The agent apologised for its 'traditional' features and clearly thought the villa was too old-fashioned in many ways, but we love it here.

There's also pretty garden with a plunge pool, clothes line and lots of flowers (a gardener calls in pretty regularly to maintain everything). We also have a weekly maid who changes the beds and towels and mops the floors (I feel so spoilt when she's racing around with the mop and I'm sat on my computer!).

Best of all, are the wonderful sea views from the patio and the lounge. Not that we're overlooking the sea close up (you'd have to pay considerably more than €550 for that!) but it's always there in the distance, changing colour depending on the weather. 

Incredibly, our little house will be commanding a rental income of €950 per week next summer. I think we got ourselves a bargain!

Looking over Albufeira at sunset

Despite two previous hiking trips to the Algarve, we'd never actually been to Albufeira before so it was just good luck that we chose a villa so well-located for pretty much everything we need. The marina is a short stroll down the hill and if you head in the other direction you soon reach Old Town with its many bars and restaurants (several closed at this time of year). If we head uphill from our new home and take a short cut through an open air bar, we emerge at the Dolphin roundabout (apparently all directions in Albufeira are given from one of the town's many roundabouts) and can head downhill then uphill to Lidl and Aldi. If you carry on a while and turn left, you reach the two-weekly market and the bus station. From there it's easy to head downhill to Albufeira Shopping and it's only a short stroll to 'the Strip' where the nightlife is lively during the summer months.

Of course, there are short cuts to some of the more distant places, but they generally involve steeper climbs and (for me) a high risk of getting lost, which rather defeats the object.

So that's us. We're here until the beginning of March and, so far, are enjoying exploring a new city where we've been met with nothing but friendliness and kindness. When Harri's not working, we'll be cramming in as much hiking in the area as possible ... with weather like this in December it would be criminal not to get out there as much as possible!!