Having lived in the Algarve for 7 years aged 7-13 and latterly from 2004-09 I feel the Algarve to be my home.

Having no choice in March 2009 to return permanently to the UK (work, or rather the lack of) I have found myself to be utterly isolated. Whereas I have friends whom I have had for many years in the UK, somehow it appears that we have absolutely de nada (nothing) in common. I wondered if there are folk out there feeling similar things. It would great to have a support system for each other in these early and difficult times of repatriation to the UK.

How about:

A mini Algarve in the UK, in the shape of a forum, initially,who knows what may come?
pm me with any suggestions or interest; all greatly appreciated.

Yours truly missing the Algarve

Where abouts in the UK are you now?? Here in Somerset there is a large Portuguese community in and around Taunton and Chard. Do you have a community near to you?? I know London has a large community of Portuguese as well.

Hope you find some friends soon who are more like minded.

Hi Guys
Harry's in the UK as well at the moment, yes and it's bloody raining!!
Can we all meet up for a few coffee's and of course the port.
I'm in Somerset as well.
Slight problem, havn't found a cafe yet that sells a good coffe for under 2 quid, and when I order a port as well they seem to give me a funny look.

Sunincome....I know exactly where you're coming from!
I / we, have always missed our life in Algarve..we lived there initially for 2 and half years, then came back to UK (recession hit our business)..
then we returned after we had saved some money.
But when we came back to England, we found no happy welcome and none of the friendliness we were used to in Algarve...no ready handshake or kiss on both cheeks.

But we are going to have another go..selling this place and 'retiring' back to Algarve but hope to do some voluntary work

But if you organise another forum in UK, I'd be happy to join it...and I hope you have success in your work search.

We have quite a large community of Portuguese here in Lincolnshire....Ive met a few in Boston. One young Portuguese girl working in a bookshop said she had no desire to return to Portugal......
anyway all the best to you!

Since our return, we've noticed the lack of expression of genuine human warmth and its been quite shocking. Here in Scotland it seems that we are losing the ability to touch each other, either physically or emotionally. I really miss the genuine way (in the Algarve) we would automatically smile, touch, kiss (twice!) our friends - it somehow makes you feel more cared-for, loved and "included". I am trying to pass this onto friends here, and it does make (some) people smile and think of you as a bit "different", and that can be off-putting, but hey, I'll keep trying. I bumped into a previous "friend" yesterday who I hadn't seen since before moving to Portugal in 2005 and just naturally began to hug and kiss her; she backed off, looking slightly shocked! I didn't even get to the second kiss!

And the Algarve way of socialising in cafe-bars, and as you say, having a port and a decent coffee - well, there's not much chance of that here - the locals wouldn't support this type of business, at least not outside major towns or cities, so the small, basic cafe that provides a lifeline to community support is extinct. We did actually consider starting a continental style cafe-art bar, but the figures don't add up for the above reasons.

Re Portuguese communities, we have found one Portuguese person here since we sold up a year ago and there are no Port. language classes, so little chance of us keeping up with the bit of language that did actually sink in!

Hi, there are a few expat sites online to get you started, and look into ex pat community within your area for support. There are some out there.
As an expat from the middle east, I have discovered that from wherever you spent time abroad, your return to the UK, makes you feel adrift from the general folk of the UK. I am afraid a different mind set comes in when you live abroad for a while,and you will always find it difficult to become the 'norm' so to speak from the rest of the crowd.
It will always be a little different, but time will help. Only expats really honestly understand.
Good luck.

Avvie wrote: I bumped into a previous "friend" yesterday who I hadn't seen since before moving to Portugal in 2005 and just naturally began to hug and kiss her; she backed off, looking slightly shocked! I didn't even get to the second kiss!!

That happened to me Avvie..
The first time we returned to England we lived in caravan on campsite(before we got the jobs at the Manor)...
One day I bumped into Kitty who Id known before we left for Portugal. She said " You do look brown and you've lost weight"...
I moved forward to kiss her on both cheeks and she backed away. I knew then that I wouldn't 'fit in' again. I was so used to people kissing me that it came naturally to me to do the same..
Thats why Ill be glad to return to Algarve

Sounds good to me getting back into the kissing and the port of course
All we need is someone with the knowlege of setting up a forum.

After that it's simple
Importing a decent coffee machine
Cheap booze of course
I few big waterproof! patio umbrellas and were sorted.

I very large solar lamp can be thought about later.

So Harry where in Somerset are you then, we could meet in the Portuguese cafe in Chard high street for a coffee and a pastela de nata ??

Wow!
Thanks everyone for posting, that was a surprise to me, a nice one I might add. I hadn't banked on getting any posts, so thank you and
a kiss on both cheeks to all!

After a weekend off work (doing chores, washing, ironing, housework, (we must have done these things in Portugal, maybe a little less!))) oh, and yes dashing to mow the lawns in between the showers I find it's Monday all too soon and back in front of the computer for a weeks work...I am lucky to have work at this time so that I do appreciate.

After a few months here, I have put my finger on what is bothering me most...
When living in the Algarve (and I did work full-time from home the last two years although it never felt like it) I lived each day for the day. I didn't waste my time looking forward to something like a holiday; we simply didn't have holidays, we didn't need to, so every day was made the most of. We didn't sit and discuss the 'soaps' and what we were going to watch on TV that night.

Friends would drop round for a coffee and a chat in my working day, often a glass of vino. Weekends were always spent with friends in the beach restaurants, kids playing on the beach, us all eating, drinking and chatting, oh yes Harry, and the odd Port.

I'm flying to Faro for ten days this Friday (7th Aug) and it struck me that I suddenly feel much happier, knowing that I'm on my way, albeit for a short break.
We are also going in November for 4 days for a friend's 40th birthday party.

So what I am doing now is wishing my life away......waiting.....incidentally I did the same for the 24 years from 13 yrs until 37 yrs when I managed to go and live there for a second time.

England feels like everyone rushes everywhere, people don't seem to have a social circle of friends that they simply enjoy their company and eat, drink and laugh together.

Even though the weather is grim, sitting with a bunch of like minded people would make it all a lot better. We could remember the good times, share experiences and memories.
In the Algarve, there was always a friend to call on, always a support network around you, and despite all our problems (Port authorities etc) we felt lucky to be there and have the friends we did.

I'm living in Tamworth, Staffordshire, and to date, not found a single Portuguese person here, but then that's hardly surprising, I have been out for "dinner" (family not friends, expensive frozen rubbish, giant portions and wine that cost a fortune) TWICE since March!!!

Get a life springs to mind.... still the pubs just don't do it for me, would rather entertain at home....if I can just find some friends to entertain!

I see there are two of you in Somerset (lucky you!), Harry, I'm coming to see you in August sometime, maybe when I know when we're coming we can meet up in that cafe.

Anyway all, time to start some work, the sun is peeping out from behind a cloud and I have an overwhelming temptation to sit out with my tea and enjoy it whilst its there!

Have a great week and chat soon.
Sally xx

A lovely reply to us, thanks.
If you pop down to Somerset, both Richard and I will be happy to join you in the lovely little Portugese cafe in Chard along with LJ and H.

What an interesting series of posts - very simple solution - don't come back here - it's the pits and it's not getting or likely to get any better - in the foreseeable future. My commiserations to all you who have had no choice.

In May 2010 we, builders permitting, will be moving permanently to Carvoeiro. Having owned a holiday villa for the past 12 years and holidays 2-3 times a year for 10 years before that - we have endured those awful days before the time to return the the UK - hoping for air traffic strikes, anything that would delay our departure - but they never came.Now Utopia is only 10 months away.

I only hope we do not have to go through the 'pain' and 'anxiety' associated with packing up and leaving our Algarvean Paradise' back to this country

Much as I wouldn't mind spending my retirement in a warm country I still love living in the UK.
I would not dream of buying expensive frozen food or wine which costs a fortune, my friends and relatives always greet each other with a hug and a kiss on each cheek.
Can't say I would miss the weather here but I would miss the seasons and not being able to see my family and friends on a regular basis.
Good luck to all of you who are going to live in Portugal everyone should live the dream if possible.

Bruce - totally agree with your sentiments - it would be a boring old place if we were all the same.

I presume this cafe has a proper machine and they know how to work it.
If so sounds good, I'm in Wells at the moment a bit of a trek to Chard but with enough motivation and a little sun, you never know may be worth a trip.