Saving Dracula, Feira da Serra & Surviving Summer

Saving a bat wasn't on my bingo card last month, yet here we are…meet Benny the Bat:

After seeing him marooned in the sun being nibbled by ants, I knew I needed to do something. After carefully getting him into a box (using gloves, as rabies is prevalent in Portugal), I called SEPNA, the branch of the GNR that deals with animals. Unfortunately, my Portuguese wasn't good enough to get any help – I can't really blame them though, an Englishman shouting MORCEGO down the phone was probably quite confusing!

Instead, I decided to wait until the morning to take him to RIAS, the rehabilitation centre in Olhão. They have the option to sponsor an animal, and if you do, they invite you to go to their release!

However, after a long session at the gym I got home to find Benny gone… I can only hope he regained his strength while being out of the sun and made his great escape back to Transylvania.

On an equally exciting note, if you want to experience the true essence of traditional Algarve culture, one of the region's best events is returning later this month.

From August 8th to 16th, the annual Silves Medieval Fair is coming to Silves Castle. This year features historical reenactments (including jousts!), live medieval music and Arabic gastronomy.

It runs from 6pm until late each night and brings together incredible local culture, live entertainment, and traditional food. It's a wonderful event for the whole family, especially if you want a break from the coastal tourist hotspots and fancy heading into the hills for an evening. I'll definitely be attending, maybe even dressing up like I did back in Northumberland.

Speaking of tourists and the summertime, as the number of visitors begin to peak, the local infrastructure is about to face its usual seasonal pressure. Because of that, I wanted to share a quick insider tip regarding the healthcare system that many people aren't aware of.

If you or a visiting family member face a non-emergency medical issue over the summer, instead of going straight to a Centro de Saúde or hospital, call the SNS24 line (808 24 24 24) first.

They will triage you over the phone (in English) and, if needed, send a digital referral code straight to your mobile. Presenting this code when you get to the hospital substantially cuts down wait times and skips a massive amount of administrative red tape at the local clinics.

P.S. Sukuna is doing great albeit sore paws from getting out and running on the concrete…

I also managed to squeeze in a quick trip back to the UK for a Grease-themed birthday party. Weirdly, I think the shorts kind of work…