My parents first came to Portugal in 1968 and fell in love with the Monchique area. In 1970, whilst on a walk in the valley my father found a half-built house nestled on a magical site among cultivated terraces with stunning views to the coast. They bought the property and finished the building, employing 40 workmen including José with a winning smile, who stayed on as a gardener and still grows potatoes on our land for his own use. As a child I played with José's son Carlos, who is now the builder responsible for carrying out the great improvements of the recent years, and his daughter Euália is our manager.
My parents decided to build a large pool above and behind the house so that their long naps were not disturbed by the sounds of my sister bullying me. My parents planted many trees including jacarandas and orange trees, which are all now fully grown.