Ferraris for all and wine on tap: satirical candidate shakes up Portugal’s presidential election

Ferraris for all and wine on tap: satirical candidate shakes up Portugal’s presidential election

With polls showing no clear leader among 11 candidates, the absurd Candidate Vieira captures attention In Lisbon’s Campo de Ourique market earlier this week, conversation had turned – a little inevitably – to Sunday’s presidential election, which will decide who will take over from the outgoing Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. But amid the usual claims and counter-claims, promises and pledges, one candidate has been offering voters something a bit more enticing than his competitors have. Continue reading...

How we converted a boxy ‘dump’ into our spacious, light-filled dream home

How we converted a boxy ‘dump’ into our spacious, light-filled dream home

Reducing the number of rooms while creating more space turned an uninspiring house into a thing of beauty with an exotic garden to match Already weary from multiple house viewings that didn’t meet their criteria, Purvi Harlalka and Jyothish George were unenthused when details of a large, long-neglected HMO (house of multiple occupancy) in north London dropped into their inbox. First impressions in real life were equally lacklustre, at least for George. “We arrived for our viewing and he whispered, ‘There’s no way we’re going to buy this dump!’” says Harlalka. “But later, I convinced him of its potential. It had so much light and, importantly, a garden. I knew it was the one.” Continue reading...