'Like White Rose with sunshine' Family history Ex-pat GRAHAM DENBY continues his series on how he and his wife Ruth have forged a new life for themselves in Portugal. Today: the shopping experience.

Byline: GRAHAM DENBY

OK, let's talk about important stuff here for the ladies - yes it's shopping.

This subject must be thoroughly explored before any commitment to relocate out here is seriously considered. Really there are of course two different types out here; the everyday stuff, eating, drinking, living, then there is the fun shopping (I apply this in the female category only).

When we lived in Ourique prior to here in the Casa we shopped largely in the village. Shops consisted of very small one-room corner-type shops and small Freshcos (alas with no Curly Watts) and Leo's mini markets.

The medium sized was originally the 'Alentejano' and now our Pingo Doce supermarket. The small shops are worth investigating for local produce and smaller items while we use Pingo's for the bulk of our needs on a best cost basis.

The 'Alentejano' was one of a small chain originally built up here prior to the big boys stepping in and buying them out. In UK terms they weren't too professional. They opened at 9.00am and you got the impression staff arrived there at 8:59am.

Also they adhered to the Portuguese 'Saint Day' holidays which were dotted throughout the calendar and are a mystery to us comers in. You knew if you left anything essential to the next day it would be a holiday and they would be shut. Also they closed for the traditional Portuguese lunchtime of 1.00pm - 3.00 pm.

This meant when we were going anywhere we had to set off after 9.00am to call into the shop or be back before 1.00 pm. This never worked out for us at all. Now it's Pingo's; Spanish I believe and it's much better ... and busier too.

For the traditional "big-shop" we do venture to the Algarve and raid Lidl, Aldi and Netto.

Now these are shops Our Lass wouldn't have been seen dead in back in the UK. Out here they're a godsend. Me, being a Tyke, I was familiar with the concept of reduced choice and low price. I mean, who needs 2,400 flavours of yoghurt to choose from anyway?

The Algarve, in general to us in the sticks, is like taking a trip to London.

But we don't want it for too long and prices are too high.

Down the Algarve is where the second category of shops are: the fashion shops, pottery outlets, perfumeries and other such places that are really there for holiday makers. It's like the White Rose Centre with sunshine.

To be fair to Our Lass she's not too bothered unless they sell jodhpurs or it's a tack shop. For the lads there are a number of trade outlets and builder centres where new cement mixers, roof-slates and air conditioners can be admired.

But in general, after a full day when you've got reacquainted with a Big Mac (and wondered why!) and maybe tried the cinema (cheap afternoon slots) we are happy to head north again and get dust on our back windscreens.

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