MEP's Visit Madeira

In Search of Hope – by Sam Gannon

Seconded to the parish of Tililngdon, the Reverend Dolores has been presented with a challenge.

She’s living in an antiquated house and she’s cold. Furthermore, her new Bishop, Bishop Alice does not approve of ‘showgirls in dog collars.’

Determined to prove the Bishop wrong, she sets about warming her house – who cares if it smells of horse! There is the crochet club, jumble sale, and soup run to organise. And this year, the church bells will ring, no matter what threats are made. Even more so, the newly formed choir will spread a little joy this Christmas, even though they can’t sing – yet! And with a little help from Phil, her bassist, this year could be full of magic.

However, she has a fight on her hands as the townies out in Knob Hill – she must stop calling it that, are trying to stop her from ringing her bells. When Krystal with a K decides to do some volunteer work, Dolores sets out to see just how committed she really is.

Up to her ears in granny squares and squawking choristers, Dolores is revving up for Christmas, yet a deeper darker secret is beginning to emerge!

A secret that could blow the whole parish apart and put Dolores in danger.

(available from Amazon)

A delegation from the European Parliament’s Committee on Petitions (PETI) is in Madeira to assess the supply of affordable housing and the impacts of the forest fires on the Region.

During the morning, MEPs met in Funchal with the president of the Institute of Forests and Nature Conservation, Manuel Filipe, and visited Paúl da Serra to observe areas affected by the 2024 fires. In the early afternoon, they went to Câmara de Lobos, where they visited completed or ongoing housing projects, financed by the European Union’s Recovery and Resilience Plan, accompanied by the Regional Secretary for Equipment and Infrastructure, Pedro Rodrigues.

The mission is led by the chairman of the Committee on Petitions, Bogdan Rzońca, and includes MEPs Virginie Joron, Gordan Bosanac, and Dariusz Joński, accompanied by Madeiran Sérgio Gonçalves.

At 17:00, the delegation met with the President of the Regional Government, Miguel Albuquerque, at Quinta Vigia, before meeting with other regional secretaries, in which the results of the visit and possible future actions will be discussed.

The MEPs will also contact citizens who have petitioned the European Parliament in relation to affordable housing and forest fire threats.

Samantha Gannon

info at madeira-eekly.com