Nearly that time of year again.

Carnaval. Shrove Tuesday. Mardi Gras. A time for dancing, music, dressing up and having fun.

My timeshare weeks remain the same but Carnaval moves. Some years we miss the lot. Other years, like this year, we can enjoy all the parades.

The first will be in Santana (famed for the little houses) on Sunday, when effigies are burnt. I've never seen that but we're going to go this time.

The Children's Parade is the following Friday afternoon. That's my favourite. The little ones will have an extravagant costume which they'll get plenty of fun with over the days.

The big Procession is a week on Saturday. Our hotel asked us to join in - in sparkly samba costumes - but as my hip won't let me wobble along the levadas, I don't think three hours dancing on the Avenida would be wise....

And finally, on Shrove Tuesday itself, it's the satirical parade, full of political jokes. Usually we have to ask locals to explain but I'm reliably informed that a certain Mr Trump may we'll feature.....

Meanwhile, the shops are filled with fun and bling and the atmosphere is beginning to build.