With a television career spanning three decades, Carol Smillie has become a household name, gracing screens from ‘Wheel of Fortune’ to the iconic ‘Changing Rooms’. Her talent has garnered prestigious awards including the Indie and National TV Award, along with a coveted BAFTA nomination. Carol’s wit and charm have entertained audiences on numerous talk shows and panel programs, showcasing her versatility and enduring appeal.
Beyond television, Carol is a multifaceted entrepreneur and author. She founded DiaryDoll – Pretty Clever Pants, a brand that gained acclaim and was later acquired by High St TV. Additionally, Carol has authored insightful books such as ‘Carol Smillie’s Working Mum’s Handbook’ and provided fitness guidance through her pre- and post-natal DVD, ‘Changing Shape’. Her columns in publications like Woman’s Own and The Sunday Times reflect her wisdom and relatability.
In a surprising career pivot in 2018, Carol embraced a new role as a Humanist Celebrant with Humanist Society Scotland. This transition allowed her to guide individuals through significant life events, enriching her perspective and providing profound fulfilment.
Despite her professional success, Carol’s greatest joy lies in her family life. She shares a loving relationship with her husband of over 30 years, Alex Knight, and takes pride in their three children, Christie, Robbie and Jodie. As she enters her 60s, Carol’s passion for her various endeavours remains undiminished, embodying the spirit of lifelong learning and growth. Her journey serves as an inspiration, proving that with determination and dedication, one can thrive in multiple spheres of life.
On a recent visit to Portugal, we had the pleasure of sitting down with Carol and Alex at their beautiful villa for an open chat on what brought them to the Algarve, how they found their new home and they openly share some heartfelt stories of family life in this beautiful part of the world.
Q – CAN YOU SHARE WHAT INITIALLY ATTRACTED YOU TO THE ALGARVE AND WHY YOU PURCHASED A PROPERTY HERE?
Carol – We had young children at the time, two were under four and I was pregnant with our third. Initially, the recommendation had come from a friend of ours who had said that the Algarve was a great family destination, was easy to travel to and the people were so friendly.”
Alex – Carol had a high profile job and we had holidayed in Spain, but she struggled because of photographers and the lack of privacy there. Portugal however, gave her a sense of comfort as she didn’t experience this here which was important when enjoying quality time with our family outside of a busy work schedule.
Carol – So, we decided to holiday in Vale do Lobo which had been recommended as a reputable family resort ideal for young families. We rented a property for two weeks, fell in love with the resort and being the impulsive people we are, found a property and placed a deposit on a villa before we returned! This was summer 1999 and the villa was finished in 2000, we have been visiting the Algarve on multiple occasions every year since.
At the time, with busy lifestyles and three young children, Vale do Lobo provided us with an opportunity to slot into holiday mode straight away as the supermarket, restaurants, beach and a broad range of resort amenities were so easily accessible.
Q – What makes the Algarve stand out compared to other destinations you’ve considered?
Carol – Accessibility has always been important for me on the basis that if I ever needed to get back for a job, flights were quick, easy and to a range of UK airports. [Laughing] a lot of the time I wouldn’t even tell my agent that I was in Portugal!
Alex –Over the years and as the children got older, Portugal became an important part of our lives. Our children, Christie, Robbie & Jodie, developed a close group of friends in the area, they wanted to return every year which also allowed the family to enjoy countless summer holidays together.
Carol – As the children grew up they were given the freedom and independence to hang out with friends at the beach, Praça and Geco’s nightclub which allowed them to form incredible relationships within a safe environment. These relationships have grown in strength over the years and have been influential in terms of the decisions the children have made and the paths they have followed in life.
Food and enjoying the experience of being present with loved ones has always been an important part of our family life. Whether at the villa or at a restaurant, time spent together in the Algarve gave the family an opportunity to slow down and enjoy each others company.
The children remain deeply connected to the Algarve which means they continue returning year after year. This has allowed us to enjoy quality time together which otherwise may not have existed if there wasn’t a shared love for the region.
Q – Can you describe your experiences throughout the property buying process
Carol – Well, that’s easy! We dealt with three reputable estate agencies but felt they all over promised and under delivered.
We chose to work with Mario on the basis that he was a professional with many years of experience, he asked the right questions and took the time to carefully listen.
Listening was very important to us as it meant he genuinely cared which in turn made us feel confident that he had our best interests at heart.
Q – Can you describe the moment when you knew you had found your “forever home” in the Algarve? What made it stand out?
Carol – We had seen a lot of properties through other estate agents that simply weren’t of interest and this led us to believe that perhaps we had made the wrong decision to sell our property and buy another one in the area.
Mario however, understood exactly what we wanted so we didn’t waste time viewing properties that didn’t suit our needs. From memory he took us to see five properties which all matched our brief, but when we walked into our current home we knew straight away that this was the one!
Alex – We loved the fact that it had been a family home for many years, the outside space and garden was mature and just a beautiful area to enjoy. The flow of a house is very important to us and this property has spacious open plan living with a natural flow to the pool and outdoor dining area. We spend a lot of time dining outdoors so to have this incredible private outdoor dining area overlooking beautiful gardens was like, “Oh my God!”
Carol – One always needs to make a compromise, but buying a house is like falling in love, you just know!
Q – In what ways did your experience with Mario make a difference to your buying experience?
Carol – We found that Mario carefully listened to our brief and by doing so was able to get a good understanding of what we were looking for. He was then able to apply his local knowledge and research the market place to find genuine options.
Alex – He is also a great communicator and was in regular contact with us, our lawyer and the sellers ensuring everyone involved was up to speed. Buying a home can be a stressful process, but he has the ability to put you at ease knowing that things are being taken care of.
Q – How did Mario’s guidance support you with buying a property?
Carol –Searching for a property can be overwhelming. We struggle to understand pricing in this market, there is no transparency and the advice is inconsistent. Saying that, we felt that Mario was able to apply his local knowledge and leverage his contacts to source a range of properties in line with what we were looking for.
There is also a limited supply of properties available for sale and we felt that his approach to sourcing properties saved us a lot of time and stress, and increased the likelihood of finding a home.
Life in the Algarve:
Q -What aspects of life in the Algarve do you enjoy the most?
Alex – The culture, food and climate are what stands out to us and our family.
Carol – The people are friendly and hospitable, the food is fresh and of the highest quality and the climate is sunny with all year round moderate temperatures.
Q – How has living in the Algarve impacted your lifestyle and well-being?
Alex – A lot of people say that if you have a house abroad you don’t travel elsewhere, but the flip side is when you arrive at your home you switch off and relax the minute you arrive.
This then allows you to do the things you love, whether it’s a walk on the beach, a meal at a restaurant or simply discovering new things we haven’t experienced before. Owning a property in the Algarve has definitely been a healthy addition to our lives!
Q – Could you share some highlights or memorable experiences from your time living in Portugal?
Carol – We have so many memorable experiences that we don’t know where to start, but we have made it an annual family day to head over to No Solo Agua in Portimao. We all book massages, enjoy a long lazy lunch overlooking the ocean and then dance into the sunset with our feet in the sand. It’s a day we all love and a highlight for all the family to enjoy!
Carol and Alex burst into laughter remembering that it was at this annual event that Alex would find and place a Buddha in the centre of their dining table at No Solo Agua. The Buddha being a sign that a serious family discussion was about to take place. It was at this moment, that they would tell the children their home was being sold. At first the children were devastated with the news, but as soon as they were reassured that Mom and Dad would be buying another property relief was restored and the family were able to continue their enjoyable day out!
Q – Are there any particular aspects of Portuguese culture or lifestyle that have significantly influenced your perspective or enriched your life during this phase of your lives?
Carol – Life in the UK is relentless. The negative media dominates our televisions so to be able to come to the Algarve allows us to switch off, enjoy this haven and change the pace of life.
Alex – Portuguese people have always stood out to us for their kindness, they have always made us feel welcome and are happy to share their food, culture in an authentic way
Working With Mario Sardo
Q – Your testimonial mentioned the transition from client to friend with Mario. Can you elaborate on how this relationship evolved over time?
Carol cheekily says with a smile on her face, “He’s alright, he’s alright!”
Carol – the older one gets the less open you become to making new friends and expanding your friendship circle, but Mario and Sofia are our young and cool friends. We formed a great connection with Mario while working with him and once we met Sofia the relationship grew into a friendship. Sofia and I share a love for interior design, the arts and of course, a little shopping!
Alex – With some people you feel a certain warmth and your inner voice says that yes, he’s part of my tribe. Mario lives his life according to a great set of values and desires to be a genuine, warm and caring father to his two daughters and I see myself in him.
Q – You’ve recommended Mario to others looking to buy in the Algarve. What do you tell them about your experience?
Alex – Buying a property in the Algarve is not as easy as it may seem, but we found dealing with Mario a breath of fresh air. He had a genuine desire to understand our needs.
Unlike estate agents, he does not not list properties for sale and was therefore not trying to sell us a property on his portfolio. Instead he persevered and sourced a selection of properties in line with what we were looking for. He then negotiated a great price and was regularly in contact, keeping us updated on the legal process.
Carol – As a buyer, it was great to have a specialist like Mario looking after our best interests!
Q – What advice would you give to someone considering purchasing property in the Algarve?
Carol – Use a buying agent like Mario Sardo! It’s important for buyers to be patient, open minded and decide what’s best for them and their family. Do you want to be on-resort close to the beach and amenities or are you willing to look in neighbouring areas where you can get more value for money?
A list of the top 5 priorities works well for them, but Alex and Carol agree that one of the key factors is, be prepared to comprise.
Carol – Things are always changing and evolving in life so be open minded and be willing to compromise because what you see as a non-negotiable now will be of less importance a year or two down the line.
Q – Are there any projects or plans you’re excited about in your new home?
Carol – [laughing] because of the type of people we are, we blitzed it when the bought the property so there isn’t that much left to do! However, saying that I love the garden. This has developed into a new life passion has really allowed m to be more interested in gardening both in Portugal and at their home in Glasgow.
I’m not a fan of laying in the sun for hours on end so to be in the garden surrounded by nature, enjoying watching the fish swim in the pond while listening to music is therapeutic and something that I find fulfilling.
Alex – We also love art and there is a developing art scene in the region so we often head up to some of the galleries in Loulé or find some new ones along the Algarve. We are not sentimental about our possessions so buying and selling art is something we enjoy and through this we are often tweaking and improving the interiors of our home.
Q – Looking ahead, how do you see your life in the Algarve evolving?
Alex – It has already evolved, we have come to the conclusion that we are not going to live here all year round, but will spend 5 – 6 months of the year in the Algarve. We also have a great life and network of friends in Glasgow and love being there.
The kids come backwards and forwards to the Algarve and that’s great. Jodie recently enjoyed a long weekend with a friend and we get a lot of satisfaction knowing that the property is being used and enjoyed by all the family.
Carol – In life, we never know what is around the corner so we take a view on enjoying today and should our circumstances change in the future this property and Portugal have been very good to us and our loved ones.
