30.07.19 - Mãe coruja

Bien di, as they (apparently) say in Romansh.

Time trudges slowly forward here in Switzerland's kneepit, as our website inches ever closer to completion.  I went for a trek up my neighbourhood mountain at the weekend, which was quite pleasant despite being priced out of a ride in the funicular (I sat in an abandoned ski-lift in a café and used my imagination instead).  And on Sunday rain stopped a food festival which was due to take place in the city streets, so I flopped about a bit for old time's sake.

Otherwise I've booked ma tickets to Erli on Saturday (huzzah!), made a new compilation and discovered an amusing Brazilian term for "helicopter parent", which translates as "mother owl". And that's literally it.

See you soon!

Fred

23.07.19 - Zugzwang

Halllooooooo,

Well here I am in Switzerland, I guess.  It's very pretty and Evian comes out of the taps, but it's also eye-wateringly expensive and I feel like I've already done everything there is to do in my price range here in the first weekend (namely hike around the lake, see the Norman Foster house, ride the escalator down the hill, see the majestic bobsleigh run and watch Netflix (Wifi permitting)).  

It costs a fortune just to be alive, and there is apparently no way out of the valley except back up to Zurich, which is 4 hours away.  On the other hand, there's a huge pool in the basement of my building, and I've just about come to terms with the bus schedule, so there's that.

I've made another compilation, and my phrase of the day is the German word for "a situation found in chess wherein a player is put at a disadvantage because they must make a move when they would prefer to pass and not move".  I feel there's a lesson to be learned there, but if not, it's quite a funny word which reminds me of both "Numberwang" and Guyball.

Speak soon,

Roger Frederer

16.07.19 - Oi sumida

Halloooo,

Off to Switzerland today with a heavy heart, but it has been a rollicking good few weeks back home!  

Football and pub on Thursday, first dance rehearsal on Friday followed by a burger at the Zona Norte's latest swinging hangout, another surprisingly extravagant baby shower on Saturday, and a trip to the Serra on Sunday for nice food and views.  Then we went on a whirlwind tour of pretty much every part of the city delivering wedding invites on Sunday evening, so I've certainly had my fill of SP.

We're in good stead for the wedding season and the app is (touch wood) almost ready to launch, so it's not all doom and gloom.  Really not looking forward to living in a Swiss valley with no luggage for a month though.  Anyway, my phrase of the week ("hey, [one who has gone missing]") is usually used by people looking to hook up with their ex, but I feel it has a certain poignancy in this context. 

Also: come on down, compilation #200!

See you in Zurich,

Fred, White and Blue

09.07.19 - Cebolinha

Halloooo,

Greetings from chilly Brazil, where temperatures have dropped into single figures (!), notably on Saturday night where we went for dinner with friends of Ridaut and Adny in the mountains and literally had to huddle together for warmth over pasta.  

We've focused on hibernating, keeping the cats warm and eating lots of nice food, and have been to a baby shower and first-dance rehearsal, among other wedding-related goings-on. Brazil won the Copa America and their breakout star, Everton, has been nicknamed "Cebolinha" or "Little Onion", for reasons unclear. And I've made a new compilation!

Until next week,

Your Fredly Neighbourhood Spiderman

02.07.19 - Durchzug

Hallooooo,

Great to be back in São Paulo after a Friday night flight and a particularly sweaty week in Berlin.  Although I discovered the expression "durchzug" - or "courant d'air", which the Germans are also apparently averse to, even in the middle of a heatwave - and went to a packed Olympic pool again on Wednesday, so it wasn't all bad.

Since I've been back we've been to several lovely parties, to deliver wedding invites in person and catch up with various folk, and had BBQ for lunch AND dinner on Sunday at Claudio's, which scratched that particular itch.  Gone made a new compilation too, have a listen if you like.  

Speak soon so we can go over our Brazilian plans in detail!

Freddity (is the soul of wit)