25.02.20 - O ano só começa após o Carnaval

Halloooo,

It's Carnaval time in Brazil, although rain and (relative) cold seems to have dampened the mood somewhat, and we've been indoors most of the time in any case.  The work-hunt has taken a backseat ("the year only begins after Carnaval", after all) so we've been focusing on our big-picture aims instead.  

That's about it for now - I refer you to my entry on the one-hit-wonders of Carnaval for further reading. Here is this year's effort: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_Pf1BgHS7c. Oh, and I made a new compilation, which kicks off with some Mongolian throat singing.

Speak soon!

The Fredmaster Ritual

18.02.20 - Dá teus pulos

Halloooo,

Hope all well on the radiant Riviera. Work continues afoot and indeed apace here, with a 4:30am curtain call and nary a nap to make up for it later - we've taken the rather radical step of cooking all our meals for the week on Sunday night and meting out leftovers to save time during the working day.

Otherwise we've been out and about, including a trip to São Caetano do Sul for Gaby's cousin's birthday party and a hike down the Braz Leme, Gaby's started a new course, I've been doing my TEFL thing, and Valente has gradually come to terms with Pudim's departure.

I've made another mixtape, and my phrase of the day ("make your jumps") basically means "do whatever you have to do to get [x] done".  To jumping!

Speak soon,

Freds will be Freds

11.02.20 - Amigo seu louco

Halloooo,

All good back here in S-to-the-Pizzle, despite torrential rain bringing the city to a standstill yesterday.  Had an interview on Thursday which was promising but not conclusive, and have been scouting out other opportunities in my spare time.

Elsewhere we've hit the pool on multiple occasions, joined the fray at the footie, gone out for dinner with Jean-Luc on one of his flying visits to town, speed-walked up the Braz Leme's central strip on a Sunday morning, and found an owner for the stray cat Gaby took in and has been living on our balcony for a few weeks, which led to an emotional farewell.

I've made a new mix, and my phrase of the day is an exclamation employed when an acquaintance does something mad or out of character ("my crazy friend!"). 

Ciao for now,

A Fred Knot

04.02.20 - Morri, mas passo bem

Hallooo,

I'm on a bus! Specifically a National Express coach to London Victoria, which will be followed by another coach to Gatwick, then a plane to Lisbon, then a four-hour stopover and an overnight flight back, at long last, to Brazil.  I hope I've packed enough sandwiches and podcasts.

Following a fairly successful round of meetings in that there London on Brexit Eve, and a nice review of a Scandinavian restaurant called SKÅL with Kika, we spent the weekend entertaining Ossian in Cambridge, which involved lots of rollerblading and the first two Star Wars films, which improbably he had never seen before (very exciting times).

Then yesterday morning I pulled the ejector cord on this silly little job and improbably managed to negotiate a 30-day notice period, although I have a feeling that will shorten dramatically once my boss realises I'm going to spending it entirely in Brazil, unless he pays my way back to the UK. But it'll buy me some time to find something else, including possibly this interview on Thursday evening.

Meanwhile - having bid farewell to the grandparents in Isleham, and to Henar over pizza at the Carpenter's Arms, and to Tom by watching "Uncut Gems" together which is the most stressful film I've ever seen - I've made another compilation and my phrase of the day is more of a meme, which means "I died, but I'm fine" - basically, "I've gone through the ringer but it doesn't really matter at this stage". I know the feeling, meme.

Ciao for now, 

Fred Expectations