29.12.25 - Saco vazio não para em pé

Hallooooo,

Hope all well. Sending this slightly early because we're off to Ilhabela first thing tomorrow, away from the perils of modern technology. 

Christmas was a whirlwind of food and trees and people, followed by several days of intense heat where everyone forgot who they were and what day of the week it was. 

No playlist this time around, and my phrase of the week means "an empty bag doesn't stand up", and is used as an exhortation (by grannies and the like) to eat up and stay strong. 

And that's about it - will call you from the island, dahlings!

Fred Scare

23.12.25 - Então é Natal, e o que você fez?

Halloooo,

Hope all well. We are officially on holiday, with nothing between our ears but the wind. 

On Saturday we went to Aldeia da Serra to see Bruna's parents' Huge Christmas House and take some baby announcement photos, then on Sunday we met up with Taynah and family to look at the big Coca Cola Christmas tree in Parque Villa-Lobos. And I made some passable homemade mince pies, which I'll be scaling up and rolling out over the Christmas period, so let's see what the reaction is...

In other news I've made another compilation, once again split between late-year dregs and weird Christmas songs, and I've released my much-awaited Best Of 2025 playlist too. My phrase of the day is from the Brazilian version of John Lennon's "Merry Xmas (War is Over)", by Simone. 

And that's about it. Have yourselves a very merry Christmas, and speak to you soon!

Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fred

16.12.25 - Nem a pau

Hallooo,

Hope all well. I had a long weekend doing not a lot, although I did manage to make some respectable homemade mincemeat from scratch, and we had our Sherlock end-of-year party on Friday. Now it's a few more days of work, and I'll be home free until the New Year!

In other news, I've made a vaguely Christmassy compilation, and a ROCK mix on YouTube for the boys - check it out here. My phrase of the day means "not even by stick" - i.e. not even if you beat me with a stick, or "absolutely no way". 

And that's about it - speak soon!

Mount Fredverest

09.12.25 - Manda chuva

Halloooo,

Hope all well. We had possibly the last kickabout of the year on Wednesday (plus a pitchside barbeque), tinkered with the flat, and then went to Indaiatuba at the weekend to see the ever-expanding array of Christmas lights and have a pizza. On the way back we stopped off at a kid's birthday party (Corinthians-themed, naturally), before heading back home, social battery depleted. 

No compilation this week as we enter the end-of-year fallow period, and my phrase of the day is "manda-chuva", or "rainmaker", i.e.e someone who calls the shots in a given situation. And that's about it, speak soon!

Wild Frod

02.12.25 - Não venha de garfo e faca, que a janta é sopa

Halloooo,

Hope all well. We've had a relatively slow week as the nation winds down for the Christmas break (starts in late November and picks up again in March, post-Carnaval). On Friday we went to Zila's for lunch and to see Bill off to his new job one state over, then spent most of the weekend sorting out bits and pieces with the flat.

Elsewhere I made a new playlist, set up a new Substack account aimed at Brazil-curious gringos, and my phrase of the day means "don't turn up with a knife and fork, 'cos it's soup for dinner". A fun twist on the usual "don't bring a knife to a gun fight", I guess. And reminds me of Noel Gallagher famously describing Liam as "a man with a fork in a world of soup".

And that's it for this week - speak soon!

Do you remember the Shire, Mr. Freddo?