29.04.25 - Reclamar de barriga cheia

Halloooo,

Hope all well. I've been under the weather this past week, which has mostly been marked by an ongoing, as-yet unsuccessful attempt to unclog the guest toilet, and getting our ducks in a row house-wise before we sign off on the renovations, etc. My laptop also broke down this morning prompting a trip into the office to see the IT guy, hence the late copy. 

That said, I've made another compilation, and my phrase of the day means "to complain on a full stomach", or to take good times for granted. 

And that's about it so far - speak soon!

You Fredder You Fred

22.04.25 - De cabo a rabo

Hallooooo,

Hope all well and that you made it back OK, after a short but intense trip Brazil-side. Was lovely to see you, and we've been flopping about ever since (watching "Conclave" (2024) on Sunday afternoon, ironically enough). Back to work today, whatever that is. 

I've also got a new compilation up my sleeve, and my phrase of the day comes from the tour we did in Ouro Preto - to do something "de cabo a rabo", or "from start to finish", comes from when Iberian sailors would travel across the Atlantic from "cabo", or "cape", to "rabo", the part of the ship they disembark from upon arrival. 

Speak soon!

Frod x

08.04.25 - Levar uma comida de rabo

Halloooo,

Hope all well, and looking forward to your impending arrival in sunny Brazil (which is suddenly a lot chillier than it's been these past six months, but that's by the by). 

On Friday we went out for a fancy dinner with some of Gabi's psychology acquaintances, then on to Indaiatuba the next day, and back to SP for a friend's house-warming party the next day. 

In between all that I've made another compilation, and my phrase of the day - "levar uma comida de rabo" - means "to have one's bottom chewed", or to be on the receiving end of a particularly harsh telling-off.

See you soooon,

Shrimp-Fred Rice

01.04.25 - Nem com tanta fome ao prato, nem com tanta sede ao pote

Halloooo,

Hope all well, and that Silas had a very merry birthday! Work is unusually hectic so we essentially booked the weekend off to recuperate, but were summoned to a wake first thing on Saturday, then out to a bar in the evening because some acquaintances were in town, followed by plenty of getting our literal house in order on Sunday. 

In other news I've made another compilation, and my phrase of the day translates as "not too hungry to the plate, not too thirsty to the pot [of water]", which seems like an unnecessarily long way of saying "don't do things too hastily" (and is usually shortened to "thirsty to the pot", to refer to over-eager people). 

And that's about it! Speak soon!

Fredge Magnet

25.03.25 - Não é o bicho de sete cabeças

Halloooo,

Hope all well! 

I've just come from a brunch in a central SP cinema, which I was invited to by the UK Embassy as they launched a new campaign for "Visit Britain", based on classic film locations in the UK. One of those weird happenings which life as a microinfluencer throws at you sometimes; I got out with a goody bag and an invite for tea at the Embassy if I'm ever in Brasilia, which is nice. 

Elsewhere we went up into the mountains on Saturday for a birthday party, which was very idyllic and had us contemplating moving up there ourselves until we drove back and realised how far removed it is from everywhere... and then we showed Zila and folks our new flat, while juggling building work quotes and general flat admin. 

I've also made a new compilation, and I was delighted to learn my phrase of the day, which means "it's not the seven-headed beast" (presumably a reference to the Hydra of Greek mythology), and is the Brazilian equivalent of "it's not rocket science".

That's all for now - speak soon!

Seven-Fredded Beast

18.03.25 - Oppe og ikke gråter

Hallooooo,

Hope all well. 

I'm finally over my lurgee and we picked up the keys to our flat on Friday, so we're figuring out how best to do it up at the moment. We also had a birthday party at a fancy bar on Saturday and a baby shower at another, less fancy bar on Sunday, so we're exhausted and back to work now. 

I've made another compilation, and my phrase of the day comes from Norway for a change - when people ask how you're doing there, a common answer is "oppe og ikke gråter", which means "up and not crying!". That's the spirit...

Speak soon,

Frederal Worker

11.03.25 - Quem canta, seus males espanta

Hallooooo,

Hope all well. Unfortunately I am not, I've been struck down with the lurgee which put me out of action all weekend (missing another Carnaval bloco in the process, which Gabi went to with Zila and Luisa) and am currently in the sneezing and spluttering phase, so I shall be brief. 

We did, however, make headway on our April itinerary, plus apparently we can pick up the keys to the house on Friday, which is good because it's been so long since I last visited that I can't remember what it looks like. 

No compilation this week but I have a phrase, one that basically translates to "singing makes all your troubles go away". Please enjoy all phrases equally. 

Speak soon,

Distrito Frederal