Licensed to Adopt!

On the eve of my 50th birthday, our licence to adopt was granted. Those of you who know the ongoing adoption story will understand the significance of this. In the end, we only received the final documentation last week, hence the delay in reporting the news. Anyway, the licence - or habilitacao – is valid for two years and allows us to legally adopt through the Brazilian adoption system. We have now been placed on the list and are no. 67 out of 78(!) Of course there are other ways that things can happen (with the blessing of the authorities), and we may have some more news soon. I’ll keep you posted.

Another Jolly

Naice and I went on another jolly in the Shamrock a couple of weeks ago (pics), and enjoyed a night or two away, sleeping in the boat in the middle of nowhere. There’s nothing quite like it. On our way back, we visited a small island on one of the lakes near Naice’s brother’s house, and have discovered that it (along with a plot of land 1km x 1.3km) is for sale, at R$50,000 (currently about £16k). We are now investigating the possibility of buying it and building our own lodge on it. You know there may be a few things wrong about Brazil, but on the other hand where else could you buy your own island for the price of a hatchback, with views like those in the pics? Anyway, if anyone has £5k - £10k kicking around that they don’t need for a few years, let me know… Incidentally, the pagelayout editing on Blogger is K R A P, and the photos will be all over the place, I know. If anyone can recommend a better home for the blog, let me know.

The pic below shows us collecting ice from the nearest “ice station” (no – not Zebra – you’re showing your age, whoever thought of that). It may not look it, but the system is brilliantly simple and functional. There is also a mechanism for payment involving a clever system of ropes and pulleys. All this for only R$3 for 5 kilos.

Moonshine down on me

I’ve started making my own liqueurs, using the local sugar-cane hooch Cachaca and adding different regional fruit. Done on a very scientific basis (pic), I’m hoping that someday I will achieve worldwide recognition for the product (or if not, that it will at least be drinkable). To the right of the pic is the cheapest 40 proof drink in Brazil - the famous "51", and next to it the rather more refined version, "Sagatiba". 51 can be had for around R$3 a bottle; Sagatiba is approximately 5 times more expensive. In the foreground, Maguire's secret fruit mix...