Pink for breast cancer

The statue of Christ, the Redeemer, on top of Corcovado Mountain, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil is for sure one of the best-known postcards of the world.

This week a campaign to raise awareness for breast cancer prevention changed the statue's lighting from white to pink.

Original idea, beautiful result. In a city already spoiled for choice.

Still on South Africa

"A Terror threat to the ruling party" was the brilliant title of the excellent article I read in the Economist about the probable split in SA's ANC.

It describes the rift in the party between (former President) Mbeki and (future President) Zuma supporter's, which caused the fall of Tabo a few weeks ago.

The "Terror" in question would be Mr Mosiuoa Lekota, the former Defense Minister (which resigned after Mbeki's departure and who is his most fervent supporter), and who was so affectionately nicknamed (Terror) for his "once-dazzling skills on a football field."

I simply adore such touches of humour a good journalist can give to a serious article. And SA politics offers plenty of material for talented professionals.

Jokes apart, if this split really happens, it will be excellent news to South African politics. The corrupt, chaotic, unstable political scene is in much need of real opposition.

Otherwise there is no real Democracy in place.

Missing South Africa

Living in Africa, even if for a short period of time, always leaves a mark on someone's life.

My bond to South Africa, South Africans and the city of Johannesburg (amazingly enough) is rock solid and I can't help but missing my old country of residence.

I'm back to reading Mail & Guardian (SA's serious paper) online and focusing on African conflicts in the International press - like the crisis in Congo for instance.

At the same time, I've been getting lots of e-mails lately from SA friends, sharing crime stories and warning of new techniques of breaking into properties, highjacking, killing.

As Patrick said, we were on "borrowed time" in our last months in Jo'burg - as we were some of the only ones of a group of friends who were never touched by crime.

I rather stay on this meager side of SA statistics.

Getting ready for Joaquim

A break for a few pics is always needed to enjoy the moment.

Building Joaquim's cot, the same one used by Antonio nearly 6 years ago, was a joyful moment. Just a simple reminder of what is coming up very soon.

We simply can't wait for his arrival.

Roberto Minczuk

Sabemos bem que todo genio e' temperamental. Imaginava que o maestro Roberto Minczuk, diretor da OSB, nao fosse diferente, em se tratando de um regente extraordinario.

Porem, eu nao esperava que ele fosse uma "prima-dona" daquelas e uma nota no jornal desta manha, me deixou perplexa.

Aparentemente o talentosi'ssimo Roberto e' tambem um tirano. Seus musicos, que se reuniram em assembleia e pediram sua saida em maioria absoluta, reclamam de maus-tratos e condicoes psicologicas insuportaveis para traballhar, desrespeito e regras injustas.

Minczuk deu nova vida `a ja decadente OSB - isso todo mundo sabe. Tive o imenso prazer de assistir `a um concerto logo no comeco desse "casamento" e sai' do teatro em extase com tamanha performance.

Com esse "divorcio" iminente, perdemos todos: no's os cariocas, a OSB, os musicos, o regente.

Uma pena que tamanho talento venha acompanhado de um ego tao inflado.

Leitura imperdivel

Folheando livros na Livraria da Travessa em Ipanema, me deparei com essa joia de livro.

Havia lido um nota sobre seu lancamento e a bonita capa me chamou a atencao enquanto eu enchia linguica esperando a chuva passar.

"Doidas e Santas" e' engracado, humano, inteligente e maravilhosamente bem escrito.

A autora, Martha Medeiros, cronista do Globo e do Zero Hora, e' brilhante. Eu nao a conhecia mas virei leitora assidua e fa de carteirinha.

News

I am now in my 32nd week. Baby Joaquim is such a kicker..

After zillions of unplanned developments, we have rented a lovely, unusual house in Jardim Botanico, Rio's very green, laid-back, village-style neighbourhood at the slopes of magnificent Corcovado Mountain.

Antonio and I moved in yesterday and so far so good. With very little furniture but equipped with fast internet access, cable TV (basic stuff comes first) and a spotless house, we look forward to a lovely future in this place.

Happy but too tired to be more enthusiastic... Check out the bump.

Countdown

I am 8 months pregnant with a baby boy. We'll call him Joaquim.

My pregnancies are not meant for the faint-hearted as they usually include transatlantic moves, medical errors, confusion, splitting the family apart.

As I write my household is crossing the Atlantic Ocean in the MS Elaine and arrival in Rio is due on the 24th October. By then I'll be 32 weeks!

Patrick is commuting between Joburg, London and Rio, while Antonio and I are sharing our lovely - but tiny - apart-hotel in Ipanema. And hopefully he'll get transferred to Brazil or get a new job here very soon.

There is no place like home

We have left South Africa for Brazil 3 months ago in an unplanned, chaotic, emergency move.

Rio is home again and hopefully it will be for quite a while.

Despite missing Joburg, friends, our home and South Africa in general, I can't help but feeling happy and stable in my beloved city.

And Rio will be the main topic of my blog plus a few funny stories of family life in Brazil.

With a critical eye but with a much softer heart - this is home after all - I'll write tales of everyday life in the world's most beautiful and vibrant, but most violent, city.

Enjoy it.