The Party continues...

Oh Oh ... Don´t do that ... nauthy boy : )

Cool writing with snow spray... not so cool to take it off the next day though...

The Spanish girl and Boyan the Serbian in the house...

Best friends.. A moment of tenderness: Simon and Sam

Boyan and Sim

Boyan and Simon the Reinder..he he

THE PORTUGUESE DREAM IS OVER = (

It's just a game after all, isn't it?

Well I guess my passion for my National team goes a bit behond...

"Portugal the champion of the world cup"..

What a great healine whould that be for all the newspapers in the world....

Would a ball have told the World that we exist,

that althought little,

with a weak economy that strugles to survive within the surrounding big countries,

we have good peolpe,

able of great achivments,

we have quality, we can and we are able to improve...

Will we have to continue our sad path, singing our fado and believing that one day the World will wake up and look at us in a different way?

I WONT MISS IT FOR NOTHING
Semi-final twoMunichWednesday, 5 July
Kick-off: 2000 BST
How to follow the game: Live on BBC One, BBC Radio Five Live & the BBC Sport website

WHERE TO WHATCH THE MATCH IN LONDON

There are many Portuguese restaurants and snack bars in South Lambeth Road London SW8 - like:

Estrela restaurant
Bela Marina
Grelha d'Ouro
or in Wandsworth Road (walking distance) where you will find;
A Toca
O Moinho

In Vauxhall you will find
Pico Bar & Grill" at 74 Albert Embankment SE1 (THIS IS WHERE I ALWAYS GO =))

You can also watch some games in one of the three main football clubs' association in the center of London:

Sporting Clube de Londres - 27 Elkstone Road, W10
Sport London e Benfica Ltd - 988 Harrow Road, NW
F.C. Porto of London - 82 Landor Road, SW9

WHERE I GO TO CELEBRATE

Stockwell and Vauxhall has a thriving Portuguese community with some good bars to watch the football;

Bar Estrela has a great atmosphere and good food 111 - 115 South Lambeth Road, London SW8 1UZ

Vasco Da Gama is a mix between and English pub and a Portuguese bar with a giant screen as well as a TV. They receive Portuguese satellite TV so expect a Portuguese commentary.152 Old South Lambeth Road,

London SW8

Word's? What for?

SOMETIMES SILENCE IS GOLD

PORTUGAL 3 - ENGLAND 1

The things I’ve been forced to hear lately:

“The portuguese team is not good at all, in Euro 2004 you were just lucky because the Euro was in your country or “Your coach is not good if he was he would be serving his country: Brazil” or worst: “ what are you all going to do if Portugal loses on Saturday? Are you all going to cry like Ronaldo did in last game in front of all the World”…
Well, this I must say was the limit.
Although my knowledge in football is not what we can call strong I was still able to answer some little things that correct me if am wrong I think are nothing but truth:

1st - FYI it’s the second Euro in a row that England loses against Portugal

2nd - If our coach is not good, why were you trying to hire him to train England”

3rd - Maybe you will cry too, next Saturday =)

Stuart McLean book tour for the Vinyl Cafe Unplugged
Monday May 22, Ottakar's in Putney Exchange


Stuart McLean, Canadian broadcaster and writer, tells his hilarious tales from the Vinyl Cafe centered around the Vinyl Cafe owner Fave and his family and chronicling their valiant attempts to rise to the challenges of modern life. In these hymns to common foibles and absurdities, nothing ever quite goes according to plan. Stuart's first visit the UK last year was a temendous success and he returns to the UK in May 2006 for a nationwide tour to promot his new book Vinyl Cafe Unplugged.

More about Stuart McLean

The Canadian version of the Portuguese Nuno Markl is in London …. Although 20 years older. The guy is a radio comediant that as recently launched a book: Vinyl Cafe. He's really funny he talks about daily life situations in such a way that can make a stone laugh out laud. Not a difficult task he said, “…All one needs is to be silly but in the right moment”. I had the privilege to be sitting 5 feet from him and to hear him telling 2 of his stories. I was so delighted hearing him and his inspirational tails with such a great humour… that I ended up buying his book and I even found myself in the queue for an autograph.
When I was actually in from of the guy…we had a little conversation in which of course he asked me where am I from…and he looked at me and said: “Run out of ink … sorry no autograph”. Fortunately he was just kidding…
I was really curious to read what he was about to write to me, expecting of course something really substantial.
We shaked hands and as soon as I coud I opened the book where I could read in a blue permanent ink:

For you Sofia,

HAPPY TRAILS,

Well this wasn’t exactly what I was expecting… I mean… 2 words… 2 little words. And the worst… What does this mean? He’s the guy trying to tell me I should go in an Inter-Rail... He’s he sending me back home?
Well none of these. According to my Canadian friends this simple words have a deep meaning… It’s like “good journey throw your life”… And it looks like there’s a very famous Canadian song that talks about this… Happy trails la la la …..

THE ROYAL BALLET - La Fille mal gardée
Ballet in Two Acts Choreography by Frederick Ashton

It was beautiful.... The Royal Opera House in Convent Garden it's amazingly beautiful... the perfect performances and the very witty love comedy... made it definitely worthed to be seen.

I particularly liked the chickens dance... The guys must have first observed very well every single detail of a chicken’s movements.... it was very funny and at the same time perfect ...
Everything was synchronised ... all the steps matched with the orchestra music rhythm.


During the break I noticed that more than one woman that were standing near the entrance to the stalls were trying some dance steps ... that explained a lot to me because I just felt exactly the same... I felt like jumping and dancing ... all way home =)

By the way I did try to dance at home... didn't work very well !!!!


Another note:
PLEASE DON'T TAKE YOUR 4 YEARS OLD CHILD TO THE BALLET...
I love children ..but give me a break .... there's nothing more annoying then having a little child in front of you ...doing funny faces at you ... and asking silly questions in laud voice, to daddy and mummy... and ending up falling asleep in the chair ... this when you are tying to watch the ballet.... My question is: Isn't it babysitting less expensive.




Short Summary

Frederick Ashton's pastoral comedy La Fille mal gardée is one of the most beautifully constructed of all ballets, full of detailed character observation and poetic lyricism suited to its story of young love.
First performed in 1960, it has established itself as one of the most charming works in the Company repertory, and is always a sunny addition to the Season. Although Widow Simone is determined to marry her daughter Lise off to the simple son of a wealthy farmer, Lise has other plans. She is head over heels in love with the poor Colas, and both use every trick they can to outwit the Widow so they can be together.

IS IT ALL ABOUT MONEY?


Money can’t buy health,
But we need money to buy medicine when we or our children are ill.

Money can’t buy friendship,
But with money we can give a big party and join all our friends.

Money can’t buy love,
But men can pay to have a beautiful woman who to make love with.

Money can’t buy happiness,
But if we give money to the one’s in need, we can help them to live happier.

Money can’t buy success in life,
But if you are successful you have plenty of money.

Money can’t buy luck,
But if you have money, you’re very lucky.

Money can’t buy destiny,
But with money your options expand drastically.

Money can’t buy life,
But without money you have to struggle to survive.

Money is not everything, but surely is something

Sofia

Never trust critics - "Secretary"... the worst movie ever....

Last weekend I went to Virgin Mega store in Piccadilly and I’ve spent their almost 2 hours .. diving throw all the DVD’s and CD’s …I completely lost track of time… I wanted to buy a good DVD .. a very good one .. the best one ever made by Human Kind…just couldn't find it...but I knew it should be out there, somewhere in a hiden shelve…

So I kept searching and searching ….

Of course it took me a long time to decide…don’t know yet why but I always had this great talent for having difficulties in choosing between whatever we are talking about:
The other day for instance I went out and I was so between Corona and a glass of red wine ( which may occur to you have much in common) that I kept staring at the bartender for at least 2 minutes…. Which is a lot considering that the bar was crowded and that I wasn’t definitely trying to seduce the guy …. Well as you can see I am very straightforward when the hard task of making choices is concerned.

So…I ended up buying “Secretary” ….. Ok Ok for the one's who might have seen it ….don’t laugh at me…I read the plot ok? And for your knowledge maybe that’s what tricked me. The movie has 7.2 stars out of 10 and was awarded in “Fantasporto” “London Movies festival “ “Canada Festival “ etc… It looked very good to me… =)

I went home …I tried to create the perfect atmosphere: no lights…. popcorns… I stretched my legs and I was ready to see the amazing acquisition……

I prefer to leave all the comments about the movie to your consideration….

At the beginning I must say that I believed somehow that something would happen …at some point that would make the movie… a masterpiece … but instead.. I kept absent minded all the time: 1st thinking that I should stop the DVD player… run outside the house… and before anyone could see just jump in the DVD till it would be triumphantly squeezed…. 2nd I felt an awkward desire to kill the main actress whose voice was so but so irritating that I couldn’t help myself from wanting to break her neck …. 3rd I thought that one day my children may step into it at home… “I need to HIDE IT” - I thought…

While all these thoughts were crossing my mind …. I laughed so much….but so much that I think it might have worthed to have bought that peace of junk….



Plot Summary


Lee Holloway is a smart, quirky woman in her twenties who returns to her hometown in Florida after a brief stay in a mental hospital. In search of relief from herself and her oppressive childhood environment, she starts to date a nerdy friend from high school and takes a job as a secretary in a local law firm, soon developing an obsessive crush on her older boss, Mr. Grey. Through their increasingly bizarre relationship, Lee follows her deepest longings to the heights of masochism and finally to a place of self-affirmation.

Portuguese is a dangerous language
Grrrrrrrr não aguento mais…grrrrrrrr … necessito urgentemente de dizer: arre diaxo... xiça penico, Maria cachucha, c´um caneco. Ahhhhhhh parece que já estou melhor. Pensando bem só mais uma coisita, agora vai uns diminutivozitos, só unszinhos, só mesmo para embalar um bocadito... está bem amiguinhos? E já agora também podia meter aqui pelo meio umas frases feitas... hum, soa bem, sim... também é bem português... mas deixemos isso para segundas núpcias...

Ai... que já lixei tudo...
Eu, que até prometi ao pessoal Inglês que conhece o meu blog que doravante sempre que escrevesse em português faria um artigo com a respectiva tradução... para que possam seguir atentamente o meu blog ... terei de aldrabar bastante no parágrafo anterior. Mas continuando...

Há uns dias atrás e numa tentativa esforçada de introduzir a língua portuguesa a um inglês (cuidado aqui com as interpretações, ok?) vi-me envolvida numa das mais curiosas e obtusas explicações jamais por mim encetadas...

A minha explicação teve inicio com uma breve abordagem histórica...(só para enquadrar o moço)... falei então no Afonso Henriques e na Dona Ulrraca, sua mãe... na batalha de Aljubarrota...etc.
Depois penso que saltei logo para as conquistas... falei dos portugueses enquanto navegadores...do heroísmo do povo... [para impressionar..e também para não fazer adormecer o rapaz... não dava jeito nenhum) ze zee estou a brincar, ok?]...e depois... bem depois dei início à aula de português propriamente dita...
palavras como: obrigado e obrigada... e de nada
E foi logo neste ponto que se engatou tudo... a total sabotagem da minha aula. Alto e pára o baile - disse o bife, ou seja, “I have one question for you: You guys also give sex to objects, right?” Não, não, não...a esta hora estão já os mais incautos a rir..., mas não, ele não perguntou se os portugueses utilizam objectos para se satisfazerem sexualmente... Simplesmente bateu numas das teclas chave das línguas latinas, no calcanhar de Aquiles de qualquer anglo-saxónico: Sim é verdade, os portugueses também atribuem sexo aos objectos.
Ora vejamos, esta mesa, por exemplo, é feminina... já este copo é claramente masculino...Uma árvore é feminina mas é constituída por um tronco que é masculino e por ramos que são também e obviamente masculinos... Não sei deveras qual foi o entendimento que o Londrino teve da questão... só espero que não tenha ficado com a impressão que nós tugas vemos as árvores como uma espécie de seres biológicos transsexuais.

Neste ponto já a cabeça do bife fumegava...”very inquisitive” dizia ele. “Do you have a reasonable explanation for that... at least a rule?” Confesso, nunca revoltei os meus canhenhos, nem tão pouco “googlei” para tentar encontrar uma explicação para este mistério...”Noooop i don´t have a clue, just accept it ok?” Mas o bife não se ficou... e complicou as coisas: “So I supose that if you give a human attribute to objects it means that you consider them a litlle bit humans” Ahh pois, era o que mais faltava, “Not really” disse eu... “why should we?”, acrescentei. “Well I think that is logical that if you give sex to objects and that is a human attribute you should treat them accordingly” disse ele. Como é que é? explica-te lá melhor. “Well for instance, if you have a chair and if it is a new and modern chair you should say something like: This Miss Lady chair”… “and in case you´re talking about a glass an old and unshiny glass you can say ..this is Mr glass….but if the glass is a crystal glass, with class, studies and education you can say: oh give me that Dr. glass…or my highness crystal glass”. O que em português soaria a algo do género: Sr. Dr. Eng.º Arquitecto presidente copo de cristal. Mas não... isso não – respondi eu... - discriminação é mais entre os Humanos.

Kolya ... worths to be seen

I really like to watch movies…. To go to the cinema, to watch it at home, with friends, alone... it doesn’t matter...as long as the movie catches my attention... as long as it takes me to my imaginary World… as long as makes me think and go beyond the scenes. Hummmm maybe I am getting a little bit addicted, no? humm ok, anyway if you have the opportunity see this movie…accept my little suggestion and go ahead.. it’s a mix of laugh and cry… with an extremely good argument and full of little details that make all the difference.

Want to know more ..ok ok ....Here it goes a summary...

Franta Louka is a concert cellist in Soviet-occupied Czechoslovakia, a confirmed bachelor and a lady's man. Having lost his place in the state orchestra, he must make ends meet by playing at funerals and painting tombstones. But he has run up a large debt, and when his friend, the grave-digger Mr. Broz, suggests a scheme for making a lot of money by marrying a Russian woman so that she can get her Czech papers, he reluctantly agrees. She takes advantage of the situation to emigrate to West Germany, to her lover; and leaves her five-year-old son with his grandmother; when the grandmother dies, Kolya must come and live with his stepfather - Louka.

Smile it's Friday

Q: Why do female black widow spiders kill their males after mating?

A: To stop the snoring before it starts.

Life is a piece of shit when we look at it

Why Should I Care

"Was there something more I could have done?
Or was I not meant to be the one?
Where's the life I thought we would share?
And should I care?

And will someone else get more of you?
Will she go to sleep more sure of you?
Will she wake up knowing you're still there?
And why should I care?

There's always one to turn and walk away
And one who just wants to stay
But who said that love is always fair?
And why should I care?

Should I leave you alone here in the dark?
Holding my broken heart
While a promise still hangs in the air
Why should I care?"

Diana Krall

So.... always look on the bright side of life ...

When there's a will there's a way

Oh yes...

From now on it's all in English... i am sorry my portuguese friends.... but... that's the way it's going to be from now on... these doesn't mean of course that i am denying somehow my origins... no worries... sometimes i wish... i really wish i could do that....but i 'll never be able to do such a thing...my portuguese culture and accent are completly incrustated in my basic brains and gess what...that's not about to change!!!

LONDON REVISITED…

Apelando à regra da maximização do tempo útil...e porque o sono me dominava numa luta desigual, vencida adormeci vestida ... e muito direitinha para não amarrotar a fatiota... Táctica milenar foi pois esta a estratégia a seguir para dissimular o que foi uma noite que já era dia... o dia do meu aniversário!! Chegadas as “entidades paternais” ao quarto e tendo já meia pestana aberta e um pé no chão... num tom de perfeita convicção balbuciei: “Já estou pronta” um “já” muito denunciador e claramente a resvalar para a verdade... Lodon is ahead!!! Após percurso atribulado... já na fila do check in ... divagava... “O que seria de mim se o bilhete electrónico fosse tão virtual que não existisse mesmo”... com a mobília toda junto ao guiché estava pois montado o cenário de uma cena de filme se fosse esta a deixa: “Mas minha Sra vá comprar bilhete sim?”...Estaria a competir seriamente para a taça ... ainda assim acho que a cena dos Kolmi aos meus pais às 5 am dá sem dúvida o pódium ao meu irmão... por enquanto!!! Embarquei... obrigada Miguelinho!!! Funcionou!

Candem Town

Marylebone - My Flatmates

Small Ben

My classmates

Portugal - Brasil - China