A photo, an update and a competition with a prize
Well, the World Cup looms ever closer and, like many people, I can’t wait for things to get going. Putting aside doubts and objections about chaotic organising efforts and public spending, I love international football and the thought of having the best players in the world playing for their countries in my own back yard – well that’s pretty awesome.
I’m also looking forward to the start of the tournament because I’ll finally be able to break away from my laptop and enjoy a little free time in Rio. It’s not easy to blog when you hardly leave the house and that’s part of the reason I haven’t been posting so much recently.
Today I’ve got a bit of a mish-mash for you. Firstly, check out that nice butterfly I saw this morning. It landed in a patch of sunshine on my jasmine plant and stayed there just long enough for me to get a photo.
Secondly, in the not too distant future, I’m going to be running a competition as part of my role as the Skype Food Ambassador. Up until now, the only ‘competitions’ I’ve run on this site have been the kind where the winner receives nothing more than the inner glow of pride at being number one. This time it will be different – there will an actual prize. A proper prize, picked out by me, that you would actually want to win. I’ll be giving you more details in the very near future.
OK, I’d better wrap things up. Having complained that I never leave the house anymore, I confess that I’m actually heading out on a rather exciting mission. I’m interviewing a proper, real life French chef of very high standing. I’m taking my camera and a page full of questions, so you should hear all about it next week.
I’ll leave you with another shot in the category ‘wildlife spotted from the window’ – a couple of Black Vultures cavorting outside Eat Rio HQ. Have a great weekend!
On the subject of competing for honor points and inner glow do you have any picks regarding the World Cup? I think Spain is still the best squad on the planet (even after the beating they received from Brazil last year). I see Croacia as an underdog that may advance much further than expected. Brazil will probably do well if they don’t run into France (what is the deal with Brazil constantly choking against France mon dieu). On the anglosphere front I can’t believe Donovan was excluded from the American team, but I think Shakespeare’s language will be very well represented by, well, you know: the Australians (and he exits with a smirk).
Australia?!
Ahem, moving swiftly on, much as it pains me to say it, I have a hunch Germany could do it again, though of the A-listers I’ll be rooting for England and Brazil :)
For purely political reasons, I hope Brazil wins it all. So many Brazilians as so upset and angry with the world cup related government spending. My thought is at least if Brazil wins the cup many of those people will take some consolation from it. Imagine how Brazil woud leap forward socioeconomically, if the elected leaders would get as motivated to improve the public education and transportation infrastructures, as they obviously have been to improve the futebol infrastructure.
Yeah, good call Carlos – if England don’t win it (I guess I have to accept that is a possibility ;) ), then my preference would for Brazil to recoup something from all that money spent.
Carlos,
Can you imagine though If England does win, and decides to take advantage of the momentum of their victory to implement an export marketing strategy in order to sell all things England. In the end Brazil may end up with the bill (bad enough) and also with a marmite tolerant culture (In this case just please pass the cyanide).
Pass the champagne more like! Or maybe that should be pass the Newcastle Brown Ale… ;)
Is the aim of the competition to guess the French chef?
Is it Claude Troisgros?
What do I win?
Ha ha! That isn’t the competition and even if it were, I’m afraid you’d be wrong :D Having met the chef last Friday, I’m going to delay giving out any more details until the week after next when I will actually have eaten in his restaurant.
The powers that be at Skype have told me that the competition won’t start until next week, so more details to follow.
p.s. love the new moniker ;)