Christmas in Brazil

In Brazil Christmas is celebrated on the 24th.. well midnight on the 24th.
On the evening of the 24th families tend to have a big meal and then will exchange gifts at midnight. There are fireworks, lots of drinking and the 25th is spent pretty much hungover!

We are each going to cook something for the meal. I wanted to make something traditionally English. I was going to make mince pies but they don't have mincemeat here and I was too lazy to make my own. Then I thought of trifle, but they don't have custard here. Or fresh cream. Or whole milk - only the UHT stuff. So I thought I would make fairy cakes and decorate festively.  However they only seem to sell teeny weeny cake cases for truffles in the super market.

Seriously Brazil!!! Why are you trying to stop me from baking?!

So I opted for a Victoria sponge cake in a ring tin as that was the only cake tin in the house, with butter icing and some festive decoration.

The cake slightly fell apart because of the ring, and then was undercooked, so I had to put it back in the oven. Then the butter icing completely melted and it was pretty much a disaster!

 We spent the Christmas Eve afternoon at a a friend's house by the pool.

 We then headed home to finish cooking dinner and to put the presents around the tree!

 For dinner we had salmon, Turkey, potato salad, tabbouleh and tuna salad.

 After dinner we opened presents. We didn't wait until midnight as Fabio's brother had to drive back to Floripa.

Neuci - Fabio's mum

Fabio with his stocking!

I bought Fabio some gliders but it seemed his Dad was more excited about them!

 Opening a present from Katy and Seb.
It was a union jack bag!

 Fabio was very excited over his water pistol, unfortunately us and the dogs who he kept using it on weren't!

 Charms Fabio bought me!

Feliz Natal!!!

Pool Day!

Wednesday, we spent the day at a friend's apartment, at the pool!

In 39c heat, drinking champagne and eating pastels.

It was such a nice, relaxing lazy day and  I could definitely get used to it!

Fabio, Me, Tiago - my 'brother from another mother', Tiago's Mum

Joinville Weather

Joinville weather is schizophrenic.

The other day is rained really heavily for about 3 hours. As a result downtown was flooded.

 

 Then again yesterday there was more rain and hailstones!!

 

 There was also an amazing lightening storm.



And the weather today... glorious sunshine and 30°C!!! for now anyway!


Well, they do say that Joinville is the 2nd rainiest place in Brazil!!

Brazilian Engagement Traditions

In Brazil when you are dating the couple both have silver bands,worn on the right hand. When you become engaged you have a gold band, again worn on the right hand. When you actually get married you then use the same ring on the left hand.


However both of us prefer silver, I wanted to wear the ring on my left hand being English and Fabio's finger on his right hand was fatter so it alternating to see which he prefers! A mix of both cultures!

He has my name engraved on the inside of his ring and I have his on the inside of my ring!

This article here gives you a bit more of an insight!

In case you hadn't guessed.. we are engaged!!

This week I have mainly just been... going out!

On Thursday I went to Joinville Square Gardens. I went to a formatura there in January. But this time it was as a club. Instead of it being the main hall, it was the (mostly apart from the bits not sheltered by the rain) covered outside.

It was Tiko Groove and some other DJ playing Electronic music. Not normally my type of music but it was fun to get out and people watch. Apparently it is the cool thing to wear sunglasses... at night.. in a club... a dark club!

 

 On Sunday there were some big football games on, so  I went with a group a girls to Madrileño Bar to watch them. It was quite entertaining watching the crowds reaction and then there were two big fights between the teams. The best part was though, as there were 5 of us and being female we were given a bottle of smirnoff vodka! They have a really good system where you leave your name on it and can leave it behind the bar if you don't finish it all.

We then headed to Expresso where they were playing live Pagode.