Good morning from Vinhedo/São Paulo/Brazil, all my friends and followers of my blog,
in a literal translation of a popular german frase I just feel that “the mouse bites me”, means I really feel the the desire to write a new post right now.
Since weeks, if not since the beginning of this year, we have had very little rain here in the interior of the state of São Paulo, where I live.
The lack of rain has caused a worrying water shortage and here in Vinhedo we have only been getting water from the water company every other day of the week for several weeks.
That is not really dramatic (yet) because all the houses here have their own water tanks, usually holding several cubic metres, and this usually makes it easy to get through a day without fresh water. But if the water shortage continues, it could well happen that we only get water every third day and then things could start to get tight for one or two of us.
This makes me think about how the poor people in the Brazilian “sertão” regions in the interior of the northeastern states of Brazil endure and survive for months, sometimes even years, without rainfall. We really are still doing brilliantly here in the rich southwest of the country with all our more or less bearable restrictions.
And this also confirms the impression I always had when I returned home to Sao Paulo – usually early in the morning – from my business development trips to the various countries of sub-Saharan Africa.
When leaving Guarulhos International Airport and especially when driving on the 6-8 lane “marginal” expressway along the endless skyscraper skyline, I always thought about how good we have it here and how unjustified our constant complaining about the actual shortcomings and deficiencies here actually is. That makes the return home much easier.
Pictures of the “marginal” and the “megalopolis” Sao Paulo
The “mouse is biting me” this morning because during last night finally rain has started falling and now I am sitting in my “home office”, which actually is the small beautiful house in our garden, where we have our barbeque (clearly a must in a brazilian house), our pizza oven, my very beautiful – suspended from the ceiling – bar, full of the finest alcoholic drinks which I have brought along during years from all my worldwide travels and wich I do no longer consume by myself since I – upon purely own desire and decision (“le roy c`est moi”, Luis XV), without any doctors request – since december 18th, 2022 (the day of the soccer worldcup finals), means since meanwhile 1,5 years ago.
My “home office bar”
To be true – my decision was basically due to 2 reasons. First of all as I had started drinking continuously at the sweet age of 12, I came to the conclusion that after more than 50 years of alcohol consumption I had the full right to retire from drinking. And secondly I had become – without any real losses of performance and health yet – fully aware, that my health has become my most valuable asset and that I should be wise enough to take good care of it. These 2 firm convictions had already slowly grown in my head since several years until that memorable sunday, december 18th, 2022.
The last glass of (fine single malt scotch) whisky in my life on sunday, december 18th, 2022, when Argentina just has won the succer world cup fully deserved (viva Messi)
And there`s no doubt – I stick to this decision, maybe because I have always been the only person from whom I accept instructions, at least with regards to my own, private life. Finally I was born a rebel and I firmly pretend to continue as a rebel until the end of my life.
Sitting here now at my “home office bar” I enjoy the light rain falling outside, my beloved deeply black and malty Assam tea with milk, the great & loudly playing beloved “Rock of the 60s” Youtube video channel on the large screen Smart TV on the wall and the general peace of today`s public holiday in São Paulo state because of the 92nd anniversary of the “Constitutionalist Revolution” of 1932, which took place in São Paulo and was an armed uprising against the government of President Getúlio Vargas. Led by São Paulo elites, the revolt opposed the end of state autonomy — enacted in 1930 — and demanded a new Constitution and immediate elections.
July 9, 1932 – The Constitutionalist Revolution in Sao Paulo
Last not least I definitely say thanks to my employer (until August 31st, 2024, 24 hours) VULKAN for letting me enjoy this wonderful “garden leave” period, which allows me perfectly to prepare myself for the active execution of my own entrepreneurial business activities with my own interim management and B2B and B2C consulting services company KFH IM & Consulting Services Ltda/ME (kfhservices.com) from my “Independance Day” sunday, september 1st, 2024, zero clock hour on, which I will – I guess none of You doubts this – celebrate in an adequate manner with my wonderful wife and sons Geywison and Gabriel.
Good enough for today. My to do list ist long still. See You soon here again on ocasion of my next post.
Don`t forget to give me Your feedback, own thoughts, comments, critics etc., please.
