When I close my eyes, I am no longer able to see you and I no longer remember the sound of your voice. I remember moments that we had together, but not being able to see you image on my head makes me sad. I had a tape that we recorded when I was around P.'s age, which I always kept to play for my own kids, but even that is lost.

Moustaki

In 2008, I went to one of his concerts in Portugal, and even if no longer young, what an amazing singer! Some of his lyrics are among the most beautiful I ever heard/read and usually make me company on long car rides.

After all, Portugal taking steps to be a better country where to live.

Europa League Final (V)

Honestly, I don’t understand FCP supporters. I understand that they are happy with Benfica’s defeat (that way, they are still the 8^th best team on Champions League draw) but why do they spend their time writing and calling radio programs???? Get a life!

Europa League Final (IV)

temos de ir à bruxa!

Europa League Final (III)

à conta do Benfica e de hoje ser dia 15 de Maio, lembrei-me do meu pai, benfiquista como eu. Para ele, este era o "dia dos amigos", sempre pautado por um jantar entre velhos amigos de infância. Imagino como estaria feliz a ver o "seu" Benfica rodeado de velhos amigos, como as rivalidades  seriam colocadas de lado, e todos estariam a torçer por um só clube. E fico com uma saudade imensa...

Europa League final (II)

Even if all odds are against Benfica, and I don’t think they will win, I am not able to focus on work today…I don’t understand those as P. that do not suffer with football…

Europa League final (I)

I am not hopeful or tomorrow night's match, as Chelsea has a better team and better players. But the magic of football is that everything is possible (as last year's Champion's League final showed!)

Even if the result is what I am expecting, Benfica went all the way to the final, and that is already great. But winning would be amazing! I am just sorry that I won't be there, but there is a limit for how much money I pay to see a football match live.

O encerramento das Escravas

A notícia do encerramento do Externato das Escravas caí como uma bomba na nossa família. De repente, aquilo que tinhamos como assegurado, uma escola familiar para a nossa filha, deixou de existir. Embora compreenda a decisão das irmãs, deveria ter sido comunicado aos pais no início do ano lectivo que, se o número de alunos continuasse a diminuir, o colégio iria encerrar.

Desde sexta-feira que damos voltas à cabeça e pensamos em alternativas. Aquele ambiente e aquela  educação não é possível de encontrar noutro colégio ou escola pública. Tivemos de partir para outras opções, com uma perspectiva de longo prazo. Muita pesquisa, muitas contas, muita logística depois, chegamos à nossa “short-list”. Segunda de manhã, de telefone em punho, as respostas negativas sucederam-se.

Felizmente, na nossa segunda opção, uma daquelas em que não acreditávamos, obtivemos uma resposta positiva. Mais do que isso, uma simpatia e compreensão que não esperávamos, e a confiança de que a nossa filha ficará bem entregue.

Uma nova etapa a espera, esperemos que seja tão feliz como nas Escravas, que iremos sempre guardar no nosso coração. Um grande bem haja a todas as irmãs e funcionários do colégio, em especial à irmã Conceição, que tanto carinho deu à nossa filha numa altura muito difícil da sua(nossa) vida.

FCP vs SLB

My expectations for Saturday's match were not high, but after knowing who is the referee, they are even lower. After the disaster of his work on the last season's SLB-FCP, I can only expect the worst. I am sorry, but the guy always makes several mistakes just against one side...

SLB

There is only possible word today - SLB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What a match! I was wrong, and Amsterdam is no more a dream!!!! Now I must find tickets at an affordable cost (EUR 500 is not an option!)

VP press conference

How to have a good laugh at someone else's expenses...VP is probably the only guy that does not think that this year Benfica is, by far, the best team in the national championship. Even if, at the end, Benfica does not win it, they had an amazing season. And I remember controversial referee decisions in several matches, including those of the FCP.

Regarding tonight's match, I am expecting an extremely difficult match. And no, even if I think Benfica has a better team than Fenerbahçe, I am not betting on it to go ahead to the finals. Not scoring in Turkey opened bad perspectives for tonight's match.