I'M BACK!

Having spent the last few months at my summer retreat in the Cayman Islands, it's sooo droll trying to keep the blog up while lying on the beach supping Cayman Sunsets and fighting off dozens of girls in bikinis, I'm slowly adjusting once again to PoA life.

The first "What the Blazes?!" I find on my return is a zero tolerance drinking and driving law that is being rigorously and enthusiastically enforced by the state's storm troopers who have about 3 Breathalyzers amongst them. Hundreds of people up and down the country have been jailed for the crime of drinking a glass or two of beer or wine to accompany dinner. Now while I cannot condone the consumption of alcohol in vast quantities before taking control of a motor vehicle, I think it's an absurdity to condemn a person as incapable of driving after having consumed ONE glass of beer or wine. It's laughable but even a chocolate liqueur can get you a R$1000 fine and loss of license (it's a year's suspension, then you have to take the test all over again). We even have to be careful about cough medicines.

Anyway, can't argue with the Might and Wisdom of Brazilian Politics, the immediate effect on your humble servant is I've had to curb my Friday and Wednesday Happy Hour at the Shamrock now Happy Hour is spent with a couple of bottled beers at home HARRUMPH!

Ex-pat Welshpersons everywhere should pay a visit to THIS.