Our TV interview (here, right link this time) was due to be aired on the midday programme, so we tried to combine getting dolled up for the Queen's Birthday Party with watching out for our 15 seconds of fame. As it happens, it was the last item on the programme and as we didn’t appear very much, it wasn’t too embarrassing. Then we dashed off to the party and were relieved to find we were far from the last to arrive. I was also dead chuffed when I saw copies of the local expats' newsletter on the table - with my photo of a Howler monkey on the cover (here). It’s one of my favourites, taken a year or so ago, and I didn’t know it was going to be published.
 
The festivities started with an amazing presentation by a new pipe band from across the Bay, in Niteroi. All young Brazilians, not a drop of Scottish blood among them, but they looked marvellous, played beautifully and were roundly and justly applauded. The rest of the lunch was fun, at a table with friends and lots more around, some whom we don’t see that often as they live far out. The bar was thrown open at the end and guess who were among the last to leave? But we were in good company – the organizers, some of performers who had sung for us all, plus Luke and his hostess, the chaplain’s wife – who is young, attractive, very intelligent and great fun.  I intended to catch up with blips when we got home, but it didn’t happen – collapsed in front of the box instead.