Vol XV09 -SEP ProducedProduced byby thethe BritishBritish && CommonwealthCommonwealth SocietySociety ofof RioRio dede JaneiroJaneiro forfor ththee English-speakingEnglish-speaking CommunityCommunity Museum of Modern Art Photo: Rio CVB/Pedro Gama Rio CVB/Pedro Art Photo: of Modern Museum BCS Brits in Rio history AMERICAN SOCIETY Jazz ST ANDREW SOCIETY Clan Gathering RBL New president InC “Let it Rock” and more: Japeri Golf Film & Book reviews California winery tour IMPRESSO [email protected] From the Editor... GREEN AND PLEASANT LAND JACK WOODALL Driving south from Edinburgh after the farmhouse B&B. They had one double Homecoming Games, on a sunny after- room left, ensuite, for £60. It had a noon last July, we crossed the Borders comfortable bed, kettle with coffee, tea and entered miles upon miles of rolling and biscuits, TV (black-and-white!) and hill country, the Cheviots. Few trees and wonder of wonders, free wireless inter- Ancient houses abound in the city cen- not a house in sight, just fields full of net! Full English breakfast the next tre, including the King’s Manor, a white sheep and black cattle – but morning, pleasant hosts, and our fellow delightfully restored complex of 16th mostly sheep. Who would have guests were a middle-aged couple from century buildings with serene court- believed that there was so much empty Holland, dressed in shorts, heading off yards (Henry VIII slept here!), ancient space in urbanized England? The sun to explore Durham. exteriors and a completely modern shone but the wind was fierce, and interior with comfortable cafeteria and every so often we saw the gigantic, We went on to visit York and take a Common Room open to the public. It’s three-bladed propellers of windmills walk in the sunshine along the battle- now the Department of Archaeology, turning majestically, feeding the nation- ments of the city wall, very well main- Institute of Advanced Architectural al grid. tained, from the 14th century fortified Studies (there’s a paradox) and Centre gate of Monk Bar (free entry), with its for Mediaeval Studies of the University It was Sunday, and south of Hadrian’s Richard III museum, to 11th century of York. Above a doorway is a sculpted Wall we saw a pub advertising a Bootham Bar. There are fine views of Royal coat-of-arms with a reversed N in Carvery, so pulled in. But the carvery the huge York Minster cathedral near the “PENSE” of the motto “Honi Soit had packed up at 6 o’clock, so we set- that section of the wall. Trees and large Qui Mal Y Pense”, carved by a dyslexic tled for hot pork and stuffing on a flowering shrubs abut the wall on the 16th century stonemason. baguette, with salad and crisps on the inside, including a fine copper beech side. Rooms were £45 per person per and a remarkable yellow Buddleia, with The antiquities of York and the green night, so we drove on south. In the pompoms along its flower spikes. countryside made for a very pleasant middle of nowhere we spotted a sign, Outside the wall was a grass-covered summery tour and drive back to with the red rose of quality, marking a moat, freshly mown. London. 2 New Passport What do these changes mean to me? From 28th September 2009 you Arrangements for should send your passport applica- tion by courier or registered post British Nationals in directly to: Brazil The UK Passport Service Centre for the Americas and Caribbean What is happening? British Embassy Passports for British Nationals in 19 Observatory Circle, NW Brazil will be processed and printed Washington, DC 20008 British Consulate in Washington from 28th September United States 2009 The passport team in Washington Why is this happening? aim to process all passport applica- These changes are part of a global ini- tions within 10 working days after plus courier fee (payable in US tiative to streamline the Foreign and receiving the correct documentation Dollars). Commonwealth Office passport oper- and fee. The average courier postage time ation; to reduce administration costs from Brazil to Washington takes while improving security and main- Overall Cost between 3-5 working days. taining a high quality of customer The price of a passport is the same in service. all our overseas posts. The standard To apply, please visit our website at: passport (32 pages) is currently £124, ukinbrazil.fco.gov.uk Swine flu has Brazilian authorities British nationals who might be concerned about the out- break while overseas: just dial 0044 207 928 1010. The call on alert. Embassy launches travel is free of charge. advice page In times like these, the British embassy suggests citizens to register at LOCATE, a service which helps embassy staff With more than 400 deaths caused by swine flu in Brazil, provide efficient assistance in case of an emergency. It's the pandemic infection has the country on alert. In Rio de also worth registering if you're a British resident in Brazil. Janeiro, a number of schools and universities postponed Obviously, it is recommended that you delay travel if you their return to academic activities until mid-August, and feel down with respiratory illness and consult your physi- health authorities are increasingly concerned with meas- cian immediately in case of symptoms like intense fever, ures for prevention and early detection of the new flu. sore throat, muscle aches and lack of appetite. Aiming at the well-being of the British citizens who living British nationals who find themselves quarantined over- in or visiting Brazil, the British Consulate prepared an seas should contact their nearest British Embassy or Advice for Travellers notice, published online and avail- Consulate requesting consular assistance, even if direct able at the Embassy's access to the solicitant may be limited due to quarantine website:(http://ukinbrazil.fco.gov.uk/en/help-for-british- restrictions. nationals/swine-flu). Glauco Paiva The embassy advises British Nationals to seek information Press and Communication Manager about the swine flu from the Brazilian Ministry of Health British Consulate General - Rio de Janeiro and local authorities and to keep checking for updates to E-mail: [email protected] the travel advice on the FCO website. T +55 21 2555 9624 C +55 21 9652 8453 The FCO also has a dedicated phone number for all www.ukinbrazil.fco.gov.uk Wanted: Editor for The Umbrella's Around Rio society page. Must have ear to ground and ability to arrange for good photos. Contact the Editor: [email protected] 3 Almost 50 people attended at the IBEU auditorium venue. corners On 10th September, jazz pianist, teacher and author, Jeff Gardner <www.myspace.com/jeffgardnermusic> will be featured as part of our Speaker Series, offering a special concert at the and more... IBEU Copacabana auditorium. There 4 will be a charitable donation of R$10 per person. BRITISH & We only ask you to let the BCS office know you're coming (tel. 2537-6695 COMMONWEALTH or e-mail [email protected]) so we SOCIETY can arrange the catering. We also ask After the holidays, the BCS resumes you to make a voluntary contribution its programme of activities. on the night, the proceeds of which will be donated to one of the The British Community in Rio de charities that the BCS supports. Janeiro (1807-1867) An illustrated presentation by Dr Christmas Card Competition Sylvia Lenz in 2 parts Part 1: Thursday 3rd September 7pm Jeff Gardner Part 2: Thursday 17th September 7pm Sylvia will present in English. The Get ready for one of AmSoc's best illustrated presentations will take Halloween parties ever. An excellent about 80 minutes each with plenty of way to meet new people is to get time for questions. involved. We welcome you to join either the Halloween or Thanksgiving Sylvia's first presentation will cover committee or Holiday party in the early British community in Rio December. Interested: please email and British visitors to the city. [email protected] The second part will cover British involvement with Rio: We always welcome new volunteers -- - the Rio-Niteroi ferryboats we have a lot of exciting plans through - the Drainage System (Rio was only Open to you, your children and the end of the year. And, of course, we the second city after grandchildren – come on, have a go! always welcome new members of any London to install such a system, after The BCS is looking for some bright nationality. Email us to let us know an outbreak of yellow fever had new designs for a new print run of how we can get you involved. taken its toll on the foreign greetings cards for 2009. Winning community) entries will entitle the artist to 25 free If you wish to become a member, it is - the expansion & modernizing of cards in their design. Please submit best to email: [email protected] the port, then the biggest in South designs as soon as possible, and by 15 or leave a message at our new phone America. September at the latest. Please call number 2125-9132. the office for details. Hope to see you soon at a future event! THE AMERICAN SOCIETY The American Society welcomes the new U.S. Consul General of Rio de ST ANDREW SOCIETY Janeiro, Dennis Hearne. Mr. Hearne is The Gathering 2009 our Honorary President and we will This greatest gathering of the clans do our best to make him feel in over 200 years took place in welcome. Edinburgh on 25th & 26th July. See Niteroi ferry our eye-witness special report on The American Society is going page 11.