Rio 2016

We are enjoying the Rio olympics as much as the London ones in 2012.. Lots of other associated programmes on here too, like that enjoyable trawl through "The Girl From Ipanema" story with lots of Jobim footage - I have had to dig out the CDs, and of course THAT MAN FROM RIO and OSS 117 LOST IN RIO.

The oiled up Tonga athlete Pita Taufatofua was the star of the opening ceremony, and the synchronised diving was as jaw-dropping as ever. Good to see Tom and Dan making the bronze - the Chinese of course will continue to be unstoppable, but we have Tom's solo diving coming up next week, and the fascinating Triathlon too, with those amazing Brownlee brothers. They swim, cycle and then run, run, run ..... Adam Peaty, Chris Mears & Jack Laugher (below) and more amazed and struck gold too. Max Whitlock getting two golds in two hours. Bravo!

We are in awe too of the Brownlee brothers Alistair, 28 and Jonny 26 - first and second again in the Triathlon, in that brutal gruelling Rio heat - just as they were in London 4 years ago (when Jonny got bronze, now its silver). How do they do it? - of course they train and train but still ... Thebrothers shared a touching moment at the end of the race as they collapsed and hugged on the finishing line, after that swim in the choppy Atlantic and then that long cycle race over the hills of Rio.

French rugby ...

More gratuitous almost-nudity? Good to see French rugby player Frederic Michalak still playing for the French team in the recent Rugby World Cup. He is still fit but is only in his early 30s. It is several years though since those "Diex De Stade" calendars and videos when the French team stripped off, tastefully .... here Frederic wears that striking tattoo ... he has since got married and has two children.  He plays for RC Toulon and previously for Toulouse - and still has the tattoo.
Of course the Irish and Italian teams are pretty nifty and fit too ... though its New Zealand v Australia in the Final on Saturday 31.

These poses somehow remind me of Nijinksy and that "L'Apres-Midi D'un Faune" ballet from the Ballet Russes in 1912 ...

Caipirinha time ...

The World Cup marathon is about to start, with the opening ceremony in a few hours. Those Brazilians sure know how to party and put on a show, so expect to be dazzled, even if you are into interested in the footie.

I first had a caipirinha over a decade ago, when it was a rare hip new drink in clubland. Now I am ready to make my own, as have got a bottle of that sugar cane spirit, cachaça , and the necessary limes and golden castor sugar. Cut a lime in segments, and bash in a strong glass to release all the juice and mix with the sugar, then top up with a measure of cachaça and ice. To simplify things I have just got an ice crusher and a cocktail muddler, a little tool ideal for bashing the fruit - otherwise one may have to use the end of a rolling pin!

My pal Jorge in Sao Paulo sends me this recipe for a peach caipirinha and says be sure to use a ripe peach in this tart, refreshing spin on the classic drink. 

Half a very ripe peach / 

3/4 ounce of freshly squeezed juice from 1 to 2 limes /

1 teaspoon sugar / 

2 1/4 ounces cachaca

1/2 a lime cut in 4 wedges. 

Slice peace in quarters and place in cocktail shaker. Add lime, juice and sugar, and muddle well. Add cachaca and lime wedges, fill shaker with ice and shake until very cold, about 15 seconds. Pour into a rocks glass. Well, its a change from Peach Bellini ! 

As a change from the football how about some movies set in Rio and Brasil - lets start with BLACK ORPHEUS which I loved last year, and my old favourite: Belmondo and Francoise Dorleac in THAT MAN FROM RIO, very 1964 - or Jean Dujardin zippy spoof OSS 117 LOST IN RIO.

Alternatively, one could fly down to Rio with Fred and Ginger, or Gary and Ingrid in NOTORIOUS ! 

The Six Nations

and Ireland won! That's the annual Six Nations Rugby Tournament we have here, with England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, France and Italy competing. Yesterday's final between Ireland and France at the Stade de France in Paris was thrilling stuff, but Ireland came through, it was France 20 - Ireland 22, ideal as it was captain Brian O'Driscoll's final match, allowing him to bow out in style.  

Two tries and two conversions from Jonathan Sexton helped the Irish to their second Six Nations win, before being stretchered off after an awkward landing.

The match too was ideal for a Saturday afternoon, with some pleasing colour schemes - those French blues and reds, and the Irish green colours on that vivid green pitch. Sheer perfection. Football just does not have the same effect as seeing a lot of beefy rugby boys giving it their all ... The Italian team looked good too in that blue colour of theirs. 

Sadness too: Spurs (Tottenham Hotspur) did not trash Arsenal in today's match ....

HAPPY ST PATRICK'S DAY !