Tag: bike

What makes us happy? O que nos faz felizes?

This is something I have asked myself many times in my life. During good times and bad, I’ve wondered what were the sequence of events that got me to that point. What do I need to change, and what do I need to continue doing. Attempting to figure out the things I need to be as happy as possible

Está é uma pergunta que fiz muitas vezes na minha vida. Nos bons e maus momentos. Eu tenho me perguntado quais foram as sequências de eventos que me levaram a essa ponto. O que preciso mudar e o que eu devo continuar fazendo. Tentando descobrir o que eu preciso para ser o mais feliz possível.

It wasn’t until recently, when Tati and I decided to leave our corporate jobs to pursue this new avenue, that some of these answers became abundantly clear.

Só recentemente, quando Tati e eu decidimos deixar nossos trabalhos corporativos para iniciar uma nova jornada, que algumas dessas respostas tornaram-se mais claras.

For me, it comes down to time, and freedom to do as I please, on my schedule, around those that are important to me. It comes down to having time to read more, learn more, pick up new skills and make stuff with my own 2 hands, more time to ride, have time to see or to speak to people as often as possible, and not have to worry about asking my boss for time off, or if it’s okay to leave early. To have time beside Tati and our animals, and time on the farm.

Para mim felicidade tem a ver com tempo, e liberdade para desfrutar com aqueles que são importantes para mim. Tem a ver com ter mais tempo para ler, aprender, desenvolver novas habilidades e construir coisas com as minhas mãos, mais tempo para andar de bike, mais tempo para ver e conversar com as pessoas, e não ter que me preocupar em pedir permissão para um chefe para tirar um dia de folga, ou se está tudo bem em sair um pouco mais cedo. Ter tempo livre ao lado da Tati e nossos animais, e tempo na nossa casa.

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Ride more, be happy.

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Hug more, be happy.

That’s what we all yearn for. More time and freedom. I honestly believe health and happiness go hand in hand with those things.

É tudo que todos nós queremos. Mais tempo e liberdade. Eu honestamente acredito que saúde e felicidade andam de mãos dadas com essas coisas.

It’s taken this resetting of our lives, to allow us to focus on what really makes us happy.

Tem sido necessário recomeçar para nos permitir focar no que realmente importa.

Like everybody else, I consumed needlessly for most of my working life and although there is nothing wrong with that, it was often on stuff I didn’t need. Over time I have learned that I don’t need 10 pairs of shoes, or several colour options of the same t-shirt. I’ve learned how to maintain and look after my bikes properly, and only buy things when I really need to. A lot of that comes down to living here in Brazil, of course. Imported items are heavily taxed and difficult to come by, so you learn to do with out, only then you realise, you didn’t need it anyway.

Assim como todo mundo, por muito tempo eu consumi mais do que realmente precisava e embora não tenha nada de errado nisso, na maior parte do tempo eram coisas que eu não precisava. Com o passar do tempo eu aprendi que não precisava de 10 pares de sapatos, ou a mesma camiseta em tantas cores. Eu aprendi como manter e cuidar das minhas bicicletas, e somente comprar quando era realmente necessário. Muito disso vem de viver aqui no Brasil, claro. Itens importados tem altas taxas de impostos e muita dificuldade em se conseguir, então aprendi viver sem, somente então você percebe que não precisa daquelas coisas.

When I sit down and make forecasts about the items we can produce and the services we can offer, the numbers are not “2 weeks in Barbados in the Winter” sort of numbers. Even if I make unrealistic forecasts, we have to reside ourselves to the fact that we won’t have that much money, for a long time. We will be working all day, every day, by ourselves mostly, just to get by. It’s not a fairy tale. But we’re all right with it, we have a roof, we have this place, we have food and the animals knocking about our feet. We have love, time, our health and our families and friends.

Quando me sento para fazer planos sobre quantos itens podemos produzir ou serviços podemos oferecer, os números não são o tipo de números “2 semanas em Barbados no inverno”. Mesmo se eu fizesse um planejamento irreal, nós temos que nos lembrar de que não teremos muito dinheiro, por um bom tempo. Estaremos trabalhando o dia todo, todos os dias, por nossa conta, somente para conseguir viver. Não é um conto de fadas, mas nós estamos cientes disso. Temos um teto, temos esse lugar, temos comida, e animais ao nosso redor. Temos amor, tempo, nossa saúde e nossos familiares e amigos.

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We aren’t under any illusions, it takes time, blood, sweat and tears to grow a business, just like it does to raise a loaf of bread with natural leaven, or to grow vegetables in the garden. But the beauty is in the middle of that time. There are no unreasonable deadlines, no angry boss, no late nights sat in front of a computer producing drawings for a phantom project. There is time, time to listen to the birds, play with the dogs, take a bike ride, ride the trails, train, laugh, read, study, take a long breakfast and think “when was the last time I wore shoes?”.

Não estamos iludidos, isso leva tempo, suor e lágrimas para fazer nosso negócio crescer, do mesmo jeito que acontece para fazer um pão de fermentação natural, ou plantar vegetais na horta, mas a beleza está no caminho. Não existem prazos de entregas insensatos, ou chefes nervosos, tarde da noite sentado em frente ao computador produzindo desenhos para um projeto fantasma. Há tempo, tempo para ouvir os passarinhos, brincar com os cachorros, andar de bicicleta, andar nas trilhas, treinar, rir, ler, estudar e longos café da manhã e pensar ” quando foi a última vez que usei sapatos?”.

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Our idea is to create something individualistic, a place that is unique, warm and welcoming. A place where we and you can take a step back and just make it a bit simpler for a time being. Our focus is on the simplest things, good baked food, bread recipes as old as time itself, bicycles and coffee. It doesn’t get much simpler.

Nossa ideia é criar algo único, um lugar único e aconchegante. Um lugar onde todos nós possamos tomar um passo atrás e fazer as coisas um pouco mais simples. Nosso foco está nas coisas simples, boa comida, receitas de pão, tão velhos como o tempo. Bicicleta e café.

Life is short, friends and we just get one of ’em. Sacrifice some of the bullshit to get back what’s rightfully yours. Your time.

A vida é curta, amigos. E nós só temos uma. Sacrifique algumas das idiotices para voltar-se ao que é por direito seu. Seu tempo.

The Transformation. From Wasteland to Workshop.

The Farm has been a complete construction site for weeks now, things have been trodden down, destroyed, and some things, rebuilt. We’ve found ways of reusing as much as possible and removed as little as possible, pathways have been created where once was lush flora, and our house is filled with dust, debris and sand.

All of these things have made life difficult, and, as before, the overwhelming feeling of taking on more than we can chew, niggles me in my loins.

But with each passing day, another aspect of our project gets closer to being finished. We’ve come so far, and our amazing builders have worked tirelessly, and meticulously to deliver to us our vision.

Last week, the Oficina, in its structural form, was finished. The new slab and access ramp, made up of old crushed rock from the destroyed walls upstairs, and a 6″ layer of clay, hardpacked, and then concrete screeded on top. The roof has been built and tiled, the door and frame was cleaned, treated and oiled, new locks were fitted and it was varnished, a window was recycled from upstairs to offer light and ventilation, and everything was painted, inside and out.

Although I’m not sure of this buildings original use, I believe it was a stable, the split door indicates that, but whatever it was, it was pretty much good for nothing when we began. Although one of the smaller projects on the farm, it felt like a huge accomplishment getting it to where it is today. See the snaps below to see the transformation.

A workbench is being made in the next coupe of weeks, and a workstand is on order. Electricity and water will be wired/plumbed in the next couple of weeks, too. Then it’s a go.

Now I just need to find a way of making a living out of this…

Before, West Wall.

Before, West Wall.

After. West Wall

After. West Wall

Original Frontage and Door

Original Frontage and Door

New Frontage, with restored door, new locks, and first pass at the handpainted sign.

New Frontage, with restored door, new locks, and first pass at the handpainted sign.

Before - Inside Building

Before – Inside Building

After - Inside Building. Workbench and Rack to come.

After – Inside Building. Workbench and Rack to come.