Journalled on Sunday, 1 March 2026 | Santo Cristo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: 26 degrees, hot, sunny and slightly overcast.

Some Sundays begin quietly, then surprise you with small acts of kindness, familiar streets, good food, and unexpected reminders that life is still moving, even when money is tight, and the future feels uncertain.

It is Sunday, the beginning of March, thank God. I am broke, with no reserves, and my site is currently down and off the air. I feel very alone.

It is also Nalva’s birthday. She invited me to lunch. I was not going to go because I wanted to stay at home and get on with my own things. But after receiving a payment from a pupil, I thought it would be a good idea to buy her an orchid, or some flowers, for her birthday. After all, she is Yasmin’s mother.

I worked until just after midday. Then I had a shower, changed, and walked the five minutes to the VLT tram station near the condominium.

From there, I went to Central do Brasil train station, then took the metro to Flamengo. There, I am in my element. I have lived on and off in Flamengo for more than 20 years, far longer than in any other neighbourhood in Rio.

I bought an orchid at the Zona Sul supermarket and arrived at Nalva’s. She was happy to receive her second orchid of the day. Earlier, I had sent money to Yasmin so she could buy some flowers or an orchid, which she did, as we knew how much her mother loves them.

We talked and caught up on everything. I think even Yasmin was happy to see me. Nalva mentioned that there was a flat to rent next to theirs and that she would speak to the owner tomorrow. It was unexpected and interesting, so let us see where it goes.

Lunch was simple but very pleasant: a joint of perfectly cooked roast beef, rosy pink inside, served with rice, black beans, salad, and potatoes and onions basted in the meat juices from the tray.

In Brazil, it is not common to have gravy as we do in England. Maybe the beans are a kind of gravy, as they are a sort of sauce and are often cooked with meat.

I offered to wash the dishes, but Yasmin said she would do them, which was another nice surprise. Nalva had bought a nut-and-chocolate cake, which was very good: the perfect dessert and a reason for us to sing happy birthday with five candles representing five decades, even though she is 49.

After a short while, I felt it was time to go. It was already almost 4 p.m., so I said my goodbyes, kissed Yasmin on the forehead, gave them both a hug, thanked them for their hospitality, and left.

Forty minutes later, I was back at home, ready to watch some of my favourite YouTube videos. Several of my favourite channels release new videos on Sundays, which makes the day feel even more special and gives me another reason to call it my favourite day of the week.

Sunday mornings are my time, just for me. Well, in theory. The YouTube channels I love, and the fresh videos they often release on Sundays, make the day even better:

Matt Armstrong: A young, tattooed Englishman who specialises in restoring and rebuilding crashed and damaged supercars. He has become a giant, almost a legend, in automotive YouTube. In five years, he has gained more than 6,000,000 subscribers, with each new Sunday video reaching more than 1,000,000 views within 24 hours. Everybody loves him. He is simple, kind, humble, charismatic, positive, happy, and an excellent storyteller.

Sailing Parlay: Colin, a New Zealand marine engineer who is also tattooed, bought a hurricane-damaged catamaran, spent four or five years rebuilding it, and is now sailing it around the world with invited crew and friends.

Gone with the Wynns: A young, modern, married American couple who previously owned a sailboat and have now bought an aluminium trawler in Holland to navigate and circumnavigate the world. They are young, positive, full of energy, and excellent communicators.

Sailing Nahoa: A family with two children sailing the world on a catamaran. What caught my attention most was the relationship between the couple and what they share, which, for me, is very endearing.

There are other channels, of course, but these are the main ones I look forward to every Sunday. If I am lucky, they have released something new. It does not always happen, but when it does, it is great, whether I watch in the morning or later in the day.

If not, I can still watch during the week, knowing something new has been published and is waiting for me. That is a lovely feeling. These channels make my Sundays even more special than they already are, and for that, I am very grateful.