Wordsley, Stourbridge, England: 9 degrees, sunny, cool, with blue skies and the possibility of rain.
Today is the first day my mother has left home after her surgery, apart from when she went to the doctors to have the surgical staples removed, and for physiotherapy at the hospital.
My mother had booked a minibus service with ‘Ring and Ride’ that can take you anywhere. In our case, it was Sainsbury’s supermarket. They take you there at a pre-arranged time, and you have two hours to do your shopping, have a coffee or tea, and then they will pick you up and take you back home. Obviously, for pensioners or younger people without a car, it is a cheap and convenient form of transport to go locally.
We had a similar arrangement in Brazil 20 or 30 years ago, though in a more informal way. It started with a man offering a service for elderly people who wanted to attend shows, the theatre, and other events. He would sell a package that included tickets, pick them up from their doorstep, take them to the event, and return them home afterwards. Many other drivers and day operators recognised the potential, and it quickly spread across Rio and all the major capital cities of Brazil.
It became so popular that it evolved into a covert, parallel commuter service connecting the slums, suburbs, and favelas of large cities, as well as key commercial and industrial districts.
It reached a point where it threatened traditional bus companies and complicated traffic, especially during peak rush hours. As a result, the local, state, and federal governments stepped in and restricted it. I believe it persists in some areas of certain cities in Brazil, but not on the same scale as before. I also think that the emergence of taxi apps over the last decade or so has contributed to its decline.
So we went to Sainsbury’s, and a lovely lady driver took us. We did the shopping, which is always more than we need, and whilst waiting for the minibus to return, we had a coffee and a sandwich in Starbucks.
I personally dislike Starbucks and food franchise restaurants in general. My mother paid for the shopping; I had offered to pay, but she refused, so I insisted on paying for the coffee and a sandwich. The total came to £15, which I thought was expensive—a feeling I dislike—yet when I saw the message on my mobile phone from my bank informing me that the total would be almost 100 Brazilian Reais, I nearly had a heart attack.
So, what are all the four lessons and observations from this?
- When you pay for food at a franchise restaurant, you are paying two profit margins: one for the franchiser and another for the franchisee. Usually, you end up paying above the market value for food and drinks. And if it is cheap, it is probably of very poor quality.
- Starbucks, to me, is vastly overrated, with steep prices and coffee that is often terribly cold and weak.
- I don’t believe in food franchises, especially in a country like Brazil, where personal service is essential but lacking, and with little quality control and a very weak relationship with its customers.
- The Brazilian Real is worth very little nowadays, both in Brazil and abroad. With terrible exchange rates and a hefty IOF tax every time you make a purchase abroad, Brazil and Brazilians are increasingly drifting away from a truly free trade environment and the global economy. You literally face sky-high prices and heavy taxation in Brazil, and when you are abroad, you’re still affected negatively; it is inhumane.
After the shock of Starbucks, the minivan picked us up and took us home. We experienced a slight delay in picking up another passenger. My mother became a little impatient, wanting to get back home as she was feeling very tired and a little stressed, but everything went well.
For the rest of the day, I taught classes and enjoyed a lovely dinner—mackerel with salad and chips. I was also contemplating which camera to purchase. Now that I have sufficient funds, I would like to make a decision soon so that it can arrive by mid-March or earlier.
Now that I have money to do whatever I want within reason, there are no more excuses. Things are happening, I’m on a roll, and I can’t wait for the right to end too soon.
In bed by 11:00 p.m.
Thank you.
Thanks for reading this blog post. Please explore my other posts and share your thoughts in the comments section.
Richard
