Today was supposed to be a big day.  Don´t get me wrong, I am not really the marrying type, but today was the day when my partner for six years and me were set to register our marriage at the local notary´s office.  

After six years of complete happiness together and not getting any younger, we thought we would legally register our relationship and celebrate at the end of the year when my family are visiting. Fortunately, there were no disappointed guests, as today was supposed to be just the legal part and I was not jilted at the altar…

Armed with all the relevant documents  and in our best togs we arrived this afternoon at the notary´s office to be told that my birth certificate (although translated from English) was not valid.  Yes, we live in BRAZIL, where there is a new law that officially translated documents are only valid for 90 days and then have to be translated by an officially translator registered in the state all over again. 

We walked away from the office unmarried.

I am too disappointed to post a photo.