Winter 2013

So winter has come to Bologna, well it has in the date but not the weather. Two years ago it was snowing heavily in late November, and Bologna was white and beautiful, it is now the middle of December, and the last two weeks have been sunny blue skies , and though cold not unpleasant.
Our road is still blocked off, from the fire that burnt the building next to ours in summer, they said it would be clear late November, now today they say it will be on the 22nd of December, we shall see. It has been rather annoying as you have to do a large walk around to get to the shops, and drive through very very tight streets to get around the back way, so we will be rather happy when and if they ever open the street.
The boys have had a busy and challenging term so far with much more homework and tests than they have had in their whole school life, but l must say Hunter has done very well, and as had Ewan in class, though his homework is a struggle. Ewan l think is going through a "stage" and can be rude and nasty which is not him, and he is not the happiest kid in class. We have had an issue with some bulling, which the school has gotten onto, but it seems to continue even in a small way, and this l think has added to his irregular manner.
So a few days to go and the term is over, and the boys will l feel be back to joyous beings, as their cousins arrive for xmas, and they are pretty sure they are getting a play station, which seems to be the centre of the earth to them, along with Minecraft.
We went to Cortina for the weekend, as we have a small apartment for the winter season, in a great position. We got our ski pass's and ski gear, and got in a days skiing before we came home. Jayne and l decided to purchase new ski boots, as we will be doing this again next year, and it can make a big difference with comfortable boots. The boys hire gear was all brand new, which made them happy, Ewan has black  (cool) Head skis and new boots, and Hunter Volkle red skis with new boots. Thankfully the ski jacket and pants we bought them 3 seasons ago still fit, which shows how big they were then!
So we have the entire family ( Jason's, Lisa's and mum and dad) coming to Bologna for xmas, and then on to Cortina for 10 -14 days. 16 all together, which will make it challenging getting a dinner booking, but will be so much fun. The weather on the weekend was perfect, so hopefully it will continue.
On the way home on sunday, about 1 hour in on a 3 hour trip the traffic came to a slow slow crawl for about 30 minutes, finally we came to a point where it began to move, but all l could see was a single car at a time as if a traffic signal was setting them off every 10 seconds, when l got to this point it was 3 men in reflector jackets handing out pamphlets on a union march in Rome that week protesting about the government, and no one seemed too annoyed, l could not believe it. Then 1/2 hour later we have the signs on the autostrade telling us to watch  for fog with only 70 mt sight, and to slow down to 50 km. So the traffic that was doing 130 - 150 km hits the heavy fog and slows to 110 - 130 km ! (thats Italy) And to be fair, it made sense, as l said to Jayne who was yelling at me to slow down, if  l slow down we will be hit by someone doing 110 km. So l stuck to the car in front rear lights and drove at 130 km in heavy heavy fog, trusting him, as he was trusting the car in front. We made it home!