Siena

Of to Siena today for the weekend, so far we have travelled to Ravello, Ferrara, Arezzo. We have booked to go to Santa Margarita over the summer holidays and Milano Maritma, so the adventures continue.
I was told you just can't get a caffe latte in Italy, and they may well be right, l fortunetly began adjusting myself to macchiato well before coming over, now l proudly walk into one of my regular bars and Guissepi  knows straight away what l am having, it's a CHEERS moment. I have toyed with the idea of getting a coffee machine for those horribly cold days, but l now believe the point of a caffe here is to be there, to stand at the counter and order a brioche as well, it is the act of being rather than having.
For those who may remember, l have been sporting Hard Yakka for the last 4 years, well l do have a couple of shirts and pants over here, but purely for painting, l have began to chameleon myself with the look!!!
I went shopping a while ago, and found myself in a shop being fitted out by a modern day Mr Humphries, who did a terrific job on me, l never realized how important it was to accessorize and coordinate. The way that man tugged and pulled, flicked and flapped at me in my new cloths, reminded me later of Mr Humphries fitting a man with a suit that did not fit him, in my case it does!!! I left a happy person, and indeed walk with a new gait and an air of confidence, and have a new friend, who always waves and smiles as l walk by ( l know what you are all thinking) and like a car service l may drop in on the odd occasion to get a flick and pull me into line.
On the other side of the street, all tradesman are the same over the world, l visited a friend a few weeks ago, who was getting SKY connected, and was confronted with the sight of a trady bending over with a crack you could park your bike in.

mitchello

View over Siena

 

Jayne in hotel room , Siena

Dark and mysterious lane, Siena

Where has the time gone?

Well we have been in Bologna for two months now. we have now found an apartment to move into full time, in Santo Stefano Piazza, and l have got a studio in Piazza Del Celestini. I began work on pictures a few days ago and feel much better, l have great views and light, and a wonderful cafe below as well as a string quartet performing in the piazza this week, and today a harpist.
Last night we had an international food night at the boys school, food was made from various parents, with delights from Vietnam, China, Japan, Columbia, Argentina, France, Holland, Austria, United States, Finland, Sri Lanka, Mexico, Spain , Italy and of course Australia/ New Zealand. Out table made fairy bread, sausage rolls, pavlova, anzac cookies, and fruit and marsh mellow on skewers. The sausage rolls came 3rd in the favourite food award, which was a great honour for Rachel and myself who did the food. I should say that Jayne was unavailable as she was touring around Rome on a garden tour. Hunter as usual wanted to spend way too much money to win  the guess how many marbles where in the jar, he did not, but won a lovely game for a 6 year old girl.
Dad arrived last week, and spent a few days here, then went down to meet mum and Jayne on the tour. Jayne has said that she has seen the best gardens ever.
It has been rather hot lately, 30 degrees, but the humidity is what makes it so hot, summer l am told goes to 40 degrees, thank god we have air conditioning in the new apartment, much as l think it is a evil device it has its good side!
Where we are staying at the moment requires us to catch the bus 13 into the city to walk 10 minutes to school, the bus's are not air conditioned and always rather crowded, though people always want to give a seat to the boys, we have found the 96 bus less crowded, and seems to be cooled, but does not run as often, but we now work our routine around the 96. Bus tickets cost 1.50 euro for an hour, which l think is rather high, no child discount, but it seems that very few people pay for tickets, basically there are no conductors, the odd inspector, and machines on the bus that take coins or you can use a pre bought ticket. I don't know how this bus company survives, and l must admit we have done everything to help it fail, god knows what we would all do without the bus's mind you.
On that we all get bikes in a few weeks , when we move into our new apartment, and that is a very popular way around town.
The boys and l are playing a bit of footy in the park, but will get into soccer when the weather cools down, these holidays coming up are going to be the test, as it gets bloody hot, we have booked to go to a couple of places near water, and have got the boys in summer camp (soccer, swimming, frisbee, table tennis, acting, basketball, wood work etc) it sounds to good to be true, and a steal of a price, l wish l could do it.
Saw and heard something that grabbed my attention last week, a nun walking along with two people (sounds like a bad joke) and as they part she says ciao, l just never put a nun and the word ciao together, in melbourne people who say ciao are not nuns ( thats all l'll say on the matter) anyway that is Italy, nuns have every reason in the world to say hello or goodbye, just shows l am still very much a stranger.
Another incident , went to our local market to get some treats from the deli, l waited behind a women for 15-20 minutes who spent 20 euro, and had a lovely conversation with the shop keeper, neither seemed concerned that there were 3 people waiting, l then spent 15 minutes getting a few things , mainly because he wrapped everything so well, and put things away, cleaned his board and then worked on my next request.
So there we have it Italy is wonderful, a shop keeper is not concerned to only get 45 euro in over half an hour, when he could have maybe double or tripple that, working like a market owner at South Melbourne, but the presentation, and quality is remarkable, and l do love the lack on concern with time, sometimes!!!!
Comment of the week goes to Hunter, when he found out that the proceeds of the international food night were going to the Japanese international school, he said why should they get it, they kill whales!
Ewan has been a dream, and is as beautiful as ever, and always concerned out for everybody.

ciao, the blessed Mitchello

Jayne, Ewan, Hunter, Mum, Piazza Maggiore, Bologna

 

Mum and Jayne on garden tour

 

Mr Cool, with 5 euro reflectors