Firstly as l quickly mentioned in the Arezzo report, Nine Leigh visited us from London. Sadly Neigh was getting kicked out of the country, as the customs women said she had travelled too often, even though her visa still had 5 months. Obviously the women had been in the glass box too long, and the instruments and computer radiation had hampered her mind. We are allowing people too illegally enter countries, but they decide to penalize you for traveling too much, go figure. Anyway Nine kindly came via Bologna on her way back to Melbourne, and for her kindness we put her in the back of the car to Arezzo to have Ewan vomit next to her.
Next came Sally Nance and the girls Ava and Claudia, on their world wind tour of Italy, Paris, Hong Kong and England ( not necessarily in that order) They were here for a couple of days and as all our guests noticed was the beauty of Bologna, and the usual request for Spaghetti Bolognese came, but it is different here, they don't use spaghetti and its called ragu, and it tastes better. Sallys italian is brilliant and it was wonderful having them here, as the boys enjoyed having some other kids from Australia to play with.
Now we have Luisa Moscato, who arrived late last night, Jayne went to the train station to pick her up at 4.30pm, but the train was delayed an hour, so she waited, they there was no information about the train on the board, after inquiring with the highly helpful railway staff ( l am of course being very sarcastic ) they told her it had arrived, it of course had not, but they didn't really care as it had come from Munich, and was not their problem. Jayne then came home thinking, Luisa will ring us and she had our address. Her husband then emailed to make sure she had arrived, l emailed back and said no, after a few emails back and forth about what to do, panic started to occur. It was getting dark, and we really did not know if she had caught the train, or the wrong train or been kidnapped by aliens. Jayne went back to the station, and this time found an office that was more helpful and said there was a train arriving soon from Munich via Verona, maybe she is on that one. She was, her train she originally caught was held up in a snow blizzard, and forced to catch a bus, then the bus was held up by an avalanche, finally back on another train and into Bologna 4 hours late, on a 7 hour trip. The question of why she did not have a mobile phone was brought up, apparently we have to ask her husband, Scott who did not think it necessary!
Now some news on the home front, Hunter has taken up to shaving! He came out of the shower much to my surprise with a blood soaked mouth, completely unaware that it had happened when he decided to use Jaynes shaver in the shower, l said what the hell have you done, he said what?, i mentioned the blood, and he calmly said ohhh! He now has two scabs above his lip.
Finally the weather has cooled down, and this makes it much more enjoyable, as l was sweating a bit too much, having to drink litres a day just to replenish.
I have my new bike finally, a six speed white one without the horizontal bar, l wont say a ladies bike as many men of high distinction or manly appearance ride them, and l am told it is the new look all over Europe. I ride it with a very straight back, and my neck scarf, occasionally whistling and saying bonjour, as l feel more french on a bike, this is not helping my Italian though.
I notice that all Italians in Bologna at least, don't seem to care if they are in your way as you walk along, they are all oblivious of anyone else but themselves, l don't think it is rudeness. Young boys don't move for an old lady and men just plow along at prams. but no one seems to care, except me, as it pisses me off. Now l think of it, the amount of young children with broken arms, and in-fact elderly people is due to bumping into people as they walk along.
The other thing someone mentioned to me awhile ago is that Italians would never not pay for their expresso caffe ( you pay when you are leaving, and it costs 1 euro) but you would never leave your bike unlocked for a second. It is the two sided Italian society. Like Italians are known as hot heads and pick a fight over anything, but put them in a army uniform and they disappear. They drive like mad around the little streets, but have a 3 hour lunch.
We finally have a car space, about 5 minutes walk from the house, very smart indeed, you drive up, and someone comes out and parks it away for you, then when you want it, you ring ahead and they get it ready for you. But like all car parking it is expensive, l was able to get him down 130 euros/ month, and he even invited me to his house in the hills around Bologna to paint when l would like. So the friendliness of Bologna continues.
Now l must go and help Hunty join letters for writing homework, he is having problems with the letter f, and l now can hear the tv on and so Ewan has sneaked in and turned on Spongebob , and of course will tell me he has done everything!
Perseus, by Cellini
View down the River Arno
The boys with calzone
Nessun commento:
Posta un commento