Dowd adventures in Bologna: Recent events and thoughts

sabato 15 ottobre 2011

Recent events and thoughts

The latest thing to happen in my world, is l have had to move out of my studio, due to the person l sub-rented through having a disagreement with the owner, so we were given 10 days to move out, which was rather tricky with large thick oil paintings, that were far from dry. Obviously l was pissed, but maybe living in Italy has calmed me a bit, and the fact that the bureaucracy has taught me to be patient (piano, piano)
So a week later, and l may! be moving into a new one just a few minutes from the house, but the owner wanted to meet me first (am sub-renting again from the same guy, you think I'm mad?). He met me today, and the fact that language between us was held to hello, goodbye, l am told it went well. He is going to check out my website, god knows what that will make him think, and his son may ring me, who does speak english. So maybe by monday l will know, and maybe not.
The fact that l put in new lighting 3 weeks ago in the old studio, and had to buy a sink and bench unit for the old studio, is frustrating, but we may well end up getting them back this week, as in Italy everyone brings their own kitchen with them , when they move. These are not remarkable kitchens, often IKEA kitchens, and definitely on the small side.
The new studio , has good light, not great light, but a kitchen (not mine) and a bathroom, heating and wifi. Its only now l realize how good my old studio was, anyway, artists are meant to suffer, maybe this will improve my work!
The boys have been rather painful lately, and Jayne and l have taken to the old threatening no birthday party line, 30 days out. l think they smelt a rat quickly, and have no fear of that it seems now. Still they have had a big change, and school work has become more involved. On the positive side they are doing well in drama, probably due to the play acting they are doing with us regarding the birthday party, and have started calcio (soccer, football). They play a a typical park area, which are found around Bologna, all built l would say in the 70s, needing some restoration. The grounds are mainly dirt, except the main ground, their coach is around 65, 5 foot tall, smokes and yells at them like a russian, he recently had them doing push ups, because some kid was crying and said they upset him, so the whole team was penalized. I like him, he brings a bit of reality to the game. The italian kids are just like the professional players, they fall down alot, crab their ankles, or plead for frees. I am proud to say Ewan got a ball kicked into his balls, and Hunter was pushed over twice, both got up, smiled and got on with it, though Ewans smile may have been a bit forced. What they lack in skill they make up with determination, fitness. They play in their soccer-roo tops, soon with the thermal leggings, as it is starting to get rather nippy.
Jayne is hoping they will join the choir, which is well attended by students, though they miss two lunchtime plays a week, which is a big deal to them.
We finally got our residency, which we were told we were getting 3 months ago, the hold up was that some dickhead had spelt Ewans middle name as Duc, not Doc ( this of course could cause a national intelligence disaster) , they blamed us, we did mention that we felt we would know how to spell our own child's name, did not seem to interest them, so about 150 euro later it is done. We now spend another 20 euro, plus the cost of 3 photos from a photo booth each to get residency cards. On the photo stuff, we also need another 3 photos of the boys to join the calcio club. Who the hell needs so many photos, Berlusconi could solve the Italian debt with the money made from the photo booths, he probably is, its just so expensive with his legal fees.
You also have to have a doctors certificate every-time your child joins anything, luckily we photo copied the one and use that.
Our piazza is again alive and well this weekend, a cake theme prevails, Kitchen Aid has a tent, a cup cake tent, cake demonstrations etc, the place was busy busy busy. Last weekend was the monthly market, which is hugh, we looked at one picture to buy, when we spoke to the women and she gave the sell on it, she asked where we were from, and then said that she bought the picture in Sydney, it was of a Frenchman who worked there for awhile at the beginning of the 1900s, all quite weird, we didn't but it.
Bologna has many african immigrants wandering the streets selling socks, tissues, etc, got to know a few of them, and they are from Liberia, which you should google as it is very interesting place and history. Anyway, they are happy smiling people, so l am happy to give them some money when they ask, the strange thing is l am seeing them a bit too often now, l fear they are now living outside our front door to the palazzo. Like swooping magpies, the boys and l now leave to school with hats on our heads and ride fast.