Oct 2012

Sunny days were spent getting the garden and semi-Ferrule areas under control before the winter and draining off the pool cover on rainy days Mike started the decorating upstairs as it had only been touched up between visitors over the last 6 years. It was nice to have the butterflies and lizards back in abundance. It had been very noticeable that in the summer heat they had been absent for the most part. The weather stayed warm, around 24 during the day dropping to between 6-10 at night until the last week of the month when the temperatures dropped by 13 degrees over night and we lit the wood stove in the kitchen to chase off the morning chill.

We had made the decision, earlier in the year, to stop offering the upstairs apartment to paying guests and utilise the space ourselves but keeping a full bedroom for family and friends, a futon in a second room so it would double up as a bedroom or sitting room, one room was ear-marked for storing the excess furniture we hadn't yet sold off and that couldn't go up into the attic. A small kitchen area would remain to make teas and coffees and then Mike and I could have a hobby room each so we could spread out without having to tidy up each day to use the dining table.

It crossed our minds that “down sizing” wasn't something we'd got a hang of as each move since our marriage, 3 in total, we'd doubled our living area at least and we'd accumulated a LOT of stuff. The next move is going to be an eye opener for us, whenever that is, as we'll have to reduce our living space requirements by half at least. Perhaps we should start thinking about what we can do without as it will take years to sort through and dispose of the unnecessary items. It gives us a feeling of dread just contemplating the idea, but one day we'll wake up inspired to “have a sort out”, hopefully.

With some of the money we raised from selling 2 wardrobes and some bedside cabinets we bought a newer computer, ex-office stock but newer than the one we currently use which must be 12 years old, if not older. We got a 4 year old xp machine refurbished with 1gb ram, 40gb hdd, good graphics card and 6 usb slots, cd reader, and 17” Lcd screen for 90 euros and it goes really well. We're very pleased and Mike can practice flying his RC planes on the simulator over the winter months.

We went on a Day trip to Bologna, using the promotional train tickets for 9 euros per person, city to city, each way, a real bargain. The countryside is very different to here. Higher pointed hills, "v" shaped narrow valleys, although Bologna is totally flat so it must be on an old flood plain or something similar, it sort of reminded us of the journey to North wales via Llandovery way. The city is VERY interesting. The architecture is brick and terracotta, with astonishing 3D faces poking out from under the eves and along walls. The tiles around the windows are wonderful and the city easy to walk around. The arcades are even on the modern building so its possible to walk in the shade and dry almost everywhere.

Disappointedly the 4 ladies representing the 4 oceans weren't squirting water from their nipples on Neptune's fountain but the church of 7 churches was worth the visit, its now a labyrinth of rooms, cloisters and chapels, very very old. We walked for about 5 hours around the center, our choice as there are electric trams and small buses and a tourist bus available, and found a palace with 5 frescoed rooms to view foc, so we piled in and wow, a pity the bank who own the building removed the painting from behind the hidden alter and put it the vault. We saw a book fair and an antiques market (junk).

Every street has at least one church, chemist/perfumery, cafe/bar, restaurant, pizza / McDonalds, fashion shop and a hotel. Where anyone buys food to cook is anyones guess but its a students town and they cater for them. We felt perfectly safe and the atmosphere was quite relaxed.

Now the odd bit. We're standing outside a cut and walk pizza place comparing prices ( 1.60 per large slice or roll against 4 at the places near the station) when a man in a fluorescent jacket turns around and asks if we're English.

Yes we replied, where from?

Wales, I had hoped London he replied.

 Mike said we'll my wife's family come from London.

 Oh where?

West Ealing.

 I knew it - he said- I was sure I knew you. I went to Ealing Broadway college when I was a teen and I knew someone who looks just like you. He says shaking my hand.  He must have been around our age give or take 5 years so I had to say it must have been a cousin as I was studying in Wales not Ealing. He shook Mikes hand apologised for interrupting our day and returned to his college to explain what he'd been doing accosting 2 strangers. We walked on, a bit dazed, and when we thought to return to ask who he was, they'd gone. Now how odd is that?

The city is extremely clean, not a scrap of paper or cigarette but on the floor, the bars and food places shine and the shop owners unfailingly polite and helpful, that's true of almost every Italian town. The traffic is horrific, scooters, bikes and every wheeled type of transport dash between lights as though they were all carrying pizza's that had to be delivered an hour ago but there are plentiful crossing places and everyone uses them or risk life and limb.

The locals have just begun the olive harvest and the clocks have gone back, winter is nigh.

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