It's just been one of those days today... The weather's been as gloomy as I have. No sunshine - not even accross the valley. Though it does (when it's not in hiding) shine here on my house for three hours (and rising) every day now.

There were two highlights to my day today - how lucky can I get? The first was when the dog decided it would be fun to bugger off on his own when I opened the door. 'Til now he's only gone out on an extending lead. Waste of time calling him - he had become instantly deaf....(how do dogs do that?) Well I wasn't chasing him (hahaha - just the thought curls me up). So I came back in , closed the door, and invited him - under my breath - to 'va a ramengo'.....! Twenty minutes later - scratching at the door - yes he'd returned - and so full of himself you'd have thought he'd just won a gold medal at the Olympics. Well a quick 'clout round the ear' (metaphorically speaking) soon ensured that he returned to reality with a bump. But I got my back on him this afternoon (ha!) 'cos I left him on his own when I went off to the second highlight of the day. I'm sure I can't keep this mad pace of life up. This time it was the 'Circolo dei Anziani' - and today it was to celebrate Carnevale-hooray! How did we celebrate it? We did play Bingo... Hand written bingo cards, and you get a prize if you get two numbers on a line, then a prize if you get five numbers on a line and finally - the 'biggie' a full house. The prizes? Oh yes , 2 numbers - a miniature shampoo from Holiday Inn, 5 numbers-a 100g pannetone from the local biscuit factory. And 'guess who won the 'full house'? Yep...I did! A nice little gift wrapped basket with a Jar of Fig jam, 5 Pocket Coffee's and a 250g packet of Lavazza ground coffee. Then we had some home made 'crostata' (like giant jam tarts) that was truly 'to die for', and a half a plastic cupful of spumante.
But I shouldn't be down in the mouth. At the end of the day, the company was good, we had a laugh when I started telling a few 'ladies' jokes (the men wouldn't lower themselves to come to these meetings - except Don Silvano). I came away after two hours of 'calm' enjoyment and with the promise from another lady (not Mariucia) that in the next couple of days a few nice bits of fresh killed pork will come my way (they killed their pig this morning - it's all very normal conversation for them, but for me? Well....).
I also have a date (?) with three other 'oldies' for a day out in Switzerland in March, so long as I drive! And we're all going to the village restaurant on the 8th for a 'Giorno dell Donna' supper. So despite my low morale earlier, the day hasn't turned out too bad. I know it's not up to what the 'younger ones' consider to be 'OK living' - but as Rhett Butler said -"Personally my dear, I don't give a damn"!

Now I wonder what delights tomorrow holds in store for me and 'his nibs'?

Wanna hear a joke to end with?

"Two Irish road workers in Scotland to help build a new Motorway... Out for a walk in the mountains one Sunday afternoon. They see two guys coming towards them carrying some really superb salmon. "Where did you catch those"? asked Paddy... "Oh it's easy" says Jock. "You just find a bridge, get your mate to hold you over the parapet by the ankles, and when a salmon swims by, you grab it and shout to your mate to pull you up".

Well Paddy was really excited about this and he agreed with Liam that they would try it. It was quite safe as there was a Scotch Mist rolling in, so no one would see them 'poaching'. They found a bridge, and Liam lowered Paddy over the edge... barely two minutes later Paddy yelled "Pull me up - for God's sake, pull me up - quick"!
"Have you got one"? asked Liam.
"No" replied Paddy, "There's a bloody train coming"!!!!!

Bye for now. Back another day!