A Bowl Of Cherries!!!
Whoever said “Life is not a bowl of cherries” was spot on – I know it's not! Don’t ask me how I know ‘cos I’m sure that at some time or another you’ve ALL been feeling like I’m feeling now!
While many things in life are super these days – and yesterday my new ‘Free to Air’ box arrived with my new TV (28” no less) and my DVD recorder! So I’m all set now to watch ALL the English programmes I want (except Channel 4). I still can’t believe it…last night I watched A Question of Sport (love it!) and then Coronation Street. Just think - I never watched that back in the UK. But at the moment I’d even watch a programme on paint drying if it was on BBC or ITV. Anything will do!
Don’t get me wrong though, this does NOT mean I’m unhappy living here in Italy. Nothing could be farther from the truth…. BUT for those of you who have suffered (like me) years of Italian TV that - with a few exceptions - is positively ‘dire’, the chance to watch some good dramas, documentaries, sports that don’t ‘cost an arm and a leg’ to watch (like tennis, cricket and athletics), this winter will now be a little less long and lonely.
Being lonely was something that had almost disappeared from my daily life as I have, for over a year now, been enjoying the ‘camaraderie’ on Expats in Italy, but recently it seems to have changed and become less ‘my cup of tea’. I’m sure some of the fault lies with what many say is my ‘feisty’ approach to some arguments. But I have always tried to promote a balanced view on matters that are pertinent to the forums. A persons ‘personal and intimate life’ should not – I think – impinge on how a site is run or how people are treated on that site. What I’m saying is that if I don’t agree (in private) with something that someone says or does in their private life ‘away from the board’, I find it very difficult and hurtful to accept that because I didn’t see the problem from the same point of view, I am sidelined, ignored and to all intents and purposes no longer made welcome by some. The increasing ‘coldness’ that I feel from those that were – or so I thought - my new friends is difficult to describe…..but I really don’t want to continue in this way – life is too short to be unhappy. So I’ll now have to learn to ‘bite my tongue’ and just be content with being a guest.
So from today I’ll just be a spectator ‘over there’ – I’ve got a quarter share as an owner on another board (“Amici over the Ocean”) which gives me considerable satisfaction and lots of laughs. I’ve now got British TV. I’ve got the ‘mutt’ to keep me company. Health wise things are good.
AND - I could (hahaha) still, with a bit of luck, win the lottery!!!!
So that ‘Bowl of Cherries’ isn’t ALL bad after all!!!
While many things in life are super these days – and yesterday my new ‘Free to Air’ box arrived with my new TV (28” no less) and my DVD recorder! So I’m all set now to watch ALL the English programmes I want (except Channel 4). I still can’t believe it…last night I watched A Question of Sport (love it!) and then Coronation Street. Just think - I never watched that back in the UK. But at the moment I’d even watch a programme on paint drying if it was on BBC or ITV. Anything will do!
Don’t get me wrong though, this does NOT mean I’m unhappy living here in Italy. Nothing could be farther from the truth…. BUT for those of you who have suffered (like me) years of Italian TV that - with a few exceptions - is positively ‘dire’, the chance to watch some good dramas, documentaries, sports that don’t ‘cost an arm and a leg’ to watch (like tennis, cricket and athletics), this winter will now be a little less long and lonely.
Being lonely was something that had almost disappeared from my daily life as I have, for over a year now, been enjoying the ‘camaraderie’ on Expats in Italy, but recently it seems to have changed and become less ‘my cup of tea’. I’m sure some of the fault lies with what many say is my ‘feisty’ approach to some arguments. But I have always tried to promote a balanced view on matters that are pertinent to the forums. A persons ‘personal and intimate life’ should not – I think – impinge on how a site is run or how people are treated on that site. What I’m saying is that if I don’t agree (in private) with something that someone says or does in their private life ‘away from the board’, I find it very difficult and hurtful to accept that because I didn’t see the problem from the same point of view, I am sidelined, ignored and to all intents and purposes no longer made welcome by some. The increasing ‘coldness’ that I feel from those that were – or so I thought - my new friends is difficult to describe…..but I really don’t want to continue in this way – life is too short to be unhappy. So I’ll now have to learn to ‘bite my tongue’ and just be content with being a guest.
So from today I’ll just be a spectator ‘over there’ – I’ve got a quarter share as an owner on another board (“Amici over the Ocean”) which gives me considerable satisfaction and lots of laughs. I’ve now got British TV. I’ve got the ‘mutt’ to keep me company. Health wise things are good.
AND - I could (hahaha) still, with a bit of luck, win the lottery!!!!
So that ‘Bowl of Cherries’ isn’t ALL bad after all!!!
posted by Carole B at
11:44 AM
7 Comments:
Carole, You have been the life and soul of the forum for a long time, don't quit now. Your posts make lots of us laugh and I for one think it will be a duller place if you dissapear. Keep posting.
Carole, please listen to Yael and me. The forum without you is a duller, empty place. I love your spirit and nutty sense of humour (almost as nutty as my own). Without character, personality, humour what good will the site be? I don't know what happened that made you feel this way, but email me about it- please don't leave all of us who love you feeling loneyy. Bill (pastasugo@gmail.com)
Carole, Please think this over. I really enjoyed your humor and insight. Although, I have to admidt I didn't always get the some of the (British) humor. There is something in the air recently, in New England we have a Full Moon, and I don't know why friends are fighting so much. I hope that you start feeling better before the long winter sets in. How is the new house coming? Best regards, Gil
Carole I can only second (or third) Yael, Bill, and Gil when I say that the site is just not the same without your wacky, OUT THERE (as we say in the U.S. of A.!) humour and above all humanity. We all know that there are many different levels and elements that make up Expats - I think I can probably say quite safely that none of us are comfortable all the time or in all of the threads. I, for one, already miss you......
Thank you all for your kind thoughts.... I have a great deal of respect for you all. But I shall just browse 'over there' in future and will no longer 'post'.
I have come to terms with that now and am comfortable and able to accept my decision!
Carole! I noticed you were missing, but your blog feed is also not coming in on bloglines, so I thought you were busy or traveling!
You cannot leave. I think I would have to leave if you left.
I have been a bit oblivious, I admit. I didn't know who Carlo was or what he'd said, I missed the whole man boobs thing. And then there were a few strong words for me in email, but overall, no matter what any individual is, does or says, there's a community there and you are an important part of that.
I've spent a good bit of time lately formulating polite ways to say "Without this loyal core, there is no site."
If we understood the problem, any one of us would fight back with you. I couldn't care less if you are at peace with this decision, I am not at peace with it. And it is all about me, right?
Besides where else will you know someone who licks her man in public?
The Umbri-american
I won't beg, because it's just not my style.
However, it's not fair to (albeit in other words) say "I want you to know that I am very angry with you, but I won't say why because you should know already". We don't know, and how could we make amends if we don't know?
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