What's in store for the 65th?

Well that's the birthday 'done and dusted' for another year.... Serge' and Lyns' left for Bergamo Airport this morning at 3.45 am!!!!! Guess who they asked to give them a call? Everything was got ready for their departure last night, so it was just 'get dressed - hugs and goodbye' this morning. I even had to wake the 'mutt' up to see them off.
But I was very good really - I managed to hold back the tears until they had driven away, then I just cuddled Ciccio (who wasn't at all sure what it was all about) and had a good old cry. I still find it hard to see him 'go'.... BUT - if all goes well - they are going to spend Christmas over here with ME!!! Sergio is going to see if he can book us into a hotel for ChristmasEve and Christmas Day + another overnight - with the dog too. I know there are lots of hotels in Italy that DO accept dogs - so he is going to try. What a lovely treat that will be.....

This last year overall has been a mixture of joy and sadness. I have, it seems, lost what had promised to be a good future friendship. One that has soured beyond belief in a matter of less than three months and has arrived now at the point where I feel thatI am little more than a person who is of no practical use anymore...... I've become I guess a 'persona non grata' and for a while that did hurt, but now I've got over that feeling and I see that 'alliance' for just what it was - useful..... So now one of my Birthday Resolutions is to ALWAYS wait - not two days before writing my thoughts down, but to wait at least a week and then think twice before I even bother to open my mouth. I must also learn to take 'instant replies' as nothing more than a writer who does not - or is unable to - reflect on what was actually said but just 'sees red' and reacts. I do so believe that you 'React in haste and repent at leisure'.......

So now it's 'forward once more into the unknown'. I face this new year with some trepidation but also with much excitement.... I wonder what it will hold for me? For sure a visit to the UK to see and stay with many old friends, and going away for Christmas. Lot's of new places to find and explore here in 'my neck of the woods' and maybe just a little further afield. And who knows... as I've managed to finally get the traffic mirror for exiting my drive in safety... maybe Sig. Natale will manage to convince the village maintenance people to finally put the bits of rubber under the manhole cover in the road behind my bedroom wall! (afer all I've only been waiting eleven months!!!!) hahahaha............

All good stuff and all awaited with almost baited breath!