Back 'On the ball'....

These last three weeks have not been the best time I've ever had. It was delightful to have Sergio and his partner here for an, all-be-it, very short stay. One (actually two) bright stars in my firmament. We enjoyed catching up with the news and gossip - even thought Skype is a great way of shrinking distances between friends and loved ones at little or no cost. Thank goodness that phones aren't like this anymore! But calls can never replace sitting across a table and chatting about this, that and the price of fish can it?

Of course there were birthday presents to give - Serge for his BIG 40 and Lynsey for the belated gift for her $%&(£"% th birthday (she said she would shoot me if I revealed her age...hahaha). I gave them both a gold chain and let them choose between two gold charms... one was of a new moon and the other of a sun similar to this one here






...Lyns suggested that as Serge is a night owl with his work, he should have the moon. Seemed like a good idea.

While they were here I got my birthday and this years (all in one) Christmas present too. They bought me - wait for it...it IS exciting; an external hard disc for my computer. It was something I had wanted (not to say needed) as my PC only had 18gig (?) of which 15.5 was used. It was so slow it almost got a parking ticket every time I switched it on (talk about 'snail mail'
- well that was my PC!). But this new gadget/widget/thingamajig has no fewer that 268gig - so that will probably last longer that I will!

But back to the last three weeks - well I had a cold when they arrived and I almost needed a dog licence for the 'bark' I had.... a really hacking cough. Then that turned to catarrh and breathing when one's 'dose is all bugged up' and your coughing - just ain't a whole load of fun.

Climbing the stairs became a real chore when allied to the increasing arthritis too. So all in all I felt pretty sorry for myself.... I wasn't a 'happy bunny' - no way no how!!! Going out was literally limited to a quick dash for a bit of shopping then back in the warm. Couldn't even get my 'flu jab until I was a bit better either.

Things have slowly improved and despite a whole week when heavy rain has just NOT stopped for a minute - where's the nut who said "Well we do need it"? (GRRR), I managed to get to Milan for my annual check-up. That all went reasonably well and I'm 'free' again for another 12 months (phew)! But now I'm so behind with my own schedule that I've really got to get my finger out and re-organise all the jobs I've not been able to do and had to put on hold... As the Italians say "Beh - la vita e cosi!" ("Yeah - life is like that!"!). But all I really feel like is finding one of these

and rocking away 'til the cows come home...


During this forced 'rest time' though I have profited by having Skype and managed to at least have a bit of company each day - very important if you can't get out. Last week I suggested that friend Heather and her OH, John should come to me for Christmas - the reply was "Well maybe next year"... Better than nowt, and something to look forward to I guess. Then two days later they called back and asked if they could come over from 20th December 'til 3rd January'" - can they come over? I ask you... Of course they can. I can't wait. It will be lovely to have people here for both holidays.

So now it's really a case of 'nose to the grind stone' and waiting for the joys of Christmas with some very, very dear friends....

I'm back now.... Sorry to have been so long!

Yes I've been somewhat remiss again (sorrrry) about keeping up with the blog. But I'm going to plead insanity - no no no...I didn't mean THAT! I meant 'inability' (but then again maybe I was right the first time hahahaha). I've just been unable to find a minute to myself this last month. The time has literally flown by. In fact the seemingly 'distant' visit of No.1 Son and Lynsey (his lady) is already here and nearly - but not quite - over.

The research for 'Naughty Nina' is finally producing results - I've at last found where - and when - she died! The latest episode of the 'saga' will be written shortly; I'm still waiting for a copy of her death certificate (God Bless the British Post Office and it's strike....). In addition my partnership genealogy site "Gente di Mare" is growing. The membership is increasing slowly, but the 'visits/views' are very encouraging. In the 4 months since we launched we've had nearly 180,000 views - and October was our record month at over 50K. Then the translation side of my time is slowly growing and will - I'm sure grow even more when my new all singing, all dancing "Alpine Settler Journal" website is completed - this will be hosted by http://www.gentedimaregenealogy.com/index.php
I'm really looking forward to that as it will encompass my various hobbies and pastimes together under one roof. I'm not rushing though - I want the site to be pleasant and welcoming to anyone who pays me the wonderful compliment of spending their own precious time reading about my mundane life and interests..... so while I 'm on that subject let me just say

"Thank you - your company here with me IS appreciated, and it goes a long way to ensuring that terminal loneliness will never find a seat at my table!".

Well it's now Monday morning....
'The visit' is done and dusted and the 'children' (bless 'em) departed yesterday evening. I didn't cry when I said goodbye , well not until their car was out of sight.... I know I often speak to them on Skype , but that is never going to be the same as us sitting down to a meal together or watching a particular programme together. This time I asked them to bring over the DVD of 'The Queen' and it was nice to have some company to watch it with. THAT is one (seemingly silly) thing that I do miss.....being able to comment on a programme/film in English and so stimulate some discussion. I wonder if other expatriates understand what I'm trying to say.

I don't envy Sergio at all this week - he will have got home last night (this morning) about 12.30am, and at 10am today he flies to Amsterdam - returning later in the evening. Then a whole day back in the office, before leaving again - this time for meetings in Washington DC and then New York. All being well he'll get home on Sunday morning... He also told me that he is going to double up business with a bit of pleasure on his first trip to Japan after Christmas. He will take Lynsey with him and visit (between the ever present meetings) Tokyo, Osaka and hopefully Kyoto too. They will be spending New Year over there too. What a wonderful experience that will be - I must confess to a little touch of envy here. I have always wished I could have visited Japan - not modern Japan, but the rural areas where some of the 'old ways' still survive.

I suppose it's a bit like many of us who are now 'living abroad' - many of us have chosen to live an idyllic rural life - away from the rat race we lived in before! No - for me the quiet life of an Alpine Settler still has it's attractions and I don't think that will ever change!