The last 2 days have been very ‘normal’, rather mundane but settling too. Yesterday I spent the morning laundromating and shopping. An elderly Italian gentleman appeared while I was trying to organise myself at the laundromat and insisted that he would move my washing from machine to dryer and I could go and do other things. He insisted and short of insulting him I had to accept graciously and off I went envisioning him inspecting my undies. It did give me the opportunity to do a big shop as tomorrow, actually it is now today, (ironically the 25th April) is a holiday here to celebrate the liberation of Italy after WWII. I got back to the laundromat and of course absolutely everything had gone through the dryer at 90 degrees including rubber backed bathmat (it seems to have survived!!).
I then decided to sweep, clean and make the bed etc. After lunch I got the bike out and rode a bit through town…not a very rewarding experience as you try to dodge massive groups of Italian school children of varying ages who hunt in feral packs and couldn’t give a flying fuck about the precarious nature of little old ladies on bicycles, as well as the tourist packs. So you head for the wall…safer but the packs are still there, this time on bikes…around I went for my X 2 circumnavigation, sore bum notwithstanding!! I then had a bit of time out in my lovely reading spot, a beautiful walled garden that is so lovely and so peaceful. But yesterday…you guessed it, a group of Italian school kids descended on my garden. They had a lesson about it’s history and the plants in it and then off they went, saying a cheerful goodbye to the perplexed straniera reading on her kindle…very cheerful and lovely!! The best thing about this day was that, even so far from home, the D’s came home and killed the Tiges….I was enthralled and kept looking up the scores. Heard from Ang a couple of times before half time but there has been an eery silence since!!
Today bore a strange similarity to yesterday except it is Italian Liberation day and the Lucchese were out and about in force. My bar wasn’t open and my No. 2 bar wasn’t open until 11am. Lucky I had a viber chat to Rose to fill in the time in the morning. That is always so ‘connecting’. After coffee I headed straight for the Wall to do my ride before lunch. That was good and I know you are absolutely hanging out to know how my bum is going. Well, I have to say it isn’t getting worse and while that is the case I’ll keep going in the hope of toughening up!! After my ride I felt I needed to make some human contact so I went and had lunch at a little place I’ve been to a few times, once with Rose and ever since they are always surprised that I am alone!! That was nice and I took my time. Then I had a break at home and decided because I had my ride before lunch that I could do a walk too. So around the wall I went on my feet this time. I have to say it nearly kills me to do both but Rose tells me I will get fitter!! Nonetheless, don’t think I’ll keep this regime up. In fact won’t be able to when I start Italian lessons again on Monday.
There was a bit going on this afternoon to celebrate the Italian Resistance Movement and the liberation in 1945. The Italian perceptions of the war years is quite ambiguous…they celebrate the ‘liberation’ now but during the war the north was under Mussolini while the south was occupied by the allies. True to Italian form, they just can’t really get into war and get confused!! They are such lovely people on the whole and they were out in their masses this afternoon…the streets were jam packed.
I came home and had another massive cook-up, doing soup for the coming week and greens for my evening meals…VERY uncharacteristic wouldn’t you say??
Getting nervous about having to go back to school on Monday and make a fool of myself again. Oh well…more bike riding and walking tomorrow!!