Simple post - and about time for another one I hear you say!
Well - we have been busy. Caitlin has this week off school for half term. The week leading up to it was full of tests, and a testing time it was too. Another new experience. She ahs been to three parties ove rthe last two weeks and is getting well into the social scene although finding the students very immature compared to what she is used to.
Alan and I have begun our Italian lessons. We go three mornings a week for about 10 weeks. It's an intensive 'Italiano per Stranieri' (Italian for foreigners/strangers/Aliens/immigrants) course. The lady running the course is lovely, with gorgeously Manchester accented English. The others in the course come from Germany, Holland, Russia, France and China; what a mix. All have a reasonable amount of English so that is the default language in the class.
Alan is getting in touch with a local rugby club and hoping to join them for the season in order to work on his fitness and as an opportunity to meet people his age. The social life here for him is slim and far from satisfying, although he is making friends.
Barry was quite sick for about three weeks but has finally come right with the aid of antibiotics. Work is a little stressful and getting more so, but different from home. He is getting into Karate here with a group about 20 mins down the autostrada. They have swapped his Kempo grading for the equivalent in Karate but he is finding it a little challenging as some things are the same and some quite different. Still, this is helping him to take a mental and physical break from the work stuff.
I've just finished working with a seminar group doing the same Master of Education programme I did back in 04/05. It was a fabulous opportunity and helped to restimulate the synapses. Also great to get a chance to give a little back to teh community from which I have got so much.
Sometime ago we meet a kiwi woman from Milano. She's been living here for about 18 years and has a 15yo son and 13yo daughter. They came to stay for a weekend a month ago and this weekend Natalie and Jess are coming to stay again. Caitlin and I will pick them up from Milan tomorrow and they train back on Sunday. Go the expats!
Going to be up to watch the All Blacks together 9am (our time - exactly 12 hours out from NZ time) Saturday morning. Think of us as you all watch the game... we're watching at the same time. Spooky really. Go BLACK!
Weather is turning much colder now, perhaps because the clocks changed last weekend. Today we really only made it to 10deg. The view of the lake is improving as autumn takes its toll on the trees. Caitlin said the trees are coated in honey wholegrain mustard leaves. It's a perfect description!
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Monday, September 29, 2008
Mondiale - Seeing the World in Varese
(Alternatively titled) - How to Meet the Natives
(Alternative alternate title) - Why we Need to Change the Flag
Over the last week Varese has hosted the World Road Cycling Championships. There have been hordes of people from all over the world visiting here to support their teams. Couldn't find anything out here about a New Zealand team so eventually researched and found the bikeNZ website. They had a list of the cyclists competing in Varese. The challenge was then on - we had to be the best support team they could have - Didn't we????
Thursday saw the Men's time trials passing along the road just above us. We parked ourselves in the open gateway of a (Canadian) friend's house and drapped her fence with New Zealand and Canadian flags. And along came the locals...
"Ahhh" smiling and nodding at the flag. "Where were we from?"
Nuova Zelanda, we cheerfully respond.
"Ohhh!" knowing nod.
Many smiles and more nodding.
"We live across the road from you."
Yes, that's right, we agree.
"Ahhh" more smiling and nodding.
We had some funny conversations in 'Itanglish' - a mangled version of Italian and English - when we discovered that our house had been visited by robbers and we had had the police in. Nothing of the sort had happened but we now know who the looney in the street is! Apparently she told the neighbours some great tale about what had occured whilst they were on holiday over the previous two weeks.
Also met a lovely young Italian mum with her 9 month old baby, Archimede. Most Italians think she and her husband are crazy - they gave their child an unusual name - you don't do that in Italy. This explains why every second bloke you meet is called Massimiliano or Guiseppe or Marco.
On Saturday and Sunday we went up into the city and set up camp beside the track cheering first the women and then the men on the road races. The women complete 8 laps of a 17 km track and the men 15 laps. We waved our huge Kiwi flag and screamed ourselves hoarse. And we had a ball! Most people who stopped to chat thought we were Australians. They vaguely recognised the flag or had a relative in Aussie or had visited Aussie or... and had no idea what or where NZ was. The similarity of the flags required constant explanation. We need a new flag! Sometimes they would suddenly exclaim - "All Blacks!" and then we knew they'd got it. At least the Canadians and the Welsh we met knew a bit more.
Mid men's race on the Sunday we suddenly heard someone calling out "Kiwis!" and there across the road were the NZ women's cycling team. They recognised us from the previous day and wanted to say hello and thanks for the support. What a buzz!
So we may not have been the largest support crew, Or the most colourful, Or have the longest flag pole, Or the weirdest costumes ... But we had fun and our team appreciated it. I guess that is why I stood in one spot for seven hours - to meet the world AND to get a little touch of home.
(Alternative alternate title) - Why we Need to Change the Flag
Over the last week Varese has hosted the World Road Cycling Championships. There have been hordes of people from all over the world visiting here to support their teams. Couldn't find anything out here about a New Zealand team so eventually researched and found the bikeNZ website. They had a list of the cyclists competing in Varese. The challenge was then on - we had to be the best support team they could have - Didn't we????
Thursday saw the Men's time trials passing along the road just above us. We parked ourselves in the open gateway of a (Canadian) friend's house and drapped her fence with New Zealand and Canadian flags. And along came the locals...
"Ahhh" smiling and nodding at the flag. "Where were we from?"
Nuova Zelanda, we cheerfully respond.
"Ohhh!" knowing nod.
Many smiles and more nodding.
"We live across the road from you."
Yes, that's right, we agree.
"Ahhh" more smiling and nodding.
We had some funny conversations in 'Itanglish' - a mangled version of Italian and English - when we discovered that our house had been visited by robbers and we had had the police in. Nothing of the sort had happened but we now know who the looney in the street is! Apparently she told the neighbours some great tale about what had occured whilst they were on holiday over the previous two weeks.
Also met a lovely young Italian mum with her 9 month old baby, Archimede. Most Italians think she and her husband are crazy - they gave their child an unusual name - you don't do that in Italy. This explains why every second bloke you meet is called Massimiliano or Guiseppe or Marco.
On Saturday and Sunday we went up into the city and set up camp beside the track cheering first the women and then the men on the road races. The women complete 8 laps of a 17 km track and the men 15 laps. We waved our huge Kiwi flag and screamed ourselves hoarse. And we had a ball! Most people who stopped to chat thought we were Australians. They vaguely recognised the flag or had a relative in Aussie or had visited Aussie or... and had no idea what or where NZ was. The similarity of the flags required constant explanation. We need a new flag! Sometimes they would suddenly exclaim - "All Blacks!" and then we knew they'd got it. At least the Canadians and the Welsh we met knew a bit more.
Mid men's race on the Sunday we suddenly heard someone calling out "Kiwis!" and there across the road were the NZ women's cycling team. They recognised us from the previous day and wanted to say hello and thanks for the support. What a buzz!
So we may not have been the largest support crew, Or the most colourful, Or have the longest flag pole, Or the weirdest costumes ... But we had fun and our team appreciated it. I guess that is why I stood in one spot for seven hours - to meet the world AND to get a little touch of home.
Friday, August 15, 2008
Photos - New House
So --- here it is (or they are) --- piccies of the house. This first photo is taken from the deck looking back towards the house.
To the right of the deck is the lounge room, glass on three sides and a glass roof; double glazed like every window in the house. The large white couch is wonderfully deep and a great place to curl up and read. It's my favourite spot in the house.
From the lounge, standing by the tv cabinet, this next photo looks back towards the dining room and kitchen.
And this amazing room is our kitchen, with the dining room to the right. On the far side of the room you can see the huge stove, the indoor barbeque, and the built in pizza oven. The 'chandelier' of stags' antlers both horrifies and fascinates me! The sinks and the fridge are in a very little room immediately to the right of the big stove, behind the hutch dresser.
For those of you coming to stay - here is a photo of the spare bedroom. This room has been painted beutifully with a snowy scene and starry sky. Really pretty!
And here is one of the bathrooms - this one with a jacuzzi spa bath. The main bathroom has a jacuzzi shower!
Photos - Solbiate Olona
When we first arrived here in Italy we atayed at 'Le Robinie', a golfing hotel/resort. Nice looking place and good for a short holiday - not so good for teens sharing a bedroom for 8 weeks. Above is the hotel from the carpark entrance and below is a photo taken at dawn from the far side of the golf course looking at one end of the club house toward Mt Rossa (we think) in the background.
Shopping has been an experience too - here is the biggest role of luncheon/mortadella I've ever seen.
Did we mention how cheap the wine is here... that's E$3.95 for 5 litres of white wine.
Did we mention how cheap the wine is here... that's E$3.95 for 5 litres of white wine.
Photos - Singapore
I've spent the morning trying to download, and catalogue into named and dated files, the 497 photos and videos on the camera. I'm nearly there - so thought I'd post some now...
On our way to Italy we stopped in Singapore for three lovely - but very hot and humid - days. Here is the house we stayed in.
And there was the cutest lizard in the garden, digging the deepest hole.
We also had 'Singapore Slings' at Raffles on our wedding anniversary - S$22.00 a glass!!! Surprisingly, we only had one each.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
We're IN!
We've moved into our house at last! The sea-pack has yet to arrive and we are all but camping - still we have so much room to spread out. Furniture-wise, we've been through flat-pack Hell and made it almost out to the other side. A couple more wardrobe doors and a large pile of cardboard to the recycling place (when I can find it) and we'll be done.
Although we have seen hardly any birdlife around the area we have seen today both a snake (George) and three small bats (Bruce, Trev, and Eric - as in the 'fruit bat'). Although I keep promising photos - spectacularly failing to deliver - I have got a shot of the snake. I've got the photo as far as the daughter's laptop however network file sharing hasn't quite kicked in, so another day of waiting I am afraid.
Mum has taken house photos and we have some piccies of the spectacular thunderstorms we are experiencing. Tomorrow - I'll post them - Really - Truly. And in the mean time I'm off to watch some more lightening!
Although we have seen hardly any birdlife around the area we have seen today both a snake (George) and three small bats (Bruce, Trev, and Eric - as in the 'fruit bat'). Although I keep promising photos - spectacularly failing to deliver - I have got a shot of the snake. I've got the photo as far as the daughter's laptop however network file sharing hasn't quite kicked in, so another day of waiting I am afraid.
Mum has taken house photos and we have some piccies of the spectacular thunderstorms we are experiencing. Tomorrow - I'll post them - Really - Truly. And in the mean time I'm off to watch some more lightening!
Driving in Italy
Driving in Italy is an experience to be - survived.
We have now got used to driving on the left (well mostly). There was a day last week where I leapt into the car in a big hurry and got the fright of my life when I landed on Patch's laptop bag. My brain connected to the fact that I was in the wrong seat about the same time my butt connected with the (very sharp and uncomfortable) zipper on the bag. Luckily for both of us no physical damage resulted from our accidental meeting. Of course, until now Patch had no idea this had happened. I figured that since his laptop has worked fine ever since there was no need to mention anything ... I'll update you on any resulting damage if it does occur now he knows ;)
I know I mentioned that road signs are advisory only - and speed limits likewise - but plain good sense should tell anyone that tailgating another car at 130km/hr with less than a car length between you both is abhorently STUPID. Anyone who insists on getting that close to my backside requires a prior, personal introduction (and invitation) at the very least.
And thenwe have roundabouts - a fairly new concept for Italians. They have only used them here for about five years. I'm not suggesting they have no understanding of the concept of these (elsewhere) useful traffic control measures but I ask you - Where else in the world do you get a roundabout;
We have now got used to driving on the left (well mostly). There was a day last week where I leapt into the car in a big hurry and got the fright of my life when I landed on Patch's laptop bag. My brain connected to the fact that I was in the wrong seat about the same time my butt connected with the (very sharp and uncomfortable) zipper on the bag. Luckily for both of us no physical damage resulted from our accidental meeting. Of course, until now Patch had no idea this had happened. I figured that since his laptop has worked fine ever since there was no need to mention anything ... I'll update you on any resulting damage if it does occur now he knows ;)
I know I mentioned that road signs are advisory only - and speed limits likewise - but plain good sense should tell anyone that tailgating another car at 130km/hr with less than a car length between you both is abhorently STUPID. Anyone who insists on getting that close to my backside requires a prior, personal introduction (and invitation) at the very least.
And thenwe have roundabouts - a fairly new concept for Italians. They have only used them here for about five years. I'm not suggesting they have no understanding of the concept of these (elsewhere) useful traffic control measures but I ask you - Where else in the world do you get a roundabout;
- in the middle of a large intersection controlled by traffic lights - and who the heck has right of way?????
- on a straight piece of two-way road, with no off roads????? One road in, one road out; no island between lanes to prevent anyone doing a u-turn anywhere along the road.
I think I have finally begun to understand a little about the driving psyche here in Italy. The rule is "If it is behind me it is not my problem". Another way to interpret this rule is "If you car is behind my car you are responsible for your own safety". What this means is that;
- if my car's bumper is in front of your car's bumper then I can move into your lane, with or without indicating, because you are behind me and therefore you are responsible to get out of my way.
- I can pull out of a carpark on the side of the road when ever I feel ready to move off, even if you are coming along the road behind me - because you are behind me and therefore you are responsible to get out of my way.
- if, whilst driving in the centre lane of a three lane road with a (recommended) speed limit of 130 km/hr, I choose to suddenly slow to 60 km/hr - and you are not allowed to pass on the right - then you'll have to brake very suddenly and not swing aound me but instead wait for the cars on the left to pass me first - because you are behind me and therefore you are responsible for your own safety.
Still - nine weeks in and another ten months to go before we have to sit our Italian drivers licence test. I figure I'll be so scared I'll be about ready to quit driving by then!
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