New home

Well, things have certainly moved up a gear when it comes to excitement here in Verona.  Simon arrived on Wednesday after a gruelling drive down from England and the move began.  I am pleased that he got here without and troubles and that he wasn't too tired.

I went back to work on Thursday so Simon had to do all of the moving by himself.  I was gutted to hear that the lorry was broken into at Calais and some of our furniture was broken.  Thankfully, nothing was stolen.  By the time I arrived home from work Simon had unpacked loads and the lounge was looking like a very inviting place to drop my things ad myself.

I set to work on the spare room, which is where I am, and I thought of the little things like curtains and pictures whilst Simon lugged furniture.  It is amazing how quickly things start to take shape.

We are still in a bit of a mess and until we get to Ikea, there will be no kitchen, which is a nightmare.  Last night we had beans of toast - nutritious!!

I will take some photo when we are a bit more organised and tell you of our adventures, but for now I need to organise and indeed rediscover my shoes!!!

Ciao Ciao

The Hike

 The day of the hike arrived this morning rather earlier than I had hoped.  It was a struggle to get out of bed  but I knew that I'd have a great time.  The hiking group in Verona meet on the last Sunday of every month, but so far I haven't managed to go.

I met the group in Borgo Trento and we drove out towards Negrar.  The walk was hard work for me as I am really unfit, but it was pleasant all the same. The others in the hiking group seemed to take it in their stride.   I have to say that some of the scenery was simply breathtaking.  Unfortunately it was a bit too hazy for my little camera to capture the true beauty of the area, but we tried.

The walk itself was 10km, which is going to hurt in the morning.  We then went for lunch at a restaurant and ate enough to replace the calories that we had burnt off.  

I had a really nice day out and reminded myself of how beautiful Verona is.  The hiking group is a really nice group of people and I am sure that I'll go again, although I might check how many hills there are next time.

Firemen

What a fabulous day.  I got up slightly earlier than planned but there was an Ikea trip as the incentive. I went to Ikea in Brescia with Faye and planned my new kitchen.  It was really good fun and fortunately faye was a dab hand at the old italian so it was easier than I had hoped.  I have 3 designs and finally Simon has agreed to choose whatever I do.  Excellent.   I'm very excited now about ordering it.  

We came home  and decided to go out for dinner.  And then it got really interesting!!.. I managed to leave my keys inside my apartment and locked myself out of the flat.  I called on my lovely, but orange, neighbour who I thought was a police man but her wasn't a great deal of help.  He called his friend, borrowed my mobile and then proceeded to tell me that the fire brigade were on their way.  GREAT.

So they arrived 5 minutes later in a fire engine, not at all embarrassing!!!  It took them all of 30 seconds to break in and another 5 to check my documents.

I don't think I have ever called the fire brigade in England so I was very embarrassed.  Suffice to say, thanks to Faye for translating and explaining that her friend is an idiot, and thanks to the Veronese Fire Service. XX

Going hiking tomorrow!!!! 

Carnevale Verona photos

Carnevale Verona

I was told that for a real Carnevale experience I need to go to Venice.  But I don't really do crowds and I was also told that Carnevale in Venice would be heaving.

So instead I decided to stay in Verona.  The History of Carnevale is simple.  In 1531 following poor harvests, a chap in Verona left money in his will to provide Gnocchi to the people of San Zeno.  He is now a legendary hero known as Papa Gnoccho.  Now I love Gnocchi so he is definately my hero.

Fortunately today was a beautiful winters day with no clouds and a good strong sun shining through - still cold though.  I finished work early for once and went straight to Piazza Bra thinking that I would miss that start, watch the floats for an hour and leave.  I was very wrong!!

I stood outside for 4 hours watching the most incredible floats.  What I found the best was that it was a real party atmosphere.  The Veronese can be a bit stiff, but they were really letting their hair down and having fun.

Now I am shattered and I am going to have an early night after a bit of time in front of the TV.

I'm not going to write any more, I'm going to let the photos do the talking.  I had a great time.

I'm bored

Hmm.  I'm bored at the moment.  There are probably 1001 things that I could do (other than keep a blog) but I can't seem to get motivated.  I have spent the day decorating my classroom in preparation for the International Baccalaureate inspection.  (I'll learn to spell it before they arrive).  It has been quite fun. The people at work don't really understand displays, so they are slightly confused by my causation tree!!!!  It is nice to have ownership of something.  I am also mildly excited at the arrival of my new DVD.   It is called "The Power of Art" by Simon Schama.  Now for those of you in the know, this means that I am really bored.  For those not in the know, Simon Schama is, in my humble opinion, more likely to turn you off history than switch you on to it.  He wears very strange glass and takes far to dramatic pauses.  He really is quite irritating.  But I have spent money on this DVD in the faith that his analysis of Picasso's Guernica can help my 9 students.  That is £1 per student so  - Simon Schama - 'you'd better be interesting this time'.

I might even watch it before I go out for dinner tonight....yeah...I'm going out for pizza with a friend.  I'd rather be going to the Imran, but I can pretend. 

The only thing keeping me sane right now is my book.  It is my new and final Jodi Picoult book called Change of Heart and it is fabulous.  She never disappoints me (except Harvesting the Heart and Tenth Circle :-( )

It is a really good read and I am so thankful to Amanda for buying for me.  If anyone wants to get a new book, buy it, its fab.  In fact I might go and read a bit now...........Am I just rambling????  probably.

New Apartment

It has rained in Verona since November - I'd feel confident in saying that it has been almost everyday.  However the sun has finally found it's way back into the sky and this last week has been very pleasant.  Since the sun was shining i decided to take a walk to my new apartment and check it out at my leisure.  I met up with my friend Cristina for a spritz aperol first and a catch up and then we wandered to the new place.  Firstly I am pleased to report that it is alot closer to the centre than I had thought - in fact it is not much farther than I am now, just to the other end of the town.  The apartment fortunately was exactly as I remembered it, although some rooms were smaller than I had remembered.  Fortunately most were bigger and that means I think we might get out furniture in after all.  There are about 20 keys that I haven't currently found uses for but it is all part of the learning curve and I can't wait.  I took some photos to show people but it will look totally different when we have our stuff in there.  I am so looking forward to going to Ikea to buy curtains and other Ikea furniture.

San Valentino

So today is St Valentines Day and I am living in the most beautiful and romantic city in the world.  If only Simon was here to share it with me.  But enough of that...  This morning I had a colloquio or a parent meeting which was a bore.  They are bad enough when I have to stay after school but to have to get up on a Saturday too is a disaster.  I also find myself being forced to speak Italian.  Now despite my GCSE Italian I don't feel particularly confident, especially when speaking to fee paying parents.  I have found that GCSE Italian doesn't give you everything that you need for everyday life, but I can say what I did last year on holiday!!!!! 

Anyway I digress.  I wandered into the city today because I had read on google that there was a big celebration in Piazza Erbe for Valentines Day.  It was actually more tasteful than I thought it could have been.  All of the street lamps were covered with heart shaped lanterns and I imagine that they will look nice tonight.  The main square had a huge red heart shaped carpet on the floor and stalls all around it selling sweets and trinkets.  I think that if I had been bothered to climb the Torre de Lamberti that the view would have been a fantastic photo.  Such a same the tower doesn't have a lift.  

Anyway tonight I am celebrating by watching my quota of italian TV to improve my listening skills (I'm terrible even though I nearly got 100% on my exam - doesn't say much for GCSE Italian!!)  and then I am going to watch a DVD whilst eating burger and chips.  Perfect night in.

Keep reading for Carnevale Verona news - apparently I am dressing up as a ladybird???????

The Keys

Today is Friday 13th....scary.  I can't say that anything bad has ever happened to me on Friday 13th so I'm not sure why it is so scary?  Well today I went to the estate agent to collect the keys for our new apartment.  I would love to tell you that the agent was helpful but I think she had a bout of PMT because she was quite rude.  I do however have a huge pile of keys, 24 to be exact, that open various doors, most of which are duplicates.  So tomorrow afternoon I might take a venture out there and have a look round.  I can measure up for the new Ikea kitchen that we need to order and I can just generally enjoy opening and closing doors.  There is no electricity or water yet so i can't really do much but I can enjoy the space nevertheless.

So now that I have the keys it all feels like it is really finally going to happen.  It's going to be really weird having Simon here with me.  I am going to have to share my space and time again.  But I can't wait to have a new chapter to my adventure.

As for today, and early night I think.  Whilst the UK may be on half term break some of us have to work tomorrow - parent meetings.  Then it is 5 days and counting until Carnivale.  

The result

I know that I left you with a cliff hanger yesterday.  Well I have just spoken to the tax office again and they have found the P85 form.  Surprise, Surprise!!!

They are processing my claim and the money should be in my account in England pretty soon.  Hooray for complaining and stamping your feet.

Hopefully I will have enough to buy a nice new kitchen from Ikea.

Ah yes, I haven't yet explained that in Italy when you leave a property you take the kitchen with you.  Thus we have a nice kitchen room but no units or a cooker, hence the much needed visit to Ikea.

Tax rebates argggggghhhhhhh

When I lived in the UK I was happily paying my taxes every month.  So when I left I was very excited to think of the lovely rebate that I could get.  I only work for a third of what the tax office were expecting so I was looking forward to a reasonable sum.  Now  I never for a moment thought that claiming back income tax was going to be easy, I'm not that stupid, but my gosh....I am going mad.

First I fill out a P85 and send on my P45.  Then a month and a half later my P85 comes back.  I'd forgotten to tick two boxes that only a microscope could find.  I then received ( a month and a half later - always the same) a letter asking me to complete an NR1 form.  

Just before Christmas I received a new letter.  Hoorah, my cheque is here in time for Christmas.  NO.  I need to send my P45.  Now for those of you reading carefully, you'll have noticed that this is going to be difficult as I don't have it, THEY DO.

So in January I was really pleased to get a letter saying "Thank you for your recently completed P85 form".

Today I thought I'd give them a reminder call ( I need to buy a kitchen and they are not cheap).  Good news, they have found me P45.  Excellent.  Unfortunately they are not in possession of my P85.  Could I return it too them.  Now again, for those following this, THEY HAVE IT.  I've even got a letter saying they do.

So what is the solution.  "I'm afraid you will need to complete another P85 madam".

I think that I remained very cool under the circumstances.  I asked to speak to a manager and was told I'd need to put a complaint in writing.  I responded that I would do just that, including the fact that "john" wouldn't let me speak to a manager.

Diane, the manager was very helpful.  She said sorry and passed me to someone else.  That person, Catherine  (always get names) is going to dig through papers tomorrow to find my documents and then ring me back.

Can you get compensation from the tax office or is that just going to come form my own taxes??

I should add here that at least I can complain to them.  The Italian tax man seems to be screwing me over big time and I can't say anything to him.  There's an incentive to improve my Italian quickly.

I'll wait for Catherine to call and hope for their sake that they have found it.  I might even top up my skype phone in anticipation of a long argument!!!

Singing

I have been really missing karaoke in England and I haven't really had much of a chance to sing since I arrived here, so when I met an Opera singer I was very excited.  She offer to give me singing lessons if I helped to teach her English.  Well, we've been talking about meeting for weeks and tonight for the first time I had a lesson.  Firstly I'm not sure that my flat is cut out for singing lessons, I'm certain the neighbours weren't happy!  Secondly, I have a sore throat so I wasn't expecting greatness.

Anyway, we did some exercises which were as usual boring but very practical - I could really feel and hear the difference in my voice.  I was determined not to make any mistakes because if I did she corrected me and sang so loudly it made me clench my bum cheeks!!!!

We never did get around to the English lesson  -I have to talk about grammar.  Reading this you'll probably realise that I don't have any...oh well.  Here we go for another week.

Skiing

For Christmas Simon bought me ski gear, which meant that the inevitable skiing trip was imminent.  I've never been skiing.  When choosing the annual holiday, I have always opted for beach rather than snow.  I have always quite fancied the idea of skiing but it seems a bit cold.

About three weeks ago, all of that was to change and I, dressed up like the Michelin man, sat in a car going up the side of a mountain.  Now the journey itself was pretty scary if you ask me.  I don't know why mountain roads are not wider and there are far too many hairpin bends, (especially when your boyfriend is a fan of hand brake turns, but not a master of them!).

We arrived in a small town called Andalo which was beautiful.  A real Christmas card scene.  

Now the first thing I want to know is why no-one warned me about ski boots.  These things are designed only as an instrument of torture.  Firstly you can't actually straighten your knees once they are on and secondly they crush your feet.  I'm still certain that my particular boots were broken and that not everyone experiences my pain, but I am assured that all skiers have the same problem.

I am then faced with the dilemma of not ever having been on skis before and agreeing to be taught by the ever patient (cough cough) Simon.  He promised that he would be kind and not push me too far too fast.  

So off we trundled up in the cable car and then up again on the chair lift....though I'm sure the bunny slope was where we arrived.  Eventually we found the green runs.  The slopes for beginners!!!!!.  And off I went.  Literally.  Simon was very good actually and was relieved to find me laughing when I landed on my arse rather than sulking.  He taught me to snow plough and how to turn and I had a great time.  I fell over a bit, and chose to sit down quite alot, as it was preferred to going straight down the mountain. 

We had a really good day, and although I didn't progress from the green runs, I can get to the bottom of them now without falling over.  I felt really proud of myself.

If it wasn't for those bloody boots I'd be there again tomorrow.

Monolocale - home

Welcome to my home.  I've been living in what is known as a monolocale for the past 5 months and to be honest, I'm getting a little bit of cabin fever and I look forward to moving to a place with doors.  The apartment is about the size of a good hotel room and is appointed with a kitchen.  It has a lovely sofa that is also my bed.  After 3 days of getting it out and putting it away again, I bought a bed!  Unfortunately I thought that I was only going to be here for 6 weeks so I only bought a z-bed.  I can assure you that after 6 months on a mattress that is thinner than a slice of bread, you dream only of soft mattresses....if I had to stay here much longer I'd consider looking for a skip...always a good source for cheap bedding!!!!!

I am really lucky to have this place though because I don't pay rent on it, only what is called 'spese' that covers all the bills.  I live about 500m from the famous arena in Verona and that means that I have a beautiful city on my doorstep from which to have my adventure.

New toy

Ok, so having moved to Italy I spend about 5 hours a day 'playing' on the internet.  Playing means wasting time on social networking sites and playing terrible online games.  I check my emails every 15 minutes and occasionally get a call via the internet phone.  

So I thought that it was about time that I used my time a bit more sensibly.  I decided to write a blog.

I have kept a diary since I was 13 so this seems like a good place for me to vent and celebrate.

For those of you who don't know me already.  I moved to Verona, Italy 6 months ago to be with my gorgeous boyfriend.  Unfortunately he hasn't arrived yet, due to Italian paperwork, and I am having an adventure alone.  

There are many stories that I can and probably will tell you on here, and when Simon finally arrives, there will be new stories to make.

I hope that you get an insight into my life...however random my thoughts and rants.

Lindsay