Knitting

I have started a new project.   After a strange request I got knitting needles and some wool for my birthday and I am going to learn to knit..  I have always been able to do the basics i.e. knit squares and scarves, but I am far from competent.  To be fair, when I was in guides and brownies I always got asked to sew the squares together rather than knit them.  

The wool I have isn't the most useful because it is hard to see your stitches but I am having fun.  I think that I have learnt to pearl and increase and decrease stitches so I am very excited about my new projects.  I think I might need to buy some plain wool and take some lessons when I get back to England in a week and a half.

Poor Simon is going to get a jumper as a special gift!!!  Or maybe a scarf, it seems more straight forward.

A Quiet lunch

We had originally planned to go to Lake Garda this weekend and enjoy some of the fabulous sunny weather that we are currently experiencing. However, Simon was still feeling the effects of my cold so we decided to have a lazier day. I finished planting the flowers that we bought at the market yesterday to liven up the terrace whilst Simon had a mammoth lay in.

At lunch time we decided to venture out for a bite to eat. Now in Northampton this would have included option like the scenic Round Spinney Toby Carvery or maybe a pub with a garden. Well Verona can't compete with such vistas so we had to make do with the Torricelle. This is the road that winds up the big hill near our house. Arguably we could walk up it (if we were fitter) but we drove and enjoyed a pizza whilst looking at the scenery. After an hour or so we drove down and took a stroll along the Adige (river) near the Ponte Pietra, the Romon bridge.

There are some spectacular views to be seen and I am only sad that I took my big camera and not the new one and I think the new one would have captured its beauty much more clearly.

What can I say - Verona is stunning when the sun shines

Doctors

Getting ill in Italy seems to be a pain. On the way back from Milan I started to feel worse and worse and by the time we got home I felt awful. So bad that I agreed not to go to work on Monday. Now for those who know me well, this is a rare occurrence as I am a real martyr when I am sick. To be honest I staying in bed most of the day feeling awful. I did have to get up to go to the doctor though. Although I knew I just had a terrible cold/flu thing I needed a doctors note FROM DAY ONE!!!!! So off I went, with cold sweats on a bus journey across town, only to find that the doctor doesn't open on a Monday. This was not a good start. I still felt awful on Tuesday so another day was had in bed and another trip to the Docs. This time he was there. And he spoke English. I've dreaded having to explain pain and illness in Italian so it was a real relief. He asked what was the matter and then wrote me a sick note. He then proceeded to ask if I'd teach his daughter English!!

I had to decide early in the day if I was in on Wednesday and still felt bad so opted for a Wednesday absence as well. That night my boss rang to check I was OK and to check that I had filled in the sick note properly. Well my sick note was just a letter from the doctor. Apparently not the right thing!! I had to call the Doctor at 9pm to ask for an official letter. How embarrassing - though technically his mistake not mine.

Wednesday morning saw me once again go out into town to meet the Doctor, get the official sick note and then fill it in. I then had to take it to INPS - the Social security office in order that I would get paid. Oh and then get the top copy to school on the same day.

In short, I had to traipse around town on all three days that I was off feeling terrible, rather than stay in bed, otherwise I wouldn't get paid. Maybe the NHS isn't so bad after all. I guess if you grew up here and have a family doctor and family who can run you around and drop things off it is sensible but for people like me it is a nightmare. I'll certainly think twice before being ill again!!

To put the icing on the cake, Simon got back from Milan with conjunctivitis, and since he doesn't yet have a doctor he had to go to casualty!! We are a right pair.

Good news though, my cold is almost gone and Simon's eyes are better - he does however appear to have a cold :-)

Milan

We have had a busy weekend. Saturday was spent cleaning out the last pieces of junk form my apartment...I still need to clean it unfortunately :-(. Simon then went skiing whilst I had a hair cut. It is always a dangerous thing to do when you struggle to explain what you want in English. The usual sign language was used along with short phrases like "troppo pesante" and "taglia". As it happens she has made a really good job of it and it was fairly cheap considering.

We got up early on Sunday to go to Milan and we were there by lunch. We stopped for a traditional Italian lunch..Burger King! and then proceeded to shop. I bought myself some magazines in English but that was all. I'm broke after buying the still not yet fitted kitchen.

By the time we met with Simon's friends my nose had started to get blocked and I was feeling a bit peaky, but a good time was had. They spoke Italian between themselves and spoke to me in English. I was pleased to have the chance to try to follow the conversation. And for the most part I did. We went for a walk to the Navigli in Milan and then out for dinner. It was a true Italian feast of meats and fish followed by Pasta. I was stuffed. Unfortunately, mainly in my nose. I felt terrible by the time we got in the car. To top it off Simon's eye was getting puffy and bloodshot. And then we both got really ill... but that is another day....

And on the Seventh day....

Ikea gave us light........

We have finally got things a bit more sorted. We bought loads of lights this weekend and Simon has wired them all in. Very proud!! I specifically like the one in the lounge, although the most practical is the bathroom light. It's good not having to pee in the dark.

We also order the Kitchen and that should be with us by the end of the month. I can't wait. The "camping kitchen" is beginning to lose it's charms.

I seem to have developed an allergy to Italy and today I look like the elephant man. My face is all swollen and I've had a terrible migraine. Fortunately I feel a bit better now, ready for yet another day at work. I must say, I'm quite enjoying Simon dropping me off every morning. It is much better than a silly bike ride and cheaper than the bus.

We are going to Milan this weekend to see some of Simon's Italian friends. So the first ALL Italian outing begins. Will I have a clue what is happening?? I'll keep you posted.

So far, so good.

Well Simon has been here now for just over a week and my experience in Italy has already changed. I seem to be alot busier than I was!!!.  The biggest difference is the distinct lack of a kitchen.  It is a real struggle just to make a cup of tea.  Fortunately we have a little 2 ring stove and a microwave.  The George Foreman grill is even getting a new lease of life!!

Luckily we are finally going to Ikea this weekend to buy and kitchen and indeed the lights. (We don't have those either!!) I can't wait. It might not be the biggest kitchen in town but it will be perfect for us.

Simon has settled in well and is going to terms with the strange ways of Italy.  He is still not sure why thing here are similar to the 1950s but to be honest, you just get used to it.  Verona is not a big city like Milan.  It is quite antiquated.  I'm surprised that they have the internet half of the time.

Well - when we have lights and therefore the ability to take some nice pictures I will post some of the apartment so that you can realise what a 'non' kitchen really looks like.