Vacanze Romane

steps and cobblestones: Càvour/Cavoùr

Via Urbana

introducing S. to Walkers Salt & Vinegar crisps at Finnegan’s pub

Camel Lights in the drizzle

being turned away from the busiest hostarias in the area

Culinary Relations in Via Pane e Sperma

the red umbrella

Ikea instructions

Sean Penn

Caravaggio’s famous “annunciazione di San Giuseppe” (Conversion of St. Matthew) in San Luigi dei Francesi

the Librarie Française

rushing through the giardini to Galleria Borghese

Paolina

Pluto and Proserpina

marble fingers sinking into marble flesh

Nello and Milla – weight lost, weight gained

Pasolini’s haunt in Pigneto

James Brown and padding in the bathroom

Gene Wilder’s German mini-me

La Tuscolana

memories of a long, hot, stressful October

party full of white shirts and little black dresses

emergency codeword: Maramao

Maramao! Maramao! Maramao!

sneezing

teasing

hands

basta!

more rain

(brown) puddles

spaghetti

Termini – terminus – The End

a very sad day

first bite of the apple

As my Creative Zen Micro is undeniably losing it at the grand old age of 2, I finally caved in and got one of these. Unfortunately the gorgeous dark pink shade was sold out so I got green, although I wished they’d kept it a more “appley” green instead of this insipid pastel.

It’s beautifully designed on the outside but the Zen Micro seemed more flexible and user-friendly in many ways. We shall see…

Random yet strangely amusing word of the day…

Futtock,

“A name given to the curved pieces of timber which compose the frame timbers. They are named according to their location: first futtock, second futtock, etc.”

From the handy nautical glossary here, found as I was doing some research for an article about a luxury yacht…

 

Thank god for Sound and Motion Pictures

Just back from seeing Atonement in “versione originale” i.e. English at my local cinema. We get one V.O. film a week spread over 3 different cinemas on three days, so I’d had this in my diary for some time – miss it and you have to see it dubbed in Italian, never as good, although Italy does some of the best dubbing around or so they say.

Even though I’ve read the novel (the only Ian McEwan novel I’ve liked out of the few I’ve read) the film did not disappoint, with sumptuous photography (was that Dunkirk scene the longest tracking shot ever?), a good if rather over-egged soundtrack, stunning locations and sets and excellent acting. Keira was much less irritating than usual, I think she’s toned down the pout, and was pretty much perfect in the role of Cecilia. I loved the floaty green dress…We all came out rather shell-shocked as it was a pretty heavy going 2 hours in many ways.

Last week the film was It’s a Free World by Ken Loach, which was also good and equally if not more heavy going but in a different way. Pretty harrowing actually. Either way, both this week and last week the mystery-guffawer struck, barking with laughter totally inappropriately at the most tense, dramatic moments…who could he be?

I/your/V/duh

My birthday party the other night. A gorgeous friend-of-a-friend has just turned up, with a bunch of 5 red roses bought there and then from one of those persistent yet friendly rose sellers that are all over Milan after sunset – ok so not very classy, but sweet. Somehow we get onto the subject of how he’s into Ayurveda and does ayurvedic massage on the side (his day job is something in engineering). Then without being prompted he launches into an ayurvedic analysis of me: “I can see just from looking at you -from an ayurvedic perspective of course – that you’re someone who is very affected by those around them, by your friends’ moods. You’re a balanced person. And I can see that you have problems with your figure”. Me: “Sorry?!” “With your figure – you try and diet, but you just can’t manage it”. Me, still smiling despite it all: “Ha, well that’s charming!” “No no, but I’m speaking from a purely ayurvedic point of view, as an expert”. Ah, as an expert. Stick to the day job love.

A little later on in the evening and against my better judgment – actually my better judgment had turned in for the night long before – I was foolishly flirting wildly with him (or so my friends keep reminding me – doing the “hair thing” etc). He starts talking about how he had a couple of serious relationships when very young, but now he’s happily single and his parents down in Sicily have given up all hope. “I like to be free in a relationship. I like couples where both people are free, freer than they would be alone…”. That old chestnut…

I recounted these delightful conversation-stoppers to a male friend of mine who kindly translated them as,

“I think you’re a bit tubby, but I’d be up for a one night stand”. Nice!

OK here goes…

I’ve started this blog mainly to get practice in writing and blogging, as I think I need it (partly for my job). Also, I sometimes feel like letting off steam and this is cheaper than therapy and won’t risk boring my friends (!)

I’m not really sure yet what I’ll be posting about, I’ll just see how the mood takes me…”cocktails and analysis” is a phrase borrowed from a good friend of mine, it sums up what most of our (all too infrequent) evenings out involve. Maybe wine sometimes instead of cocktails, but you get the idea.