why oh why?

Why is it human nature to always think the worst?

Today my internet provider called, wanting to pop in and "discuss something". With my erratic residence here occasionally my bills are paid late, or paid via paypal by a friend if I am away for a longer time. I am not convinced that the records at the admin end are always accurate even when all is paid so occasionally pay what I think is an extra month, because of my own haphazard book keeping. I have also put in a splitter and have internet in the studio, and hadn't confessed that to them. Or, in these difficult and competitive times, was this small company closing down and was I about to lose my link to the outside world?

I feared the worst.

I opened the door to find not one but two men standing there. The one I hadn't met looked very business like, smartly dressed and carrying a briefcase.

The problem? None at all.

The company I was with has been taken over by one from Frosinone (provincial capital for Lazio). I have a new contract, faster internet, and will pay a euro a month less for the service!

Another bonus is that bills will come every two months, so that is one less queue at the post office.

And best of all? I still have the same obliging young man as technician, so if there is a problem I will see no change at all.

The day is looking bright indeed!

Today I am grateful for good news.

new student today

I am teaching painting again. It's been a while, and I loved it as we explored colours and brushes in both languages. There is so much I want to pass on to my student.

I thought that I was well and truly over teaching anything to do with art. But to help someone achieve their dreams is a whole different thing.

Roll on the next lesson!

Today I am grateful for learning and language.

happiness personified

That's how I feel. I love where I live, and I love my life.

Today, driving towards the sunset, the hills glowed. A peachy pink touched everything.

Snug in my jacket and scarf I could appreciate the winter with its glorious days.

The sky this morning was a wonderful cobalt, not a touch of cerulean anywhere, and not a cloud to be seen. But this evening, as though they knew they were needed, the clouds appeared to reflect the glowing sun and whisper the end of the day.

The simple life; good food, but not too much of it, good friends, warm clothing, a safe house. Two little dogs chewing on their treats; a brisk walk to keep us moving.

Today a friend was asked to clean for a wealthy couple in a nearby town. She returned quite shaken. "How could I work in that house, it was like the palace at Caserta" she said. "There are people who have nothing; how can I be in those surroundings without feeling so bad for the poor people?"

There is affluence and there is excess. Where does one draw the line? I like beautiful things, and I very much enjoy comfort. I hope I can always recognise the difference between need and greed.

One can't judge by appearances. Who knows what good deeds the wealthy might do, unspoken, unseen? In fact, one shouldn't judge at all.

I hope that I keep things in proportion, at least most of the time. How does one know when enough is enough?

Today I am grateful that I have enough.

sometimes

Sometimes I am simply not in the mood to blog!

The sun is shining, there are things to be done, and anything I want to write about requires far too much of my time and energy.

*****

What have I been doing? Mostly, enjoying life!

An English mid-day dinner with friends yesterday was so tasty that I couldn't resist "seconds". Sometimes I do miss the flavours of my own culture.

But when I leave Italy I miss the bread and the tomatoes.

Sigh!

Now to head out the door, there are adventures to be had!

Today I am grateful for new challenges.

larabars

While in the States I tried Larabars for the first time.

This link is here so I can find it quickly to make my own.

Yum! Home made larabars. (Apologies to the distributors, but you are rather expensive and not available everywhere).

Today I am grateful for energy and rest.

time to sleep

I was about to write something deep and meaningful. It hasn't quite formed in my head, and is going to require a lot of thought. And then I looked at the time.

Sleep calls, I have an early start tomorrow.

Today I am grateful for family.

will it snow will it snow will it snow?

I am so inspired by the sunset that I want to break into song. Yes, you can sing along too, you just wont know what words I am singing! I'm sitting by the heater... the warmth is quite delightful, there's lalalala la laaa, la la la, la la la,lalalaaaa.

It is FFFFFRRRRREEEEzing outside, so much so that I cooked a warm dinner for two little dogs. They have to learn to stay outside because the people coming to stay soon are bringing a cat with them... and Yes, I did warn them about Piccolina!

I think I have ticked another "once upon a time it seemed incredibly urgent" job off my list. Tomorrow I will line up another one.

I have a list, I'm checking it twice... where DO these Christmas tunes keep coming from? Perhaps I am in the mood to write rhyme... Mother Goose, it is all YOUR fault! But back to the list. It is diminishing wonderfully!

One step at a time, without any rush or panic, with plenty of stopping to marvel at the view, to ponder, with no real pressure, and the things that were in the "two hard basket" are ticking themselves off quite nicely.

Anyway, all I really wanted to do was share the beautiful sunset (which was much more intense than my photo suggests), spare a thought for the folks at Waihi Beach who wonder what other tragedies or perils each wave will bring in, and then maybe, MAYBE, even turn on the television for an hour of Italian!

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