Sicily

Twenty hours on a ferry from Genoa and we fetched up in Palermo. If you haven't been to Sicily, and even if you have, come as soon as you can. It's gorgeous. And Palermo is even more chaotic and crumbling and charming than Genoa. Mali, I'm looking at you in particular. Come here and fall in love for yourself!

Genoa

After a full day of travelling on three trains, we've fetched up here in Genoa. It's a mad, crazy, lively and distinctly edgy city. Just crossing the street is a bit of an adventure, as is playing dodge-the-street-hawker.
But it's wonderful! (Sorry no photos, am blogging on my phone)

three meals

Yesterday I had breakfast at St Pancras station in London.
Then I had lunch in Paris, in a little cafe close to the Gare du Lyon.
And dinner was in a side street in Zurich.
I'm travelling again :-)

"you are allowed to take care of yourself"

The above words were said to me over a year ago by Lovely Therapist, shortly after A left.  I feel rather ashamed of myself, but I applied those words to my Weekend of Double Whammy.  I couldn't get out of the Big Family Do, as it was held at my parents' place but I did sidle out of the couples-and-me lunch with friends.  I sort of lied - I said I had a migraine when in truth I only had an ordinary headache which would have gone away with a couple of over-the-counter painkillers.

Instead, I spent the day reading on the sofa, complete with my Darling Little Cat on my lap and endless cups of tea at my elbow.  And I have to say, I felt so much better equipped next day - which turned out to be extremely lovely and fun and full of food and noise and laughter.  My heavily pregnant cousin didn't come, which made the day easier for me, and the gods intervened and made my aunt not ask me about when I'm going to find someone new and did I want her to introduce me to so-and-so ("very nice man, darling, I was at school with his mother, divorced now of course and has two children, 10 and 13 I think").

And I came home with the remains of one of the desserts and a bottle of wine my mother pressed into my hands :-)

weekend double whammy

Some friends of mine have invited me to lunch on Saturday.  It's a sort of house-warming+his 45th birthday combined event.  Three married couples and single me.

And on Sunday I have a Big Family Do where cousins with children, pregnant cousins and bursting with pride grandparents will abound.  Because I have to drive there (I'm taking three desserts) I won't be able to have a glass of wine to take the edge off.

Meh.

Ouch

Migraines suck :-(

180

I was not in favour of the Olympics coming to London.  The UK, sure, but not London.  In 2005 we were all being urged to "back the bid" but I was one of the many sceptics who thought that it was a Bad Idea.  On 6th July 2005 I, like many Londoners, just shrugged instead of rejoicing.

And then came 7th July 2005, and the games went from everyone's thoughts for quite a long time.

And then there were the years of preparation. Lots of my friends became involved, JJ is an assistant for one of Team GB's sports and Rock Chick and four other friends are"games makers". 

My "bah, humbug" about the games just kept increasing, especially last week when it took almost twice as long to get to work.  To add insult to injury, London buses started to play recordings of London's buffoon's mayor's voice reminding us to allow for travel disruption over the PA. And don't get me started on corporate sponsors or on tv advertising (especially this sponsor of the games and this wretched ad campaign).

Even when I knew that some of my colleagues were going to be in the opening ceremony I couldn't get properly enthused. And then two things happened in quick succession. First, I met the cousin of someone I vaguely know, who is a member of Team GB and just listening to how hard he had trained and how beside himself with joy he was at competing in London 2012 chipped a huge whole in my cynicism. Then I watched the opening ceremony and cried in a very un-British, uncynical way.

I may be easily led, but I've been completely converted (apart from the corporate sponsors but that's another story).  And, dammit, I'm proud of my city :-)