Although in Rome, I enjoyed the life of a lady who lunches (or drinks cappuccino, at least), once back in England I needed to find work. As I have children, I wanted a job which offers flexible hours and time off in the holidays [Sure your poor work ethic didn’t have anything to do with it?? – Ed. Shut… Continue reading What I Go to School For
Tag: rome
F is for Foodies
Today's post subject is taken from my A-Z Challenge Suggestion Box: 'Why don’t you write more about Italy and its heavenly cuisine through the rest of the month? At least, that is what I want to know more about. A closeup of a gelato stall, tossing pasta, cooking seafood…. drooool! You get the picture right?' Good… Continue reading F is for Foodies
D is for Dude on a Bike
Today's A-Z Challenge is this rather snazzily attired gentleman in Piazza Del Popolo in the centre of Rome. I couldn't decide if he was on his way to a lunchtime rendezvous or heading back home to his wife to atone for a lunchtime misdemeanour! I particularly liked the way he stopped in the middle of the… Continue reading D is for Dude on a Bike
C is for (Cigarette) Smoke Gets in Your Eyes
Friends in the UK used to ask me if smoking was a problem in Rome. I always said, nope, not at all – no one smokes in restaurants and it’s not too bad on the street. Well, it turns out that I was living in some sort of fantasy Rome, where I only ever went… Continue reading C is for (Cigarette) Smoke Gets in Your Eyes
Don’t Leave Me This Way
One of the conditions of my WordPress Least Prolific Blogger (Overseas) award is that I’m only allowed to blog twice a year. So here is my bi-annual update. Unbelievably, we leave Italy in just over a week. Three years have flown by and, despite all my bitching about Italian drivers, Italian shoppers, Italian rudeness, Italian… Continue reading Don’t Leave Me This Way
It’s My Party
Today's my birthday and I planned to celebrate with a cappuccino at a bar with the best view in Rome: it overlooks the Italian Men’s Swimming Team training pool. Forget the Coliseum or the Spanish Steps; this is the first sight you should see in Rome. However, I had a poorly child at home so, instead of… Continue reading It’s My Party
You Can’t Keep a Good Weeble Down
Not only am I starting to look like a Weeble but I also have the flexibility of one. I’ve always known that I’m not a naturally lithe person* (being the only person at primary school to fail Level 4 BAGA when I couldn’t perform a crab proved that) but when I found myself thinking how… Continue reading You Can’t Keep a Good Weeble Down
Locked Out of Heaven
Near where I live is Ponte Milvio, Rome’s oldest bridge. First built in 206 B.C., the bridge has always been a site of interest. According to Tacitus, the first century Roman historian and statesman, it was ‘famous for its nocturnal attractions,’ and was where the Emperor Nero conducted his debaucheries. In 312, Constantine, the first… Continue reading Locked Out of Heaven
The Love Bug…Happy Valentine’s Day
This decorated car was parked outside our apartment block this morning. Every single post-it note contained a romantic message, just waiting for the lucky girl (or boy) to leave for work. But would you: a) Think it was the most romantic gesture anyone had ever made and spend the entire day planning how to give… Continue reading The Love Bug…Happy Valentine’s Day
Inside Italy: The Streets aren’t Paved with Gold
One of the things that drives me mad living in Rome is the dirty streets. As most people live in apartments, they have to bring their rubbish down to the street bins. I'm pretty sure they get emptied regularly but these pictures show what the bins and surrounding area look like on an average day.… Continue reading Inside Italy: The Streets aren’t Paved with Gold
Word Up: A Happy New Year to all our readers…
So, after the compulsory Christmas over-indulgence, it’s time for a New Year change. No more Ferrero Rocher for breakfast, Bucks Fizz at 10am or evenings snacking on crackers and cheese. No more staying with family and friends, being offered cups of tea all day long, meals appearing out of nowhere and dishes miraculously cleaning themselves. … Continue reading Word Up: A Happy New Year to all our readers…
Top Ten Questions to Ask Yourself Before Moving to Italy
I don't usually go in for competitions, especially not ones where me or my writing are being judged, but this week, I'm entering not one, but two blogging competitions. The first one is at Expats Blog, where you'll find my entry, Top Ten Questions to Ask Yourself Before Moving to Italy, in amongst hundreds of… Continue reading Top Ten Questions to Ask Yourself Before Moving to Italy
Rome Revisited: Fountain of the Four Rivers
When I first came to Rome, I did all the touristy things and spent hours wandering the tiny lanes, visiting piazzas and admiring monuments. Then real life and plain ol' laziness took over. Having guests last week (who seemed to appreciate all my cleaning efforts and brought a hefty supply of goodies so they can… Continue reading Rome Revisited: Fountain of the Four Rivers
Top Ten Tips for a Successful Week with Houseguests
Refuse to let them through the front door until their bags have been searched for Bird’s Custard, Patak’s Curry Paste and trashy magazines Exhaust them by visiting every single tourist sight – insisting that walking between each one is the only way to get to know the real Rome Forbid anyone from ordering coffee at… Continue reading Top Ten Tips for a Successful Week with Houseguests
Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head…or Here Comes The Sun?
It’s raining here – again. Despite Rome having a reputation as a city of eternal sunshine, it actually has a greater rainfall each year than London. Rome receives an average of 733mm of rain per year, whereas London only gets 587mm. The difference is that all this Roman rain squeezes into just 74 days but… Continue reading Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head…or Here Comes The Sun?
King of the Road…A Fairy Tale
Once upon a time, not long ago, the people of Rome woke up to find that some kind Being had left an item called a car on their doorsteps. Despite never having seen one before, had a driving lesson or been informed of the purpose of roundabouts, traffic lights or STOP signs, the people happily… Continue reading King of the Road…A Fairy Tale
Beauty School Dropout
The Italian Mammas at my children’s school are all extremely glamorous. They’re thin - none of them look as though they’ve ever consumed a slice of pizza, let alone an entire Hawaiian washed down with several beers. They dress in high heels and their designer label clothes are chic and tailored. Their hair is coiffed,… Continue reading Beauty School Dropout
Inside Italy: Make Some Noise
So I’m back in Rome after two months away. What’s the first thing I noticed? THE NOISE! My god, I can barely hear myself think (not always a bad thing). I’ve totally got out of the habit of apartment living, being surrounded by hundreds of people. The main culprits are: The Man Upstairs: while I’ve… Continue reading Inside Italy: Make Some Noise
Home ARome
I’ve returned to Blighty for a few weeks to escape the insane temperatures of Rome. I was hoping for cool breezes and light drizzle but, so far, it's been pretty hot here too. Fingers crossed for snow on the way... Sadly, HWW has been left in the heat to, well, work. It's far too hot… Continue reading Home ARome
Inside Italy: Mamma Mia
There must be some Italian mammas out there rustling up homemade tortellini and tiramisu but I haven’t met any of them. Most of my Italian friends are working mums who stop off on their way home to pick up a pasta pronto (ready meal) of lasagna or stuffed peppers. We were guests at a recent dinner… Continue reading Inside Italy: Mamma Mia
Inside Italy: If I Could Turn Back Time…
As part of my naïve stupid enthusiastic commitment to saying 'yes' to new experiences, last month I spent the longest two hours of my life at a traditional Italian folk music concert. Words cannot truly convey the torment I was put through but it was more painful than childbirth. The performers were a variety of singers, children’s choirs,… Continue reading Inside Italy: If I Could Turn Back Time…
Chocolate Brownies speak louder than words
Last Italian lesson of the year. A quick recap of the basics: Teacher: “Come ti chiami?” What is your name? Easy. “Mi chiamo Barb.” “Quanti anni hai?” How many years do you have? “Ho ventuno anni.” I have 21 years (if only). “Di dove sei?” Ok, I know dove means where. So where are we? Aha: “A… Continue reading Chocolate Brownies speak louder than words
Teachers’ Gifts: the thought that counts?
It’s the end of term here, which means the usual rigmarole of buying teachers’ gifts. When I was at school in the '80s, teachers’ gifts were pretty much unheard of. Any child who brought in a present for the teacher was looked upon as some sort of nerd who deserved a turn in the Poking Tunnel™.… Continue reading Teachers’ Gifts: the thought that counts?
Top Ten Tips on how not to write a novel, find an agent, get it published and become rich and famous
I’ve read a string of comments in the last week about how easy it would be to write a novel if only one lived in Rome. This sort of thing: You want to write. Really you do. You long to. In fact, if you could run away now to Rome and write full-time with the… Continue reading Top Ten Tips on how not to write a novel, find an agent, get it published and become rich and famous
Summertime Blues
It’s starting to heat up here in Rome. At 10am this morning, the temperature had already hit 27 degrees, the sky was a deep blue without a cloud to be seen and the sun was beating down. Sounds like bliss huh? Hmmm, sadly not. I'm sure I’m a lone voice with this opinion but I… Continue reading Summertime Blues
