tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-340610942011-09-23T23:35:08.358+02:00Benvenuti! This blog is about my life in Italy,my work teaching English and occasional random observations. I concluded that my love of this country and its culture could only be realized by living here, and the only way someone with my execrable Italian language skills could live here was by exploiting my mother-tongue English ability. The adventure begins...anglitalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08849085997950873388noreply@blogger.comBlogger491100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34061094.post-26648903319162690582011-09-23T23:18:00.004+02:002011-09-23T23:35:08.369+02:00

After teaching for eight years, one finds oneself hearing certain words, phrases, sentences, even, coming from ones mouth automatically in many teaching situations. This could be mildly distressing yet it could also be viewed as the pay-off for earlier stresses of learning 'on the job' for a couple or so years. I hear myself delivering grammar explanations and examples without much thought:

anglitalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08849085997950873388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34061094.post-25158966081807683542011-07-10T16:13:00.003+02:002011-07-10T16:20:41.479+02:00

I spotted this old guy, immaculately attired in a light grey cotton suit sporting black briefcase, shoes and bow tie, walking down the street. I grabbed my camera and when I got to take the pic, a young kid had arrived and the moment is perfect: who are you?. Pity about the unintended crop.

anglitalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08849085997950873388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34061094.post-53302654170859255372007-12-22T10:57:00.000+01:002007-12-22T11:30:57.915+01:00

A friend is visiting from England. It's his first time in Italy and impressed is what he is. Last weekend he spent in Swindon in the UK, visiting a friend there. Pubs, street violence and rain. This weekend he is spending in Florence, Modena, and Bologna. I have taken off most of the week to accompany him around various caffes and bars in the town. We visited Galleria Ferrari in Maranello on

anglitalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08849085997950873388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34061094.post-52572227021811005392007-12-16T21:11:00.000+01:002007-12-16T21:41:27.549+01:00

IKEA. Well, quite... A friend is staying with me for a few days while she find a new apartment. I took the opportunity of this situation to use her car for a mission of mercy: I have been in my apartment for six months, almost to the day, and I didn't have a table and chairs till yesterday. IKEA has its benefits. It's undoubtedly cheap and of reasonable quality. The styles are more subjective, I

anglitalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08849085997950873388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34061094.post-74747210474882607792007-12-12T16:17:00.000+01:002007-12-12T16:42:30.332+01:00

Living in Italy one is subject to the actions of unions in their various guises. The lorry drivers are striking until Friday in protest at fuel prices. The petrol stations have also been affected as the tanker drivers have 'come out in sympathy', too. So, I was slightly chuffed when the petrol gauge in the school Ka hovered above the red 'Empty' line. Damn! My Thursday 8.30am lesson start in a

anglitalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08849085997950873388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34061094.post-48854036346830692442007-12-09T18:38:00.000+01:002007-12-09T19:23:02.196+01:00

The Ghirlandina tower which ajoins the duomo is getting a two year (but this is Italy, so lets be realistic...3,4 years?) face lift and implants. The scaffolding is to be sheathed in a white plastic skin upon which will be displayed a design by Mimmo Paladino. The pre-completion computer image of the final result looks very impressive and I imagine it will draw a lot of attention nationally, if

anglitalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08849085997950873388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34061094.post-69633735456423325892007-12-08T10:27:00.000+01:002007-12-08T18:20:32.944+01:00

The national holiday has started dull and damp, or humid, as the Italians say.And so I intend to be a complete slob this weekend. Of what does this activity comprise? Well, watching DVDs, terrible Italian telly, listening to Radio 4, reading and, of course, eating. I have a couple of DVDs from the library and I might take out 'Klimt'from the 24 hour place; I do like John Malkovich.The shoppers

anglitalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08849085997950873388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34061094.post-66897694846115846502007-12-02T12:05:00.000+01:002007-12-02T16:59:58.395+01:00

It's cold and dull but without rain, which would make it pretty much like the UK. I need some comfort food so I do a carbonara with some Vioello trenette, smoked procciuto and too much cream which makes it quite runny necessitating the use of a spoon to catch the remaining delicious sauce. After half digesting this I go to meet an Italian friend for our interscambio. Theoretically she speaks

anglitalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08849085997950873388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34061094.post-51910917254876091852007-12-01T14:12:00.000+01:002007-12-01T17:37:39.249+01:00

This is the craft market in the piazza below my apartment. I am tempted to buy and after a little hesitation settle on a silver hair clip for C. for Christmas.So it's Saturday and so it's Sara's lesson. "Can you do the vowels, please?"So I do. She reproduces the sounds well but when, five minutes later, I ask her to spell her first name she goes to into something strange, not even the Italian

anglitalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08849085997950873388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34061094.post-22503882421767311142007-11-30T20:32:00.000+01:002007-11-30T21:34:07.045+01:00

I love these foggy mornings, the streets shrouded and atmospheric, inviting shady exploration. It usually burns off by mid-morning to be replaced by blue skies and crisply cold air. It's 8:30a.m. and I'm sitting in an anonymous room in a bank in the town centre. My English conversation students sitting opposite me are in charge of audits and securities. Cristina's auditing explanation I can just

anglitalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08849085997950873388noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34061094.post-72998466411737214372007-11-29T20:30:00.000+01:002007-11-29T20:51:00.525+01:00

Another Thursday, another long day awaits after a lightening fast shower, shave, breakfast and email check. Done and dusted in an hour (I could spend that long under the hot shower on these cold mornings; prising myself from the womb of my bed is very difficult....) and out the door to the school car and a string of engineering companies dotted round the area. It's difficult to eat between

anglitalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08849085997950873388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34061094.post-1602064723804072582007-11-26T16:23:00.000+01:002007-11-26T16:39:24.854+01:00

I Don't Like Mondays. I suspect this age old refrain is echoed by many people every week. Personally, my Mondays start in a huge engineering company on the outskirts of town. After three hours there, I drive back to the school, pick up a colleague and then go to another company 20km away in the opposite direction. I don't have much chance to eat from 8am till 3.15pm. And today I forgot my banana

anglitalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08849085997950873388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34061094.post-32498735427738312672007-11-25T14:26:00.000+01:002007-11-25T15:07:14.671+01:00

This picture below right is of a scene in Big Sur, California, on Highway 1 between Los Angeles and San Francisco. There is some quite spectacular scenery in this area. This picture, centre right, is called Italian Urgency. Top right: Monet in Modena.Historically, for me, Sundays have always tended towards the boring. Get up late, or what can be considered late these days what with La Vecchia

anglitalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08849085997950873388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34061094.post-29273211011211812762007-11-21T17:29:00.001+01:002007-11-21T17:38:30.754+01:00

I have mixed feelings about this time of year. I like the food, the atmospheric city streets, the chestnut roasters, the hot mulled wine and panettone. The cold is sometimes quite severe and coupled with rain or snow (less preferable)it can be quite depressing. Still, snow melts and rain stops leaving the suggestive mists and fogs which shroud the street in their maw. It makes diving into a

anglitalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08849085997950873388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34061094.post-30054622300779785052007-11-20T09:54:00.000+01:002007-11-20T09:59:00.894+01:00

I wouldn't usually be up at this time on a non-working morning but the old woman who lives upstairs makes strange pre-eight o'clock noises which are difficult to ignore.Anyway, here are some further pics:PorticiPortici 2memory of Naplesmore to follow.

anglitalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08849085997950873388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34061094.post-21423430674915482242007-11-18T14:34:00.000+01:002007-11-18T15:03:06.818+01:00

So I'm back and it's November and I thought I would have been here earlier than this. Well, I'm at a new school and in a new apartment - with a new internet connection. Ah, bless. The lovely cold days are back which means it's time for Nutella-smothered panettone, butternut squash risottos, creamy pasta dishes; in general - comfort food. I'm off for some fruit tea and biccies.I like to dabble in

anglitalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08849085997950873388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34061094.post-17112532248688820192007-07-15T21:33:00.000+02:002007-07-15T21:46:33.707+02:00

I'm back after a hiatus which can be put down to losing my wi-fi connection. But now I'm in another apartment in the town centre and on Tiscali broadband.Unfortunately I can't seem to upload any photos since I've moved; I probably need to tinker with the settings or something. If anyone else is on Tiscali and using an iBookG4, can you offer any advice?

anglitalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08849085997950873388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34061094.post-62288545717447549382007-02-12T22:42:00.000+01:002007-01-21T19:19:37.398+01:00

I love hearing students pronounce the protagonist's name in a starter level original text I get them to read. A little alliteration adds to the fun. Micky Munro is a thrilling rock star who is the target of (gulp) assassins in Australia, on (gulp) Uluru. It's thrilling stuff, truly... 'Meekey! Meekey!' as they read, earnestly. I took the wrong train on Saturday. Or maybe I should say the right

anglitalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08849085997950873388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34061094.post-18801905121976417552007-01-17T21:01:00.000+01:002007-01-17T21:43:15.213+01:00

And so the designers' lessons are over. For the time being, at least. The wife has an international trade fair in Frankfurt and is demanding I furnish her with useful phrases. Her frustration results in an offer I couldn't possibly take up; "You come to Frankfurt with me! I pay you for work with me. Yes?' Unfortunately I have to decline; I decline diplomatically, in front of her husband. If she

anglitalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08849085997950873388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34061094.post-61016972704483634922007-01-14T14:30:00.000+01:002007-01-14T18:59:39.753+01:00

Well, Happy New Year. Better late than never, I suppose. The mists and fogs - 'nebbia' in Italian and no distinction between the two - of this time of year are OK with me. I prefer them to rain or snow. A friend tells me that the latter has not yet reached the village in the Appenines where she visits. Some great skies pop up at dusk time, too.After returning from a fruitless shoe search in the

anglitalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08849085997950873388noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34061094.post-85764784176863888322006-12-17T21:16:00.000+01:002006-12-17T21:44:06.067+01:00

This was taken from my window last night; I like how the fading sun is catching the contrail of the jet. There are some great skies at this time of year. Anyway, two more days of work remain before my Christmas break begins. I fly to the UK on Wednesday at 10:30 or so, necessitating catching a train at an ungodly hour. The School's Christmas party went off without any drunken embarrassments: I

anglitalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08849085997950873388noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34061094.post-13658389110247785192006-12-08T14:22:00.000+01:002006-12-08T15:05:57.435+01:00

My new hat has the ear flaps which can fold up and tie on the top. I've gone past the age of caring so much what I look like over the comfort provided. Anyway, the head wear is lined with rabbit fur and very warm it is too. Upon arriving for my lesson with the designers I took off my hat at the door and went to the studio for the lesson. Unfortunately Leo had seen me putting my new furry

anglitalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08849085997950873388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34061094.post-1164811689203036302006-11-29T14:58:00.000+01:002006-11-29T15:48:10.513+01:00

The Autumn, or fall, is one of my favourite times of the year. The inevitable decay of nature and the general closing down of the days. This photo was taken in a tiny park on my way to a lesson with the designers. I like the contrasting colours. I'm sure the previous day, when I was without my camera, had the leaves a touch more vibrant than today. The decay can be graded in hours, not days or

anglitalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08849085997950873388noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34061094.post-1163250529000268762006-11-11T14:06:00.000+01:002006-11-17T16:59:33.656+01:00

Simona looks tired and she confirms as much. Her work and life in general are stressing her out. 'My body is tired of my life' she groans. Her boss expects her to produce a report on her conference in Denmark. Her fatigue is palpable.My designers are in high spirits. A correctly answered question from the wife induces child-like pride and gloating. The husband is unhappy because his gorgeous, one

anglitalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08849085997950873388noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34061094.post-1163092758086850702006-11-09T18:04:00.000+01:002006-11-09T22:47:41.290+01:00

Some Italians' pronun- ciation of certain words, hate and eat, angry and hungry, for example, is confusing. I asked a higher level group to think of some sentences using a stative verb in the gerund (-ing) form. The above example was cited. At first I thought that she had said 'eating' junk food was bad for you; she clarified and I now intend to adopt the phrase for some situations. As you can

anglitalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08849085997950873388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34061094.post-1162561853205741572006-11-03T14:31:00.000+01:002006-11-03T18:34:10.426+01:00

Diovetti's lessons continue inevitably, irrevocably. Every lesson I have to repeat the same old things: pronouncing and translating the same old words. And, predictably, provoking the same old response; either 'che cazzo!', or today, 'che due marròni!', the final word here being a synonym for testicles. Anyway, after his 'lesson' comes his daughter's. She is a recent law graduate and has moved

anglitalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08849085997950873388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34061094.post-1161988669834686762006-10-27T23:50:00.000+02:002006-10-28T00:37:49.926+02:00

Finally the week is over. Quite an unusually demanding one. I hesitate to use the word stress in any form. Friend back in UK and no lesson tomorrow. A couple of late evening lessons are on holiday for a couple of weeks and the upper intermediate group is underway quite comfortable. The latter contains a couple of sparkly popsies wanting , nay needing, English for their wonderfully specialised

anglitalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08849085997950873388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34061094.post-1161731199833103922006-10-25T00:56:00.000+02:002006-10-26T21:11:24.660+02:00

And so my visitor's holiday comes to an end. Florence, right, was beautiful and didn't disappoint. The crowds, the buildings, the sculpture, the art. What more could a culture vulture ask for? Complaining of fewer tourists would be somewhat hypocritical, so I won't. The train ride home was a classic Italian experience. Double booked seats by a school group of loud teenagers - only thirty or so,

anglitalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08849085997950873388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34061094.post-1161269801287909032006-10-19T16:47:00.000+02:002006-10-19T23:20:30.700+02:00

Another visit to Maranello is prompted by a friend visiting from England. The Ferrari museum is wonderful and there are many fine examples of the cars made down the years. My favourite has to be the Dino, pictured. This was the only Ferrari to leave the factory without the famous prancing horse badge affixed to the bodywork. My friend is greatly impressed. Onward to Castelvetro for a mosey around

anglitalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08849085997950873388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34061094.post-1160729633801889662006-10-13T10:27:00.000+02:002006-10-13T10:53:53.896+02:00

Your correspondent is reeling. The bicycle he purchased four weeks ago is no longer in his possession. (The photograph on the left is not of his bicycle; he never got round to immortalising it in the 'darkroom'.) It is his own fault, to a degree. Such a fine machine surely demanded a better security device than that which he employed. He used a U-lock with a previous contraption which exceeded

anglitalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08849085997950873388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34061094.post-1160398261837233912006-10-09T14:33:00.000+02:002006-10-10T18:03:08.096+02:00

And so to Ornette Coleman. The seventy-six year old free jazz godfather is in the area on a mini tour, reprising some of his old works. He has a very distinctive sound which is obtained, I believe, from a plastic alto saxophone. He also compliments some tunes with trumpet and violin. As an encore he plays a wonderful fifteen or so minute version of one of his most famous numbers, Lonely Woman.

anglitalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08849085997950873388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34061094.post-1160172519255456912006-10-06T23:49:00.000+02:002006-10-07T00:08:39.263+02:00

We've just watched Roman Holiday. Wonderful. Hepburn is divine, Peck perfect. Almost makes one yearn to move to the Eternal City in a po-mo attempt to recreate the mise-en-scene so well evoked of a time which,no doubt, never existed outside the imaginations of Hollywood producers. Still...Lesson cancellations are a mixed blessing. One thinks, 'Is it because of my teaching that he/she has

anglitalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08849085997950873388noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34061094.post-1159978324200851602006-10-04T17:56:00.000+02:002006-10-04T20:19:32.273+02:00

Returning to my apartment the wrong way up the one-way street, as is my wont, I hear the unmistakable rumble of the high performance engine. The restless, chomping-at-the-bit burble always sends a shiver and gives me goosebumps. Five F430s, one by one, in a row down the street. I don't know why. Two red, one yellow, one black, one grey. Others in the street didn't bat an eyelid. One of the many

anglitalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08849085997950873388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34061094.post-1159720244841492792006-10-01T18:30:00.000+02:002006-10-01T20:08:02.506+02:00

My first time in Ferrara and I get that strange deja vu feeling. Why? This building, the Palazzo dei Diamanti, where I've been to see the Andre Derain exhibition, was in an Antonioni movie called Beyond the Clouds. I couldn't place it at first then out of the blue it hit me. After dispassionately observing the unconsumated parting of the couple, him walking away down the adjacent street, her

anglitalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08849085997950873388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34061094.post-1159617847078660932006-09-30T13:24:00.000+02:002006-09-30T22:59:42.763+02:00

Si. Mo.Na. Light of my... lessons. The lovely Simona's final lesson today. Over the dark glass table she leaned in her pink low-cut t-shirt, and apologised for her tardiness. The third conditional form today. 'If you hadn't have been late, I wouldn't have had the chance to miss you', I consider saying. Then think better of it.'If the traffic lights had been working in harmony, you'd have been on

anglitalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08849085997950873388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34061094.post-1159564792519637022006-09-29T22:50:00.000+02:002006-09-29T23:19:52.536+02:00

The anteroom to the boardroom. Diovetti is predictably late. Coffee comes fifteen minutes before the end. It's bad. This man needs no caffiene and the coffee bearer has got the order wrong. His Orzo (barley) coffee hasn't materialised and we both have a regular espresso. He swears and starts to sweat.Next up is his daughter. Thankfully her level of English is considerably better; intermediate,

anglitalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08849085997950873388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34061094.post-1159359567015154462006-09-27T14:08:00.000+02:002006-09-27T15:42:35.483+02:00

'Coffee please.'Diovetti is in a good mood. Usually it's just 'coffee!', barked down the phone to an assistant.Even so, as a student of English he is unremittingly terrible. Practically every lesson he needs reminding of the same words- their meanings and pronunciation. I feel like screaming sometimes. Outside of his lessons he does'nt work and when he is obliged to communicate in English when in

anglitalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08849085997950873388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34061094.post-1159123428960619362006-09-24T19:39:00.000+02:002006-09-24T20:43:49.100+02:00

My lesson yesterday morning was cancelled ninety minutes before it was due to start. Ordinarily this wouldn't put me out too much. As it was I got up and leisurely eased into the morning before the 11am lesson. I wanted to see an exhibition in Milan and had all but written it off. The journey was doable for the exhibition alone but I wanted to browse shops etc too. So, the cancellation call comes

anglitalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08849085997950873388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34061094.post-1158954161030854832006-09-22T20:57:00.000+02:002006-09-22T22:08:16.816+02:00

Another bulldog enters my life, if briefly. Her name is Alice and she belongs to Moris's (the cafe owner) daughter. She was being fed sandwiches, brioche, and God knows what else. Between mouthfuls her long, slimy, strings of slobber were stretching toward the floor.The ex-flatmate was round earlier. Upon my return from dropping off the school's grey Uno at the garage (strong smell of petrol

anglitalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08849085997950873388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34061094.post-1158740291997750142006-09-20T09:55:00.000+02:002006-09-21T22:20:09.186+02:00

The Erbe Della Notte sleep capsules seem to have done their job. I awoke feeling reasonably refreshed.Straight down to the bar for a cappuccino and a couple of chocolate paste. All the men are eyeing the Gazetta-hogger in the corner so I settle for the local rag. Someone's grandmother's cat got stuck up a tree but all ended happily when the vigili del fuoco, after blocking the street for a couple

anglitalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08849085997950873388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34061094.post-1158635465202224392006-09-19T04:34:00.000+02:002006-09-21T09:18:40.490+02:00

Standing at the bar this morning, staring, hypnotised - possibly from lack of sleep last night - into my cappucino froth, the sounds of Parisian French drifted my way. Instantly, I got the urge to sixth-floor it, get online and book tickets to that wonderful city. I was last there in October, almost a year ago. The price of the sleeper from Italy couldn't be faulted but the comfort factor ought

anglitalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08849085997950873388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34061094.post-1158517031055588212006-09-17T19:56:00.000+02:002006-09-17T20:17:11.073+02:00

The day's tone has been decidedly Autumnal. I parted the bedroom curtains to reveal sheets of rain moving determinedly slowly across the cityscape. There was no reason to go out or even get dressed. I committed the day to my pajamas and dressing gown and lying in bed. There were episodes of Seinfeld to get through, afterall. There was the new harvest of Pocket Coffees to get through, too,

anglitalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08849085997950873388noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34061094.post-1158424260187548392006-09-16T17:59:00.000+02:002006-09-16T18:32:30.570+02:00

The weather has turned. I'm wearing PJs - or my equivalent - and using a cotton sheet at night. The lower temperatures of the last few days are welcome, the rain I can do without. Simona's lesson was slightly disrupted by an attached school's Saturday morning musical extravaganza; cheering, shouting etc. 'I'm a bit voice-less this morning'I show interest: oh?'I was shouting at my 'usband last

anglitalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08849085997950873388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34061094.post-1158171505273725032006-09-13T20:03:00.000+02:002006-09-13T20:18:25.296+02:00

New flat mate arrived. With his bike in a bag. The paint on his bedroom walls has just about dried. Guido is performing well, though I can help feeling he was designed for the smaller Italian body. Unless I keep my knees in tight against the bike frame my knees crash into the rear-pointing handles. Ben's bike is of the sporting kind, thin wheels, racing handlebars. It should be interesting to

anglitalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08849085997950873388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34061094.post-1158092313551510442006-09-12T21:48:00.000+02:002006-09-12T22:18:35.136+02:00

'How can we make 'information' countable?' A pause of a few seconds. 'Ahh! A beautiful information''Well, possibly in Italy. In England a lot of information isn't very beautiful...' Costanza's expression became a frown. 'It should be beautiful, I think, too. ', I say. Alessandro is back from Monza and his company's victory in the Grand Prix. "Did you know the Ferrari Dino was the only model to

anglitalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08849085997950873388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34061094.post-1157982910264767302006-09-11T15:39:00.000+02:002006-09-11T18:24:27.510+02:00

Five years ago to the hour I was waking up in a youth hostel bed in Seattle, switching on my portable radio to ease myself into the day only to discover the events taking place on the other side of the continent. I arrived in the city the day before and was planning to leave on the twelfth. This turned into a two week stay as the Federal Aviation Authority grounded all commercial aircraft for

anglitalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08849085997950873388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34061094.post-1157924980352543132006-09-10T23:20:00.001+02:002006-09-10T23:49:40.353+02:00

I need a new bike. I haven't had one for a year now; all three I've owned were stolen in two years and last year I said to myself that I wouldn't get another one. However, some lessons I've got don't justify car use and they are no fun walking to in the extremes of summer or winter. So, I'm in the market. And ebay has some rather chic Beachcruisers on offer by some liquidation company in Austria

anglitalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08849085997950873388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34061094.post-1157825777691692512006-09-09T19:28:00.000+02:002006-09-09T21:04:21.200+02:00

Late last night after three too many prosecci and nearly puncturing my articulatio genu I somehow managed to remember this morning's lesson with the divine Simona. (Level: intermediate) Our first lesson since the medical intervention, or 'operation' as I told her, upon her knee. Married unfortunately – for me, to a doctor– fortunately for her, she is a classic Italian beauty, to my eyes; long,

anglitalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08849085997950873388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34061094.post-1157719129241108812006-09-08T13:46:00.000+02:002006-09-08T23:59:16.243+02:00

My first week back after two sodden and cold weeks 'holiday' in the good ole UK went fairly smoothly, Ryanair aside. At this time of year I, as do many other teachers doing this, have a skeletal-looking timetable. The lessons consist mainly of unfinished courses from last semester. However, one of my students, let's call him Diovetti, has a rolling contract with the school. His course never

anglitalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08849085997950873388noreply@blogger.com0