Slides

A bit of a bust to be honest - we discovered when we got there that all the tickets for the three big slides were gone, and the queues for the two small ones were taking at least 45 minutes. Kit was very patient, Beri went slightly off his nut, and Sid and I joined the queue at the last minute. Poor Sid! I found myself startled by the ride down, I think she was terrified. Thank goodness Stefania was at the bottom waiting for her! Kit reckoned it had been worth the wait. If we go again, we will definitely get there for 10:00 when it opens.

Invasion of the Milanese

Stefania's mother and brother have joined us for a couple of days. Both charming. Steffi is having to work overtime translating between her mother and me, and prodding her brother to talk english. He is fourteen years old, taller than Jeremy, and his english verges on the non-existent. This hasn't stopped all three children taking him to their hearts, about which he has been very gracious, and perfectly prepared to join in their play. I suspect the fact that he is very free with the games, animations and music on his mobile phone may have swung the boys' good opinion! Kit and Sid are gamely getting their tongues around 'Allesandro', but Beri is resolutely calling him 'Alexander'.

We are all off to the Tate Modern tomorrow to have a go on the slides.

Malaria, or not

Poor Jeremy has been feeling really crummy for days now. The results of his blood tests indicated, well, not malaria, but a mosquito-borne virus which is giving him temperature spikes, insomnia, huge headaches and, when he takes the pills to get rid of the headaches, asthma. There is nothing the medical establishment can do save prescribe painkillers.

Who would have thought that you needed the full spectrum of immunisations just to go to Kiev? We are going to remember his three-day trip there for the wrong reason. Well, the not-malaria as well as not even finding me an ashtray with 'A Present From Kiev Airport' painted on it.

Stefania . . .

. . . is a beautiful 20-year old italian lass, whose father is a colleague of an ex-colleague of Julia's. Got that? Stefania wanted to improve her English, so it was arranged that she would stay at Julia's stable yard for a few weeks, helping on the yard. Which is where, on our usual Tuesday evening visit, Jeremy, the children and I met her. One week into the arrangement with Julia, the poor girl realises that her liking for horses is rather more theoretical that hands-on, and could she come and live with us instead, and help look after the children! Beri and Kit are quite bowled over, and Sid is deeply in love. I don't know in what direction Stefania's English will improve, but I bet you the children's Italian will be terrific before the week is out.

He shall make music wherever he goes

Kit is coming up to his third guitar lesson, and isn't bored yet. I am finding it very hard not to over-enthuse, or over-comment on his practising - very difficult as I am thrilled he chose my instrument.

Beri discovered a dalmation costume and won't wear anything else!

Brand new blog

Can I actually have a blog without having a paying job? Looking around Blogworld it appears that, like a salary, a necessary adjunct to employment is a displacement activity. We didn't have blogs in my (working) day, I had to be far more inventive to avoid work. You youngsters don't know you're alive.

What I have instead is a very untidy house, washing and washing up to do, and a two year old daughter superglued to the television screen while I set up a bloody blog. Tch - life, eh?

And I have to set up this blog so I can post a comment on Liz's wedding pictures. Not to do so would be rude. So this is Not My Fault!