DAILY DOINGS - 4

I did it again today – went to the Post Office, settled myself down for the inevitable wait and realised I was sitting next to someone who is inordinately fascinated by the “turn” numbers coming up on the screen. The last time this happened it was a little old gentleman who kept repeating the numbers and digging his elbow into my ribs, but this time there was another such on my left and a not-so-old little lady on my right. Both shouted out each new ticket number displayed. [I could understand it if they were just excited at the numbers moving along for the service they required, but no, they celebrated with an elbowing for every single one.] Bruised, therefore, but not yet bowed, I rose to be served when my own prodotti postali number appeared on the screen [and to be fair, I was served rather promptly today – only a 20-minute wait]. As I left, what did I see? The same protagonists still sitting there, engaged in the same pastime of “number-yelling” and thoroughly enjoying themselves in the process. Will someone please explain to me the attraction of this occupation, for I am thinking of taking it up?! I am obviously missing something, paying out, as I do, for Rai and Sky, when there is this sort of entertainment to be had for free! It makes you wonder what anyone sees in the internet, really….

It has been a stormy day here and does not promise to be a pleasant night, but it has only, thus far, been the equivalent of a blustery day in Britain at this time of year. [That is not to belittle the “real” storms we get here, which can be very scary indeed, especially for a Brit not used to thunder without lightning or horror-film-style rattling shutters.] Yet my beloved Sicilians are making, well, “heavy weather” of it, going around with their scarves clutched to their mouths again and uttering “Che brutto tempo” [= “What terrible weather”] to all they meet. But I guarantee that they do not have the heating on at home!

Bless my soul, the water lorry arrived without any prompting [on my part, at least] today! I had tried to phone to order a tankful for the condominio on Friday but no one answered early on; then, once I am at work and teaching, I forget about anything else [which is as it should be]; phoned on Saturday but was told I had to phone on Monday; phoned yesterday and yes, the “order” was taken! When I came back at lunchtime today I could tell, by the lack of pressure, that we were going to run out at any minute and was just swearing [rather loudly] to myself when Simi barked: "No, it won't be our load yet", I remonstrated but on her insistence ventured out onto the balcony to check – and there it was, reader; one lovely, big water lorry delivering to us! And I am a lady who didn’t believe in miracles….