My dear friend, James, has now been here for 48 hours. During that time he has:
- learnt several Italian salutations
- met some of my students
- become known at the Altro Posto, where he is already affectionately called "James Bond" [which is rather appropriate, really]
- made friends with Simi [despite the "chair" battle, which she is likely to win!]
- scaled a terrifyingly high fence in order to use a shortcut to my apartment
- walked down to Modica Bassa and back
- chipped a tooth [on the hard Modican bread, before you all get ideas!]
So I would say that he is feeling quite at home. He will feel even more so tomorrow or the next day , when the water will probably run out once again: "Il servizio è sospeso, signora" ["The service is suspended"] the clerk said helpfully when I phoned to order a cistern refill today. "There will be another gara".
The whole of Italy exists on the gare, which are competitions for jobs and / or contracts; to win one it is essential to know someone who knows someone who happens to be a relative of someone who....... Goodness knows what we are all supposed to do without water in the meantime!
Welcome to the real Sicily, James.
16 comments:
James was used to that sort of thing in Russia. I am sure it is better in warm weather. How will he wash his socks and jocks?
Sounds like he's having a marvelous time. Will you take him to the dentist, too? ;D
By the way, if you've the time to pop over, check out my ABC Wednesday post - S day - on Sicily. I've linked to you for your Sicilian recipes. :D
I'm sure he has you hopping Welshcakes to keep up but it must be fun too.
Ah, the perennial water problems. I was just listening to a program on Herculaneum tonight and they were talking about the wonderful way that the Romans delivered water to the citizenry of the towns and how it was not bettered until the nineteenth century. Obviously the Sicilians were not paying attention to those lessons although they do have a problem with water since there is not a lot there.
James will find it a charming idiosyncracy, I imagine. As long as the sun shines and he has your great company, what else matters?
Early days...do you mean you are both getting up early in order to see each other...or that, in terms of any potential relationship it is too soon for all your blogger friends to start making assumptions?
If the former, poor you...if the latter, too late!
LOL Colin. Do they have those big water tanks on the houses there Welshcakes, to collect rain water? I guess it is all part of the life of Sicily and you wouldn't change a thing :-)
Hang in there Ms Simi, DO NOT give in!
I have to smile at the James Bond discription especially as it is followed by scaling the fence!!!
and I didn't know that Italian food was quite so dangerous...
It sounds like you are having a lot of fun :-)
WL
Pass on my best wishes to James. Thanks.
I'm sure you'll look after him well. He deserves that.
Envy is an ugly emotion, however, we would love to be there in Sicily. I am sure you are all having a wonderful time. It's good to see that James is having a well earned break.
So laughing at Simi's antics...must be odd with a visitor in her chair...x
Ah I hope a good time is being had by all. I cannot imagine for a second that Simi would lose out in the battle of the chairs!
Hi, CC. J advises if the socks and jocks are tartan, there'll be no problem. Hi, Leslie. Probably. Will be over soon. Hopping like a frog, jmb! I'll remind him of that, Ellee! He gets up early, Book Owl so god help us when he starts blogging again! Haven't seen any of those tanks, Nunyaa. Simi not giving in! More fun by the day, cherrypie! And we send our best to you and Mrs C, Calum. Thanks for your good wishes, Andrew. Thanks, Abbey x Many thanks, jams. They've come to an arrangement now!
He sounds like a native already!
Water must be a big worry at this time of year. Holiday-makers can do without washing much, but they do need to drink. And cooking needs water, too!
Well, funny you should mention those watertanks, Nunyaa - more later.
Hi, Liz. He is doing well! Hi, dragonstar. Water for drinking is not a problem as most people, including me, use mineral water and I don't mind using it for cooking, either. But you need tap water for other purposes.
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