BRUTTO TEMPO

With Rome flooded, high water in Venice and the Arno rising worryingly, there are weather alerts all over Italy tonight. A woman tragically died today in a Rome underpass as her car became submerged. Down here, we have had torrential rain and intermittent thunder all day, together with quite frightening winds. [Yesterday we had rain and a fog which refused to clear into the bargain.] Yet the daytime temperature has remained at 15C. Boat travel to the mainland and smaller islands was suspended from yesterday afternoon but crossings from Messina have resumed. “And our town councils tell us there’s no water!” was the wry comment on one internet report I have read. My sentiments exactly….

Here in Modica there is so much water on some of the main roads that it is virtually impossible for pedestrians to cross them. [I can’t tell you how many good pairs of shoes I have ruined trying to do so in weather like this in previous years.] And there aren’t even any Christmas lights to cheer us up! Why? Because the Comune has no money, of course, not even for improving the roads!

The new hairdresser nearby had put a cheerful Santa, who sings Jingle Bells in English, outside his salon at the weekend. The singing is triggered as people walk by. Simi, who knows exactly where to put her paw to start these jollifications off, was most disappointed today as the Santa had been taken inside to protect it from the elements. “Maltempo monello!” [“naughty bad weather”] I sympathised as we strolled [or rather were blown] along.