It poured with rain this morning and when I announced that I was going to the supermarket - all of two doors away from the school - at lunchtime I was met with a chorus of, "You can't go out!" "Of course I can - I'm British", said I.
Now, usually you can't get near the meat counter on a Friday as Sicilians, and Italians in general, buy an awful lot of meat for the weekend. Unlike the British, they do not buy a large joint and that is that - oh, no: it's a goodly amount of this, another kilo of that, "better take a mezzo kilo of that as well" and, just when you think the person in front of you has finished, they will think of something else that the butcher has to go into his workroom to cut. After that every one of them will want "un po' di salsiccia" - and who can blame them? - before they enquire after the butcher's wife, children, uncles in America, neighbours and plans for the weekend. If you can manage the wait, it will be worth it but sometimes I just can't.
Today, however, was different, for the rain had kept even the most earnest shoppers away; I was served in double-quick time and it was smiles all round.
As a bonus, later the Christmas lights came on in via Sacro Cuore [ which is more than happened last year] but I don't think many of the people who ventured out in the late afternoon saw them, as most were walking around with heads bowed and umbrellas up even though it had stopped raining hours before. I was reminded of football's favourite naughty boy, Mario Balotelli, who in this interview told Time that he "never goes out" in Britain because of the rain.
6 comments:
I don't think would be a good shopper in an Italian supermarket.I get pissed off enough when people at the checkout gossip with the person on the till
There's a "village" atmosphere in the stores up here on the mountain where I dwell...I love the personalised way of shopping offered up here, and it's why I never go off the mountain to shop...to the hectic, impersonalised hustle and bustle of the Gold Coast which is only a short drive away, really...about 30 to 45 minutes depending on the destination once there.
And Brisbane, Queensland's capital city is only a little over an hour or so away...I happily stay here in the "village". I like it that the shop assistants etc., recognise me and readily offer chats and smiles.
And this is something coming from someone who has little patience and hates waiting! lol
I hope all is well with you and Simi, Pat...cuddles to Simi.
A Welsh in Sicily? Where are you? I am in Trapani. I am originally from a town near Trapani but I grew up in New York. I found you now on Twitter through my daughter Sayaka Alessandra who is following you. Nice to meet you! The meat shop sounds like the one near my house. Luckily he has a chair...so I just bring something to read and sit and wait! I saw Patrizio Buanne down here below...Sayaka loves him. She first saw him on Momenti di Gloria when he won for singing Diana. When she became a web celebrity on Youtube, he found her on Myspace and wrote to her. They both sing retro music, and are both old-fashioned. He's such a sweet guy, did you see the video where he sings Mamma to his Mother?
Ah, you would learn "pazienza" here, jams! Hi, Lee. I enjoy personal service but I also like big stores! We're Ok, thanks. Love to you and cats. xx woof! Hello, Francesca and how nice to meet you here! I am in Modica. Yes, I love Patrizio but I haven't seen the video you mention. I'll look for it. I enjoy your daughterr's posts on twitter too. Hope we can keep in touch.
I love walking in the rain--they don't know what they are missing :)
We have to do it a bit too often in Britain, though, Pat!
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