SonoPizzitano
 
The day started so well because I had a free day and knew it.  I got stuck into a bit of painting straight away and was feeling quite happy with myself for being so industrious.  The paint ran out an hour or so later, giving me a perfect excuse to stop.  I did my ironing, made my lunch and prepared to go to see France v Ireland in rugby, before checking the time on the internet and discovering it was on much later than I had thought.
 

Then Paul rang to say the car I was buying was involved in a crash and it did not look too good as a result.  I asked were himself and Lorraine alright and he said they were and would call when he got back.  I went off to find Chelsea and Cardiff on in SPQR and settled down to watch it.  Mark Kennedy, an ex-Irish international and school mate of my sons was playing for Cardiff, who lost 4-1.  I went home again only to get a call from Lorraine that they were back with a hired car and we could share it, especially important as I needed it for next week to go to work.  We met up for a drink and then it was back to their place for a big T-bone steak dinner. It was magnificent.  We did not get to see Ireland lose badly to France, which was just as well.   Alan and Claire were there too and they had had a bad trip to Naples, being turned back as the road was too dangerous due to snow.  What a day for all.  It will all be sorted out, somehow!  No one died.  Pity about the match though.

 
 
 

Another horrible weather day.  Not to worry.. I was to meet my boss to go to the new employers/company to be introduced to them before starting next Monday but after a phone call that plan is cancelled and so I have a free day. I spend some time on my internert which is now back in credit and then head off to help Alan, a good lad from Ballyer in Dublin, to do up his house/apartment before he leaves for England and sells or let his place.  I am told to f...k off as I have too much work but just tell him to fe.k off.  That is how it goes between us.

So there are four men and Claire, his wife, doing a bit and we break off for lunch soon after I arrive.  Another two hours and the false ceilings are in and I have done my imitation of manual labour ( I love it .. a Lucretian pleasure. ie "I could watch it all day" ).  Then we go for a drink or three and after that it is back to Paul and Lorraine's where we chill and have dinner and another drink or two.  I make a contribution to pay for a car they give me and get a lift home.  It has been another good day in Pizzo.  

Well done all and here's to an Irish win in Paris tomorrow!  Paul in using an expression"your man" which Mark takes as a sure sign Paul is converting to being Irish.  Mark is Welsh but we forgive him for that and Claire is English.  Lorraine is universally a good soul and not nationalistic apart from supporting Bristol City, god help her.  Paul  is a man of the world and decidely not interested in football or any form of nationalism.   We are a rum bunch  but it works.  Claire had been waylaid by an amorous admirer on the way back but we are at a loss as to what to do.  Hit him or congratulate him.  Maybe he is just Italian but it does not convince.



 
Post Title. 02/11/2010
 
This is your new blog post. Click here and start typing, or drag in elements from the top bar.
 
 
Another day in Pizzo town and I went off to post a letter and get credit for my internet key.  It will not be active until tomorrow, unfortunately, so I am still depending on the goodness of friends, which is probably good for my soul.  Humility is not a strong point of mine, it seems.  

So here I am living in Pizzo and managing fine.  The solitary nature of living alone is a blessing at times but also can be a curse.  Loneliness can strike any time and often just before going to bed.  But I am learning to live with myself and even to enjoy it at times.  I definitely am glad not to have to answer to others’ needs in my house as I have been doing all my married life.  I cook sometimes and am lucky to be invited to friends’s houses or to just drop in and be treated to soup, lunch, dinner, tea or a drink.  They must like me, I suppose, and that is a nice feeling.  In their position I am not sure I would be so hospitable.  They also help me sort problems with the house, the computer and internet and even helped me find a job.  Having such friends as Paul, Lorraine, Alan and Claire, Beata and Leon, Mark and others is definitely a bonus for me.

I arrived here on the first Friday of January.  It only took a week to get a job, get connected to the internet, be invited to dinner (and not just once), get heaters, stock the kitchen with food, find an Italian teacher and settle in.  Since then the job has turned out alright and turned into two jobs in two different locations.  Next Monday I begin the second one in a company called ENI, one of the biggest in Italy.  I will be teaching English to employees four mornings a week, for three hours.  Then I have to grab lunch and get to the first job in a private school in Vibo Valentia for three o’clock and finish at eight pm.  I did not come here to make money but it seems I will be doing fine. 

 

These jobs will last until the end of June and then I can rest and enjoy the summer.  I shall probably return to Ireland in August and then decide what to do for the next year or so.  My wife and I are not together now and this is a real consideration and one I have to sort out to my satisfaction and hers.  This is a life-changing time for me.  I am getting an opportunity to live the dream and I must make a good decision and make it work for me. 
 
Post Title. 02/10/2010
 
Today is the start of a new blog here.  If you would like to comment on my blog or website please send me your email and I will include it.  Find my email  details on page 4 of this website.
I have to fly now.. more later.  Starting a new teaching job next week, the second one since I came in early January.  I am better off being busy, it seems to me.  This new one is in a company, ENI, seemingly one of the biggest in Italy.  Teaching them English should be good and inspire me as they will be in earnest, due to pressure of work or boss