7.20 p.m.
Hi to all my readers. The list is growing and there’s now about 6 of you out there reading this! I can’t believe it and feel quite guilty that I don’t write something much better!
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I found it hard to believe, but there are two people that actually read this blog! I know this only because they told me. In fact, one of them complained that most of it was boring, so, basically, they only read the first few lines!
Looking at blogs and things on the web, I’ve noticed many people outside Italy don’t really get Italian driving at all. They all think Italian drivers are mad. However, there are very clear and distinct rules on the road, here. In general, it’s very easy.
When driving one must assume that the car in front, behind or to the side of you could, at any moment, choose to do anything they like. They could pull in front of you. Stop for no reason. Accelerate, slow down, turn right, left or do a u-turn. All without signalling, of course. They will, probably just move to where they want to go.
What is important is that, whatever the time of day or night you are ready, with your hand poised, to blast your horn with as much vigour as possible, preferably keeping the horn pressed for a minimum of 1 minute, so that they realise you’re there.
Of course, this won’t make them change anything they’re doing, but it gives you a better feeling about it all. Of course, when youre driving, any idea of following any road signs, traffic light signals, lane markings, etc. is entirely your choice.
Especially, one should completely ignore lane markings as these are for guidance only. The most preferable thing is to drive along using part of two lanes so as to make sure that no-one can actually pass you.
When turning right, (bearing in mind that we’re all driving on the ‘wrong’ side of the road), one should move as far over to the left as is possible, thereby ensuring that you hold up traffic behind you. Inevitably, the quick thinking people will immediately pass those cars on the right, whilst holding their hand down on the horn. Even better, of course, is to signal left when you are actually going to turn right. This ensures the correct amount of confusion for any foreign drivers.
Google blog searches are not really that good. If you search for a blog by relevance (the default) and then search by date, some blogs that appear in the first are omitted from the second! Freaky. So, say you search for ‘milan italy’. The first search results page shows blog A, updated 15 minutes ago. Then click on the search by date (which lists them in reverse order (i.e. last updated showing at the top of the page) and sometimes, blog A is not there! How can that be?
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So, blogging! It’s interesting stuff. To be honest most blogs are rambles by teenagers or people who think they’re teenagers. Search through the blogs in Blogspot, Journalspace, etc. and most of the information is banal, to say the least. You might find some like minded people, but mostly you don’t – or maybe I’m looking in the wrong places – or maybe there aren’t any people who think like me (which wouldn’t really surprise me).
I’ve become obsessed by SEO. No, it’s not anything to do with Milan, Italy, Italians or food. Its to do with web stuff and stands for Search Engine Optimisation (or Optimization by people who are American or people who don’t realise that the correct spelling in English is with an “s” and not a “z” – you see, having been an English teacher for over a year has, somewhat, coloured my ideas about the English language and spelling, etc.) Continue reading
Well, many things are happening!
First, we have been offered (and accepted) a beautiful house in Val Curone – halfway between Milano and Genoa, about one hours travel from Milano) – which is almost like Tuscany but without the Brits or the tourists! Absolutely fantastic! We have got it for the whole month of August and, originally, when we accepted it, I was going to do my last lesson on 31st July and my next lesson on 31st August – so it would be a whole month in the country!
D telephoned yesterday evening to say that John Prosser, his father and a great man, died on Sunday, 23/4.
He was a first-class guy and friend who will be sorely missed. Of course, I was crap at keeping in touch – but then, we are/were blokes, so what do you expect.
He had suffered with cancer for some time and had been through one bout of chemo, which, sadly, had not done the trick, however, he was due to go onto another course of an experimental kind and, in fact, had started it. But it was just too strong.
Caught this on the BBC news site. Wandering Scribe. It’s from a lady who has been living in a car for 8 months or so. She’s jobless, homeless, partner-less, etc. But not your average homeless person. Not living in doorways or parks or anything like that. Got to admire her. She deserves better, but I guess she’s not the only one. I’ve always thought “there, but for the grace of God, go I”. Continue reading
Well, it’s all happening here! Today is Sunday. We are having some beautiful weather right now. It’s like spring, which is fantastic.
However, yesterday, when Rufus and I were coming back from the park in the morning, there were tons of Police with riot gear Continue reading