Tomorrow I go to a far-off country and continuing the theme of random pictures from Google images, here is one from typing in the title.
Unfortunately, it is business and not pleasure. Such is life. I am unlikely to be able to post anything.
Why are we so different – the English and the Italians? One example was last Wednesday when I was meeting A. It was a lovely evening – warm, cloudless and I was meeting him in San Babila, near the centre of town, so there was lots of people-watching to do.
He was late, as usual, but I didn’t mind because it was just nice to be there and, again, feel grateful to live in such a wonderful place.
When he arrived (about half an hour late) he apologised profusely. I told him not to worry and it was fine. He then remarked that I was very English and not at all Italian.
He went on to explain that, if I were Italian, although they are notoriously late, I would be very angry with him for being so late.
Sure, I would have been angry if we had an appointment or had to be at a place at a certain time, but we didn’t and, as I say, the evening was glorious, so why get angry? Waste of energy, in my opinion.
Anyway, V and F joined us at the bar later and we went for a pizza, which was very good. A good evening all round.
Today, V has been working and I have been doing various things, including packing, but I’m not that keen on going. The more time we spend here, in Italy, the less I like to be away. Strange, eh?
V has, finally, got his new Permesso di Sogiourno. He started to try and get the replacement in November or December. They have introduced a new scheme where you go to a local office, rather than the main police station (Questura). When I did mine, last year, I was told about this new scheme, but I was already there, having queued up since 6.30 a.m. V tried this new way. It has meant he has had to go back 5 or 6 times instead of half a day or so at the Questura. And then, when he got there this time (he needed it for his contract at work) he was told that, in future, British people (and I guess others from the EU), don’t need to get it anymore!
I will need to check that out. Apparently, the alternative is a Carta d’Identita, which I knew I could get eventually but, to be honest, I never did want one. For that matter, I don’t want a British one either so I hope you people in the UK boot out the current Government when you can so that we (you and I) don’t have to worry about it.