Hi everyone.  Happy New Year, Buon Anno e Auguri!

OK, so I know it’s been a while since our last update, but we have had a very busy year and time just slipped away.

However, not having the ability to email for most of the last month or so – and particularly now (something up with the hosting company) means I have a chance to sit and write something.  And now (as you can see) I have the ability to blog – which is just fantastic.  Will that make me better in the future – we shall see!

I did write an interim note early on in the year – but just never got to finish it – sorry.  Anyway, onwards and upwards.

I hope you all had a good Christmas and, for those of you in the UK, have enjoyed the snow that I understand has fallen.
We’ve just had a lovely Christmas and are taking a well-earned break.

Basic facts are:  I am now teaching, pretty much full-time.  Victor is writing a column for a national Italian sports paper QS, once a week and has a job starting towards the end of January working for NBC on their coverage for the Olympics, which, as you may know, are being held in Turin next year.

So, how did we get here? Well, after last Christmas, we spent a fabulous New Year in Puglia (the heel part of Italy).  Went with N (American) and her husband S (Italian).  Went horse riding, visiting places, etc. and had a wonderful time.  New Year itself was spent drinking champagne on an old castle wall watching fireworks which was so superb and, probably, one of the best New Years we’ve ever spent.

Then in February, N and I embarked on a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) course, which was a month-long intensive course.  Masses of hard work and long hours – but we both passed, which was good.

I started teaching pretty much straight away, doing courses for a “language school” teaching to businesses.  Run by some pretty weird people and paying a pittance, but I only wanted it until we did Hay.

Come April and I covered for S at Hay whilst she went into hospital. I really enjoyed it and only hope I didn’t mess things up too much for her.  Went back at the start of May and we had decided to lose the flat in Hay as it really wasn’t worth it any more.  The festival was more hectic than ever.  N came over for a few days as did another friend from Milan, D.  We had planned to go and see everyone immediately after the festival, but, unfortunately, we were so busy organising the exit from the flat that we just didn’t get chance.  And we were totally exhausted at the end of it and so glad to get back home.

I started working again for the mad people, but only doing up to 4 or 5 hours a day.  Then we were into the summer. N and S suggested a holiday together and Austria was chosen.  Of course it meant we could take the dog, which was good.  Although the idea of climbing mountains and lots of exercise didn’t exactly thrill.  However, we did have a good time and, surprisingly, got a tan.  Rufus, of course, enjoyed it immensely.

Then back home and I started to look for proper work as we had been here a year and I knew the time was coming.  Had several offers of work, but in the end stuck out for a job with a Rome-based company.  Ended up getting the most money for teaching English that I have heard of – but it meant that I would be working 5 days a week and spending all my free time preparing for courses as I had nothing “off-the-shelf”.

So, that’s what’s been happening.

Finished work on the 22^nd and I restart on the 9^th.  I will be getting more work in January, so even less free time.  Plus, at least one of us will be back to Hay this year.  Probably won’t be both of us as, unfortunately, Rufus isn’t up to date with his rabies vaccinations.