One Year On!!

Yep, we've finally done our first year here in Florence! I'd like to say it has been an exciting roller-coaster as that seems to be what most people expect when you move abroad, but I would be telling fibs! It's been a relatively painless transition and my life is pretty much what it was in the UK! The language is still tough and I wish I had taken classes much, much sooner. I have made a lot of good friends, some English speakers, some Italian. School for Antonia is pretty much like school anywhere and she is picking up the language fast. My son is back into school in the UK and loving it and, so far, keeping up, which is a relief for us all. So life just goes on. I could probably write a book as many before me have, but without embellishment and lies it would probably be the most boring book on life in Italy yet. Which only makes me wonder about all those others....

However, life has been pretty hectic in the last few weeks. All my possesions arrived from the UK - finally! What a lot of c**p I stuck in storage in the panic that was my packing this time last year! Boxes and bags of stuff have been dumped or given to charity or friends. It was good to see favourite books, films and CD's again. The look on Antonia's face when her scooter FINALLY arrived was worth all the hassle!

A few days before delivery this appeared outside our door to warn people not to park:

Not surprisingly on the removal day itself there were at least 3 cars parked up in our designated space. Luckily a friend who had come around to help permanently has the police's local number on her phone! So 10 minutes after the van arrived, and upon presentation of all the required permissions, the space was clear!

Anyhow, my things are here, so I must be staying, mustn't I?!!

Laziness didn't write a blog...!!

It's been sometime since my last post - bit morbid that really, isn't it?! Anyway, I have been busy but not too busy to post. Just too tired and lazy!

We move out of our current place on Saturday. As our new home isn't ready yet we will be moving to a hotel for about 5 days. So far we are going to the Grand Hotel Mediterraneo which is on the Arno, down near Porto San Niccolo. The rooms are big and the breakfast is great, so we - me and the kids - are going to treat it as a break!

First, I have to pack up our gear here. OH is in the UK so I am doing it alone or hindered by my two children! Already started to put away stuff we won't need in a hotel, like DVD's and things. With any luck I will be ready by Saturday.

I am sad to go in a way, I have got used to our dark flat - but I really want to get into our new place with its big garden. It is still in the city but right on the old walls, so I am hoping it will be quieter all round than where we are now. The square we back onto can have interesting characters in it but I am only planning on using it during the day!

We went to look over the new place last week and see what progress was being made. Compared with before Christmas it had come a long way, but there was still a lot to be done. Plus little hitches etc. had to be rectified. I am going down again this week to see how things are progressing. My hope is to be in by Feb. 1st - fingers and toes crossed!

I had a seafood risotto this week in a restaurant - won't say where - within hours I was sicker than I have been for years! It was truly an experience I want to forget but probably won't. My OH had to look for a taxi to get me home from a walk we were on, it happened that fast, and left me with my children. Luckily a taxi found us. It lasted the rest of the day and now I just feel tired and no energy. Having spoken to several people who have always lived here I have now discovered this is why most of Tuscany is meat - the fish is for the seaside and does not always travel well. Now I know and so do you!

Anyway, piccola bambina is crying so I have to go....