Pretty boring title and not a lot of time to write.
Thank you so much for your comments - I have not deleted even one of them from my e-mail notification and will get to each of you in turn both on this site and visiting you.
So to Sicily. Well, there is Sicily and Sicily and big city issues are pretty much the province of other bigger cities like Palermo, Catania and so on.
This is a less bustling town and that suits us fine although it can make due process longwinded. The trick is to try not to deal with officialdom - read Welshcakes' post on the election to get an idea.
This town is in three parts - alto, sordo and bassa. Bassa is where the tourists go although I don't particularly think it is better. Modica is on the side of a hill but not running down to the sea - rather it runs down into a valley and the sea is 20km away.
This results in a hot dry climate and it can get into the mid 40s in summer. Today is better - 20 and cloudy but we haven't really started summer yet.
Alto is the higher area where the Church of St George is and I haven't been there yet, still tied up in domestic and official status issues. Here with Welshcakes has proved more than workable and she is one hell of a good chef.
Ellee, I did put on some weight early, then changed to the Sicilian diet and lost some and now am about the same.
Sordo, where we live, is the commercial centre of the town and thus does not hold a place in the people's hearts to the same extent. It is modern in aspect, unlike the really ancient architecture in the other two parts. Still, I particularly like it and it's a hop, skip and jump from Welshcakes' school.
Routines have begun and one of mine is the morning capuccino at L'Altro Posto [The Other Place] cafe in the main boutique street. Not exactly chic but quite elevated in theme, let's say. You want to see a cross-section of Modica - it comes through this cafe and I'm now seen as a regular.
Welshcakes' boss's husband said that in the evening, people do not ask, 'What shall we do?' but rather, 'What shall we eat and where?' and this is true.
Another aspect is the treatment, by the north, of this region as 'Africa' and there is truth in this too, in that Rome does not appear too concerned with the lower tip of Sicily. So they just go about their business in an interesting way. There are problems with African illegal immigration [the boat people] but not so much to this town.
One interesting effect is the 'Lotus Eater' syndrome. A sort of languor comes over a person and as it's necessary for a blogger to have fire in his belly, this has seeped away in my case. We were discussing this last evening and I bemoaned the fact that I've already taken on the feminists, gay mafia, immigration, 'Them', PC and other choice targets so what is there left to get apoplectic about?
You see the problem? Lol.
Anyway, please indicate, in the comments section, what aspects you'd like me to post about as it's difficult to think clearly in this euphoric Welshcakes state. Plus I'm meeting the famous Raffaele at the hairdressers later.
:)
Thank you so much for your comments - I have not deleted even one of them from my e-mail notification and will get to each of you in turn both on this site and visiting you.
So to Sicily. Well, there is Sicily and Sicily and big city issues are pretty much the province of other bigger cities like Palermo, Catania and so on.
This is a less bustling town and that suits us fine although it can make due process longwinded. The trick is to try not to deal with officialdom - read Welshcakes' post on the election to get an idea.
This town is in three parts - alto, sordo and bassa. Bassa is where the tourists go although I don't particularly think it is better. Modica is on the side of a hill but not running down to the sea - rather it runs down into a valley and the sea is 20km away.
This results in a hot dry climate and it can get into the mid 40s in summer. Today is better - 20 and cloudy but we haven't really started summer yet.
Alto is the higher area where the Church of St George is and I haven't been there yet, still tied up in domestic and official status issues. Here with Welshcakes has proved more than workable and she is one hell of a good chef.
Ellee, I did put on some weight early, then changed to the Sicilian diet and lost some and now am about the same.
Sordo, where we live, is the commercial centre of the town and thus does not hold a place in the people's hearts to the same extent. It is modern in aspect, unlike the really ancient architecture in the other two parts. Still, I particularly like it and it's a hop, skip and jump from Welshcakes' school.
Routines have begun and one of mine is the morning capuccino at L'Altro Posto [The Other Place] cafe in the main boutique street. Not exactly chic but quite elevated in theme, let's say. You want to see a cross-section of Modica - it comes through this cafe and I'm now seen as a regular.
Welshcakes' boss's husband said that in the evening, people do not ask, 'What shall we do?' but rather, 'What shall we eat and where?' and this is true.
Another aspect is the treatment, by the north, of this region as 'Africa' and there is truth in this too, in that Rome does not appear too concerned with the lower tip of Sicily. So they just go about their business in an interesting way. There are problems with African illegal immigration [the boat people] but not so much to this town.
One interesting effect is the 'Lotus Eater' syndrome. A sort of languor comes over a person and as it's necessary for a blogger to have fire in his belly, this has seeped away in my case. We were discussing this last evening and I bemoaned the fact that I've already taken on the feminists, gay mafia, immigration, 'Them', PC and other choice targets so what is there left to get apoplectic about?
You see the problem? Lol.
Anyway, please indicate, in the comments section, what aspects you'd like me to post about as it's difficult to think clearly in this euphoric Welshcakes state. Plus I'm meeting the famous Raffaele at the hairdressers later.
:)
Anything... Just keep posting.
ReplyDeleteI am curious about the "official status issues" reference. You hold an EU passport don't you? What else do you need? Is this yet more evidence that the reason Brits don't like the EU is that we are the only ones trying to live by the rules?
ReplyDeleteB^)
I'd like to hear more about the 'we' you keep mentioning ...
ReplyDeleteHope you're looking after that very special lady! Otherwise Simi and George will sort you out.
Yes, 'we' seems to have arrived quite quickly...not just a holiday then? Having had lunch with WL, I feel I have some say in making sure she is happy...not that I assume she isn't! Just 'girl' stuff...should address it to her really but bit bothered about my own man at present. The big C peeking over the parapet again, maybe.
ReplyDeleteShould I be jealous? That's what I want to know. :)
ReplyDeleteLOL @ all the "WE" Comments- I was thinking the same thing......
ReplyDeleteGood to hear the news of Modica from a different perspective James.
ReplyDeleteNow what use is Raffaele to you I might ask? Although the "old scientist" is severely follicularly challenged also but does get his monkish fringe cut every now and again.
Am I to understand that the feminists have become a dead issue with you? Meno male as the Italians say!
I'm sure you'll think of something else to rant about.
Thanks, Rob.
ReplyDeleteTom - by e-mail.
Liz - they'll sort me out indeed.
Book Owl - we're just terrorizing the local community, that's all.
Ubermouth - :)
JMB - no doubt.
"people do not ask, 'What shall we do?' but rather, 'What shall we eat"
ReplyDeleteI think that every day :-)
Just post about having fun and any random thoughts that take your fancy ;-) :-) Who needs to rant anyway LOL
James, there is nothing wrong in being happy, even if a side-effect is to make you a little indolent. If, to paraphrase the 23rd Psalm, a table has been prepared for you in the presence of your enemies, then it is churlish and perhaps impious not to eat and enjoy. Especially when the table is so beautifully prepared.
ReplyDeleteFrom...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.aish.com/spirituality/48ways/Way_18_The_Use_of_Physical_Pleasure.asp
Growing up in Western society, many have the idea that "physical pleasure is evil." This may stem from the Roman Catholic view, where intimacy, even within the context of marriage, is considered a concession to base instincts, while sacred priests and nuns are celibate.
Secular society, on the other hand, takes the opposite view: Life is the hedonistic pursuit of physical pleasure without restraint.
Judaism takes the middle road: God made a physical world not to frustrate us, but for us to enjoy. Life should be beautiful and engaging. Jewish spirituality is not achieved by meditating for years on a mountaintop, or by fasting in a reclusive monastery. Jewish spirituality comes through grappling with the mundane world in a way that uplifts and elevates. On Friday night, we raise the cup of wine and use it - not to get drunk - but to make Kiddush and sanctify the Sabbath day. Spirituality, says Judaism, is to be found in the kitchen, the office, and yes, even the bedroom.
The Almighty created this world for our pleasure. The Talmud says that if a person has the opportunity to taste a new fruit and refuses to do so, he will have to account for that in the World to Come.
Thanks Cherie, Sackers, for that philosophy.
ReplyDeleteContentment does dilute one's angst, I'd keep it that way if you can but alas I fear a storm is slowly brewing over Southern Europe. Mind you I'm sure the Sicilians will simply shrug their shoulders and get on with life as they always have done without giving a second thought to the machinations of central government.
ReplyDeleteLets just hope the ECB doesn't raise interest rates again anytime soon shall we?
Buon pomeriggio.