thought for the day

Florence City of Penises

Florence, Penis City...
everywhere they are hanging about, in bronze, marble,
paint and plaster. I thought of nipping about and putting
condoms on them to celebrate International Womens Day but
didn't.

Here are some artists taken whilst in the queue for the
Uffizzi - on International Womens Day so they let people without
penises in free.



I was missing Lily and the next two pix reminded me of her.




Had a merry old time on the transport. The bus was wonderful
and each passenger had 10 seats so I was fast asleep when the
Guardia di Finaza rudely boarded, thwacking me on the shoulder
to wake me up. Heigh ho, I thought; Florence!
-Alas.

They were five and a few plainclothes men plus sniffer dog. Took
them no time at all to find the two cocaine carriers. Nor to
dismantle their seat and take them and their luggage away.
What took three hours in the middle of the night was the
paperwork... checking luggage against manifest, passengers with
luggage, driver with star signs, I dunno. Maybe they were bored,
it was the middle of the night, not a lot to do on the motorway
- they let us go at 5.30 am.

Fortunately Allenna had decided to meet me and kept the
concierge from giving away my apartment, which was a little
16th century gem in the middle of town. With modern
plumbing.

There followed a happy few days wandering and gazing and
pondering the commodification of art.

Evenings were spent hooking up with the Democrats Abroad folk,
who were amassing in Florence for their annual plotting.

Made some new friends and ate a great deal proving yet again
that travel broadens the hips.

Little did I know that while everyone in Florence was
complaining of the unseasonable cold, in Tilling it was snowing...
so I had to hole up in Toulouse last night, the bus returning me
6 hours late and missing the trains which weren't running anyway.
Plus it was the day the lorries did a barrier across the Route
Nationale.

Travel aint for the faint hearted, is it - though it has its pleasures.
The people you meet, especially. Waiting for the outward bound
bus met a Finnish conductor (not bus, orchestra) who was pinning
for her rabbit.

ellies new house

http://househuntinginaquitaine.blogspot.com/

this is why Ellie and John are deserting us -
hmm, they may have a point -

Im going to be quiet soon. Off to Florence. Normal noise
will be resumed next week.

Proud Auntie

My nephews, Alfie and Bertie Beer, aged 10 and 8 respectively, have written

and recored a song with 2 other brothers.

Bertie does drumming and backing vocals. Alfie wrote it and plays guitar.

Clearly, they are going to be accomplished rock musicians - or

psychopaths - fairly soon!

There is a prize at their school for the most downloaded track so please go

to http://www.kerchoonz.com/witchwoodrecords

It's free to download. Theirs is called House of Pain by Valhalla

Haiti heros

Last nights fundraiser was a huge success.
I'm not sure how huge because all the money isn't in
yet - that is to say, I have to hand mine over.
(I bought a nice young man for an afternoon.)

Should you wish to drop in a donation, Roy and Jo's is nearest for Tillingites - otherwise Martin and Jane or Leigh and Lorraine.

Here is Jo, doing the rabble-rousing and Leigh in the legendary lapin chaud shirt.

The organisers were truly organised - congratulations to them - the food was fantastic, and the level of management of the auction superb. I suspect at least one of the team has had prior experience of fundraising.

Lorraine was on great form - here she is showing an adorable picture of Joans that I missed and clever Kat got at a great price.

And top marks to Oscar - who darted about all night being
everybody's helper - Dermot and Kate have reason to be
proud of their charming sprog.

So Farewell then

So farewell then, Ellie and John....
Seen here at Joans party for them last night, which was a
very frisky fun event. They will be missed.
I have been trying to contact E.J. Thribb at Private Eye,
anyone know the address????

Nels lunch

Nel will be living in these parts for a few months, hurrah;
and started off on the right foot by giving a splendid lunch
which I enjoyed too much to remember taking photos.
But here we see Annie and Pete arriving, Annie apparently
trying to leave, the hard way: a random table shot featuring
Joel, Monique, Pete, Dermot, Peter G: a view of Quillan from
the terrace.
Keep up the good work Nel