Birthday!

Sorry it's been a while, the last couple f weeks at work have been crazy, trying to fit everything in before we all leave. Not to mention the fact that one of our troop has done a midnight flit like the lying , coward he apparently is. I thought better of him than that but i guess we were all wrong.
Today is my 30th birthday- as i guess most of already know, i've been dreading this day. Silly, I know but it's really not about logic. Last night I stayed at Sils and we watched Stardust (apresent from my lovely friend sarah, last year actually!) and it snowed! We have about 4 or 5 inches this morning! I only have canvas trainers and other shoes which are equally unsuitable for this stuff- so we went shopping to buy some wellies. The saturday before Christmas- when i worked in the bookshop this was the stuff of nightmares! The centre was empty! Everyone stayed at home! Thusly I now have lovely new birthday boots which will keep my tootsies dry over the coming days. Sil made me a fabulous card which says 21 and then I pull the tab and it says +9 genius!
My lovely student Giuliana gave me flowers! and torrone for xmas! Tonight we were supposed to gathering at sils and then onto La Trampa in the centre of town but i think getting into town is going to be a bit of a stretch! Damnit! But we will have fun and then tomorrow Sil and i are going to cook christmas dinner for our mates.
I'm feeling ok so far, I'm here and enjoying life, healthy, happy, learning Italian. It could be alot worse! i miss all you guys at home though- but i'll be flying back next week and hopefully catching up with you! XXX

Scirocco

Early Monday morning, as the door to my building clunked shut behind me, a warm wind gusted around me. Somewhat unusual, for the last day of November whatever country you're in. I took off my gloves and scarf and began my journey to work. There hasn't been a breath of wind in Reggio for nyon two weeks by now and the change of air was very welcome. As I crossed the piazza in front of the Valli Theatre I looked up and saw the sky, the remnants of sunrise casting a purple hue as a background to clouds like tumbleweeds. The orange and yellow leaves danced down the path in the public gardens before me as I wandered ever closer to school. My students told me this was the 'Scirocco', the warm winds coming up from North Africa. By 10 o'clock it was gone.