Much has happened since our last posting and even since posting our Christmas card.
 |
| Dolls |
We travelled to Brisbane between 18th December and 20th January. A long awaited holiday for Ian …. and the visit brought to an end a 15 month absence. For Cathy less so, having spent three weeks in Brisbane in June.
Just wonderful to see the family and spend some time with everyone. Also good to see friends and associates, and for that matter, to see all the changes that had happened in Brisbane.
On the less than positive side, Ian was a little sick for much of the time and, although cool, the weather left a lot to be desired when we spent two weeks at the coast. But it was very relaxing and we still swam and walked on the beach. Lots of rain though and that concerned us.
 |
| Manifestioni |
 |
| Mussolini's bed |
 |
| Mussolini's night-time view |
We had actually mentioned to friends in Rome before we left that, given the weather patterns, we could potentially find ourselves in serious floods during our time away…. a prophecy that we wish had not come true.
So in the second week in January, the awful floods that had affected rural towns came to Brisbane. We had lived through these in 1974 so knew what to expect but for those who had not, this was shocking. The combination of time and tide played tricks it seemed and some areas were affected more than 1974 but thankfully, mostly this was a lower-level flood than 37 years before. But development during that period meant that the damage was much worse.
 |
| Largo Bolsena |
We really feel for our many friends who have had their lives tipped upside down this year and pray that they will find resilience in moving on.
 |
| Fontana Tortuga |
But ….. the report will not show photos of muddy water, instead …. Some of the unique things that Rome (or at least Italy) has to offer and that we have seen since our return.
Photos (in no particular order) …. some very expensive dolls; a small part of last Sunday’s massive demonstration (manifestione) led by women to demand the return of dignity in local politics; echoes of old politics – Benito Mussolini’s bed and the ceiling that he must have looked at while pondering world domination; the lake from Bolsena (a couple of hours drive north of Rome) on a still winter’s afternoon; three famous attractions – the Tivoli (water) gardens at Villa d’Este – the Tortuga Fountain near the Ghetto of Rome – St Peter’s dome through “the keyhole” of the Order of Malta; the joy of coffee ala Romana.
 |
| Tivoli |
 |
| St Peter's Bascilica |
Take care … enough disasters for this year already ….
 |
| Playful barista |
