DAY 4: Saturday 5th July
After a very restful night, (I think we were practically the only ones in the hotel) we carried on with our journey and headed to our holiday home just out of Bagni di Lucca. The motorway from Bologna to Florence is pretty scary, or is that pretty and scary. Because we had plenty of time we decided to stop off for lunch and head for a nearby lake. On the same turn off, there just so happened to be a Designer Outlet and I managed to persuade Graham that at least there we were sure to find something to eat. The shopping centre was like walking into a film set, beautifully laid out with bridges to cross and piped soft music. Not very Italian I know, but we did have some Italian food, which although we couldn’t quite work out what it was, tasted good and filled the gap in our stomachs!

Ponte Vecchio Panorama

Ponte Vecchio Panorama
Originally uploaded by Geraldine Curtis

The Lure Of Florence...

Ponte Vecchio, Close
Originally uploaded by Geraldine Curtis

On then to Florence and here we had our first major disagreement with Boris the satilite navigator. He decided to send us right round to the south on the city and get us stuck in a traffic jam, I was not impressed! Half an hour later we were parked up at our usual car park and within sight of Ponte Vecchio. With only an hour and a half to saunter around we took in the sights of Florence. It is a gorgeous city with a river, bridges, piazzos and of course the newly cleaned Duomo looking like an ice cream cake. All too soon (after another ice cream) it was time to pack up and head for ‘home’, picking up provisions for the next couple of days on the way at the local shop. There was a new house down the road, but other than that nothing appeared to have changed and the key was waiting for us under a garden stone!

Ice Cream Cake...

Ice Cream Cake...
Originally uploaded by Geraldine Curtis

Red, Red And More Red...

Ferrari Museum, Maranello, Italy
Originally uploaded by Geraldine Curtis

DAY 3: Friday 4th July

The heat met us as we left the hotel and left for Bologna and we were relieved that we would be spending the majority of the day in our air conditioned car. The countryside isn’t very memorable from Quarto d’Altino to Bologna, but you know you have arrived as the crickets can be heard from within the car.

First stop was a small shopping centre for some ‘proper’ food. I had Pollo and palate and Graham had breaded veal. Not the best quality, but very welcome all the same. Then off to the hotel, with a grumpy manager and very stiff fire doors. The afternoon was spent in Maranello, near Modena, where the Ferrari Factory is situated. Everything in the town has some connection with Ferrari, on every street corner there are Ferrri posters and shops and once out of the car, we could hear the racing cars being run on a nearby racing track. We had hoped for a similar experience as the Ducati Factory in Bologna which we visited last year, but whereas everything was bright and red, it was all pretty modern with no cars earlier than 1950s (so I’m told). I took lots of photos, hoping that some would come out well as my little camera said that flash was required, but, I think I proved it wrong as generally I was quite pleased with the results. Strolling back to the car (it was too hot to ‘walk’), we met lots of workers coming home from the factory, all in their red uniform. Everything was red, red cars, red clothes, red hot!

Next we headed back to Modena, for a walk round. The town itself was pleasant enough, not a very impressive place, but right in the centre was a palace of gigantic proportions. We sampled tiny cakes from the local patisserie and eventually found a toilet in the local library which luckily was still open at 6.30pm. Afterwards, we treated ourselves to what was to become our daily ice cream, handed to us in the shape of a rose, very pretty. Here too was where I received my first mosquito bite, ouch!!

Red Car, Red Car...

Ferrari Panorama
Originally uploaded by Geraldine Curtis

All Aboard...

The Epitome Of Venice
Originally uploaded by Geraldine Curtis

Venice Here We Come!

Tower, Quarto D'Altino, Near Venice, Italy
Originally uploaded by Geraldine Curtis

DAY 2: Thursday 3rd July
Thursday, I was awake before Graham, conscious of the fact that the last morning train to Venice left at 11.00am. Breakfast hadn’t changed since our last visit. Tinned fruit masquerading as the healthy option, circular toasting machine that refused to turn anything the palest shade of brown and the fruit juice machine which dispensed bright liquids that would make a dull penny shine!

Graham decided we shouldn’t rush, so headed out of the hotel in the opposite direction to the station to take the scenic route to the station. The train, was as with previous years, had no seats until the next stop, then once we arrived I headed for the toilets (you never know where the next ones will be), whilst Graham took ‘work photos’ of the trains, pantographs and anything that looked like a sanding machine underneath.

Vanishing Point

Twins, Venice Station, Italy
Originally uploaded by Geraldine Curtis

Homage To Caneletto...

Venice Panorama
Originally uploaded by Geraldine Curtis

Out of the station the scene bustled; hundreds of people of every nationality sitting, standing, queuing, walking or simply riding past in a boat. They all had one thing in common, a happy smile on their faces, everyone glad to be in one of the world’s most beautiful places. Along with everyone else, we queued in the heat for our ticket for the water taxi and were soon on our way to Piazza San Marco. Last year we caught a taxi and were disappointed that we seemed to be going the wrong way round the industrial area of Venice, but at the last moment glimpsed the familiar tower and the photos we took then, were probably our best. This year the taxi took the ‘scenic’ route and we were spoilt for choice of all the charismatic facades to photograph. I could imagine myself being Caneletto, streaming along the waterways, wondering which view to paint next, beauty, colour and texture in abundance. Not sure how the metal sculpture of the skull fitted in, but it was intriguing all the same. So we spent a happy day walking the streets and drinking in the atmosphere. It seemed lots busier than on previous visits, so by 5 o’clock we were ready to catch the train home and go in search of more peaceful scenes.

Again, after a quick turn around when I washed my hair, we headed off in the direction of Caorle, what we thought would be a quiet seaside town. We didn’t arrive until 9.00pm when it was beginning to get dark and were surprised that even at that time it was near impossible to find anywhere to park. It seemed as though the whole town was out, promenading, everyone from babies to grannies. We had our picnic tea and made our way through the throng. It was a balmy evening and strolling along the sea wall even with everyone else was a magical experience. We walked miles, to the hubbub in the centre and back. It was a very calming in the evening breeze and the dark. Back at the hotel we had our customary nightcap and off to bed.

End Of Day Two, At The Seaside...

Caorle Tower, Near Venice, Italy
Originally uploaded by Geraldine Curtis

Mellow Yellow

Holiday Inn, Quarto D'Altino, Near Venice, Italy
Originally uploaded by Geraldine Curtis

DAY ONE OF OUR HOLIDAY: Wednesday 2nd July

The day had finally arrived. Everything was packed and all that was left to do was have a quick cup of coffee and jump in the car. Today we had a chauffeur… Robert had a new hat on now that having passed his test, (and was insured to drive my car) there is one less thing to organize when going to the airport. He dropped us off and then texted to say he had arrived home safely…. also to say that after all, he had gained a first in his BA degree at Loughborough University. It was as though we had all won a prize, brilliant news!!

The flight over to Venice was mostly smooth, quiet and full of geriatric holiday makers (us included!). Apparently, the main runway is out of action and under refurbihment, so having approached it from another direction we missed seeing the wonderful buildings on our way down. Stepping off the plane, it was just as I remembered – like being wrapped in a warm blanket, how I had longed for that feeling again!

We collected the car (Fiat Grand Punto) and arrived at our hotel in Quarto d’Altino in record time, did a quick turn around and were out again by 6 o’clock. I picked a name from the map, towards the nearest mountains and Graham dialed it in to the satellite navigation system we’d brought with us. After about an hour, we stopped to have the sandwiches we’d brought with us. The mountains that I’d so hoped to see were proving to be quite elusive, this probably had something to do with the sky darkening and ominous drops of rain began to fall on the windscreen. We set off again hoping this was to be a passing shower…how wrong could we be! The raindrops increased their size until visibility became also impossible, even with the windscreen wipers on their fastest setting and then the hail began… it wasn’t ordinary hail, this was ‘serious’ hail where the noise was so deafening that it became impossible to speak to one another and so heavy that we feared for our safety. We passed a bridge and the cars that had parked both sides in an attempt to gain shelter. Turing round, we hoped for a space there too, but we were just too late. After about ten minutes, the storm did lessen and the cars began to drive off, so we followed only to find that the gods had not been appeased and we were under attack again. This time there was no shelter, we could only stop and pray… My lasting vision of this episode will be of a lady, who, caught out on her scooter, had taken refuge in a bus shelter…if only there had been room for two!

The Sky Is Always Blue...

Piazza With Tower, Treviso, Near Venice, Italy
Originally uploaded by Geraldine Curtis

See Tuesday 24th June

IN BRIEF

Monday 23rd June

Graham flew off to the US this morning for one week.

Highlight of the day was attending a Deaf Awareness training session (all morning). It was interesting, but I'm not sure I really learned anything. Again it was good to go and meet other tutors. The chap who took the session was my Line Manager for a term during Autumn 2005, although we didn't exactly have much contact. Because he is deaf, I thought he'd be interested to read about Robert's final year project. He's gone down in my estimations now, as he didn't even bother to acknowledge my email...

Took Lucy to wholesaler in the afternoon to buy more buttons - great to have an excuse!

Tuesday 24th June

Today we took part in another Family Learning session - (Lucy and I) only this time it was held in the Darwin Suite at The Assembly Rooms and was said to involve around 250 children. It did get a bit hectic, but with my ace helper we got through unscathed!

Went home to the relative calm of three piano lessons.

Thursday 26th June

Last Jewellery Class this term. Of the eight students there, they all said they intended to come back next term. Hadn't the heart to tell them that I'll be at another venue without creche facilities (thanks to the person who runs the centre who has effectively banned me. She refused to let her staff help me, even to the point of banning the clerk from walking the 10 feet required to go the the cabinet and get my register for me - to save me having to open the heavy fire doors - am I bitter and upset... you bet!!)

Friday 27th June

Had a sleepless night worrying about my tooth (which still hurts) as the filling (put in a week and a half ago) feels as though it is about to disappear if I bite on it. Rang up at 8.30 and was offered 12.00 o'clock appointment which was great as I had another training course to attend this morning and felt that by 12 o'clock I would have completed enough not to get into trouble for missing the end. The dentist eased the filling out, rather than drilled it, as it hadn't set properly due to my gum bleeding from having had half the tooth removed after it had split last time (sorry too much information). Next stop is a crown for £200.

Saturday 28th June

Drove to Loughborough and back twice during the afternoon and early evening to pick up Robert's belongings from his house. Was concerned that I wouldn't manage all the driving, but Hermione was relatively quiet the whole time.

The Wedding Of Adrian Wynn and Rachael Creighton, Condicote Church, Gloucestershire

The Wedding Of Adrian Wynn and Rachael Creighton, Condicote Church, Gloucestershire
Originally uploaded by Geraldine Curtis

Saturday 21st June

That Special Day...

Driving Off In The Car
Originally uploaded by Geraldine Curtis

It's been a very long time since we were invited to a wedding, but today we helped celebrate the wedding of my first cousin Adrian Wynn (aged 45) who married Rachael Creighton (25). The wedding was held in the same church as Graham and I were married in almost 28 years ago (Condicote near Moreton in Marsh), so it was disappointing not to be invited to the actual ceremony, but understandable as we don't exactly keep in touch.

The weather was even worse than 19th July 1980, (not thought previously possible!), but at least the rain kept off during the festivities, it was just very dark.

Cutting The Cake...

A More 'Normal' Way To Cut The Cake...
Originally uploaded by Geraldine Curtis

Time came to cut the cake and someone suggested that Adrian would be more at home with his chain saw than a knife, so he popped across the road to get it.

Renewing Old Acquaintances...

Panorama Inside The Marquee
Originally uploaded by Geraldine Curtis

It was lovely to catch up with people I hadn't seen for probably 30 years (makes me feel so old!) but the surprise meeting was between Graham and Rachael's uncle who he'd worked with over 20 years ago!

Verrroom!

Surprise Wedding Present...?
Originally uploaded by Geraldine Curtis

Adrian's 'pride and joy' was also on display during the reception.

Notice the registration...

VERY BRIEF: 16th - 20th June

This week has just flown by and I suppose I have very little to say about it.

Thursday 19th June

I taught my Jewellery Class my favourite polymer clay technique - Millefiori, means 1000 flowers in Italian, but if I said it's the same principal as letters in a stick of rock, that might make more sense.

Friday 20th June

As well as everything else we have to attend 14 hours of training during the year, only 3 of which are paid (for attending the Tutor Conference) Today I had to sit through 2 hours of 'Integrating Students With learning Difficulties'. It could have been really useful as I have many students with Learning Difficulties, but it was presented in such a way that left me with one word: 'dire'. On a lighter note I did make friends with a Polish bloke who is over here doing an MA and financing himself by teaching ESOL.