Stradella

Thursday 28 February

 

I set my alarm for half 7 (just in case) as no one had said anything to me about what time to get up or if I needed to take Clarissa to school.. I heard Clarissa and Dominga bickering in the corridor outside my door around half 8 and then they left without disturbing me so I assumed I had a free morning. At around 9 I showered, dressed and began unpacking my suitcase. Dominga stuck her head around the door and said they were going out and would be back for lunch with Clarissa, and that I could help myself to some breakfast.

They came home a bit later, bringing Clarissa and Giorgio's mother with them. Clari came bounding up the stairs to tell me she was back only to go bounding back down again as lunch was ready.

My hoard of gifts went down well; the Casanova's really liked Mum's card and homemade Sloe gin, the fudges were well received and the biscuits were 'incredible' (which was a relief as I'd never had them before, I just hoped!). Clarissa loved the pencil case and Granny's Disney princess colouring book; the dipdab wasn't liked so much (she's not a fan of fizzy things) and the magnetic calendar was a massive hit (with both Clari and Dominga - good shout Mum!).

I discovered why my bed is possibly as springy as it is. Clarissa likes to jump on it. I also had a rethink on where I put my things in my room as I (rather foolishly) forgot how much young children like to touch and pick things up. Clari discovered my makeup bag, the lipstick and I managed to narrowly avoid having my face painted as a clown.

We mucked about in her room; we "fought" on her bed, she showed me some fashion drawings, she got out her makeup and we played hairdressers (all in the space of about 5 minutes).

"Let's go play this in your room."

The words of Giorgio ran through my mind, "Don't let Clarissa go in your room, she is very invasive."....

"But what's wrong with your room?" I tried, tactically.

"We play in my room after. Let's go play in your room."

 

So we set up a hairdressing shop in my room.

There is a Gelateria in Stradella. And they serve all year round. We stopped off for an icecream; one scoop coconut (cocco) and one scoop white chocolate (cioccobianco) - it was delicious. [But not quite Imola standard though.] Clari was dropped off for her music lesson and I was dropped off in the town.

"See you in an hour."

Stradella is not that big. It has two main streets and one I had walked up and down them three times I'd seen it all. Despite being small, the shops were all designer. I saw a fur coat being advertised in the window of a shop: REDUCED €1,409 €1,109.

Say what?!

However I did spot another gelateria. And a Lidl on the way in. At about five past six I still had another half an hour to go. Luckily, I found a bench and had Temple Run to keep me company.

We picked Clari up from her piano lesson and as Thursday is Mexican night, we had dinner in a Mexican restaurant (which was so good). Back at home I had a quick Skype swag with Matt, and then went to bed. All this face-saving is tiring stuff!