It's been a while since I last blogged...and for good reason! Emma, William and I have been on an extended trip to England and Italy for our summer hols.
Suffice to say we have hundreds of photos, a few hours of video, and enough stories to last several dinner parties. For now though, here's a quick summary of the new life experiences we've totted up since I last wrote (both good and bad!):
Gained: Shopping list of new music as a result of attending the Glastonbury Festival. Highlights: Stevie Wonder, Shakira, The XX, Pet Shop Boys, The Magic Numbers, Marina and the Diamonds, Paloma Faith and Ellie Goulding.
Lost: One World Cup Final. Okay, okay...so the Dutch played in a manner more befitting WWF than Total Football....but damn it, we nearly won the World Cup, and it hurts to lose! On the other hand, beating Brazil in the quarters was SWEET!
Gained: Newfound appreciation for Michaelangelo (during visit to Florence). That chap really was pretty handy with a chisel and chunk of alabaster. I never thought I'd say I was moved by a sculpture, but the eight-feet-tall 'David' ain't no ordinary sculpture, folks.
Lost: Hanging baskets, jasmine shrubs, lawn etc. Must remember to ask neighbors to water plants next time we go away for two weeks.
Gained: Plenty of good times with family. William single-handedly charmed the entire clan, of course, not least with his ever-expanding repertoire of words, which now includes: "bike", "night-night", "hot" and "cheese" (whenever anyone points a camera at him!)
Lost: Any last semblances of belief that long-haul air travel with an infant is a good idea. On the flight to London William threw up all over Emma and I. On the way back, he slept for two hours, then required constant feeding / play / reading for the remaining eight-and-a-half. I suspect if someone had offered us a nanny for $10,000 during either flight, we would have willingly maxed the credit card.
Gained: Pounds. Not British money, but ounces in abundance as a result of delicious Italian gelato, pizza, pasta, wine etc. Lovely stuff. I tell ya, Italy has gone up greatly in my estimations.
Lost: Hundreds of Euros. On a car rental in Italy. When you see how the Italians drive (nose-to-tail at 80 mph on the motorway) all the extra insurance seems a VERY wise investment.
Gained: Huge admiration for Tuscany. Wow, that place is beautiful. I'm lucky enough to have seen a good chunk of the world, but I've honestly never seen towns, cities, architecture and countryside as beautiful as that which we saw in Tuscany. Siena is the most beautiful city on the planet, and the little medieval hill towns of San Gimignano and Volterra...well, words don't do them justice, so here's a peek:
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