Saturday, September 27, 2008

Notte Bianca - Notte Inzuppato





Notte Bianca (White Night) was turned into Notte Inzuppato (Drenched Night) with an almighty thunderstorm that marked the transition from hot stifling summer to cool autumn.

Notte Bianca in Genova is a wonderful city-wide festival that claims to have "Music Everywhere" and arranges to keep attractions open late into the night along with ample bus services. Unfortunately 2008 was marked by a torrential downpour around about 11pm. Such was the timing and nature of the rain, just about everyone (and there were thousands) decided, as if as one person, to catch the next bus home. I have never seen such a rush for so few busses by so many utterly soaked people.

By hook and by crook we got home before 1am with 3 exhausted boys. We did feel like great parents though, as we had managed to note the weather forecast and came out with rain-coats for each of them. Mind you, Jackie and I had nothing - not even an umbrella (but one was procurred at a price - of course).

Still - despite the rain, it was quite honestly one of the best nights we have had in Genova. The "venti" was closed to trafic and instead had stalls and music. (How about Rage Against The Machine playing at full volume outside Coin!). There were stages set up all over the place and 4 huge outside pizza ovens outside the Ducal palace. MTV ran 2 stages and even had UK acts Duffy and Estelle performing. As much as I love the cute welsh 60's throwback though, the highlight for us was seeing local group "Ottocento" play to a small but thrilled audience in the old backstreets of Genova. They played the music of the famous Genovese singer/songwriter Fabrizio De André. They even played through the start of the rain, gingerly covering themselves with a tarpaulin and playing on regardless.

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Random post made to a /dev/null site

Posted to : asdfghjksemicolon.com

My memory is not what it used to be. This I know. Honestly I can't remember if it is better now
than before, but i think it was. Usually because I remember knowing something that I know I no longer know.
Anyway, I digress.
Today I've been cheating. I went to the internets, sacrificed a virtual hour of my actual time and asked the god google for an answer.
It was not forthcoming, needless to say.
The question was how to solve my Brain Twist puzzle. All I could find was links to the product and the statement that a hints booklet comes with the said product - much use that was, by the way.
I came this way via the wonderfully diverting "Dry Erase Board" (MSPaint -wow!) and am now speaking to the void. Great.
Oh, I nearly forgot. Why I mentioned my memory was that I recall very clearly being about 12 or 13 (that would be around 1979) and solving the original Rubik's cube all by my self. I promptly wrote down the solution and used some carbon copy paper my dad had to make a few copies which I gave to my friends.
So, how come I can't even cheat now let alone work it out for myself.

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Truncated holiday memoirs

So, I never did manage to post anything about the rest of my Roman holiday. Suffice to say it was all brilliant. Really enjoyed the Roman Forum and the Palatine hill and also the Trevi Fountain.
Hard to pick out highlights, but what was great was that everyone was very chilled out, Jackie's parents were in great form and I didn't have to shout at the kids too much.

This weekend (from tomorrow - a public hol in Italy) we are going to Pisa (so Yousef can go up the tower on his birthday) and hopefully visit Florence and Lucca while we are down there. We are staying in a 4-man tent to avoid paying through the nose for a hotel room in the most expensive week of the year.

I shall be quite happy if a) we do not cook like boil-in-the-bag fish, b) we do not get bitten raw by mozzies and c) if I don't go crazy at the kids.

A tra poco care mio.

Tuesday, August 05, 2008

Bright Zig-zag lines - part 2

This post (here) is my only post which people other than my direct friends and family have ever commented on. I just wanted to give a little update for anyone really interested:

The phenomena I described was the appearance of bright neon-like zig-zag lines in my vision. They appear, are quite disturbing, and then disappear as quickly as they arrived - often in a rather beautiful burst. Pretty, but quite worrying, I am sure you will agree.

It is called an Opthalmic Migrane - and is something not to worry about too much it seems. (I never have any really bad headache associated with them, but people often do.)

What I found interesting was that it seems to happen when I am particularly dehydrated - a fact I hadn't noticed until someone commented on the original post.

It happened to me again - quite severely - just last week, and once again, I had not been drinking enough, had spent far too long on the computer the day before and was generally a bit tired.

So, rest assured, it is not indicative of some really horrible brain disease (or too much LSD in your youth)
Just, relax, have a drink of water and lie back and enjoy your personal light-show!!

Friday, July 11, 2008

Roma Giorni Uno

What a fabulous city!
Our first day felt like a week. We arrived at Roma Termini at 6am having nor slept in our sleeper cabin all the way from Genova. Taking a bus to our hotel we hit the pavement immediately. A tour of the outside of the Colesseum, the wall around the roman forum, the road beside the circus maximus, the banks of the tiber before stopping on the steps of a chiesa for an ice-cream. Then, back to the hotel to find our rooms finally ready.
When the in-laws arrived via dodgy-rip-off-taxi we set off for lunch and a quick view of the place with the cats (Largo della Torre Argentina). All feeling worse for the wear we returned to the hotel to crash before setting out for the afternoon to the Vatican.
St. Peters was at the same time impressive, awe-inspiring and ostentatious to a fault. Finding our way back via a crowded bus and having a short rest, we headed out again for the evening.
Things improved greatly when we found "Casa Bleve" - a classic wine and cheese house. Platters of exquisite cheeses and bottles of wine were enjoyed before we settled the big bill and meandered home via an excellent gelateria.

So finished the longest day. Day 2 has started at an alltogether much more leisurely pace. The morning spent at the Pantheon, Piazza Nuova and a church of which I can't remember the name (but has a blue vaulted ceiling and Michelangelo's "naked" Christ in it).

And so, beer and pizza and a short rest and then on to this afternoon's schedule. Which, will take in the Colesseum again - this time with an entrance ticket ;)

Tuesday, July 08, 2008

jellyfish

Too long since I posted. Never mind - here are some things ....

Amazingly I was stung by a jellyfish. Not your Aussie box variety, but painful nonetheless. Only a minor graze on the arm but still hurting (a little) almost 2 weeks later. It looked cool though - a line of pairs of parallel dots - each of which individually scabbed over. (Eugh!)

Despite the jellyfish incident we have managed to spend some beautiful afternoons on the beach. Recently all of our trips have been to the west of Genova (the Potente side). Taking in Spotorno, Arenzano, Veraze and - best of all - Finale Ligure. Very different to the Levante side - sandy beaches and Riviera feel rather that stunning small fishing village feel.

Jackie and the boys laid on a really nice party for me when I got back from England after my viva. Big banner saying "Congratulations Dr. Dad". You can't buy moments like that.

Today is my Birthday. I followed the rather nice Italian tradition of buying everyone in the lab cake (and Sparkling Italian Wine/Champagne). Really enjoyable.

Got to go - catch bus!

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Thesis the Defended

The great warrior lent on his bloody sword and finally took a moment to look back. The field was scattered with broken bodies of those who had thrust their spears and arrows at him and attacked with their cutting swords. He thought of one who fought with great vigour - a Knight of Queen Mary - a larger man you are unlikely to see. He had led the attack and Thesis could still feel the blood running from the wound he inflicted - but it was only minor and would need just a month to heal, even though he could take then next 3 months to rest.
So now, with his mentors - The Ukranian, the Deutch and Hollandier - by his side he could would no longer be "Thesis the Unproven" but could now proudly be called "Thesis the Defended".

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Letter Home

Hi Sis!
Life over here is going really well. We've been here for a little over 3 weeks and Yousef already started at an Italian school 2 weeks ago. He is loving it and has got a really nice teacher who speaks pretty good English and is really welcoming. She got all the kids in his class to make a welcome drawing and poster for Yousef - so sweet. There is not much of the term left now though. The twins have also been doing mornings at a nursery in the same school although they aren't enjoying it as much. Their teachers don't speak much English at all and they are a bit reluctant to go each morning. But, I think they would be like that at any new school anywhere. Plus they'll appreciate English schools that much more when we return!

We have a nice flat in quite a good area of Genova - plenty of shops around and nice people but it is a little dirty. Par for the course in Genoa though. The flat is really comfortable and the kitchen especially is a lovely place to be. We do wish there was more outside space for the kids to play in though. But, when the summer hols start Jackie will be taking the kids out to the beach and stuff much more.

Jackie is settling in well too but is working hard at keeping is fed and watered at a reasonable cost. The prices of food and eating out here are much more expensive than I thought and that in itself is a bit of a struggle and will probably get worse in the summer. I'm going to have to dig deep!

Love and Hugs,
Bruv!

Tuesday, May 06, 2008

Ant Free Zone

Hooray! We are in our own Italian apartment and it is most definitely an Ant Free Zone (stylish or otherwise).
Much hilarity last night as we lugged down the last of our 10 cases down 4 flights of stairs only to find that the lift didn't need a key to use it.

The apartment is really nice - but it is a bit small I think and we have one less bed than we were promissed in the boys bedroom. Amazingly the agent told the landlady we only had 2 kids - a plain lie as I told him amny times that we have 3 and need an extra bed - moreover we brought the three little tykes along to sign the contract so they had no excuse!!

A dodgier agent you are unlikely to meet - all he was interested in was taking my money. I am still trying to wash the slime off my hand after I shook his at the end.

Anyway, the apartment is nice and clean although it would be nice if the shower worked!

PS - no internet connection (intermittant or otherwise) from the flat.
PPS - The boys watched Doctor Who last night and thought it was great - I'll try to watch it tonight ...

Sunday, May 04, 2008

Sunshine and Focaccia

The forecast was storms and lots of rain but we were greeted with glorious sunshine as we climbed down the aircraft steps onto the tarmac in Genoa airport.

Packing was a nightmare and we arrived with 5 cases for the hold weighed to exactly 15kg and 5 pieces of hand-luggage weighed to exactly 10kg. 6 months worth of stuff for a family of 5 in 125kg - more than enough - we even packed the Wii and a hard-disk media player stuffed full of films and TV shows!

We have spent most of the first few days looking around Genoa and eating out - plenty of focaccia for breakfast, pizza for lunch, pasta for tea and gelato whenever we can get it. However not everything was perfectly smooth as our flat is not available yet. Typical Italian regard for getting things done when promissed. So, we are left in the Uni apartment for a few days yet living out of suitcases. The Uni apartment is far from clean, it is full of other people's stuff and has an ant problem. Nevermind - the excuse for our delay is that they are cleaning the apartment, so maybe we can expect a little better when we arrive there!

PS - I am emailing from an intermittant free wireless point that appears now and then in the flat. And I am downloading Doctor Who. Fingers crossed!

Thursday, April 10, 2008

Like a Knife Through Butter

Who would have thought it - the administrative department here at the institute is like a well oiled chainsaw, cutting through stacks of Italian bureaucracy like a hot knife through butter. In one day I have a signed contract, and already have an entry pass. I have decided on a flat and all associated paperwork is being completed. Tomorrow I sign that contract too and open a bank account.
Amazing.

What could go wrong? ...

PS - a little aside: I just noticed that that blurred picture of me, top-left, was actually taken in Italy. We were holidaying in Tuscany when Yousef was just 3 (I think) and that pic is taken outside of the main cathedral in Florence (although I can't remember its name!). Horizontal stripes in various shades of terracotta and cream and grey - a feature of the churches and cathedrals here.

Tuesday, April 08, 2008

Genoa is Vertical

It will never cease to amaze me how it is possible to build building after building on higher and higher slopes - one road overlooking a 5 storey apartment block and yet another overlooking the apartments on that road!

Well, I have used some serious shoe-leather today and travelled on many buses as well as been transported around by car. I have seen most of the nice places to live in Genova proper while viewing six different apartments in a single day. Castello is stupidly high up, but I saw a beautiful flat there. Piazza Martinez and the surrounding streets are ideal living areas. Great shops really nice atmosphere, and some magnificent palacial apartment blocks. I think the nicest place I saw was in that area.
The best place though was I think on the Corsa Europa. 3 bedrooms plus a good sized living room. Kitchen, bathroom and extra toilet. 4 balconies, and a view of the sea! What more could you want?
All yours for 850 euros a month!

So, Italy looks great, the people in the office are very helpful, and it looks as if we might find somewhere nice to live. La vita bella!

Ciao!

Friday, April 04, 2008

Last days in UK - rapidly approaching

It has been a most unpleasant couple of weeks. Depths of a killer-flu, and interminable amount of work, and continuing uncertainty about my move to Italy.

I hope the uncertainty is resolved next week. I spend a week in Genoa from Monday, and I hope to get both my work contract sorted and find a place for us to live. Flat options seem to be stuck well outside of Genoa at the moment, but I will know much more when I get there.

My thesis is still not submitted. It is definitely not what I wanted it to be, but for sure I will hand something in by 18th April. I just hope it is good enough.

My last week in the UK will be 14th-20th April. Last D&D game on the 15th. Submit to ICDL by 16th. Leaving do on 17th. Hand thesis in 18th. Pack. Leave!

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Italy!

Sqweeeeee!!! [just for Aris!]

The big news is that I have accepted a 6 month post-doc position in Italy!
I will be going over in April with the whole family!!
- cue much more blogging ....