Rainy Saturday

Most of our neighbours don't have clothes dryers - electricity is so expensive here that running one could bankrupt the average wage earner. That and often buildings aren't wired for anything that heavy duty. We have one but I took a tip from Cowbell and on nice days start to dry things outside then bring them in for a final 20 minutes. Plus, of course, I have Nellie's Dryer Balls.

Given that the forecast is calling for rain the next five days I'm not sure how our neighbour at the back is going to get her clothes dry.

And earlier Doralong was asking about today's lunch: well Laurent makes the best egg salad sandwiches in the world. And on rainy days there's nothing quite like egg salad on whole wheat toast and a big mug of Orange Pekoe tea. Guess you can put the boy in Italy but his Irish peasant roots will eventually show.

12 gennaio - San Modesto

Strano, Multo Strano*

Woke up this morning to the gentle clunking of espadrilles on the floor above us and the pounding of rain against the window. The first escalated into a tap dance routine that our neighbour and her family seem wont to practice only on Saturday mornings; the second abated and the sun broke through with blinding brilliance - for five minutes. Then it was back to the pounding rain.

The weather here in Rome is strange, very strange*. At 1000 in the morning it can be bitingly cold, not the finger-numbing -35c I'm use to in Ottawa, but a bone gnawing damp hovering at zero. Three hours later its a pleasant 18c and the gloves, scarf and sweater you wore under your jacket comes off but the umbrella is up because that blue sky has turned gun-metal gray and its drizzling. This morning it was pounding rain at the back of the building but clear and sunny at the front - still haven't figured that one out. But at least the balcony plants are getting a good soaking.


So time to head out to the market:

Shopping list - check
Scarf - check
Wallet - check
Gloves - check
Change purse - check
Sweater - check
Cellphone - nope lost that in a cab on Wednesday - add to shopping list
Umbrella - check
Jacket - check

Okay lets go!

12 gennaio - San Modesto