The Boy has Flown the Coop

Yes, our youngest is off again to explore the world

I wonder where he inherited this wonderlust for travel.

India and South America for the next four months.

Mitchy - that's him to the right

with Tom his mate to the left

left, right - right, left.

Mates since primary school.

Met Tom's Mum and Dad in Paris a few years back.

Knew them much earlier but it seemed like a good idea

to catch up in Paris a few years back.

Relationships and travel make for a good life.

Sorry but we are feeling a little melancholy.

Big house - just the two of us,

and the port bottle is empty...

Goodnight.

Keep safe young fellas

We've Been Doing Stuff

We've Been Doing Stuff so the bathroom renovation was going slowly or should I call it the bathroom saga. What has been slowing me down you may well ask....
Well, Sue keeps taking me away on weekends to watch whales, look at retirement towns and of course there's the Tour de France which starts at 10.00 pm and finishes at 2.00 am. It leaves very little time for the bathroom saga.

The blind you see has always been there and always will be. It was made by a dear friend  who is no longer with us.
Its part of her memory in our home.

My photos don't do the finished result justice if I do say myself - I actually feel quite proud although some of the  minor defects do annoy me but somehow go unnoticed by others.
I still need to install the glass panel shower screen but I have a glazier do that job.

The other outstanding job to complete is to hang the art deco mirror on the tiles behind the vanity.
There's also the new light fitting and towel rails - oh, yes - and the toilet roll holder.

BUT, this weekend we see the light at the end of the tunnel. Those final finishing touches happened this weekend. The last of the painting was finished and the only things to be done now are fitting the mirror and the shower glass to the bath. We are on the home straight.

More importantly is that we take our 25 year old son Mitchy to the airport on Tuesday for his flight to India and then off to South America. We'll be very sad to see him off but at least the bathroom will stay tidy until he returns. In fact both our sons return home in November. Andrew has been studying in England but spending time in Germany returns home at the same time so I guess we'll have a real family Christmas this year.

Ooops, it's 10.00 pm and Le Tour coverage is about to start - talk next Wednesday with another glimpse of Italy.

Circus Maximus - Wednesdays in Italy

My son Andrew decided on a jog around Rome - it was 2006, he met us there.

The jog took us along the Tiber and through the relics of the Forum.

Turning back towards our apartment in the Campo de Fiori,

we passed by a park that once was,

CIRCUS MAXIMUS.

Where chariots raced - I sat in awe of what once was,

on the very same spot where the people of Rome

watched chariots race over 2300 years ago.

WOW!

My photo from 2006

A replica showing Rome of the era.

A photo from Wikipedia 1978

Red Berets, Yellow Balloons and a Polka Dot Tandem.

Red Berets, yellow balloons, French songs from a live musician and a polka dot tandem made for a very enjoyable night with good friends.

Saturday night was to meet with friends and welcome Le Tour to the first mountain stage in the Pyrenees. Our local restaurant/cafe "Malt" was the venue and our host, Andrew put on a great meal and the organisers of the night ensured that everyone had a great time. The big screen was tuned in to direct coverage however Sue and I decided that as it would not finish until after 1.00 am, home would be the best place to fall asleep.

Our live music, big screen, polka dot tandem and yellow balloons.

Red berets seem to be the most popular choice for the night.

French wine and the tri-colors.

This was my little addition to the table - Renaults, cyclists and the red, white and blue Effiel  Towers.

A chocolate Effiel Tower with tri-colour Macarons for desert.

Are you watching the Tour de France and if you are there beside the road in France, wave. I may still be awake in front of the tellie.

Wednesdays in Italy

Ionic - Doric - Corinthian

A Classical Order

Sue and Leon in Italy 2006 looking out from the Pantheon