It has been more than eight months since we got back from our around the world trip. That is, we've been back in Ireland longer than we were ever away. The memory of those times is cataloged with all the others of our family life. They weave through the fabric of our family life as easily as we dip in and out of them. Unexpectedly, the memories are sometimes painful. No feelings of regret, just the bruising that comes with seeing how quickly time has gone by. Things happen quickly.
Since our return, I've been to three funerals, one christening and a Holy Communion (that's a lot of church for a heathen like me). My boss nearly got wiped out mountaineering in the Italian Alps (one of his climbing buddies didn't make it). Two uncles, an adoptive grandmother, and a primary school contemporary are no more. And I have finally hit 40. What can I tell you. If mortality were any more in my face, I'd be holding my nose.
But while I am officially in the second half of the game, there is still everything to play for. If there is one thing I know how do well, it's change. Moving. Starting again. (Running away?) And so we're getting back on the bus. We are leaving Ireland and moving to Letizia's home town of Cagliari, Sardinia. (My long-suffering employers have agreed to let me continue working for them from there.)
This move is the excuse I've been looking for to open fire again on this blog. Sardinia is a place I know well, but have never really lived in. It is a place that I have loved and hated for different reasons and in very unequal measure (on balance it is a place that I believe we can safely call home - for a while at least). For what it is worth to you, and for as long as it might last, I propose to offer a view of life on another island, a diary of a relocated family, and whatever else a brewing midlife crisis will provide. I will avoid, unless humour and a good story demands otherwise, the cliche'd rants on overpaid Italian bureaucrats, crazy driving and endemic gangsterism (in any case, my Irish readers won't find anything novel enough in that).
If truth be told I'm not sure where this blog is going. But if you enjoyed following us around the world, tune in and follow our latest attempt to escape from reality.
10 comments:
WE'RE BACK!!!!! (heheheh Evil laugh:-)
Hooray ! Looking forward to the caravan part II.
You can always throw in one or two Italian bureaucracy gone mad stories to sate my nostalgia.
BTW, did you really start writing this entry two months ago !?
LOL. I sat down to write this 2 months ago, and nothing happened. I had better luck last night.
Glad to see you blogging again!
Can I be the first to request a convoluted road trip?
An "Aren't O'Leary and his airline an awful bunch of ****s" story won't be nearly as much fun to follow.
@bokane: ah, you say that now. But give it time...
@simon: Just for you, Si, we are going by road and sea. A week's road trip through France and North Italy. And stop saying nasty things about nice Mr. Ryanair (without whom such things are we are about to do would be less feasible).
Good man yourself. As a special request can you stay off the auto{route|strada}?
And can you review a few cheeses along the way? I like my blogs to be interactive.
ps. God bless Mr.Ryanair and all who fly with him. I remember when a flight from London to Dublin cost more than one to New York.
"As a special request can you stay off the auto{route|strada}?"
There will be some off-road sections: a stopover in Brittany, Paris, and Piedmonte, seeing friends each step of the way. And of course once we get onto the island of Sardinia...
See you in Paris guys !!!!
You betcha!
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