Quick apology

Sorry for the delay in replying to comments on that last post, the threatening head cold has thoroughly intruded with malices, and my Darkfest fic continues to be almost as much trouble as an Icelandic bank.

You are all SO interesting and smart that I wanted to reply with my brain on, rather than off, so I'll be getting back to you in the next few days. But it has really given me loads to think about.

One thing I did manage over the weekend was going to the Horse Parade. The public arts festival that has been going on for the last week saw a selection of horses from a local stable taken through the back streets of Erko. I walked the route in reverse on my way to take some shots, and at every shady point along the way (it's a hot spring already) there were little groups gathered, asking "Have they come yet? Have you seen the horses?"

When they did appear, people cheered. And they joined the parade, wanting to be near the horses, touch a hand to their flanks. The green, sweaty smell of them was a friendly odour and the cars that came to those streets stopped and cut their engines, with many drivers stepping out of their vehicles to watch and pat and smile.

There will be photos in the next few days.

A couple of nice interaction moments, the heat has seen me break out my parasol, which is lime green. I was walking up to Newtown with it the other day and a girl with a burnt orange parasol was walking down to Erko. As we passed, we instinctively, simultaneously, gave a small half-curtsey and bob of the parasols before continuing on our ways, giggling.

Yesterday, at the horse parade, a man said to his daughter: "Do you like the sun umbrella?" and she replied, knowledgeably: "That's not an umbrella, Daddy, it's a parasol."

But today's was the best. A little old man came wandering down from King St as I wandered up. He gave me a great grin (which I took as appreciation for the push-up bra and low-cut top on a generous bust). "Ciao, bella! " he declared. "Is it too hot for you?" 

"Si! Molto calda!" I replied in my awful Italian, thrilled that he had instinctively spotted my desperate need for practice.

"Bene, bene, signorina," he replied laughing.

And since my Italian was exhausted, I replied "Oh that's just outrageous flattery, grazie! Piacere!" and continued up the road to my date with my lovely friend. At the gelateria.  I am in the Italian zone!

Quick apology

Sorry for the delay in replying to comments on that last post, the threatening head cold has thoroughly intruded with malices, and my Darkfest fic continues to be almost as much trouble as an Icelandic bank.

You are all SO interesting and smart that I wanted to reply with my brain on, rather than off, so I'll be getting back to you in the next few days. But it has really given me loads to think about.

One thing I did manage over the weekend was going to the Horse Parade. The public arts festival that has been going on for the last week saw a selection of horses from a local stable taken through the back streets of Erko. I walked the route in reverse on my way to take some shots, and at every shady point along the way (it's a hot spring already) there were little groups gathered, asking "Have they come yet? Have you seen the horses?"

When they did appear, people cheered. And they joined the parade, wanting to be near the horses, touch a hand to their flanks. The green, sweaty smell of them was a friendly odour and the cars that came to those streets stopped and cut their engines, with many drivers stepping out of their vehicles to watch and pat and smile.

There will be photos in the next few days.

A couple of nice interaction moments, the heat has seen me break out my parasol, which is lime green. I was walking up to Newtown with it the other day and a girl with a burnt orange parasol was walking down to Erko. As we passed, we instinctively, simultaneously, gave a small half-curtsey and bob of the parasols before continuing on our ways, giggling.

Yesterday, at the horse parade, a man said to his daughter: "Do you like the sun umbrella?" and she replied, knowledgeably: "That's not an umbrella, Daddy, it's a parasol."

But today's was the best. A little old man came wandering down from King St as I wandered up. He gave me a great grin (which I took as appreciation for the push-up bra and low-cut top on a generous bust). "Ciao, bella! " he declared. "Is it too hot for you?" 

"Si! Molto calda!" I replied in my awful Italian, thrilled that he had instinctively spotted my desperate need for practice.

"Bene, bene, signorina," he replied laughing.

And since my Italian was exhausted, I replied "Oh that's just outrageous flattery, grazie! Piacere!" and continued up the road to my date with my lovely friend. At the gelateria.  I am in the Italian zone!