sorpresa! (surprise!)
Yayheyhey - don't fall over! Twice in three weeks or so - this is a bit organised. Well, its just cos I am here on my lonesome, its a public holiday and I am working. Sad, but true. I'm just so dedicated you see. ahum, - who told you i wagged yesterday morning to go climbing?....never! WEll it was ok cos i ended up having one of the most productive writing days so far - worked from 1.30 - 9pm. And got to climb - so all good. Headed out with some new friends (there was once a primary school teacher, a taxman, a financial advisor and a foreign PhD student...) to a falesia (sportclimbing crag) about 30 min from Verona. Very cool - and it was actually. Left at 6.30am, on the rock by 7.15am in a cool 24 degrees which warranted a long-sleeve top! Eat your heart out hahahaha....Anyways, have been exploring the delights (??) of Arco the last few weekends. Some areas are lovely - primo lines, varied climbing, but can be quite polished. And depedning on where you go - very crowded. A foreign concept for me - climbing amoungst a bunch of other people, screaming babies, picnic baskets and snotty nosed kids (they weren't snotty nosed, but imagine they could be if it wasn't summer...). Anyways, ditched that lot and found some more secluded crags. Also did some more climbing up at Matt's place - had another mild adventure on a multipitch - we did take a torch this time, however he had the torch at the top - so i had to do the last pitch by the light of silvery moon (which was not silvery at all, more like a sad sliver of nothingness...). makes your really aware of your foot placements and body positions thoguh - especially on dodge rotten rock that is common at the top of such routes...once at the top, coiled the rope, strolled back through the wild flowers to the house, where freshly made pizza was just emerging from the pizza oven - 7 minutes from removing your climbing shoes to raising your glass of vino rosso "salute" - pretty much paradise i reakon....
The guys I have been climbing with from Verona seem nice - mid-40's maybe. Good age group to hang round with - they are either married themselves or perceive me as too young to perve! Italian men (well the younger ones...) are pretty damned obvious about it! I cant imagine what it must be like for a stunning looking woman here. It was funny though cos we were talking about how italian women have gorgeous figures etc and dont eat much and one of them said, yes, but it is very improtant to italian women to look good - and there i was,filthy, sweaty, chalk on my face, wind-swept hair, with legs in need of a wax....i felt like throwing my head back and snorting really loudly!!! hahahaha!!
Oh - slamming doors - the big black thunder storm clouds have just rolled in with the wind....cool light show last night - no rain, but just wicked thunder and lightening. It is also Ascension Day (observed by Catholics as the day the Virgin Mary went to Heaven - learning new things see...) so had my own live church bell concert this morning. The church behind our house has been decorated and has had live bands each night this week (all of Italy has the whole week off pretty much..)so have been treated to Elvis, Beetles, an accordion player, some really bad opera - wonder what it'll be tonite?
Well, the word document named Lit Review is calling my name and i'd better save the papers lying all over the table from the wind (scarey - was reading a long review article this morning about some enzyme complex - very complicated stuff - if i had read it a month ago i'd have thought to myself "goodness me, what is wrong with some people - seriously!!", but now i was able to smile to myself as a i realised i understood everything it was talking about...ha - what a geek!).
Hey cool! the neighbour has a massive black fro! It's the same neighbours with the lady who smokes a pipe.
see - now look what you've done. I'm procrastinating.
Might go clean the bath...
Ciao ciao