Me on Monday - the Christmas in August edition

Giving a sunshiny wave to Sian and sharing this week's Me on Monday post. 

 

This is the Monday that I realised I am now closer to the end of the school holidays than I am the beginning.  That's a bit of a miserable thought but the mail today included this month's edition of my quilting magazine which was an excellent excuse to put the kettle on, make a cup of coffee and relax for a while in the garden.  

Ah, the summer holidays - sunny days, reading in the sunshine, picking beans from the garden

 

Sunbathing on the grass

... and being able to buy Christmas cards and gift bags down the town

What?!  That's crazy.  I went into town to buy wrapping paper for my daughter's birthday presents and while browsing discovered that the first aisle was being set up with Christmas goods.  Needless to say that the poor woman stocking the shelves was being interrupted every couple of minutes by people commenting on the fact that it was not Christmas for another four months.  She was remarkably patient, I'm not sure that my Christmas cheer would have lasted so long!

 

Sian's clocked up a few miles this weekend in her travels - mine was spent much closer to home with general chores and cooking on Saturday ready for an Italian inspired meal for friends on Sunday.  Oh how lovely it was to have everything prepared in advance - much more relaxing.  The weather even cooperated and we were able to have prosecco and antipasti in the garden before the main course.  There's also a dog in the house whose paws keep turning a strange earthy colour and is spending a suspicious amount of time sneaking around in the flower beds.  Careful investigation this morning has revealed an impressively sized hole behind one of the shrubs.  I wonder where she's planning to tunnel to?  I love the fact she thinks she's invisible.  She saunters out the door, runs up to the end of the garden where she thinks we can't see her and then every now and again you see a little white head poking through the shrubbery to make sure she hasn't been followed then it's head down, keep calm and keep digging. 

Scavenger Hunt - the final cut 1 - 7

I've still got one photo to take for the Scavenger Hunt organised by Rinda, the one of me with a sign and I'm hoping that I won't have too many problems getting that one!  But I thought it was time to share a few of the pictures that I've chosen as my finalists. 

1 - A bouquet of flowers

Although I've seen many bouquets as I've walked past flower shops and market stalls, I still like this picture that I took right at the beginning of the hunt.

2 - An ornate door knocker

I really was spoilt for choice on holiday so have chosen a few to show the Italian style.  Mediterranean countries have a certain distinct style of door knocker, and I knew that I would be able to tick this one off the list while I was on holiday.
3 - A person walking a dog

Or as Coco would put it, a dog walking her human.

4 - People playing a board game

This one was harder to capture than you might think.  These guys were sitting in the shade of the beach bar every day, drinking espresso and playing games but it wasn't easy to sneak a photo of them as you walked past, they may have wondered why I was taking their photo and I wasn't sure of how to say 'it's for a photographic scavenger hunt' in Italian!  In the end I made Paul stand over the other side of them, pretend I was taking his photo and then swing round at the last moment.  They were so engrossed in their game I don't think they even noticed!
5 - Architectural columns

Viareggio had the most pretty churches.  The paintings on the fronts were such beautiful colours and so well maintained.  This one also had some rather gorgeous architectural columns!
6 - A metal bridge

I was happy to find this metal bridge on an early morning walk to the marina and took several photos.  Then when we turned round to walk back we saw that it had raised up to let some boats through and I realised that this was the photo for number six!
7 - A turtle

Or a selection of turtles.  From real ones to inflatable ones to printed on a sarong ones.  I couldn't choose between them so decided to make a collage!  We also noticed that the waiter at the beach bar had a turtle incorporated into a tattoo that ran the width of his calf but thought that taking photos of the leg of a handsome young Italian could be misinterpreted! 

So that's the first third that have made it to the finals.  I absolutely love this fun summer project and it really adds to the holiday by trying to find the missing ones. I think that the reason I haven't taken the final one is because I don't want the hunt to end! 

Me on Monday with the post holiday blues

This time last week I was taking selfies by the beach with a flag pole with more than three flags on it in the background - this week I'm trying to think up ways to avoid doing the ironing that was generated from getting all the washing done and dried yesterday.
And what's the best way to while away an hour or so?  Checking out the photos that I've found for Rinda's Scavenger Hunt.  I have one left to get and it's one I can engineer any time - a person walking a dog.  I think Coco's nose will be well and truly out of joint if I use some other dog for that one!

 

I was really happy with the extra finds I made whilst on holiday.  You've never seen so many flagpoles with lots of flags flying as there are in Viareggio!  A trip into the nearby town of Lucca found me so many decorative door knockers that I am spoilt for choice now and may need to resort to making a small collage up for that one.  And imagine my delight at rounding a corner and finding a beautiful carousel twirling around in the sunshine. 

 

My weekend was a strange mix of travelling and getting back to normal routines.  Overexcited dogs, unpacking suitcases, one more batch of washing in the machine, watching the Great British Bake Off that I recorded, let's have Sunday lunch at the local pub because I don't want to cook and downloading photos.  Which is where this post started - time to give a big wave to Sian and see what everyone else is up to today. 

 

 

 

One photo and twenty words

You know the holiday is well and truly over when the washing line is full of holiday clothes. Ciao Italia!

Me on Monday- the Italian edition

There's sunshine and sand, there's sunglasses and flip flops. There's even a flag pole with at least three flags flying! 

Buenaventi Italia!

Scavenger update

Oh my goodness, we are well into the Scavenger Hunt now and it's time for a catch up of the photos we have found so far.  I am really hoping that my forthcoming trip to Italy will fill in the gaps of the more difficult to find items. I'm hoping that I may also find some replacements for some I'm not totally happy with.

A cellular tower, a metal bridge, people wearing matching outfits and an overloaded vehicle.

 

A panoramic view from somewhere high in the air and people plugged into social media.  My previous ones can be found here.

Now, I need to explain about the panorama one, there is actually more of that photo but it didn't fit into that template so it doesn't do it justice! It was taken at a high point of countryside near where I live and the views go on for miles. You don't really get the feeling for how high up we were - all I can say is that the little boy on his bike had to wait a long while for his family to catch him up that steep hill! I'm hoping I can replace this one, but I have a phobia of lifts so the chance of a rooftop view isn't going to happen. I'm hoping to find a nice hilltop somewhere where I can take a better (Italian) view, or maybe a shot from an aircraft! You can't get more high up in the air than that can you?

So I'm two thirds through - and really looking forward to clicking through the linky to see what everyone else has found.  I've loved checking the hashtag on Instagram to see the pictures and it always amazes me how different people can interpret the same category.  It's also interesting to see that something that is easy to find on one country is difficult to locate in another.  That's the fun of the hunt!  I also love the idea that all over the world, people are anxiously seeking out a flag pole with at least 3 flags flying from it.  Such a fun project that links so many people. 

Head on over to Rinda's blog later today to check out that linky!

I'm also at that point that is longing to tick the last one off the list but I know that the feeling of accomplishment will be swiftly followed by 'oh no, that's it until next year.'

 

Me on the first Monday of the school holidays

When you have a terrible fear of dentists, and the thought of just a check up gives you sleepless nights in the week leading up to an appointment, what's the worst feeling you could have all weekend? Toothache. I woke up on Saturday with a little niggle of sensitivity, and by mid morning was googling 'home treatments for toothache'. Despite salt water washes and covering teeth with toothpaste for sensitive teeth, by Sunday I realised I would have to start Monday by 'biting the bullet' (ironic turn of phrase) and trying to get an emergency appointment. I don't like going twice a year so to have to add an extra visit, which would clearly end in fear and pain, was not appealing.  I tried to convince myself it could be sinus related so considered the possibility of a doctor's appointment too.  One way or another I need to get this sorted before my holiday!

So this is how Me on Monday looks

How cruel to have a cafe advertising Milky Way chocolate milkshakes right next door to the dentist!

Anyway after a thorough investigation, blasts of cold air to find the sensitive tooth, a deep X-ray and general poke around, the diagnosis was porous enamel. So with a covering of sealant over it, I skipped happily out the door.  I was imagining far, far worse so to come out with just a bill for £17 was a huge relief.  Unfortunately I was to have no food and drink for two hours so I wasn't able to slink in next door and celebrate with a milkshake.

I've also been with Coco to Pets at Home to choose some pick and mix treats and buy a 10m training lead.  She's been a bit of a pickle off lead recently and there's a stretch of woodland near our park which is obviously full of rabbits.  You can see her stop, nose up in the air, whiskers a-twitching, front paw up in the classic hunting pose and she's off.  There's been a lot of calling, whistling and recall button clicking before she returns covered in twigs and mud. So, no more off lead in that area until bunny season is over again. Our neighbour's dog was gone 45 mins in that area last week and returned bruised and bloodied so I think the bunnies are fighting back! I reckon 10 metres of freedom is plenty for her to have a good run round without the stress of losing her.

Once again we had all four seasons in one weekend here. We had so much rain on Friday that parts of the town were submerged. Whenever this happens the local papers always get a picture of a car up to its wheel arches in flooding, why do they try and get through? Crazy.  Then Saturday was nice, then it all returned again yesterday.  Our daughter went to see the Anniversary games at the Olympic Park on Saturday and had a fab time. It's one of those places that is on my list of wanting to go. It's so close, there really is no excuse.

So, how's your Monday shaping up? I'm giving a big wave to Sian to say welcome back and thanks for suggesting we all share our Mondays.