that's better

Sunday afternoon in the city, some illustrations of our adventures. We originally set out to visit the MACRO (Museo Arte Contemporana ROma) in the ex mattatoio (ex slaughterhouse) building in nearby Testaccio but it was closed.. on a sunday. Everything is actually closed on a Sunday here EXCEPT for flower stalls. 

Every other shop/institute/cafe/bar restaurant is shut on sunday and every single afternoon during the week  but being able to bring flowers to your host or making up with your wife/mother is the only absolute inalienable 24/7 right in Rome.

In the playground a prime example of the pattern of Rome brought to you by 'the naughty boys' as Kika and Felix call them, then our lunch spot, a cheese horsey in the window of Volpetti, legendary delicatessen and Kika not feeling so terrific hiding behind her pink shades. she's on the sofa with the flu right now.

Pioggia in Roma

So ok what happened with Felix wrist.. he fell of his IKEA bunkbed while climbing down the stairs facing outward at when the kids were getting ready for bed. A big bang ensued, we all came running and every limb seemed to be in place still so we were quite relieved but it just kept on hurting and hurting. He could move all his fingers but was holding his hand and after a big cuddle and a discussion we decided to try and make it through the night to see if the pain would go. Felix however woke a few times with the same pain and in the morning, after taking Kika to kindergarten Felix and me skipped school (as i'm doing a four week italian course at the moment) to get it checked out by a doctor. A german/argentinian orthopedist sent us to the local catholic clinic for an xray and yes.. there it was, an apparently called 'green stick' fracture in his wrist. His bones hadn't snapped but had been bent like a young twig of a tree and ripped internally and he did after all need a plaster. It has to stay on for three weeks.

Bummer!
all this after a very rainy and stormy easter weekend that brought Francisco on the verge of depression as we decided to go for a drive to check out the 'surf' but the coast immediate south of Rome didn't really cheer us up. The state of the weather meant a picknick in the car and easter egg hunt in the car.
So we missed Waiheke Island a lot actually (the surf may not be that happening but the beaches do look a whole lot more appealing).
Here's Kika with the colomba, the traditional easter bread here in Italy, in the shape of a dove. (like pan dulce actually) We had a nice Pasqueta (easter monday), Britta and Joacim came over with their two girls and another friend and we didn't leave the house, which was a good thing as it snowed/hailed/trees fell on cars etc. outside.

Milestones

So much has happened...
but this is of course pretty significant. Losing your top front teeth (both) and breaking your wrist in the same week..

meanwhile.. in Pakistan

From:

Sent: Thu 3/13/2008 8:14 AM
To: Blaha, Francisco (FIIU);

Subject: Security Advisory for 13th March 208

Dear All

Please Find below the Security Advisory for 13th March 2008

Several Motorcyclists have been ran over by a Bus at PNS Karsaz Shahrah e Faisal.
In reaction angry mobs burnt that bus which caused traffic Jam and panic in
the area. Staff advised to avoid general area.

Blessings

What I found on our frontgate today. Our house will be blessed for easter.

Our house 2

We have a golden door!

Last month - Nederland

Last month me and the kids went to Nederland for a few days. (This is when we all got sick!..so a lot of time was spent lying low watching german childrens tv, the name of the channel is KIKA)
I got to see my friends Titia and Stefan and their new baby, Hiske (and big brother Jillis of course). Stefan is a musician and Kika and Felix love the piano in their house.
I went to see my dad a few times. He's sinking slowly further into FTD (fronto temporal dementia), now needs a wheelchair, which is sad to see. He doesn't seem to be suffering, which is a blessing I suppose
Here are some pics of the kids at Titia and Stefans house, which is actually in Germany not far from the airport we used (Niederrhein), just a teeny step across the border from Holland. Direct flights leave from Ciampino Airport (the other airport here in Rome).

Our house 1

spring from the kitchen window

Rouja and Gareth in Roma

With Kika at the Fori Imperiali.

Just another day at the colosseum

Felix is back!
We celebrated our one month anniversary in Europe with a family wide flu epidemic that got all out of hand and had Felix home from school for a full week and me in bed with the flu for two days as well.
Kika had a snotty day at home here and there but she's just turned out to be a natural at Italian kindergarten (I heard her dream in Italian this morning, not kidding.. she yelled out: cocodrillo! and went back to sleep) I think her kindergarten is fantastic, instead of the walls being covered in words in five languages, there's great big fingerpaintings and fantastic art by the kids everywhere and the teachers are 50/50 male/female, how cool is that.
anyway, just a short post for a sign of life. Our love affair with things scandinavian has now stretched to the purchase of a volvo. We also have a tomtom, so now i just need to work up the nerve to actually drive it.. preferably before Francisco goes to Pakistan coming thursday.
Also will post some pics of our appartment, which we love and if you need my postal address please get in touch. I've been emailing people from my ihug account but it's still dodgy and not everything arrives, so sometimes i'm not sure if you've received my email or not, so pls acknowledge in that case.
First tentative rays of spring sunshine there outside i see..