Taxis Family at Il Pero

First Communion Preparations

                                                             I took my first communion on my 8th birthday , on an Easter Sunday many many moons ago. It was a simple affair, well I was the only one taking their first communion on that day, held in our church. It was a very pretty church in Broxwood Herefordshire. I wore the dress that both my sisters had worn that was made by my mother.  It was a simple and happy celebration.  In the afternoon we had my birthday party and had an easter egg hunt in the farm yard at home.

Last year was my baptism of fire into how it's done here in Italy. Our eldest took her first communion with 14 other children in our village church all the girls in identical dresses and all the boys in identical robes. The children looked so sweet on the day but boy oh boy the decision process for the dresses was a battle of the fittest mother! I am afraid I took a step back and let in all wash over me.  The dress that my sisters and I wore, hung sadly in the cupboard - it fitted my girl so well and she looked so sweet in in too -  but it was ot to be.

with a parade from the local convent up to the village church Ss. Martino e Lorenzo, the children marched happily in church and with a few hundred onlookers celebrated their first communion.  Actually it was about their 5th 'first' communion that week... it went something like this

• Wednesday - retreat to a remote monastery in the hills above Monte San Savino which ended with a mass with mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, where the 15 children took their REAL first communion.
• Thursday - mass . Corpus Christi - with communion.
• Friday - confession - no communion this day
• Saturday - practise mass - oh and yes communion - in preparation for the Big Day on Sunday.
• Sunday - the 'Festa' - mass with the world and his wife and oh yes Communion again.

Forgive me if I sound a little ironic but really it was a week devoted entirely to the 'First' Communion!

But in the end my girl had a fantastic day, and she looked a dream in her dress. though I may say it myself, actually I am glad that the children took their first communion up there on that hill with just us parents for company because on the Sunday these poor kids were overcome by the crowds and the elaborate ceremony, that I think the significance of what they were doing was completely lost on them.  this day was all about the party and the presents - not necessarily about the 'gift' they had just received.

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This year i was prepared in advance so when the 'War of the dress' commenced - we went to Africa and left them all to it! when we came back we found that a decision had been made and this time all children, girls and boys, will wear robes! No wedding dresses this time! All I had to do was take my youngest down to have her fitting - only to have my daughter say 'I'm not wearing that' well actually the words were 'questo non mi va - fa schifo!' It's not actually that bad - but I do see were she is coming from!

Anyway, said robe was ordered and my little princess went on to choose another dress for her party! We have not collected these items from the dress shop yet - but we will as we have her celebrations this Sunday.

Prepared i was for the retreat and I have to say that this time I really enjoyed it! In a different monastery, on the other side of Monte San Savino, in a tiny little room off a beautiful arched courtyard - our little group of 9 children, took their REAL first communion with just us parents present as witnesses.

Today is Corpus Christi and we should be going to Mass this evening - but are all sick so we aren't going but we have notified the powers that be, ie the catechist and the priest, of our absence and we have been forgiven for not coming!

Tomorrow is confession for parents - will I go - lets wait and see!

Saturday there are dress rehearsals and then on Sunday - well you know what's happening on Sunday - yes I have 80 people for lunch!

I will of course let you know how it goes.

We've been away!!

If you think this is a happy crocodile, you would be right.  She was about to have a lunch!  Luckily it wasn't to be us!

We have just been away on holiday for the first time in over 12 years, infact in living memory.  I personally haven't left the european continent for over 20 years and the children NEVER!!

For the past few years we have been living in Italy and the only place we ever go is back to the UK so visit family and firends.  Before that we lived in the UK and only came to Italy to visit family and friends.  So you can imagine our excitement when we we were invited to go to Africa for 10 days.

First stop Zambia.  The River Club on the banks of Great Zambezi, with hippos laughing in the lagoon infront of our lodge. Quite a spectacular lodging. A place where the world works in a completely differnt way from that which we are acustomed. The general slow pace beats even that of Italy!  I know that is hard to believe, but it's true.

We had our eyes opened where ever we went whether it was to Victoria Falls; where millions of tonnes of water cascade down into a gorge, spraying water up over 4000 metres, or trekking on horseback in open bush, or visiting the local village sponsored by The River Club and Wildreness Safaris. Every where we went was a learning curve.

Sundowners on the waters of the Zambezi. Gin a tonic on a boat in the middle of the Zambeze with laughing hippos just a few meters away (must find out the joke that kept making them laugh so much; could have been seeing me in a skirt that set them of - it often has that effect). floating down the river with the most amazing sunsets was very civilized in a sareal kind of way.

After Zambia and the River Club we set of down to Zimbabwe crossing the Zambeze again only by bridge, not boat ,this time and through customs. To Victoria Falls airport and on down to Makalolo Plains. Getting there was a bit of a treat too.  We were in a party of 8 so we were divided into two groups; one grandparent, one brother, one parent and one child in each plane. In mine; Myself (obviously, Isabella, Uncle Chris and Nonno Franzi, oh and the pilot.  Our plane was called ZOOM the other was called ZOOT!  We flew at 5000 feet most of the way and view was not disimilar to miles and miles of brocoli! Nearing the plains we came down to about 100 feet and saw elephants grazing in the open plain areas, impala running in bands and sebra all over the place. We were later informed that Zebra and Impala are most Lion food! Pretty as they are.  On our first land view of Zebras Annie was heard to say 'oh look theres a Zebra crossing' well perhaps you had to be there but we found it very funny!

Animals galore! Of the Big Five we saw Elephants, Hippos (even in Zimbabwe) Lions, Rino (only in zambia).  The Leopards evaded us though we were told that there is a resident on in the lodge where we stayed in Makalolo Plains - but he is shy!! We also meet Impala, Sable, Giraffe, Wart hog, baboons, and a plethera of bird life. As well as the odd SNAKE!!!

 

Man's Best Friend

This is Molly our dog  – the question is, is this man’s best friend? I don’t think so ….

THIS is my man's best friend Mr JCB.

Of all his toys, this is the one that he loves the most, it’s the one that all his other friends, of the human variety, wished they had. Little boys of 3 up to big boys of 83 all have a huge desire to have a real live digger. For little boys, when they see Mr JCB in his glorious rusted, used look, it’s as though their toy box just came to life. For big boys it’s very similar though they are big enough to actual think about driving this giant toy.

Joking apart our JCB has saved us countless times.  When we arrived here in Italy, William thought he wanted a lorry with a crane on it, then he thought that perhaps a dumper truck (doubling up as motorized, oversized wheelbarrow) but then he also thought he wanted an Ape and he didn’t get one of those either.  Instead we found and bought Mr. JCB.

He does everything from imitating a wheelbarrow, to digging holes to

build swimming pool – or at any rate our swimming pool. He has landscaped and re landscaped the land around our house. He has dug holes for animals that have departed. He has lifted the safe, the wood burner, various pieces of unmanageable furniture, water tanks and even the solar panels up into the house. He has moved boulders from places where we didn’t want to them to places where we did. He has even been to our friends' rescue and hauled them out of watery ditches when they misjudged or perhaps misplaced the road!

Every home should have one! Like a lawn mower (we have lots of these) ordinary, much used house hold machinery. Long live JCB in all their unforgettable yellowness!