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Sunday 7 September 2008

Reported conversations No. 8 : On children

Raining. Solidly. We are beginning to wonder whether this autumn might turn out to be similar to the autumn of '03. If so, watch out anyone plastering walls or laying cement floors and who expect it all to be dry before Christmas!


Alfredo Cattaneo, ever-smiling overlord of a burgeoning plumbing empire. Architect of the plumbing and guttering in our house (and heartily recommended). Huntsman extraordinaire. Husband to the indomitable Signora Cattaneo, and father to the startlingly lovely Gabriella. Often to be seen racing from project to project on his scooter, or flirting with a rapt gaggle of ladies over 70. A charmer.

"What is life without children?"

(Warming to his theme)

"What would we do without children?"

(Making the leap)

"What do people without children do?"

Mama : (Smiling, thinks) Hmmm...

Eat a meal while it's still warm? Get a whole night's sleep? Read a book, make a phone call, go out for supper? Wear stain-free clothes. Lie in the bath surrounded by candles and smelly incense sticks, dreaming...Salute the Sun...Attend a three-hour candlelit performance of the Tenebrae followed by a harrowing Allegre Miserere...Go on a day-long shopping expedition to Milan...Spend a weekend browsing around Hay-on-Wye...

I don't ask for much.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

With two children I sometime miss the same things too. But without my children it would all seem so meaningless

Louise | Italy said...

I have to agree with you, Anonymous. I spent an extended adolescence trying to find out what life was all about. I went all over the world looking for the answer. Then I held my son in my arms and felt the gaze of my husband on us both and new this was the meaning of life. Sounds like a cliche? Sure. But who says a cliche can't be true!

Anonymous said...

Hi This is great stuff. You should write a book. It would beat a 'Year in Provance' anyday.

Unknown said...

Good blog entry. I agree with anonymous too. What I miss now I can get when the children are older.

Louise | Italy said...

Hello Anonymous No. 2 (are you the same anon or a different anon as Anon No. 1?) (starting to sound like something a Shakespearian jester might say... Anyway...A book? For sure!

Louise | Italy said...

Hello Desiree (sorry for the lack of accents! My ignorance of how to do them!). Thanks for commenting. Yup, these days are so precious - they bring pleasures that override the desire to do almost anything else except be there.

Anonymous said...

Went back and read about the 2003 rain, and you're so right: I'd far prefer to drag kids up and down a mountain in the rain than to run around a rain-soaked city in high heels again! Here, nothing but rain as we cycle to the shops. We are set to visit Wales for a week at the end of the month IF the rails aren't washed away...

Sunday 7 September 2008

Reported conversations No. 8 : On children

Raining. Solidly. We are beginning to wonder whether this autumn might turn out to be similar to the autumn of '03. If so, watch out anyone plastering walls or laying cement floors and who expect it all to be dry before Christmas!


Alfredo Cattaneo, ever-smiling overlord of a burgeoning plumbing empire. Architect of the plumbing and guttering in our house (and heartily recommended). Huntsman extraordinaire. Husband to the indomitable Signora Cattaneo, and father to the startlingly lovely Gabriella. Often to be seen racing from project to project on his scooter, or flirting with a rapt gaggle of ladies over 70. A charmer.

"What is life without children?"

(Warming to his theme)

"What would we do without children?"

(Making the leap)

"What do people without children do?"

Mama : (Smiling, thinks) Hmmm...

Eat a meal while it's still warm? Get a whole night's sleep? Read a book, make a phone call, go out for supper? Wear stain-free clothes. Lie in the bath surrounded by candles and smelly incense sticks, dreaming...Salute the Sun...Attend a three-hour candlelit performance of the Tenebrae followed by a harrowing Allegre Miserere...Go on a day-long shopping expedition to Milan...Spend a weekend browsing around Hay-on-Wye...

I don't ask for much.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

With two children I sometime miss the same things too. But without my children it would all seem so meaningless

Louise | Italy said...

I have to agree with you, Anonymous. I spent an extended adolescence trying to find out what life was all about. I went all over the world looking for the answer. Then I held my son in my arms and felt the gaze of my husband on us both and new this was the meaning of life. Sounds like a cliche? Sure. But who says a cliche can't be true!

Anonymous said...

Hi This is great stuff. You should write a book. It would beat a 'Year in Provance' anyday.

Unknown said...

Good blog entry. I agree with anonymous too. What I miss now I can get when the children are older.

Louise | Italy said...

Hello Anonymous No. 2 (are you the same anon or a different anon as Anon No. 1?) (starting to sound like something a Shakespearian jester might say... Anyway...A book? For sure!

Louise | Italy said...

Hello Desiree (sorry for the lack of accents! My ignorance of how to do them!). Thanks for commenting. Yup, these days are so precious - they bring pleasures that override the desire to do almost anything else except be there.

Anonymous said...

Went back and read about the 2003 rain, and you're so right: I'd far prefer to drag kids up and down a mountain in the rain than to run around a rain-soaked city in high heels again! Here, nothing but rain as we cycle to the shops. We are set to visit Wales for a week at the end of the month IF the rails aren't washed away...