Friday 7 January 2011

Back to Life, Back to Reality......

Happy New Year one and all.

Did you have a lovely Xmas?  Did you get what you wished for?  Does it seem ages ago now?  It does to me.

Some weeks before the big day, Mr J and P had an argument, whereupon I declared that I didn't want anything for Xmas.  Well, Mr J and P virtually took me at my word (grrr).  That'll teach me.  To be fair, he did get me:  a DVD I wanted, a book (by someone I'm not massively keen on), a cd that we'd agreed that I would buy for him as we both wanted it so now we have two, this cool travel card holder:



and a pair of lime green wellies.  He claims to have bought me a vintage drying up cloth but squirrelled it away so well that to this day he's not been able to find it (grrrr).

Anyway, enough of this nonsense.  The highlight of the Xmas break for me was our holiday in Italy.  We stayed in an appartment near Sorrento (near Naples in the south).  It was sunny every day and the temperatures were in double figures.  What more could a body ask for?  Take a look at the view from our window; the island is Capri:


Thought you might like to see the kettle in our appartment.  Yes, I did say "kettle".  Have a look:


I knew you wouldn't be disappointed.  How fab is that?

We saw the outstanding Pompei:


Climbed the still active Vesuvius (last erupted in 1944).  Yes, that's steam coming out of the crater.


Explored the wonderfully bustling and chaotic Naples.  Here it is complete with mounds of rubbish:


If you want to know why Naples has had a rubbish problem for many years click here.

Lines of washing festooning the streets in the centre of Naples:


This is not a brilliant photo, but I was trying to capture the hoards of people who descend on this one street in December where every single shop and stall sells nativity figures for one's crib.  It's a big thing in Naples.



A little known fact.  Outside one of the bars in Naples, is a shrine dedicated to that footballer chappy, Diego Maradona.  The shrine consists of, among other things, a strand of his hair and a tiny casket containing genuine Maradona tears!  I didn't bother taking a photo, particularly as the bar requests that people buy a coffee before taking a photo!  Well, really....

We also visited, what was described in the Lonely Planet guide, as Italy's largest vintage clothing market. Unfortunately, because it is winter, there were masses of fur coats and snow suits in evidence and very little else, oh, apart from ties - oddly.  We even managed to find the only charity shop on the Amalfi Coast (do correct me if I'm wrong), in Amalfi itself, which didn't prove fruitful - full of unpurchaseable tat even by my tat buying standards.

Before I go, I would like to thank the very lovely Andrea from Fin and Gabs whose giveaway I won recently.


Aren't those cards gorgeous?  They've got wooden ornaments too.  And Andrea made them all by herself.  Blimey, there are some seriously talented bloggers out there.

One last thing, I don't normally bother with New Year Resolutions, but this year I resolve to be more organised (I'm terribly scatty and very forgetful) and to learn to play the piano!  I read in The Guardian that if you become proficient in any instrument, "you should improve your dexterity, intellectual capacity and resistance to age-related dementia."  Well, I'm off to tickle the old ivories, dear readers.  Stay tuned!  (Sorry, that was bad.  Very bad.).

23 comments:

  1. Wow! How lucky were you with your Christmas getaway! I love all the piccies but the one in Naples with all the washing has to be my favourite - fantastic!

    Happy New Year & Good luck tinkling the ivories! love Annie

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  2. Ah your holiday sounds like a Latin Trip I went on at school - Pompeii, Versuvius, Herculaneum.... I SO didn't appreciate it at 15, wish I could go again now! And I love your photos of the washing lines :)

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  3. Fab photos - looks a great getaway. That kettle's mad! Those cards are seriously good, aren't they? Sounds like you got quite a bit from Mr J+P, in spite of no pressies! Happy New Year!

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  4. Happy New Year, what a great getaway! That kettle's enough to cheer anyone up!
    x

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  5. What a cool sounding trip. Funnily enough a mate of ours was only saying last night that he fancied seeing Vesuvius so I'll point him in the direction of your blog.
    Love the Amy Winehouse cat, I definately need one in my life. xxx

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  6. i love your photo's seeing a different way of life always inspires me somehow and makes me think about my own and how much we have and don't need. I love the photo of the streets linned with washing. Looks like you had a lovely time, and what a fun jolly tea pot bet you smiled when you first saw that ;-)) Happy new year, Dee x

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  7. What a lovely getaway you all had, love the picture of the washing hanging up. Happy New year to you all.
    Jo xx

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  8. Any Christmas that includes a trip like that is a winner in my book!

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  9. Welcome back and Happy New Year.

    Your trip really does look amazing. Beautiful views. Love the washing line pic. And that certainly is one amazing kettle!

    x

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  10. Lovely photos, great one of the washing. Not sure I'd want my washing out there for everyone to see! Love the kettle too :) x

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  11. A fascinating read about Naples! Thanks for sharing..love reading about your travels!

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  12. I got 3 CD's that hubby claimed I'd said I liked the sound of when advertised on TV - none of which I had actually said I liked. The ones I wanted are still in the shop!!! Would love to go to the Amalfi Coast and Pompeii. Lovely photos. xxx

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  13. Oh my word, your trip looks amazing! I'm very jealous - I've always wanted to go to Pompeii.

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  14. I love Pompeii and Vesuvius is such a great volcano to visit, I love the Naples area! :) x

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  15. Happy new year to you too. Hope you have many thrifty bargains in 2011.
    Great bun on that kettle!
    Lisa x

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  16. Hello Loo, how lovely your holiday looks! I've always fancied Italy but not made it yet.
    Happy New Year! I hope you have a great weekend.
    x

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  17. Oh Loo! Italy! OMGosh how wonderful! the Food, the Food, the Food, did I mention the Food!How was the Food? I would come back 3 stone heavier!
    I'm with you on the new years resolution, I am also forgetful and scatty. I call it brain fog! well that's what the professionals call it lol.
    love the photos! xx

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  18. i would love to visit italy!!! the kettle is fab, want one!!! xxx

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  19. Happy New Year, great photos Linda x

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  20. You ungrateful hussy! LoveMr J& P

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  21. Happy New Year.

    Naples looks fantastic. It is an area I've wanted to visit for a long time, but that vertigo inducing drive along the coast scares me :) Pompeii looks great.

    Best Wishes
    Primrose

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  22. Looks like you had a fab holiday, Italy is one place that I would love to visit - maybe one day!

    Take care.

    Alison
    x

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  23. Now that I've reread your post, I have to wonder how you got around to saying that you didn't want any presents for Christmas.... I can't imagine saying that....even in my very worst arguments!!

    Maybe next Christmas, you could try and say you want LOADS of presents and see what happens!!!

    Sarahxxx

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