The Sixth of October Two Thousand and Fourteen.

Today, otherwise known as my birthday started at 12.00am this morning when I was still lying in bed trying to sleep, turned over to look at the clock saw it was nearly midnight and so decided to see the sixth of October in.

After doing it I decided I really ought to get some sleep as I had a lecture at 9am that morning. I managed to grab some sleep but of course woke up excited at 7am. Made myself sort of presentable then google hangouted my family to open the presents and cards (normally we do it all together at home) which was fun. William wanted the balloon and got upset when he realised it was impossible to have as it was with me in  Leicester and he was in Wakefield. I got some lovely cards from friends and family and gifts too it made a lovely birthday morning.

Even google said happy birthday to me!

Had to get ready sharpish after that to catch the bus to university. It started raining surprise surprise thank goodness I had bought an umbrella the other day. Incidentally when I bought the umbrella the guy from the shop said I sounded like I wasn't from around here and when I said Yorkshire he said oh yes I can tell, but when I'm in yorkshire people say the opposite they say I don't sound northern. Strange.

Not having any practical shoes for the rain I had to go out in canvas pumps - bad decision my feet were freezing - I think I shall be investing in some kind of boot. Arrived to university in one piece though wet and cold.

Lecture was really interesting it was the Introduction to World Archaeology BC and we looked at the palaeolithic age - interestingly palaeo means old and lithic means stone. We did a bit on when did we become human? But instead of spouting the "we evolved from monkeys" they took the "we had a common ancestor long ago" which I find more believable but still weird. But thinking about if we all come from the same maker (God) then of course there will be similarities in every species. Anyway that was a side topic, what we actually looked at was stone tools and when they started to be first used. And whether use and creation of these tools began to show the Hominins (humany creatures but not human) were becoming human.

After that I had a nice break until 4pm where I had a study skills lecture until 6pm. It was on things like how to get the most out of lectures, how to manage time efficiently and stuff like that. We have it for the whole of this semester I'm not sure about next. It was okay but so annoying to have such a big gap between 9-10am and then nothing until 4pm. Still it's all useful and it was a good presentation.

But until 4pm I went home and watched The Proposal. I had intended to stop watching dvds so I could study but I thought as it was my birthday I would extend it until today. It was a lovely movie to watch again and I had a nice laugh at it!

After study skills a call from Grandma B and then a bus home and then ordered dominos in for tea. As it was my birthday for a treat and I had so many vouchers from freshers to use up! I was going to give one set to my family when I went up but on the terms and conditions it says valid in Leicester stores only which is  shame. The offer was buy one get one free but you had yo do it on medium or large so I got two medium knowing I would not be able to eat it all. The remains are in the fridge for me to take to uni tomorrow for lunch!

Then I had my birthday cake! Although I bought a battenberg my mum sent me a me to you one in the post with some other goodies which was lovely and some candles so I used that! And did it over google hangouts so they could see it and sing to me.

All in all it was a fairly good day. Uncle Simon and cousin Zak came round and surprised me this evening with a gift and card and Zak told me about his day at nursery! Despite being away from home for my birthday it was still pleasant and I rang my family enough to make up for not being there.

Absolutely shattered, and tomorrow is a busy day two lectures, a film and a tutorial but I'll be done 3pm. I like these shorted days college was such a drag. It makes me feel much more inclined to study when I get back when it is still light and warm(ish).

Every year people ask me "how does it feel to be 19?" or whatever age I am. I don't feel any different to last year. But it's weird to know I'm getting older and I feel like this next part of life is going to go very fast.

Day 27: Stormy

This morning the weather was glorious. The sun was so warm and it was a beautiful clear sky. However by lunch time the weather soon adjusted to that prescribed by the weather forecast. Storms and rain.

The thunder is so loud sometimes that you jump when you hear it because the contrast between that and the silence is scary. The lightning is also blindingly bright even with the sun to compare it too. Also the rain is cold and heavy and miserable. 

This morning when we took Bea to her horse riding lesson I had a lesson too. The horse I rode was called Anastasia she is actually a pony and the starter horse they use for people who are new to the school. I haven't ridden a horse for so long. I had to brush her down and the her saddle was put on and I walked her into the covered arena. I remembered how to and managed to mount her first time. Left foot in the stirrup, grip the front if the saddle and swing across. Walking I had I problem with, trotting proved a little more difficult. I sort of remembered how to do it but it was a struggle. So many things to remember. Shorten the reins, sit far forward on the saddle, arms centred together and out and heels down. Then propel yourself up and down in time with the horse using your legs. My legs are so sore. So actually is my butt I didn't completely succeed in the up down movement which resulted in a lot of clashing between me and the horse. Namely me bouncing up and down all over the place. I'm so out of practice. However when I began counting one-two one-two under my breath it became easier to do and I think I had a pretty good session considering I haven't had a lesson for several years! Being on a horse is so much fun. I'm having another lesson next week and hopefully for the continuation of my stay. Fingers crossed I will be able to trot confidently and perhaps gallop by the end! 

Shortly after we got back it stared to storm. Whilst riding the weather had den very fair and pleasant. We waited for Fede and Stefano to come back from the mechanics where they had gone to pick up Fede's motorbike and then had dinner. For dinner part of it was melon (the small orange one) in slices with pig meat called copa. It actually went very nicely together I was surprised. 

After dinner, we looked at photos on their laptop of different holidays throughout their childhood. Then watched TV. As the weather is so bad we can't go out. 

We all napped in the afternoon. I was so tired. After that the weather seemed to improve, so we drove into Santa Maria della Versa to pick up so bits. On the way back I got to drive! I thought it would be hard wth everything flipped over but it was fine I only struggled in the way of hitting the windscreen wipers when I needed the indicators. It was so nice to drive again!! 

When we got back, me Fede Bea and Stefano went on a walk as it was not raining whilst Alessadra stayed to prepare the pizza for tea. 

Before tea me and Bea went through horse riding terms in English and Italian. I had to look a few up because I couldn't remember them. 

Then pizza and fanta for tea! I've lost count of the amount of pizza I've had while being here but it is wonderful stuff. 

Bea and Stefano watch another horror movie on TV so I escaped the room while I wait for dinner. 

After dinner we watched a thriller on TV. It was a little confusing but I liked it. Then we watched the football match. 

Buonanotte. 

Day 17: Bambina

Today was a busy day!

This morning Alessandra had to leave early for court. So after clearing up breakfast I spent some time with Bea helping her with her English book. Her English grammar homework book is like 400 pages long. Big pages like A4 size but not quite, the weird textbook size pages. Luckily not all 400 pages are required to be completed by September but she still has so much to do. Today we looked at adjectives, comparatives and superlatives and negative comparisons. Studying English Language for two years put me in a really good position to help her!

One exercise was quite hard to fill in though. Differences between elder/older eldest/oldest and further/farther furthest/farthest? After thinking long and hard I came to the conclusion that if there ever was a difference between older and elder and further and furthest noone cares about it now because I hear and use them interchangeably. Though I did some research and found that 'farther' refers to physical distance like miles or feet and 'further' refers to non physical difference like effort or time. Like I said I think they are now pretty much interchangeable although I hear further a lot more than farther. With elder and older, elder apparantly refers to differences between two people e.g Hannah is Lucy's elder sister whereas older refers to age only e.g John is older than me by two years. I think elder just drops from use too archaic and old fashioned sounding. Plus I think the religious connotations scare people from using it.

After that, me and Fede went to Elga's house 10.30 till 12.30. I tutored Francesco and Federico first today, well Fede mostly sits there and does his Italian work because he has finished his English book and Elga is paying for France (pronounced Franky) not Fede. So I practiced with him the trouble words we identified yesterday and then we did some more exercises in his book. We also looked at labelling the body or il corpo in English with a rather badly illustrated child that I drew. Then we finished off reading Peter Rabbit and made a start on Hansel and Gretel. Same process for Alessandro. Ale had made a huge improvement on his words although he still pronounces find with a shorter I sound so it rhymes with tinned. We were looking at telling the time in his book and then we started reading Hansel and Gretel.

We came back for lunch, and then after that went to visit Alessandra's friend Laura at the hospital. She had given birth to a little girl a few days ago. The baby was so sweet and tiny only 3500g (3.5kg) she was very small! But so cute. Italian hopsitals are quite like English ones though less plasticised they actually have real walls. Though the floors are covered with the weird lino stuff, and yes they smell the same I don't really know how to describe it except for it being a sickly hospitally smell. We stayed about three quarters of an hour Fede wanted to go to the park and Bea had a friend she wanted to see.

Bea went off to see her friend, and me Fede and Alessandra took a little tour of the surrounding area. We walked through a large green park area, past the public university which was orignially a hospital built by Duke Sforza. After it was bombed it was remodelled into a university. The architecture was lovely I like all the white marbly stone they use everything looks so fresh.

We carried on walking, saw some more old Romanesque style churches and went into the usual park. Luckily lots of Fede's friends were there to play with. I sat on a bench and carried on reading 1984, I think it is a book I am going to have to read over once I have finished as I am not entirely understanding what is going on. Ironically about twenty minutes in Fede complained wanting to go home! He who had begged so hard to come to the park. We left journeying home past Massimo's and of course went in to get ice cream. I usually get Mandarin but they didn't have any so today I had passionfruit. It was so lovely. They make it all from the actual natural fruit and the flavour was strong and sweet. It's a pity I can't bring the ice cream back with me because it really is something.

For tea we had PIZZA. I think I have had pizza every week since I have been here but I am not complaining Alessandra makes a very nice pizza.

I also taught Alessandra how to use google hangouts. She has an aunt who lives far away and only contacts by email so now she can hangout her which will be better!

Ciao.