#82: A Very Australian Start to Italian Summer

Hi Nonni,

Hope all is well today!

June was truly a month for the ages. We had so many visitors from Australia, and had the best time showing everyone around Lucca. It was also disgustingly hot, which was less fun. Like 37+ degrees for days at a time. It made me fear for my health and sanity with the true summer months of July and August still looming ahead. 

Luckily, a storm about a week ago broke the heatwave, and since then it has been a very pleasant and sunny 28/29 degrees every day. 

We had James Adams, Dave's friends from Australia (Matt and Laura) and Olivia and Undies all in the first fortnight. The kids were fascinated by Undies' nickname, for obvious reasons, and we spent an hilarious evening blessing him with an Italian version of his name. Thus he was known for the rest of his stay as Signor Mutande (aka Mister Underpants). Leo even got in on the action by then starting to refer to Olivia as Signora Mutande. Deeply ingrained patriarchy aside, it was very funny. 

The third week of June brought the world to our doorstep, with the wedding of our friends from Dubai. Kait and I met on the first day of our MBA in Melbourne when we were placed in the same group for orientation, and she married Scott who hails from England. They met while both living in Dubai, and have travelled extensively together, including around Italy.

Lucca has been a favourite spot of their in the last couple of years, and we were so excited when they said they were planning to get married here! People flew in from all over the world, and Dave and I made a slightly less momentous journey (10 minutes by car) to join the festivities. We felt very lucky, and had an amazing weekend!

The next to arrive was the inimitable James MacKenzie. After stealing Dave away for a weekend to London to watch the cricket (what else) he arrived in town for a week to hang out with all four of us. James quickly worked out the best bars for a morning cappuccino and pastry, and where to head for an afternoon aperitivo. In other words, he settled straight into Lucca life! We took him to all of our favourite spots, and then also tried a couple of new (for us) places that have quickly been added to the short list.

It was a really special few days, and it reminded me of how lucky we are to have people coming to visit. Especially when we get to spend uninterrupted time with family and friends on their own, or in small groups. Coming from a big family, as we do, it's actually kind of rare to get that time together. 

Since the end of June, Raffy has been on summer holidays. Leo has another month to go. This means that I have been spending a lot more time with her, often just the two of us. I could have put her into a summer camp for the month, but she was so tired at the end of the school year so I thought she might like the down time. She is much more outgoing generally than her mother, but she does exhibit the same strong preference for alone time. 

We have settled into a nice little routine, where we all ride our bikes to Leo's school in the morning and drop him off. Then the two of us roll back through town, often stopping for a coffee together before heading to the bookshop or the library. While Raffy hasn't been taught how to read yet (the teachers strongly advise against it for children who haven't yet started primary) she absolutely loves books. Which obviously makes me very happy too. I strongly suspect she is going to be an avid reader, just like so many of her relatives.

Raffy has also lost her first tooth, and been visited by the tooth fairy who left her a couple of euros under her pillow. 

The other activity the kids have been loving is the pool. Both have completely shed any fear of the water, and will now throw themselves into the water at any opportunity. Supervision is absolutely mandatory. Our weekly ritual, now known as "Pool Tuesdays" is well and truly embedded into our routine, and each week we meet up with whichever of our friends are available at one of the local public pools. We take turns bringing a dinner picnic for the kids (almost always a cold pasta) and stay until we are kicked out at closing time at 7:30pm. It's relaxed and fun and one of the things I love so much about our life here. 

There have also been a few moments this week that have made me feel very far away from home. A very happy one is the arrival of little Lachy! But there's been some sadness too. I miss everyone when I can't quickly and easily be by their side. I can't imagine how much harder living on the other side of the world must have been in years past when video calls, emails and flights weren't a thing. 

Sending you a huge hug and a kiss! I miss you.