Italy videos

Here are the videos from our recent trip to Italy. The first is of Florence and the second is of San Gimignano. Hope you enjoy them.

Sarkozy visits Windsor

Today the President of France, Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife arrived in the UK for a 2 day State Visit. Their first stop was lunch with the Queen at Windsor Castle. The preparations in Windsor have been underway for a week and Sheet Street closed for 2 days for rehearsal. At 11am James and I went out our back gate to the Long Walk. Looking towards the Copper Horse we saw what looked like the entire English cavalry in full military dress parading towards us and the Castle. It was an amazing sight and the music can only be described as moving! We laughed to see the 'Queen's duvet' flying atop the Round Tower. It is truly the biggest flag you have ever seen andmust weigh a ton! The parade (I can't even begin to think how many there were) halted for a few minutes at the Castle gates then on orders turned into Park Street to ride down High and Thames Streets to meet the Royal Party and their guests at the Eton & Riverside station. James and I met Annie, Charlie, Oliver and Mariella at the corner of Park & Sheet. Oliver was in full uniform with strict behaviour and attitude to match. He had even shined his shoes! He and James looked so smart in uniform and attracted many admiring looks. Bless! We had a good vantage point along the barricade. I have never seen so many police and security men about; they were even on tops of buildings with telescopic lenses and abseiling gear. Presently the fanfare reached a crescendo and along came 3 open carriages - the Queen and President Sarkozy, the Duke of Edinburgh and Carla Bruni (Madame Sarkozy) and Charles and Camilla. The first carriage was the Australian-made one and the second was Scottish. It was very exciting and we cheered and waved our Union and French flags. As I came home late tonight the Castle is lit up beautifully and flag flying smartly. A State dinner is being held so I expect it will be a late night for them. Even later for the street-sweepers - there were hundreds of horses!

Photos are here.

Florence - Day 4

Friday morning we headed straight for the Duomo. After a short queue (you have to expect it!) we stepped into the hushed interior. More money was spent on candles and wishes and we were startled but thrilled when the organ rang out and enveloped us in deafening cacophony. It was terrific! We were all keen to climb the dome so James led the way. His little legs powered up the 463 steps - not a grizzle or a rest at all. Although he did like to stop and look out of the windows of the stone spiral staircase! He had his own toy telescope which he insisted you could only use to look at things far away. Looking at Dad or pigeons was not acceptable! I had jelly knees going back down all those steps but it was fantastic and I will do it all again when my shins stop hurting.

Back down on the ground we went through the adjacent Baptistery. James counted all the "Little Baby Jesuses" and angels. There are always things to find and hold his interest!

After a rest we crossed the Arno at the Ponte della Grazie and walked up the steep hills, past Galileo's home and around the Fort Belvedere. It was here that Martin and I had picked an olive from the monastery wall 9 years ago and reeled in it's bitterness. James thought that was funny but was willing to try one himself if he could find one! It was not to be! We walked down the valley and up the other side to the Piazzale Michelangelo. It's a bit touristy up here but if you turn your back on the crowds and sit on the steps overlooking the city of Florence you could be the only ones there. We were waiting for the sunset and spent about an hour, just sitting on the wide steps eating salami, peccorino cheese, panforte and chocolate.

Friday night we had dinner at a trattoria that I don't know the Italian name of, but the English translation is 'Discourteous'. Hmmm... It was a real find and because there was such a crowd of hungry people in such a tiny place we shared our table with an American meteorologist. The food was as simple as you can get, the Chianti great and the coffee a perfect end. We loved the good-natured banter between the waiters and the fact that we sat next to the open kitchen as they boiled my pasta and hacked off a slab of Florentine steak for Martin! Just bliss!

Overall gelati consumption: James - lemon, strawberry, berry, pineapple and cream. Espressi consumed: too many to count. Bottles of wine: ditto

Photos are here.

Florence - Day 3

Martin had planned Thursday to be the day we visited the hilltop town of San Gimignano, and hour and a half from Florence. It was certainly the most glorious day and as we drove through the Tuscan hills we pointed out olive trees and cypresses to James. He was very interested in the olive trees and looked in earnest for ripe olives to eat. San Gimignano has long been a dream of ours, and we had visions of sitting on a wall overlooking all of Tuscany eating salami and cheese! Well, it came true, although the wall was replaced by an olive tree in a ruined fort at the top of the highest hill. I lay under the tree (James was in it) and listened to the birds singing and it was just a perfect few minutes. We climbed the Torre Grosse, one of only 13 towers left out of an original 72. The view from the top was breathtaking, as was the climb up! We had lunch at a restaurant 'Il Quattro Gatti', overlooking a sun-bathed, flower-filled courtyard and feasting on Tuscan deliciousness, and yet again looking for cats, but none were to be found. We wandered up and down the incredibly steep streets of the town in the warming sunshine until about 5pm then caught the bus back to Florence. It was truly a perfect day.

Photos are here.

James wins the Preschool Easter Hat competition!

James and I have been busy this week making his Easter Hat in preparation for today's parade at pre-school. His hat is inspired by the 'Bee Movie', spring and of course Easter eggs! In addition we added antennae, flowers and used lots of glitter pen. James wrote 'yummy yummy' around the brim. To our delight he won First Prize - Best Boy and his friend Frances won Best Girl. For his efforts he won a soft rabbit (called Rabbit) and a big chocolate egg. He is having a very Happy Easter already!

A few photos here.

Florence - Day 2

The next morning saw us rested and breakfasted and out the door! Santa Croce was the nearest church and we came to the entrance of the Leather School before we even saw the church! I tried on and bought a gorgeous suede jacket which is a new style and only just released. I feel a million dollars wearing it! We watched the craftsmen at work and James was intrigued by the promise of two cats that live at the school. He stood at the door calling "gatto! gatto!" but we think they must have been sleeping in the sun after a big breakfast! Basilica Santa Croce houses the tombs of Dante, Machiavelli and Galileo, and whilst Martin and I admired the majesty of it all James was quick to ask for money to light candles and make wishes!

After this it was another stop to buy a handbag (enough, already!) and James was treated to a ride on a carousel in the Piazza della Republica. You can see his delighted face in the photo! The beauty of travelling with James is that rest periods are a must so we spent some time back at the hotel playing games and colouring before changing into 'nice' clothes and re-visiting our most favourite trattoria, 'da Penello', just near Dante's house. Martin and I had eaten here 9 years ago on the recommendation of friends (thanks Susie & Fab!) and we were so happy to be back. The food was once again amazing and even more wine was consumed! James had tiramisu which saw him spiral into a fit of craziness but by then I was too tipsy to mind much!

Photos are here.

Florence - Day 1

After a delayed start to our trip we were very happy to be back in Florence again. This was Martin's third and my second time to Florence, and James' third time to Italy! Due to storms in England our Monday flight was cancelled and we flew out the following day. Arriving in Florence via Paris mid-afternoon we had only been at our hotel, the beautiful Plaza Lucchesi a short while before a thunderstorm descended upon the city. The view from our window was dramatic, big dark clouds rising up behind the Duomo. As you can see in the photos, the storm raged then passed leaving a beautiful sunset and clean crispness to the streets. We strolled around in the evening light enjoying seeing the Duomo, Santa Croce, Palazzo Vecchio and Ponte Vecchio again. James had his toy camera around his neck and took hundreds of shots. Like father, like son!

Photos are here.

Mother's Day

Today was Mother's Day in England, and I was treated to a lovely sleep in and yummy breakfast in bed - bliss! James had made me a beautiful teapot card at pre-school and a tile with his hand and name painted on it. After breakfast (midday!) we drove to Runnymede where we played at the playground, ate a picnic on the banks of the Thames and kicked James' ball around. We also walked along the towpath towards Staines to Bell Weir and Lock, passing many interesting boats and some that looked like our 'Lucy'. Coming home James fell asleep and later I picked daffodils from our garden. I had a lovely Spring Sunday with my two boys.

Photos are here.