Two days ago security at the palace was heightened dramatically – the national police – the Carabinieri were stationed at the gate monitoring people coming in and going out. Sniffer dogs were wandering around. It was all very James Bond. Yesterday morning the banquet hall where I partake of breakfast was closed off and we were shunted to a less grand – but still stunning – room for our boiled eggs.

What could it be? A wedding I suspected But whose wedding. Someone important clearly. Is Berlusconi single right now? Is some innocent 19 year old being sent to his musky, facelifted lair? Continue reading Raspberry beret →

There is a village in the mountains outside of Rome. It Is thousands of years old. But it was redecorated in the year 1072 in the medieval style. It has a medieval church and some and museum and it is granite heavy. Architecturally I am not sure if it is an important town – it looks impressive but grim – rather like the middle ages in general. The redecoration predates the renaissance so beauty was not high on the agenda for these buildings. I was suitably awed however. Mostly by the ugly multi-storey car park which came directly from the 1970s and was nestled in between all the old buildings. Continue reading Medieval and bloated →

After a day of meetings yesterday, where my imaginary shoulder pads quivered relentlessly with executive power I arrived back at the palace in the evening. Continue reading Pizza and parrots →

So the flight to Rome was horrific. I was sat in the middle of a gaggle of teenagers who had clearly been to Ireland for a school tour. And as teenagers are wont to do they shrieked a lot and caused lots of brouhaha. I was on the window seat – my least favourite location on a plane – preferring the extra legroom that the aisle seat offers. Being someone of distinctly average height this is important. Continue reading When in Rome (or the outskirts) →

I’ve been purposely neglecting this blogette over the last few weeks. It’s not a case that I have abandoned it – more a case of trying to implement a quality control system. I won’t pretend it’s to maintain an air of mystery – people who know me, would laugh were I to tell them about my resemblance to Austin Powers. Continue reading The Italian job →

As I am not at work today and departing to foreign shores later,  I decided to have  breakfast out this morning. There’s hardly any point in buying a litre of milk only to have to throw it out when I get back. Continue reading Breakfast of champions →

Can’t wait to read this

Yesterday was a day jam-packed with activity that mainly involved me sitting down. As  I had already mentioned, the afternoon was for seeing the matinee of ‘Juno and rhe Paycock’ by Sean O’Casey, in the Gate.
Continue reading A day of active observation →

Tomorrow afternoon I am going to the matinee showing of ‘Juno and the Paycock’ by Sean O’Casey in the Gate Theatre. It will be my first time to see a play in the Gate. Continue reading Theatre boys →

Last night I had a disturbed night’s sleep. I was woken at about 4am by the obscene sound of a barking dog. I looked out the window to see if I could see the mutt, but he was nowhere to be seen, but everywhere to be heard. It was a loud, penetrating, yapping, persistent bark. The type of bark that can only come from a dog that is capable of fitting in a handbag. Continue reading A dog’s life →