#buy italian coffee online

[expatesque]

At the demand of no one, please allow me to present...

S's 2024 Gift Guide

A gift guide with no coherent theme, just vibes, under the cut.

Starting out with anything from Bully. Do you have an extravagant person in your life? A brother that needs a touch of sophistication? Or a difficult aunt? Please allow me to recommend: anything from Bully. Luxe versions of normal things in the most spectacular packaging, truly the pick for anyone hard to shop for. I'm particularly drawn to the personalized combs, or the metal room diffuser, or any of their garden scents.

A cute calendar from a local artist. For the UK, I personally love this one that shows you what's in season each month.

A stupidly gorgeous candle (had to be done).

Take something off their plate - know someone who's overwhelmed, has so much going on, and could use a breather? Get them the gift of taking something off their plate. Whether that's babysitting the kids for an evening so they can have the night to themselves, building that new bookshelf they've had in a box for six months, helping organize their 30th, or buying them a deep clean with a local cleaning service, sometimes the nicest thing you can give someone is capacity.

For your local aesthete who's also a bit of a clutz (🙋‍♂️), metal champagne coups or martini glasses.

Know someone chic who has to take medicine throughout the day (or just really loves an ibuprofen)? A steel pillbox (and anything else from Rebecca's consistently stunning collections).

Know someone really into ruffles? Gorgeous pillow cases (pro tip: while initials are always chic, consider 'sweet' on the left pillow case and 'dreams' on the right for a fun alternative).

An (affectionately) insane swan juicer.

The person in your life that cares about fashion but is feeling a little lost in their style or wants to dress more intentionally: The Creative Pragmatist.

Your local espresso aficionado: this steel cup set and a bag of really good local beans.

Pope socks. I don't know who exactly to recommend this for, but if there's anyone who pops into your head when I tell you that the Pope's tailor sells online and you can buy the exact socks that all cardinals and bishops have to wear, get them Pope socks.

If you have a cook on your list who lives in a small space, get them a minichop (trust me, we all want one).

A lipstick lover who's open to trying new shades? Try the Dries Van Noten refillable lipsticks.

Books are always good. In addition to just a book you think they'll like, consider a lovely edition of their favourite (folio or any cloth bound classics). If you're really stuck, a coffee table book from Phaidon or Gestalten is a good bet.

For your dad, or grandma, or pretty much anyone: gorgeous, 100% cotton Italian pajamas at quite reasonable prices.

Really beautiful jewelry for your edgy, hard to impress cousin.

For the elegant person that has everything, the insanely beautiful kettle.

And lastly, a double gift, for you and the recipient: get a kid impacted by foster care exactly what they want this year via One Simple Wish. While I totally support the kind of gift drive where you buy a generic present for a 7yr old boy, I was a kid with niche interests and so the idea of getting someone exactly what they've asked for really appeals. There's usually gifts as low as $20, so you can support whatever your budget.

[bloomingpresent]

FERRO ROSSO CHAPTER VIII

Pairing: Charles Leclerc/Female reader digital artist older woman

Summary: in your mid 30’s you never imagined you’d be divorced. To help with the healing process you decide to return to your first love: digital illustration. Posting videos of your art online leads you to work for Ferrari. But you never thought it’d lead you to find somebody who’s going to bring you back to trust again in love.

Warnings: NSFW! 18+, swearing mention of sexual words, consensual sex, penetration, cheating, sexually themed. IT’S ALL ABOUT REVERSE AGE GAP HERE. Older woman with a younger man. They are both adults, don’t be judgemental. 

Disclaimer:

I don’t mean any offense to Mr. Leclerc. 

English isn’t my first language so all mistakes are my own. My Italian is basic so be gentle, please.

All the previous chapters are here

The sound of your cell phone wakes you up the next morning. You turn towards the nightstand and pick up the phone without looking.

"Hello?" You answer with a sleepy voice.

"Do you want to tell me what this email I'm reading?" Your agent's voice speaks on the other end of the line.

You barely open your eyes. "It's pretty clear," you answer, trying to adjust your vision to the morning sun that barely enters through your bedroom window.

"Do you want to end your contract with Ferrari?!" she asks. You can hear the sound of cars in the background.

"Yes" you answer dryly.

"Why the hell do you want to do that?!" Your agent sounds agitated about the topic.

“I…” you try to sit up on the bed. You know that if you are not honest with her, she will never understand why you want to stay away from Ferrari. "I have an affair with Charles Leclerc and I'm not able to handle it," you answer, almost whispering.

The silence on the other end of the line is worse than yelling at you.

"Hello?" You repeat, rubbing your eyes.

"I'll see you in the office in 1 hour. If I'm going to do this, you’d buy me coffeeat least" she answers on the other side.

An hour later, you're walking up the stairs to your agent's office in central London.

You can almost hear her lecturing you about being professional in your work.

You let your agent know what happened. Her reaction ranges from anger, to surprise, to understanding you as a woman.

"I'm going to talk to Ferrari's agent. It's not easy to get out of a contract like that. But you have to show up for the restart of the season, otherwise it would be a breach of the contract, at least until I can pass on my proposal to them, okay?" " she tells you as she plays with the pencil on the desk and drinks the Starbucks coffee you bought her.

You don't want to, you don't like it and you don't feel like doing it. But there you will go again, into the den of the wolf again.

What motivates you the most is that you don't know Baku, so from now on everything will be work and if possible, get to know a new city. Which is what you're really going to miss about working with Ferrari.

You have everything planned scientifically. Your agent will release you from this contract and you will be able to return to your studio to create your art in peace.

Just one more time.

Baku shows you right away that it is the capital city of the modern world. Maybe you wouldn't have seen places like these if it weren't for F1.

Everyone on the team has renewed energy after the mini vacation. But you are not.

From the moment you check in at the hotel you are alert. Or ready to avoid all contact with a certain driver.

The first day on the circuit, when you arrive at the hospitality area, you receive a video call from your agent.

"I'm afraid I don't have good news for you," she says as soon as you answer the call.

You walk outside the Ferrari hospitality area while talking. "What are you talking about?" You answer her, already agitated, fearing the worst.

"Ferrari is not willing to terminate your contract" she tells you with a strange smile on her face.

"That's funny?! Why can't I end my contract with them?! I'm just another designer" you try not to raise your voice but you're flustered.

Your agent's smile is bigger now. "They actually offer you a promotion, and from what I'm seeing it has already been made effective."

Your heart stops for a few seconds. "What?! Effective promotion?!"

"You are now Charles Leclerc's PR agent, dear." Your agent laughs openly.

She tells you that out of the corner of your eye you can see the movement of photographers and cameras at the entrance to the hospitality area. That means a driver is making the entrance.

You move out of the way, holding your breath, hoping it's not him. "What the hell?! Why?! How?!" You spoke to your phone screen in complete shock while walking through the group of people.

"Apparently he asked for you." the voice on the other end of the call tells you.

This can not be. It's the only thing you can think about while you hold your phone with your mouth open and ignoring what's going on around you.

"Be careful what you let into that open mouth," someone tells you from the middle of the group of people.

Of course it's him. With his big smile and his winning attitude. And continue walking towards the hospitality area.

You want to kill him.

You just sigh and close your mouth. You put on your best smile of commitment and walk away.

What follows is an open discussion between you and your agent about the topic. She explains why you can't get out of the contract, you tell her why you won't accept it, she tells you again why not and why you shouldn't do it. Then follows another long sermon about how good this is for you professionally.

Again.You want to kill him.

You don't understand why, how and what he wants from you.

Your agent convinces you after half an hour of your arguments and tantrums.

You just sit on the floor between the giant equipment trailers trying to prepare yourself for this.

In minutes you'd have been in front of your new boss to start working at Team Leclerc.

You are completely stubborn and you are not going to let it affect you. IF he wants you to be the person who is stuck to him throughout the season, that's how it will be. And you will be the most professional person in the world.

This is your plan, it is decided. Whatever he wants with this. He's not going to make it.

It takes you more than 1 hour to introduce yourself to your new superior and get up to speed on your new tasks. The questions from your colleagues do not wait. About how and why you were promoted. Silvia Hoffer, your new direct boss, is an experienced person and surely smells something of what is happening. But she doesn't tell you anything, she just tells you what you should do and she makes it clear that "this is a test, if it doesn't work for us, we can let you go."

Only she knows what she means by "make this work." But you're as stubborn as Charles, and you won't let whatever her reason for doing this ruin your resume.

You take a deep breath, steeling yourself as you step into the bustling Ferrari hospitality area. The adrenaline from the chaotic morning lingers, and you can’t shake the image of Charles from your mind. He’s a magnet, and somehow, you’re drawn to him even when you want to run in the opposite direction.

As you navigate through the sea of team members and journalists, you catch a glimpse of him across the room. He’s laughing with a couple of reporters, his charisma radiating like sunlight. You can’t help but feel a twinge of longing mixed with annoyance. Why did he have to complicate things?

Silvia appears beside you, breaking your thoughts. “You’re going to have to talk to him eventually. Remember, professionalism.”

“Right,” you murmur, forcing a smile. “Professionalism.”

“Let’s start with a plan,” she suggests, her tone businesslike. “We need to establish clear boundaries.”

You nod, trying to focus. “Okay, I can do that.”

“Good. And just so you know, the media is going to love this. They’ll eat it up.” She glances over at Charles, who’s just spotted you. “Looks like it’s time for your first introduction.”

Your heart races as he strides over, that effortless confidence in every step. He stops in front of you, eyes sparkling with mischief. “Well, look who it is. My new PR agent.” 

“Don’t get too excited,” you retort, crossing your arms. “I’m not your personal cheerleader.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” he smirks, his gaze steady on yours. “Just think of me as your biggest project.”

You fight the urge to roll your eyes. “Let’s just stick to the work, shall we?”

“Of course,” he replies, a teasing lilt in his voice. “But I hope you’re ready for a little chaos. F1 isn’t exactly quiet.”

“I thrive in chaos,” you reply, matching his playful tone. Inside, however, you’re a bundle of nerves. This is going to be a test of your patience—and your heart.

As the day progresses, you find yourself following him around the paddock, taking notes on interviews and media obligations. Despite your best intentions to stay professional, there’s a chemistry that crackles in the air, leaving you breathless. 

During a break, you find a quiet corner to gather your thoughts. You pull out your sketchbook, a habit from your days of digital illustration. Drawing was your escape, your solace. But today, even that isn’t enough to ease the tension.

“Hard work?” Charles’s voice interrupts, and you look up to see him leaning against the wall, arms crossed.

“Just… organising my thoughts,” you say, trying to sound casual. 

He steps closer, glancing at your sketches. “You’re really talented, you know?.”

“Thanks,” you reply, suddenly feeling shy. “It’s just a hobby—was just a hobby.” You set the pencil down, meeting his gaze. “But now I guess it’s part of my job.”

He tilts his head, studying you. “You seem conflicted about all this.”

“I didn’t want this role, Charles. I’m not sure I can handle it, especially with… everything.” 

He hesitates, the playful spark dimming. “You don’t have to pretend with me. I know it’s complicated.”

“Complicated is an understatement,” you say, frustration bubbling up. “I’m trying to get my life back on track, or was trying to get my life back on track, and being around you makes that difficult.”

“I get that,” he says softly, stepping even closer. “But maybe this is a chance for both of us. To redefine things. To… figure it out.”

Your heart races as you look into his eyes, seeing a sincerity that makes you want to trust him. But your walls are high, fortified by past hurts. “I can’t just jump back into… whatever this is.”You look around, clearly this isn't a subject to be talking around people. 

“I’m not asking you to,” he replies, his voice low. “Just take it one step at a time. We can keep things professional, but I can’t help the way I feel about you.”

Feel about you. He said that you did not imagine it.

You swallow hard, feeling vulnerable under his gaze. “It’s not that simple, Charles.”

He takes a breath, looking momentarily pained. “I know. But I’ll be here, whether you want me to be or not.”

Before you can respond, Silvia appears, breaking the moment. “Y/N, we need you for the next briefing,” she says, oblivious to the tension. 

You nod, glancing back at Charles, who offers a small, encouraging smile. As you turn away, you feel the weight of the decision hanging over you. Maybe you’re not ready to dive back into love (or whatever this is), but with Charles, it seems like you’ll be navigating a whole new kind of chaos. 

You take a deep breath and head towards the briefing, determined to keep your focus on the work, even if your heart has other plans.

PS: I'll post the next chapter tomorrow! It's Charles POV. Thank you for waiting on me!

Tags: @janeh22 @elenizacharop @h-jpg

[gatorprompts]

THE RISE AND FALL OF A MIDWEST PRINCESS SENTENCE STARTERS.

from the album by chappell roan. swearing & nsfw content present. please amend wording to your needs !

FEMINONOMENON.

same old story time again

got so close but then you lost it

should've listened to your friends

i'm so sick of online love

um , can you play a song with a fucking beat ?

make a bitch go on and on

you're lying to your friends about how he's such a goddamned good lover

got what you wanted so stop feeling sorry

you know what i mean

you know what you need

what we really need is a femininomenon

RED WINE SUPERNOVA.

she showed me things i didn't know

she did it right there out on the deck

put her canine teeth in the side of my neck

i just want you to make a move

i just wanna get to know ya

guess i didn't quite think it through

fell in love with the thought of you

baby , why don't you come over ?

i like what you like

long hair , it's my type

AFTER MIDNIGHT.

nothing good happens when it's late and you're dancing alone

it's not attractive , wearing that dress and red lipstick

this is what i wanted

this is what i like

i've been a good , good girl for a long time

but baby , i like flirting

can't be a good , good girl even if i tried

i kinda wanna kiss your girlfriend if you don't mind

i love a little drama

let's start a bar fight

everything good happens after midnight

i kinda wanna kiss your boyfriend if you don't mind

let's watch the sunrise

i really want your hands on my body

COFFEE.

can't meet you for dinner at the italian place

i'd suggest the jazz bar on maryann street , but you'd buy me a drink and we know where that leads

i'll meet you for coffee 'cause if we have wine , you'll say that you want me and i know that's a lie

if i didn't love you , it would be fine

meet you for coffee , only for coffee

nowhere else is safe

every place leads back to your place

here come the excuses that fuel the illusions

i'd rather feel something than nothing at all

i'll meet you for coffee 'cause if we have wine , you'll say that you're sorry and i know that's a lie

if i didn't trust you , it would be fine

we've done this before and i don't need it anymore

let's not even try

it's better we leave it

it's never just coffee

CASUAL.

my friends call me a loser 'cause i'm still hanging around

i've heard so many rumours that i'm just a girl that you bang on your couch

i thought you thought of me better

now when we kiss i have anger issues

baby , no attachment

is it casual now ?

i know what you tell your friends

dumb love , i love being stupid

it's hard being casual

i try to be the chill girl that holds her tongue and gives you space

i try to be the chill girl , but honestly i'm not

i hate that i let this drag on so long , now i hate myself

you can go to hell

SUPER GRAPHIC ULTRA MODERN GIRL.

never waste a friday night on a first date

this man wouldn't dance. he didn't ask a single question

he was wearing these fugly jeans

he doesn't have what it takes to be with a girl like me

not overdramatic. i know what i want

we're leaving the planet and you can't come

i need a super graphic ultra modern girl like me

well look at her moving baby , she's the one

at every party we're the party

get up off your feet

get up on that bar

you're a star

HOT TO GO!

i could be the one or your new addiction

it's all in my head but i want non fiction

i don't want the world , but i'll take this city

who can blame a girl ?

call me hot , not pretty

baby , do you like this beat ?

i made it so you'd dance with me

it's like a hundred ninety-nine degrees when you're doing it with me

dance it out , you're hot to go

you can take me hot to go

i woke up alone staring at my ceiling

i try not to care , but it hurts my feelings

you don't have to stare

no one's touched me there in a damn hot minute

what's it take to get your number ?

what's it take to bring you home ?

MY KINK IS KARMA.

we broke up on a tuesday

ruined my credit , stole my cute aesthetic

who knew that we'd let it get this bad when it ended

it's comical , bridges you burn

karma's real , hope it's your turn

i heard from katie you're losing it lately

it's hot when you have a meltdown

it's howt when you're drinking downtown and you're getting called out 'cause you're runing your mouth

it's coming around

people say i'm jealous , but my kink is watching you ruin your life

people say i'm jealous , but my kink is karma

wishing you the best in the worst way

using your distress as foreplay

no need to be hateful in your fake guicci sweater

it's hot when you're going through hell and you're hating yourself

PICTURE YOU.

it's ritualistic , counting lipstick stains where you should be

oh , i need you around

do you picture me like i picture you ?

am i in the frame from your point of view ?

do you feel the same ?

i'm too scared to say half of the things i do when i picture you

am i doing research in a mini-skirt ?

KALEIDOSCOPE.

here we go again

everything is fine

i guess we could pretend we didn't cross a line

ever since that day , everything has changed

if you really wanna leave , i'll never make you stay

love is a kaleidoscope , how it works i'll never know

even upside down , it's beautiful somehow

if you ever find someone who could write a better song for you , well i'd like to see them try

there's no one else who could

the only one is you

it'll just take time to go back to being friends

PINK PONY CLUB.

i know you wanted me to stay

i can't ignore these crazy visions of me in la

i heard that there's a special place

i'm having wicked dreams

oh , santa monica. i swear it's calling me

won't make my mama proud

it's gonna cause a scene

i know she's gonna scream

what have you done ?

you're a pink pony girl and you dance at the club

i'm just having fun

it's where i belong

i'm up and jaws are on the floor

every night's another reason why i left it all

don't think i've left you all behind

i'm gonna keep on dancing

NAKED IN MANHATTAN.

i know you're probably busy , but i would love to see you

the rush of slumber party kissing

don't touch , i'll never cross the line

i pushed you down a million times

i'd love if you knew you were on my mind

boys suck and girls i've never tried

we both know we're getting drunk tonight

touch me baby , put your lips on mine

could go to hell , but we'll probably be fine

i know you want it

baby , you can have it

when i sing that lana song , it makes you cry

we both have a crush on regina george

if i don't try , then it's my loss

an inch away from more than just friends

CALIFORNIA.

i was never told that i wasn't gonna get the things i want the most

people always say if it hasn't happened yet , then maybe you should go

i'd make you proud

i let you down

too hard to find reasons to stay

come get me out

GUILTY PLEASURE.

learned it on the internet

think back to what you said

i turn red , i'm turning red

sometimes i scare myself

i can't help what i can't help

some good girls do bad things too

i want this like a cigarette

can we drag it out and never quit ?

oh my god , you are heaven sent

you give me guilty , guilty pleasure

[bullet-prooflove]

MyGirl!Series Part One: Too Much, Too Soon - Remy Scott x Reader

Tagging: @crazy4chickennuggets @kmc1989 @oureternalbond @whateversomethingbruh @a-noni-love

Companion piece to Marks

Remy books an intimate table for two at Scarpetta, an Italian place with excellent food and a quiet, low-key atmosphere. He knows that you’ll love this place, the warm glow of the lighting, the plush greenery that hangs from the ceiling. There’s a candle in the centre of the table, situated inside an ornate glass holder. It’s the perfect place for a perfect first date.  

You don’t show up for dinner.

Remy weathers the pitying looks from the waitstaff, the glances from the other patrons for almost an hour before he acknowledges that you aren’t coming.

He sends you a text from the table in the restaurant.

Too much, too soon?

He doesn’t get a response.

He requests dinner to go before heading back to his apartment. He finds himself sitting at the island alone, eating the best carbonara he’s tasted in his life. His phone rests on the surface as he scrolls through his messages. He checks the Whatsapp thread from you, you haven’t been online since 12.45pm. That makes him uneasy. Even if you were blowing him off, he knows you’re a responsible person, you wouldn’t just leave him hanging.

He decides to go old school and call you because he has this feeling, right here in the centre of his chest that something’s wrong. He just can’t shake it.

It rings out to voicemail and something in his stomach drops because he’s never known you not to pick up.

“Hey, it’s me.” He says, leaving a message. “I’m a little worried I haven’t heard from you, just give me a call or a text to let me know you’re ok.”

He waits fifteen minutes before he decides to head over to your apartment, he prays that he’s overreacting, that he’ll pull up and see your light on. It’s as he turns into your street that he receives the call from Jubal. He pressed the accept button on the hands free as he stops the car outside your building.

“Hey.” He says, tilting his head up towards the second floor of the brownstone.

There’s no light coming from your window, you can’t stand to be without it. A couple of years ago you woke up in the night to find an intruder in your apartment. A hit man coming to kill you because you’d put his employer away. He’d worn a ski mask; all you could see in the darkness was the whites of his eyes and the glint of metal from his gun. You’d fought him, managed to put two in his chest but since that night, you always slept with the lamp on even at his place.

“I’m trying to get hold of Ani, are you guys caught up in a case?”

“Remy…” Jubal sighs and in that moment, Remy knows that that feeling he’s been carrying around for the past couple of hours was correct.  Something has happened to you, something bad.

“Where?” his voice is low, gravelly as he speaks.

“St Joseph’s.” Jubal tells him. “I’ll explain when you get here.”

Love Remy? Don’t miss any of his stories by joining the taglist here.

Interested in supporting me? Join my Patreon for Bonus Content!

Like My Work? - Why Not Buy Me A Coffee

[adoramita]

♡♡ THE RISE AND FALL OF A MIDWEST PRINCESS ♡♡

an ask meme based off of chappell roan's amazing 2023 album + her newest single . feel free to change wording/pronouns/etc as needed !!

Femininomenon “ Got so close but then you lost it. ” “ Should've listened to your friends. ” “ I'm so sick of online love. ” “ Um, can you play a song with a fucking beat? ” “ ​​you know what I mean, and you know what you need, and so does he. ”

Red Wine Supernova “ She showed me things I didn't know. ” “ Put her canine teeth in the side of my neck. ” “ I'm in the hallway waitin' for you. ” “ I just want you to make a move. ” “ I just wanna get to know you. ” “ Guess I didn't quite think it through. ” “ Fell in love with the thought of you. ” “ Baby, why don't you come over? ” “I heard you like magic–– I've got a wand and a rabbit. ”

After Midnight “ My mama said, ‘Nothing good happens when it's late and you're dancing alone.’ ” “ This is what I wanted, this is what I like. ” “ I've been a good, good girl for a long time. ” “ I kinda wanna kiss your girlfriend if you don't mind. ” “I love a little drama, let's start a bar fight. ” “ Everything good happens after midnight. ” “ I really want your hands on my body. ”

Coffee “ Can't meet you for dinner at the Italian place. It's where I met your family. ” “ I'd suggest the jazz bar, but you'd buy me a drink and we know where that leads. ” “ ​​If we have wine, you'll say that you want me, and I know that's a lie. ” “ If I didn't love you, it would be fine. ” “ I’ll meet you for coffee, only for coffee. ” “ Every place leads back to your place. ” “ But I'd rather feel something than nothing at all. ” “ We've done this before and I don't need it anymore. ” “ Let's not even try. It's better we leave it and give it some time. ” “ If we do coffee, it’s never just coffee. ”

Casual “ My friends call me a loser 'cause I'm still hanging around. ” “ I've heard so many rumors that I'm just a girl that you bang on your couch. ” “ We’re knee deep in the passenger seat and you're eating me out. Is it casual now? “ If it's casual now then baby, get me off again. ” “ I hate that I let this drag on so long, you can go to hell. ”

Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl “ Never waste a Friday night on a first date. ” “ It doesn't matter though. He doesn't have what it takes to be with a girl like me. ” “ I know what I want. ” “ I need a super graphic ultra modern girl like me. ” “ Telling secrets there on the mattress wearing nothing but glitter and lashes. ”

HOT TO GO! “ I could be the one or your new addiction. ” “ It’s all in my head, but I want non-fiction. ” “ I don’t want the world, but I’ll take this city. ” “ Call me hot, not pretty. ” “ Baby, do you like this beat? I made it so you’d dance with me. ” “ You can take me hot to go. ” “ I woke up alone staring at my ceiling. ” “ I try not to care, but it hurts my feelings. ” “ What’s it take to get your number? ” “ What’s it take to bring you home? ”

My Kink is Karma “ Who knew that we'd let it get this bad when it ended. ” “ Karma's real, hope it’s your turn. ” “ I heard you’re losing it lately. ” “ People say I’m jealous, but my kink is karma. ” “ Wishing you the best in the worst way. ” “ No need to be hateful in your fake Gucci sweater. ”

Picture You “ Slip off my pretty dress down my chest. ” “ Counting lipstick stains where you should be. ” “ Oh, I need you around. ” “ I'm getting close now. ” “ Do you picture me like I picture you? ” “ Am I in the frame from your point of view? ” “ Do you feel the same? ” “ I'm too scared to say half of the things I do when I picture you. ” “ So, tell me now, all your perversions. ”

Kaleidoscope “ Here we go again, everything is fine. ” “ I guess we could pretend we didn't cross a line. ” “ But ever since that day, everything has changed. ” “ If you really wanna leave, I'll never make you stay. ” “ Whatever you decide, I will understand. ” “ It will all be fine and just go back to being friends. ” “ Love is a kaleidoscope. ” “ If you ever find someone who could write a better song for you, well, I’d love to see them try. ”

Pink Pony Club “ I know you wanted me to stay. ” “ I heard that there's a special place where boys and girls can all be queens every single day. ” “ It won't make my mama proud, it's gonna cause a scene. ” “ God, what have you done? ” “ I'm just having fun on the stage in my heels. ” “ I'm gonna keep on dancing down in West Hollywood. ” “ I'm up and jaws are on the floor. ” “ Every night's another reason why I left it all. ” “ You've been too good to me. ” “ Don't think I've left you all behind. ” “ You're always on my mind. ”

Naked in Manhattan “ I know you're probably busy, but I would love to see you. ” “ Don't touch, I'll never cross the line. ” “ I pushed you down a million times. ” “ I'd love if you knew you were on my mind. ” “ We both know we're getting drunk tonight. ” “ Touch me, baby, put your lips on mine. ” “ Could go to hell but we'll probably be fine. ” “ I know you want it, baby, you can have it. ” “ I wanna know, baby, what is it like? ” “ If I don't try, then it's my loss. ” “ Won't you fucking touch me? ” “ I just want to touch you. ” “ I want all of your love. ”

California “ I stretched myself across four states. ” “ Come get me out of California. ” “ Thought I'd be cool in California. ” “ I'd make you proud to think I almost had it going, but I let you down. ” “ It’s too hard to find reasons to stay. ” “ Even true love could not persuade. ”

Guilty Pleasure “ Sometimes I scare myself. ” “ But I can't help what I can't help. ” “ I fantasize what we would do. ” “ And how would it taste? ” “ Some good girls do bad things too. ” “ Can we drag it out and never quit? ” “ You are heaven sent. ” “ You give me guilty plеasure. ” “ It feels like pornography watching you try on jeans. ”

Good Luck, Babe “ You can say that we are nothing, but you know the truth.” “ I don't wanna call it off, but you don't wanna call it love. ” “ You only wanna be the one that I call baby. ” “ You can say it's just the way you are. ” “ You'd have to stop the world just to stop the feeling. ” “ I'm cliché, who cares? ” “ It's a sexually explicit kind of love affair.” “ I just need a little lovin', I just need a little air. ” “ Think I'm gonna call it off, even if you call it love. ” “ I just wanna love someone who calls me baby. ” “ When you wake up next to him in the middle of the night with your head in your hands, you're nothing more than his wife. ” “ When you think about me, all of those years ago, you're standing face to face with ‘I told you so.’ ” “ You know I hate to say it, I told you so. ”

[phantomdoofer]

Tower Town, Chapter 28 - Amati

Peppino pushed open the doors to Noisette's Cafe. She'd finally settled on “Noisette's Sweeties” for the name. Appropriate, he thought.

He was a little surprised to see Noise there. He was in his yellow suit. Dressed for trouble, Peppino thought. The gremlin doesn't normally come in here when he's ‘on the clock.’ It was part of the agreement between Noise and Noisette - her cafe was “neutral ground,” just like Peppino's house and NTV.

Even so, Peppino expected him to cause trouble.

Noisette waved happily at him as he walked up to the counter. “Hiiii, Peppino! Congratulations on your new home!”

“Hey, Italian man,” Noise sneered. “Heard ya finally scraped enough together to get off yer couch.”

“Thank-a you, Noisette. And sì, I “finally scraped enough together,” Peppino said derisively, “thanks to Paolo.”

Noise crossed his arms and growled. He was the only one Paolo hadn't given some shares to.

“I think you're rich enough, Noise,” Paolo had said with a little smirk.

Peppino turned to Noisette. “Let me get-a a large coffee, extra sugar, and a dozen of those fruit-a-filled pastries.”

Noisette's eyes widened. “All right, Peppino. Are you buying for the whole pizzeria?”

Noise laughed and poked at Peppino's side. “Nah, hun, he's given up losin’ weight, can't ya tell? He's bigger alre-” he jabbed at the solid surface of the egg, and stopped. “What the hell?”

Peppino smirked and lifted his shirt up, revealing the egg. “This is why I closed the shop for a few days.” He explained what it was and how it worked.

Noisette's eyes were aglow. “Oh, Peppy, congratulations! I'm so happy for you!”

Peppino chuckled, scratching the back of his head. “Honestly, I've-a lost twenty pounds in three days! Gus has-a lost fifteen!” He patted the egg. “This little guy is quite-a the glutton!”

Noisette giggled. “Well, he's a growing boy, after all! Speaking of - do you know what it'll be?”

Peppino shrugged, grinning. “We'll-a know in about four days.”

She hopped up and down, clapping. “I'm so excited!”

Noise grumbled. “Yeah, fat boy's so special, cause he's got a kid on the way…”

Without missing a beat, Noisette swatted Noise so hard his hat spun around, blinding him. “Ah, shaddap, Noise! You know I said I wanted a kid years ago, but you were worried about your career…”

Peppino blinked, grinning at Noise's discomfort, but also genuinely concerned. “You know, Noise, you're well in-a pocket right now. It's-a not like you couldn't afford a child. Why don't you try for one?”

Noise snarled his fang-toothed grimace. “Don't start lecturin’ me, fat ass! When I want kids, we'll have ‘em!”

Noisette crossed her arms, frowning. “Aight, tough guy, put your money where yer mouth is. I want a kid. What's to say we get started?”

For a split second, Noise looked more terrified than Peppino had ever seen him. Then he scoffed. “Well, hun, if ya insist.”

Noisette held her hands beside her head, grinning happily. “It's a date!” One of her workers brought her Peppino's order, and he paid her for it. “Congrats again, Peppy! Let me know when the little paisano arrives!”

He smiled and waved. “Ovviamente, Noisette. Ciao!”

As he walked out through the door, chewing on a pastry, he thought about how hectic his life was about to be. He'd been reading testimonials online from new parents… and it was a little daunting. Lack of sleep is nothing new to me, but… the rest…

He was glad Giuseppe had agreed to take the bambino during the day. It was proving to be a group effort to raise the child and run two businesses at once.

Peppino muttered to himself. “It-a takes a village…”

~~~~

Gustavo stopped and leaned on the counter, wiping sweat from his brow and trying not to pant. Though it hadn't changed in size, the egg seemed to weigh a hundred pounds. How do women do this for nine months?? Of course, being half-gnome, it might be different - humans took nine months, gnomes ten, Ogres eleven, and so on… John had warned them to temper their expectations. “Mingles can turn out very different than their parents,” he'd said.

Peppino gently touched his shoulder. “Hand it over, amico. You're worn out, you should-a eat.”

Panting, Gus lifted his shirt and gently lifted the egg out, handing it to Peppino, who placed it in his own rig. Instantly Peppino seemed to wilt. “Mio Dio, is he made of-a iron?”

Gus leaned back, his back cracking loudly. “Feels like it.” He'd lost thirty pounds in a week; Peppino had lost forty, despite both of them doubling or even tripling their food intake. It's a good thing these things only take a week, it'd kill us if it took much longer! They'd weighed the egg that morning - twelve pounds, heavy for a human newborn, light for a gnome. Where's it all going? The kid should be as big as me already, for all the weight we've lost…

Peppino sighed. “At-a least I finally lost that-a weight the doctor wanted me to lose,” he muttered. He patted the egg. “Should-a be today, sometime.”

Gustavo looked around - the pizzeria was empty. The roads were clear; the blazing summer sun had seen to that. “Maybe we could just close up for the rest of the day…”

Peppino shook his head. “No. I'm not-a gonna crumble at-a the finish line.” He squared his shoulders, and absent-mindedly downed a pastry in one gulp. “They'll be here when they're here.”

Gus nodded wearily. “I'll be in the back, Pep, if you need me. I need some coffee.”

As the double doors wobbled with the gnome's passage, the front door jingled, and Vigi oozed in.

Peppino smiled wanly. “Vigi, long-a time no see! What's the occasion?”

“Just passin’ through, Peppino,” Vigi said. Then he smirked. “Also heard about this kid o’ yours. Congratulations.” He held out a gloved hand, and Peppino shook it.

Vigi oozed up on a stool. “No disrespect, Peppino, but you look like hell.”

Peppino slouched on the counter, adjusting the harness to not dig into his shoulder. “Ay, sceriffo, these last couple of-a days have been rough. The child is like a vampire. And weighs about as-a much as a car.”

Vigi laughed. “Sounds like yer gettin’ as much of the full pregnancy treatment as a man can get. When are they due?”

“Today,” Peppino muttered. “We've-a got everything set up: crib in-a my bedroom, bottles, diapers, the works. We just-a need a bambino to go with-a them.”

“You got a name picked out?” Vigi said, grinning.

Peppino smiled and waggled a finger. “We do, but no one will know until we-a know what the little bambino turns out to be. And even then… there's-a nothing saying that might not-a change.”

Vigi nodded. “Fair enough.” He slid back down. “Well, I think I'm gonna skip over an’ get some coffee. No rest fer th’ wicked. Let me know, Peppino.”

“Ovviamente,” Peppino said, waving as the cheeseslime left. He leaned his chin on his hand. Never expected everyone to be so… interested.

He felt the egg stir against his chest, and his energy levels dropped tremendously.

Something had changed… and he was pretty sure he knew what.

“Gustavo! Gustavooo! I think it's starting!”

Almost instantly Gustavo burst through the doors, followed closely by Brick and Brando. Brick ran up and gently sniffed at the egg, then nodded. “She says you're right, Pep,” Gustavo said.

Peppino felt his energy drop even more. “T-take it, please, amico,” he said. “I'm about to fall over…”

Gustavo took it… and immediately almost dropped it. “Porca miseria! I can't handle it, either…”

Brick immediately took the egg… then squealed as she felt her own energy drop. Quickly, she handed it to Brando.

“Hold on, what do I do-” he gasped as he felt the same draining effect, falling to one knee. He held the egg over his head with both hands. “Guh!” He stood, slowly, holding the egg in front of him, then planted his elbows on the counter, gritting his teeth.

The rest of them watched in wonder as the egg seemed to unravel… revealing a small child, drifting in the air. They started crying…

Both Peppino and Gustavo felt a tug in their heads. They reached out to grab the child…

As soon as their hands made contact, the baby stopped crying, making grumbling sounds.

Peppino conceded and let Gustavo hold the child. “Blankets,” Peppino said quickly. Suddenly he was holding blankets, and the air spun, shrieking, at the speed of his passage. The double doors had slammed into the walls so hard they'd lodged.

As Gustavo wrapped the baby up, Peppino winced. “Cazzo, that's gonna cost to fix…”

Gus clicked his tongue. “Pino, watch your mouth.” He grinned.

Peppino laughed a little.

Fake appeared behind him - the clone had been sleeping downstairs, and it had all happened too fast to alert them. “What’s allll the-” Then they saw the child, and smiled wide. “Ah. So, the child has arrived, sì? Is it a boy? Girl?”

Peppino gently lifted the blankets. “Oh, sicuramente un maschio.”

Brando, Fake, and Brick all huddled around Peppino and Gustavo. Peppino looked at the gnome. “Amore Mio,” he whispered. “Look. He's here.”

Gustavo tickled the little nose, and the boy opened his eyes… to reveal brilliant, sky-blue irises.

Peppino blinked. “Well, he’s-a got my eyes,” he chuckled.

Gustavo fingered the thick mop of deep red hair on the child's head. “It's even darker than mine,” he said wonderingly. Then he looked up at Peppino, proferring the child. “We can't keep calling him ‘him’ forever. Would you like to do the honors, Pep?”

Peppino held the boy up, who looked at him curiously. He's so awake already, he thought in wonder. He locked eyes with his son. “I name-a you Antonio Fabiano Spaghetti, Mio figlio. Nice-a to meet you at last.”

The others applauded, and Gus pulled out his phone. “Time to contact the authorities,” he said. “Gotta get my son registered.” He paused, one finger held over the screen. He grinned from ear to ear. “My son. My son.” He laughed out loud, tears in his eyes. He turned and dialed, hiding his tears from the others.

Fake held out a droopy finger, and the baby took it without hesitation. “He is not afraid,” they said.

Brando looked at the enraptured Peppino. “‘Antonio Fabiano’?”

Peppino didn't look away. “Antonio is-a my middle name, and it was-a my Papa's, too. It's an old-a name in our famiglia, according to Mama. And Fabiano is a respelling of Gustavo's father's-a name, Fabian. So he's-a named for both his Nonni.” He pulled the baby towards his face, tickling his face with his nose and mustache, and the baby giggled.

Peppino laughed in tandem, trying not to cry.

Vigi and Noisette burst through the door at that moment. “I was still across the road, Pep,” Vigi said hurriedly. “Damn, you timed that right, didn't ya?”

Noisette was hoping from foot to foot, literal hearts in her eyes. “Oh pleasepleasepleasepleaseplease can I hold them, Peppino?” The woman looked beside herself.

Peppino grinned. “Va bene, Noisette. Just-a be gentle, he is a newborn.”

The rabbit woman gently took the baby in her arms, squealing quietly. “Oooh, they're such a cutie, Peppino, Gus! What's their name?”

“Antonio,” Gus said.

“Tony!” Noisette said at full voice. Tony looked up at her, a look of consternation on his little face.

Everyone froze. Noisette could be a lot to take in, even for people who knew her. Please don't start wailing… Peppino thought.

Then the little boy giggled and reached out, squeezing her nose.

She was so excited it activated her powers, and it made a comical HONK, which made the baby laugh even harder.

The entire crew breathed a sigh of relief.

Vigi hung up his phone. “All right, I've got the wheels turnin’, but someone's got to come down an’ fill out th’ necessary paperwork.”

Gustavo stepped forward. “I'll do it, Vigi.”

Peppino shook his head. “No-no, Gus, I should-a do it-”

Gustavo put a firm hand on his partner's leg. “Peppino, fermare. You should stay here. It's your place, after all.” He gently stroked the boy's hair. “We'll have plenty of time to bond later.”

~~~~

Peppino rocked the fussy little baby to sleep, sighing with a mixture of happiness and exasperation. The baby had been born early that afternoon, and now, at 5 PM, he'd just finished his third bottle. Mio Dio bambino, you're bottomless! He sat in his old recliner, one of the few pieces he'd kept after the move, gently rocking back and forth.

Gus was puttering around the house, trying to do as much as he could before leaving. “Are you sure you'll be Ok, just you and the bambino, Pep? It's a lot of work…”

Peppino waved a hand. “You still have to take care of your own life, amico. One-a day soon, we'll be together forever. I'll-a be fine.”

The sound of a car door closing outside signaled the arrival of their guests. Peppino stood and grinned. “And besides, help has arrived.”

Gustavo opened the door, and slowly Margherita tottered in, followed by Giuseppe and Anita. Giuseppe looked about to jump out of his skin with excitement, but he let Margherita approach first.

Peppino bent so she could reach, and she gently caressed the boy’s tousled hair. “Ooohhh, figlio, he's perfetta. May I hold him?”

“Ovviamente, Mama,” Peppino said with a radiant smile. Carefully he transferred the baby to her arms; Tony never stirred. Margherita looked down with misty eyes. “Il mio primo nipote… I'm so proud of you, Peppino. And you too, Gustavo,” she said, turning to the gnome, who blushed. “Thank you again for helping my boy produce this piccolo miracolo.”

Giuseppe and Anita huddled around Margherita’s shoulders, eyeing the baby closely as he woke up. “He definitely inherited the family eyes,” Giuseppe said.

“And your nose,” Anita said lightly. “He's got quite the schnoz on him.”

Gustavo chuckled. “Well, he's half me, after all,” tweaking his own bulbous nose, “he was doomed on that front.”

As everyone laughed, Margherita leaned over, tears in her eyes. “Oh, he reminds me so much of you two. And your Papa. If only he could be here to see it,” she said wistfully.

Giuseppe and Peppino exchanged glances. They'd discussed their mutual encounter with their father's spirit during their respective brushes with death at length. “He is, Mama,” Giuseppe said quietly. “He knows.”

Peppino felt his heart clench at the thought.

Margherita nodded. “Infatti, I miei figli.”

Tony looked around, curious at all the new faces. Then he locked onto Giuseppe's face, then turned and looked at Peppino, obviously confused.

Everyone laughed. “Not even a day old and he's already that sharp!” Anita crowed. “You two have the poor boy confused!”

“Well, John did say Mingles can develop differently. Maybe he's farther along,” Giuseppe said. He playfully tickled the end of the baby's nose, while Peppino leaned over as well.

Tony looked back and forth between them, obviously trying to figure out why there were two of his Papa.

Gustavo looked up at Anita. “So, any prospects of another one on the way?” He said, waggling his eyebrows.

Anita laughed and slapped the gnome's shoulder. “Gus! We're not even married!” She looked over at Giuseppe, who was totally focused on playing with his nephew.

Margherita looked over at the younger woman, a devilish look in her eyes. “And why should that stop you, ragazza?”

Anita jerked back, blushing. “We'll see,” she said. She harrumphed and turned to her partner. “You said you're going to stay the night, Sepp?”

Giuseppe nodded. “Just for tonight. If I'm going to watch him so much, it'll be good for him to get used to me.”

Margherita nodded. “Pino, have you and Gus eaten yet?”

Peppino and Gustavo looked at each other - in all the fuss, they'd forgotten. “No, ma'am,” Gus said. “Kind of got lost in the hubbub there…”

The old lady smiled. “Let us see what we can cook up, then.” She turned to Gustavo. “Would you mind assisting me, genero?”

Gus nodded - while part of him resented, just a little, her preemption of their kitchen, he also appreciated what she was doing. “All right, ma'am. I'll follow your lead.”

Margherita waved peremptorily at the others. “Into the living room with you, giovani. Go, bond with the bambino. We'll take care of things here.”

Peppino, Giuseppe, and Anita looked at each other and laughed, then saluted. “As you command, Signora,” Peppino chuckled.

~~~~

Peppino leaned back, patting his belly. “Ah, Mama, you haven't-a lot your touch.”

Giuseppe groaned across from him. “Keep feeding me like that and I'll be looking even more like Pino, Mama.”

Anita poked him in the arm. “Shush, you. It won't hurt you to have a good feed every so often.” She turned to Margherita and grinned. “Thank you, ma'am. Not often I get a nice home-cooked meal.”

Margherita scowled at Giuseppe. “Figlio, are you not feeding your fidanzata properly?”

Peppino, Gus, and Anita laughed as Giuseppe held up his hands defensively. “Mama! It's not like that!”

Anita waved a hand. “It's really not, Mrs. Spaghetti.” She laid a hand on Giuseppe's arm. “I'm not always home to be fed, in my line of work. He makes sure I'm taken care of… when I'm here.”

“In more ways than one, I bet,” Margherita quipped.

Giuseppe went beet-red with embarrassment. “MAMA!”

The others roared with laughter. “Oh, non preoccuparti, ragazzo mio. Your fidanzata and I have talked at length. She's quite content, from what I hear.” She grinned at Giuseppe's stare. “What, do you think you sprang into being fully formed, like Athena? Your Papa and I had many content nights together, after all.” She winked. “If he hadn't been taken so young, you probably wouldn't have been an only child.”

Peppino slapped his brother on the arm. “Ah, Mama, andateci piano con lui! He's been stuck in the service too-a long! He never got to experience that side of-a life before!”

Giuseppe scowled. “Rub it in, why don't you…”

Anita smirked. “He's making up for lost time, don't worry,” she said.

Gus bounced Tony in his arms; the boy was taking yet another bottle. “I don't think gnome babies eat this much, normally. Mama said I was pretty fastidious. Was Peppino this bad, Margherita?”

Margherita shrugged. “He was quite the eater, it's true, but…” she reached over and stroked the boy's hair, “but this one is exceptional. Must be his unusual upbringing.”

They chatted amiably for an unmeasured time, simply enjoying each other's company. Gus handed Tony off to Peppino, who looked at his brother. “Do you want to hold him, fratello?”

After a brief look of mild panic, Giuseppe nodded, and Peppino gently laid the newborn in his brother's arms. Tony yawned and immediately snuggled down, falling asleep.

Giuseppe looked almost entranced. “He just… fell asleep.”

Margherita chuckled. “Giuseppe, you may be a different person… but, remember, you and Peppino are still fundamentally the same. Even more than “natural” brothers, you're just like him.” She stroked the baby's hair again. “Babies are comforted by familiar scents and sounds. Your heartbeat, your scent, are more or less the same as Peppino's. As far as the bambino is concerned, his Papa is holding him, right now.”

Giuseppe sat perfectly still, and Peppino laughed. “Relax, fratello. He won't bite.”

Giuseppe looked panicked. “I don't want to startle him.”

Peppino sat down, smiling. “If you do, it's all right. He'll have lots of chances to be startled, and happy, and sad, and…” Peppino trailed off, considering the weight of what laid ahead of them. “It's-a daunting. Knowing were-a responsible for his entire life.”

Margherita nodded. “It's a huge responsibility, to be sure, i miei figli. But all you can do, is the best you can.” She nodded. “That's all we did. All people throughout history, have done: the best they can.”

The baby slept peacefully as his family watched.

[ccohanlon]

how i live

I woke at midnight, last night, to a hard sou’westerly and the floor moving in three directions at once — pitching, rolling, rising-and-falling. Now, six hours later, the wind has moderated. Everything is still. The rest of the world is obscured by grey mist and sporadic showers, as if the sky has fallen across the shore.

I climb up a short ladder to the companionway to check that all is well on deck — it’s the first thing I do every morning — then I return to my bunk to download email and read a couple of news sites on a laptop before my wife wakes and we have a cup of coffee together across the varnished teak table that separates our bunks.

We talk about what we want to do today and waste a minute or two trying to agree a time-table before giving up. For half a decade, we have scraped by with a minimum of routine or planning. We are singularly unadept at making lists or coordinating diaries. We end up doing most things together. Today, we will pick up some paint and shackles at a chandlery and find a local metal fabricator to repair or replicate a damaged stainless steel stanchion. We also have to buy some groceries. But first I want to repair our rubber dinghy.

My wife and I live on a 32-foot sailboat. It is a life-raft of sorts. It is also an island on which we are trying to regain an unsettled but sheltered freedom after several years of being homeless. Most days, we feel like castaways, with no hope of ever being rescued.

It’s hard to explain how we ended up here. Moving aboard was not a ‘lifestyle choice’ but an act of quiet desperation. We had dropped out of a life in which I had somehow ended up running two well-known, medium-sized companies, one of them publicly listed — before those roles, I had been a musician, gambler, seaman, smuggler, photographer, magazine editor, and governmental adviser — and we had taken to wandering slowly across Europe, the UK, and North Africa. After a year holed up on the southern coast of Spain, a few miles east of Gibraltar, riding out the worst of the pandemic, we moved to southern Italy, where we acquired, and set about restoring, a small ruin, part of servants’ quarters attached to a 16th century Spanish castle, in a village not far from Lecce, in Puglia. We had just completed the work, two years later, when the local Questura, the office of the Carabinieri that oversees Italian immigration, rejected our third application for temporary residence and issued a formal instruction to us to leave Italy — and Europe’s Schengen zone.

The boat was not something we thought through in any detail. I had spent a lot of time at sea in my youth and had lived on sailing boats of various sizes on the Channel coasts of England and France, as well as in the Mediterranean. Which is to say, I had an understanding of their discomforts. But the prospect of resuming a life that, before we ended up in southern Italy, involved moving every three months — not just from one temporary accommodation to another but from one country to another, so as not to contravene the terms of our largely visa-less travel — had exhausted us. I made an offer on a cheap, neglected, 45-year-old, fibreglass sloop I had come across online and organised a marine surveyor to look it over for me. He gave it a cautious thumbs up.

I won’t forget my wife’s dolorous expression, a month later, when she saw the boat for the first time. It was in an industrial area of Southampton, on a dreich morning in early spring — bitterly cold, windy, and raining. Around us, the Itchen River’s ebb had revealed swathes of black, foul-smelling mud. Raised far from the sea, on the plains of north-eastern Oklahoma, my wife told me later she had been praying that our journey to this glum backwater was part of some elaborate practical joke.

There is a whole genre of YouTube videos created by those who live on sailboats full-time and voyage all over the world. The most popular, the so-called ‘influencers’, are young(ish) couples or families with capacious, often European-built, plastic catamarans or monohulls. Their videos focus less on the gritty, day-to-day grind of boat maintenance and passage-making and more on sojourns in ancient, stone-built harbours in the Mediterranean, white, sandy beaches and palm-fringed cays in the Caribbean, or improbably blue lagoons and solitary atolls in the South Pacific, where they barbecue fresh fish, paddle-board, kite-surf and practice yoga and aerial silks for the envy of hundreds of thousands of followers. My wife’s and my life aboard together is nothing like any of this.

We are both in our sixties — I am just a year away from seventy — and we have spent more than a decade on the move around the world, at first following eclectic opportunities for employment then, when those opportunities receded, in search of somewhere we might be able to settle with very little money. Four months after moving aboard our boat, we still think of ourselves as vagabond travellers, our boat a shambolic, floating vardo that we haven’t yet managed to turn into a home. We’re not really ‘cruisers’, despite the sense of community we sometimes find among them, but we are seafarers — historically, a marginal existence driven by necessity. A recent, 150-nautical-mile passage westward along the south coast of England was a shakedown during which we learned how to make our aged, shabby vessel more comfortable and easier to handle and to trust her capacity to keep us safe at sea.

She bore the name Endymion when we bought her — after my least favourite poem by John Keats (“A thing of beauty is a joy forever…”) — but we re-named her Wrack. Depending on the source, ‘wrack’ describes seaweeds or seagrasses that wash up along a shore or the scattered traces of a shipwreck, either of which might be metaphors for my wife and me in old age. It is certainly how we feel when we’re not at sea. Life aboard Wrack is spartan — fresh water stored in a dozen polyethylene jerry cans, no hot or cold running water, no refrigeration and when the temperature drops, no heating either — so, from time to time, we concede the cost of berthing in marinas to gain access to on-site laundries, showers, flushing toilets, and wi-fi. Whether we’re berthed or anchored somewhere, we shop for food once a week — mainly vegetables, fruit, bread, pasta, and rice but little dairy and no meat — and eat one meal a day, cooked in the mid-afternoon on a two-burner gas stove.

The days we spend in close proximity to others’ lives ashore remind us how disenfranchised ours have become. We were homeless before we acquired Wrack, but now we are without a legal residence anywhere, even in our ‘home’ countries. We enter and exit borders uneasily as ‘visitors’, our stays limited to 90 or 180 days, depending on where we are. We have no access to banking, insurance, social services or, with a few exceptions, emergency health care. Even the modest Australian pensions we have a right to can only be received if we have been granted residence in countries with which Australia has reciprocal arrangements — and we haven’t. It’s hard even for other live-aboards to understand how deeply we are enmired in this peculiar bureaucratic statelessness. It’s harder for us to deal with it every day.

But life afloat provides consolations. We are ceaselessly attuned to the weather and our boat’s responses to subtle shifts in the sea state, tide and wind even when we are tethered to a dock. We appreciate the shelter — and surprising cosiness — the limited space below decks affords us but the impulse to surrender to the elements and let them propel us elsewhere is insistent. Our best days are offshore, even when the conditions are testing; the world shrinks to just the two of us, our boat and the implacable, mutable sea around us. Whatever problems we face ashore become, at least for the duration of a passage, abstract and insignificant. We sail without a specific destination — ‘towards’ rather than ‘to’, as traditional navigators would have it — and without purpose. Time drifts.

At least half of every day is spent maintaining, repairing, or re-organising the boat, an unavoidable and time-consuming part of our days, especially at sea. When we’re at anchor or berthed in a marina, we do what we can to sustain ourselves. Most afternoons are spent prospecting for drips of income from journalism and crowd-funding — a source inspired by those younger YouTube adventurers — or adding a few hundred words to a manuscript for a non-fiction book commissioned by a Dutch publisher, whose patience has been stretched to breaking point. Because of our visitor visa status, we can’t seek gainful employment ashore, and we have long since lost contact with any of the networks that once provided us with a higher-than-average income as freelancers. Our existence, by any definition, is impoverished and perilously marginal, we have little social life, yet we make the effort to appreciate our circumstances, even if it’s just to sit together in silence and absorb the elemental white noise of wind and sea, to do nothing, to not think.

Our precariousness burdens our four adult children, who have scattered to San Diego, Sydney, Berlin and Rome: “Where are you now?” our youngest asks. “How long will you be there?” We speak to each at least once a week. Not all of them long for fixedness but they do want desperately for us to have a ‘real home’, somewhere we can assemble occasionally as a family. We will be grandparents for the first time, soon. Like our few friends, our children worry that we might become lost — in every sense.

My wife and I are uncomfortably aware of our financial and physical vulnerability but at our ages, we can no longer cling to the faint hope that there’s an end to it. We have committed to an unlikely, reckless voyage. All we can do is maintain a rough dead reckoning of its course and embrace the uncharted and the relentless unexpected.

First published in The Idler, UK, 2023.

[theostigerseye]

things i love to do as a girl ⋆ ˚｡⋆୨🎀୧⋆ ˚｡⋆

girl blogging

online shopping (especially for skin care and beauty products)

watching old iconic shows (gilmore girls, etc)

reading books

having a collection of lip balms and chapsticks

drinking my morning coffee after putting on some chapstick!!!

baking cookies and brownies

cooking in my kitchen (soups and salads and anything italian or middle eastern)

journaling in my pretty diaries

going for walks

calling every boy I see on the street pretty even tho I can’t see their face because I don’t have my glasses on ʚ❤︎ɞ

listening to twenty two different styles of music depending on the day

educating myself on politics and history (free Palestine!!)

creating pinterest boards

writing about anything and everything

analyzing poetry and lyrics

doing my nails in the same color every time

being messy but organized in my way

buying a new perfume for every special occasion because perfume is the most intense form of memory (like a type of sillage)

learning new words and new languages

spending time by myself as I am my own best friend

the everything shower !!!

watching old fashion shows and old vogue videos

being a feminist

protecting girls, being a girl’s girl

choosing baby names!!!

TH xxx

[threadmonster]

(⁠・⁠–⁠・⁠;⁠)⁠ゞ I am pretty sure even if I did work full time I still wouldn't have enough money. All those "side hustles" that are "so easy" usually require a following on social media and I don't really want a big social media presence if I'm honest.

I wonder if the local coffee shop would be interested in baked goods made from soft wheat/Italian flour... I bought some online to test the claims that it causes less tummy troubles and oh my goodness I have had cinnamon rolls and biscuits this week and I'm fine??? Which means I need to buy this stuff in bulk some time.

[trustmeim-a-dj]

Buying Fabulous Contemporary Home Furniture

Searching for great home furniture can be an exciting time especially if one has just purchased a new home or moving into a new apartment. Going online and visiting furniture sites can be a great way to save on some time. For those individuals who enjoy taking the time to do the search, this can also be a good opportunity to do some catching up with a buddy or a family member. The money that is required learn more to furnish any room will depend on how much one can afford and what needs to be replaced. If one were close to any kind of holiday this would be a great time to check out the sales especially if it were an after Christmas kind of sale.

Some retailers have great New Year's discounts as well and one could do really well during that time of year. Items like tables, chairs or bedroom furnishings can be found on these websites and delivered directly to one's home if one preferred. Some like to check out what is available online and if there were some pieces that looked interesting one could take a ride down to see if the furnishings are what they were expecting. This would be very effective for the individual who didn't have a lot of time to physically go to every store available. A professional interior decorator can help with the executive who is too busy and needed help with furnishing a new residence.

There would be the initial walk through of the premises and some discussions on what the client is after so the decorator can take over from that point on. She could make suggestions and run them by the client before starting on the project. This could be one of the best ways to get something spectacular when one were short on time or preferred someone who could handle this kind of job. One of the best secrets of making any room spectacular is have at least one item that stands out.

This could be several smaller pieces like a great coffee table and unique lamps. Most professional decorators will tell you that it does not have to be expensive to make the room look great but just something eye catching and original will do the trick. Some even go to super stores and pick up special pieces to liven up the rooms depending on what the budget would be.

Getting the pieces out to the residence will depend on how many pieces and how heavy those items might be. If one were only getting smaller pieces, it would probably make sense to pick up those pieces on their own to save on shipping costs. For those larger items most retailers generally have a set price regardless of what the weight might be which makes it so much easier. There are so many different kinds of styles when it comes to furniture that one can have practically anything custom made. Items like Italian leather couches or designer chairs for the dining room table can come from overseas. These are specially catered to the buyer's tastes and is carefully detailed to perfection. This is the reason why it takes a longer to receive the product but will generally last a lifetime. Custom made home furniture can really be a fabulous way to make a room stand out. Adding these kinds of personal touches can enhance a large room and turn a smaller room into a much more admired room. Customers like the idea that their home is personalized to their tastes and won't see their furnishings everywhere they go.

[teamlatteholic]

Bialetti Moka Pots: Iconic Design Meets Exceptional Coffee

Experience the perfect blend of timeless design and rich, flavorful coffee with Bialetti Moka Pots. Renowned for their iconic craftsmanship, these pots deliver exceptional coffee, right from your stovetop. Whether you're a coffee connoisseur or a beginner, brewing with a Bialetti coffee maker online ensures an authentic Italian coffee experience every time. Looking to own one? Buy Bialetti Moka Pot online in India and enjoy premium quality and durability. Explore our collection of premium coffee machines and elevate your coffee game to new heights with the unmatched charm of Bialetti!

☎️Reach Out to Us:

                    📞  Phone               :  8882306988

                    🚩   Visit our showroom: SILVEOR LIFESTYLE INDIA LLP, Plot No. 82, 1st Floor, Patparganj Industrial Area Delhi -110092 India

[horecahermesgourmet]

Explore the Convenience of Shopping at a "Tienda Productos Italianos Online"

If you love Italian food and enjoy cooking with authentic ingredients, you know how important it is to have access to high-quality products. The good news is that you can now explore the convenience of shopping at a "Tienda Productos Italianos Online" from the comfort of your home. With just a few clicks, you can have premium Italian goods delivered right to your door. Let’s take a closer look at why shopping online for Italian products is so convenient and beneficial.

1. Access to Authentic Italian Products

One of the best things about shopping at a "Tienda Productos Italianos Online" is the guaranteed authenticity of the products. These online stores specialize in Italian goods, offering everything from traditional pastas and sauces to artisanal cheeses and olive oils. Whether you're craving a specific regional product or want to try something new, you'll find a wide variety of genuine Italian ingredients that you might not easily find in local supermarkets.

2. Convenience of Shopping from Home

Gone are the days of driving to specialty stores or waiting in long lines at crowded markets. With a "Tienda Productos Italianos Online," you can shop from the comfort of your home at any time of the day or night. Whether you're planning your weekly meals or looking for a special ingredient for a special occasion, online shopping makes it easy to find what you need without leaving your house.

3. Wide Range of Products Available

A good "Tienda Productos Italianos Online" offers an extensive selection of Italian products. You can shop for everything from pasta, sauces, and olive oils to sweets, wines, and coffee. Many online stores also offer unique or hard-to-find items that you might not be able to purchase locally, such as specialty truffle oils, traditional cured meats, or rare cheeses. This wide range allows you to fully explore Italian cuisine and discover new ingredients to enhance your dishes.

4. Easy to Compare Prices and Find Deals

Shopping online makes it easy to compare prices between different stores. You can quickly check the prices of similar products, find the best deals, and even look for special promotions or discounts. Many "Tienda Productos Italianos Online" websites offer seasonal sales or bundle discounts, making it easier to stock up on your favorite products while saving money.

5. Detailed Product Information

When you shop at a "Tienda Productos Italianos Online," you have access to detailed product descriptions. You can read about the origin of the ingredients, how they’re made, and their flavor profiles. This information helps you make informed decisions about the products you buy and ensures that you choose the best items for your cooking needs. Many websites also include customer reviews, so you can learn from other shoppers’ experiences before making a purchase.

6. Convenient Delivery to Your Door

One of the greatest benefits of shopping at a "Tienda Productos Italianos Online" is the convenience of home delivery. Once you’ve selected your items, you can have them delivered directly to your door. Many online stores offer fast and reliable shipping, so you don’t have to wait long to enjoy your Italian treats. You can also track your order and know exactly when it will arrive, which adds to the convenience.

7. No Need to Carry Heavy Bags

Shopping online means you don’t have to worry about carrying heavy bags or loading your car with bulky items. Many Italian products, especially liquids like olive oil or wine, can be heavy and cumbersome to transport. With online shopping, these items are delivered straight to you, saving you time and effort.

8. Great for Specialty or Hard-to-Find Items

Sometimes, you may be looking for a specific product, such as a rare type of pasta or a specific regional sauce, that’s difficult to find in local stores. A "Tienda Productos Italianos Online" often carries these specialty items, giving you access to a broader selection that may not be available in nearby markets. Shopping online also allows you to explore different regions of Italy and discover regional specialties that you might not have encountered otherwise.

9. Saves Time and Energy

Instead of spending time driving to multiple stores or browsing through aisles, shopping online at a "Tienda Productos Italianos Online" allows you to find everything you need in one place. With the ability to search for specific products and filter results based on your preferences, you can quickly and easily find exactly what you’re looking for, saving you time and energy.

10. Great for Gifts or Special Occasions

If you're looking for a unique gift for a friend or loved one who loves Italian food, a "Tienda Productos Italianos Online" is a great place to shop. Many stores offer gift baskets or curated collections of Italian products, making it easy to send a thoughtful gift. You can also find special items for holidays or celebrations, like Italian wines for a dinner party or special pastries for a festive occasion.

Conclusion

Shopping at a "Tienda Productos Italianos Online" offers a convenient, efficient, and enjoyable way to access premium Italian products. With a wide variety of authentic ingredients, easy price comparison, reliable delivery, and the comfort of shopping from home, it’s no wonder that more people are turning to online stores for their Italian food needs. Whether you're a passionate cook, a business owner, or simply someone who loves Italian cuisine, shopping online makes it easier than ever to explore and enjoy authentic Italian flavors.

So, if you're ready to bring the taste of Italy into your home, consider exploring a "Tienda Productos Italianos Online" today!

[exhibit-of-the-century]

Brief Lecture on Western Maritime Tattooing

Masterlist

BUY ME A COFFEE

The online lecture I attended was on 17th cent to modern day tattooing in the maritime sphere. Exploring the history and anthropology of western tattoos. The lecture was presented by Matt Lodder – tattoos the untold history of modern art. University of essex – who has tattoos and why they’re not just for sailors.

Persistent cliché –

Melanie Phillips: Seeing tattoos makes me feel sick.

Paints her thesis as tattoos being a collapse of western civilisation

When were tattoos just for sailors? 1982: all sorts of people were doing it etc. It keeps going, backwards in time…

When the tattoo industry begins and establishes itself, that’s when tattoo becomes art. The idea persists historically. However, tattoos aren’t as persistent, they have a mayfly life, persists for life, then 6 months after you die. Tattoos aren’t in museums, unless from civilisation where documented and logged- like sailors, criminal tattoos: hence why they survive. Usually these are monitored societies.

They haven’t sat for portraiture usually, however in Daniel Maclise, The Death of Nelson 1859 – 1864 an anchor tattoo can be spotted.

Edward Rotheram did a survey of people on ship, and most had tattoos. Examples included pierced hearts, initials, crucifixes. Names on initials, love and the sea, or religious imagery. This is the Sailors way of record keeping, either of nautical miles travelled or keeping a piece of home with them, this record keeping begins in the Napoleonic wars.

Criminals the same, tattoos recorded on enlistment. Fraternization to gangs eg.

An example most will recognise today, are the infamous tattoo traditions of the yakuza, aka the Japanese Mafia. Historically, Dr Fukushi Masachi, was one of the organisers of the Tattoo League of Japan. His research on the subject of human skin (from 1907) brought him into contact with many people that had tattoos. He therefore became interested in 1926 in the art of Japanese tattoo (Irezumi), led autopsies on corpses, removed the skin and did research on methods to preserve the skin. In the following years he collected an archive of about 2000 "hides" and 3000 photographs which were lost in 1945, during World War II.

Other examples of tattooing can be found in the pacific, maori, and new zealand etc however these types of tattoos were surprising to the western populus, as they were large, black and facial: shocking to Europeans. There is a stigmatisation as the colonial project continued.

Ancient Britain’s didn’t have tattoos, but some speculated they did. Othering, to distinguish non-Europeans. Sailors don’t really go and then come back with the pacific tattoos, pacific tattooing didn’t affect European tattooing.

Pilgrim tattooing developed in 16th cent Italy, developed with bloodletting – religious marks usually. Pilgrim stamps made from wood blocks, 1880s these blocks still used. Culture of Italian tattoo from ancient Greeks. Sailors couldn’t leave their mark upon the sea, typical practices of sailor: tattooing and embroidery. Every sailor has a needle, gunpowder and soot: so, all combined objects for tattoo. When paper wasn’t as readily available. If you’re wearing uniform you blend with everyone else in uniform, so a tattoo is individual, they stand out against the gov.

2013: things of the sea, sculpture journal article

These coincidences of thigs becoming a style. Two things caused professional tattooing to start: George the 5th got tattoos in Japan, both princes got tattooed on their necks. Japan closed off to west till about 1550s, tattoos were part of the fascination, almost all royal visitors to Japan were tattooed.

“Habit not confined to seamen only” – the New York times, 1908

Sam O’Reilly was the inventor of electric tattoo machine, from New York. Invented in Dec of 1891.

Hybridisation of styles, of western sailor tattoos with Japanese. As print culture developed, and design tattoo language got ossified into a style. Mass production developed so design sheets become more spread.

ttoos are useful and cant be lost, especially around the rise of ww2. Make for personal memeorbilia, and romantic exhnchage coming up to the wartime. 1940s 16 year old tattoo artist girl:

Comic books influenced tattoo style, big bold lines.

Tattooing becomes influential in fashion too, elsa shapareli, she used tattoo ideas and tropes into her fashion. Sell transgressive swimwear. Paul Gautier and harry style play on sailor tattoos.

[b2bbusiness]

Italy's Foodservice Market: A Culinary Delightscape

Italy, renowned for its rich culinary heritage and exquisite cuisine, has a thriving foodservice market. From traditional trattorias to Michelin-starred restaurants, the Italian foodservice industry caters to diverse tastes and preferences. This article explores the key segments and trends shaping Italy's foodservice market.

Key Segments of Italy's Foodservice Market

Full-Service Restaurants: These establishments offer a complete dining experience, including table service, a variety of menu options, and often a bar. They range from casual trattorias to upscale fine-dining restaurants.

Quick-Service Restaurants (QSRs): QSRs provide fast and convenient dining options, often with limited menus and counter service. Popular QSR chains in Italy include pizza places, pasta eateries, and gelato shops.

Cafés and Bars: Cafés and bars are integral to Italian culture, offering coffee, pastries, and alcoholic beverages. They can range from small, cozy establishments to trendy, bustling venues.

Catering Services: Catering companies provide food and beverage services for various events, including weddings, corporate functions, and parties.

Food Trucks and Street Food: The street food scene in Italy is growing, with food trucks and vendors offering a variety of culinary delights.

Trends Shaping Italy's Foodservice Market

Regional Cuisine Revival: There is a growing appreciation for regional Italian cuisine, with many restaurants focusing on highlighting local ingredients and traditional cooking methods.

Healthy Eating Trends: Consumers are becoming more health-conscious, leading to an increase in demand for healthier menu options, including vegetarian and vegan dishes.

Experiential Dining: Restaurants are offering unique dining experiences, such as themed dinners, cooking classes, and wine pairings.

Technology Integration: Technology is playing a significant role in the foodservice industry, with advancements in online ordering, mobile payments, and food delivery services.

Sustainability and Ethical Sourcing: Consumers are increasingly concerned about sustainability and ethical sourcing, leading restaurants to focus on using locally sourced, organic ingredients.

Challenges and Opportunities

While Italy's foodservice market is thriving, it faces certain challenges, including:

Economic Factors: Economic fluctuations can impact consumer spending and affect the profitability of restaurants.

Competition: The market is highly competitive, with numerous players vying for market share.

Labor Shortages: The industry often faces challenges in attracting and retaining qualified staff.

Despite these challenges, Italy's foodservice market presents significant opportunities for businesses. The country's rich culinary heritage, growing tourism industry, and increasing consumer demand for quality dining experiences provide a favorable environment for growth.

Buy the Full Report for More Insights on the Italy Foodservice Market Forecast Download a Free Sample Report

[aequoranimae]

1st-3rd july

My last morning in Vienna, I packed up my bags and left them in the hostel locker room while I went out to find a pastry for breakfast—I suppose it was what we would call a danish, filled with custard and raspberries. It was a rainy morning and I sought shelter in the entrance of the Charles Church, but I didn’t go it because they were charging admission and I’ve been into plenty of very good churches in Vienna for free now. Eventually I accepted the rain was not going anywhere and scurried through the streets as quickly as possible, hugging the edges of buildings, until I found a supermarket where I could stock up for the day ahead. The train between Vienna and Venice is eight hours long, by far the longest single journey during my travels aside from the plane leg across the Indian Ocean. So carrying an extra bag of snack material I took the metro back to Vienna main station and waited for my train. The service was fairly quiet to begin with, perhaps most of the horde is not arriving in Venice via train from Austria. After eating my packed lunch I fell into a bit of a stupor, and woke back up to the mountains, the last dregs of the Alps stretching across Western Europe until they petered out here in rural Austria.

The train passed through many tunnels under mountains, at other times weaving around them, the endless dark green hills heavy with pine and occasionally broken by pieces of limestone protruding from the forest. There were small towns too, whose silent and run-down stations we passed through mostly without stopping. Although the journey was a long one, I only experienced any true suffering after waking from another nap so thirsty my throat was dry and burning, but I was one euro short in cash to buy a bottle of water, and card payment was only accepted online. As we sat outside one rural station for twenty minutes, delayed, I did battle with the mobile service in the mountains of regional Austria to make a purchase and at last succeeded (I had more luck than another Australian family sitting across from me, who I didn’t reveal myself to, comfortable in the perception of being something foreign). Then we passed on into Italy, signified by the dramatic change in station names and the arrival of the Italian police on board—and the architecture of the towns was different too, transformed into that Italianate style. Once or twice we crossed on bridges over shallow rivers where the water ran a striking aqua over white stone flats. And as we came into the seventh or eighth hour of the journey the mountains sloped down into farmland and pale fields. And so at last the mostly empty train was skating across the lagoon with the city of Venice in view.

I exited the train station with a sense of exhilaration—it’s hard not to, when the Rialto is right there, lined with some of Venice’s most glamorous buildings. And I had no great task ahead of me now, because my accommodation was less than ten minutes’ walk from the Venezia S.L. and my suitcase is the size of a carry-on; I have no need of the hawking luggage porters outside the station who probably cost more than my train here. I arrived at my apartment tucked away in a small alley block where the owner, Franco, came to meet me after I rang the bell. Up two very narrow flights of stairs was the peaceful, old-fashioned entrance hall with doors leading to three rooms for rent, the bathroom and the homely little kitchen. Franco checked me in and showed me the essentials provided, including coffee, little brioches and packets of Nutella, and suggested if I needed a good pizza I go just around the corner to the restaurant there because it would be closed the next two days. I’d actually bookmarked that place as my plan for the night, especially since it was already well past eight (not late for the Italians, but late for me), and took this as a sign. Definitely this trattoria was a scene for locals and not lone tourists like me, but after a while the very kind waiter convinced two of the older Italian men taking up a quarter of the restaurant between them to continue their espressos and conversation on just the one four-person table instead of two. I ordered the salami pizza which I ate true Italian style with my knife and fork. I only managed to eat about two-thirds but saved some room for a tiramisu, a favourite of all time that I needed to christen my arrival in Italy. The loud chatter of the locals and the warmth of the atmosphere reminded me of what I have always loved about this country, so different to the places I have stayed so far.

The only negative I woke up to in the early hours of the next day was a significant number of mosquito bites, but I found the culprit and made it pay for its crimes. Then I talked with Mum on the phone, who is now in Lyon, and wandered without direction through the alleyways that were empty except for the streetcleaners and a few men making deliveries. Of course I was in love already, pausing on each little bridge and in every campo. I crossed the Rialto bridge when I was almost the only person there, having passed by the fishmongers still setting up their stalls, the tourist stands still closed. For breakfast I hovered shyly outside a café as it opened and waited until an appropriate number of Italians had gone in to get their espresso before I went in for my cappuccino and croissant. I walked to the edge of the city and saw the wide sea beyond, getting lost until it was finally time for me to brave St Mark’s Square. Even before ten o’clock it was rabid there, with huge crowds of tourists and a queue for the not-yet-open basilica. I sat on a bench by the gondola mongers watching the scene develop while I waited for my entrance slot to the Ducal Palace. I am told I visited it when I was last in Venice as a child, but I have no memory of it.

I wouldn’t have guessed from the outside how magnificent it really was within, every roof and wall so ornately painted with as much gold gilding the borders as there was fresco within. There were very good signs with information in each room, explaining its historical use and identifying every painting by its artist and subject. In other rooms they had impressive collections from the armoury, of a very different style to the Hapsburg weaponry I saw before. And then across the Bridge of Sighs into the bleak dungeons, the opposite in every way to the glorious rooms above. Of all, I liked most the Veronese fresco of Juno gifting a crown to Venice. I always like to see how artists represent places, cities as people. Civilisations choose to view themselves in interesting ways. After fighting my way back out of the crowds in St Mark’s Square I went to find a square of pizza for lunch before retreating to my little apartment where it was quiet and out of the sun—it lies just far enough from the main street that even though the open window allows every footstep and seagull’s cry in, it still seems far away from the Venice out there on the tourist thoroughfares, jammed between souvenir stalls and tour guides.

Eventually I recovered some energy and crept back out the door to wander the streets some more. While sitting in the middle of a square I became acquainted with some local children who were playing while their parents drank their aperitifs—a little boy stood on the ledge above my head throwing an empty plastic bottle to his sister below over and over which seemed to entertain them for a good fifteen minutes at least. I ate a dinner of pasta outside a restaurant on the canal closest to my accommodation, watching the steady stream of tourists heading back towards the train station at the end of the day. I’m already almost used to Italian mealtimes now, if only because I feel too awkward to eat out early when everyone else is still having their drinks and snacks elsewhere. So it was almost dark as I made my way back to bed, exhausted from the early start to the day. My second morning in Venice started out unusually similar to the first—I bought a piece of apricot crostata (nothing will ever come between me and my love for Italian apricot jam) and went back to St Mark’s Square. My joint ticket for the Ducal Palace also gave entrance to the Correr Museum at a separate time; I wasn’t really sure what to expect from the collection but I enjoyed it a lot. As well as many fine relics of antiquity and renaissance sculptures, they had some beautiful globes and maps, and those have always been a favourite of mine. Fra’ Mauro’s map of the world mounted on the wall was the most magnificent of these, five hundred years old, covered in colourful script describing hundreds of ancient cities. Unlike the Ducal Palace across the square, it was quiet enough amongst the palace’s many marble bodies, at least until one stepped back out into the square and fell back into the masses.

After picking up a small prosciutto roll I walked from the centre of Venice to the edge, where I caught the boat from Fondamenta Nove to the island of San Michele Cemetery. There the avenues held almost no company except for the occasional old Venetian taking flowers to a grave—every stone, even the older family ones, was adorned with some kind of bouquet or small garden bed, and there were even watering cans hanging next to taps so visitors could water the flowers. After walking around the cemetery for a while I sat in the shade by the church, until at last another boat arrived to take me back to the city of Venice. It was early afternoon and hot by then, and crowded, so I bought some fritto misto from a stand surrounded by pigeons scrabbling over pieces of calamari and went home for a nap. Before dinner I stopped for an Aperol spritz and some crisps (I don’t like Aperol, but I was feeling left out) and looked over the photos I’d taken that day, many of which were of the cats I have encountered loafing around doorsteps and town squares, more so than in any other city thus far.

For dinner I ate on the Rio Tera S. Leonardo, some tagliata with vegetables and polenta, followed by tiramisu served in a little teapot. Even though it was late for me, the true Italians were only still just arriving as I finished my dessert and paid, while the tourists shuffled west towards the train station. In the dark I followed the street signs Per San Marco to see the basilica at night—it was brightly coloured by a light show in the square, casting a glow upon every pale wall. The Rialto Bridge was mostly empty by the time I crossed back over, with only a few people standing to take pictures against the backdrop of night cruises and light upon the water. It was raining but only ever so lightly, just enough to make the paving stones glisten under streetlamps and outside restaurants. All the souvenir stands were shut up and the shops had their shutters pulled down to the floor, even all the pigeons had retired somewhere for the evening. I thought this was the true beauty of Venice, quiet with a cool breeze coming in off the water. I let myself in my front door and up the narrow winding staircase for the last time—in my mind I still heard the waves lapping up against the edge of the city, portside early in the morning, the sunlight was pouring in over the sea.

[smegappliances-posts]

Where to Buy Smeg Appliances: A Guide to Finding Authorized Dealers and Retailers

When it comes to outfitting your kitchen with appliances that blend iconic design with cutting-edge technology, Smeg stands out as a premier choice. Renowned for their stylish aesthetics and reliable performance, Smeg appliances encompass a wide range of products from refrigerators and ovens to dishwashers and coffee machines. Finding authorized dealers and retailers that offer genuine Smeg appliances ensures you receive not only quality products but also excellent customer service and support.

Why Choose Smeg Appliances?

Smeg, an Italian manufacturer established in 1948, has built a reputation for crafting appliances that marry functionality with timeless design. Their product lineup includes:

Refrigerators: Featuring retro-inspired designs and modern technology, Smeg fridges are available in various sizes and colors to suit different kitchen aesthetics.

Ovens: From traditional to pyrolytic models, Smeg ovens offer precision cooking capabilities with sleek stainless steel finishes.

Dishwashers: Known for their efficiency and quiet operation, Smeg dishwashers come in freestanding and integrated options.

Cooktops: Whether gas, electric, or induction, Smeg cooktops combine performance with elegant design elements.

Coffee Machines: Smeg's espresso machines and coffee makers deliver barista-quality beverages at home, complemented by stylish design accents.

Finding Authorized Smeg Dealers and Retailers

To ensure you're purchasing authentic Smeg appliances backed by manufacturer warranties and support, it's crucial to buy from authorized dealers and retailers. Here’s how you can locate them:

1. Official Smeg Website

Start your search on the official Smeg website. They typically have a section dedicated to helping customers find authorized dealers and retailers. This ensures you're directly connected to reputable sellers who meet Smeg’s standards for product knowledge and customer service.

2. Local Kitchen Appliance Stores

Many well-established kitchen appliance stores carry Smeg appliances. Visit stores in your area that specialize in high-quality kitchen appliances and inquire about their selection of Smeg products. These stores often have knowledgeable staff who can provide insights and advice tailored to your needs.

3. Online Retailers

Several online retailers are authorized to sell Smeg appliances. Check popular e-commerce platforms and ensure the seller is listed as an authorized dealer on Smeg's official website. Shopping online gives you access to a wider range of Smeg products and convenient delivery options.

4. Specialty Kitchen Design Showrooms

Kitchen design showrooms often showcase premium brands like Smeg. Visiting these showrooms allows you to see Smeg appliances in a simulated kitchen environment, helping you visualize how they would fit into your own home.

5. Home Improvement Centers

Larger home improvement centers and hardware stores may also carry Smeg appliances. While their selection might be more limited compared to specialty retailers, they often offer competitive pricing and additional services like installation.

Benefits of Buying from Authorized Dealers

Choosing to buy Smeg appliances from authorized dealers and retailers offers several advantages:

Authenticity and Warranty: Authorized dealers sell genuine Smeg products backed by manufacturer warranties, ensuring peace of mind regarding quality and reliability.

Customer Support: Authorized dealers have trained staff who can provide expert advice on product selection, installation, and maintenance.

Service and Repairs: If your Smeg appliance requires service or repairs, authorized dealers can facilitate warranty repairs or provide access to authorized service centers.

Conclusion

Investing in Smeg appliances enhances your kitchen with a blend of style, functionality, and innovative technology. By purchasing from authorized dealers and retailers, you not only ensure the authenticity of your products but also benefit from superior customer service and support. Whether you prefer shopping in-store or online, exploring the extensive range of Smeg appliances available through authorized channels ensures you find the perfect fit for your culinary needs and aesthetic preferences.

Explore the world of Smeg appliances today and transform your kitchen into a hub of modern sophistication and efficiency.