Barbara’s Neighborhood

In the process of setting up everything and settling properly in the new flat I got to the point to sell the bookcase and the TV stand that I bought when In was living in my previous flat in Hughenden Road. I was planning to do so for quite a while, but I always had something else to do, and I postponed it until early this week. I though it would have not been easy to sell the furniture since they were quite common IKEA furniture that you can buy new for few puonds. Also I wasn't quite sure who would move, at this time in the year, to Bristol, and be interested in a bookcase and TV stand. Never such prediction was worse than this one. Possibly because I didn't know, and therefore underestimate Gumtree...or maybe because I was lucky enough to put the right advertisement at the right time and at the right price, but I received in a day 2 emails of interest and in less than 36 hours I had already sold both...Not bad...I will defo sell again on gumtree...but what...I have nothing to sell at all right now.............!

Twenty years ago the fall of the Berlin wall signed one of the most important events in recent history. It was the 9th of November 1989. It was the end of socialism. It was the beginning of the modern era. I remember very little from that day. I remember my parents watching TV and trying to explain me what was going on...I remember all this people walking on the wall, but I had not a clue on what all of that was. I didn't understand. I was 11. I had the chance to visit Berlin many years later. Stunning city, where I would like to go back sooner or later. We stayed in this hotel in East Berlin, which was a huge building, a massive concrete block, where the rooms used to be flats for workers in the factories near by. It was quite impressing to think that, to imagine that hotel bedroom what the actual flat where people passed their lives. I have seen what is left of the wall at the East Side Gallery, I saw the Check Point Charlie, and got to know lots of stories about how people tried to escape from est to west. All memories that everybody should have, that today came back fresh to my mind. Today is a day to remember.

Nonna...or granny...as you prefer...! 89 years old in a week...and still willing to come to visit me to Bristol. Not surprised since she came along to the States with me. It was 2003, we went for three weeks,NYC, Chicago, Milwaukee...!  She never finish to astonish me...and all of us...! Now she also said she loved the flat, and already book herself for next spring...!!!! :)
Well...the convenient side is that now all my jumpers and shirts are cleaned and ironed...! Kidding...It's just amazing to see her plenty of life, so more than welcome. We went for a pizza yesterday night, and my granny had also some of my beer...!!! Great stuff...! Next time Fish 'n chips...!

I used to always laugh when people talked about having 'haters' because I just thought that sounded so... well, silly.

I mean, seriously? Haters? hah.

But for the first time in my life, I'm beginning to see that jealousy truly is an ugly demon. It possesses the very mind and soul of someone; taking hold of their rationality, sanity, and any hope for common sense. Without taking the time to think clearly or in any type of adult fashion, they lose themselves in this blind oblivion, indirectly bowing down to the very person they're "hating" on.

Its SO sad!

My parents raised me better. They taught me I have everything and everyone I need at any given time. So why envy? What's the point? What a detrimental waste of time and effort... and space, on your part.

Darling, you know who you are. Young, stupid, and utterly pathetic.
Get your head out of your ass and get your life in line. You are a joke.
You don't know anything about me and my life, so go ahead and try to get one of your own.

I'll pray for you! ;)

I am not surprised to read this cos I like here and after five years I also know what is like living here. And I know that this is true. It is true that for quality of life in general Bristol has nothing less than some other English cities. It does not say here but other than city centre there are nice residential areas as well, and then the suspension bridge, the symbol of Bristol. Here is a quote from BBC website.

Bristol has been hailed as the best English city in which to live, after a survey of 5,000 people.

The city beat popular destinations Brighton and Oxford into second and third place respectively in research carried out by OnePoll.com. Bristol scored highly for nearness to countryside, cleanliness, quality of life, friendliness and pay rates. Barbara Jahnke, leader of the city's council, said: "We are delighted with this result."Bristol's architecture and community spirit was also praised by those surveyed. OnePoll asked people in 20 cities to rate their community according to what was good about it. Bristolians were found to enjoy more time to themselves and were also the most likely to walk their children to school. A OnePoll spokesman said: "''Bristol is a relatively small city compared to London, which could mean it still has a community feel, something you would be hard pushed to find elsewhere. ''Residents have what they need at their fingertips - a bustling, varied city centre, a great night life and friendly people."

Well done...!

Dieci anni esatti. Dieci anni esatti dall'emozione piu' grossa che la Fiorentina mi abbia mai regalato...! Ancora Inghilterra, Londra, Wembley per la precisione... Ci ripenso ogni tanto e mi vengono sempre i brividi...quel gol del Bati e la paura tremenda di veder svanire un sogno...I cori a Piccadilly, il tassista dell'Arsenal...e' come se il tempo si fosse fermato, congelato e scalfito nella mia memoria.
Ecco qualche nota buttata giu' appena rientrato a Firenze.
Bordoni.

Una gioia immensa,una serata incredibile,indimenticabile certamente.Non penso che per la Fiorentina riuscirò a provare un'emozione più grande di questa,ma sarà molto difficile anche per tutto il resto. Vincere 1-0 a WEMBLEY, in casa dell'Arsenal, essere automaticamente passati al secondo turno di Champions League senza dover aspettare la "scomoda" sfida con il Barça tutto in una sera, in un attimo...eterno...
Già all'arrivo allo stadio una emozione grande mi aveva assalito, complesso di inferiorità o non so che, ma vedere uno stadio (capisco perchè lo definiscono il "tempio del calcio") cosi,che via via andava riempiendosi di persone (73236 alla fine) tutte o quasi con la maglia dei Gunners è già di per se un evento. Il tabellone,altra emozione: "Wembley Stadium, Champions League, Arsenal vs Fiorentina" di mille luci che scorrevano. Una ora e mezzo di estenuante attesa, poi finalmente la partita,in piedi ovviamente,la tensione che saliva,minuto dopo minuto,la paura di veder svanito in un attimo un sogno - già per il pareggio, io, ma anche diversi dei 4500 tifosi viola avrei firmato a priori - Tutte le volte che l'Arsenal veniva avanti un brivido mi percorreva, una paura bestiale, la paura di andare incontro alla verità senza conoscerla, e senza poter tornare indietro!!! Prima Viera, poi il liscio di Bergkamp, i calci di punizione di Petit, il cuore in gola per un'ora e passa, un patire tremendo, una tortura. Poi improvviso il lampo del Bati, un missile, imprendibile.Non ricordo bene cosa ho visto e cosa ho pensato in quegli attimi,ricordo che qualcuno (Heinrich) ha dato la palla al Bati, l'ho visto entrare in area palla al piede andare verso il fondo e da posizione incredibile tirare. L'immagine seguente che vedo è la palla che sbatte in rete nell'angolo alto, a destra di Seaman. Siiiii gol,gol a Wembley, gol del Bati, proprio li, sotto di noi...sono letteralmente impazzito,ho abbracciato Tommy, poi altri ragazzi il Gazza il Mone, addirittura una signora sulla sessantina buona; baci, urla, un marasma storico,incredibile, incalcolabile, inaspettato, totalmente inaspettato. In tutto questo casino mi son girato per un attimo e ho visto Batistuta a braccia aperte sotto il nostro spicchio,capelli al vento. Grande,immenso Bati!!
Ho urlato per circa due minuti buoni continuando a ripetere goooool gooool,qualcuno mi ha telefonato sul cell.ma non sentivo niente,non so' ancora chi era, allora ho alzato il telefono e gli ho fatto sentire 15 sec. di gioia in presa diretta....poi dopo è stato un dramma.La tensione è salita a mille, avevo un'adrenalina incalcolabile.Su quel cazzo di tabellone i minuti non passavano mai.75 76 77 78...li ho visti tutti, credo, tranne 82 mi pare.Cercavo di non guardarlo,ma era impossibile,più forte di me, troppo più forte di me.Ero concentrato su tutte le palle in attacco, in difesa, a centrocampo.Sembrava dovessi giocare io!
La mischia furibonda a 5 da termine mi ha fatto perdere 3 anni di vita.....minimo! Quando ho visto Kanu calciare ho pensato NOOOOO, cazzo lo sapevo finisce proprio come credevo,ed invece dal nulla (avevamo due o tre giocatori davanti e non l'abbiamo visto partire) è spuntato Toldo, ma sono convinto che in quella azione in porta c'era San Francesco ma non Toldo, d'Assisi... Dalla vita alla morte e ritorno in un attimo,un altro attimo, eterno anche questo.
I quattro minuti di recupero scanditi dall'orologio del mio cronometro mi son sembrati 4 mesi (avrò guardato l'orologio 8,9 volte) l'Arsenal era ormai ad un assalto disperato ma disorganizzato.Due pallate consecutive in tribuna di Chiesa, un controfallo, il segno della resa; Siamo al 94' e la palla è nella loro meta campo...OOOOOHHHHHHH E' FINITA SIIIIIII ce l'abbiamo fatta ancora abbracci baci la gioia è realmente incontenibile. Piangevo, piangevo di gioia come un bambino, cori canti.Pensavo a tutti quelli che mi prendevano un po' in giro prima della partenza: "...ma cosa ci vai a fare?..." oppure "...rivendete il biglietto ed andate a maiale che è meglio...". Ed invece c'eravamo, eravamo li presenti, ancora un volta.Un atto di fede si poteva definire qualche giorno fa, ma oggi ne sono più che fiero.
Siamo stati circa 25 min. dentro a cantare lo stadio era ormai semideserto. All'uscita tutti mescolati con quelli dell' Arsenal, molto cupi per la verità ma correttissimi ( anche nello stadio la divisione tra noi e loro era data da un muretto alto 40 cm massimo,eppure non è successo niente )e cosi ho pure scambiato la sciarpa con un ragazzo londinese.

Il ritorno in autobus e metro,eravamo non felici,di più.Mi ha chiamato i Biagio, un'altro mio amico,mi sono arrivati messaggi da Pierino,dal Giannesi dal Sange, da Fiorenzo, poi uno da una mia amica di Milano:c'era scritto "...io ho visto la partita in tv ed ho anche visto lo striscione CECCA GROUP..." un urlo un sussulto un'altra emozione, meno forte ma pur sempre intensa! Due minuti dopo la conferma,altro messaggio del Teo stavolta "CECCA GROUP in mondovisione su canale5" - hanno fatto un primo piano sensazionale in cui si vede noi che arreggiamo lo striscione a schermo intero,non un pezzetto oppure da lontano, ma proprio tutto lo schermo...che gioia!!! -
La risalita dal tunnel dell'underground è stata epica; Stazione Piccadilly Circus: abbiamo trovato altri due gruppi di ragazzi che tornavano dallo stadio.Sventolando bandiere del Gallo Nero e dell'Argentina e cantando "La Fiorentina è la squadra che amiamo di tutto il resto ce ne freghiamo..." abbiamo girato mezza Londra dove ormai, nella notte si trovavano quasi solamente e ovunque tifosi viola.

I started running again. I still don't know if I like it though! I found it being a great effort, but I have to say that I feel really good after a run. I like the feelings when you lay down on the sofa, when the legs are hacking, and you feel them very heavy. I like all of this...but every time I have to go out, before starting I know that the next 45 minutes or so will be a fight. Psychological most of the time and therefore tougher! I get lots of help by my iPod. I think in a way it is a sort of doping, cos it keeps the mind busy, and you feel less the effort. Not sure it makes sense, but it is like that for me,,,! The biggest help however is defining targets, and trying to match them improving a little bit every time. I am very competitive in such a way, and this helps me to push a bit more every time. always below the obsession threshold anyhow...! Google Pedometer provides an essential help regarding this last aspect I was talking about. It allows you to keep track of the runs, giving the chance to archive all of them, on top of calculating the  total distance, the elevation and a rough estimation of calories burned. I really like it and find it very useful and helpful. And a good way of measuring objectives and improvements.. Today I run 48 minutes, for a total of 8.6 Km. Here it is (http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=3278899). It's the third time of this first week. There is still a lots of kilometers to run. I hope I can be constant.

The Cotswold is a hilly area between Bristol and Birmingham. It is also knows as an area of outstanding natural beauty. The countryside is beauty indeed and the little villages spread here and the over the hills are pretty as well. I went there with a group of friends. A large

group...12 of us. We visited Chipping Campdem where we had a good Sunday roast and Bourton on the Water.  Despite the second was supposed to be nicer I preferred the first one, which I think looks more like a little countryside village. We didn't spent too much time outside actually. We left quite late from Bristol, then we had some problems with one of our car on the way...and also we waited a bit too long at the pub... However I liked a lot what we visited, and also the drive up and down the green hills, among flocks of sheeps an cows. I guess there is a lot more to see in this area, where I will definitely go back with more time and with my camera.

At the end they switched off the router I was using and all of a sudden I am left without internet. I was using someone else connection, but it was working great...and for over three months it was like having my own internet! Not anymore. 10 years ago it would not have been such a big deal...nowadays it looks as if you are completely cut out from the world. No skype, no Google Talk, no Facebook, no Twitter...in other words. Isolation...! And also no Fiorentina, no Meteo websites...damn it...!!! OK OK...I can survive, it's not that, but it is impressive to realize how internet dependent I am now. And i suspect I am not the only one. The back up is the mobile broadband, but is no where near the home broadband I am used to. And it is expensive too. I now signed up with Virgin. Fiber optics should be fast. I hope is reliable as well since their customer service is totally useless.I spent over two hours on the phone last Friday to try to sort out the connection, and they couldn't give any help. Their only answer was "... we will send a technician...on the 27th of October...". Unbelievable...!!!
So it will take a bit before coming back properly online...! But I have not disappeared...!