The Big Bang theory

It’s been a quiet few days all in all, though things have picked up tonight with the start of MSP’s palio weekend, which balances out the humdrummity of the first part of the week.

Things did get a bit livelier on Wednesday when I again took the road up north to Ancona airport with Stephen to collect a couple of British visitors to the factory. This time, though, we didn’t stop off for a shopping opportunity, so it was purely an altruistic gesture on my part. The gentlemen in question, Luke and Andy, are from a well-known high street brand that I am not allowed to divulge - but if you want a clue its initials, in no particular order, are G K.

Stephen was out to dinner with them on Wednesday night, but I had to stay at home and look after the dogs. They must have had important business to discuss to which I was not party – well, either that or there was some big football match on the TV.

I did though, eat with them at the pub last night, and took the dogs with me to provide entertainment and a talking point should conversation slide. Not that that was likely, as Luke and Andy (who may or may not be from a company whose first name is the same as one of the von Trapp children) are exceedingly fine and sensible people.

This morning saw another trip to the airport, mainly to take Luke and Andy for their flight home, but also to pick up a hire car. With no progress being made on residency/car purchase we thought we would hire another car for a couple of weeks so that we can actually get out and about and do important things, like buying dog food, as well as get some practice on someone else’s manual transmission rather than wrecking our own.

What should have been a simple operation, however, became a bit more complicated. When Stephen presented the booking form at the Budget desk, he was unable to complete the agreement as he had paid the online company with a debit card whereas Budget requires a credit card to secure the vehicle. As Stephen does not have a credit card any longer, we had to take out a new agreement under my name using my card – this took some time but what is more niggling is that we may have lost the money Stephen has already paid. Be warned: check all the small print.

The car, when we eventually got to it, is a brand new Smart Four Door, and impressive it is too, what with it being indeed very ‘smart’ to look at inside and out and feeling a safe, solid drive. It’s much better than the Fiat we had – though how this one copes with ditches we have yet to find out.

As I said earlier, today saw the start of the historical evocation and palio weekend, which began with the pageant around the town and to the church. As with everything, it did not start till 9.30, by which time we had gathered with the dogs and a small crowd on the first corner that the pageant passed. Its arrival was heralded by sound of some impressive drumming before the drummers themselves appeared leading the groups representing the three churches, all dressed in what looked like the wardrobe from Zeffirelli’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’.

We thought it was a good idea to take Bella and Harry, seeing as we would be heading for a coffee and chaser afterwards, but Harry was not taken with the noise. He cowered as the drummers passed, so I took him into my arms to try to calm him just as two young men with some sort of mediaeval looking firearm drew parallel with us and discharged them. Well, he squirmed out of my grasp and dropped to the floor looking for the nearest fire exit– just as well I had firm hold on his lead. At least he was too scared to bark, which would not have added any dignity to the proceedings.

Stop press: I thought I had made up the word ‘humdrummity’ but am devastated to find that, even though it is not a real word, a Google search shows several examples of previous usage. #sadface