Well, I went home for Christmas and I had a really really nice relaxing time. When I first get back it's always a bit strange and I get analytical and pensive about so many things (more so than usual :) ) - both Italian and English. I look at both sides as an outsider, weighing up the pros and cons of everything. It usually passes quickly.

What I miss about England following this trip is the peacefulness and the fact that there was almost no traffic and you could choose your parking space! What I found to be so nice too is that people who I didn't know would stop and say "hello" or "merry Christmas". How nice. Plus constant "excuse mes" and "sorrys" - even when it was me who had bumped into someone else! This would rarely happen here, but then I'm sure a lot of it is to do with the fact that I live in a village in England and a city here. I'm sure that in some villages here the politeness is the same - I hope so, because it makes life just a little bit more pleasant.

I've been back 2 days now, so I'm settling back in :) It's a lovely day today and we've been shopping for this evening's feast - fish based. Yum. Time to hit the kitchen soon - only as supervisor/helper though, I'm not very good at cooking fish.