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| Villa Rotonda |
I know you're tired of hearing about it. I am. I am angry. Beyond belief. That
Silvio Berlusconi sent last-minute personalised letters to every house in the
country. That idiots such as the people in my area were dumb enough to believe
his cash-in-hand promises. That this seventy-six-year-old trickster might
perhaps represent these people and be what they truly deserve. That this
fraudulent vulgar man still wields a stick and people bow to him.
My kids, the next angry generation tired of a geriatric ruling class, of course
voted for actor-turned-politician Beppe Grillo, as did so many.
And now we are in deep shit. With our eighty-seven-year-old President Giorgio
Napolitano, stately ex-communist, being called upon to preside. (A thrilling titbit,
I once washed up Napolitano's dinner dishes when I was an au pairing on a chic
Sicilian island - doubt he remembers that skinny cropped-haired thing).
What to do? Given I risk abusing the villagers if I do my shopping or pay my bills. I realise I've started looking people in the eye and thinking, Did you vote for him? I bet you did! Am I going mad??
A break. Play some Scarlatti. Pull up some weeds. Take a snap of Palladio's divine Villa Rotonda under light snow (don't look the other way where Berlusconi's daughter's ugly new court building is bumbling into shape).
What to do? Given I risk abusing the villagers if I do my shopping or pay my bills. I realise I've started looking people in the eye and thinking, Did you vote for him? I bet you did! Am I going mad??
A break. Play some Scarlatti. Pull up some weeds. Take a snap of Palladio's divine Villa Rotonda under light snow (don't look the other way where Berlusconi's daughter's ugly new court building is bumbling into shape).
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| Cat and A |
Take your offspring up to the Dolomites and wear a moose hat skiing.
O Italia!
O Italia!
It really is a sad state of affairs :(
ReplyDeleteYou have a right to feel mad!
Argh! I think the only thing to do is some spring gardening. Petitions to sign are now clogging my mailbox. What next?? Xcat
DeleteI know nothing of his comedy but in the eyes that Beppe reminds me of Buddy Hackett.
ReplyDeleteA break, yes. And you wear it so well.
Must look up Buddy Hackett. I can't stomach the news anymore. I think half of Italy is fuming. I still am. I'm off to the hills!
DeleteOh my. Politics... I think the answer is more women in charge. I'm so glad you went sking though, and the photo is fantastic. Is that your son?
ReplyDeleteLeslie (Gwen Moss)
Selected women, yes. But no more of Berlusca's trout-lipped tramps please!
DeleteYes, the dude is my eldest. Studying Chinese in Venice. You should see him ski! Xcat
Sounds to me like you've made the perfect escape, Cat. I remember the days of George Bush, especially after he was elected a second time, I'd look at people I was sure voted for him and wondered if I could ever respect a word they spoke, ever again.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, my husband reminded me this morning that even if we live to be 100, our lives are but a dust mote (if that) in the span of things.... how's that for some lighthearted chatter over toast and coffee. ;-)
So true. I keep looking at folks and wondering. I must be driving around with a mean scowl these days. Once ages ago I stopped to yell at a farmer hitching up a Lega Nord (Northern League - awful racists) banner on the roadside in the middle of the fields. I almost felt sorry for the guy - bombarded by a batty redhead.
DeleteAnd I'm up for a dust-mote conversation over coffee. Nothing like true perspective.
Cat, the mind boggles! What is it with that nutbar and his hold over Italians?
ReplyDeleteHe told them they would receive their tax money - cash in hand. He's a great sweet talker, and has spent twenty years numbing them to anything else but this. His cheek - some people admire it. Yet, as always, the country is divided down the middle. The good thing is that young people have had enough and might be pushed into action. But it's all so far gone.. a thousand businesses shutting down each day..
DeleteI do understand your frustration, I cannot imagine how anyone would want someone like him in power. He is a joke. The more he is targeted about his actions the happier he seems to be. He loves being the limelight no matter what the reason. You can only do your best and pray that he goes away real soon. Lyn
ReplyDeleteI think many many people are praying that he disappears. Argh just the sight of that preening face! Pity he owns so much of the country and has a finger in every pie. Fingers crossed they come up with something.
DeleteAw, Cat, it's enough to drive anyone down the slopes! Take some comfort in knowing you can control yourself against the elements if not the political events that are out of control around you x
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking of wearing my moose hat all of next week. Might help.
DeleteIs there a hollow coconutty sound when you thunk together the heads of two Berlusconi supporters?
ReplyDeleteShall I try for you??
DeleteO Italia indeed, I still can't believe it!! x
ReplyDeleteBelieve it! I'm hoping things will pan out but it will take an age. Have you seen the latest? Good luck to you and family. Auguroni! Xcat
DeleteIt is difficult to believe that Berlusconi got so many votes. I'm with you, I want to scream at these people to wake up and go somewhere and buy a brain.
ReplyDeleteAnd the man is STILL given air space (on his own tv channels) to tell the poor Italian people that they 'must learn how to vote' ie vote for his prodigees (now the plastic daughter). It's a shocking state of affairs.
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