Toodle-oo to my Twenties

Hey folks - firstly, sorry about the long wait for the latest post. I recently turned 30 (or entered my 4th decade as someone helpfully reminded me) and so I've been busy mourning the loss of my 20s. My 29th year (or 30th on this earth if you want to get fussy) has been a bit of whirlwind, I've moved jobs, moved country, gone through some serious culture shocks and fallen in love - not at all bad for a year's work. However, number 1 on the celebration agenda was to get myself back over to Edinburgh and spend some time with my nearest and dearest.

The party was a hoot and it was so lovely to see everyone there - such a big thank you to everyone for the cards and pressies, and a thanks to Steve for providing some classic party tunes. Marco and Mauro made the trip over from Rome and they had a ball - it's been lovely hearing them tell everyone in Rome how friendly and fun the scots are.

30th Birthday Feb 07 Photos

If you click on the photo above then you should (hopefully) be able to view some pics from the evening. The photo above shows Mauro with my Nonna and cousin Sarah, who came over from N. Ireland with her hubby Andrew . You would never know it but Nonna's in the second half of her 70's and she was by far the busiest person on the dancefloor that night - a complete star!

Click on the video below and you'll get a sample of the fab cheesieness of the tunes that evening and a display of some of the finest moves (a-hem) that myself and my girls are so proud of displaying. I should maybe point out here that the group of us in the vid have been friends for many years, we've boogied our way through 16th birthday parties, 18th and 21st birthdays, a couple of weddings and now the 30th birthday parties, and although the hair-dos and clothes may have changed over the years we still manage to do our funny wee dance we always do in a circle together (but this time minus the handbags in the middle and as you'll see we can't quite twist our bodies to the floor anymore). We're so not cool, but we're proud!

30th Birthday Feb 07 Video

Going Crazi in 'Burocrazia'

This week I don't like Roma very much, or Italy for that matter! The country is literally drowning in red tape, low productivity and a sinking economy. I'm not going to go on at any great length, much to your relief I'm sure, but journalists, authors and academics have devoted a life's work to try and explain the mess that is the Italian economy and politics. It does seem the government is making some attempts to provide a bit of a boost and this week there was much singing and dancing over some announcements intended to make life easier and more prosperous for the average Italian. These include 1. supermarkets will now be allowed to sell petrol and newspapers (which will no doubt necessitate the removal of the thousand varieties of tinned tomatoes currently filling the shelves), 2. when you fill your mobile phone with 50euros you will no longer be charged 5euros for the privilege, and 3. if you're so inclined life will be made easier should you wish to open a cinema!

However, one area where there are no signs of a cut back on paperwork is the application process for parking permits...

I recently changed car and to ensure I would not receive a wad of fines I set about trying to inform the powers that be that my current parking permit would need to be changed to reflect the new registration number. Simple thought I... noooooo, how wrong I was! To implement this simple change I would need the following documention, including photocopies (the italian system is obsessed with photocopies and no goverment office seems to own a photocopier)

• Car documentation to prove the car was registered to me (ok, no prob with that one)


• A letter written by me stating the permit for the old registration is no longer required (easy enough to do)


• My lease contract to prove I live where I do (fair enough)


• My passport to prove I am who I say I am (o-kaaay)


• My fiscal code (EVERYONE asks for this, so I expected it would be needed)


• My Permesso di Soggiorno to prove I have authorisation to be in this country (it's to park my car for heaven's sake!)
  
• and finally, a letter from my employer stating the car is for my exclusive use, which by the way, needs to be signed by the Managing Director (ok we're getting weird now, and given this guy runs a multimillion euro business I'm guessing he doesn't want me bugging him for a letter)

Anyway, after spending rather too much time carefully photocopying required documents, I placed the copies and originals into a fresh clear folder, grabbed a paper to read for the expected queue and set off for the parking office with a wee spring in my step. I happily walked along the road in the rain, feeling proud that I was fully prepared and ready to take on the inevitable long wait.

I arrived, took my numbered ticket (which informed me there were 15 people in front of me) and took my seat among the rather more than 15 people in the room. Finally 1 and a half hours later my number came up and off I went in search of the table where I would need to begin challenge number two - making myself understood in my maccheroni italian.

As luck would have it the person processing my application was a cute italian guy with a head full of curly hair. He began asking for the ream of documentation I proudly held. Car documentation - tick! Residency documentation - tick! Identification documentation - tick! Letter from employer - ti .....

He held up the letter in front of me and pointed to the presence of two small words - 'uso gratuito' or 'free use' in English, basically meaning I'm free to use the car for business and personal use. Not understanding the problem he then told me that unfortunately he would not be able to issue the permit as this letter did not tell him that the car was for my exclusive use. 'But the permit is for the street and I live in the street and the car is assigned to me' I pleaded. But no, it was to no avail, a new letter would be required from my company (signed by the MD of course) stating that the car was for my exclusive use. Also the fact that this letter had served perfectly well for my previous permit did nothing to change his mind.

As I began to angrily gather my belongings, he stopped me and I looked up hopefully thinking that he had succumbed to giving me my permit. Nope, not the case at all! Instead he said to me ' posso offrirti un caffe`?', meaning 'can I buy you a coffee?' 'Do I get my permit?' I said trying to bargain, 'No' he said. I almost threw my documentation at him but figured the weight of it would probably kill him instantly so I marched out the office instead (parking permit-less).

Tomorrow, I head back to the UK for a week and need to leave the car in the street all week senza permit. I've tried my best to do things to the letter of the law but to no avail, so, in the hope that I won't receive fines I've tried to do as the Romans do and parked the car on the pavement between my gate and the gate of the polish priests next door.

Given it's a pavement and there's no roadmarkings I reckon they can't fine me for not having a permit. I guess we'll find out next week...