Rome Diarys

So thursday morning i jumped on the bus to Termini and eventually found the train to Verona it was pretty packed with tourists. The journey was 4 hours and it was good to see the changing landscape through my window. I had Alex and Jess texted me through the journey and i bought a book in English at the station so i didnt get bored on the joourney.

I got to Verona at lunchtime it was a really nice day and Jess was waiting for me and we took a taxi back to her apartment which was really nice and her chinchilla's are so cute! Along with the new arrivals the hamsters! So after dumping my bag we went for a walk round Verona.

Its a really nice town! not huge but with lovely little street and some tourists here and there and lots to see. We had lunch in one of her favorite places which was nice. Jess's husband D came home and we all went to the chinese place the first night and then to blockbuster to get some movies.

The first night felt weird without Alex and i have to admit i did miss him alot especially in the evening when i was sleeping on her comfy couch. But we texted eachother everyday and Jess let me use her spare computer and chat to him on MSN so that was all good.

Ciro apparently was really naughty with Alex and wouldn't be calm, i think he missed me a lot while im away, both of them did.

The second day we went shopping and i bought a few bits and we saw some more sites and i went crazy taking pics of everything! For dinner that night i tried horse steak which was really tasty! it was just like beef but leaner and no fat! We watched a movie that evening and went to bed a bit late.

We never managed to get to Venice as the day we wanted to go there was a strike on! Me, Jess and D all made it to the station early to jump on the train but he hadn't know about the strike which was a bit sad as ii would have liked to gone. But as i said to them there was always next time. So me and Jess wandered around Verona again shopping and looking around. I got Alex a lighter with Verona on and a bottle of local wine the next day. Also i got Ciro some more squeeky mice which he loves.

I bought some more things for myself and then that night we went for pizza. I did try a little bit of wine a few nights while i was there but i dont like wine very much. We went back and watched another movie.

Sunday we chilled out and went for a walk around then we watched some movies until it was time to get me to the station. All that long weekend D wouldn't let me pay for dinners when we went out which was nice of him. I really want ot visit again as me and Jess want to go visit some more places near them by train! which we will do when i can plan another trip and hopefully get Alex to come with me next time.

Alex was really happy to see me when i got back he had missed me alot and said the flat was empty without me. He gave me lots of hugs and when we got in Ciro couldn't stop purring when i touched him he was so happy i was back.

So it was good to have an adventure and go somewhere new and see my best friend and also to be missed when i came home again

So im getting really excited about going to Verona this thursday! Its going to be so much fun! My friend Jess is getting excited as well it will be cool. Im a bit nervous about getting the train alone as my italian isn't perfect but i think i will be ok. Even Alex is a bit worried abut me going as he wants me to be safe and not get lost. Im going to go crazy taking pics and put them all on my facebook when i get back.

Ciro is being a bit better now not so naughty and hes enjoying laying in his basket where the sun comes through the window which is nice. He still runs about playing with his toys but hes stil a kitten so he will calm completely eventually.

I have noticed i have lost a little weight from doing the exercise for 5 days so far!! and my arms have more muscle!! I can't believe it happened quickly im really happy! Im going to keep going with them and do them 5 days a week and rest on weekends.

We started having are walks again on sunday which is really nice we walk to Macdonalds which is 20mins away have lunch then walk back. So thats a bit more exercise.

Plus i should get more fitter with all the walking round Verona and Venice as well.

Been talking to my brother hes got an interview for Uni hes a bit worried as he has to do a test as well. He wants to do a Japanese degree so he can work in Japan as he thinks he will like it there. I told him as long as he knows some grammer, spelling and can speak a little bit of japanese he should be fine they wont expect him to be perfect as it. He's been doing some studying so he should be fine! The Uni he wants to go to is in Preston near Blackpool so when i go over to visit him we can go see there to which will be cool! So fingers crossed he gets in and his dream of Uni comes true.

Since monday i have been doing exercise videos everyday for 30-50mins and im aching like crazy now which is good! My plan is do the exercise video's in the week everyday and then rest on the weekends! So hopefully after 4 or 5 weeks i should see a difference! Looking forwards to going to Verona as well and Venice as that will involve lots of walking which will be plenty of exercise next week!

Alex phoned the women about looking after Ciro while we are at my parents. She said it was fine she wants 5 euros a day and we have to bring his food and dirty tray when we drop him off. Also she wants his little medical book just incase hes ill while we are away and she also knows are vet which is good!

Just need to book the plane tickets which Alex is being lazy about but i will nag him tonight to get it done. My sister is seeing is she can get the B&B cheaper for us when we stay there but it might still be £400 so im saving like crazy after my trip to Verona as i said i would pay for it. I would also like some spending money as well!

Im going to have to ask Alex if its ok if i don't give him bill money next month just to make sure i have enough for the B&B for May.

Im enjoying the toaster i had scrambled egg on toast for lunch and Alex likes to make ham and cheese toasted sandwiches now to. He has also been talking about making tuna toasted sanswiches as well.

On the weekened someone we know wanted Alex to help her chose a new tv from the giant supermarket! So we went which i was soooo happy about! We bought a toaster so i can finally have toast! yay and even Alex was happy about it. I bought a 4gb memory card for my camera for 9 euros as well! such a bargin! which means i have 4777 pics now i can take when i go to Verona I bought some noodles as well, sweet and sour sauce, and some sauces. I was so happy to finally get to go again

We forgot about the gym again but i have started doing exercise videos for cardio and toning everyday now so that should help and make me fit! and doing the exercise makes me feel good!

On friday i picked up the marriage documents we have 6 months from the 11 March now to get married before it runs out so we can aim for the first 2 weeks in september. So now we just need to go to the Commune and get the italian documents and we can set the date!

Alex went out on friday night to a dinner for old school friends he hadn't seen in 10yrs he has fun he said everyone looked different but still treated people in the group like they were still back at school heehee He even bought be back a sushi leaflet he found for our area as he knows i like it! Which was really sweet as he doesnt like fish much!

Ciro is being naughty hes being a bit aggressive and keeps knocking things of the side if he doesnt get his own way. He keeps running about like crazy with his toys and won't settle down. But hes only just 6 months old so hes still a kitten and should settle down eventually as hes driving Alex crazy. When i was doing my exercise video today he jumped twice at my legs trying to attack them hes a crazy kitty heehee

We are hopefully going to Tuscany for a weekend in April to stay with friends we know there which will be nice. Im really looking forwards to all the little trips we are having soon

Still haven't booked plane tickets for the visit to my parents in May hopefully will do it tonight and phone the lady about looking after Ciro while we are away.

Alex got the allergy tests back yesterday his allergy test to cats is very low it's basically negative! He's more allergic to grasses and plants that was quite high which is why he gets allergic in the summertime. So that means Ciro can stay and that Alex didnt have a reaction to him after all!

I did an exercise video today im tired of waiting to join the gym but hopefully that will be this saturday! My brothers been going for a month to the gym near my parents and hes lost loads of weight by going everyday for an hour! I want to be slimmer for the summer and for when we visit my parents in May! thats my plan anyway.

I realised working 3 afternoons a week isn't really giving me enough money to do things. Between giving Alex money towards bills, saving for going to my parents ans buying Ciro's food etc it doesnt leave much to save. So i have advertised as a dog walker on the 'wanted in rome' website for mornings and lunchtimes monday to friday. That way i can make a little bit more money and be able to save more and pay for the gym! and save for the wedding in September.

I have to pick the wedding documents up on friday so i will go early to the embassy to pick them up. Then we just need to take them to the Commune and then get a date!

I have finally set a date to go visit Jess in Verona! the end of March for a long weekend!! It should be loads of fun and i can take loads of pics which i love to do! Im a bit nervous about getting on the train on my own and getting the right train! but it should be ok fingers crossed! Shes going to show me round Verona and then we are going to see Venice it should be fun!

I have about 5 penpals now through that Couchserfing site from all over the world which is nice! And a an American lady i ment on the expats who's moving back to Italy next year with her family is going to visit me when they come to Roma for a holiday soon. We are going to take her kids to the zoo which they will love!

I have a new camera case and earphones from when we went to the electronic shop on saturday near Piazza di Popolo. There both really nice and a need as my camera was getting scratched in my bag and my old earphones only worked in one year!

Im slowly saving money for the trip to visit my parents but its slowly slowly at the moment its hard when its not a full time job.

Now its getting nice me and Alex are going out for walks on the weekend more and we might start going to Macdonalds on the sundays like we used to again. Alex get his allergy test results today.

We also found a pizza place that sells half and whole roast chickens!! I love roast chicken im to lazy to make my own but now i can have it We are going to get one for dinner tonight which will be sooo nice!

I ran out of my contreceptive pill on sunday all the 6 month supply gone now so when we visit my parents in May i need to get another 6 months supply from the clinic im with there. We just have to be careful now for the next 2 months until i can get some more.

Alex bought me a big book on Lazio Italy (the area Rome is part of) he said if i translate it we can visit the places in it i like! There are some nice villa's i havent seen yet and the seaside!

Been making some more craft stuff with some plasta cast stuff i bought and got some paint finally to paint the stuff i have already made with the air drying clay i have. I really enjoy making things its alot of fun.

Been feeling a bit lonely again i joined Couchsurfing website to see if i can get some social friends to go out to lunch with or something. I don't know if its going to work. I joined a few of there groups as well, penpals, belly dancing, cooking, salsa, which all sounded interesting.

Sometimes i wonder why it's so hard to make friends, it should be something simple not hard. Im hoping joining the gym will be better and if i can find a Salsa class or something would be good.

Emailed my sister about the price of the B&B for May im really looking forwards to visiting my family. My Brother's birthday was yesterday he was 25, he wasn't happy as no one wanted to go out in the evening with him or his friends were busy. But he's going to London on the weekend which has made him happy which is good i know he likes it there as he used to visit me when i lived there.

Ciro was castrated on saturday poor baby when we picked him afterwards he could barely stand from the anisetic and he was scared and shaking. Once we got him home we left him in a darkened room he moved around to find a comfortable chair then fell asleep for ages. Later i got him hotdogs (his favorite) and he eat them all so the experience didnt effect is appetite! Sunday he was back to normal running about causing trouble the vet said the hormone will be in his system for 14 more days then he shuld calm down.

Me and Alex had a long talk about stuff and he realises now he does the things he wants and sometimes he doesnt realise hes doing it. Saturday afternoon we went for a talk to find the gym we ended up getting lost. But we found 2 more pet shops, a place that sells pork sandwiches. We bought cakes, chocolate, hand made coffee and pasta and campbells soup, bugers and burger buns and hotdogs. Then on the way back we realise we took a wrong turn and found the gym. Its 5-10mins away from the house but it was closed so we are going back another day to join me up although apparently i might need a letter from a doctor saying him healthy and can attend one. Its good as now its getting more like spring and nicer days Alex wants to go out and do things which is what we both need i think rather than sitting at home all weekend on the computer.

It was a really good afternoon and we both had fun it was nice to get back to the lighter side and be able to talk about our relationship and sort things out.

The lady we got Ciro off emailed Alex and said she would take Ciro back now if we wanted but Alex said no that we want to keep him and love him and would only give him up if its a healthy risk (as in if the allergy he has is so high it could kill him). So that was nice that he wants to keep him now and he realises the cat means alot to me. I also remembered he told me he had a cat when he was living with an ex-girl friend and he was ok his allergy wasn't to bad.

I talked to my friend Jess through MSN yesterday and said i was sorry for all the ranting and moaning i was doing to her lately. I thought i must be driving her crazy but she was cool with it she said everyone needs to get things off there chest. Hopefully i will be happier now. I can't wait for her to visit i really want to go do some stuff with her like shopping etc.