Am sitting at my computer in my studio. It is early evening and the church bells have just stopped ringing. I have a glass of wine and am relaxing after a busy and - for me- exciting day.
It all started when I got up and decided to try on my swimsuit and thought I was looking at a ghost. So am now testing out fake tan wipes from Poundland, ( my favourite shop in Perth - and the one I can afford!) I have also got (From poundland) fake tan remover - have no desire to be orange!
All day have been pulling up my trouser leg to see if anything has happened. I think I have gone from white to cream coloured.
Anyways that started my day off well and after a sustaining breakfast of two hardboiled eggs mashed up with mayonaise and then followed by a banana I made plans.
You know what they say - at least in scotland- the best laid plans etc.
I considered going to the beach as I thought I might have to go to Tinchi for petrol. (garage in Pisticci is still closed) If I went as far as Tinchi then maybe I should just go that bit further to the beach. So made up my beach stuff and shoved it in a rucksack.
I set off and almost immediately wished I didn't have to go as it was so windy. Great gusts of wind were making it difficult for me to keep to the side of the road. by the time I had got the petrol I just wanted to get home in one piece. I was obliged to stop at the chinese shop and buy a beach bag to calm my poor shattered nerves. It was not long after that , when I noticed that I couldn't see very well in my mirror and when I tried to adjust it - the whole handlebar rotated. OOPS - not good! However i arrived home at the studio and without giving myself time to think/worry I set off for one of the men's clubs (Circolo) where a nice young man has fixed my scooter before- I also thought I had a semi flat tyre, my lights didn't work and the battery was flat. Tend to put things off. I think I had been so scared on my windy ride that going to the circolo didn't seem such a big deal. (I dont't think women go in them normally)
Luckily the guy was standing outside and I told him what was wrong and left it with him.
First deliberate brave thing done.
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| on way to bus station |
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| view of the half houses. |
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| can't resist oleanders |
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| the bus station |
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| the park in marconia |
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| looking towards the piazza in marconia |
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| view from the bus stop |
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| back home |
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| this morning in my street |
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| this morning looking towards terrevechia |
.( wobbling to Tinchi and back was more adventurous)
Second brave thing was to go to the bus station and ask when I could get a bus to Marconia. Nothing brave about that you might think but , for me I hate not knowing and being embarrassed, and as usual there was no one there , then a guy drove up on a motorbike and asked what I wanted and he seemed to know all about the buses. I already had a timetable from the internet but from previous experience its better to ask a person. Anybody living in Italy will probably know this too.
So I went off with time of bus?
After a quick curried lunch I walked to the other side of Pisticci to the bus station. And I still don't know if I got on the right bus but a nice girl ushered me on and it went to Marconia. I was so nervous of going on buses as I didn't know if you had to buy a ticket in advance or pay on the bus or what. My only other experience on a bus was going to Matera where I got on the bus, it went to Pisticci Scalo, where I got off the bus , bought my ticket in what looked like someone's house and then got back on the bus.
I should have mentioned I had a student in Marconia , with an exam coming up so I really wanted to go.
And I managed to get the bus back to Pisticci with a little help from several people. and was so jazzed up by the whole trip that when everyone got off and on to the "town" bus I thought "what the heck" and got on too. I was a little motivated by the thought of the 20 minute walk back home. It was great. I got off near my house and I felt brilliant. I think being naturally timid gives me a lot of opportunities to be brave (by my standards) and today I braved the wind, the circolo and the bus. So tomorrow what will I do?????
