
Well, kind of. Her birthday in NZ as I write, but not yet in England.
We have spent Easter weekend trying to get our trip sorted and still haven't managed the first hurdle - our accommodation in Abruzzo. It is hard to understand why this non-tourist area can be demanding E500+ a week when we only pay E900 a month for our apartment! At least Mum has confirmed her flights although they were a problem for her and I think she's paid a bundle.


JP has sent the latest version of the manuscript to read, and I have nearly finished my own article, save for bits that can only be written after the Italy trip. My own test readers haven't done a great job of reading the draft of the Cassino chapter from my book for me, so get a move on lads...
Last week I installed a laptop screen for our Italian neighbours so A is doing some letter writing for me in return. I hope to get into 'The Crypt' at Cassino if at all possible this trip, so we are writing to the Institute of the Sisters of Stigmata for permission. I rang L as he hasn't returned emails since we left last year. He wanted us to stay in his house but that is the one thing we have managed to arrange in Italy so far so we had to say no. I'm not sure if he's read that bit yet - it may be another year before he checks his email!