D is for determined

Ring -a-ring-a-roses
still no diagnosis
migraine, back pain
my body breaks down.

Katy

(D is for Duel - Propaganda)

C is for Cathedral

Even a rather lapsed catholic like myself could not fail to ignore the sound of hundreds of bells ringing across the city telling you to get your arse out of bed and go and say hello to God for an hour.

And who could refuse with a Duomo like the one in Florence? With the world's largest dome outside, which houses one of the world's largest frescoes inside it's hard not to feel a little humbled in the Maker's presence.

The acoustics inside the Duomo are incredible, the voice of the priest rumbles around you and seems to reverberate off the pillars. The choir sounded truly angelic whilst the organist really did his best to instill the fear of God into the congregation and ensure we all returned the following Sunday.

I Chased Cars over the bridge - the track seems to follow me when I cross bridges and hit me deep in the pit of my stomach. The first time back home stopped me in my tracks as I welled up and vowed to do something. Life is Chocolate.

The weather was beautiful - cold and sunny, and I ended up walking much further than I intended. Partly because Florence is beautiful and partly because my sense of direction is crap. By evening I could feel Dolores screaming at me for having done too much and I meekly retired to bed early, sending frantic thoughts heavenward that she would have calmed down by the morning.

Katy

(C is for Chasing Cars - Snow Patrol)

B is for la Boheme

I sat reading the local paper The Florentine this morning - which amongst other things contains informative articles covering the fact that the size of Dantes nose is being reduced. You may laugh but apparently there is a contingent of locals who are up in arms about the fact that his once classically aquiline profile is to become somewhat less godly.

I discovered that it was the last night of la Boheme at the theatre last night - my favourite opera. Although I did wonder whether, given the fact that I still feel a little emotionally wobbly after Dolores has been such a bossy boots lately, it was a good idea to go and watch several hours of heartrending story culminating with the death of Mimi from TB in her lovers arms. Still, aren't you supposed to suffer for art?

Unfortunately, I called for tickets (feeling sufficiently smug that I both managed to make myself understood AND understood the answer) but not surprisingly the performance had sold out.

I decided instead to have a wander around the city on a Saturday night, with plans to sit and watch the world go by as the Florentines perform their famous passagiato. However, it was so cold that within the space of 15 minutes my tiny hands were frozen. Poor old Mimi, I know exactly how she felt. Still, at least I got to experience the opera on one level.

Katy

A is for alive

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall
racked by sobs she wobbles and falls;
her shoulder screams again and again
Is there no end to Humpty's pain?

Humpty Dumpty smashed on the street
her sickly yolk oozes over her feet;
no horses or soldiers come to her aid
Humpty feels alone and afraid.

Humpty Dumpty dusts down her dress
all this emotion has made quite a mess;
Humpty's toughness has made her weak
in order to mend she must learn how to speak.

D looked at me as I read my poem out loud and suggested that I do something outside of my comfort zone. Outside of my jumpers-folded-and stacked-according-to-colour comfort zone. And definitely a good couple of feet away from the underwear-folded-and-organised-according-to-type and-colour comfort zone.

So here we are. Me and my pain. My pain and I. Italy. Florence to be exact. I wanted my pain to stay at home but she refused. Stubborn swine like her sometime mistress. I suppose I should be grateful that I am here at all; she nearly refused to let me come.

I suppose I should introduce you to Dolores. The root of her name is embedded in pain and if I'm patient, I can learn from her. Perfer et obdura; dolor hic tibi proderit olim.

A is for alive because that's how Florence makes me feel. Breaking the mould for the first time in a long time, Dolores and I are going to try and recuperate a little and take some time to try and understand one another better. We thought we would keep a journal along the way to chart our progress. We'll let you know how we get on.

Katy

(A is for All I want - Jehro (Hotel Costes 9))