Wow, an awful lot to write about, mostly because I haven’t really had the use of my computer for a few days. As a result I’ll post in 3 lots, in reverse order so it shows up on the blog correctly.
I was without my computer because it is familial custom that my room is the designated Guest Bedroom whenever anyone comes to stay. I like to call it ‘Hotel Gigio’ and marvel at the fact that throughout my childhood there were at least 8 occasions when my bedroom was tidy - even if I was not its inhabitant at the time.
The occupant on this occasion, was my Nonno. The word is Italian for grandfather and was adopted by my parents so that my sister and I could differentiate between our two sets of grandparents without resorting to that whole “Nanna Firstname” debacle. I’ve written of him before - he was a diplomat of considerable clout who held Italy and the US’s interests in Syria for some of the most pivotal moments of the Middle East’s modern history - he is now paid a pitiful state pension but remains as active politically as ever, even if it is only in his local seaside constituency.
He’s without doubt a firm “Clash of Civilizations” man and holds extremist Islam in great disdain, needless to say his introduction to the blogosphere was an eye-opener for him - particularly the Iraqi blogs such as Iraq the Model. If the man were capable of using a computer I have little doubt that he’d be writing a blog as we speak having given up his newspaper column some months ago.
I had questioned what his reception of the front porch would be like. A few weeks ago some Labour door-to-door vote canvassers knocked on my door and I explained that I was a labour party members. Last tuesday a support poster popped through the letterbox and I duly put it up in my bedroom window. On Friday, having seen the poster the Labour candidate, Andy Raisin came by to ask about putting up a post in our front garden, the kind hammered into for sale and sold properties by estate agents. I agreed and we now have a large sign facing the river - ideal placement for the upcoming regatta I gather.
The reason I was slightly apprehensive was because my Nonno is Forza Italia through and through. Now make no mistake - if I was in Italy I’d also vote Forza Italia, people in this country who bash Silvio Berlusconi and ask for his removal from power are evidently ignorant both of the necessity of his economic and labour law reforms and the inestimable ineptitude of the left-wing coalition that opposes him. I Democratici di Sinistra have a coalition with Greens and Communists, fronted up by Mr Romano “Violence doesn’t work against terrorists” Prodi who’s legendary incapability is easily referenced by Italy’s former economic performance. Having left of centre sympathies does not mean I am predisposed to voting for inept and inefficient government simply because the alternative is a right wing party.
Anyhow he welcomed the sign - apparently he’s not much of a Tory fan at the moment.
Posted by John Swaine at May 31, 2004 07:37 PM