An update long overdue.

Yeah, OK. A LOT of time has passed since the last time I wrote here and a lot of things have happened. In fact, so much time has passed that I barely remembered ever having written here, until someone kindly pointed out that they were waiting for an update! So it has been on my mind for a bit now and as the topic kept popping up from random people, I decided it was time to do something about it.

Maybe the biggest changes have been that I started studying again and I moved to another city. Not in that order. I became a university student again. I spend my mornings sitting with girls (yes, we are about 300 girls and maybe 4 boys) 10 years younger than me. Occasionally it drives me a little crazy listening to them, sometimes it makes me laugh, other times I get sad listening and observing them. More about that later, something is brewing in my head but this post is an update on my life, let's not get sidetracked!

I feel lucky. Most of all when I walk home alone in the evening after work or after a drink or two somewhere in the centre. I feel lucky to be living this dream that I had for so long. It wasn't the original dream but I think we all know most of the time the original dream we have for our lives changes many, many times along the road. New dreams come, some old go, sometimes they merge and sometimes life brings you into places that you didn't even dare to dream. I lived a dream in London and over those years. I feel incredibly lucky for the things I've gotten to experience. I dreamt in some amazing places, with some amazing people by my side. Some dreams I grew out of - I no longer want to save money to buy a horse, for example -  some other dreams I had to give up on even though it was terribly hard. I lost the ability and will to dream when my fiancé died a bit over two years ago. Many of you know it, for some of you it might come as news. I felt pretty lost at that point, but fortunately he had given me some pointers on where to go if things were not to go the way we were planning. Destiny, maybe. For a long time he had been pushing me to go back to university so the need for something constructive to do, a reason for me to get out of bed in the morning, and his words at the back of my mind, I took the plunge and signed up for the entrance exam. And passed.

Here I am, studying early childhood education at university. I mostly love it, sometimes not so much. I live a life that leaves me very tired at the end of the day; I'm busy following lectures, going to work and at some point trying to study for exams. I have moved house again recently too, but fortunately that ordeal is behind me now; all the boxes are unpacked, except the ones that will probably remain unpacked until the next move.

Oh, and over the past year or so I've learned to dream again. My dreams are shy little creatures that are afraid of the sunlight, but they are there! Growing.

Finally a quiet evening at home..

I've been out so much in the last weeks! In fact it's been 3 weekends that I haven't stayed at home at all; I've been to Florence, Verona, a place called Lago di Mis and this past weekend Milan. Thank goodness this week Monday and Tuesday were free for Vappu, otherwise I would be even more tired.
It's been great doing loads of stuff and even the weather has been pretty good in the last couple of weekends, but sometimes it's nice to stay home with your own thoughts.

I will leave you with this spring photo from the aforementioned Lago di Mis. I will write a more comprehensive post about my latest travels once things calm down a little!

Far away from home

This Sunday we did a little mini trip around and found ourselves face to face with one of these creatures. I'm not kidding.

We were near Malcontenta, at the Fusina (Venice waterbus) stop when a couple of volunteer guard-type of people rocked up in their boat. Lo and behold they had this huge sea monster at the bottom of the boat! Apparently this unlucky fella might have followed one of the big cruise ships, thereby accidentally ending up in Venice, which really isn't the normal habitat of these turtles.

Being a smart girl, I did actually have my camera with me. The only problem is that I had forgotten to check if it has any battery left.. Of course the damned thing wouldn't even turn on! Therefore I have nicked the above photo from here. This might not be the exact same type of sea turtle. I didn't ask the poor animal for any sort of ID and I'm not a turtle expert. What I can however tell you, is that it was big. I mean big enough that it took a guard, a vet and an assistant to lift the turtle at the back of the vet's jeep.

I hope the turtle will be alright. The bucket was not quite big enough for it so I was feeling a bit worried for its fins (?).  If I hear anything, shall update you about any possible developments in the story.

Oh yeah and we also went to Asolo. A very nice little town with a cool castle and everything, but as for the lack of camera there are no photos to show. Oh bummer, I'll have to go there again! ;)