Much of a muchness

Things that make you go 'hmm'…

Fore!

I’ve been tagged by Dunn over at Simply Dunn. The picture above gives you a clue to the theme of the tag (or the theme of the meme, I suppose) Can you guess what it is yet? (My best Rolf Harris impression).

It’s ‘Four’. I have to answer each of the following questions with four answers. So here we go.

Four jobs I have had

  1. Manageress of a fashion ’boutique’
  2. Civil servant
  3. Maths teacher
  4. Worked in an art gallery

Four movies I could watch over and over

  1. Singin’ in the Rain
  2. Cinema Paradiso
  3. You’ve Got Mail
  4. Amelie

And here’s a clip from one of these, Cinema Paradiso – Italy, cute children, dishy Italian men, gorgeous scenery, it has it all.

Four TV shows I love

  1. Heroes
  2. Doctor Who
  3. Torchwood
  4. Francesco da Mosto in anything

And for those of you who don’t know about this last one here is a clip from his new TV series. It has everything, Venice, dishy Italian men, gorgeous boats what more could you want?

Four places I’ve vacationed

  1. Thailand
  2. Barbados
  3. Los Angeles
  4. Italy

Hmmm, I see a theme emerging….

Four of my favourite dishes

  1. Pad thai
  2. Liver and bacon, mashed potatoes and onion gravy
  3. Lobster tails with lime butter
  4. Anything Italian

Oh dear, here we go again…

Four blogs I visit every day

  1. Fuel my Blog
  2. Daddy Papersurfer
  3. Diary of a 70’s teen
  4. The Struggling Writer

No Italian blogs I notice…I must remedy that :-)

The last time I was in Italy was with my good friends Claire and Julia, we did a wonderful tour, starting in Rome moving on to Siena, Florence and ending in Venice. It was a fantastic road trip, although I am very grateful that I was the navigator/tour guide and didn’t have to do any of the driving (which was hairy to say the least!) The soundtrack of our trip was Julia’s own song from her album ‘Concrete Love’.

https://dianea.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/02-italy.mp3

This is us in St Peter’s Square in Rome after watching Pope John Paul II give his weekly audience to the huge crowd. We could really only saw the Pope on a large TV screen as the crowds were pretty large, but we did get chatting to a very friendly chap called Brother Clay – a priest/monk (can’t remember quite what he was) from the USA. One of the things the Pope does at these weekly audiences is bless newly married couples. They put on their wedding togs and line up to be blessed. I took this photograph after the ceremony, I have always loved it.

Here are some more images of my favourite country.

Now four people I am passing this on to

  1. Astrid
  2. Teresa
  3. Kylee
  4. Jenny

Before I go, I just wanted to show you this photgraph. I was sitting in my garden, enjoying the sunshine, when a movement in the trees caught my eye and I saw a bizarre sight. I rushed to get my camera and took this.

Can you see it? The world’s first flying tractor!

32 responses to “Fore!

  1. strugglingwriter July 24, 2008 at 1:51 pm

    First flying tractor. Ha! I’m honored to be one of the blogs you visit every day. I must not be as boring as I think! I’m not even Italian!

    I would try this, but I’m not nearly as interesting as you :)

    Totally unrelated. I’ve gotten into Coldplay lately, very late to the game I know. You mentioned them a while back and for some reason I was picturing a different band. Then, XM Radio was promoting their “30 Days of Coldplay” station and I decided to check it out. They are excellent! Anyhow, thanks for that.

  2. Lunes July 24, 2008 at 2:06 pm

    Oh you naughty woman! Just when I get back from the beach hoping to relax….I’ll see what i can come up with!

  3. Diane July 24, 2008 at 2:46 pm

    SW – I visit every day as you always have something fun to read! Hmm, but you are of Greek extraction…..maybe it’s more of a Mediterranean thing… :-D
    Coldplay are my favourites, so glad you enjoyed them.

    Kylee- sorry! It’s not too bad a task really. Looking forward to reading your answers….
    BTW ‘needing to relax after the beach’ ?!

  4. Jenny July 24, 2008 at 4:06 pm

    AH! I love Cinema Paradiso … it’s one of my favorite movies! The ending always makes me cry as I adore kissing and seeing people kiss. I have a collection of pictures of people kissing.

    And FOUR is my favorite number.

    So as I’ve been tagged, off I go to do the deed!

    Thanks luvvy!

  5. Diane July 24, 2008 at 6:44 pm

    I love the ending too – I was going to post the YouTube clip but thought it might give away the ending for anyone who hasn’t seen the film.

    I look forward to reading your answers. :-)

  6. Daddy Papersurfer July 24, 2008 at 7:57 pm

    Se necessario farò il mio italiano del blog in modo da non li perdo – tee hee

    [Re-translating that back to English is hilarious]

    *blogsnog*

    ooooo ……. and love the ‘bride’ photee …….

  7. Diane July 24, 2008 at 8:18 pm

    I tell you I am like Jamie Lee Curtis in ‘A Fish called Wanda’ – anything spoken in Italian makes me come over all unnecessary – the weather forecast, the news, a sports report, doesn’t matter, I’m a puddle.

    After your comment, I shall have to go for a cold shower…..

  8. 70steen July 24, 2008 at 9:14 pm

    Thank you for the link :-)
    Great meme btw I may pinch it and take into 70s land

    Cinema Paradiso what a cool film I love it and as for Dr Who my teen & I are addicts… it is a must see in a desert of not much TV watched…. I may stuggle with 4 TV programmes on the meme ??

    Great piccy of the tractor lol

  9. fancypicnic July 24, 2008 at 10:45 pm

    Hello!!
    Love the tractor – v funny! Amelie? Me too…

  10. RennyBA July 25, 2008 at 12:15 am

    Always great to know your blog friend even better and all this fours makes me feel I know you even more than you would think :-)

    PS: Would you consider #5 for your vacation to be Norway? :lol:

  11. Teresa July 25, 2008 at 2:21 am

    Those are such great pics of Italy, Wanda…uh, I mean Diane! ;D Ah, Italy…the history, the culture, the gelato!

    Who IS the gorgeous young man in Cinema Paradiso? I can’t watch films that make me cry or I’d be all over that one.

    May I join you next time you have lobster tail with lime butter?

  12. Teresa July 25, 2008 at 2:22 am

    Oh, and you’ll have to wait a couple of days for my 4 meme. :> Sorry!

  13. scratchbags July 25, 2008 at 3:33 am

    Rome is one of my dream vacation places, and especially after reading the book called Agony and Ecstasy by Irving Stone, I am just dying to visit the place. I’ll take tips form you before I go. :) I have watched Singing in the Rain like umpteen number of times, and I have not felt bored ever. Ha ha! I have had just 3 jobs till date ,and my current one is going to stay forever so, I would have never been able to complete this meme. But you did beautifully. And what a lovely slide show!

  14. Dunn July 25, 2008 at 5:38 am

    Thank you for participating the meme.
    I love the TV show Heroes. I think it’s great.
    I haven’t watch Cinema Paradiso. Will look for the DVD later.

  15. 70steen July 25, 2008 at 8:25 am

    just listened to Julia’s track that I missed on the first read …. fabulous must check out more :)

  16. Diane July 25, 2008 at 1:31 pm

    70s – by all means have a go at the meme – I would love to hear your answers!
    We seem to have very similar taste when it comes to music and films and such – must be becuz we is Norvern, innit?

    fancypicnic – Amelie is a gem of a film, I love it. And appropriately, I love your jewellery too (like the link there?) :-)

    Renny – after reading about your holidays and seafood feasts then Norway is definitely on my list. Hope you and Diane are enjoying your Swedish vacation…

    Teresa – Ha ha! The cute little boy grows into the cute young man and then the grey haired chap. It has a wonderfully uplifting ending which I love. Worth seeing the flm just for that! The theme tune is lovely too.
    No probs about the meme – any old time will do :-)

    scratchbags – I was tour guide in chief for our road trip, and it seemed to go very well! We only got lost once in Florence and that was because there were huge road works in the city centre. Well that’s my excuse…
    Singin’ in the Rain is great isn’t it?

    Dunn – thank you for asking me to do it! It’s good to do memes, because you don’t have to rack your brains for what to write about!
    I hope you enjoy Cinema Paradiso. The director released a longer ‘Director’s Cut’ with an added 50 minutes or so. I actually prefer the original shorter version…

    70s – she’s great isn’t she? She has released about 6 or so albums – my favourites are ‘Concrete Love’ and ‘Falling Forward’ but they are all brilliant. She has an amazing voice with an astonishing range. There are loads of vids of her on YouTube.

  17. pete July 25, 2008 at 5:28 pm

    I have to say that my favorite place in Italy is Venice. No cars, friendly locals and a beautiful city. I loved my visit there and hope to go back someday. :)

  18. nursemyra July 26, 2008 at 12:37 am

    love the picture of the bride!

  19. creechman July 26, 2008 at 3:01 pm

    What an entertaining post! :)

  20. Diane July 26, 2008 at 9:51 pm

    pete – Venice is one of the few places I have visited that exceeded my expectations. I find places I long to see are often a disappointment when I eventually get there… Venice and Rome were exceptions – astonishingly beautiful cities.

    Nurse Myra – she is so sweet isn’t she? The square was full of brides and grooms after the blessing :-)

    Creechman – why thank you, I aim to please…. :-)

  21. Teresa July 26, 2008 at 10:11 pm

    Now how did I miss the flying tractor? I’ll have to show the boys that one. (I think it’s coz you pack so many fun things into each post that I don’t know where to begin to comment.)

  22. 70steen July 26, 2008 at 11:37 pm

    D ~ I have pinched the ‘meme’ and yes what great clips of Julia there on You Tube… I am a convert to her sounds

  23. laketrees July 27, 2008 at 2:00 pm

    haha Diane …
    I gather you are rather taken with Italy… lol
    great meme… you’d make a great Ambassador for Italy…
    I must get Cinema Paradiso out and watch it again :)
    that flying tractor is a classic !!!!!

  24. Daddy Papersurfer July 28, 2008 at 8:38 am

    Talking about maths – I invented a way to teach kids quadratic equations [have I mentioned that before? – it wouldn’t surprise me] –

  25. Diane July 28, 2008 at 6:12 pm

    teresa- it’s very silly but I had never realised that the fields behind those trees were so high up!It was bizarre to see the tractor trundling back and forth amongst the trees :-)

    70steen – I saw you had done the meme – it’s quite an easy and fun ne to do isn’t it?
    Julia is great – so pleased you like her music :-)

    Kim – only a lot…I must go back to Italy soon. I miss it. In the meantime maybe I’ll have pasta for supper….. :-)

    DP – really? Is there no start end to your talents? :-)

  26. writinggb July 29, 2008 at 2:30 pm

    Ah, Italia!! Missed that on my recent trip! Oddly enough, though, after doing my research into my Scandinavian ancestors and locales, I am thinking of researching some of the other branches of my family, too, including my Italian great-grandmother. It would help if I knew here name and city of birth, though…

    Sorry not to be by recently. Away and all that. Good to be back!

  27. Diane July 30, 2008 at 11:32 am

    Glad to have you back and I hope you had a great trip!
    Italian ancestors – you just have to research that branch of the family :-)

  28. writinggb July 31, 2008 at 7:22 pm

    Yeh, wouldn’t that be so cool to find some Italians who take me in and feed me. I can just picture it now, sitting on their veranda overlooking the sea, sipping some wine…

  29. Diane July 31, 2008 at 10:03 pm

    …..and you could invite all your friends to come and stay with you….. :-)

  30. writinggb August 1, 2008 at 11:40 pm

    Well, that kinda goes without sayin’ don’t it? What are friends for? You’d do the same for me. Right?!

  31. Diane August 2, 2008 at 12:38 am

    But of course…. :-) How big a villa am I going to need?

  32. writinggb August 3, 2008 at 1:40 pm

    How’s your traffic on the blog lately…?!! Might need a pretty big one. Unless yu decide to get choosey…. I don’t take up muc space, for instance, and I’m definitely leavin the hubbster home on THAT trip! :-)

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