An Update From Steve Ellis.........

I have received another update from Steve Ellis and should you wish a full copy please let me know, part is attached below. Alberto's health continues to decline and and Sarah's emotional support is being maintained by Steve & Sue such that Steve will in the interim be remaining with her. I am sure it goes without saying that Steve, Sue and Sarah are often in our thoughts during this difficult time.

Sue is to depart for NZ this Tuesday the 7th, arriving back in CHCH on the 10th. I will stay the journey with Sarah. To this end we moved from our rental Apartment this morning and I will stay on in Alberto and Sarah's Apartment located some 200 metres from Olga's, where they have been domiciled. We feel this is the best practical means by which we can support Sarah as its not going to get any easier from here on in.

I can state that Sue completes her " Italian Housewife Degree " with Honours. She has only been exempt one " Unit " - that being " Queue Jumping Italian Style " through use of the Ruse - " I'm just a tired, little old Italian lady with an oversized shopping basket, so let me through! " Sue's shopping basket/bag was considered not lethal enough! She has been a marvel having to adapt to some really challenging situations over the past nine weeks. Sarah and I will miss her. And we all know how she is being so " good " about missing the Annual Italian retail shopping Sardi ( Sale ) Season, when the prices plummet. This Season starts today and runs for the month of July.

In an attempt to provide a break with the daily routine for Sarah, we have used our Sundays to get out of Bergamo and gain some R & R. A couple of Sundays ago it was a Train and Lake Ferry navigation of Lake Iseo to the east of Bergamo. Not the grandeur of Lake Como, but still very scenic, taking in the numerous and very picturesque small town stops around the Lake.

Last Sunday saw we three, together with Giuliana, our rental Apartment Owner and her daughter, Sophia, ( a member of Italy's 2009 Ski Training Squad ), travel by car 50 kms north into the Italian Alps to the small village of Ornica ( 800m asl ). We then tramped through forest and uphill some 600 metres along a small river bed out into a lush green belt to a largish stone cottage dug out from a rock outcrop. The Cottage was supported by various agricultural and O/nite accommodation units. The Italian style these as Agritourismo Ventures - an opportunity for Town to meet Country.
With some 15 other day trampers we were rewarded for our endeavour with a Fantastic authentic local Meal that comprised - Soup of wild mountain herbs/vegetables/pancetta, home made pasta, braised Cow tongue, pigs trotters stuffed with herbs & slow baked, ( known as Cotechino ), lamb ribs, polenta, then Ricotta tort and/or peach tort, hand made cheeses and all washed down with a jug of a very decent local Red! Brilliant! The kinds of tastes you chase on local restaurant menus and rarely succeed in finding. And all prepared in a minuscule kitchen set-up on a wood range. The return downhill was a breeze.

With NZ never far from the mind, and as an official CCC Anti Boy Racer Ambassador, it would be poor if I didn't report Overseas Findings on the Issue. I know Bob will be keen to learn that the Italians have cut their Boy Racer Issue in HALF. Yes, the little twats over here all ride scooters and superbikes!! Valentino Rossi has a lot to answer for!

I feel as if I am developing traces of that very Italian trait of speech with this Email, that is - " Never use 10 words when 100 will do!! " So I had better close with a word of thanks from Sarah, Sue and I for all all your messages and thoughts. Our time all together over here is drawing to a close and it would be fair to say that as a trip, it has provided not so much a Photo Album as a Scrapbook of memories. It's been a very interesting journey to say the least.

Ciao, Sue Sarah Alberto and Steve