47 posts tagged “bristol”

At last we had snow as well...after it has covered the almost entire Europe from east to west. Tonight was our turn, and it was not even a small snowfall. It lasted about two hours. Four centimeters of white powder are covering everything now. Everything is silent. It may snow some more in the night, Maybe one shower or two. I am honest, I didn't expect it. I didn't expect a snowfall. I was about to go to sleep, when I saw a Facebook update "It's snowing...!". What...???? It can't be...I run to the window, and with my great surprise I saw big white flakes falling down from the sky, starting to cover streets and cars, roofs and trees. Unbelievable. It called me, the snow called me for a walk. So I went out, walking on Whiteladies Road, towards the Downs and seeing cars struggling to reach the top of Black Boy Hill. Now I am seated on the armchair in the living room with a warm cup of fennel tea, telling about this great surprise I received tonight.

Nonna...or granny...as you prefer...! 89 years old in a week...and still willing to come to visit me to Bristol. Not surprised since she came along to the States with me. It was 2003, we went for three weeks,NYC, Chicago, Milwaukee...!  She never finish to astonish me...and all of us...! Now she also said she loved the flat, and already book herself for next spring...!!!! :)
Well...the convenient side is that now all my jumpers and shirts are cleaned and ironed...! Kidding...It's just amazing to see her plenty of life, so more than welcome. We went for a pizza yesterday night, and my granny had also some of my beer...!!! Great stuff...! Next time Fish 'n chips...!

I am not surprised to read this cos I like here and after five years I also know what is like living here. And I know that this is true. It is true that for quality of life in general Bristol has nothing less than some other English cities. It does not say here but other than city centre there are nice residential areas as well, and then the suspension bridge, the symbol of Bristol. Here is a quote from BBC website.

Bristol has been hailed as the best English city in which to live, after a survey of 5,000 people.

The city beat popular destinations Brighton and Oxford into second and third place respectively in research carried out by OnePoll.com. Bristol scored highly for nearness to countryside, cleanliness, quality of life, friendliness and pay rates. Barbara Jahnke, leader of the city's council, said: "We are delighted with this result."Bristol's architecture and community spirit was also praised by those surveyed. OnePoll asked people in 20 cities to rate their community according to what was good about it. Bristolians were found to enjoy more time to themselves and were also the most likely to walk their children to school. A OnePoll spokesman said: "''Bristol is a relatively small city compared to London, which could mean it still has a community feel, something you would be hard pushed to find elsewhere. ''Residents have what they need at their fingertips - a bustling, varied city centre, a great night life and friendly people."

Well done...!

What a better reason to write on the blog after a long silence if not to say about Mr.Roselli coming to Bristol?? I think he is now, together with my mum, the biggest fan of Bristol. I agree, Bristol is nice, especially if you are not used to this kind of architecture, with Victorian and Georgian houses. Then the suspension Bridge, Cabot Circus...Maybe, he got some ideas to import to Florence...! Who knows...? Well...not from an artistic point of view of course...but they did nice stuff here...! Maybe from next week you will also find the Mars Milk at the supermarket. Anyway we spent 3 days here, which is great since we never had too much time only the two of us...We took lots of pictures but not one that witnesses that we were together...! Che chioppi...!

Edimbra', Glasgow, Belfast, Broughton, Birmingham and finally Bristol. After 2 years the A380 showed up again in its flying over the UK. Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and England, all in a day. Then a night at home, and today at 12 noon the take off from Filton runway not sure to which the destination though...Bremen apparently! Anyway...I couldn't make it for the landing yesterday afternoon, but since is not very usual too see the big plane here I went this morning to see the take off. And I absolutely loved it since the car park is just by the runway, and the plane took off just in front of the eyes...! It's big...it's massive in fact...not too noisy, and it took less than half of the runway to take off. I wish I could see one every day...I hope I could fly on it sooner or later.

Every year the second weekend of August is dedicated to the Bristol Balloon Fiesta. It is one of the biggest in Europe of this type, with balloon coming from all over the England and Europe. It starts on Thursday night and goes on until Sunday night, with different events and attractions. Not always the weather is good as this year, so not always everything can

take place. This time fortunately it was not too bad, so both the night glow, and the balloon launches had their chances. Yesterday there were also the Red Arrows to greet the balloons. In the past I saw the night glow and it is very exciting... In the dark night balloons are lighten on and off following the music rhythm in front of a massive crowd. It take place at Ashton Gate Park, on the other side of the Suspension Bridge. Today I went to see the last launch for this edition. It is amazing to see all the balloons taking off very close to each other and almost at the same time. And suddenly the sky is full of little colorful bulbs...that seem to be still, like a decoration over Bristol's roofs.

I am writing from my bedroom in Grassina. The light is on, the window is closed. It is too hot to open it. The heat outside is unbelievable. The car thermometer said 40˚C, the official one stopped at 38.5˚C in Florence today. One of the hottest day I ever remember here. It’s not long since I tried the emotions of 50˚C in the death valley...that was another story...but I can tell you...being out at 4pm this afternoon was simply mad...!! Just now 2000 km from here is heavy raining with 15˚C. Bristol, I am talking about Bristol...Which ever I prefer I am not gonna tell you now...!

Someone said it... I heard it on the Radio, on TV and I saw it on the map...! It will be a very hot week, for sure...and it might go over 30˚ for the first time since 2006...! We have time until Friday, then it will cool down... I am not too sure we are gonna brake the wall of the thirties, but if so I think Wednesday could be the day...! I am expecting some heavy scattered showers as well for next week... It is definitely gonna be interesting...  
Today high was 25.2˚ and I was feeling really boiling... How I could I cope with summer in Florence in the past I don't know...!!

It's a strange feeling tonight at Hughenden Road. This is the last night I sleep here, the last after 4 years, after 1543 days. The room is empty...there is me, the bedsheets, trousers and a shirt for tomorrow morning, my shoes and a Fiorentina picture attached to the wall...this is my present for the next taker of the room.. That's it...! All the rest is there, silent, still, empty, sad.
It was a great time the one spent here, Rupert and Charlotte were two fantastic landlords, their children very sweet and well mannered. Sometimes I had problems with my flatmates, but I don't care now...this is time for good memories, as when we slept 4 of us in this bedroom : me, Tommy, Mone and Bencio, as all the time friends came along to watch some football on tv...How to forget Carla and her boiled vegetables, Andrew and his cool yellow Honda to finish off with Biri and his kindness?
At the very beginning I wasn't sure, it took a bit to get convinced, but soon I realized that I ended up in one of the nicest street overall in Bristol, and that the flat, with a bit of work could have become great...and I started to adore it!!
I was in the smaller bedroom for over two years, and I was fine, I moved into this one only in September 2007, and I loved it right away... its view is simply stunning. I felt it was mine...I still feel it...! But it's not. I have mine though...and that's where it becomes odd. I'm excited by the new place, but yet I am sad to leave this one. I can't describe it...I am not even able to write a proper post so is full of thoughts my mind...
Who knows how will I feel in few hours...? I am not good at farewell...I will go downstairs for the very last time, few step, the key left on to a little table, a door to open, then another one, the last one for the last time. I think I will walk away, not turning back. This will be history. Will be a big chunk of my memories, of my greatest memories.

...and then...? and then I am moving out...! My adventure at Hughenden Road is coming to an end...Sad, but true. Leaving this place where I spent over 4 years is a shame... Honestly I feel sorry about that...! I love staying here, I loved living here...! I am moving to a new flat...my own flat...a big big step!! There is a lot to gain, quality of life first, in living on my own...then privacy, whatever you want...but yet I will miss a lot this street, this flat with its stunning view...and I will probably feel also a bit lonely at the beginning. It is a funny feeling in this time, with a mix that I don't even recognize sometimes...! I am happy and excited for this new adventure, but I'd rather call it phase of my life...I am a bit stressed and tired cos last two week I have spent all my spare time looking for, and choosing, furniture for the flat...I am slightly worried cos from now on I will be responsible for maintenance and managment of the flat...and I had already a first sign of it... I had to call the plumber on Monday! I will have to deal with the neighbours...and this might not be easy as well...but I will see it later...it is really like that...but in the end I think it's cool to have to deal with all of this...!
Tomorrow there is the furniture delivery, Friday they are coming to replace the carpet in the bedroom, over the weekend some friends are helping me out assembling everything...then I still have to choose few little things, to buy plates and all the rest is necessary in the kitchen...so...still a lot to do...plenty of things to think about...!
And last but not least...I have to choose a new title for the blog...that's the hardest task...