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| The lovely new bike. |
I'm going to ride it for a week or so, then I'll re-adjust the suspension and things to suit me. Probably get a fly screen. We'll see. I'm happy to get add ons later and tinker with it for a bit to get it perfect.
Sherlock is happy because it matches his kit. I think he thinks it's his bike, and I'm just the chauffeur...
And, on to more of Italy!
As I said, on the last day we had options - leave the city later and go straight to the airport, or head out early and try to see something else on the way. Mycroft made the choice. We headed for Ravenna.
Our last night was pizza, followed by ice cream, and then a last coffee for us. Breakfast was a pastry, more coffee...and we were away.
We didn't have loads of time, so we went to three things - Chiase di San Vitalie and the Mausoleo di Galla Placidia, the Mausoleo di Teoderico and the Domus di Tapetti di Pietrehouse.
I'll be honest - I didn't know much about any of them until Mycroft gave us a history lesson in the car on the way there. (Italian roads - apart from the Autostrada - are terrible. The whole country is seriously struggling right now.) So we bounced and bumped our way along, and got a good grounding in what we were going to see.
It was...amazing doesn't cover it. It would be amazing if someone made these mosaics today, with all the technology we have. But they were made in the 400/500s.
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| One of the arches inside Mausoleo di Galla Placidia |
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| Mausoleo di Galla Placidia ceiling |
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| ceiling of the San Vitalie |
I'm really glad we went. I never did anything like that when I was a kid. We went to Rome, once, and we went to Pisa, but nothing like that. I'll be honest, I wasn't expecting it to be that good. When Mycroft described it as 'just a church I'd like to see' ;)
One of my cousins, while we were there, told me my Dad is still around. I don't know what I expected...I'd sort of prepared myself for no one to have heard/seen anything of him. But yeah, apparently he's been about a bit. I didn't know how to react. I didn't ask any questions. I mean, I can, now, because I've got email addresses and things. And Facebook info. Not that it's any use to me! But Carla is on Facebook, so Nicky can keep in touch with our cousins through that if she wants. Nicky and I talked about him earlier. We...well, it's hard. We're both still fairly angry with him. So...
41 comments:
just a church I'd like to see
And that's exactly why we all love Mycroft :-D
Those pictures are lovely, the bike and the mosaics ;-)
told me my Dad is still around
Well that's news that means nothing unless you want it to. You still have chance to find things out about him if you want but you still don't have to if you don't want :-)
It really was amazing. not just when they were made but how good they still look. Hard to imagine anything modern laying that long.
Yeah - think of the wars that have raged since then - the people who cared for them must have been terrified at times, through raids and bombs and all sorts.
I can't imagine what it'd have been like seeing them back then, when most people lived such simple lives. Must have been magical - still is!
AnonyBob - I know. Feels like...well, time will run out, eventually. And... yeah. The answer isn't any easier to get to. I'm...probably more inclined to try and find him. Nicky isn't. But then, she's probably more angry on my behalf than on her own, which...well, I get it.
time will run out one day Greg but if it does and you haven't made contact with him then that's because it was never the right time for you and that's not a bad thing because its a decision in itself. The only thing you need to be careful of is that you make your own decision, if Nicky doesn't want to know then that's up to her but it shouldn't stop you if you do want to make contact as long as you keep it to yourself and don't make her know by default.
not sure that makes any sense really sorry.
Are you relaxing this evening or is there not time for that? ;-)
Yeah, you're right.
I don't know about Nicks though - we've always felt like we were in it together. I mean, I get your point, but...well, we just need to talk it through more, I suppose. Maybe establish more facts. Just knowing he's still around sort of changes things for both of us, you know? It's not a decision to make for either of us without a bit of thought.
Relaxing now. I had a fiendish headache earlier...thankfully now gone after throwing up and drinking about a pint of coffee...
I seem to have promised Sherlock we'll make giant biscuits though.
The details, the colors...those mosaics are truly amazing.
Knowing your father is still around...well, it has to make the idea of tracking him down feel more real and more urgent than when you didn't know. But the situation isn't different, really. So yes, you should take all the time you and Nicky need to think about it.
I'm sorry you had a bad head earlier--and glad you're feeling better now. Migraines are de debil.
(Yay! Giant biscuits! :))
I'm in no way suggesting you go off and do it next week just that if you talk it all through a lot and you still have opposite feelings about it that you don't not do it because of Nicky not wanting to. The very last thing you need is to ever think, even for one second, that Nicky is to 'blame' for you not contacting him because I know you'd hate yourself for the thought!
I'm glad your head is better and I'm seriously jealous of giant biscuits :-)
I think you're more forgiving than I am. Perhaps because of the terrible things you see every day. But Pandabob is right - you should do what's right for you.
We'll talk about it. No rush.
Sherlock now has giant biscuits. Jammy dodgers. Well, he has them right now. John is eyeing them up though...
I'm only human...
You're definitely part Jampire.
No, because then I'd just suck the jam filling out and leave the biscuit.
I'm still not sure you won't do that...
I shall inspect those biscuits for jam and tooth marks after I come back from tucking Sherlock in.
You will find no evidence...
*resists the temptation to make a joke about sucking skills*
As long as he doesn't find jam anywhere else, Nameless...
Although the biscuits do seem to be intact. I'll have to examine John for evidence now though, just in case he's been sneaky.
I'll have to examine John for evidence now though
It IS clearly your duty, as protector of the jammy dodgers...
I'm concerned about what sort of evidence you'd expect to find, and where...
He just bit me!
Was only checking his teeth for pips...
When constabulary duty's to be done... ;)
Don't worry, you're safe. Unless you're filled with Jam, obviously.
I don't want you trying to find out!
I'll do my best to restrain myself. Time for bed?
yeah, probably is.
You know when your next shift is yet? I can try and work mine around it if you do.
I do, yeah. Thanks. Next Friday, same time.
Mmm, someone thinks you deserve all the puking drunks and people off their faces on drugs, along with a few drink/drug fuelled assaults as a welcome to the profession, obviously!!
I'll work something out - maybe a half day, so I can fetch the boy wonder from school with you before you have to hang by the phone.
You never know... there might be more hot sauce self defense too.
That sounds lovely.
I'm defenceless against you being hot and saucy...
You may have to sing me a sweet lullaby. My self administered coffee-treatment seems to be keeping me awake.
Or find another way to gently rock me to sleep. :)
I feel sure something will occur to me...
That's a great bike! And those pictures of the church just blow me away. I can only imagine what it must be like to see it in person.
<3 NEW BIKE! Can we get all the specs, or will a full ode-to-motorcycle be happening within the next couple weeks?
Yes, you will *definitely* get spotted on that bike. It's gorgeous. Enjoy the hell out of it!
You and Nicky will figure something out, I have faith in you.
Those pictures are amazing. I think I first saw a picture of the ceiling of San Vitalie on a physical chemistry exam, in a question where I think we were asked to assign it a rotational symmetry group or something? Which was difficult to do from a lousy black and white photocopied image of it, but then, I doubt I would have gotten the question correct anyway, I was in way over my head in that class.
AftSO
I can definitely bore everyone with various specs, Olli :)
I can't speak for anyone else, but I wouldn't be bored! (Of course, I wouldn't understand a word of it, either.... :D)
Yes please!!
-o
I will then.
Hope youre all having a good day, especially you, Danger.
Not bad. How's yours going? Do you have time for a coffee break?
I haven't, sorry. Busy is how mines going
All right, good luck.
Olli - it's liquid cooled, 1050cc engine, with a 6 speed gearbox. It's a chain drive, unlike John's BMW, which is a shaft drive.
(He's also got a single dry plate clutch, not a wet multi-plate, like the Triple.)
It's got a wet weight of 212kg, which is a little lighter than the BMW... but then John is a little lighter than I am, so that probably evens out ;)
It's also a bit taller than the BMW...825mm to 760mm. But that's cos John's got the short BMW....I say no more!
So...yes. Brilliant bike! :)
It sounds as if it's a great fit! (Are you going to be paying for those short jokes all week?)
I'm charmed by the idea of a 6 speed gearbox... I have always had an "imaginary" 6th gear whereby I would clutch in and realize there was nowhere else to go on the transmission. But that was before I did all my driving in the city.
Yes, a great win with "Sherlock's" bike, and I am sure there has never been a happier chauffeur. Thanks for the rundown.
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