The Boy and The Coconut Tree

This is the final night of my 6 day trip to Italy, the wind is blowing so hard that masonry is falling from the buildings nearby (well this city is old) and the air outside my hotel window is full of paper and plastic bags flying about, this is Naples a city that I've fallen for in the past 3 days. Although my trip included a side visit to Florence and Pisa I won't dwell on either, I've been to Florence twice before and it needs no explanations and Pisa was a nice side trip though the weather really didn't work for me, I was drenched and it is very hard to be motivated about anything when all of your clothes are dripping wet.  The tower is what it is and I am glad I saw it. The slightly tilted tower of Pisa  So a few days in Florence catching up with a friend I've not seen in 3 years, a great hotel, Room Mate Luca  where my friend Luca works. Florence is a great city to wander around, eat and drink (I had some great food in little Osterias in the cit...

Everywhere I have walked today I've been confronted by hearts, cherubs, romantic angels and all the other symbols of Valentines Day and the reminders that we are all supposed to do something romantic tomorrow, or else .  The boring safeness of Valentines! But what of those people who are single and don't feel the need to reach out and touch someone tomorrow. I am happy that I don't need to spend money on expressing something that as a good lover I would be doing daily, hourly, every moment I was around my loved one. Most of my friends are now couples, the few of us who are single are not ostracised but there is a trend towards people doing more things as couples and less with friends. I know this happens but just as there are campaigns to ensure your lonely elderly neighbour is not doomed to drink cups of tea alone, there should be a campaign on Facebook or Twitter to reach out to your single friends and ensure they aren't doomed to speed dating, online...