While I was
in Surrey with my mum, the rest of the family was away for the summer. My
autistic daughter Valentina lives in a residential school near Doncaster so we
go and visit her every three-four weeks. She was in a creative mood this summer.
Every time we went she drew for us whatever she wanted to watch or get, like
cartoon characters (Futurama and SpongeBob are her favourites), new clothes or
special food. She has become so skilful with it that it is her main way of
communicating when there is something different she wants from the usual
things. She had a go with the swimming pool the staff arranged for her in the
garden but didn’t seem happy to go out when we visited. She preferred to stay
inside, enjoy our company and change her clothes arranging them in fashionable
funky ways.
My other
daughter is in Tokyo so my husband and my son went to see her for a few weeks.
They were enthusiastic about it. They described Japan as very well organized
and tidy. Trains are always on time, there’s no litter in the streets and
people never speak loudly, they whisper or keep silent, and bow of course, at a
proper distance from one another. They said museums are not so great, but their
art is superb. unfortunately mount Fuji is often wrapped in fog, so it is hard
to get good pictures, better download them from the internet. They sent me some
funny photos with my husband framed as a geisha and my daughter and son smiling
in a busy market place. It was hot, they said, and food is good, though some things,
like vegetables and fruit, can be very expensive, £10 for some grapes and £3 for an orange.
We had two
family gatherings. One in front of the TV watching the Football World Cup in
July. Unfortunately, the Italian team was out but we supported different teams
in turns according to our whims. I supported England, of course, and hoped till
the end it could make it against Croatia, but the Croatians looked so tense and
determined to win, sort of shipwreck survivors’ squad, that managed to defeat the well fed
and fit English players. Maybe next time. But I was happy England got so far, I
think it was a great achievement.
At the end
of the summer, my eldest son and daughter in law came to visit us from Leeds
for a week. It was wonderful to have them with us for some time, relax
together, watch TV, have a long good chat after dinner. They had time to visit
London and meet her relatives in the south as well. We went to a new Italian
restaurant together, Rosso Mazara (https://rossomazara.com/), where we spoiled ourselves with fantastic gamberoni
(big prawns), linguini allo scoglio (linguini with seafood), pasta alla norma
(you can find the recipe here below), calamari, sardines and delicious
bruschetta and arancini.
My mum and I
dragged my daughter in law in our charity shops hunting tours. We could pick up
a
I use frames
for many occasions, above all for photos. I need to have family photos
everywhere at home: walls, shelves, near my desk, which is the kitchen table,
on the fridge, and near the TV. My children are all away from home and though I
keep in touch with them by Skype, WhatsApp and by phone, but it is still hard for
me not seeing them often, especially my ‘Japanese’ daughter. So I keep them at
hand in family pics I update from time to time creating compositions and
collages, crowding the house with their smiling presence.
Shopping in
charity shops has multiple advantages. First of all, the economic one, you will
never spend much money there, I mean hundreds of pounds, and the money will go
for a good cause. Besides, you can find something unique, maybe old style that
can add a quirky touch to your
outfit, and it can be good quality. Then there is the treasure-hunt, surprise
aspect, you never know what you’re going to find, the lucky pick hidden under a
pile of faded scarves or felted pullovers. You need to be persistent and follow
your instinct, something you may not need today might be vital tomorrow. So buy it, you need
some distractions. And if you are not going to use it, you can give it as a
present. Spoil yourself, it’s just a few pounds. My mum and I always feel
better after our charity shop tours.
After our
luscious dinner at Rosso Mazara, my mum and I experimented pasta alla norma at
home. It is a recipe from Sicily created to pay a tribute to the great opera
composer Vincenzo Bellini, who was from Catania. He wrote the score of Norma
where the protagonist sings the famous aria (song) Casta Diva (Chaste Goddess. You can listen here to the aria sung by
the great opera singer Maria Callas: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJNTUq_mAoo ) to the moon to ask for protection and intercession.
Though the recipe does not recall the unfortunate story of betrayal and
self-sacrifice of the Gaul priestess, it is a very tasty dish that mixes
typical Mediterranean products. Here is the recipe.
You need: 300
g of penne or fusilli, 2 aubergines, a clove of garlic, 300 g of cherry
tomatoes, extra virgin olive oil, fresh basil, grated salted ricotta (sort of
hard cheese you can find in Italian deli shops), half of a red onion.
Prepare the
sauce cutting the tomatoes in half and cooking them in a pan with oil and
garlic for half an hour. Add basil and simmer them for another half hour. Peel
and cut the aubergines in cubes, fry them in a frying pan with some oil and the
onion thinly cut. When ready, mix the aubergines and the tomato sauce in the
pan and add the basil. Let it simmer for 15 minutes.
Prepare the
pasta and season it with the sauce. Serve with grated salted ricotta on top and
enjoy!
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