Thursday, October 31, 2013

Bye, bye!

Dear Readers,

I'm going on a trip, so please don't be surprised if you don't hear anything from me for a while.

I try, of course, to update you of our adventures as soon as I can.

Your Writer1976


©2013

Thursday, October 24, 2013

Golden View Bar and Restaurant Florence, Italy

On our first day in Florence we went exploring a bit and found by good luck the Golden View Open Bar & Restaurant for lunch.

It is just off the Ponte Vecchio and overlooks the Arno. We choose it, because it was in a classic building, but the interior was modern with clean cut lines and had reasonable prices, plus that glorious views over the river, opening up the classical architecture of Florence before our eyes.

We were surprised how much space there was, when the waiter brought us to the back, walking along the stylish Bar area, where we found a large dining room.

We were offered a seat with a view over the river, which we gladly took. All glass doors leading to the terrace were open, allowing a breeze to come in. The table was on the smaller side, covered with white table cloth. The dining room looked elegant with contemporary artwork on the walls and was kept in white and silver. Pretty soon the menu arrived.

We had a wonderful and refreshing Aperol Spritz, a bottle of still San Benedetto water, Insalata Ponte Vecchio and a Fuego Pizza. The salad was made with green leaves, local ham, olives, parmesan shavings, courgette and crusty bread. Regional extra virgin olive oil, vinegar, salt and pepper were provided, so that I could make my own dressing. The pizza was topped with spicy pepperoni, tomato sauce, cheese, peppers and a lot of red onions. Everything was delicious and fresh.
 
The staff was attentive, not intrusive, which is always a plus and made us feel very welcome.

Cost were 56.50 Euro (ca. 78 USD) including cover charge.

We are going to return definitely when we are in town again.



 
©2013

Monday, October 14, 2013

Talk outside the shed

Sorry for posting only now, but I've been insanely busy.

This story builds up on Talk inside the shed I've published a couple of months earlier.  Hope you like it.

The day my life changed for the better was one of the worst in my childhood.

I was seven and had misbehaved at school. My father didn't accept such behavior, so I ended up with my bare rump over his lap. I knew this was going to happen and dreaded our "talk" in the shed. My father made his displeasure definitely known. When his hand connected for the last time with my behind, I was crying. Dad said he was sorry he had to punish me and didn't want to repeat it - me neither. He also said he loved me. I wasn't so sure about that. Dad hugged me and I cried for a while into his shirt. When the tears eased, Dad let go. I ran away. I wanted to be alone.
I headed in the direction of the rabbit cages. My younger sister Adrien and I owned one rabbit each.
Brewster was awake. I took him out of the cage and sat down in the grass. My behind was smarting a bit, but my father was never really cruel and the pain was gone after a few hours. I still cried, not from the physical pain. Brewster was a good listener, but it didn't help to quell my hurt feelings. I don't know how much time I spent with Brewster on my lap, but suddenly our new driver Mr. Noose took a seat beside me. He was silent for a few minutes. I desperately tried to stop the tears, but didn't manage. Mr. Noose was light blond, while I have dark blond locks. His blue grey eyes were looking concerned. He asked if I wanted to talk about it. I was too ashamed and didn't want to admit my father had just punished me. I shouted at Mr. Noose: "No, go away!" He didn't and to my surprise said something I didn't expect. "You know I cried each time..." He knew what had happened. Until then I thought I was the only one who got spanked. Since I was small and he was very tall I couldn't believe he had been spanked too. It was inconceivable for me, so I stammered: "But ... But... You are big!" "I wasn't always big." Mr. Noose replied with a smile. It made me wonder what he had looked like as a child. "Are you going to tell me what bothers you?" Mr. Noose asked gently. I tried hard to hold back the sob, but it escaped. "Daddy hates me!" "What makes you think that?" "I'm stupid! Wylie is smart, Johnny talented and Adrien... Well, she's cute." "Come here." Mr. Noose ordered me. He heaved me and the rabbit on his lap. "You aren't stupid, Javier! You just need longer to learn." It was balsam to my knocked down self esteem. "I know for a fact your dad loves you." Mr. Noose continued.  He wanted to know why I had been spanked. I explained it. Mr. Noose asked what I should have done differently and what I was going to do now. I said: "I hurt Mrs. Hale by calling her names, so I'm going to apologize to her." "Try to pay attention in class too. I know it can be difficult." Mr. Noose suggested. I have dyslexia, so anything to do with reading is problematic. Talking with the driver helped me more than Dad's spanking. Suddenly it seemed to make more sense why my behavior wasn't good. I felt nearly normal again. Mr. Noose invited me to the old carriage house on our grounds, his home as long as he was working for us.
We played a few rounds of car racing. To my amazement I won. Mr. Noose offered me hot chocolate. I wanted marshmallows on top. To my disappointment he hadn't any. "I'll make you something special. I promise." He returned about twenty minutes later. I had been playing on the games console, so I hadn't noticed how much time had passed. Normally our housekeeper Florence was making Nesquik. The hot chocolate Mr. Noose had made was very different. It was slightly spicy and cinnamon flavored. He served some type of bread with cheese. It was heart shaped. All the crying and emotional upheaval had made me hungry and thirsty, so I tucked in. It was really delicious. Even if Mr. Noose was calm and relaxed, he seemed to hang after his own thoughts. They mightn't have been positive. I had been thinking as well and was curious how Mr. Noose knew my Dad loved me. He said: "I've watched you, when you were together. Your dad likes to spend time with you, plays games and is open to your suggestions. He's also watching out for you." It reassured me. Suddenly I was very tired. Mr. Noose drove me home. I snuggled closer to him, wishing he could be my Daddy. I was nearly asleep when we arrived at the main house. I said good night to the driver and Mrs. Florence brought me to bed. 

The next morning the day looked brighter for me. The color of my butt had returned to its normal pale shade and didn't hurt anymore. I was still smarting emotionally, though. It wasn't so easy for me to forgive Dad and even if Mr. Noose had re-assured me I felt small and doubts began to settle in again, if my Dad really cared for me.

It was a day or two later, when Dad approached me on my room.  I was playing with my Transformers, when he entered. "Javier, can I talk to you please?" I didn't want to, so I shook my head. Dad took a seat on the floor. He picked up one of the figures. "Want to play with me?" Normally I had fun with Dad. He was really good at imitating the voices of the characters, and he was creative too. Since I was still upset, I refused outright. "Okay." Dad looked hurt. "Javier, can I ask you something?" I shrugged. "Do you think I love Wylie, Johnny and Adrien more than you?" I didn't want to answer and pretended not to have heard anything. "Why would you think that?" I shrugged again. "Javier, please look me in the eyes." Dad's voice was gentle. I slowly looked up, showing all my hurt. "Are you going to give me an answer?" I told him why I thought Dad appreciated me less than the others. Wylie was without a doubt the most intelligent of the bunch. He was a straight A student, no matter which subject. Johnny had an unbelievable knack for music. He wanted to be either a musician or music historian. My younger sister Adrien looked very cute with her black curls and blue eyes. She also said the funniest things, so everyone liked her. I felt with my learning disability I wasn't bright enough to keep up with my oldest brother and with no other visible talents or cuteness I fell short of my father's expectations. "Javier, I love you as much as I do any of your siblings. The reason I love and care for you is your positive energy and your inquisitiveness. Maybe I have shown it too few, but this is going to change. I'd like to spend more time with you. Is that okay with you?" I was torn, because I was still a bit upset about the spanking, but I loved my dad and would have liked more of his attention. I nodded apprehensive. "Glad to hear it." My father smiled. "There is another thing I'd like to speak with you. It mightn't be easy for both of us..." Dad stopped for a moment. "I've spanked Wylie and Johnny until they were ten and originally thought I would continue to do the same with you. Something tells me, though, that it might not work. Am I wrong?" I tried to explain how I felt. I also said I couldn't understand how Dad could claim he loved me when he had hurt me just moments before. "Hm, that's a good question." My dad paused before giving an answer. "It might sound odd, but I did it, because I love you. I thought a painful reminder works better than discussions. Having now heard how it impacts you and your feelings towards me, I think we have to change tack. I don't want that you resent me." "Okay." I wasn't sure where this was going to lead to. "We will try speaking about what you have done wrong in the first place. If I deem it necessary you will get a punishment, like being grounded or having a privilege taken away. Is that okay with you?" "Yes." I nodded fervently. I preferred discussing what went wrong and maybe get a privilege taken away than being spanked, which left me feel unloved and not worthy of belonging to the Loesing clan.
Dad kept to his promise and spent more time with me. Our communication improved as well, and mostly Dad had only to threaten me with taking away something or to ground me. It was more than enough to bring me in line. Since we talked more I understood also better why and how to behave. It made me be much closer to Dad and we still have a very good and trusting relationship.





©2013

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Worse Timing

Beverly Noose stared in disbelief at her gynecologist. He had confirmed her worst fears. She was pregnant for the third time.
Her oldest son was fourteen months old, her youngest three months.  It would mean by the time the baby was due Coldham Fintan would be twenty two months and Holiday Michael, called Mike, eleven months.
Besides her husband Coldham Fintan II and she had agreed on having only two children. Beverly went home numb, not knowing exactly what to do.

The third pregnancy reminded Beverly very much of when she was expecting Coldham Fintan, whom they had nicknamed Fin.

Fin had been planned. Coldham and Beverly were delighted when they found out she was pregnant. It had been obvious even without a test. Beverly had very bad morning sickness and managed hardly to keep anything down. Because she was dehydrated she spent a few days in hospital. When Beverly had passed the first trimester it was better. The happy feeling lasted only nine weeks. She suddenly developed pre term labor and had to go on strict bed rest, meaning, she wasn't allowed out of bed -  the only exceptions were to go to toilet as needed or to take a shower once a day. Beverly, who liked to be active, hated every moment of it. She resented the baby. Beverly had dreamed about a perfect pregnancy and the perfect child. The pregnancy was a nightmare. Finally when the 37th week approached the bed rest was lifted. The doctors deemed it safe for the baby to be delivered. The contractions didn't return. By now Beverly was fed up. She was huge and felt like a rhinoceros. Her obstetrician told her to wait until the due date. Beverly tried to bargain to no avail.

Coldham had had imagined Beverly's pregnancy and becoming a father differently too. He wanted a wife with whom he could share his life, but with Beverly on bed rest, going out was impossible. Coldham grumbled, when they had to invest their hard earned money in a house keeper. Coldham didn't know how to do chores and didn't think about learning any of it, because it was unmanly. He only knew how to repair things and mowed the lawn, but the rest was Beverly's responsibility.

Beverly was overly glad when labor started. Fin was born ten painful hours later at 06.00 a.m. on his due date. He already had a blond fuzz and weighed 7 lbs 3 oz. There was no overwhelming love immediately flooding through Beverly as she had expected. Instead she was just happy everything was over and indifferent about the little bundle in her arms.

Fin proved to be a difficult child. He was clingy and slept only through the night when he was six months old. Neither Beverly nor Coldham had ever thought having a kid was such a live changing event and someone so small could be so demanding. Coldham and Beverly didn't bond with their eldest.

Even if the first pregnancy had been difficult they tried for a second child soon afterwards. When Beverly was expecting Mike everything was different. It was plain sailing. Mike was born two weeks too early, though. He was healthy and weighed 7 lbs 4 oz. He was the perfect infant, self content, smiling a lot and sleeping through when he was six weeks old. While Fin looked like his father, Mike was more looking like his mother.

The third pregnancy hadn't been planned. Beverly's doctor had told her if she was breast feeding the risk of getting pregnant was not very high. He proofed wrong. Beverly told Coldham when the boys were asleep. Coldham was shocked and dismayed. "Have an abortion." was his cold reply. Another kid was going to strain their finances, and Coldham didn't want more as he had made clear to Beverly from the beginning. It wasn't so clear cut for Beverly. She was struggling. Beverly thought about the growing life inside her, and it was nearly impossible for her to think about having the baby aborted. She hoped it might be a little girl. Beverly had dreamed of having a son and a daughter. Beverly also knew she was now barely managing with Mike and Fin. How would she cope with three children under the age of two? Beverly considered going full term and give the kid up for adoption. Being very conscious of her reputation, though, she dismissed it.  She didn't want to cause gossip. Maybe if Beverly gave birth Coldham would accept it... Beverly spent a few sleepless nights before she came to a conclusion.

As hard as it was Beverly decided to go through with the abortion.

The operation itself was short and relatively painless. The emotional distress was much greater. Beverly fell into a dark, black whole for many months. Coldham was understanding and tried to support her. Slowly Beverly returned to her normal self.

Even years later, though, Beverly wished she would have been able to keep the child. She mused what her life would have been like with it and also fantasized about a daughter. For some reason Beverly was convinced the aborted fetus was a girl, even though the abortion had been performed when she was ten weeks pregnant and the sex couldn't be determined, because the sexual organs only develop after the first trimester.

When Fin drove her mad or caused Beverly grief she fervently wished she had never had him or could exchange him with the baby that never was, believing it would have been a perfect addition to the family like Mike was.
Beverly came to the conclusion, if she had fallen pregnant a few years later Coldham and she would have made a different decision.


Beverly regretted her decision and would have changed it if she would have been able to turn back time.


©2013

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

The Fusion Bar & Restaurant Florence, Italy

On the last evening of our stay at the Gallery Hotel Art in Florence, Italy we went to the Fusion Bar & Restaurant, located on the ground floor of the hotel.

The interior was contemporary and airy. There is also an outdoor terrace with plush sofas in earth colors and dark wooden tables.

The music in the background was upbeat.

The bar is the center piece, where guests can also enjoy the drinks and watch cocktails being made. The rest of the space is set up restaurant style.

We were warmly welcomed and handed the bar menu. We not only wanted a cocktail - we also were looking for dinner, so we asked for the restaurant menu.

We had a large bottle of still water, two Violetta Valery cocktails with Stolichnaya vodka and Francacorta Bellavista Cuvee, salmon fillet with green beans, tortellini with burrata cheese, Italian sausage and fennel and strawberries with goat’s cheese mousse.

With the cocktails came wasabi peas and other nice snacks. The presentation was unusual. The Violetta Valerys came in their own cooler - another glass filled with crushed ice and a lime. It looked stylish and the drinks tasted devilishly good.

We loved our main courses too. Everything was very upscale and delicious.

The dessert was interesting. The strawberries were marinated in balsamic vinegar. The mousse was velvety and creamy. It wasn't sweet at all and a great finish to a fantastic meal.

The service was unobtrusive and there when we needed it. We had an enjoyable evening.

The cost was 78 Euro (ca. 105.30 USD).

Only remembering the fine cuisine and drinks makes me drool and I'd love to go back immediately.

©2013