If you still want to see some (a lot!) of archaeology, but escape from the excesses of Rome, I can recommend Ostia Antica, a shortish train ride from Roma Porta S. Paolo station. It's like Pompeii, but less busy.
Lots of description and pics on the Wikipedia page:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ostia_A...
Out of the third floor, onto not a balcony?
Nice.
That was a quick, fast, easy block of an account.
It's a very old school Pizzeria: it did, and it's still a great place.
And, hey, a new cocktail, at their suggestion.
A sort of Negroni: Lots of ice, equal quantities of gin, Aperol and a sweet-ish vermouth (Lillet, in our case).
We had this in an Italian restaurant that had run out of Campari the other night, and have since replicated at home: a great success.
Ah, I have applied google translate, this makes sense. Thanks.
While my German stopped at O-Level (I know, it dates me), hers goes on to degree level - many thanks!
"tomato" fondue? Recipe, please!
Overnight trains always suck.
Stop somewhere nice, good meal, decent hotel, pick it up in the morning.
Quite apart from the air fuel crisis, we are looking at doing this from Scotland to Rome, because we like looking out of train windows rather than hanging around airports.
Was it a Greene King pub? This one was.
I've found better ones a little further from the station since!
I had an hour to kill before catching a train out of Carlisle jut before Christmas, and they were playing a Crazy Frog version of Axl F's theme (from Beverley Hills Cop). I was having a really bad day, and that made it worse.
How can I tell if my massive stack of coconuts is off?
I thought that it was borderline.
But unlike China, it doesn't really work when you call it America, because of the continental ambiguity.
"The United States of America", though that really makes sense due to the grammar.
"The Sudan".
Phil and Friends at Terrapin Crossroads, San Rafael CA, December 2014. We were on a pre-Christmas break from Scotland in SF, and got tickets - we had to phone to book!
It was many months later when I was filing the tickets that I noticed the "no cameras!" detail that I missed on the day.
Well, think of it as a last resort offer. He's be by a windswept Outer Hebridean loch, with a bunch of nice hens and a collie who enthusiastically chases off any sparrows that dare to try to steal any of the hens' food!
It's my wife's uncle's croft.
It would be Uig rather than Ullapool, and is still in as a last resort. He's a little reluctant as his last cockerel turned feral and attacked, but we will keep persuading (unless someone more local turns up).
We have another possibility: has hens, not actively looking for another cockerel, but might take as a last resort. Downside: Outer Hebrides.
No, Eurasian Tree Sparrows (Passer Montanus), different plumage from House Sparrow and both sexes look the same.
Note the chestnut cap and also the cheek patch.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurasia...
Also Music Magpie, WOB and Oxfam's online shop. And if you are after anything specific, eBay.
Beautiful pictures.
I love Eltham Palace.
I can think of nowhere that I'd rather live, apart from Ightham Mote.
Time to support the Azzuri in between?
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chapel_...
If you're in the area, this was (many years ago) an atmospheric and worthy visit. It's a long time since I've been. And it is epically old.
If I trust the place, 1.
If not, I'm probably not having steak.
Or they could have done what The Guardian did, and ignore it completely, which tells me a lot about where the Guardian is now.
Thanks - it's not been easy, and will stay horrible for a while, I guess.
And I have nothing really useful for you, I'm afraid, but best wishes to you and your Dad, and I hope that it works out for you the best. And - hang on in there.
Hang on in there, please.
We lost my Dad just before Christmas and I'm a long way from over it, even though time heals. Slowly.
Allister Heath: How the Marxist infiltration of Michael Gove’s shed poisoned the minds of the young
