Difficult times..

In Sweden... where I went to install my mother into a care home- a decision  that had been arrived at by my brothers, myself  and my step father Gillis's children. She is 91, he is 96 now, and had been taking care of her, but it had become obvious to all that she was in need of more intensive care and that he was also becoming in need of some attention. But how sad and how humiliating to have to step in and take over, against the wishes of this old couple...

I was of course seen as the evil one, trying to split them up.  It is not a memory I will cherish. My mother does not recognize me. When I left finally, having moved her into her new abode, she was quite happy, having made new friends amongst the other 'inmates' living at the home, and feeling she had met many new and interesting people... Gillis was in a mood of acceptance, and the farewell was peaceful. the idea is that they will move in to an  assisted flat together once one has been found...

I went through the beautiful Swedish winter landscape by train to Stockholm where I met up with my dear friend Eva, who was such a great feature of my life in Mali during my last five years there, as she was the Swedish Ambassador. A great gourmet and a gourmand, she did not disappoint, but provided, as she is wont, a great dinner for me on my arrival. 

And back in Siena things are now finally moving... today my VASCA arrived. Noone in Italy has baths anymore. Everyone has thrown them out in favour of slick and fashionable shower units. But I have to have my bath... where I will lie looking at the Torre del Mangia..

and the rest is finally taking shape.. The ceiling will remain unpainted, just like this:

and this is the space where the dining room table will go, and behind the white wall the kitchen...

A presto! 

Terremoti!

                                                             

I wonder if  the word 'Terrified' somehow comes from this word above? It certainly is terrifying to live through what has been called a 'swarm of earthquakes or tremors. I know it does not compare to anything that happened in Turkey- the biggest one we had was 'only' 3.5, on Wednesday evening, just as I was enjoying a ZOOM call with my London and Berlin short story group. 

Having finished discussing the short story- the Sandman, by Hoffman- we started talking about the earthquake in Turkey, and then went on to reminisce about various earth quake experiences we have had personally, when suddenly it felt like a ten tonne truck had just smashed into my building! 

' i think we are having an earthquake' I said, and they laughed... somewhat uneasily, probably feeling it was a joke in bad taste. 

That was the biggest one, and the beginning of a few nightmarish days here which are not over yet. I might  have to get out quickly, so writing this in haste... 

(there is a good app here , which shows all the earthquakes around the world as they happen: http://terremoti.ingv.it/)

The first one has been followed by many many tremors; at first every half an hour or so, and now less frequently, but it is all totally unpredictable, and that is really the worst thing. Ones home, the place of security and peace, has become the place of danger..! This is highly unusual in Siena, not really normally a high risk area for earth quakes. The last recorded incidents of this importance were in the 1950s. Therefore the Senese are unused to it, and it has caused real fear in the city. 

People at first congregated at the Piazza del Campo at night, wrapped in blankets and some in their slippers. Some people slept in their cars that first night. I am now dog sitting for Hettie again who has gone to Canada for a week, so I couldn't leave even if I wanted to! Many have left to city,  the schools and the university, as well as Museums etc have been closed, but  normal shops, hairdressers, the banks etc have remained open. 

Although there has been no real damage to people or buildings, this is no joke. 

There was another at 2.5 about half an hour ago... I will stop now, going into the Chianti countryside this afternoon with my friend Lisa in her car... speak soon..