Days 15-19

This past weekend (long weekend) has been spent on a boat around the island of Ponza. A sailing boat for that matter, something I've never done before. It was so beautiful but tiring- we went with another family with two small children, and for future notes, a weekend on a boat with four kids 5 and under is not a relaxing experience unless they are off somewhere or asleep!
We left on Thursday night for the harbour, and it was midnight or later by the time everyone and everything was sorted on board and the kids had been put in bed, and I was getting very frustrated because I couldn't go to bed until everyone was done due to the fact that I was on a sofa bed. I didn't sleep too well either because of G's snoring and cries for "mama" and "atte" (milk), and then we set off at 6:30am. Now, I don't think I've ever been sea sick before, but let's just say combination of tiredness, hunger and a choppy sea definitely didn't agree with me, and I was very glad when we stopped!
I spent the rest of the weekend swimming and sleeping and making sure no child fell overboard. The fish were such a beautiful blue, as was the sea, even when the sun wasn't shining! And I'm not saying the sea was warm by any standards, but in comparison to the sea at home, it was like salty bathwater that had been left for a while (that makes it sound disgusting doesn't it?). I swum to shore one time and back again, making me feel like I should definitely start swimming regularly again, I was out of breath when I got back.. G also took F and me out on the smaller boat to do some exploring and to let F let off steam and steer a boat by himself - the joy on his face was adorable! We spent an hour or so on Saturday night walking along the main street in Ponza, and yes, it was lovely, but I wasn't feeling it at that moment in time; I think I'd like to go back when I'm not exhausted and don't have children to watch!
The journey back was uneventful, unless you count sleeping and reading as eventful, and I've come to the conclusion that I don't really see the point in sailing as a pass time, especially when the boat has a perfectly functional motor!
One of B's previous au pairs arrived on Sunday night to stay for a couple of days, and we stayed up talking until the wee hours and then spent yesterday morning doing the same but around the streets. After a lunch of salad we headed off for the tram and then the bus to get to F and M's school to accompany them and B to the pool. F did not want to swim and made a right scene, and M did the same, but over how I was showering her. When we got back though, I was in full efficiency mode, powering through cooking and meal time (I made my first boiled eggs, and F loved it!!! He's super fussy..!) and this carried on until after the rest of us had eaten.
Me and the girls (Maddie and Clare) went to a late night shop sale, and there were moments where it was like we were in a super cheesy film! For example, Clare and I were running through the metro station laughing like loonies just because we could, and getting ridiculously lost both in the station and on the other side - I'd hoped that she'd know where we were going, but that wasn't the case! First metro experience was a memorable one because of all of that though! We arrived so late, but turning up at the door and being able to say that yes, we were on the guest list was rather surreal. It took a while to find Maddie in amongst the mayhem, but when we did, she took us to the back room where everything was 15€ or less! (I got a pair of shorts and two jumpers for 27€; should have been over 100€ full price!) The food was so, so good as well - Vero (verofood.com) and Cake and the City (find on facebook, the carrot cake was to die for) did the catering. We all had to run back to the metro station afterwards. It closes at 11:30pm and we didn't have enough time to spare chatting! I can safely say I've caught the last train home now though, and been on a guest list, and had gelato at midnight (it had to be done, it was so hot!) and been to a crazy late night shop sale, and it was one of the most mad and most fun nights I've had!