13 or 15 students and three teachers in the classroom. Not bad, not bad at all. Every year there is an apsiring teacher exam given by the state for those who have gotten their degree and additional teacher training to get a teaching position. A couple of years ago something happened * cloudy on Italian politics in this particular matter * and it was announced there were no positions to be filled. Yet all of these people had taken the state exam and passed. They wanted jobs (of course). So now Kiddo has three teachers.

The morning drill - enter school, wait in big staging area with The Herd. In The Herd there is no concept of personal space. I can't stand having somebody's hair on me. I scooch away and the hairy herd member oozes into the space I was previously occupying and their hair approaches once again. Yick. The teachers appear at the top of the steps leading to the stairs to go up to the classrooms. The Herd is talking. The teacher is talking. I can't lip read. Neither can other people which makes them yell for everybody to be quiet. The Herd gets pissed that somebody is telling them to be quiet which makes them even louder. One of Kiddo's teachers appears, it is time to make our way thru The Herd, so she can get in line with her classmates.

Permesso! Nothing. No parting of The Herd. EXCUSE ME (loud English always works), a member turns, stunned that there are actually people behind her that need to move in front, it's a domino type thing. Other stunned members turn, What? Oh. I'm acting like an ass? They scooch an inch. We squeeze and bump our way to the stairs, I get a kiss on the cheek and off she goes happy as a clam. I get to bump and squeeze myself out of The Herd.

Exit the school with eyes watering from the perfume fumes I make my way thru the auxillary herd standing on the stairs. You know, the ones right outside the door. Same stunned omg somebody has to move past me look. I flee in search of a caffe' freddo and cornetto. When school gets out it's lather, rinse and repeat.

I've stocked up on allergy relief meds. I'm doubt it is possible to build up a resistence to perfume overload. Woe is me with the hypersensitive schnozz eh. I keep having to tell myself it could be worse.

Thank you all for the wonderful Very Special Things feedback. Bezzie asked " Did you use part of the wardrobe to line them?" in regards to the first handspun set I'd made. I had used a leg from a pair of The Man's pants to line the handspun silk basket (hate having to go buy lining fabric if I have something that can be repurposed in the casa). Bezzie, to answer your question - the fabric isn't wardrobe. I'd picked up a huge 3 meter by 3 meter piece to make a new set of curtains for Kiddos room back in May. The curtains never got made. Kiddo informed me she wanted to keep her striped orange and pink curtains. No problem, I washed them and they have been waiting to be put back up in her room, since May, that is. The fabric was doled out to make Babswear, sometimes it was used to make a tent. I thought perhaps I'd use it to make a duvet cover for Kiddo's blanket that has feathers that tend to wiggle their way out. Then some of it was used to make "fashion". Kiddo with a box of buttons, scissors, needle and thread has spent hours creating "fashion" for herself. If I stop using it for lining (I dig the limey-yellow with big purple flowers and butterflies) I just might have enough for one side of a duvet cover now. I still have a couple months before it is piumino weather, will have to pick up more fabric, or dig around The Man's closet a bit more :)

Off to fondle a bit o yarn.

UPDATE: Just as I'd hit publish the postman rang. With not one but two somethings for me. First was a big form from the dogana (customs office) wanting my ID and reason for importing blah blah blah. Dear SpinnySP of mine, the package you sent is in the country. How the customs office picks and chooses what it shall hold for ransom will never cease to confound me. I shall fax off their form and post a lookout for the postino's return.

What was actually delivered: an envelope of fluffy love from Sarah.

I give up. Sheep can be fab. There, I said it. Happy?!

Along with some indigo crystals and merino she sent along a sampler of fibers.

How neat is that? Animals that live a few miles up the road from her! Some locks, a bit of superwash merino (wow that feels weird) and a wpi gauge tool (how'd you know I was going to try to make one) and merino for our PHart Yarn projects.

That Sarah makes for an excellent co-plotter :D The biggest surprise, she sent a hank of her gorgeous wool/silk handspun.

Lovely.
Mille Grazie!
Can't wait to play!