9/12/2022
My dear Mutsumi,
I have met with my sister Laura yesterday so I had the chance to give to Denise (her daughter) the presents you sent: Denise accepted the presents GREEDILY!
I had left the bag on the table thinking to show the presents later (together with some snacks I bought in Japan to share with them) but she went directly to see inside the bag. There was also the bag for Margherita and Gioele (the sons of my brother Enrico) and she dived also inside that bag. I also think that she would "choose" something also in that bag for herself, so I have put the bag in another place.
She was happy. I really think also because of the thought you had for her. She is a girl that really needs attentions (she doesn't have many relatives who give her something: my brother doesn't have that thoughts and I give something in money at the main festivities. Her father relatives are far or not really present).
By the way, the socks were in the right size. When she saw them, I have told her "It might be they are too small for you... in case we can pass them to Margherita". She answered "I have a small feet... these are perfect for me!". (Actually she is still quite small for her age...). She disappeared. She returned and showed me the socks on her feet. She was happy!
About the other presents, it is a while I don't see my brother (even though we still comunicate through messages) because he and his family have ideas that for me are hard to share (but I don't say anything about it). The problem this time has started when he asked me some favors: they have choose to send their children to private schools and since they don't have relatives living nearby and the schools are far from where they live, my brother has problems to match the needs for his job and picking up the children to school. So sometimes he asks me to pick up the children from school, pass the afternoon with them, stay with them when sick or babysitting when they have some meeting, also the evening. For December he wanted too much help and I have told him that even though I am a free lance, I need to work, I have my targets in life, I am not a babysitter and since when I am helping them with their children I lose days of work, it is not fair I have to lose money for their ideas that I don't share while they still earn money (I am not rancorous but they had abandoned me just after my mother died and we divorced. If I had had problem to find food to eat, it was better not to call them). So, I hope that having been so clear and sincere with my brother, will not cut again the relationship. So, I hope soon I can give them the presents you gave me for them. By the way, I was telling my sister this situation, and she confessed that she argued with my brother too: Wednesday when my brother discovered that my sister and her family were just arrived from Milan for the weekend in Tarcento (we have a long week end these day here), he took the chance to dump his children to her and she discovered that they had still to have lunch at 2 pm. We are quite worried. I have helped sincerely my brother, but I have my problems and I have to find out the money for your trip in Italy. I cannot lose time.
So, finally arriving at the trip!
I have checked many options. Given the fact buying a one round ticket from Japan is quite expensive, I had the idea to buy only one way tickets (arriving and leaving in different airports in Italy) so we don't have to buy internal flights.
My priority was, anyway to find flights not so long and tiring and allowing you to see at least something given the fact you can have few days of vacation.
My first idea was to choose Rome so we could pass to Florence, to Venice and arriving at my region, but the flights are really too long and are not so cheap (at least at the moment, in the next weeks things could change).
Then I checked Firenze airport, but things are quite worst.
Then I checked directly Venice. The situation were better, both for the flight lengths and the prices, but if we want to see the Uffizi in Firenze, logistically the situation isn't favorable.
So I thought Milan. One way ticket good for price and length. So with 3 hours or less we can be in Firenze. From Firenze go to Venice (in my opinion for a short trip since it si close to where i live and we can return often in the next trips that hopefully I can afford and you will allow). From Venice either with a rented car or with train, we reach my house in Tarcento. Then, returning to Venice and leaving from Airport of Venice. Depending on the ticket I can find, another option is leaving from the Trieste Airport. The plus in this option is that my sister told me that she is available to pick up us at the airport, so go to sleep or to rest somewhere and recover from the long trip before leaving to Firenze. My sister was asking me to tell her when was planned your arrival so she could come in Tarcento on time and meet you. So I comunicated her that at the moment in my opinion the best solution is Milan and she offered her availability. Clearly after we will meet her in Tarcento were she has her own house.
I haven't abandoned the idea to start from Rome and then arriving in Venice. But for the moment I have found this option. In the next months based on your opinions and the option you give me about the days you will be here in Italy, I will keep checking the best possible solutions.
I have to go!
Take care!
Bye!
Andrea
P.S. I often think about your health condition... I remember at the park that after lunch you mentioned your problem at the stomach. But I really don't know how to deepen the topic. One day, if you feel like, tell me about you and your worries, I will be always ready to listen you.
