That's where we're from. Or something like that, it probably symbolizes it or some other such nonsense. We had an interview to work with these
guys today and we won't know if we have got the job for another couple of weeks, but a couple of their questions really drove home the fact that we're finally leaving and there's no going back. Do you have a mortgage or do you pay rent? We pay rent, and have already handed in our notice to our landlord, and we've done the same to our bosses at work, and we are genuinely sitting here like lemons with no job and no other plans, please employ us because no-one else would be daft enough to...

The guys interviewing us know a lot about Italy, and after the interview we asked them a couple of questions relating to our plan to walk down the country. Apparently it'll probably take about six months, the locals won't even know the best way to get to the next village and at some point at least the weather will be hell. There was yet further terror for the unprepared as we were almost gleefully informed that most maps in Italy were of absolutely no use whatsoever, and I got the impression that getting from A to B was more like a boxing match than a work of artistic navigation.

Thinking about it you probably don't want artistic navigators, but that's not the point.

I'm still looking forward to it!

There's more after the page break if you can stand it!

...There was a job and a flat and a stereo and a guitar and a lovely sauté pan.

That's where I am now. Julia came in half an hour ago in blind worry about missing her flowing yellow dress and french connection jacket. I think it's finally bedding in for her that we're getting ready to be on the off.

I, on the other hand, am busy compiling precise weight tables of what we're going to carry with us.

By the way, if you don't know - we plan to walk down Italy, all on foot, from the Alps to the straits of Messina for no better reason than why mountaineers climb. Although Julia still insists it's for the ice cream.

...Read more after the page break...