Off to Rome on Monday

Wilf the Polish Lowland Sheepdog - A study in contentment.

Two Polish Lowland Sheepdogs and the angry policeman

London has been hit by heavy snow again. The first flight out from Heathrow to Rome was delayed by nearly two hours and the next one was cancelled. I should be thankful I made it out yesterday.

Driving into town today I was flagged down by the carabinieri at a check point for a routine insurance check. After pulling over I unbuckled my belt and lowered the window - this drove the policeman mad. He shouted at the top of his lungs and banged his fist full force on the roof to let me know that I was not to undo my seatbelt before he had instructed me to do so ! The thumping on the roof and the screaming got the boyz barking wildly in the back of the car which didn't relieve the tension.

The police are usually quite polite but I guess there are bad apples in every barrel. Was thankful he didn't use force and pull me out of the car . Nonetheless quite upset by the display of raw anger- not what you would find in France or the UK.Thankfully the documentation was in order and the car recently serviced so he wasn't able to vent his spleen on me for more than ten minutes. After driving off I spoke to my lawyer in Rome on the telephone and he advised me that the best thing when pulled over here is simply keep as still and quiet as possible - the concept of citizens rights is not recognized here.

Washed the boys when I got home and they are now their once a month sparkling white which will last for all of 24 hours.

Snow in London, Heathrow by 5.00 am and two twenty kilo bundles of fluff.

Why I booked myself on the first flight from London to Rome at 7.30 this morning I can't for the life of me explain -particularly as there was a second flight at a much more reasonable 10.30. As heavy snow was forecast overnight it meant getting up at 4.00 and leaping in a cab from the hotel by 5.00 at the latest if I was to play safe and make it to the airport in time. Naturally, I was awake on the hour,every hour,all through the night looking out of the window and checking on the weather to see if there would be a replay of the storms that closed London down totally earlier in the week. The end result was that I got to the airport after a sleepless night at 5.00 and had two and a half hours to wait in the terminal- the roads were clear and deserted so the cab sailed straight through,I was the first at security and the flight was of course on time to the minute.

Was greeted by two twenty kilo bundles of fluff when I got home. Is there anything to match the enthusiasm , undiluted happiness and devotion of dogs when their family is reunited? The look on Wilfs face in the second photo says it all.

Wilf failing to share the new toy with his brother.

British Airways say on their website tonight that flights should be getting back to normal tomorrow. Nothing left Heathrow for Rome today because of the snow which closed the airport. Whatever,I've checked myself in on-line , resigned myself in advance to long delays and will take a book to read in the lounge. The weather here has been changeable after the glories of yesterday - late this afternoon the clouds started to build up and have now covered most of the sky.

On the motorway to the shops this morning I saw three motorists reading their papers while driving at high speed. One of them in a very fancy Audi had the paper out over the wheel, the mobile phone to one ear and was steering with a cigarette between his fingers with the remaining 'free hand'. Perhaps after I've been here ten years my northern sense of order will evaporate and I won't find Italian driving infuriating.