Sun Seekers

Who doesn’t love the sun?

Especially as it’s late October and, although cloudy as I write this, it’s going to be between 15°C and 26°C today. So mustn’t grumble!
But am I here in Modica for the sun and warm temperatures? Well, to be honest here: That’s partially true. Of course. It is, however, just one factor amongst so many others.
Which brings me nicely to the point I’m trying to make: It’s just one factor. Not the only one.

Because there are fellow foreign residents here who are here, it would appear, for only that reason! And, that being so, they may as well be in the Costa del Sol, Côte d’Azur, or Mykonos surely?
I mean: If’n you’re not bothered with the local culture, language, history, events ... or the locals themselves ... then why indeed bother coming to Sicily? You may as well just rent or buy a holiday home, and split your time between here and wherever your ‘there’ is. Because the EU allows any non-EU/EEA national to stay in an EU member state within the Schengen Area for a maximum of 90 days within any 180-day period.
I know several fellow residents who fall into this category. My personal category of: “Why are you even bothering?” Bothering to go through the massive hassle of obtaining residency here, which it indeed is, when you’d clearly rather be there? Except, of course, for the aforementioned sun…
I will not apologise for holding such a view.

‘Crisp’ not ‘Cold’

Talking about the weather: This is our fourth Autumn in Sicily.
Autumn ‘officially’ occurs between September and November. And, as it is my fourth here, I’m now fully aware of all the telltale signs.
One of which is not the fact the clocks went back last Sunday. Nope. It’s more the little things that give it away.

Things like the evenings and early mornings getting ‘crisper’: Not ... exactly ... cold yet, just way cooler (although this could be me being in denial, of course!). Anyway, this occurred between the evening of the 1st October and the morning of the 3rd October.
What also happened on the 1st October, was our car being covered in dew for the first time since last Spring. Then there’s the fact the mirror in our bathroom is now steaming up following my morning shower. Yet another giveaway sign, I’m afraid!
Mustn’t grumble though, as we’ve been uber-spoiled with the weather this year. Here in Europe, September 2023 was the warmest on record: 2.51°C higher than the 1991-2020 average; and 1.1°C higher than 2020, the previous warmest September.
And, although the official stats aren’t out for October as yet, we f’sure went swimming several times this month.
There are other compensations. Most importantly: ‘La vendemmia‘ (‘The wine harvest’) is still ongoing! Then it’s also the month for lemons, chestnuts, pineapple, olives, eggplant, and fennel, amongst so many others.
Plus, I’m still doing my early morning walks in only shorts and a T-shirt!

Enhance Your Calm

‘Peace of mind’ is so a thing!
The Cambridge Dictionary defining this wonderful idiom as: “A feeling of calm or not being worried.”

No cloud-parting revelation...

Unfortunately, it’s f’sure not something that just happens to you one fine day: Like some cloud-parting revelation from above! Nope.
Entirely ironically, it’s something you must strive for. And it’s damned hard work, too. Then again, if’n it was easy, then everybody would obtain this particular state of mind, and the world would be a way better place for it, of course.
I have to admit to harbouring discontent and dissatisfaction when I first arrived in Sicily over three years ago now. Feelings of displeasure and disappointment with the world in general, and my chosen career and the people in it in particular.
Since then, though, I’ve striven manfully each and every day to achieve the ‘nirvana’ that is ‘peace of mind’.
Not through yoga, transcendental meditation, religion … or even alcohol! But through looking at each stress- and/or distress-inducing situation and then (sometimes forcibly!) asking myself: “Is this worth getting stressed or distressed over? Really?” Then, and hopefully, I answer myself with a resounding “Nah! It’ll be fine…” and move on with living and my life.
My wife, bless her, f’sure aids me in my valiant effort here. Always reminding me I shouldn’t get so upset or ‘shouty’ about this-or-that thing.
Or maybe I should be striving to believe that other great idiom, the one from New Zealand, that states: “She’ll be right…!”

More Soon...