Life without the internet

48 hours without the internet and life grinds to a halt, making you dependent in internet cafés and friends.

To all my British friends who think BT is dreadful I advise you to live a while with Telecom Italia. When for no apparent reason service simply disappears they order you not to call back again for four days. If you do they say 'But you just called last Wednesday!' as if internet access were a gift you should be thankful for, rather than something for which you have paid. It is the policy not to let you know what is wrong so you just have to sit there fuming.

Dreadful.

The 'phones

We have been constantly reminded that it is the 40th anniversary of the first moon landing, but it is worth thinking about that it is also the 40th anniversary of President Nixon talking to the astronauts on the telephone. He clearly wasn't using Telecom Italia equipment. The 'phones here have been out for the second time in 2 months. As I said to a new expat recently, the best thing is to assume that the 'phones aren't going to work when it's raining, and occasionally you may be pleasantly surprised.

Back up and running now, however.