Family and friends were far away and yet because of the internet The Earl and Lady Helen still felt cared for because of the constant flow of messages by email, on Facebook and Whatsapp.  Lady Helen was grateful for the instant contact she had with friends and family because of the miracle of modern technology.  She had calls from her darling aunt in Australia, her best friend since childhood in England, her closest friend in South Africa, her beloved sister and brothers in Cape Town and England and as well as from a friend she hadn’t seen for years from Tenerife to mention but a few.  How could she not cope with all the positive vibes been sent into the ether from all the Facebook messages from almost everyone she knew.   A niece in Spain offered to do whatever she could.  A nephew on a yacht anchored in the bay at Salerno messaged to say he wished he could come ashore to give her hug but unfortunately was on duty and moving off the next day – but it was the thought that counted! And of course there were the messages and calls from the kids and grandkids that really cheered the old man up.

At the end of each day since checking into San Leonardo’s Hospital Hotel  Lady Helen was exhausted and content to return to her single room and enjoy her simple supper, chat online to one friend or another, write a daily email to close friends and family and then drop into bed.  Yes she spoke to the other guests – all Italian – but the conversation was stilted. Then one evening while waiting to ask the receptionist for some change to put into the coffee machine, she realised that her Italian neighbour was checking in someone from Ireland.  Her neighbour’s father was in the cardiac ward and his girlfriend had just arrived to share a room with Paula.   L.H. was delighted to make contact with another English speaker and the two soon became friends.

4 September 2016

As The Earl was so much better there was very little L.H. needed to actually do for him.   So she started going to the hospital a tad later.  She went to the cafe for breakfast the day after she met Patricia and got a take away coffee for The Earl and stayed with him until lunch time. Then she went to the canteen for her own lunch.  Patricia was there and joined her at her table.  She told her about her partner, Mimo who was on the 6th floor after a triple bypass and would be coming down to rehab on Monday or Tuesday.   He and The Earl would meet – he spoke English so The Earl would have someone to talk to other than Her Ladyship. Mimo’s daughter with whom she was sharing a room had gone to Naples for the day.  It was great having somebody to chat to in English!  After lunch they went to visit their respective partners.

At about 4 L.H. decided she needed some air so left The Earl and went in search of Arechie’s sea front.  She’d asked about a beach but the nurses didn’t seem to think there was one.  But there must at least be a harbour because she could see boats from the hospital window. Well she followed her nose and crossed over several streets until she came to the Arechie’s soccer stadium, crossed another busy road in front of that and then saw some people with beach towels and picnic hampers who must have been coming from some sort of swimming area.   She said, “Buon Giorno, Dove spiaggia?”  Good Day – where is the beach?”

“Marina Ingresso ci, ” They pointed down the road in the opposite direction to where she was heading.   So she made her way there and passed through a gate and after crossing a car park and following a walkway next to the road she came upon a rather lovely little beach.  It had lounges and umbrellas and a little gelateria where you could sit and order refreshments if you wished.  Okay so the sand was black – but it was a beach at last!   She then took a walk down the promenade and took photos of the boats.  There was a river next to the marina too.

The Marina Beach

The River

Lots and lots of yachts

It took her about 15 minutes to walk to this place and it was another 15 back and even at 5 o’clock it was hot.  So she had a shower when she got back and then went back to see The Earl.  He wanted a gelato but the cafe was closed so she got him a Kitkat from the dispensing machine instead.  Very naughty for a man with a heart complaint!

She met Patricia going up in the lift and the latter suggested they go for a drink after visiting.   There was a tiny bar very close to the hospital and when they got there at about quarter to nine they were the only two patrons.  It was after all a Sunday.   L.H. was surprised it was open at all.   It seems that they don’t have laws against serving alcohol on Sundays or after certain hours – but often places are just closed on Sundays.

The lovely thing about having a glass of wine in such a place is that you get complimentary snacks too – and it’s all you need if you’ve had a main meal at lunchtime.

They had a rather nice Italian sausage – almost like salami but with a nice chili bite to it, some cheese and bread with Avo and some other spread.  All rather delicious.

It was really lovely to have this “girls’ night out” with a very interesting Irish lass.   After two glasses of wine each and learning a great deal about each other they made their way back to their spartan rooms!