Here are my answers to this weeks Questions from Cee’s Share Your World

Complete this sentence: I want to learn more about …

I want to learn more about lots of things.  You’re never too old to gain new knowledge.  It’s just that learning new skills is perhaps a bit harder?  I don’t know – I actually have more time to read and also I’m less stressed about getting it right because it’s for my pleasure and not with any particular aim in mind.  I have been learning Italian for a year now and my husband points out that I still can’t speak it!   My response is that I know more words that he does! Perhaps I can’t quite have a conversation yet but I’m really enjoying the process.   My app tells me I’m 45% fluent in Italian.  Three months ago I was 23 % fluent so some progress has been made!

I’ve never been too good at gardening – I tend to kill my plants but I am learning more about how to do it correctly now in my old age.    The internet really helps with researching how to care for what I’ve planted.  I am having great fun with my new hobby.

On a vacation what you would require in any place that you sleep?

Usually when I’m on vacation it’s in a caravan and in it I have everything I need.  When travelling abroad I just want a comfortable bed, shampoo and soap in the bathroom and the facility must be clean.  It doesn’t have to be luxurious because I’m not going to spend much time there – I’ll be out exploring and I’ll just need a place to rest my weary head at the end of the day.

As regular readers of my blog will know, my husband was hospitalised in Italy last year.  I stayed in the hostel nearby and all I had was a tiny room with a narrow single bed. But it was clean and I had my own shower.  It was also very cheap!   What a great idea to have accommodation for families of patients.

Bed I slept in for three weeks in Italy

What is your greatest extravagance?

I’m not too sure how to answer this one. The dictionary defines extravagance as lacking restraint in spending money or using resources.   I honestly don’t think I lack restraint but in the eyes of some, things I spend money on, may seem extravagant.   For example – we go out to eat breakfast at least twice a week.  We also eat dinner out from time to time but not as often as when we lived in Cape Town.   Another extravagance is having my nails done professionally twice a month.    There are many other luxuries that I enjoy – so yes, perhaps I am extravagant!

What inspired you this past week?  Feel free to use a quote, a photo, a story, or even a combination. 

The Western Cape is a winter-rainfall area but this winter has been very dry.  This has affected not only the human population but the animals and birds too.  I was inspired when I saw this little bird taking pleasure in a puddle of water on the side of a dirt road – the only water for miles around and he found it!

Three-banded plover enjoying his great find – a puddle on the side of the road.