Sei tu con questi bei calzini!?

("Is that you wearing those beautiful socks")

Can't resist making this my blip today. This late birthday prezzie arrived today from a very special Italian friend (Neapolitan), who we met ca. 14 years ago in Riccione (I wanted to revisit, as I worked there when I was 18 or so).

'A' was working in her cousin's bar where we had our morning cappuccino, and we immediately clicked. She came over stay with us 18 months later and 'never left'. Now married with a handsome caring husband, and a happy fun young son.

We don't even 'celebrate' birthdays, but she is a very generous young lady, and we so appreciate these 2 bottles of good wine, and Limoncello.

Otherwise Storm Bert has vented its fury here. Currently heavy rain and 80kph wind gusts on the coast here. Stayed in all day Mr B watched the Davis Cup tennis . I popped in and out. Italy are the winners. Whereas AFCB Bournemouth lost to Brighton.

Update: Sky News 6 pm. One man died in Hampshire after being hit by a tree. In Donegal, Scotland, streets are severely flooding. And heavy snow continues in places.