Promessa

I'm still here, still alive and well but so, so busy. I work 6 days a week, spend the majority of my free time playing with bel bambino, and the other random free moments are spent planning our wedding which is only 7 weeks away! So much to do still!

We made our promessa on Saturday...I almost didn't make it, what with the Giro D'Italia (the national bike race) taking place without my knowledge and blocking my roads home, forcing me to cry like a lunatic in front of the carabinieri, befriending some locals who half escorted me through the Calabrian mountains until finally, finally I got home, thanks to an old man that is who thankfully was wandering the mountains and was able to tell me I was driving in the wrong direction and had to turn back.

So, with hair still wet and a blood shot eye from having had a way too fast shower I made it to the comune and promised myself to my bel fidanzato. The promessa is done in the church and the town hall (the church only if you then intend to marry in the church.) You have to sign legal documents saying you are both free to marry, and that within 6 months you will marry. I hope we can marry within 6 months, in 7 weeks to be precise...it depends on my mother really. Whilst we had the church promessa Friday night, the priest casually let slip that I needed a freedom of marriage certificate signed by the bishop....What?!!! He forgot to tell me earlier. Yeah, thanks buddy. I knew I had to get copies of my baptism and confirmation certificate and mum had taken care of that, but what on earth is this freedom to marry thing. I don't live in Australia, I haven't lived there for about 9 years and my mum's parish priest doesn't even know me so how am I to get this document... As the Italians say boh!