Town Hall photo for local paper With Mme Kistner, after winning a piano competition. This was a good evening. I played Beethoven's Appassionata, Khachaturian's Toccata, and Rachmaninov's Prelude in D. I have always enjoyed the performance side of music, in addition to teaching. The adrenaline surge was quite exhilarating for me, though it drove my mother crazy. It seemed that during these nervous times I would be most prone to accidents, and she was probably more nervous than I was. As a result I have played with plasters on much-needed fingers, bandages on my right (pedal) foot, and many bouts of flu. So I guess Mum had good reason to get a bit insufferable now and then!

I have many interests which are shared by Gerardo as well, including reading, gardening, photography, computer, chess, cards, dining out, and walking. I enjoy art and creating artistic things such as special cards or a painting. It's a satisfying feeling to be able to share this skill with my young granddaughter who is also adept in this area. When she comes to stay I try to have a little project ready for her to do.

	I have three adult daughters and two grandchildren. Motherhood has been an 'interesting' journey for me, full of ups and downs as is usual for most other people. I don't suppose one ever stops being a mother even after all the 'training' has eventually eased off.

	I just love 'our garden'. It's quite small but so pretty and I have become a great fan of small solar lights which are dotted in various parts of the garden. We love the peace of it all, whether we're sitting outside having a meal, watching Gerardo's birds on the lawn, or just passing some time putting in new plants. It's our haven.

I have quite a number of 'favourite things'. One of them is good poetry. Gerardo read me an Italian poem during his first visit, and it nearly had me in tears. It's called "LA CAVALLA STORNA" by Giovanni Pascoli. (Translation to come). History is another passion of mine and I have often visited places mentioned in books. It's like going back in time and I love it. A very meaningful place was the site of Ancient Sarum, taken from Edward Rutherfurd's book entitled 'SARUM'. It is in the area of Salisbury and Stonehenge in the UK, and the remains of this civilisation are very evident. It's so fascinating. How the masons built that cathedral and others like it is beyond me, yet inside there is a wonderful model of daily life of the construction crew which does give one an insight. However, it isn't something which can be absorbed in a short visit!!