When in Rome....Well Volturri

I arrived in Italy shortly after ten in the morning. The sun was beating down and having had a flight full of glorious smelling humans, in a seat next door to a surfer who could not stop saying the word "dude" (what an earth is a dude anyway?), I felt the familiar tight knot in my stomach. Having quickly put on my helmet and collect my bike I made way for the Villa deep in the Tuscan hills, a tucked away reclusive spot, breathtakingly beautiful and so different to my own home. My nervousness quickly dissipated with the ease of our hostess, Ren. How one person can exude such warmth and hospitality is quite beyond me, I watched in awe as Corin and Mary spoke in whispers on the couch, San played teasingly with Ren's hair in the lounge room. I automatically felt part of the family. Before I knew it I was staying for the Summer. I was glad Siobhan and Maggie had arrived before me, I sensed straight away that Maggie needed to talk, so we made our excuses and headed to the music room to the harp I had sent on. Oh, and we talked about everything and nothing, loosing hours. Donna joined us later and talking to the shy, yet self assured rebel put me strangely at ease. As soon as Scarlett arrived, then we knew there would be trouble! So strange to me who before now had been reclusive and untrusting to be comfortable in the tumult of Italy!

Saturday evening was extremely entertaining. We raced. Firstly we had a car race, Santiago, Renata, Siobhan and Corin and their multi million pound collection of cars. Fascinated I watched as the cars flew into action around me, thrilling me, adrenalin coursing through me in the first time in what seems like an eon. Renata won, which cost me my college fund, I had bet on Siobhan. Now penniless, my nerves were ten fold! We were up next.

I had met the mysterious Felix once before but was unsure of how to take him. He's monosyllabic, but something about him makes me smile, mostly because he makes Maggie come alive. Maggie, Felix and I raced on our bikes. I must say I did cheat a little, a man cannot help but be distracted from a girl in a good fitting pair of Versace's. I'm sure he felt quite uncomfortable between Maggie and I. Thankfully I won, ending the race with more money than I had ever seen in my lifetime. Gladly, Santiago and I went on the hunt for a car with a portion of it. He is adamant that I am not allowed to see his choice until he is ready to unveil it. I just hope that it's not pink and not a porsche!

The Easter egg hunt was intriguing, organised by the Athendora, the wife of the elder Caius, as many questions have been raised in my head since arriving in Italy. I feel at home here, three days, I know what lunacy! Do I join the guard? Should I even contemplate it and break the heart of my mother? I talked at length to Corin who allowed me to patrol the borders with him last night.I shall take my time, and enjoy it. Shame there were no chocolate covered rugby players hidden in Volterra.....I was quite hungry.