Anxiously Waiting....

For many on this side of the Atlantic we are waiting to see what Florence (the Hurricane) will bring; in this household we are anxiously awaiting the results of Isabella's MRI scan from last week-end. For the past 10 years (except for last May, which took us by surprise) I have reached out to the medical team on Monday for a preliminary reading. It has been an easier way for us to share the information with Isabella, prior to the meeting with the doctors, usually on a Thursday. However, Isabella is an independent young lady and did not want to be distracted by the news until we could discuss treatment needs and options with the doctors. So we will see what they say tomorrow.

Rooftop view of July 14 fireworks in Paris

Supporting France for World Cup final

Despite this rather anxious past week or so of waiting and wondering whether Isabella will have to restart some form of treatment, Isabella, Matilde and I had a lovely summer. Gregorio, sadly was bogged down with work and did not really get a holiday. He had to change his flights multiple times and only spent a week, much to the disappointment of many, with us in Italy.

Isabella had the most amazing month in July. Navigating her
way around London, Brussels, Paris and Rome. She saw friends and family along the way, showed great maturity and independence and had a truly memorable time. She was in Paris for July 14th, followed by France winning the World Cup

Afternoon tea at Le Meurice

Floating pineapple in Mallorca

football, which looked like an unforgettable week-end to be there. Given all Isabella has been through and how hard she worked this past academic year, we had wanted her to enjoy this summer and it would appear she did! From Rome, she enjoyed
a week's sailing camp, reconnecting with friends she met last year, picking up Roman dialect and teenage slang. Meanwhile Mati flew solo across the country and enjoyed a week at the beach, learning to surf with a friend in California. This was followed by a lot of swimming in her summer swim league back in DC.

Mati and I had a few days in Mallorca with my father enjoying tapas
and seafood galore before rendez-vous-ing with Isabella and the Italian grandparents at the end of July. We had a lovely couple of weeks in the mountains, revisiting the usual haunts, hiking,

picnicking, mushroom hunting, gelato tasting galore and generally spending time with family, including cousins and friends from Belgium and UK. For us girls it was a very relaxing couple of weeks. For Gregorio it was another
story. Even when he did arrive, the internet proved too slow in the foothills of the alps and he was forced to decamp to a business hotel in Turin for a few days. We did have five lovely days in Tuscany just the four of us and considered whether the dream of retirement in Italy is worth pursuing...watch this space!

We concluded our European (can still say that) tour with five days in London. I mainly worked from the kitchen table in Clapham while the girls jetted around London with their dear old friends. It was very pleasing to see how independent and "at home" they are in the big smoke. We did manage to see family and even catch up with my dear godmother, whom I had not seen since my wedding! A lovely couple of days. While we were in London the girls received their IGCSE results. Allow me to indulge in a proud mother moment here. Much to Mati's relief (and Gregorio's pleasure) she gained an A* in Italian. While Isabella did amazingly, gaining 9 A* and 3 A. Brilliant. Very proud of our girls.

Exams results received, the holiday was basically over and it was back to reality. Straight back to DC and into school where the whirlwind of the new academic year began. We are slowly catching our breathe and getting back into the routine.

Back to School. No uniform for Bella!

Needless to say we will update you with news on the MRI result.

Lots of love
Emma & co xxx