The Alphabet

"Great ability develops and reveals itself increasingly with every new assignment." - Baltasar Gracian

Kent. Beautiful green countryside, huge blue skies, a ton of work, and friendly locals. Algeria- check marked and highly recommended! You may be asking yourself if Gattina is now attacking her list of countries alphabetically. Nope, pure coincidence! So lets look over the last few days. I moved here Sunday and I wasn't supposed to meet my boss until the next morning but she arrived just after me at the house. Her children were there as well to see her after the absence so I skipped off to a pub the boy recommended to watch Italia vs. Espania. An aside- I am sitting in the same pub at this moment and it is so cool, a converted opera house! I got to the pub a few minutes early and picked a table in the center to watch my team. A large group of Spaniards took the table in front of me, put up a Spanish flag, and then proceeded to serenade me in Spanish. They were sweet guys and forgave me my allegiance since I am apparently the only girl ever to care about a football match. By halftime, I had several people sitting at my table, mostly from North Africa and speaking French. The Spaniards found this amusing, as did the Brits sitting next to me that were trying to coax me over to the club next door. Oy! Gattina felt so popular but she just wanted to WATCH THE GAME! I have been really into football and rugby of late. Probably fueled by the memory of Reuben, nude, doing the... ahem.
The man immediately to my right at my table was from Algeria. His name is Murad though he goes by an English name here. Tall, lean, and sweet and a master chef to boot! We exchanged numbers, he walked me home while we smoked a spliff, and...
So this morning as I was trying to wake up and get home from his at 5.00, I saw him bending down to get some trainers and thought: 'My gods, he could be Reuben in 10 years!' So will I ever stop comparing/contrasting my lovers with Roo?! -sighs- I am getting ahead of myself again...
The night after we met, I stayed home with my boss and went for 3 very long walks. The last one I did alone so that I could weep in the trees and brambles. I am not healed from the events of the last months and sometimes, it just takes over. Murad and I decided to meet up last night but first I had to cook dinner for my boss, her daughter, and my coworker. She requested risotto and I was happy to oblige. I also collected lettuces from the garden and made a lovely dill/yogurt dressing and fresh croûtons. After, I took off to meet my new friend and we ended up on a little tour of Royal Tunbridge Wells that ended at his and included him stealing me a beautiful red rose on the walk. His flatmate is from Pakistan and we had a lovely discussion on music and poetry but Murad wanted to have me to himself so we went in his room. He was passionate and considerate and fucked me in French. I have only two complaints. Number one: he is circumcised and number two: we broke a condom (not his fault but still a complaint- what's the use of me demanding condom use if they just fail?!). After an energetic and enjoyable shag, he made me an omelet! I am always the cook these days so I had forgotten how sexy good technique with a saute pan can be! I loved watching him cook and passed the time texting Valentina and asking him why everyone in this town knows him. He must be a bad man but he is so darling, I don't mind. He lent me a book and put me in a taxi so that I could get home before anyone else got up. I changed into my running clothes just in the nick and went for an hour long run on the trails. Brill!
I think I will go to London this weekend and bricklayer wants to catch up. He dumped his girlfriend so I dunno since I get the scary feeling he's trying to maneuver into position for a blow job. I texted him this yesterday:
"Single's great- more shags & less shit, but u gotta do protection, sweetie! X"
Guess I should also have told him to by extra-strength!

Vampyres in London

"It is by no means self-evident that human beings are most real when most violently excited; violent physical passions do not in themselves differentiate men from each other, but rather tend to reduce them to the same state." - Thomas Elliot

Before we get to England (Yorkshire to be more specific), I was informed that my comments on Albania were not really comprehensive. Part of this is because I don't remember that much but it was pretty funny and actually leads to an important condom discussion so let's revisit Albania, shall we? Earlier in the day, Beny had dropped by mine while I was taking some sun in the garden. I was feeling impulsive so took him up for a shag. He had no condoms and I was out so I sent him away. He hadn't cared one way or the other but I DO! Further discussion on that in a bit. He texted me later to ask me to come down to his work and added that he had acquired condoms. Alex and I went down and had about a dozen tequilas while I bantered with Beny and his cousin, Emilio. I sent Alex home and went with the Albanians to a park to drink beer with a group of their friends. Matteo was shocked to hear this- don't you know Albanians are dangerous?! They're all criminals! I laughed. Anyway, Emilio is the one who gave me his trousers and jumper. He put my shoes on for me while I told him he was beautiful. He thanked me handsomely and I started crushing on him. Tall, lean, and shy- just the way I like 'em! Too bad Beny had apparently claimed me. Bummer. So, Beny's the one that bit my neck to hell and shagged me- yes, protected! I went a couple nights ago with my girl, Debs, down to the restaurant to return Emilio's jumper and damn if I hadn't forgotten his name. Oops. So when Debs attempted to get his digits for me, it didn't happen. He looked a little wistful when I left, knowing I move today, but it's cool, I understand guy code- no poaching on his cuz. Beny has been calling alot but I am refusing to see him. Honestly, NO INTEREST!
So everyone I saw poked my neck and asked who'd been chewing on me except Roo. Props to him. That includes my kiddo from Yorkshire who I saw a couple days later. Met him in Wimbledon at his local and had a beer and watched Germany play while waiting for his football team. I went with them to watch and the bricklayer played a decent goalie but their team still lost. I have been deemed bad luck. We went back to the pub and slammed pints until the pub closed. Kiddo and I walked out and down the road a ways until he pulled me into an alley for some hanky-panky. Cool, I'm up for public adventures.
He put me up against some kind of storage bin and got my pants off and my shirt open. He held me down by the arms and chewed me up! Good gods, he bit up my face, my neck, and my chest while digging his fingers into my hips! That's all ok but when he started being rough with my wolftrap, I had to intervene. It's a pussy, love, be gentle with it! He went down on me and showed pretty good skills for such a young'un but then he expected reciprocation. I have mentioned repeatedly that is for BOYFRIENDS only! Not shags. Boyfriends. He wasn't taking no for an answer and tried to force me. Good luck, kid. He changed tactics and tried to talk me into it, I could be your boyfriend, he said. I clamped my jaw to stifle a full on laugh. He gave up on that and decided to get his (rather nice) cock inside me. I actually sighed. Condom, I commanded. I don't use them, he said. Oh for fuck's sake!!! This is London! Everyone is shagging like animals and we don't even know each other! Get a grip! He insisted and I refused. He got rough and for just a moment there, I was honestly concerned I couldn't stop him. He had gotten my shirt down around my arms to pin me and using my legs was tricky since I was standing against a bin. I did, however, manage to repel him and get control of the situation. I had forgotten I guess how strong hormones can make a guy that age! My Scottish friends have since told me I should've known because Yorkshiremen are all animals. Ok. So back to current events...
After the restaurant, Debs and I went to roll on E with some of my friends. That shit was polluted, probably ketamine but it was still an ok night. I have been laying low and resting since. I move to Kent in just a few hours and am looking forward to it. Roo says he will visit in July and I am also going to Treviso for a weekend in July to see my lovely CriCri and friends. He is going to arrange for one of my fantasies to be fulfilled! He's so good to me. I won't tell you the fantasy until it's done but trust me, it will be entertaining reading so stay tuned...

World Sex Tour

"In America sex is an obsession, in other parts of the world it is a fact."  - Marlene Dietrich

Sex, sex, sex...  So much sex and yet no satiation.  RKD came down for dinner and a shag and we went for a nice brunch the next morning.  I spent the next couple days completely off my head on booze and charlie so it's a bit of a blur but I managed to celebrate Italia's win by checkmarking Albania.  Not recommended (from what I recall anyway since I don't remember much after putting on someone's trousers and jumper in a park but woke with a monster hickey on my neck) and so I was extra happy to spend last night with mia bestia again!  We met up for Thai food but I had to leave in the middle of the meal to catch up with Reuben at the bar and table where we first met.  It was wonderful to see his beautiful face again and I somehow managed not to beg him to hold my hand or kiss me or love me...

He dropped me at Matte's and I leapt on my friend as he smoked a spliff on the couch.  How did it go, he asked as he undid his trousers.  Both of miei uomini have been quite sympathetic about my situation.  They don't like to see my heart hurting and I love them even more for that compassion!  I told him I was ok and so we took it upstairs since Matteo's friend, LoLo, is staying with him for a bit and we didn't want to shock the poor boy.  We had a lovely shag ending with his favourite thing and then we curled up together for a contented sleep.  My beast woke in the middle of the night wanting more of my mouth (thank goodness because my culo was ruined!) and I was happy to oblige.  I woke this morning to the sound of my darling boy in the shower and smiled.  I have always enjoyed being with Matte in his home and the familiarity made me happier than I have been of late.  I am hanging around his for the day, trying to recover.  My ulcers are aching and I am rather twitchy.  Odd.  I am meeting the bricklayer tonight for a shag so I'll let you all know how that goes.  I am moving to Kent on Sunday so hopefully, the fresh air and slower pace will do me some good.  I will still have the weekends in London so don't worry, there will be plenty of mischief for me to write about!

All Over the Board

"We are made to persist. That's how we find out who we are." - Tobias Wolff

I'm in a pub in London. The sky is grey. I'm eating peanuts and drinking vodka. So what's new, right? I got back from Malta Wednesday and left directly to visit Valentina. I wondered how I would possibly stay up for a chat when she brought me a 'welcome home' gift that got us up and moving to the pub down the road. Probably the best I've had! I was feeling pretty low since arriving in 'Reuben-land' but she has been a staunch supporter of 'oh for fuck's sake, he's nothing- move on!' This is a strange time of year for my ex- Roo and I tried to reach out to him in friendship but he rejected me again. I am ok with just being friends now but apparently he is sore.
I have been offered 2 jobs. One in Kent (an hour out of London by train) and one in Italia. I don't know what to do but will have it sorted by the end of the weekend.
Anyway, we met a boy at the pub that Valentina has dubbed 'Random Builder Guy'. He's cute and rough and sooooo inexperienced (He's 21!). He's actually a bricklayer and that just cracks me up for some reason... He's proper English and we are looking forward to ruining him though I get first crack since I am missing England. Hehe.
Ditched RKD in northern London tonight because it was just too damned far. I have been on public transportation for most of my waking hours the last 2 days. A bit of a fuck is just not worth another train plus the tube tonight, sorry. As I mentioned, it is raining as well!
Matte wants a rendezvous and I also had a chance to fill the 'Lebanon' slot the other night but decided against. Might revisit, after all, the weekend looms!
I think I will try to drop the books I have been saving for Reuben at his while he is gone for the weekend and then work on this, seemingly interminable, list of countries! A woman's work...

Maltese Man-Parts

"It has been my experience that folks who have no vices have very few virtues." - Abraham Lincoln

Ok, so I was curious! Our favourite restaurant manager sat down next to me at the table and slipped me his mobile number. Alex hit the loo (actually he took a wrong turn into the wine cellar along with a Dutch guy who was basically blind and deaf) and the manager told me how beautiful I looked tonight. I was feeling pretty spiffy in trouser shorts, bustier top, stilettos, and suit jacket- all in black to offset my red décolletage! Hehe. We drank way too much black sambuca and my pal sent me into the wine cellar to prove my prowess (as a wine connoisseur, for now). I returned with a lovely Sardinian varietal that is not really well known but would follow nicely the Maltese Cabernet Franc we had just finished. The manager was shocked, and impressed! I blushed under my sunburn with pleasure. I decided then to take him out for a test drive. He drove us home, as usual, and I insisted I needed a swim. Alex got creepy saying he would go get the car but I said, no I am sure our friend wouldn't mind taking me. He, of course, agreed and we ran out of the house like teenagers fleeing my cranky grandpa toting a 9-gauge! Yikes! The language reverted to Italiano for the rest of the evening and I enjoyed listening to the softer island version from someone trying to talk me into sex.
We tore around the island in his cabriolet before settling on a spot near the beach. We blasted Maltese music (Arabic/Spanish/Italian, etc.) and snogged violently. He got my pants down and his head wedged between my legs in a jiff! Well! Nice skills and I was impressed by his ability to navigate the, usually awkward, car-sex logistics. Then it happened. He undid his trousers and pulled my hand down. WTF?! This really would not do! I mean, not every guy has to be cavallo mio o miei uomini but for fuck's sake! He tried to pull my head into his lap and, even if I didn't already have this rule I would have claimed it, I said no. He wasn't bothered. He pleasured me for a while longer and then took me home. He will be in Londres next week and wants to take me out. We'll see.
So last night, prompted by reading la repubblica all day, I was hyped to watch Italia vs. Nederlands. We ate at a FANTASTIC Sicilian restaurant and then went to some weird place Alex likes to watch the game. Feeling cocksure, I made a nice little bet with Patrik on the game and then watched in horror as my team put on a diva display. Not amused, I read the many gloating texts of my pal who is actually at the games without me. Fuck, I said as we left the bar, I'm gonna have to marry the bastard now for sure. Damn it. I am also trying desperately to get work anywhere in the UK and have a couple leads. Fingers crossed!

Mo-Town Mama in Malta

"What one has not experienced, one will never understand in print." - Isadora Duncan

Well, well... our heroine is in a new place again! I am actually staying on an island next to Malta called Gozo. The sky and sea are jewel-hued variations on blue and the buildings are pale beige limestone. David Niven said Malta was a sod of a place but, unless he is referring to the alcohol consumption here, I disagree. I have only been compelled to text Roo once and that was yesterday while swimming in the Blue Lagoon of Camino Island. Stunning. I swim 2-4 times a day and can't get enough! I breathed in about half of the Inland Sea yesterday so I am coughing and a bit icky tumms today but it is well worth it. I had been playing handball in the water with a young Maltese boy (maybe 7 or 8 years old) and he lost his goggles. Opening your eyes repeatedly in salt water is not recommended! Also, keep your mouth closed! Ugh. I slept for 12 hours or so last night while Alex went back to the restaurant where we are most, umm, well-known. The manager has driven us home twice though Alex walked home last night. I was kinda glad to skip last night since the night before, the (married with 2 kids) manager had been playing footsie with me under the table and trying to seduce me in Italiano!! Crazy. I have given it some thought and, while I am missing Malta from my world collection, I think I'll probably pass.
Today, I will swim in Ramla Bay again and hopefully catch up with the chaps from Essex that I met yesterday in the Blue Lagoon. I lured Alex into skinny-dipping with me in Ramla night before last but (typical Scotsman) he wouldn't go under the water. I dove in like the sirena I am! Glorious! It is fun watching my hair go blonde, my skin turn brown, and the soles of my feet black like a street urchin's! I am eating fish again as well! Haha, Gattina is a pesco-vegetariana! I am not looking forward to leaving the place where as Alex says, we've got nothing to do and all day to do it! That said, we've packed every day really. I've seen all the cities, the citadel of Victoria, met a bunch of locals, driven on what we are referring to as 'The Roman road' (Gods that was a mess! At least we have an emergency bottle of wine in the auto!), taken a ferry at 5am while drinking the local brew (Cisk), and wandered markets, marinas, Maltese manors, etc. Yes, my dears, I am feeling the consonantal alliteration vibe today.
As for love and such, Reuben is refusing to speak to me. It's unnecessarily silly but, jeepers, out of my hands. Patrik has proposed to me, tongue in cheek, so I am asked to go back to Switzerland. Poor me- Italia, Switzerland, the UK, the States... how's a girl to decide?!