During my recent trip to Italy I met one of my first cousins for the first time and he illuminated me on some aspects of our family history.

I always vaguely knew that we were remotely related to nobility on my maternal grandmother’s side. But I always thought it was quite far back.

As it transpires, it’s not that far back – my great great grandfather was elevated to the rank of Count, with that branch of my ancestry having held a baronial title since the 12th century.

No, there will not be any lands or title coming to me, and No, I am not going to stop describing myself as a Narrow Minded Italian Catholic Conservative Peasant From Footscray.

www.abc.net.au/news/2023-10-15/israel-gaza-war-hunt-for-hamas-commanders/102961912

I was not aware that the Qatari government harbours senior leaders of Hamas.

That it does so is cause for sanctions.

And yet another reason to banish their airline from Australian skies.

www.abc.net.au/news/2023-10-05/king-charles-coin-unveiled-royal-australian-mint-canberra/102936920

www.theguardian.com/business/2023/oct/05/minister-linked-qatar-airways-decision-to-treatment-of-australian-women-at-doha-airport-foi-reveals

As I have said before, the only problem I have with Minister King rebuffing Qatar Airways on the basis of the Doha airport incident is that she should have proudly declared it as a reason upfront.

Just as well I am on the far side of the world at the moment.

www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/fyles-attack-and-mundine-threat-suggest-australians-have-lost-the-ability-to-disagree-20230926-p5e7td.html

The WordPress app does not enable me to comment adequately on photos or links from my phone as things I write disappear below a line on my screen.

But I will discuss this ignorant article in greater depth on my return to Australia.

President Reagan once joked that Soviet leaders seemed to die whilst he was travelling, so he needed to travel more.

This week, whilst in Italy, we have seen the resignation of one figure I despise and the apparent disgrace of another.

As I cannot blog on my app in any detail, please watch this space for my thoughts on the legacy of Daniel Andrews and his technocracy soon after I return to Australia.

Aside from that matter, I think I will extend presumption of innocence to that other character until due process is concluded. That’s something you can look forward to greatly.

Hopefully my being in Italy also jinxes Collingwood this weekend!

I’m in Livorno at the moment and fear I may die of boredom.

But at least the graffiti artists here have more wit than most of those back home:

Bruciore means Burning, in case you are too lazy to use your google translate.

Still, it’s clever and more loaded with meaning and conscience than any of the spoilt brat street culture nonsense I see in Melbourne.

www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/we-were-there-for-australia-qatar-airways-boss-says-flight-decision-unfair-20230917-p5e5a8.html

That Qatar Airlines calls the decision not to grant more access to Australia surprising and unfair is quite ironic.

Tell it to the women who were strip searched at Doha airport. Now THAT was surprising and definitely unfair.

I’m mostly over my jet lag now, having hit the pillow in my hotel room in Rome at 4pm last night after a duty bound walk to the Collosseum followed by a late lunch at a cheap and cheerful restaurant just off the Via Cavour.

I must say that breaking up the trip with a stay in Singapore did not really help. True, one night of decent sleep was good, but as the second flight out was at 3am the following night, could not exactly cause me to board the flight with a few extra hours of sleep.

What sort of helped a little was the extra room and reclinement in Premium Economy. I am not one of those lucky people who can sleep sitting upright, so long haul flights hurt. But at least I was able to doze fitfully during the 12 hour flight from Singapore to Rome.

That does not mean that long haul does not suck, and I am not in premium economy on the way home so I’m dreading that long haul.