September start-ups

In Florence, the ex-pats are back and are ready to go!
The Italians will reluctantly return from summer retreats in another week or so. School has started, but I think families are still escaping the heat at the weekends, as we also enjoy an "indian summer".

I've tweaked the playgroup blog title to www.caffecaos.blogspot.com to make it a short web address, so please take a look there from time to time.
The new website for the church activities www.firenzechurch.com is thankfully easy to maintain and is a value tool as a first point of contact.

Last night we had an excellent aperitivo-concerto (buffet then concert) with jazz pianist Roberto Andreucci www.robertoandreucci.it offering his interpretations of Theolonius Monk (, includes samples of his music. I recommend you listen as you read!). The music was fantastic - mellow, moving, and joyful. I was particularly interested when Roberto stood up and played the strings themselves, and tweaked something to create an effect with the left pedal that sounded like a snare drum.
The evening was a fundraiser for "Il Sassolino Bianco", a charity for children www.ilsassolinobianco.org. This time, the charity is seeking to provide a green playspace inside the women's prison at Empoli so that when the children come to visit their mums, there is an opportunity to play together in a setting which feels less like a prison.

Sadly, despite the excellent music, tasty food and brilliant cause, we did not attract a large crowd. Our central location is both blessing, because lots of people pass by and curse, because the music from the surrounding bars is much louder on the street than jazz piano playing! Publicising concerts in Florence is difficult, there are many listings and little co-ordination. Next time we will have to work harder.

I am still dreaming dreams for the church here: we are starting discussions about a closer working relationship with the Waldensian Church (Chiesa Valdese), after all we are already the "Union of the Methodist and Waldensian Churches" www.chiesavaldese.org. I'm talking about starting an after-school "Messy Church & Mum's Coffee" for 3-6 year olds. And I'd love to see a team of Street Pastors reaching out to the very lively Via de' Benci, with its pubs, nightclubs and bars. Please keep praying for these new initiatives.