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Greetings from Venice

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Eva Ulian

Eva Ulian

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Nov 16, 2018
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Venice - Italy
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Hello, I know I'm greeting you from Venice or near there, but I was brought up in the UK .... My home town was Walsall in the Middlands, home of Jerome K. Jerome and his Three Men in a Boat. In fact I lived quite near Caldmore where he was born. When young I was a novice in a convent for a while... but I always said I was there under false pretences... it's a long story. In fact that's what I write about, religious vocations because I find it fascinating. However, enough of me for now, I'd like to get to know some of you and what you get up to... especially here.
 
Welcome Eva. My mother was born in Bloxwich - just up the road from Walsall. Hope you enjoy Litopia - what sort of stuff are you writing?
 
Welcome, Eva! I am completely fascinated by religious vocations too; I flirted with the idea of becoming a nun in an enclosed convent for a while (being non-religious was a slight impediment to my plans, though). I am sure you will really enjoy being here :)
 
Hello Richard. Between Bloxwich and Walsall there's a place called Leamore where in 1963/4 a brand new comprehensive school was opened called The Francis Martyn High school. I went there for two years from a secondary school where we could take no public exams like GCE's but then at the new comprehensive school we got our chance to do so. And that's how I became a teacher. But when I got to college the nun said I had vocation to the religious life... So I was packed off to a nunnery... which didn't last long! In the convent in my spare time I wrote love stories... so I was packed off out - thank goodness! Since then I've always been fascinated by what is meant by a vocation and write about that. And you what do you write about and how did it come about?
 
Rainbird said:
Welcome, Eva! I am completely fascinated by religious vocations too; I flirted with the idea of becoming a nun in an enclosed convent for a while (being non-religious was a slight impediment to my plans, though). I am sure you will really enjoy being here :)
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Hello rainbird, well, I wasn't what you could say religious, either- and that was the problem. I just couldn't concieve the idea of being "moulded" into some kind of shape that I didn't feel at ease with. Mine was the FCJ order, it wasn't totally enclosed but we had to observe why they called "The Great Silence."
 
Eva Ulian said:
I wasn't what you could say religious, either
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That's so funny! A nun we knew almost had me convinced I had a vocation and, coupled with my Great Interest in it, I imagined I'd make a great nun (and then saw sense, lol). I cannot imagine a worse nun than me. I would have been evicted fairly quickly :D
 
I quite understand that... in fact that's what people usually say... they think it crazy to become a nun (monk, priest) a kind of wasting your life, sort of thing. In effect the first impact of convent life was exactly that... I just couldn't see the sense in it. :rolleyes: But then after a while, it wasn't all as simple as I had made it out to be. I'm off to bed now- we're an hour ahead here in Italy. Goodnight and God Bless, as they say in some parts of the woods.
 
Welcome! Venice is such a beautiful city (actually, all of Italy is now I think about it). I would like to go back one day and explore more. I feel like I only scratched the surface when I was last there.
 
Welcome Eva. Venice, lovely. I read in the news you had a bit too much water recently. Hope the levels have settled down again. What made you leave the UK? I'm from Switzerland, hello neighbour, but I moved to England yonks ago. Here's to expats.
 
Welcome. My better half and I have a soft spot for Venice, as part of our honeymoon was spent there. Must return, one day.
 
Barbara said:
Welcome Eva. Venice, lovely. I read in the news you had a bit too much water recently. Hope the levels have settled down again. What made you leave the UK? I'm from Switzerland, hello neighbour, but I moved to England yonks ago. Here's to expats.
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Hello Barbara, yes they were up to their knees in water. This often happens and the mobile platforms are always on hand. But I live 35 miles away from the actual center itself, up in "Venetian" hills, so I'm not affected. I noticed that the town hall has posted pictures of the celebration of the feast of Our Lady of Health, and Venice seems to be back in splendid shape.... here is the link to the pictures if you want to look. https://www.facebook.com/ComunediVe...76116853565/10156076107718565/?type=3&theater I've been editing on and off this post to get a hang of how it all works. In answer to the second part of your post - I was born in Italy but went to Britain in January 1956 at a very early age. I came back to Italy in 1976 for a while because I wanted to experience living here too and worked for the U.S. Army in Vicenza. I went back to teach in Manchester in 1992. Have anice day.
 

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Eva Ulian said:
Hello rainbird, well, I wasn't what you could say religious, either- and that was the problem. I just couldn't concieve the idea of being "moulded" into some kind of shape that I didn't feel at ease with. Mine was the FCJ order, it wasn't totally enclosed but we had to observe why they called "The Great Silence."
Click to expand...
 
Nmlee said:
Welcome! Venice is such a beautiful city (actually, all of Italy is now I think about it). I would like to go back one day and explore more. I feel like I only scratched the surface when I was last there.
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Thank you for the welcome Nmlee.... Our world is full of wonders, I think where ever we go we always feel we only "scratch" the surface. There are many things, sights and sounds I miss of Britain... However, I've found some here too which I enjoy as when I went on this pilgrimage to Rome with the parish. The lady in purple is me and the "young man" (priest) whose arm I'm hanging on to is the Pope's personal secretary. I had to edit this because I forgot to give you the link to my blog in case you wanted to have a look. © Eva Ulian- The best and the worst- and not only...: 450. Pilgrimage to Rome
 
Marc Joan said:
Welcome. My better half and I have a soft spot for Venice, as part of our honeymoon was spent there. Must return, one day.
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Of course you must return. I live 35 miles from the centre... maybe we could meet- Or better still- if ever I become a published author and the book be translated in Italy... I will have a launch party in Venice and invite all LITOPIANS to it.;)
 
Rich. said:
Hi Eva, your "long story" sounds in need of telling. Welcome to the Colony! :)
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Hello Rich, If I told you how many agents I have pitched that story, I would blush. But as I've mentioned in another post, when people think of religion and nuns they say "who cares, it's boring." Until they know you and rub up with reality cheek to cheek... But "STILETTO HEELS AND ANKLE SOCKS", accessible literary fiction is complete and ready for the taking at 89,000 words. :D
 
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Hello, Eva, and welcome! I love Venice. Have happily walked round it for hours. My dad was a 'Janny' (Glaswegian for janitor i.e. caretaker) of a school attached to a convent and I got to know a lot of the nuns. When I was about ten I decided I'd like to be a nun too, and told them what I'd like – my own room (I'd had enough of sharing with two sisters), with a radio and a record player, and none of that going to mass malarky. But I loved the long dresses, I'd wear those. I can still hear them laughing :) Bearing in mind I wanted to be a witch too, we had some very interesting theological discussions :D

I hope you enjoy it here.
 
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