It is raining in Mestre. The sky opened at around 4pm (GMT +1) and it will probably rain through the night. It does not rain often but when it rains, the water falls for long hours.

What I love about rain in Italy is that it brings down the temperature. Unlike in Singapore or Bali, rain does not mean that the temperature is cooler even though everything is drenched in water.

The cold is comfortable and makes me just want to watch a movie or curl up in bed with a good book. And that is exactly what I will do now!

After having spent six months in Bali and now slightly over two months in Italy, I begin to better appreciate some things about Singapore.

The list includes but is not limited to: Organisation, Efficiency, Honesty.

I was reminded if these while watching an Italian programme that tracks down scams or ill-developed government ventures, exposing the flaws and truth for everyone who may be hoodwinked by a rosy picture or sweet talk.

The particular broadcast segment a few days ago had the crew visiting an abandoned stadium that was completed, and still included clean water and electricity, ready for use.

However, the stadium was never put in to use for more than 10 years. Grass had grown on the tennis courts, some outdoor fittings had depreciated through exposure to the elements, and once-new interiors were covered in dust, giving the place a general feeling of an abandoned village.

The S.O. explained that the construction of stadiums is usually commissioned by a certain administration of the ruling political party. However, it was possible that this political party was replaced by another political party in an election, and this new party probably had different aims and pulled the plug on the stadium. Thus, the stadium was never utilised, and tax payers continue to pay the water and electricity bill for the stadium.

Another lacking area of the current government is the non-removal of trash in certain cities. Everywhere in Italy, trash is taken out to large plastic bins placed at regular intervals along public roads. There are seperate bins for paper, plastics, bottles, clothes and decomposibles. A truck comes to remove the trash every two or three days and brings them to dumps.

There is a current situation in Naples, where the government has prevented the mafia from removing and burning/burying the trash without providing alternatives. Thus, rubbish has piled up inside and outside the rubbish bins for more than two weeks.

Residents have become increasing upset with the government, putting strikes in to effect or chaining themselves to government offices/buildings. Some have taken things in their own hands by putting the trash on fire, which in the process burns the bins as well.

These two incidences are just the beginning of problems the citizens face, and that were broadcast on the news.

It seems that these things are quite common in Italy, with the political party in the cities and the country changing often. Each party only has a couple of years to realise the campaign promises made to voters, and if things do not happen fast enough, they are most probably replaced in the next election.

In the process, things are not handed over from one administration to the other, as different parties have different goals. The citizens are also split between supporting the left- and right-wing. In a country that gives citizens absolute freedom to vote the party of their choice, the consequence is the danger of absolute non-delivery or reversal of campaign promises.

So laws or more efficient methods that could help a country progress at a constant rate are not implemented. This results in the abandoned stadium above, or other public amenities.

There is nothing that anyone can do about it because of the ‘unstable’ political situation that has existed in Italy for years. Unlike in Singapore where election races are between two or three maximum parties, there are probably more than 40 parties running in any one Italian election.

Comparing this to the limited choice available in Singapore, I personally think it might be a good thing, especially if the winning party keeps to its campaign promises. Sometimes, they may not fully deliver on the promises, choosing to amend some areas after they have won the seat. However, delivering part of the promise is better than completely reneging on it.

Thanks to having the same party in power through the years, public places in Singapore have been kept well and upgraded when deemed required. Resources and revenue are not widely wasted, requiring a detailed and sound work plan before execution, and the relevant agencies are held accountable for the failure of any venture.

Of course, all countries are different in size and different methods work for different locations and people. All I can say is that I am grateful that my stay in Italy will not be too long, for I cannot live with something that is contrary to what I am used to.

In case you do not know, the communists currently rule Italy.

The lack of moisture in the Italian/European atmosphere is worse than that of the chilly air-conditioned offices of Singapore.

When I was still freezing among the unnaturally cold Singapore office environs, I would slap on hand cream after lunch. Then the last thing I do before entering dreamland at night is to slather on generous amounts of body lotion. These two simple steps were sufficient to keep fine lines at bay, thanks in part to moisture from the air always sticking to the skin once we are out of the office.

After my move to Bali, I worked from our home office/study, which did not have air-conditioning. This meant that the condition of my skin improved considerably in the six months that I was there.

At the present when I am in Italy, the nightly ritual continues with the same satisfying results.

However, fine lines have begun to appear on my fingers while the skin on the little finger pad of my right hand and the ring finger pad of my left hand are extra wrnkled, looking like a dried prune. All this despite applying and reapplying hand cream more than four times a day.

I have concluded that the deterioration of skin on my fingers is due to the lack of moisture in the air, and the increased daily frequency with which I wash the dishes (we had a maid to do the dishes in Bali, and I hardly cooked in Singapore as I lived on my own).

The solution would be to wear gloves while doing the dishes, and using more than two brands of hand cream in the hopes that there will be double healing for my fingers.

Ultimately, I want my left ring finger and my right little finger to resemble the other fingers: a juicy prune instead of a dried one!

This may be a little late, as my mind continues struggling with the reality of being in Italy. However, always better late than never.

The white stuff on the floor resembles cotton but it is not cotton. These are seeds of a tree that fall off, according to the S.O., on exactly April 24 each year. It can become a menace, floating on the wind in to homes, but they looked pretty to me.

Besides this white indication of spring, there are colourful flowers blooming in the city, adding a touch of colour to the otherwise drab city of Mestre.

It is a wonderful feeling, knowing that you can walk in to a bar or disco and not walk out smelling like an ash tray.

So that has been for our stay in Italy, because restaurants, bars, discos and cafes are no-smoking zones by law. Anyone who wants a smoke will have to do so outside the premises, on the pavement, and accompanied by the second hand smoke of other fellow smokers.

Despite this no-smoking law in dining and drinking spots,the crowds still turn up. People still enjoy a chat over coffee at the cafe and pre- or after-dinner drinks at a bar, families and friends still have meals at the ristorante (restaurants) or osteria (less expensive eatery), and youths still drive for two hours to the discos outside of the city.

This means that majority of non-smoking patrons at these outlets, like the S.O. and myself, do not have to suffer in discomfort while the minority pollute the air with their poisonous fumes.

I will surely miss this once we return to Singapore or Bali!