Ten days to go, and it was even warmer today. Had to make sure the doors to the church were closed. On the ice plates, it was 10 below. Near the top of the columns, only minus 1. And outside? 10 degrees! This makes Gord a bit testy.



The paintings have become . . . big. Now jagged slabs of colour lie about, bold and dramatic. The ice is more fragile than glass and then, as Peter says, “you stick to it.” Paintings everywhere, less and less space to walk, how to manage all without breaking it? They've got to do the floor soon!



Last night Gord got up and wrote himself notes on my computer at 1 am. Jeff has already covered some of the windows in blue to begin the lighting.



Some things are coming together and some are falling apart. I overheard Mara on the telephone and I could understand enough to know she was recruiting people to act as guides once the show opens. At one point they were going to put a rope across the church door with an “at-your-own-risk” disclaimer. But Gord insisted and thank Mio Dio because there’s a bit of thickness to get through here not speaking the language. You start talking to someone through a translator and they don’t translate! They get involved with how to solve the problem before they’re stated what it is! And then everyone is talking at the same time -- in Italian. So, I wrote a letter to Mara clarifying ‘our position’, and thanks to some quick work back home with translation (grazie, Anna Maria and Lara Roldo) one of the higher-ups in the organization who was touring the ‘mostra’ said himself, “Yes, it’s obvious we need guides.” So that’s coming together!



Al should be here tonite, and we’ve rented another apartment for the overflow, as Patrick is the extra guy, and Juliana is expected in Fenestrelle after the 24th. We’re all teamed up two to a room and no one is complaining because they’re good sports but there have been snoring issues and three to a bathroom is just too much. I tried to make it up to Sylvia by telling her I was arranging for a group to have dinner at the Meizoun with us, but she wouldn’t have any of it. We’re very similar, but my patience is thin, we're all feeling the pressure.

Just discovered the notes from family and friends on the blog! What a delight! Congratulations Phillip and Debi! Mark, we're waiting for that photo of Gord and the hose in the backyard, when you twins were just little tykes, smoothing down the ice! Therese, Mary, hello! thanks for the news and thoughts! Jo-anne, Jeff was glad to get your post, I read it outloud at dinner. Christine in Saskatchewan? JC is now featured regularly here! We love hearing there's someone out there, cheering us on!