Edward A Soccer Star In The Making

Last night we went out into the garden, not as a garden that most of us Aussies would imagine. As we are staying in a sector 10 just out of Roma central some 15KM  but about I hour  by car. The garden is surrounded by 5 story apartments in long rectangle layout so it forms a private garden to the some 100 Family's that live in this self created and gated community.  The sense of community is so strong and the boys and young men playing soccer have done so over the past 30 years that these apartments have been here. The garden is about the size of 1/2 a footy field on 2 levels divided by a clipped hedge with 4steps down to the lower section where the soccer action is happening. There is not enough boys today for a game so the 6 of them play a game to show all their skills and are having so much fun.

On the upper section a small paved area surrounded by tall trees coming into springs new leaves there are several boys and girls playing volley ball and some older grandparents with small children on shooters. We meet Daniella's cousin  Francesco and his 4 year old son Edward. Edward like any kid a bit shy at first but Sandy and I start to play ball with him, his dad speaks English so that helps us to fit in, Edward  is being encouraged to  speak a little English  "Pete" softly came out some 20mins into the game "sooooo cute". As we sat on the green grass with little white meadow flowers we rolled the ball and played catch. On several occasions the ball rolled into the big boys area and they were so good with the little kids around them sharing the space with respect for all in the community. Edwards 96 year old great grand mother and 50 year old Daniella's grandmother also lives in the community we will be meeting them all later. We bought over some little clip on Koala Bears and you should have seen Edwards little face light up and to see him say thank you in English was priceless.