Natale Bimbi

Massa's Signature

Ferrari's Christmas Party for children or Natale Bimbi is an event. There are normally 2 sessions (morning from 10 to 1 or afternoon from 3 to 6) though the morning one is usually more popular as it is believed that the pilots often attend the party in the morning.

We turned up at 10:30 am on Sunday having waken up later than we planned to. It was raining as we walked from the car to the tents. But as you would have it, the President of the company arrived just as we did and he instructed his body guard to shelter me with his umbrella while he himself shared his with Hubby :-).

Two circus tents had been set up in the Pista di Fiorano. Inside, it was really festive, with clowns, jugglers, hot chocolate, Panettone (an Italian Christmas brioche), face-painting, hula hoops, decorate-a-santa, diabolo etc stands. Then the circus performance started at 11:15 and we had the usual clown act, rope walking, trapeze, dance and song...and animals. Elephant, horses, dalmatians, horned dunno-what, camels, lamas etc. The kids were fascinated by these animals but I couldn't help thinking that it must be horrible for them to live with a circus. It's bad enough in a zoo, but in a circus? Think cages, whips, training and lots of travelling. They should just fly all of us to Kenya for a Safari. LOL

Eldest Son was a little unhappy as he knew that he wouldn't get a present like the rest of the kids. They would only be for children aged from 0 to 10 and he just turned 11. R's son who's 10 got an iPod, something that my boy has been desiring. Mais c'est la vie, pas de chance.

However, he knew that this could be his chance to maybe ask for a signature from the pilots. Kimi was there as was Massa. I was actually quite uneasy for a while as I didn't know if he'll summon up enough courage to ask them for a signature and they may be there but it wouldn't be easy approaching them. And don't look at me, I'm allergic to stars.

But he must be really motivated because at one point he shot off from his seat and returned with a signature from Massa. He saw the pilot leaving and decided to do something about it. Missed Kimi though. Will now have to find another occasion to get his signature. But this one maybe I'll have to plan for it, like get the guy's photo and find some friend in the company who's always with the pilots to get it signed. Do not like asking for favours, but I hate to see my boy disappointed.

It was raining really heavily as we were leaving. But this time the Ferrari vans and buses had been mobilised to serve as shuttle buses to the gift collection centre. Baby Girl had a doll and Baby Boy some educational toy. Hmm...They only give the really good stuff to the 10-year olds who would be getting their last Christmas present from the company, from the look of things.

Now I'll have to crack my brain and decide what to give everybody for Christmas. The problem is that I give them presents all year round for no rhyme and reason and then when it comes to the big occasions I have no idea what to offer. Baby Girl wants a Nintendo DS Lite so that's as good as given, I've set my good friend in Singapore on the hunt. Eldest Son wants more PS2 games like Dragon Ball Z dunno-what 1 2 3. No idea what to get Baby Boy. The Hub wants Santa to offer him a new rasor. And Santa will kindly offer him one that doesn't make as much noise as the one he's currently using. And who will give Santa a gift?