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Have you ever looked back on your life and thought, ‘if only I knew then, what I know now…’? Whether it’s dramas with love, family, or your career, we all learn from our experiences and eventually become all the wiser for it.  Here in the office we’ve fallen in love with The Italian Wedding, the latest novel by gorgie writer and journalist Nicky Pellegrino. Nicky is of Italian origin herself, and married to a New Zealander – an official nzgirl! Having lead such a varied and exciting life, we asked Nicky to share with us everything she wishes she had known when she was 25… The Italian Wedding follows Pieta, a 30-year-old wedding dress designer who is still single. Pieta is given the task of making her sister’s gown, however as she beads and sews her way through her sister’s dress, she becomes distracted by a series of family mysteries and feuds, and slowly begins to unravel them… WIN: We’ve got two copies of The Italian Wedding (RRP $38.99, published by Orion) to give away to some lucky nzgirls. To get yourself in the draw simply tell us the name of the last book you read!  Oh you’re too busy to read this right now? You have to go to the gym to do back-to-back aerobics classes, then lift some weights, then cycle home and try really hard to eat a small salad instead of your bodyweight in pasta. Well give it up. You’re never going to be skinny because you love food too much. And anyway your passion for eating will lead to interesting things down the track and help free you from working in an office every day. Still too busy, eh? If you skip the gym then you’re off to the vodka bar in Soho with a couple of mates. You’ll drink Bloody Marys and trawl for boys…actually you seem to remember the barman there is rather nice, perhaps you can boss him into being your boyfriend.
Hmm….you haven’t had a proper boyfriend for years now have you? You’re starting to think there isn’t a special guy there for you? Well you’re right, there isn’t. At least not in London…or anywhere in England in fact. You’re going to have to go all the way to New Zealand to find someone worth marrying. Ah, I’ve got your attention now have I? Well let me tell you a few more things to save you wasting time and money. First of all at least half the clothes you buy will end up sitting unworn in the back of the wardrobe. This is because you are not going to suddenly lose 10 kilos and fit into them, nor are you going to wake up one morning and feel like a person who wears frilly, colourful, sparkly, ethnic or slightly experimental clothing. Also if you wear high heels you will fall over. A lot. Keep a diary. When you grow up properly you’re going to be a writer. But not one of those writers who spends years researching every detail about Regency London or Formula One racing cars or anything really. You’ll base your stories mostly round your own experiences and memories. The trouble is you’ll forget a lot (see reference to vodka bar) and waste masses of potential material. So keep a diary. And take it to New Zealand with you. Take riding lessons. You know how you always wanted a pony? Well you’re going to get one. But it turns out you are deeply, deeply untalented at riding. Hopeless at it. Dressage? Do me a favour you’ll barely be able to ride in a straight line. So start now because for some reason you’re going to be doggedly determined to improve and an extra 10 years practice won’t hurt. Oh and buy a decent suitcase. You’re going to need it... |
