Hilary Seabrook - writer, podcaster, musician

Today's highlight in Bologna was the International Museum of Music in Bologna. I have now found myself surrounded by so much that was fascinating. It was a little overwhelming. Although I spent a couple of hours wandering the rooms, there was so much to see and read (and listen to) that I will have to plan another visit soon.

It's frustrating to be limited by the reduced size of my stomach, but I'm gradually rediscovering taste and it was great to find this delicious plate of falafel in Bologna. I usuallyt

W hile flying high above the Alps, I enjoyed some of the reading material courtesy of British Airways. The latest issue of Business Life was full of useful information and a pleasant diversion  from the mundanity. Plenty of food for thought and inspiration at the start of my Easter break. The view from the plane window across the snow-covered Alps was phenomenal - ironic, since I had originally planned to take the train from Paris to enjoy some of the sights of northern Italy. The start of a well-earned break in Bologna - just 36 hours after I was hooked up to a drip in A&E following a minor set-back in my recovery from stomach surgery two years ago. I hadn't realised how much I needed to get away until I stepped onto the plane. It was worth the extra of a British Airways flight. For the comfort, the ease and the inspiration.

I have just started re-reading Fergus O'Connell's interesting book, explaining how to achieve more by doing less. It's no less fascinating, the second time around. I'm putting elements of it into practice and already feeling more effective. I'm also changing the priority given to specific tasks, especially those I have to do but don't enjoy. They're tasks, not mountains to overcome. There's no point in being anxious over the insignificant. Many business books take a couple of reads for the approach to sink in and take root (is that mixed metaphors?). This one made sense but not much impact the first time - now, it's beginning to make a difference.

Never let it be said I'm not flexible. After considering the train options, I've decided to fly to Italy instead. It means missing Paris and Milan this time, but I've seen both those cities several times before, so at least this way gives me longer to explore Bologna. And now I'm learning Italian online. In just a week, I've reached 15% fluency. I doubt I'll be able to hold a conversation, but I'll understand menus and at least be polite. With two more weeks until my trip, hopefully I can increase that level of fluency. Buona gionarta!

Flying has never been a great joy in my life. A necessary evil - I much prefer to drive or take a train. Which brings me to Easter 2018 in Bologna. In order to arrive on 3 April, I could get a taxi to Luton and fly in a couple of hours. Or I could leave two days earlier and enjoy a few hours in Paris and then in Milan instead, as well as some great views from the window of a train. Which is what I'm planning now. The last time I was in Milan was in 1991 and I'm sure this map would be useless if I was driving, or going further east into what this map was calling Yugoslavia. So, it'll do for a train ride through northern Italy and the guidebooks will help me decide what to see each stop on the way. That'll definitely include some art, history, landscape  and architecture. Now, that sounds like joy.