Benvenuto to all my lovely followers
Grapes ready for harvesting
photo P Finnigan
Here in Italy we are celebrating Ferragosta. This is the day, originally set as a holiday by Emperor Agusto in Ancient Rome, that ninety percent of Italians take a holiday leaving the tourists to traipse around wondering why the shops are all shut in the middle of August! It is also a celebration of the grape harvest and these beautiful fruits are what keep the Italians and other residents like ourselves, in fine fettle for the rest of the year with a glass of Chianti in hand. But I have to say, despite ten years in beautiful Tuscany, we will never adjust to the fact that few Italian shopkeepers, restauranteurs and caffè bar owners stay open on this day or for the following two weeks. Other European countries tend to cash in on the visiting tourists, not the Italians, unless it is the centre of Florence or San Gimingiano, the latter’s towers shining in the sunlight in our distant view from the villa. So, we have also wound down a little, it just makes sense at this time of year and nobody seems to be answering their phones in the UK where the bulk of our clients are. Yesterday, my man was a little depressed having not achieved what he wanted to achieve over the phone. However, today his spirits were lifted when the lovely young lady at Bar Solferino in Certaldo, rang her mother at the local pasticceria for more sweet pastries, as they had sold out and she wanted my man to enjoy one. Bless her…
The last two weeks saw the arrival of our beautiful grandchildren. They came separately, the grandson first for three nights, he is nearly fourteen and getting really tall. He is off to Blundells School in England in September to follow his chosen sporting career, professional rugby. Looking at the size of his feet, he will fit in perfectly. We are very proud of course. Then the following week, our nine an a half-year old granddaughter arrived for three nights, as equally gorgeous as her brother and demonstrated just how intelligent she is by doing all sorts of mathematical equations! She also takes after her granny (me) as she loves science fiction and fantasy. We were visited one evening by a big Brock Badger who was after the fallen figs in our orchard. Fantastic….
Tuscan Badger Foraging
Last Wednesday we returned her to our daughter and met at an amazing house, which our daughter wanted us to see, down a long dirt track through woodland then opening into an incredible view to the west coast. The previous tenants had let the steep garden and land run down, and the American owner is desperate for our daughter to find a tenant. The inside of the farmhouse has been renovated, whilst the outside is very rustic. I have to say, if I was fitter, I would love to take it on.
A week ago, our lovely vegan Bavarian friends came for drinks. We all lead very busy lives and it was the first get together since the spring. The previous day, my man and I went to Terra Viva, a great vegetarian shop in Poggibonsi. My not being the greatest cook, unlike the majority of you, I was delighted to find really tasty shrink wrapped fast food, made out of tofu and soya. My favourite was curry and pineapple burgers! Needless to say, our vegan friends were very impressed, however, I did confess to having bought everything, otherwise they would have wanted the recipe!
La Goloso Pasticceria & Bar in Tavernelle
Photo J Finnigan
Our favourite aperitivo. Martini Rosso & Prosecco
Photo J Finnigan
On 10th August, Laura closed her bar/alimentare for a ten-day vacanza. We can hardly blame her, she normally opens at six thirty in the morning and works through until after lunch. But this is a dilemma for us because we do not like the other bar in Fiano. So its uphill to Tavernelle where my man likes to visit La Galosa Pasticceria & Bar as they bake their own delicious pastries. I have now managed to get them to make me the perfect caffè latte by adding more coffee. (Piu caffè) Whilst your Espresso caffè normale varies little in the bars, the caffè lattes do. I like mine without froth, hot and strong. Otherwise, we drop down to Certaldo and visit Caffe Solferino, where we went this morning. Another bar is Bar Italia, we love the people there, but it is a bit of a squeeze in the tiny seating area.
Our local village of Fiano will today be enjoying a festive evening in the gardens of the Castello, however, it does look like rain so we may give this a miss and take a cocktail on our upper terrace and watch the lights come on across the valley. Life is hard…..
Well, I am sure the wealthy, not guilty Silvio is also enjoying a few vinos next to his swimming pool with his twenty something girlie and little dog DooDoo. So I will not disturb him today and send you a full update next weekend.
Have a great one.
Amore June x
PS I am working hard on the second book in my trilogy called ‘The Bolivian Connection’ which should be published in plenty of time for Christmas. So, if you have not already done so, don’t forget to read ‘My Father, The Assassin’ first! visit http://www.amazon.co.uk or com or eu.
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