Welcome and Benvenuti to all my Lovely Followers around the World,
Yesterday, I would have been blogging to you but we had no internet, which is so crucial for any communication, writing and work-wise. So, I start the working week with this blog. I am no stranger to working from home. Over the last sixteen years, I have become very experienced in commuting between Italy and London. As technology improved further, I could spend more time in Tuscany where my man and I both have comfortable working offices. Video meetings have become the norm and of course email has virtually replaced hard copy mailings. But there is nothing quite like face to face meetings and perhaps a nice lunch with a client. But these pleasures must now go on hold.
Anyway, here in our lovely little bit of Tuscany, on the edge of Chianti, we are safely tucked away in our country home. This foto was taken as the sun was rising on the opposite side of the house. We have had two weeks of glorious weather, so much so that I have actually got a bit sunburnt! Spring plants and trees are changing daily and we now make a point of walking the boundaries in the early mornings, to marvel at how life in the wild still goes on unhindered by any viruses. Young fruit trees, fig, mulberry and pomegranate are in blossom, as are numerous shrubs that remain nameless due to my lack of knowledge.
Slopes of wild flowers and fungi, our English Climbing Rose looks very healthy and the bees are going into overdrive. Yesterday, we enjoyed an aperitivo before lunch and watched the dance of the Swallow Tail Butterflies swirling around the Lilac Tree. So, the best thing I can do is send you some Foto’s to remind you that if you have not yet cancelled your holiday in Tuscany, do consider postponing instead.
We are very fortunate to be living in a beautiful converted former Monastery Farmhouse. It is quirky, yet comfortable. Our landlord had an artist come in before we moved here to paint this gorgeous mural on the sitting room wall. So in the picture, you can see the view from my armchair, which we can enjoy no matter what the weather is doing outside.
Preparations for our rock concert on June 19 continues, in the hope that restrictions will have lifted sufficiently for us all to get together again. Stefano, my lead guitarist, has approved the repertoire, so we will have eighteen great rock songs for you.
We were impressed to read that thirty-seven skilled medics from Cuba have come to Milan to help with the crisis, all experienced in dealing with the Ebola in Africa. Also Russia is apparently sending medical help! You will have read enough about the virus in Italy, so I don’t think I need to elaborate further.
The Stag Beetle on a rose bush in the foto, is carrying on regardless!
So, wherever you are in the world, we wish you good health and happiness. Do stay at home as much as possible, it is such a very serious situation. Please stay safe.
Salute June xx
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Just a short distance away and closer to us, Dominic Miller’s concert tour hit Empoli last night. Now Dominic has been around for years, a lesser known but brilliant guitarist who is best known for supporting Sting (our neighbour) on many world tours. I have only just spotted this in the paper, so too late for me to go, I am a little annoyed with ‘Bands in Town’ who are supposed to notify me of these events! But anyway, look out for Dominic’s new album being released on the 1st March called ‘Absinthe’. Visit 
And what else is happening in Tuscany? I hear you ask. Well, whilst enjoying coffee in Fiano this morning, I discovered an article about The Orient Express. Now I never travelled on this rather intoxicating sounding train, I would have loved to mind. But this reminded me of a much more local steam train excursion which takes you through gorgeous Tuscan countryside stopping at towns and villages along the way. You can take a whole day out just indulging in the ride and stopping for events, festas and wine tastings. The train company is based in Siena and is called 
Also in the newspaper, as in most papers around the world, it was addio to that unique fashion designer and celebrity, Karl Lagerfield. As you know, I follow Italian fashion closely, and whilst Karl was based in Paris and associated with Chanel, since the sixties he worked closely with Fendi and became a director of the company, which is based in Rome. Fendi dedicated it’s show in Milan last week to the great man. Well I had best get my orange handbag out again as it is obviously back in vogue!
And staying with the subject of fashion I couldn’t help but fall in love with another 
If, like us, you are suffering yet more miserable weather, you will need some uplifting music to cheer you up! Now I only occasionally mention Italian singers and rarely Pop singers. So when I tell you that Italy’s own Laura Pausini has released a new album called ‘Fatti Sentiri’ and is off on a world tour, you should prick up your ears! Laura has a passionate and slightly gravelly voice, which she is this year taking around the globe at the age of forty-four. She has been around for a few years here, but now things are really taking off for her and she has my full support and best wishes for what will be an exciting if grueling few months. Foto La Repubblica. Visit 
Meanwhile, and a surprise to we locals, the town of Certaldo has been busy formulating it’s very own Wedding Package as part of its new Tourism Campaign. we do have a number of wedding planners in Tuscany and Certaldo Alto, the hill-top historical centre (centro storica), has always been hugely popular with Brits wanting to tie the knot. So it will be interesting to see what emerges. I have to say, that once you visit Certaldo Alto, you will understand why it is so popular. When I have more information I’ll let you know. Foto Official Website. For now, why not visit 
Back in the world of politics, you could hardly ignore the fact that Italy has had a General Election! The country is now considered badly split and we must wait to hear whether the Five Star Movement will merge with its nearest rival to form a government. Watch this space. Foto La Repubblica.
But anyway, I promised to post Italian fashion worn by happy models and I think this one makes that grade. A lovely relaxed outfit as long as you are 5ft 10ins or more and slim. Well I’m working on the latter, but I will need six-inch heels to make that height! Ha ha! I shall have to stand on a box at my next concert, and probably stick with black, that’s always a slimming and gives the impression of height. But for the outfit in the picture and lots of other gorgeous casual stuff, go to Amina Rubinacci’s site where, yes, you can buy on-line! 
If you don’t mind, I want to pop back to Music as I have just read in the paper that Mick Jagger’s younger brother Chris has been in Italy for four concerts. Chris Jagger, singer, musician, writer, actor and journalist, tours from time to time, with his trio Acoustic Roots. Pity, I didn’t know he was here until afterwards! You can read more about him in his interview with askanews. Visit 
Finally, a little something to make you smile and to remind all of us all that Spring will get here shortly. Apparently, according to the locals, today Wednesday is the first day of spring so I have popped in a picture of our pot of Grape Hyacinths for you to enjoy.
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