Seventh Heaven (Al Settimo Cielo) is the name of the house here up a narrow and rutted lane in the woodland. It is the culmination of a dream for Karen, Jim and Karen's two daughters. 26 year old Emily lives here too in the apartment under the main house, with Zeus her Italian breed, sheep-herding dog. She speaks fluent Italian and also understands the local dialect so is able to act as interpreter and teacher of both English and Italian.Wouldn't it be great to run a week of Italian language, photography and/or heirloom sewing classes with an Interpreter to guide, scouring the antique shops for fabulous fabrics etc?! Karen and Emily have such talent and the house lends itself perfectly as a venue. My mind is running away!
Today (Saturday) has not been one of the best. Weatherwise, perfect after a night of rain on Thursday to soak the parched earth, but the rooster has gone missing! He was strutting around with his girls this morning and then just wasn't there when Em went to put them away in their house tonight! Maybe a fox? a wolf? or a viper? who knows, just isn't there anymore. Then to cap off a bad day, Zeus got the cheese straws Em had just baked! They were on one of Karen's beautiful blue China cake stands and that is now in tiny pieces! He is in disgrace having already done similarly with a piece of the Cornish Blue ware earlier in the week. Karen has been in England since last Saturday as her mother has been very ill and is still in hospital. We are looking forward to having Karen back tonight, but in the meantime I have been sewing up a storm, using her beautiful fine linen to create some slip dresses for her to layer with shirts and skirts. What a project- now I really am in Seventh Heaven! I have always said if I could spend my time between gardening and sewing, I would be very happy. And here I am.
Happy too because David is coming over on Monday for 3 days! We will travel by train together from Pisa to here and then again to Milan to fly back to Blighty together on Thursday for the last of my planned break. Seemed just too good an opportunity to miss and as he is now so practised with a Weedeater...! There are plenty of jobs to do here, the vege garden was my first project and apart from the chickens scratching up most of the potatoes and eating every ripe tomato, it is looking very nice! Note to self, large plots of land need large amounts of work to keep neat! Have tamed 2 wisteria and now they look as though they will romp up the pergola as intended. The first one I attacked a week ago and already it has sprouted some new spurs with flower buds on! Stand back!
On Tuesday I was able to train down to the Cinque Terre and join David's cousin Grant Fickling and his wife, Robyn to walk part of this area between 2 of the villages. I met them as they came off this first stage between Monterosso and Vernazza (2 hours) at 11 am and it was already extremely hot! Mad Dogs and all that, we started out on the next 2 hour walk at around 1pm. Searing heat and climb, climb, climb. Almost the anniversary of conquering the Ben last year and it took me right back! The trouble with hiking is that unless one goes slowly and remembers to stop and look around, all one sees is the ground in front! The towns are quaint and the colours of the houses in the 5 towns are stunning. There were thousands of visitors at this time of year as all clever Mediterranean dwellers take their holidays July or August - too hot to work! Sadly, in my view, the much lauded beach at Monterosso was covered with sun loungers and umbrellas for hire, much like the French Riviera without the sand! Bikinis and bulges en masse. Give me Waimarama any day. The track between the remaining 2 towns was closed for maintenance (looked like slips) so on Wednesday we took the boat and visited them. I have now completed that song, Trains and Boats and Planes that Fickles used to play on his guitar. So good to catch up with them.
For the 2 nights I had booked a hotel in La Spezia, to the south of the last of the 5 towns so I was able to join the local promenade of families enjoying the cooler evenings. It is really nice to see families out together in the evenings with babies and grannies enjoying each others company and not too bothered about sleep times. The children take a nap during the afternoon as is the norm with adults too as most of the shops shut for siesta. Wise people. The market was fair buzzing in the morning as the women were out gathering supplies to cook for the rest of the day.
As I near the end of the Med adventure, I am reflecting. It has been a time I am so fortunate to have spent experiencing so many items on the list!
Thank you, David for accommodating my wishes.
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