David flew into Pisa late on 12th August and I had trained down from Aulla to meet him and guide him back to Northern Tuscany. We had a wee trundle around the city before heading north again back to Karen's hospitality. On the route one passes Carrara which is the home of the marble used so extensively by Michelangelo, in Florence and indeed all over the world. To see the scars on these mountains where the quarries are is a reminder of how much damage we can do all in the selfish interests of our consumerism. I will certainly think twice before ever considering a marble benchtop!
We had a great time together at Settimo Cielo, David helping to clear the parking area together with Ari and Emily. More Prosecco consumed in the lovely surroundings and a fab Pizza evening created by Ari (actually not sure of the spelling, sorry). We all tried to guess whether the lovely wee jack russell, Ruby, actually was in pup to a cute stray who happened along at the wrong (right) time! Turns out she was and has had a litter of dear wee pups since I left! Oops. Had a fabulous time in Northern Tuscany and we are trying to work out how we can get a group together to return to explore the haunts Karen has discovered. Many delights on offer including trawling the antique shops for fabrics, taking a photography course with Karen who has been a professional photographer in a past life in the UK, being close to the Cinque Terre and having the advantage of Italian speaking hosts but with a complete understanding of the needs of New Zealand and British travellers.... If anyone is keen, just be in touch!!
David and I returned to the UK via Milan courtesy of Trenitalia and EasyJet and had a hassle-free departure from the relaxing lifestyle in the Med. Sad but hassle-free! Landed at Gatwick so that it was an easy journey south to catch up with friends near Lewes. Good mate from NZ, Dale, was looking after her granddaughter for a few weeks and our paths crossed in Lewes for just 24 hours! We were able to catch up with her and our hosts, the Bradleys (some of you will know Brad, ex Havelock North boy who knows more about what is happening in our town than we do!) for a drink or three and a pub lunch the following day. We actually had time to explore a little of the lovely town of Lewes and meet some of their friends at Breaky Bottom Winery where a very special champenoise style of bubbles is created along with Cassis. Very nice, and up on the hill is Kiri Te Kanawa's South England retreat!
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| The sweet Maisie |
We made our way north to stay with my cousin in London and took in the Jersey Boys show while there. Sue made us very welcome and we enjoyed a delicious dinner with cousin Murray and joined Sue in her dismay at a family health drama unfolding in the States with their son-in-law before we headed to Bath for the last few days of David's employment with Bath CC. It was very nice to meet up with old friends in Bath again and enjoy more of that beautiful city which feels very like home to us. Flying back to Edinburgh towards the end of August, we were able to spend time with Sarah, Simon and Maisie before we hired a car and headed down to Sheffield via Selkirk and morning tea with Jim and Mary. Always great to spend time with these two local heros and Souters through and through! "It's aye been" is a favourite saying of theirs describing why things don't need to change! We were on our way to the wedding of James Kingwell, son of David's long-suffering hosts over the summer in Bath. He married in the Peak district and we were treated to a great weekend enjoying the local hospitality and a sumptuous wedding breakfast, marquee and all! I had booked a night in a country house hotel in Yorkshire on the way back with dinner and breakfast thrown into the deal. Rowley Manor Hotel was trying very hard to get up there with the best but it had to try a little harder, poor thing. The food was absolutely superb but, oh dear, I wandered around the garden with a glass of wine, just dreaming of how it could be!! The pond had plastic bits and pieces floating in the mucky dregs and blackberry had taken over what was probably the "long herbacious border" at some time in its glorious past. What they needed was a Helpxer for a week or two!!
Saying goodbye to Sarah, Simon and wee Maisie was made easier with the knowledge that they had booked flights to New Zealand for Christmas this year!! So looking forward to seeing them all again and having another squeeze of that wee sweetie. We are constantly asked if we will be going back to the UK again next year and while we say "Never say Never" we feel ready to enjoy more of what New Zealand has to offer and plan to hunker down next winter and enjoy our cosy home, (maybe!).
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