November 2004 to January 2005
Very sorry that there have been no updates posted recently. As you may know we've been busy having a baby and with it being 'number three' it has been chaos at Casa del Sole (not to mention the olive harvest, guests etc!)
WEATHER:
It's been a funny old end of year and beginning of the new one. In general the weather has been very mild without much rain so the olive harvest was very good and easy to do (see the olive update on the 'olive adoption page').
However, in mid January we had some severe storms which knocked many trees down in our woodland leaving us without telephone and electricity for a while. Fortunately we didn't have guests stopping that week and it was only us who had to chainsaw our way through the fallen trees to get to the town. This unusually windy weather continues even now and I now don't bother going anywhere without the chainsaw in the boot of the car!
The temperatures at this time of year (late Jan) are about normal at around 3 - 15 degrees (it depends if you are in the sun or not!). Thank goodness for our central heating and for the roof insulation Richard finally managed to complete a couple of months ago.
PERSONAL:
We are all delighted to introduce Vittorio Turnbull born on the 27 th December 2004. All went well with the birth (except that I arrived at the hospital too late to have an epidural and there is no other form of pain relief available. not even an asprin. OUCH!).
He's a little star and his brothers adore him - he even sleeps most of the night.
I was bed-bound for 3 weeks after the birth so apologies to all those who tried to email during this period and didn't get an immediate response - even I am entitled to some maternity leave.
Heather (the au-pair) had a good holiday back in the UK over Christmas and has returned to Casa del Sole to help with the new addition this year.
Gregory has started football lessons and although has a small problem remembering which are his own goal posts is enjoying them enormously. I keep getting told off for shouting at him to kick the ball the other way - the instructor thinks I'm heckling him.
Marco, at 18 months is finally starting to speak. his favourite words are 'chainsaw' and 'brother' which he pronounces 'bugger'!
What else has been happening? Well, in November we had the Gator (6 wheel, all terrain vehicle that I broke my arm on earlier in the year!) confiscated. Richard parked it on the main road waiting for collection by the local garage for a service and because it isn't taxed etc. it was towed away. Finally, after much pleading (apparently they are entitled to keep it and auction it off) we were fined around £500 and are allowed to get it back. However, we have to wait for a 'release form' for it and still we wait. this is Italy so it could be another couple of months! Anyway, I was quite happy about the whole thing as I've not liked the machine since my little accident and have now managed to persuade Richard to sell it.
Richard was most pleased that Vittorio waited until after Christmas to arrive / he'd really been looking forwards to his Christmas dinner. We had been invited to join Dantes family and 24 of us sat down to eat!
BUILDING WORK:
No building work is going on at the farm at the moment but Richard is busily working away with Dante for other people. He's becoming somewhat of an expert at roofing (it seems that everyone needs a new one!). There is quite a lot of work and the men seem to pick the jobs within range of a good place to have lunch - what a life!
GUESTS:
We have only just started our season again in the little houses. Mainly for people wanting to go skiing and sightseeing. There are still some weeks left in the Chestnut House and Lodge but the Farmhouse is already booked up and we're now taking bookings for 2006.
ANIMALS:
All the animals are fine. Morgan the rescue dog is becoming more and more tame and Sam the puppy is growing daily. All the cats are well apart from Tigger who has a sore paw - it looks like it has been bitten but I can't imagine what creature would bite a cat's foot.
We are hoping to bring my horse across from the UK at some point this year - if anyone has any advice then please share it with me.
FINALLY:
We truly have had the busiest of 3 months - olive harvest, new baby, Christmas etc. Let's hope we are never as busy again!