Breakdown

 On our first day of travel Wednesday we were 2 hours from our first stop when we had a tire blow out on a busy dual carriageway.  We were able to get to a pull off where MrFF unpacked the rather full boot to get the emergency wheel,  jacked up the car, got the wheel nuts off but couldn’t shift the wheel.  All this with traffic speeding last snd Lorrie’s wafting over our red warning triangle. I was standing for 3 hours behind the discuss barrier amongst briars and all kinds of rubbish, there was no where to sit down.  Our breakdown cover was pretty useless so we phoned a local garage who put us in touch with a tire fitter. Eventually rescue arrived the temporary wheel was fitted and we followed the mechanic back to the tyre shop where they said they had a used tyre to fit.  They wanted 150 euros for a bald not quite the right size tyre, we paid for the assistance and limped away on the replacement good for 50 miles at 50 miles per hour.  

After several phone calls, how did we cope before mobile phones, we located at Kwikfit Italia in Pisa what we needed.  They were fantastic, we got 2 new rear tyres, a shady place to sit and a gift of cantucci biscuits.  Instead of arriving our hotel around 4 for a swim and a snooze we were there by 9 but we got dinner, the warmest if welcomes and later watched England win the first game if the World Cup with the family.  They’d put up our the England flag for us and when Harry Kane scored the mama gave us both a hug.  Lovely people, we were restored after an awful ordeal that could have been a lot worse

Heading home

We leave tomorrow after 2 months in Italy.  We are at the usual miserable stage of closing down the house, packing while worrying about leaving the garden and our cat Olive.  I think we are both ready to go after all the usual weeks of work, gardening, roof repairs, painting, it’s getting hotter and mosquitoes are here.  So back to ilkley and our hopefully sunny little balcony that really cannot compete with this one

We have a night near Portofino tomorrow, two nights in Annecy and one in the champagne region, home on Sunday evening.  A heatwave is forecast in France and warmer weather in the UK.  

No mow May

This year I finally persuaded MrFF to stop mowing one of the areas of grass that he optimistically calls lawn. We’ve never in 22 years had anything like a decent lawn, without using hundreds and gallons of water and having a decent irrigation system not one they only covers small patches it’s impossible.  It’s also unnecessary. 

This year when we returned after he’d dealt with the knee high grass he settled into his routine of regular mowing.  After he’d cut the smaller higher area it looked like this.

I don’t think there is a blade of lawn grass in there, lots of dead couch grass, lots of live couch grass and some weeds.  Over the years we’ve tried to resow with suitable lawn seed, fertilised and applied weed and feed, all to no avail.  This year I told him it looked terrible and asked him to stop, cue heated discussion.  I eventually persuaded him to leave the lower larger area, it’s full of clover, pink, white and yellow and various wild flowers, maybe a few dandelions and other annoying weeds but I can live with them.  

The bees and butterflies are loving what I now call the lower meadow, it’s a joy to stroll down there and see the variety of pollinators feeding.  Not mowing apparently also increases the habitat for spiders, beetles etc and allows for deeper root development increasing drought resistance. It’s also saving MrFF effort and resources, I am not sure he is convinced but me and the environment love it.  No mow May and June are likely, in July and August we won’t be here, result. 

Olive is learning to knit socks

 

Behind the bombola

I’ve reached the stage of feeling happily back in control of the garden, at least I was until I watched Chelsea Flower Show on tv and realised there’s still a long way to go. 

The only area left to sort was behind the LPG tank, the bombola. Several years ago MrFF made a trellis to hide the front of the ugly and highly visible white tank, has no one thought of green.   Once the passion flower gets going it’s well hidden from the house and lower terrace.

I’d stalled on dealing with the area behind because it was totally overgrown with a tangle of dead ornamental grass, rampant weeds and another passion flower.  It’s tricky climbing into that area but my concern was there might be wasp nests or even snakes. I’d already come across a wasp nest about the size of a tangerine when cutting back other grass so I was wary mainly because I wouldn’t be able to make a quick exit.   

Anyway I finally got round to the work and happily there were no dangers waiting in there. I still have more to do but already it looks so much better. I really like seeing the wall again so I’ll try to keep control and just allow the passion flower to complement the stones. 

Dog Sitting

Our local Danish friend called by to ask a favour.  The family had planned a weekend trip to Germany and booked their two white sheepdogs into the rescue/vets from where they were originally adopted.  A few days before they were leaving they were told the rescue didn’t have room for them after all and as a last resort wondered if we would be able to help out for two days.  Of course we were happy to do so.

The plan was that the dogs would have access to the house and gardens, we’d get the key code for the gates and once each day top up their bowls of food and water, simple. However we were a little apprehensive.  We hadn’t seen the dogs for over a year and worried they might not appreciate strangers entering their territory. Bianca and Ellie are Maremma Abruzzese dogs traditionally used by shepherds to protect the flocks from wolves, quite protective creatures, quite big too.  The larger of the two weighs 45 kilos, about 7 stones, I weigh 9.

So we took full instructions and on the Saturday walked the mile to the house to be greeted by two large barking dogs jumping up at the gates.  Once we were inside they barked a bit more but calmed down when food appeared.  There were also treats for us to give them and a brush so I gave them a quick groom, that helped and pretty soon we were all friends.  

Next day we were looking forward to seeing them again, they didn’t bark at all and we spent time playing with them in the garden.   We really enjoyed being with such beautiful dogs, such a nice distraction that we have offered to do feed them again if it’s not for too long. 

Sad days

We are having a rather somber time in Italy following the death of two dear friends here.

Our lovely neighbour Giovanni died just after our return.  He was a true and generous friend to us.   Back in Ilkley MrFF always kept in touch sending Giovanni photos of his walks in the Dales but after Christmas Giovanni stopped responding. We received only a brief note telling us he was unwell.  It’s quiet in the mountainside  without him, as MrFF said we were used to waking early to the sound of him strimming his olive groves before it got too hot.  He gave us good advice on our olives and introduced us to the local mill though he was never much impressed by my flowers, if it wasn’t edible he wasn’t interested. 

On Saturday some of his family came from Rome to the house and kindly invited us to a pizza night to remember Giovanni. A regular occurrence in summer when Giovanni supervised the production of far too many delicious pizzas cooked in the outside oven and children and grandchildren arrived for the feast. This photo was taken when his wife Milena was still alive. 

Secondly a Danish friend with a house in a nearby village flew back to Copenhagen 3 weeks ago feeling unwell.  He was admitted to hospital and underwent a lot of  tests but sadly died at the weekend.   We didn’t know Knud that long but he was a kind and generous man who kept a beautiful garden.  We happily exchanged cuttings and he provided me with buckets full of marmalade oranges.  

Quiet days with much reflection, I keep gardening immersed in my memories of two very different men who both loved to grow things.