First of all I need to point out that I'm fed up with this bl**dy computer. For some reason the 'Picasa' programme that I got from the 'Hello' part of eblogger has decided it won't work. That's why you cant see the chickens on the previous blog.... I've been trying and trying to get it to work for a week, but 'no go'.

Then this morning my radiators sounded as if they were all leaking - at least I could hear water dripping - but it was inside them - (?) A quick look at the boiler under the roof confirmed my worst fears - yes I'd got a leak right next to this 'all singing, all dancing' German monstrosity. A quick call to the agents for the boiler had a technician at my door this afternoon. It was caused by TWO faulty valves. One was letting water 'dribble' out of the system and the other was allowing air in. Well the boiler was due for it's first annual revision in two weeks time, so we decided to go ahead with it now. So having done that and changed the valves all problems were solved except the hole in my purse - not for the repairs or the work - but for the service revision I opted for last year - goodbye to €90 ... That on top of my gas bill for the last two and a half months )which is an estimate and must be wrong) for €904 - suicide is looking increasingly attractive at the moment. (LOL)

This morning was expensive too - with Ciccio off for his 'microchip' and to book is first anti- rabies jab for next month. He had his other jabs last week, after the vet got back the results that he'd been given nothing by who ever had him before. So both these visits have said goodbye to just over €70 as well. For his passport to travel to the UK it's going to be a long haul. First his jab, then wait 3 or 4 weeks for it to take. Then blood samples to be taken and sent to the University of Padova for analysis. If that shows it's 'taken' then there's a wait of 130 days before the vet can issue his passport for the UK. I can have one straight away for mainland Europe - but not for the UK. Though it has made things difficult - I fully accept these stringent anti-rabies laws for the UK.

So frantic calls to the friend who was due to visit on 22nd April and travel back in the car with me and Ciccio... and to the other two friends who were coming back with me at the end of May to stay for a while. My holiday has had to be put 'on hold'. Pat is, after all still coming over on the 22nd, and she'll stay for two weeks, so that's nice. Still waiting to hear from the others about their stay in June which was to have included the GTG... Then of course Sergio was due over about now, even if only for a weekend. But he phoned on Saturday to say he couldn't make it....he's off to Miami in Florida for work for a week at the 'World Music something or other'.s'..

So apart from those couple of little 'glitches' everything is fine, and I'm totally....totally - well totally 'fed up'!

Thank heavens the sun has been shining all day today, but because of the boiler problem I couldn't get to the 'Circolo' this afternoon - so four of the members called in to make sure I was OK, and stayed for a cup of tea.

The fruit trees are beginning to look 'bald' now - Michele is gradually getting them pruned. I used the last of the apples from last autumn over the weekend. Did the just baked in the ove - boy were they good. Got one large squash (like a pumpkin) left now...i'll probably do that this cominf weekend. I'll clean it out and stuff it with a 'meat loaf' type mix I think. Loads of garlic and persley. The last one I did was great!

I hope I can find out why I can't post photo's anymore - that os really galling!

Bye for now!

A presto.