Written on 10th December 2005
CAROLE B's BACK…
WITH MORE BLURB!
Well November is with us once again – heralding the onset of winter which is just around the corner.
The weather hasn’t been too good here recently, load and loads of rain and two brief ‘spurts’ of snow above the 2000m mark. They have however forecast snow above the 1300m mark within a couple of days. That’s how they forecast snow here – they give you the height of the ‘snow line’. So I know that with the 2000m mark, the (my) mountain ‘out back’ will have snow two thirds of the way up, and at the 1.3k mark it’s not going to be too far from me…. though my village is only 215m ‘ASL’ (approx. 650ft).
My Lemon tree and ‘non hardy’ hibiscus have now been placed in a protected spot (aka the spare bedroom) away from frost. All the other plants are hardy so no worries there. All the reasonable apples I picked, plus about a ‘zillion kilo’s’ of zucche (smallish pumpkins-about 1 to 3 kilo each) which were given to me by neighbours, have been stored in the cool of my little hay store in the garden. I knew it would come in handy for something other than garden tools……
One of the old ladies in the village arranged for her grandson to come and tidy the garden for me. He says he is a landscape gardener(?) and has made a wonderful job in the corner where I drive in with the car. It just got totally overtaken by weeds and almost throttled my new rosemary, sage and lavender plants. He cleared it all and laid that black ‘anti-weed’ material which he covered with rough deep burgundy coloured gravel. In addition he found a huge discarded chestnut tree trunk on the mountain and brought it down as a feature, with a selection of rocks (which I find for free in my garden and across the road) in this corner. He planted two mature jasmine ‘climbers’ against the wall and has trained them onto wires so they will eventually hide that particular wall which is just concrete. The remaining walls in the garden are all dry stone. Very old and really very picturesque with small ferns and 'whatever' growing out of the cracks.

A couple of weeks ago I was ‘having tea’ – as one does – with one of the sisters that sold me the house. They all grew up in it (as it was), and when ‘il papà’ died the girls and one brother were left the land, and the remaining brother (the one who was always Brahms and Liszt (piXXed) at 10am every day), was left the house and land that I bought. So the others, (land wise), are now my neighbours. It is one of their sons and his wife who hope to build a small house below mine. But it will be much lower so isn’t going to block my beautiful views of the Alps… However, I digress. The sister who has become a friend was telling me that family ‘legend’ has it, the where my house is there has always been a building, and way back as far as the 1500’s there was a large barn/stable here on this plot of land….it does seem incredible that part of the foundations of the house could be over 500 years old!!! So now I’m going to try hunting through old village archives to see what I can find. I Know that the ‘parochial’ archives are stored in an attic room in the village church, and that they are maintained by the family who have owned the village shop for at least a ‘zillion’ years…… The village council will be my next port of call for the state archives – but I won’t hold my breath on them too much. I find the possibility that some of the (now covered) stone walls of the house may have been there for that long quite exciting! I have left one small part (approx. 4ft x 2ft) of the stone walls bare in the kitchen as a ‘focal point’. It looks quite effective too. I hope I can find some kind of historical records about it’s age.

Friday 25th November
I think many of us are in the grips of the first real taste of 'winter'. From what I hear from Sky News it's pretty widespreadin the UK too. I saw reports from Bodmin Moor (Devon) and the derailment at Aviemore (Scotland). Thank goodness these episodes weren’t worse! Up here it started snowing yesterday morning and didn't stop 'til late last night. It was cold -9c and the cloud obscured all views except my garden and the 'mountain' out back.
But this morning when I opened the 'persiane' (shutters) upstairs, the view was breathtakingly beautiful. I could see the snow covered mountains quite clearly right up the Val Chiavenna as far as the first Swiss Alps, and a long way up the Valtellina towards Bormio and Aprika, which are both famous ski resorts. There was more snow down at my level (650ft) than there seemed to be on the peaks 'out front' (some of them are nearly 8500ft)!
But all that has now changed - it started snowing again, but more heavily, mid morning so the view has once again disappeared. But my garden is really beautiful with all the trees wearing their white 'bridal dresses', and the contrast where the bright red berries peep through is wonderful... It's at times like this that it becomes clear why Mother Nature makes the berries so red... so the birds can find them easily! Though I have put bread, nuts and scraps out for them, and a few pieces of ham fat tied to string on the bird table.
Despite the snow that is now falling quite heavily, the village children have gathered on the slight hill road behind my house with their toboggans and are thoroughly enjoying themselves going up and sliding down. There must be about twenty of them at the moment. From my little studio (office) I look out straight onto this road and the back of the mountain. It is, for me, a very new experience, and one that I find......(?) I can't find a word to describe the feeling. Satisfying fits the bill maybe?

Sunday 27th November
Well it finally stopped snowing yesterday evening. The local Commune (Council) sent out their 'snow plough' to clear the village roads and lanes... My car is bigger than their plough! But for around the narrow lanes here it is just fine. It has 'dinky' little caterpillar tracks and moves at a real rate of knots around all the bends. Mind you its arrival certainly didn't please the kids with their toboggans! This morning the sun has put his hat on and has come out to brighten up what was an already beautiful landscape. I wish I had my (promised for Christmas) digital camera here NOW.... I'm not really a 'photo' person, but when it's like this outside I so wish I could share the beauty that surrounds me with all of you.
The temperature here is holding, despite the sunshine, at about minus 5c... But my village is known as the 'dark village' because we get no sun light directly here from mid November due to the height and nearness of Monte Legnone. The locals tell me that the sun will be back, peeping over the summit, on 10th February (?). I don't disbelieve them, I wouldn’t dare! So the snow on my 'little acre' remains about 10" deep and pristine...with just a couple of animal tracks weaving across the grass under the trees. Nothing exciting I don't think. Just someone’s cat, or dog or maybe a fox. Bet they had cold, wet 'puds' by the time they
got home though - whoever they were....
Me? Well today I'm staying in the warm. Should have been going to a '105th birthday party' of a village resident for lunch. But, for obvious reasons, it's been put off to another day.

Tuesday 29th November
Well it’s been snowing a bit more overnight, and they’ve forecast more today. The temperature hasn’t risen above minus 4c since last Friday, and has gone as low as minus 11c during the night and early morning. But not yet as cold as last winter. Luckily I don’t mind the cold….

Sergio is due for a 5 day break on 15th December. Lynsey – his partner for 3 years – is coming too. He can’t make it over Christmas and new Year because (like British Telecom was) it’s his ‘busy time of year’. It will be lovely to see them again though.
I had hoped to have the family up for Christmas day, but Daniela’s (my niece) husband has just had an operation on his knee, her youngest son is due back in hospital in mid December to have an operation on his shoulder, and her eldest son has just got a new job and it seems he has to work on Christmas morning and New Years day….so it will be me travelling to them this time I think.Perhaps next year we/they will all be fit to come up here and we’ll have a ‘mountain Christmas. (can’t wait – it’s like being a kid again…..).

I’ll close this now, I now have to hunt for the stash of Christmas cards I had….they’re in one of the blxxdy boxes I’ve still got to open, and I don’t know which one! I’ve found the Christmas decorations (that I haven’t used for years), and my little optic fibre Christmas tree, so we’ll get those up in the next few days. Don’t need to buy a larger tree – having two 25ft Christmas trees not 10yards from the front door.

It's just been one of those days today... The weather's been as gloomy as I have. No sunshine - not even accross the valley. Though it does (when it's not in hiding) shine here on my house for three hours (and rising) every day now.

There were two highlights to my day today - how lucky can I get? The first was when the dog decided it would be fun to bugger off on his own when I opened the door. 'Til now he's only gone out on an extending lead. Waste of time calling him - he had become instantly deaf....(how do dogs do that?) Well I wasn't chasing him (hahaha - just the thought curls me up). So I came back in , closed the door, and invited him - under my breath - to 'va a ramengo'.....! Twenty minutes later - scratching at the door - yes he'd returned - and so full of himself you'd have thought he'd just won a gold medal at the Olympics. Well a quick 'clout round the ear' (metaphorically speaking) soon ensured that he returned to reality with a bump. But I got my back on him this afternoon (ha!) 'cos I left him on his own when I went off to the second highlight of the day. I'm sure I can't keep this mad pace of life up. This time it was the 'Circolo dei Anziani' - and today it was to celebrate Carnevale-hooray! How did we celebrate it? We did play Bingo... Hand written bingo cards, and you get a prize if you get two numbers on a line, then a prize if you get five numbers on a line and finally - the 'biggie' a full house. The prizes? Oh yes , 2 numbers - a miniature shampoo from Holiday Inn, 5 numbers-a 100g pannetone from the local biscuit factory. And 'guess who won the 'full house'? Yep...I did! A nice little gift wrapped basket with a Jar of Fig jam, 5 Pocket Coffee's and a 250g packet of Lavazza ground coffee. Then we had some home made 'crostata' (like giant jam tarts) that was truly 'to die for', and a half a plastic cupful of spumante.
But I shouldn't be down in the mouth. At the end of the day, the company was good, we had a laugh when I started telling a few 'ladies' jokes (the men wouldn't lower themselves to come to these meetings - except Don Silvano). I came away after two hours of 'calm' enjoyment and with the promise from another lady (not Mariucia) that in the next couple of days a few nice bits of fresh killed pork will come my way (they killed their pig this morning - it's all very normal conversation for them, but for me? Well....).
I also have a date (?) with three other 'oldies' for a day out in Switzerland in March, so long as I drive! And we're all going to the village restaurant on the 8th for a 'Giorno dell Donna' supper. So despite my low morale earlier, the day hasn't turned out too bad. I know it's not up to what the 'younger ones' consider to be 'OK living' - but as Rhett Butler said -"Personally my dear, I don't give a damn"!

Now I wonder what delights tomorrow holds in store for me and 'his nibs'?

Wanna hear a joke to end with?

"Two Irish road workers in Scotland to help build a new Motorway... Out for a walk in the mountains one Sunday afternoon. They see two guys coming towards them carrying some really superb salmon. "Where did you catch those"? asked Paddy... "Oh it's easy" says Jock. "You just find a bridge, get your mate to hold you over the parapet by the ankles, and when a salmon swims by, you grab it and shout to your mate to pull you up".

Well Paddy was really excited about this and he agreed with Liam that they would try it. It was quite safe as there was a Scotch Mist rolling in, so no one would see them 'poaching'. They found a bridge, and Liam lowered Paddy over the edge... barely two minutes later Paddy yelled "Pull me up - for God's sake, pull me up - quick"!
"Have you got one"? asked Liam.
"No" replied Paddy, "There's a bloody train coming"!!!!!

Bye for now. Back another day!

Meet 'Don Silvano' our village priest (Parroco). This photo was taken at the local Circolo dei Anziani Christmas supper.

Yesterday evening he called at the house at about 7.30pm. He had come for the 'Annual Blessing of the Home'. Before I could say a word he explained that he knew I wasn't a Catholic, and that he hoped that despite that I wouldn't be a stranger at the 'Circolo dei Anziani'. Well I enjoy their twice monthly get togethers and told him so.... (he's always there at the meetings too).

He asked if I would like him to bless the house, and I asked if that would be OK from his point of view - he then surprised me when he said, "I'm sure our God is the same one, it's just that he speaks to everyone differently - that's all"!
Well he had a coffee and we sat and chatted about my view of life in 'his' village. He said he'd like to come to the English style 'cheese and wine' get together that I'm planning. He also asked if he could look at what I'd done to 'Nello's House', explaining that he knew all the family and tried for years to help Ornello who was, he said, un' anima disperata! So I showed him round, and he was very complimentary, but made me laugh when he said he was pleased that I'd got rid of all the empty bottles that filled what was the 'cantina' (cellar). That room is now the downstairs bathroom.
Our next 'Circolo' is in Wednesday and I have three elderly neighbours that are going to 'call for me'.... One of them - Mariucia - called on Friday and brought me two little salami's (cacciatori). They are from their own pigs, so are basically 'home made'... she explained that they has slaughtered four pigs this year (their's is a large familiy), and that she would bring me some frozen pork chops soon! What can you say to such kindness? She is the matriarch and is a widow like me - but she is 82 and has only ever been out of the village to go up a nearby valley to their summer house. That's all of 9 miles away! I have asked her if she would like to come out with me (and possibly another couple of widowed ladies) for the day (you never know, we might even bump into 'George' Cloony)? Perhaps to Aprika or Bormio or even Como - But no...she say's she doesn't like travelling by car, and even to go up the 9 miles to their 'baita' she takes a travel sickness pill!
So the highlight this week is to be the 'Circolo' - I wonder what they'll lay on this time? The last one I went to it was 'Bingo'!!!! Don't laugh - it was absolute chaos, like a mad house (I kid you not...) - they all cheat! Mind you, considering the prize for a full house it really didn't matter. The prize? Three biscuits instead of one with you're drink! Now THAT is living!!!!

Oh what it is to be an "Alpine Settler" - I love it!!!

Written on Sunday 19th February.
This last week has been a strange sort of week. The weather has been a bit ‘all over the place’. It started out with some nice warm days where the temperature rose to a good 5°c and didn’t drop below freezing for three nights. That situation of course brought us some rain (finally). The first we’ve seen here since early November.
That lasted for about 24hrs and started the ‘melt’ (yes – another one). The beauty of having the rain combined with ‘melt water’ is that the little waterfall behind the house is now back in action. Yesterday the sound of rushing water under the road and into the channel at the side of the house was so relaxing. This does mean too that the snow in the garden began to melt. In fact every so often there is a whooshing sound, the a sort of sloshy crunch when another chunk of snow slides off the roof. So I have to be careful when the mutt goes into the garden – a chunk of that, though not large by our standards would probably polish the poor little mutt off….. He’s decided he doesn’t like the rain, and he’s not too keen now that the snow we still have isn’t still frozen. Despite his trying to walk on it ‘on tip toe’ he still sinks up to his neck, then rushes back to me for assurances that he’s safe. Then of course, as dogs do, he shakes himself all over me!

But the rain didn’t last long, and yesterday it started snowing again. That lasted for about 12 hours, but it was wet, slushy snow, so the snow ploughs kept the lanes clear quite easily. It’s not snowing now, but they have forecast another 24hrs of it – starting this afternoon.

Yesterday (Saturday) was a bit of a ‘Red Letter Day’ for #1 son… His dance club group (Club Class) held the first of their ‘own’ monthly Saturday night ‘residency’ with their own DJ’s at the world famous Ministry of Sound club in London. This for Serge and his business partner is the culmination of nine years of really hard work and ‘risk taking’. They have done so well – I’m really proud of him! A couple of the younger members of the family flew over from Milano for the ‘first night’ – they’re due back this afternoon – if they wake up in time for their flight – hahaha! Serge is taking his DJ Agency staff to Amsterdam for two days, as a thank you, to see Depeche Mode…. Lucky whatsits!
What with his bar grill/restaurant right on the river at Maidstone in Kent, and his DJ agency, plus some consultancy work on club music with BBC Radio One his feet hardly touch the ground anymore. And that means that I see less and less of him – but never mind – that’s what children are supposed to do – ‘fly the nest’ – isn’t it?

It's been a quiet day today - like a Sunday 'should' be.... Nice drop of sunshine to start off with. Then my usual caffe latte and Ciccio with his cornflakes, milk and just a 'smidgin' of sugar (yes he's acquired the taste for cornflakes for breakfast - but he does not get the Kellogg's (expensive) kind, rather the 'own brand' from the supermercato! And he doesn't get them every morning either.... But he does have plain 'riso soffiato' with his main meal every day.

I do wish though, that the churches here would teach some 'bell ringers' to ring the bells on Sunday mornings! There are very few things that I do miss but I always loved hearing the church bells ringing in the distance when I was at home on a Sunday morning. Pure nostalgia - but nice memories of quiet peaceful moments even so.

Today I've been sending messages and confirmations and the like to various family and friends who are now starting to organise their visits out here to me..... It looks like it's really going to be a busy and exciting summer.
So far it looks like this :
1. Mid March - Sergio and Lynsey for a long weekend.
2. Mid April a friend flies in to Bergamo then stays with me.
3. At some time I'll have to find time to visit and stay with friends and Sergio in the UK, ending up with 'best friends', both retired, who will be returning with me in the car when I come home. But when I do that - one of my niece's and her husband will be staying here to 'house sit' for me.

4. Of course there's the "Expats in Italy Monster GTG" on 3rd June.

5. Then in August 'the friends' son and his wife are coming over for a 10 day visit too.
6. And sometime in the summer 5 or six of my (then) 'junior managers' are planning on us holding a weekend 'reunion' here at my place....

So as you can see it is really a year to look forward to... I love having visitors, seeing old friends, having a good gossip, seeing how their families have moved on and grown up.

Yes, all in all it's been a nice Sunday!

I was struck when I saw the photo that Cristina posted as a 'Test Photo' (which has nothing to do with me) under this entry. Surprised at how clearly this demonstrated the difference in the use and type of building materials used in times past in different areas....

Her picture was, I would imagine, taken in 'central' Italy. Tocana, Umbria? That way anyway.... With all those warm colours, the brick reds and beige all reflecting a warm atmosphere. Colours which I love!

So much so, that in my kitchen I based the tiles, cabinets and worktops around a similar colour scheme. I did however want to retain a 'view of the original 'stonework' on which the house rests, and to that end I got the builders to leave this panel that you can see above, and which they put a border round before tiling. As you can see this is formed from the local granite - so abundant here, and this wall we 'think' is part of the 500 year old barn foundation on which the older part of the house was built. This grey and often 'shiny' granite seems unable to reflect the warmth of the other photo, but it does reflect the 'icy cold' of an alpine region I think.

But that difference in colours is striking don't you think? Both very beautiful, but so very different!

Here's Ciccio... not very happy at all today as you can see. He's got an upset tummy and considers that this allows him to take over my office chair....

We're both feeling a little bit cheesed off today. It started off really sunny this morning, and I noticed that the sunlight actually fell on my neighbours house at lunchtime - so it's really getting nearer. Only SIX days to go and it gets here to me too!

I wonder how many of you are like me - I have never in all my life considered 'where the sun is'. It's always just been 'up there' - you know, in the sky. But now, living in the shadow of a mountain it gives a new perspective to everything. It doesn't bother me at all, but I can imagine that the real 'sun lovers' would hate it.

If it's nice tomorrow I think we'll go down 'lakeside', have a stroll around the little harbour at Colico, let Ciccio see (possibly) his very first ducks and swans. I wonder how he'll react? He can't, fortunately, get close to them, but I'm sure they will make more noise than him.... Then perhaps a nice cold 'Crodino' in the bar - pass a bit of time watching the Italians on their 'passegiata'.... they do it anywhere and everywhere. Just 'saunter up and down' so everyone will be able to admire how beautiful they are!
After that, home to lunch. If it's a bit chilly - it's up to 2°c here today - then we'll maybe do it in the afternoon.
Then if all goes to plan it's off to Milano on Tuesday with (I hope), lunch with Alice from Expats in Italy - it's the first time we've met, but to make sure we 'get' the right person Alice has given me a 'sectret code' LOL!!!! Plus some other things I need to do, then dinner with the family and the late 18th birthday celebration (no not mine - I wish), but my great nephew Aaron is still at school but who also plays for Atalanta FC Juniors.
His ex team mate (they've both played for Atalanta since they were 8yo) plays for the Italy 'under 17' team and was recently transferred to Fiorentina (played against Juve a couple of weeks ago). If Aaron hadn't suffered two injuries last year which required operations, he would almost certainly be in the same bracket. The goal keeper from the same team was bought by Arsenal FC in England as a reserve keeper, and yet another is also playing for the Italian junior team.... Now Aaron is back in full training we are hoping that he will progress in the same manner. We are all very proud of him.