"Alpine Settler": May 2006

My 'Rolled Roast'

20th May 2006

Well this was the sequence of my 'rolled roast' preparation for Heather and John.....

Start with a large piece of beef (from the chest - like you use for corned beef) - get the butcher to slice it open to make a large 'plate sized' layer.

On that lay 1st some preferred cheese (I like Bitto) then a layer of thin sliced 'prisciutto cotto'.
In the meantime beat 4 eggs and make a 'frittata' (like an omelette, but flat!). Let this cool and then lay on top of the filling to which I added several chopped leaves of fresh sage.

Once this is completed you then need to (very) carefully roll it all up like a 'swiss roll' and tie it with string to hold it together

.

Then it's just a case of putting it into your casserole dish and cooking it as a 'pot roast'....

This one was so delicious, this 'idiot' forgot to take a photo when it was cooked!!!

Meet Heather & John

8pm - 17th May 2006.

Well they finally arrived after a bit of a 'faux pas' (by me) at Linate Airport.

I had checked out the parking for people with disabilities (me and John) and thought I knew what to do and where to go!!!!
Ha - as if.... Well having followed the signs and printed web site instructions, after approx 10 yards of my approach to the parking entrance it was very clear that the carefully printed instructions I had were intended for Louis Bleriot or Charles Lindbergh - NOT for 'Moi' in 2006. They'd bl**dy moved everything!

The trouble was, I was by now committed and HAD to get out and get my parking ticket - get back in, then go and find the allocated parking spots. Well that done, I then had a bit of a hike to the Arrivals Terminal in what turned out to be the hottest afternoon so far this year - it was 32°c ..... Then I couldn't find the place to show my documents for getting my free parking. So 'to the rescue' came a gorgeous Carabinieri - sigh - who accompanied me to the relevant office window and took me to the front of the queue (I could feel the daggers in my back).

But all turned out well and 'they' finally arrived - on time too! Then it was home and the first meeting with the 'mutt'...As you can see (sorry the pics are a bit blurred) it was an almost 'mutual admiration society'.

More stories to follow, as while they were here there really wasn't much time to blog anything, so I just took loads of pics which I'll sort out as I go.
A presto....

Getting Excited.... Yes - 'Moi'!

Well it's 10am, and I think everything's ready now for my 'best friends' visit from the UK.
I've known Heather and John since we all began working together in an International telephone exchange (now a 'call centre') in 1980....
We have been very close over the years, even if our lives went in somewhat different directions within the company we worked for. We have all recieved, and given to one another, such strong support through various family trials and problems that I guess we're really like a very close family. Who could ever forget the love that I recieved from this wonderful couple the night Sergio was stabbed and nearly died.....their love and understanding was - to be honest - far beyond friendship. And on many other sad and happy occasions I have always wanted to share these times with them.

This is the second time they've visited this house. They came over last year for a month to help me move in.... and I met them at the Mont Blanc as a surprise so on the actual day of 'my moving in' I had them by my side. They've done this once before when I moved 270 miles north from Brighton to Grimsby for my job - and there they were, sleeves rolled up (as last year) ready to help. We're non of us getting any younger these days and despite friends like these, I don't think I'm going to move again!!!! We'll just continue to have nice little holidays together instead!

So in a couple of hours I'll set off for the Milan airport at Linate to collect them, and so will start what I know will be a wonderful week together.

So "Watch This Space........."

What SHALL I do today?

More to the point what do I 'want' to do today???? To be quite honest I really really don't want to do anything......

Today there is a bit of 'watery' sunshine peeping through some pretty heavy clouds. There was another small dusting of snow on the nearby peaks last night (above 1000m) following a heavy thunderstorm with some lightning yesterday evening.

All this has left me 'totally' cheesed off today...and if anyone else says about the storms - "Well we really needed the rain" - I'll throttle 'em.... We've had about a 'zillion' tons of snow melt over recent weeks and quite a few entire days when it has stayed grey and 'chucked it down' - so don't tell me we need it here. I don't believe you! In England, yes! They are desperate for sustained rain - their reservoirs, I understand, are running dry....and SE England still has LAST Summer's hose pipe ban in place.

Well I'm off now to make a nice cup of Twinings Assam tea and I'm going to sit quietly and watch this weeks Eastenders 'omnibus'. So that means the 'mutt' is going to want to lay across my chest for a 'cuddle'...But if only he wouldn't gaze into my eyes at the same time - 'cos that means I can't see a bl**dy thing on the TV and end up 'chucking him off'.

Eh beh - cosi e la vita!!!!

Food - Again!!!!

The last look at our food....

Here you can see the mess of glasses, bottles, bread, pill boxes and side salads (see we WERE good) on the table ready for the main course...

My 'nodino di vitello alla Milanese' with grilled zucchini - Paddy had the same, but made me jealous by having french fries with hers (I did pinch one though - just to satisfy the longing....)

Then - last but not least - The Grande Finale!

Yes you've guessed it ....... Paddy's dessert.
And today? Well this was meringue with an ice cream filling and topped with flaked almonds and hot chocolte sauce poured over it....

I told Paddy - "This is the last time that I allow you to torture me with these desserts".... She apologised and promised never to do it again - at least not until her next visit in October!!!!! (Cheeky mare)

One Of The Days Out!

C

an't remember quite which day this was, but it was towards the end of Paddy's stay.
I have a particular rerstaurant that I like (when the weather is good), which has a covered 'dining' terrace right at the side of the lake. It is at Domaso at the top of the opposite side from me....

This photo is taken from their terrace looking towards 'my mountain' - My village is tucked just round the other side of the little hump leading down from where you can see the woods.

The food is super, and they specialise in 'lake fish' - lavarello, trout, pesce persico etc. All really good. The restausrant though is on the other side of the road - as you can see here! And the food is carried over by some pretty 'nimble staff' in the summer. But toady we were served by the owner Daniela, who can be seen here navigating the traffic with part of our meal. Paddy thought it was hilarious, though it is quite common at many 'lakeside' restaurants where they cannot build on the shore itself.

There were two Dutch and one German family eating here at the same time as us....and they were looking to rent some rooms here above the restaurant for later in the summer.

The New Italian President

Well today the Italians have a new President....Giorgio Napolitano is a widely respected senator - for - life.

He was elected during the fourth round of voting by the 1,009 electors – members from the two houses of parliament and regional representatives.The Italian Parliament elected this centre-left candidate – an 80-year-old former Communist – as the country’s next president, paving the way for Romano Prodi to form his new government - possibly next week sometime.There was long applause in Parliament after the necessary total of 505 votes was reached at about 1pm local time today.Voting started on Monday, but no candidate won the two-thirds of votes necessary for victory in the first three rounds of balloting. Ex Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s conservative bloc had been reluctant to back Napolitano. Only a simple majority was needed in today’s fourth round of voting.When you see/hear that he was a former communist - he was indeed....but an Italian 'pink' communist as opposed to the conception of the 'old' Soviet style Red Communism! Many cities and towns still have a large number of communists as elected representatives and Bologna's (as one example) city council is run by the Italian Communist Party. The new Leader of the House of Representatives - Bertinotti - was, until last week, the leader of the Italian Reform Communist Reform Party.
But be clear - this does not mean that Italy is now a commmunist state. It is NOT!

Chocolate too - WOW!

2nd May 2006
A bit blurred as photo's go....but a moment not to be missed, and likely never to be repeated.

This was his first taste of chocolate!!!!
I don't think he could believe his taste buds....
He then rushed over to me, and as you can see below, the look says it all -
"Sex

and chocolate - all in ONE day. Wow, this IS living"!!!!!

WOW or what?

2nd May 2006
He - the mutt - has just come back from his very first 'Obedience Class' - well that title in itself is a travesty as far as HE is concerned....How come he is so good and quite well behaved most of the time indoors - yet the minute he sets foot outside he suffers from instant deafness?

But as you can see here - he's now 'full of his own importance'!

But to Paddy's embarrassment while there he met and fell in love with Nikita! A 'stunning' boxer - and she fancied Ciccio too. Well you don't need any imagination to know exactly how this ended up! Right on Paddy's feet too...... She 'ooh'd' and 'aah'd' and blushed at their antics while Debora (Nikita's owner) and I fell about laughing. It was hilarious......he couldn't reach - he could really have done with a step ladder!!!!! But then she decided to co-operate and laid on Paddy's feet - (even more blushes) hahahaha!

Leaving Varenna

3rd May 2006
This is Varenna halfway down the lake on the eastern shore. This is one of the four points where you can catch the small car ferry that plies back and forth across the lake - saving a lot of time and many kilometers of driving.

Here is our

'traghetto' arriving - as you can see they are quite small, but they can load about 15 standard size cars when it's busy. They carry coaches too.

They cross the lake between Varenna (east side), Belaggio (centre), Menaggio and Cadenabbia both on the west side).

The cost to cross is reasonable - for Paddy and I plus a car 'up to 4.5m length' the single crossing - Varenna to Belaggio was €10.50, and the same from Belaggio to Cadenabbia.

Unloading from the ferry via the ramp - easy peasy!

Crossing Lake Como

3rd May 2006

These are the (misty) views we saw from the traghetto as we crossed the lake.....

The first is the top of the point of the 'inverted Y' that is Lake Come. It's on this point that you find Belaggio!

Whereas this view is looking down the lake towards the only island - Isola Comaccino - that you can just see. (For those who 'adore' George (C) - his villa is on the lake shore just below that island).

And here is the approach to Belaggio. As you can see, the lake on that day was like the proverbial 'mill pond'.

An afternoon in Belaggio!

3rd May 2006

This was the view from the traghetto as we neared Belaggio....a very pretty town, but packed full of tourists all year round. Not quite as expensive as St. Marks Square in Venice, but still costly compared with many other places around the lake. Here you can seee the landing stage and some of the VERY expensive hotels along the lake front. The most famous (IMHO) is the Villa Serbelloni - right on the point of the Belaggio promontory - very large and despite the cost - very popular.

Here you can see another car ferry just leaving for Menaggio across the opposite side of the lake from Varenna.

And last - but not least - yet 'another' of Paddy's world beating ice creams!
This one is with 'fruit of the forest and cream' ice cream - topped with fresh strawberries, blackberries, cherries and blueberries then whipped cream AND just a 'smidgin' of chocolate sauce!!!!

In Paddy's own words after she had polished this off - "I thought I'd died and gone to Heaven...."

We were really lucky that the weather for her last day was at least reasonable.....

30th April - The Day

Below are various pictorial reminders of the day that Daniela and Luigi renewed their wedding vows to celebrate 25 years of marriage, at Piona Abbey......

A wonderful day spent among family and friends!

And finally "The Couple"

30th April 2006

Well finally 'here they are'!!!!

Meet my niece Daniela and her husband Luigi.

As you can see - despite 25 years of marriage - still very happy and very much in love.......

After this they departed for a 'second honeymoon' to L'Isola d'Elba!

I Confetti....

30th April 2006 (contd.)

Here are the 'bonboniere di confetti' that are traditionally given to family and very close friends at wedding and other similar ceremonies in Italy.

Each of these boxes contain a glass plate with a 'decoupage' flower design all done over the winter months by Daniela. In addition a little bage with both their initials embroidered on and intertwined wedding bands which contained five sugared almonds (the confetti). For second and third members of family there were little 'chests' containing five confetti too. Plus a large bowl of these sweets was passed round and tradition requires that you take either three or five sweets each time - no more and no less!

A few of the 'goodies'....

30th April 2006

Just a few of the goodies on offer at the restaurant....I must admit to being so busy 'nattering' with friends and family that I did forget to 'snap' several of the cullinary delights on offer.

I couldn't though miss the opportunity of snapping the broken plate at my side - not sure if the waitress 'just missed me' or wether it really was an accident!

After the ceremony!

30th April 2006

Well, after the ceremony where Daniela and Luigi renewed the marriage vows for their 25th Anniversary, we all 'decamped' up the mountain to a new 'agriturismo' built about half a km above the other place I've mentioned here before.

Here you can see some of the views from the terrace and from inside the restaurant itself....plus a part of the layout for our 'party' which was made up of 41 friends and family.

Piona Abbey

The

BIG day starts here....

This is Piona Abbey at the top of Lake Como just below Colico....it is a place that I have know and visited regularly for over 40 years. The grounds are extensive and the peace and tranquility one can find there makes is so worth while visiting..... The cloisters are always cool - even in the heat of the summer and being on a small peninsular on the lake the views are, to say the least - breathtakimg!
Here are a couple to give you an idea of the beauty which surrounds this ancient abbey....

This one in the middle is looking south east down the lake towards Lecco and Como.

And this last one is looking out northwards towards the

north east.....
In the abbey 'shop' run entirely by the brothers they do a roaring trade in 'alcoholic beverages' - all made by the monks from ancient 'herbal' recipes - I kid you not when I say that some are totally beyond being potent!!!!!!!

One in particular is called Imperial Drops (Gocce Imperiali)and comes in at 60% proof - boy does THAT make your hair curly!!!

Ciccio's 'Shampoo & Set' !

28th April 2006

Well here he is - a total 'scruff' - and despite looking sorry for himself his tail is wagging.....

He has found a doggy 'penchant' for digging holes and then rolling around in the dust, so there was really nothing for it but to cart him off to the 'beauty parlour' in Dongo on the opposite side of the lake and to have him 'seen to' (in the nicest possible sense).

Well

here is the 'After'...and not too bad at all - even if I say so myself. Mind you he's now in the "Aren't I Beautiful Club', and is a real show off.

But now he does look at least as if he's cared for and looked after instead of being a contender for 'scruff of the year'!!!

Where's the sunshine????

Monday 24th April 2006

Well this morning we were greeted with an overcast sky and no signs what-so-ever that things were going to improve. But 'what to do and where to go' with this seeming threat of rain hanging over our heads?

So without more ado we set off up the Val Chiavenna to explore the small villages and find somewhere 'a bit off the beaten (tourist) track for a genuine mountain fare lunch!!!

We found a small village with one bar/trattoria and just a couple of workmen having lunch. The owner explained that we could eat there but would have to wait while she cooked for us (now THAT I can live with....so unusual these days).

We ordered simple food....Paddy wanted to try a 'Val d'Ostana' - veal steak with ham and melted chees on top...this was accompanied by grilled zucchini and peppers. We both chose to 'waive' a starter and pasta as we wanted to try the 'local village cheese' afterwards.

While we were waiting the daughter (about 18yo) bought us a slice of hot flaky pastry filled with cheese and zucchini - explaing that her mother thought we 'may like to taste a slice of this as it had just come out of the oven.... It was delicious! Well having enjoyed the main course we went on to the selection of mountain cheeses. There was so much we couldn't finish it and 'Mama' wrapped the remainder in a serviette for us to take home (a big mistake as it turned out....). We were then given a T shirt each (with the trattoria name on - right size too - both XXL for us - LOL). A friendly place, with excellent food and service. No 'airs and graces' to be seen - certainly a place to visit again I think...

So back to the cheese....once home I put the cheese, still in the paper serviette, on the table and we both went off to get changed - mistake or what ?????? Yes you've guessed - Ciccio (who has refused all temptation to try ANY cheese to date), thought it would be fun to get on a chair and see just what was in the paper.... and yes, you've guessed - he suddenly a liking for mountain cheese (rind and all). AND he had the cheek to wag his tail and lick his lips when I returned to the kitchen to 'put the cheese away'....Soon wiped that smile off his face I can tell you! I just hope the extra extra mature Bitto BURNED HIS TONGUE - the little sod!

The start of a nice holiday!

Saturday 22nd April 2006

Well 'my mate' Paddy arrived at Bergamo airport this morning at the start of 10 days of 'freedom' from DH (hahaha).....
And of course, being in Italy the first stop had to be aperitivi and lunch 'lakeside'.

So with Crodini and spuntini served we just sat in the sunshine and looked across the lake towards Piona Abbey (hidden in the trees opposite). There will be more about theabbey later this week!

With aperitifs finished it was then on to the quetion of lunch. Here Paddy was very serious about pouring her water into the glass (?).

She is gradually becoming more adventurous with Italian cuisine, though is still a 'bit of a coward' about some things.....

The weather today at the start of her holiday bodes well, but I must confess to having my fingers crossed for her.

She has just met 'His Nibs' (aka Ciccio) and it was really a case of love at first site for them both! Though I'm sure that at the back of his mind lurked the hope that this 'new friend' might be more of a 'pushover' than I am!

Monday, May 29, 2006