Having arranged for a plumber to put a tap in the cantina and having purchased an extremely long garden hose, having arranged for all the huge piles of branches and clippings to be tossed over the wall into a waiting truck on the road below and having planted more lavender and rosemary, I have managed to break the mini-drought and summon drenching afternoon rains for about four days running. (If you need the bus to come quickly, just light a cigarette. Same principle.)

Looking out the window was like gazing at a Chinese painting.

I had a visit from my late friend Maggie's husband and his friend and was heartened to see he's coping with the loss.

One evening, my neighbors had a wonderful dinner party and no one left until one in the morning. Another night G & Z had me up to Chiusure for a delicious Indian curry dinner and yesterday my friends Amy & Alfredo (what generous friends! They showed up with a huge basket of produce from the commune including fresh eggs!) lunched with Paolo and I up at the Rocca.

I ran banking and shopping errands and will spend this week urging my geometra to start bringing in contractors, but I must say it's going to be piano, piano and that's OK with me. I am very comfortable and the start of renovations is going to change all that. But they must get started.

posted by Joanna @ 6/06/2005 08:13:00 AM