…THEN MUM CAME AND IT ALL WENT PEAR SHAPED
From being gorgeous it became horrific. It poured down with rain and went bitterly cold. They did not like the house they came with the intention of maybe purchasing and finally they got food poisoning. Caipiriniah, chianti, salami, birthday cake and veal liver saved the day! The sun returned the moment they left.


Just before his 17th B-day, Damian was caught on camera with his eyes open!


Mate, Teresa, Ann and moi outside Sofy - Gabolandia.


Riccardo taken aback by the beauty of local calves on the way up to Santa Margherita.

THE RETURN OF THE COLOURED TROUSERS
In a special post to Sabine, I confirm the flourishing abundance of colourful trousers. Ranging from shades of yellow and orange, all the way to deep pinks, men’s bottom parts hit you from afar, they catch the eye like the rainbow, or maybe more like a tube of toothpaste that has been open for a while. And most have been around for some time judging by the cut – put me right if the tight above-ankle length is back in fashion.

KNICKERS GALORE
On the night of the football evening, where the girls were not invited, Federico decided Federica should go, so I got taken along too to make up the numbers. I nearly abdicated before dinner as the prospected of getting my head blasted in (again) at the taverne di Castiglione del Lago was tough, but I stuck in there and managed to make the most of it. After several rounds of pici al ragu, I borrowed someones “Si” moped and raced up and down the main street. I thought the highlight was realising how shocked everyone was that I would actually do that… but then I got the boys from the team to show me their underwear!!


La squadra!


L'allenatore - prima.


L'allenatore - dopo.


Le fans - durante.


Meet a new friend.


Me on Si.


Portatori di boxers fashion.


Traditional knickers.


Groovy knickers.

RACING UP HILLS WITH PUSHCHAIRS

When Luca and Stefania brought their friends and kids over from the coast, we took them up all the worst hills, until it was our turn to push the chairs. Man, kids can be heavy, and it seems like mother’s bags are huge by default. Not sure who made it up Montepulciano or Cortona in the least possible time, but it was fun, especially when we tried to go down without using the brakes…


Gioia, Cri e Alba


A lovely face by Nicolo!


Outside the cantina, happily clutching the vino.


asleep


awake

HUNTER WITH NO GUN
He knew his fate, it had been sealed in Migros some months earlier. It had spent weeks, looking out from behind the cards on the bookcase, hiding behind the flowers, yet fully aware that it could not escape. On Sunday the 16th, after 40 days without chocolate, it was sacrificed on Hotel Atlantic’s breakfast altar.
Now I am feeling sick….


Yumm!


The guys in Rimini were rather attractive ;-)


And a happy easter to you too! Piadina paradise, that is what the Riviera Adriatica is all about!!! This was in Casa Zanni at Villa Verucchio.

SCALPEL PLEASE
Why does it have to be so complicated? I expected little bits of pre-chewed stuff, even out of a can would have been fine. In retrospect, oil and salt would have been more suitable. In a grand moment of self control, I even managed to nibble on the chelae – see, have changed lots!


Bon ap...


Cafe Pascucci in Gabicce Mare tries to make you believe this is coffee.


The Easter Group: Andrea e Sabrina, Antonello e Monica, Cristian and the photographer.


Il Castello di Gradara was totally rebuilt - we noticed.

A CITY STARTING WITH U
Urbino is a beautiful city perched on a hill between here and the seaside. Walking its narrow streets feels like climbing a camel’s back. In such a romantic place, Cris and I managed to have lunch in the carpark, overlooking the new sprawling suburbs…


The main square is long and thin.

RETROPOSTING
Somewhere along the line, I forgot to mention Faralli’s delicious pizza. I spotted the photos and realised they had not gone up – which is just not an option when Anto and Andrea treated us to the best ever Calabrian dish in their new pad in Magione. Indigestion by quantity followed (that was sometime last month, but the memories remain vivid!).


The end of two slices of pizza.


4 Formaggi alla Antonella.


A table fit for royalty

ONE LAST ONE
...before I really do some work!
It is all about fiddling with photoshop and keeping myself safely away from word documents, but it can no longer last, so please, enjoy the beauty of Italian road signs.


Motorway anyone?

HOUND
But not a blood hound, or a hunting hound or a guard hound, just a totally traumatised hound... When I think about it, I know the Guardia della Finanza are lucky to be in Castiglione del Lago and not here in Cortona where I could easily give them an earful on a daily basis. The situation is getting no better. Pretty though?!


La nostra piccola Alba

DOWN AT THE JOB CENTRE
As I sat there, patiently waiting to have my "patto di servizio integrato" interview, the full monty feeling crept over me and I had to refrain from getting the rest of the lads in the job centre to start shuffling their feet, flexing their shoulders and wagging their heads... Fortunatetly, two hours later, no one was able to explain what "patto integrato di servizio" meant. I was just told that it most certainly came from Berlusconi (when in doubt, blame Silvio). Remember to vote this weekend.


Ok, Robert Carlyle was not in Camucia.

P-R-P-R
Panic-Rush-Panic-Rush lack of sleep and battle fatigue. Not sure how Cristian sustains such rythms since I cannot even cope with a week's worth...
On Monday we saw the grand Ligabue. No idea who I am on about unless you are Italian of course. He is from Emilia-Romagna somewhere, so a bit like a family member to me!
Check him out below.
Fab concert, love small arenas where you can reach out and touch the singer, see the tonsils vibrate to the melodies. Was also surrounded by teenage fans. Worrying. Brings me back to the age thing. Especially since our contemporaries chose to watch the concert sitting down..... HELP.


CHE UOMO!

AGRIUMBRIA TO YOU TOO MATE!
Ha, for the first time in over 50 years, the Giardini SpA shone brightly at Argiumbria, the place to be on the weekend of 1-2 April. With our dreamteam and fab stand, we greeted, kissed, hugged and made coffee. What more could we ask for?


Our pad


James Bond equivalents.


Who else could do the meeting and greeting?


The pig I was promised as my "moving to italy" present, the famous and splendid cinta senese.