HOPPY HAPPY NEW YEAR!
2009 will go down in our history as a year to be remembered, even before it has started!
Thursday, December 25, 2008
CHRISTMAS DAY
How many antipasti, primi and secondi is it fit to indulge in on Christmas Day?! The sky seemed to be the limit as we settled in the sala di Casa Giardini. Halfway through, we had to have a present break to digest. Nonno Pasquale was thrilled by the calendar that Gioia got him (half clad women on boats - something related to charity) and managed to avoid a heart attack as he flicked through the months. Our chocolate-filled sock was immediately banished by Nonna Giovanna. In the meantime, Nonna Bianca told us all about her recipes and about evicting her neighbours. A fun day.
A new scarf to impress the girls.
Gioia, Cataldo, Pasquale, Giovanna, Bianca.
How many antipasti, primi and secondi is it fit to indulge in on Christmas Day?! The sky seemed to be the limit as we settled in the sala di Casa Giardini. Halfway through, we had to have a present break to digest. Nonno Pasquale was thrilled by the calendar that Gioia got him (half clad women on boats - something related to charity) and managed to avoid a heart attack as he flicked through the months. Our chocolate-filled sock was immediately banished by Nonna Giovanna. In the meantime, Nonna Bianca told us all about her recipes and about evicting her neighbours. A fun day.
A new scarf to impress the girls.
Gioia, Cataldo, Pasquale, Giovanna, Bianca.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
COMPLEANNI E PANCIONI
We screwed up everyone's card-playing plans - that is what we do at Christmas over here, you get out the briscola set and any board game you have and then invite people over for a night of gambling. We had them over for a last minute fondue chinoise instead to celebrate Valentina's birthday.
Brave Federica and Giandomenico drank the broth and actually enjoyed the noodles - we cannot say as much for the others... but Flavio did impress the crowds by cooking ten slices of beef at once.
The birthday girl's bump is one month behind ours!
We screwed up everyone's card-playing plans - that is what we do at Christmas over here, you get out the briscola set and any board game you have and then invite people over for a night of gambling. We had them over for a last minute fondue chinoise instead to celebrate Valentina's birthday.
Brave Federica and Giandomenico drank the broth and actually enjoyed the noodles - we cannot say as much for the others... but Flavio did impress the crowds by cooking ten slices of beef at once.
The birthday girl's bump is one month behind ours!
Friday, December 19, 2008
WHAT IS PINK, RUNS AROUND SMILING AND HAS A BROWN MIDDLE?
Loulou of course! And she did not arrive alone. By mid December, mate had acquired Flybaboo shares and got herself, Laurine and the wheels down to Florence. And so it was that we drove off into the night with a family size pack of M&Ms and lots of chit chatting. By the following day, having slipped down the lop-sided bed during the night, the girls were ready for a full round of baking (more mince pies!!), shopping (no woolly jumper...), visiting (here and there and Perugia), drawing (including a portrait of Bean in Tummy), painting (on the kitchen floor), building (such as Christmas tree birds with Matteo and Simone) and lots more.
Our photographer focused on the inbred locals, using us as props.
Lovely weather, warm, sunny, no wind...
And they managed to avoid slapping each other too hard.
Disappearing into the sofa.
Loulou of course! And she did not arrive alone. By mid December, mate had acquired Flybaboo shares and got herself, Laurine and the wheels down to Florence. And so it was that we drove off into the night with a family size pack of M&Ms and lots of chit chatting. By the following day, having slipped down the lop-sided bed during the night, the girls were ready for a full round of baking (more mince pies!!), shopping (no woolly jumper...), visiting (here and there and Perugia), drawing (including a portrait of Bean in Tummy), painting (on the kitchen floor), building (such as Christmas tree birds with Matteo and Simone) and lots more.
Our photographer focused on the inbred locals, using us as props.
Lovely weather, warm, sunny, no wind...
And they managed to avoid slapping each other too hard.
Disappearing into the sofa.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
OUR LAST MINIBREAK AS A DUET?!?
And so it was that Cristian hobbled on one leg and I poddled on two round the beautiful historic centre of Lucca for the Ponte dell'Otto Dicembre.
When we got to the Torre dei Guinigi, with its trees sprouting atop, and discovered there was no lift, we decided we had better come back the following day, taking a picnic with us and making it into a 12-hour excursion.
Needless to say that we managed to skip it, basking in the sunshine of Piazza Napoleone instead and discovering Trattoria da Francesco (family run, super yummy cappeletti lucchesi).
Lovely handbag! (Torre dei Guinigi in the background)
The best mortadella sandwich bench ever!
Piazza dell'anfiteatro.
And so it was that Cristian hobbled on one leg and I poddled on two round the beautiful historic centre of Lucca for the Ponte dell'Otto Dicembre.
When we got to the Torre dei Guinigi, with its trees sprouting atop, and discovered there was no lift, we decided we had better come back the following day, taking a picnic with us and making it into a 12-hour excursion.
Needless to say that we managed to skip it, basking in the sunshine of Piazza Napoleone instead and discovering Trattoria da Francesco (family run, super yummy cappeletti lucchesi).
Lovely handbag! (Torre dei Guinigi in the background)
The best mortadella sandwich bench ever!
Piazza dell'anfiteatro.