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We’re constantly adding plants to the garden and moving things around - this year we've added lots of new lavender and dotted them throughout the garden. One of my favourite plants and they attract honey bees and keep the naughty bugs away. We’ve also added a couple of pampas grass although someone mentioned they’re a symbol of ‘swingers’. Each to their own of course but it’s definitely not why we planted them! It did bring to mind though, a couple of years back when I referred to the Monopoly, Trivial Pursuit etc. we have in the lounge as “adult games” much to the amusement of Leigh and the CL guests we were showing around at the time. What?!! I was trying to differentiate between the games we have in the kiddies play room. Seriously people!! D I A N A xxx 
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What a lovely day! We, like many others, have been fairly hermit like over the last few months due to Covid but now that Italy has opened up more and the weather is great we took ourselves on a day trip. We're gradually easing back into normal life so decided on a picnic by the beautiful Lake Trasimeno which is only an hour’s drive from Casa Leana. I really love Trasimeno. There are some gorgeous little bars and restaurants surrounding the lake, boats for hire or you can visit the little beaches that surround it or maybe just take a trip on the ferry. Windsurfing, stand up paddling and pedalo's are also on offer. Such a fun day out. So we made ourselves comfortable in one of our favourite little restaurants overlooking the lake, got coffees and a pastries and waited for the cyclists to arrive. We go to watch the Giro every May as it always runs through a town or village close by and this year we were a hair's breadth away from the peleton as it whooshed by. I cannot believe how fast they travel - must be 40mph and they are all chatting away as they whizz along! Leigh has always been a big fan of cycling events and since I met him I've got to know how it all works. To be honest, I just thought riders were in a big race with each other and it was all a bit boring but, honestly, it is so much more complex and interesting than that. I am now an expert on the subject (well sort of!) and a little bit addicted. All in all a wonderful day out. D I A N A xxx    Whoop whoop.. I had my first jab on Wednesday and the following day I had the most horrendous headache, a side affect of the vaccine I am told. Leigh made lunch and looked after me for the day and I had a nice cuppa overlooking the vineyard at the bottom of the Casa Leana garden. The following day I was fine and feeling just a little bit invincible(!) so I was back out mowing lawns, the grass never stops growing this time of the year. Good news over the weekend, Italy scrapped their quarantine restrictions so we have been inundated with enquiries and bookings for this summer. It has been a while since we had an enquiry, I had almost forgotten how to answer them. It all came flooding back and we now have three groups vying for two weeks so it feels like things are getting back to some sort of normality and it makes us so happy and relieved. We have a trip planned for tomorrow - I feel like I haven't been out of this area for ages. We're off to see the cyclists in the Giro d'Italia who are riding through the Lake Trasimeno area. A picnic is in order I think. And we are visiting Maison du Monde, one of my favourite home decor shops - I am super excited! D I A N A xxx    This week we put the back patio furniture out and celebrated with a nice glass of Prosecco... Our new favourite place to sit after I ripped and fell through one of the hammocks last week, much to Leigh’s amusement! Too many flapjacks possibly?!! A lovely week in Tuscany. Weather has been gorgeous so I’ve mainly been mowing and doing other work in the garden. And I’m getting my first COVID jab on Wednesday so I’m feeling very lucky and excited. D I A N A xxx    I thought it was about time I mention a wonderful charity bike ride Leigh is planning to undertake in September. I’m so proud of him for taking this on but boy do I know about the training!! And the blimin’ leader board on the Strava site... It’s a very worthwhile cause and I try to listen intently to phrases like "I'm on the leader board", "look who's cycled 150km", "I need to train more"... Cycling is a passion for both of us. I rekindled my love for it way back in 2006 when I took part in a London to Brighton charity event with some work friends. When I compare some of the hilly rides we do now it was an easy 60 miles. Although at the time I moaned ALOT, not only did I manage to fall off during the first 2 miles, it rained most of the day, for goodness sake! I regret now tearing up the picture in a fit of pique that the organisers sent afterwards of me riding up a hill soaking wet with a screwed up, make up free face. Vanity is one of my less attractive traits! We've done lots more long rides over the years in the UK and here in Tuscany of course. Leigh tends to cycle 80km+ horrendously hilly rides these days and I usually stick to 30km flat rides around the valley floors which suits me just fine. The last time we cycled up a really big hill together some hikers actually passed me by, very embarrassing. Each year on our first ride out, I wonder whether I’m still capable of cycling up even some of the smaller climbs that simply cannot be avoided in this part of the world and you’ll be pleased to hear, in 2021 I've still got it!!! A couple of small rides for me this week (I met a dog on one!) just managing to hit 40km. Leigh on the other hand cycled up a newly discovered mountain-side and covered over 70km. I've given up being competitive! He is even more focussed on cycling long distances this year because of the charity ride he is helping to organise. I plan to meet him en-route in Siena or Rome with some friends to support him (with a few prosecco's and pizzas I think!). I'm thinking of making a banner to wave at him and the 60 strong parade of his cycling buddies when they ride into Rome. He's very excited about the banner of course! I feel worn out just thinking about riding from Pisa to Rome - crazy idea. I'll let you know how it goes. https://www.cyclingholidaysitaly.com/myeloma---cycling-for-a-cure.html https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Leigh-Wright5?utm_campaign=lc_frp_share_transaction_fundraiser_page_launched&utm_content=5b283e0d-eb08-4170-ace4-d3b217c11e33&utm_medium=email&utm_source=postoffice&utm_term=1597313649916 D I A N A xxx    |
Welcome to my blog...
Just a little insight into our lives here. After eleven years of living in Tuscany I thought it was about time to have a go at blogging when one of my lovely friends said she had received (what she thought!) was an extremely funny text from me, hmmm.. How difficult can it be?!
D I A N A xxx
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