Four birthday cakes, a wedding and a Spa day...

What a month!  

So let's start at the beginning...  On the first Sunday of every month there is the infamous Arezzo antique market and the September one is always a bit special as it’s held in the park above the city because there is a Palio taking part in the main piazza. I love wandering around the stalls.  We rarely buy anything (and this Sunday was no different!) but it's always a fun day out.

September also saw Leigh's special birthday and we have only just got over the celebrations to be honest!  Our friends hosted a little get together for him and we had such a wonderful time - I think he managed to accumulate 4 birthday cakes in all!  

We spent his actual birthday at one of our favourite places - the spa pools just outside Siena.  This trip out feels like a little one day holiday for us - we always get there as soon as it opens so that we can bag a four poster sunbed which in my world is very luxurious!  There was not a soul there when we arrived so it was like having the whole place to ourselves for a while which was lovely.  We had a spot of lunch there and a cheeky wine which was a great way to end the afternoon.  

For the evening we went to a lovely little restaurant in Monterchi, Terazza di Piero, which has recently re-opened, really good food and a perfect way to end the day. 

After that week we just about got our breath back and our wedding group arrived and what a lovely bunch of people they were.  We spoke to the bride and groom-to-be back in December when we were visiting our friends and family in the UK.  Popped into the John Lewis cafe (one of my favourite things to do when we are back, little things that I miss!).  It was great to catch up with them before their Big Day just to go over a few things as obviously once we were back in Italy it would just be messages and Facetime. 

I am always a bit fretful when organising a wedding as it is such a special event.  So much so that I go over everything about a gazillion times much to Leigh's consternation!  You will be pleased to hear everything went off according to plan (as usual!) and the bride and groom were delighted with the day giving us a five star review which we are very happy about of course.  We have another bigger wedding in April next year so I am keeping my wedding planner hat on!  

Oh and what a great surprise we had...  A few years back we visited Malaysia and made friends with a really lovely couple who were living out there at the time with their dog, Troy (who, incidentally, I fell in love with).  Anyway, they have moved back to Europe and were holidaying in our area here in Italy so we caught up in our local town for a spot of lunch - it was so good to see them after such a long time, they haven't changed a bit.

The grass has started growing again so we have spent a good deal of our time mowing and strimming - Leigh is loving the new sit on lawnmower which I must admit I am a bit scared of!  I am sure I will love it when I have a proper go once the season is over so watch this space.

No cycling this month.  I have no idea why - just being lazy although I think the celebrations for Leigh's birthday may have been a factor.  Hopefully back on track next month.  

I think that's it.  I'm sure I've missed something but I'll pop it in next month's blog if I think of anything.  

Have a great weekend.
Diana 

D I A N A   xxx