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July has been so lovely. We’ve had some wonderfully friendly guests this month and one guy drove over his beloved Ferrari from the UK. It was a real treat for us to have such an iconic car sitting outside Casa Leana. We’ve managed to get out on the bikes a few times again. One ride was around Lake Trasimeno. The local council have made a new route so takes you all the way round the lake. There are also electric bikes to hire at Trasimeno – what a great idea. We took our own bikes and made it half way but we should have gone all the way as by the time we had ridden back to the start point we had almost done the same amount of km it would have taken to go the whole distance! Doh. The sunflowers are out (as you may have guessed from the title of this blog!). I love love love this time of year. Sunflowers are the best, they grow so big so quickly and although they don’t last very long they are a feast for the eyes at this time of year. D I A N A xxx   
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It has been a great month. Our lovely friends came over from the UK and as luck would have it Casa Leana had not been booked so we all got to stay there for the week! A great surprise. We spent the week around the pool and eating good food although we had to cut the hedges while we were there so everyone had to help with that of course. We also had a few days out to Cortona and Arezzo. It's always such a treat to see friends and family from the UK. We've been out and about on the bikes too, not that much if I'm honest but nevertheless I still managed to get up a few hills! We had another day out in Arezzo as the Mille Miglia was rolling through, one of our favourite annual events. Even if you're not mad keen on cars, the atmosphere is great and we had a thoroughly lovely day with our friends who have a holiday home here. Ooh... I forgot to say. My son is getting married in September so we are really excited about that! I have my outfit although I am a bit unsure about it. I also have a hat to go with and shoes. Everything was purchased here in Italy so I am hoping that there won't be any duplicates! I am wearing a floaty trouser suit but I am a bit worried it looks like pyjamas. It is definitely my style and I really love it and I think everyone has doubts about special outfits for special occasions, or is it just me?!!! I think that's it for now. Have a lovely weekend. Diana x D I A N A xxx    We had such a great month, we went to watch the Giro d'Italia in a town not that far away called Gubbio. We haven't been there for ages and we had forgotten quite how lovely it is. A bite to eat and then a stroll around the town - great atmosphere! Our day in Gubbio inspired us to go on a bike ride ourselves so we did a little ride around our local villages and through the farmers' fields which was lovely. I finally got to plant the tomatoes and one of our friends gave us some courgette plants so I've put them in too. Now to get the watering system working - that's one of Leigh's jobs thankfully! I can't tell you how much work goes into keeping plants watered during the summer months - it sounds easy but the sprays get blocked, leaks occur constantly and there's always those few plants that don't seem to get watered and look a bit droopy. I think we're on top of it but it is a worry! We didn't have guests at Casa Leana for a week this month so we decided to move in thinking we could have a rest, sit around the pool etc. etc. Obviously that did not happen! Will we never learn?! We don't usually move in because we know we just don't stop but... Anyway, it was a nice week even though we didn't get to laze around but it was good to be there as we can spot if there is anything we need to repair or change and we sorted out a few things in the garden. That's it for the month. Have a good day. Diana x D I A N A xxx    We have been looking forward to this day for a long time - ever since we met up with the happy couple in Anghiari last year. And the day couldn't have gone any better. All the work that went into this wonderful day was so worth it. The weather was perfect and the wedding guests all said that this was the best holiday they had ever had! Apart from that we haven't really been up to much - I think the wedding took over our lives for a while! We turned over Casa Leana vegetable patch ready for the tomato plants and the strawberries are coming along nicely. I always want to plant the tomatoes now but apparently it's too early - I've done that before and they obviously didn't survive so I'm holding back this year until May. Everything else in the garden is looking lovely and lush now - such a great time of year. Blossom everywhere and my lovely Iris's are looking good. They don't last long but they add a splash of colour to the pool area. I have planted some other bulbs this year. I am not very knowledgeable on the gardening front but because we had a professional garden designer plant the area behind the pool it always looks so lovely even I can't mess it up! We haven't cycled yet this year but we bought a cycle rack for the car so we can just pop off anywhere with the bikes which means we can avoid some of the hills out here! I think that's it. Have a great day. Diana x D I A N A xxx     I think it is safe to say that March is our month to prune and get the Casa Leana ready for the season. It's a big garden so it sometimes it feels like a neverending task! We got there though and the first guests are arriving on 5 April and they are getting married in our local town of Anghiari so we are very excited to welcome them to this beautiful part of the world. The March weather has been kind to us so it has been a joy working in the garden. We are very proud to say that we do all the work ourselves especially as we knew nothing about gardening before we got here. Mowing lawns was about my limit in the UK! As usual we had a great winter in the UK with family and friends. The only downside about living in a different country is missing these very special people in our lives so our winter break is very important to us and we try to make the most of it. Not only catching up with friends and family but also food we miss from England. Cheddar cheese, Cadburys chocolate, pork pies to name but a few. We love popping into Waitrose to fill up on these goodies as soon as we arrive in the UK although it does mean that we pile on the pounds while we are there especially when you add Christmas into the mix! Leigh's dad lives in Ireland so we had a quick trip over there - love Ireland so much, the food is always good as is the Guiness of course. We also had a lovely holiday in warmer climes as usual during the winter and we were very fortunate to visit Bali which was a wonderful experience - it seems a long time ago now but we are lucky to have some great memories to look back on. I think that's it. Short but sweet. I am sure I will have more to say next month when our wedding has happened and our season is in full swing once more. Have a lovely week. D I A N A xxx          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      August has been a great month (if a tad warm!) and we've had some lovely family groups as it is of course the UK school summer holidays so one of our most popular months and very busy for us organising yoga classes by the Casa Leana pool or wine tastings on our back patio, birthday cakes, pasta and pizza making classes etc. etc.! We have still managed to get out and about and it was my birthday last week so we took ourselves off to one of our favourite towns, Cortona. Overlooking lake Trasimeno, this must surely be one of the loveliest towns in the area. And there are some gorgeous clothes, wine and handbag shops there too so a perfect day out in my world! Our favourite lunch venue with views of the lake was closed so we decided to eat in another great restaurant overlooking the main piazza, it’s a place I‘ve always wanted to try and it didn’t disappoint. In the evening we came back closer to home and had a lovely meal in one of our tried and tested local restaurants, La Civette in Citerna - just a 10 minute journey from Casa Leana - it's set inside the walls of this gorgeous little hilltop village with spectacular views of Monterchi. We've managed to get out on a few more bike rides too so I am feeling quite good about myself. Early morning is the key to exercising in July and August as anything energetic is definitely not on my list any time after 11am other than cooling down with a swim in the pool maybe. Ooh, I forgot to mention the vintage fair in Castiglion Fiorentino, one of best loved events - honestly I just love this. This beautiful quiet hilltop town springs into life for four or five days and the atmosphere is amazing. Lots of dancing and live music all over town with really interesting stalls and pop up shops. Wonderful. The last Wednesday in August sees the end of the summer night markets in our local town of Anghiari. It's always a bit sad but there are lots of other events going on for the rest of season so we're looking forward to those of course. They all sound a bit cheesy to be honest but we love them and again the locals are always so enthusiastic it's difficult not to get carried away and join in the fun! We have the Palenta Festival in Monterchi next month and in October there is the Chestnut Festival in Caprese Michelangelo and of course the annual Intrepida vintage bike race which starts in Anghiari to name but a few! We have been arranging a wedding over the last few months and it's finally happening next month. I am very excited and a little bit nervous at the same time. We met the bride and groom in December last year (while we were back in the UK) to go over the arrangements and I can’t wait to see them again and catch up with their family who are all staying at Casa Leana for the week of the wedding. Watch this space for photos of their Big Day. That’s it for now. Have a great weekend. D I A N A xxx        We had some great evenings with friends watching the England football team in the European Championship and getting to the final again was no mean feat but alas another sad outcome for the team (for the non football lovers among you we lost the final AGAIN! At least it wasn't against Italy this time). Roll on the World Cup so we can put ourselves through the agony and ecstasy all over again. Ha ha. To take our mind off the England football tournament disappointment, we have been going into our local town of Anghiari for the wonderful Wednesday night markets which started this month. I love these markets, not sure where all the hundreds of people come from and as usual we seem to be going home when the market is in full swing but we enjoy ourselves nonetheless! Italians tend to come out later I think because of the heat but we have never got into that mindset so tend to eat when it's quiet before the crowds descend and we love people watching of course. It's so nice to see the town fill up and the children enjoying the live music, dancing into the night and various market stalls filled with jewellery and trinkets - little mementos of a magical evening. We are still managing to cycle a bit but we have to get out early (usually around 7am) before the heat kicks in. I love our early morning rides although it is a bit difficult to get up that early but once we're out it is wonderful. The sunflowers are now in full bloom and the scenery is so uplifting I just have to pinch myself sometimes to realise how lucky we are to live in this beautiful place. Our car is going in to be repaired this week, it's been out of service for a while now. I cannot wait to start going out and about a bit further afield. Our local area is stunning but we like having a few day trips each month and although we have been driving the vintage Fiat 500, it doesn't have air conditioning and leaving the sun roof open is just like sitting in a little oven in this weather as you can imagine! On the plus side my knees and Leigh's head have a cracking sun tan now... Ha ha. Oh, I forgot to say... We finally had the mower delivered. It's a lovely machine and we are very excited. It has its own little shed which Leigh built some months ago in readiness for its arrival. I haven't managed to drive the mower yet as I am a little bit frightened of it to be honest! I plan to wait until the season is over otherwise I can envisage myself careering into the vineyard or similar and I don't really want guests to have to witness such antics! Ha ha. Suffice to say Leigh is bombing about on it and I am getting on with other things in the garden. Again, as with the cycling, we are trying to get to Casa Leana at around 7am if we need to clean the pool or mow etc. so that we don't have to work in the heat. Taking a leaf out of the Italian's book for a change! For the first time, a lovely property in Anghiari have been hosting open air cinema events in their grounds, mostly in Italian but there were a couple of films in English so we took ourselves off one evening to watch Wicked Little Letters. Great film, lovely story but the language might not be to everyone's taste! A brilliant night with friends. There are some more similar evenings being held in Sansepolcro, another town close by, such a great addition to the area and hopefully they will continue to take place every summer. I think that's it! Have a great weekend. 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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