quick catch up on events

Well, I got to the house in one piece, dealt with the crawlies (well known fact in Italy - if it is coming towards you flying or crawling - IT WANTS TO BITE YOU) but this giving up work malarky is not as I expected! Not so lazy. We have been trying to put right some of the jobs that have been bodged by builders when the house was being made habitable - and I mean just habitable. These have been the things I have put up with or temporarily fixed due to having limited annual leave etc. Now we can get stuck in! Starting with hacking off the kitchen wall to deal with the wet behind it that had been simply covered over what a stink.

Soooooo what have we been up to other than pulling the house apart?
I will summarise events so as to catch up to the present time. Apologies for the length.

-Eaten and drunk far too much - of course. 

- Been eaten alive by sand flies. In Italian they are called pappataci, Dave insists that this translates into little "fuc*ers". It actually translates as  "silent eaters". You cannot hear them or see them coming but by gum you feel it later. Absolute nightmare I look like I have some rare skin disease, they bite you everywhere - I have taken to covering myself in garlic and considering resorting to marmite as they dislike both.

- Purchased 192 bottles of beer ready for Christmas (yes I know). They were half price and Moretti which made them 35p a bottle. 35p I tell you!

-On the subject of Christmas we have bought a Toyota Alphard on line to drive my daughters three legged cat over for Christmas. Peggy
Yep- never seen it - it is still in Japan. Hopefully the import company is reputable and it will arrive in Bristol in the next 4 to 6 weeks. I know what you are thinking and I too had the feeling that I may be on TV featured as the dopey sod who paid two thirds up front for a car that does not exist. Hey fingers crossed it will be fine. .

-Nicely on to cats and at the request of Helen - 2 have adopted me and constantly nag for food. One is Tigre (Tiger - never was there such an inaccurate name for a cat ), he belongs to next door and is referred to as bastardo by his owner and Dave. The other we have named Queenie (which I believe is a female cat ie queen) she is semi-feral and I think mothered Tigres kittens that were then sadly squashed by my neighbours 4x4.  I kid you not.
pictures below-specially for you Helen. The first one is Queenie, she has only a stump for a tail and is blind in one eye. Next is Tigre, keeps trying to spray in the house. I have included a picture of Peggy last. I wonder what they will make of each other as Peggy is hand reared and still very young and has never seen another cat. I am not sure she knows she is one.

- Ooo I saved enough super market stamps to get a free Slavatore cavolfiore  - I now have enough pellets to keep the stufa (pellet burner/stove) going for months but who could resist this little guy.

- Big highlight - no I lie 2 highlights - a wild boar running in front of the car and fried pizza. Seriously good stuff! Get the dough, roll it out fairly thin and just put tomato paste and mozzarella inside. Seal it and deep fry - wow!

-The boar was ginagorous and if that is not a word then it should be. See artists impression with scale below,

-Finally I am currently watching 4 Italians in their 70's pinching my walnuts. Is nothing sacred? "Hey Mrs leave my nuts alone". This brings me back nicely to the bricks taken out of the wall and living the Italian dream - my arse!

 Rhyme time - dedicated to Goodman

Been keeping in touch with a group on WhatsApp,
Some chats amusing, some chatting crap.

Messages pinging, going to and fro,
Organising a reunion, in case you didn't know.

Now I don't consider myself to be a particular prude,
But Goodman Maddocks, your far too flipping rude.

Yes I've done it, outed you by name.
Now go and hang your smutty head as you should be ashamed!

Ta dah
Ciao for now