Category: Blog

The tree guys didn’t remove as much from this tree as we had hoped. Took a little more off with the motosega on a pole.

John broke the tractor. A new battery resolved the issue. I also bought a compressor for keeping the tires pumped up sufficiently and sent the tractor for a service. Got it back just in time to cut the grass before leaving.

Paolo (Michele’s father) bugged us all summer for this meal. We arranged it in Il Giardinetto. Porcini freschi were available and featured in a big way.

• Antipasti: Tagliere Toscano
• Primi: Tagliatelle with porcini freschi
• Secondi: Tagliata with porcini freschi
• Contorni: Porcini freschi fritti
• Dolci: Sgroppino

Work to remove dry and dangerous branches of the two cedars and to clean the oak. We’d have liked a little more off, but these guys are not keen to over prune.

Pictures taken by the agronomo after the climbers finished

These pictures show rot where the cedars were brutally pollarded in the past. Not dangerous, but not well done. We will have some more stabilisiation work to do on one tree next year.

Hopefully Francesco and Mariagrazia will feel more secure with this work done.

Second hand pump from David and Carol seems to be working fine

Saturday 13th July

Monday 15th July

Filling – 5 or 6 tanker loads

First use – before the addition of salt

Laying weed (and dust) suppressant

Drastic hedge trimming with Fran and Nick for increased evening sun by the pool

Pool maintenance

Chilling in and around the pool

Miscellaneous pool pictures

Trimming the front hedge

Painting the pizza oven and barbeque

Jesse’s very low wood chopping stump

Tuesday 28 May

Wednesday 29 May

Friday 31st May

Backfill and levelling for paving

Stairs

Tuesday 4th June

Wednesday 5th June

Friday 7th June

Cin cin RAGAZZI!

Tuesday 11th June

Wednesday 12th June

Some discussion about grilles and shower location

Thursday 13th June (Fenella’s 60th birthday)

Wall and floor finishing completed

Michele says: CI PIACE MOLTO!!!😍

We say: ANCHE NOI!!! Possiamo immaginare di nuotarci dentro adesso. 😃

Friday 14th June

Clearly Michele is very pleased with the smoothness of the pool walls as shown here.

Somewhat dissapointingly, a delay in the delivery of the tiles means the completion date is put back by a week or so. We have rearranged our next trip accordingly.

Saturday 15th June

Metal border to attach the liner.

Tuesday 18th June

Removal of the spoil

Short video here

Wednesday 26th June

After a few days of heavy rain they were able to lay the pipes for water (orange) and electricity (black).

Monday 1st July

Terraces reformed. Video here.

Tuesday 2nd July

Border tile pieces collected. Now they can start tiling round the pool.

Wednesday 3rd July

Thursday 4th July

Saturday 6th July

Michele’s youngest son likes the pool a lot and has been visiting to see the progress. Short video here.

Wednesday 10th July

Installed in September. So many delays! The final step was replacing the faulty controller for the inverter and batteries.

Michele shaved the rendering down to allow this half of the gate to properly fold back against the wall. It is ready for us to repaint when we return.