This blog is our personal record of the purchase, projects, tribulations, successes and joys as we settle in and make a home from the wonderful house we have bought.
- Pool progress – builder updatesTuesday 28 May Wednesday 29 May Friday 31st May Backfill and levelling for paving Stairs Tuesday 4th June Wednesday 5th June Friday 7th June Cin … Continue reading Pool progress – builder updates
- Finally, working photovoltaicsInstalled in September. So many delays! The final step was replacing the faulty controller for the inverter and batteries.
- Pool progress May visitMonday 6th – day of arrival Apparently the hole is not big enough Tuesday 7th Total washout due to rain storm. Massive rain storm in … Continue reading Pool progress May visit
- A bit of paintingPainted the shabby banisters black. A big improvement.
- Security gate for back doorSome discussion with Gino and Michele needed as one of the halves doesn’t fold back flush against the wall.
- Exciting dayGround broken for the swimming pool. Michele started today and the old pool has already been removed by lunchtime. Very exciting! Also, they came to … Continue reading Exciting day
- Ground floor terracotta floorsThe tiles on the ground floor were left in a terrible state after the renovation. We tried cleaning with a mild acid product, but without … Continue reading Ground floor terracotta floors
- Kitchen tilingMichele sent us this video of the completed tiling in the main kitchen
- February visitDuring this two week visit, we caught up with friends, pruned the wisteria and painted our external doors to match the new shutters. We had … Continue reading February visit
- Shutters and mosquito screensDelivered Installed Now we need to paint the doors.
- Window bars installedThe work of the fabbro looks good. The new kitchen window has bars to match the existing one and the low windows in the living … Continue reading Window bars installed
- Windows and kitchen door finally completeWe ordered our windows from Giovanni Tambellini, our local falegname, in November last year (well in advance of starting the work on the house). We … Continue reading Windows and kitchen door finally complete
- Storm damageTuscany has been having a lot of rainfall and high winds. During the storms, one of the branches of the hazel tree was blown down … Continue reading Storm damage
- Update picturesPiano, piano Light and power to the ice house External cabling tidied New cabinet for the water meter and stopcock Boxing for the unsightly external … Continue reading Update pictures
- Tiling progressMichele sent us these videos of his tiling:KitchenetteLavanderia Much better than Klodian’s efforts. For the main kitchen, we need to order some less prisine white … Continue reading Tiling progress
- September visit progress picturesKitchenette fully functional Old living room door reinstated Living room furnished Ingresso A window for the stairwell and a door for under the stairs Facade … Continue reading September visit progress pictures
- Update picturesFunctioning bathroom? Scaffolding down
- Facade update picturesWashing of the south facade witnessed by Gino. Now they have to make good on the front.
- August visit progress picturesKitchen Pizzeria Rear of the house Front of the house Some disagreements / discussions over washing the facade We returned from a day out with … Continue reading August visit progress pictures
- Rendering painted
- All rear windows installedSecond floor First floor Rear of the house ready for painting
- Old kitchen door repurposed
- First windows installed
- Kitchen door progress pictures
- Progress picturesPhotovoltaic panels installed Roof insulated and reinstated Rendering completed Doorway and hay loft wall cleaned
- Progress picturesPhotovoltaic installation in progress Rendering the rear of the house Pizzeria progress Heat pumps and hot water
- Roof progress pictures
- Kitchen door progress pictures
- June visit progress picturesKitchen Living room First floor bathroom (dark grout to white) Ground floor (missing boxing addressed) Around the house Facade On the roof
- Progress picturesLiving room First floor bathroom
- Scaffolding erectedThe scaffolding has been erected for the exterior work consisting of: Aparently there was some kind of heated discussion between our builder and the neighbours. … Continue reading Scaffolding erected
- Progress picturesKitchen Removed from Fenella’s room Light switch moved to hallway so we can flip the lavanderia door
- Progress picturesGround floor bathroom
- April visit progress picturesLiving room floor: work in progress Living room floor laid Splits installed Kitchenette installed Ground floor bathroom Lavanderia New kitchen door Entrance vestibule
- Progress picturesGround floor bathroom First floor bathroom
- Progress picturesStairs Entrance vestibule
- Progress videosGino visited the house and sent us these videos to show the current state of play. Second floor First floor Ground floor
- Progress picturesLiving room Hallway and stairs Kitchenette Kitchen Miscellaneous
- Progress picturesKitchenette plastered Stairway prepared for plastering
- Plastering Italian styleThey set up a mixer in the garden with a stack of plaster bags. One guy just fed the plaster and water into the mixer … Continue reading Plastering Italian style
- Around the house with our geometra and contractorsAmonst these pictures are: Others involved (but not pictured) are:
- Closing the flue in the living roomThis flue (with massive wasp nest) was discovered in the living room when the plaster was removed. While it might have been nice to use … Continue reading Closing the flue in the living room
- March visit progress picturesAs well as showing the state of play when we visited, the pictures below form a record of where the pipes are located in the … Continue reading March visit progress pictures
- Monster wasp nestGino sent through these pictures of a fireplace and flue uncovered in the living room. Inside was a monster wasp (or hornet) nest. The flue … Continue reading Monster wasp nest
- Progress picturesLavanderia Ground floor bathroom Kitchen
- Work has startedA very excing day! Site setup Living room Plaster off (hope the electrician remembers what we marked up). Ground floor bathroom It appears that we … Continue reading Work has started
- Trip to kick off workMartin planned a trip from 23rd to 28th February to continue packing up the house and kick off the work with KR. Fingers were crossed, … Continue reading Trip to kick off work
- Short trip to Colle di CompitoWe flew to Italy on 9th February and returned on 15th. The intention was to meet with Gino and builders (KR and Michele) and to … Continue reading Short trip to Colle di Compito
- Windows orderedToday we ordered 26 double glazed windows from the local falegname (carpenter). That’s the one Domenico took us to visit some time ago. We’ve seen … Continue reading Windows ordered
- Bathroom refurbOn 19 September, the first bit of work on the house started. Michele Gigli is a builder in the village who was recommended and introduced … Continue reading Bathroom refurb
- New garden fence
- Olives and olive oilDominick contacted us to let us know his olives were being picked and to invite us to see what was going on and join in. … Continue reading Olives and olive oil
- Departure for Colle and from Broughton GardensThe sale of our family home in London and purchase of a new flat needed to be resolved before we travelled out to Colle di … Continue reading Departure for Colle and from Broughton Gardens
- Terracotta floorsWe decided it was time to make a start on the terracotta tile floors on the second floor. It seemed that no matter how often … Continue reading Terracotta floors
- Ride on lawn mowerI decided that a good way to avoid spending the majority of each stay strimming and cutting grass would be to buy a ride on … Continue reading Ride on lawn mower
- Time for a decent fridgeWe’ve been making do with the fridge that came with the house up till now, but it regularly freezes the food it contains and needs … Continue reading Time for a decent fridge
- Beds for visitorsWe have visitors coming in August and September and no beds for them to sleep in. An earlier trip to IKEA was unsuccessful as they … Continue reading Beds for visitors
- Gardening continuesApart from the seemingly incessant strimming and mowing, we’ve been pruning leggy shrubs and removing ivy from the trees. In particular, this tree was being … Continue reading Gardening continues
- Garden mattersWisteria Shortly after Martin arrived, he made an inspection of the state of the wisteria which he had pruned at the end of the summer. … Continue reading Garden matters
- Electricity mattersWe’ve had issues with the electricty tripping since we bought the house. We had similar issues when staying in Martin’s parents place in Benabbio way … Continue reading Electricity matters
- Finally got thereThe last day of driving started with a stunning drive across Switzerland from Zurich in the north to Lugano on the Italian border. Only stopped … Continue reading Finally got there
- Arrival of the furnitureMartin took the tunnel (no P&O obviously) and drove to Aachen where he stayed in the now customary Brunnenhof hotel on Saturday night. Fenella, meanwhile, … Continue reading Arrival of the furniture
- Delayed departureOn Friday morning (one week later than planned), Tim turned up in his van along with his rather hung over son Darren. We loaded everything … Continue reading Delayed departure
- Italy trip spring 2022With the sale of our home and the purchase of our new flat in the hands of the solicitors, we decided to get a trip … Continue reading Italy trip spring 2022
- DownsizingThis spring, we put our house on the market and have been seriously looking for a smaller cheaper place to move to. The intention is … Continue reading Downsizing
- Back on the marketOn the afternoon of Monday 10 January, Riccardo got in touch with this message: A Lucca estate agent (LuccAbita) had posted our house for sale … Continue reading Back on the market
- Fibre update 2…They started digging up our front garden this morning and Riccardo sent us these pictures: He also sent this video. When they were finished in … Continue reading Fibre update 2…
- Fibre update…This morning, Riccardo sent this picture: Apparently, they were expecting to find the existing TIM trunking right next to the house. Instead, they discovered it … Continue reading Fibre update…
- Fibre broadband is coming…On Wednesday afternoon I received a call from our neighbour Riccardo. Apparently, some telecomms contractor has a crew in the village laying fibre for TIM … Continue reading Fibre broadband is coming…
- Packing up alreadyWe’re heading home tomorrow so we are already packing up. It’s been a good trip. The house is in reasonable shape. We had a good … Continue reading Packing up already
- Quick autumn tripWe decided to make a short trip to Italy after our Italian lessons finished for the term. This nine day trip just about uses up … Continue reading Quick autumn trip
- Final jobs and packing upInsurance I finally got round to sorting out insurance for the house. Got two quotes and went for the more expensive as they seemed much … Continue reading Final jobs and packing up
- Swimming pool site visitToday we were visited by Serena and her colleague from Systems-Pool (a recommended local swimming pool company of 30+ years experience). We are looking to … Continue reading Swimming pool site visit
- More gardeningAndrea and his crew came again. They trimmed the overgrown laurel between us and our neighbours Francesco and Mariagrazia. It leaves that border a bit … Continue reading More gardening
- Putting a different light on thingsWe had been getting a bit frustrated with Andrea the gardener as he did not return to complete the work we agreed and was not … Continue reading Putting a different light on things
- First dinner guestsDomenico had offered to come round and show us how to use the wood oven to cook pizzas. Obviously we jumped at the chance. He … Continue reading First dinner guests
- Removals 3rd and final dayThe removals men finished today and here are the results Now it’s so much easier to visualise what these rooms will be like and we … Continue reading Removals 3rd and final day
- Removals day 2Another result. This tank was removed in one piece. The removals guys didn’t seem too concerned, but we were a little worried that it might … Continue reading Removals day 2
- A day of great progressA huge day of progress today. Six blokes in 2 vans have carted off loads of the unwanted old furniture and junk. They’ll be back … Continue reading A day of great progress
- Our first visitorRowan has arrived for a 3 week stay. She is our first visitor and must isolate for 5 days in the house. We are sad … Continue reading Our first visitor
- Gifts and adviceShortly after 8am, the doorbell went and Fenella went down to answer. It was Francesco bearing gifts of fruit and vegetables from his garden. Really … Continue reading Gifts and advice
- Shutters and footballToday we decided to do something about the shutters for the spare room. Opening them was not possible as one of the shutters was hanging … Continue reading Shutters and football
- Pool shopping expeditionWe decided the living room downstairs is just about perfect for a pool table and we know Rowan and Jesse would love that. So we … Continue reading Pool shopping expedition
- The rogitoMonday 26 July came around and we headed in to Lucca to complete the house purchase at the offices of the notary. So different from … Continue reading The rogito
- Property mattersIt has been brilliant to have this time in the house before completing the purchase. We’ve had a chance to really get a feel for … Continue reading Property matters
- Garden mattersDomenico came to visit again on Wednesday 7 July. He lent us his electric chainsaw and hedge trimmers (so kind) and we toured the garden … Continue reading Garden matters
- End of quarantineOn Monday we went out in search of a pharmacy to conduct lateral flow tests in order to conclude our quarantine. The chap from the … Continue reading End of quarantine
- QuarantineWe spent the remainder of our quarantine cleaning, airing the house, taking junk down to the stable, writing long lists of things to buy and … Continue reading Quarantine
- Day 1We woke up excited on the first morning after very little sleep. First things first. Coffee. Slight problem. No water. We searched around the house … Continue reading Day 1
- The mad dashOn Friday 25th June we lost our nerve and decided to travel as soon as possible. COVID-19 cases in the UK were rising fast – … Continue reading The mad dash
- The waiting…The signed compromesso and the keys arrived by DHL before Christmas. Domenico had agreed that we could go over and stay in the house between … Continue reading The waiting…
- The compromessoWe started planning for the compromesso. Our intention was that either both of us would go over in November for the signing or just Martin … Continue reading The compromesso
- The propostaDomenico and his sister accepted our verbal offer and we asked Martina to draft a formal letter of offer. Exciting and a little bit scary! … Continue reading The proposta
- The offerWe arranged a second viewing and in the intervening days we visited the village and the surrounding area a few times. We ate at the … Continue reading The offer
- The viewingFenella found an interesting old farmhouse online – quite different from all the other properties we had been to see. The marketing pictures looked charming, … Continue reading The viewing
- The searchJust the short version I think. We did a lot of driving around and looking at different areas round Lucca and further afield. Some were … Continue reading The search
- The holidayWe had a wonderful holiday revisiting parts of Tuscany we knew well and discovering places we’d never visited before. Of course we went to Bagni … Continue reading The holiday
- The accommodationThe apartment we had rented was a disaster! The idea was great: an apartment just outside the city walls so we could easily walk in … Continue reading The accommodation
- Lucca as a baseWe made a fabulous choice of base for our holiday and search. Lucca is a beautiful and friendly city with ancient ramparts all the way … Continue reading Lucca as a base
- …and we’re offThe gods smiled on us and we could stick to our plans. We loaded up the car and headed for Dover. It felt liberating and … Continue reading …and we’re off