244. More Furniture

The day of reckoning has arrived! I'm picking my sister, Rita and her partner, Mat up from Pisa airport later, but first we have a tri-fector of events, that if they all go ahead will be an Italian miracle! Our new leather suite is due to arrive between 9-12 am and our old suite is due to be collected at 11 am. A new rug we have bought in Prato is also due to arrive at midday. Unbelievably all three events are successful!!!


To add to the new three curtain rails I have put up - our Sicilian curtain is now up and we only have two more curtains and some new pictures to complete the set!

243. Italy vs Germany

It's only 3 months until the World Cup (in Germany) and what do you know the hosts are playing a friendly against Italy, in Florence and Alex Del Piero is starting!

I get myself down to the stadium, snag a last minute ticket and witness an Italian masterclass and a 4-1 drubbing. Goals coming courtesy of Gilardino, Toni, De Rossi and the man himself, Del Piero as I get not only to finally see one of my heroes, but he scores as well! It looks very promising for the World Cup Finals in June...

242. Jazz Opera

A series of jazz concerts at the Metastasio theatre in Prato concludes this evening with 'apparently' Italy's most famous jazz musician, Gianluigi Trovesi, together with a 40-piece horn and woodwind section and no less than 4 drummers!

The theme of the evening is 'from Monteverdi to Puccini', a kind of history of Opera, with a jazz twist... very unusual.

The guy organizing the event is one of Annette's friend, Gemma's student and we meet him before the concert, before disappearing to our very swanky box seat. We have a very enjoyable, but unusual evening. Thanks Gemma!

(Original journal entry 27/2/06)

241. Benvenuto Brunello

Book 9 

'In the whole wide world, wherever the vault of heaven turns. there is no land so well adorned with all that wins natures crown, as Italy. With her men, her women, her pre-eminence in arts and crafts and her wealth of talent.'

Pliny - from Natural History

241. Benvenuto Brunello

'And then we opened another bottle of Brunello...' 8or 42!!!)

Well who would have believed it! Here I am in book nine. Four years and four months later and what better to start my 9th journal than a Sunday trip to the beautiful town of Montalcino. My good pal, Stefano Chioccioli with the son of the president of the 'Consorzio del Brunello', Filippo Fanti and a couple of faxes later and I have two invitations to my first ever 'Benvenuto Brunello' preview presentations. (You didn't think I wouldn't get Annette a ticket!) This event is stictly trade only... no general public here! There are going to be 150 producers showcasing 500 wines, not yet available in the shops or reviewed in any magazines or books. It kind of makes you feel a bit priveleged. After a two-hour drive and a fourty minute wait in the queue, we're in! 

It is being held in the Fortezza and is absolutely packed. We are somewhat spoilt for choice and manage an impressive 42 different Brunellos! Annette comes away singing in the streets of Montalcino! I've taken some tasting notes and have earmarked my favourite ten for possible future purchases... 

(Original journal entry 26/2/06)

240. It's all Greek to me

I end my 8th journal with a return to Greece and memories of our Summer holiday amongst the classical islands. The BIF teachers have broken with their traditional 'Chinese' evenings and we've gone all Greek!

We have a very enjoyable evening at Dionisio in Florence, the winter drizzle is forgotten, work is hardly mentioned and we're transported back to Santorini and Ithaka as we dine on Ambrosia and nectar with the gods...

  End of Book  8

'I follow nature without being able to grasp her, and this river that flows returns, one day green, another yellow and tomorrow it'll be a torrent.'


Monet