April 2011 (From Western Telegraph)

Easter, Weddings & Grass

12:30pm Sunday 1st May 2011 in Blogs By Michael and Peggy Hunt

The clocks go forward and its like throwing a switch. The grass shot up and up and everything burst into bud almost over night. Every day we could see changes in the garden and things leafed up or bloomed. Butterflies became common place, lizards and bees abounded. We saw the first Hoopoe in the first weeks of the month and we had to start watering the pots and planters as temperature hit the late 20’s. The canopies went on the pergolas so we could eat out without roasting ourselves and Mike could be heard humming “salad days are here again…” as we puttered around getting things done.

Amazing we’ve been almost 5 years and we had no idea that the narrowest street of Italy can be found in Citta della Pieve, via Baciadonne. Naturally we had to go and see this tiny wonder when we went into town and tucked away down a street we’d never ventured into is a 36” narrow paved gap between two houses. It leads out into a parallel street with 2 churches, one has been converted into the civil defence league head quarters and the other is under reconstruction, and the western town walls looking back to mount Cetona.

Mid way through the month at Castglione del lago had it’s tulip festival where floats decorated in tulip petals parade through the local streets. It started after Dutch settlers decorated their homes with the flowers back in the 1800’s and this was the 45th year it had been celebrated by the town. The last two years had been a wash out so this year they went overboard and celebrated the event.

The temperatures went crazy hitting the low 30’s for the second week in the month, people were collapsing in the unexpected heat and the seedlings had to be protected and watered, it made grass cutting more difficult so we did the hardest work before 10am and then after 6pm to take advantage of the cooler times. The temperature dropped to a normal spring like 18 degrees with showers a week later, much to everyone’s relief.

Friends popped in on their way to another holiday venue. We spent the few days catching up and comparing life styles. Not so very different and the cost of living with regard to petrol is almost the same and the electric and gas seem to be creeping up in the UK, the big difference is here we have to pay 20% vat on those services not just 5%. Food can be cheaper here. It is easy to find fresh seasonal fruit and vegetables for 1 euro a KG or less but processed food is a lot more expencive than doing it your self. For example a chill cabinet hamburger made by the butcher will sell at 8 euro a KG but you can by good mince at half that price and make them yourself and if you mix beef and pork mince its even cheaper. A cooked chicken will set you back 12 – 15 euros a KG but raw anything from 4 - 8 and porchetta starts at 16 euro’s a KG but when there’s a special offer on you can get lean pork shoulder for 5 euros a KG. So yes we eat very well and the diet isn’t having much effect.

We had a terrific wind, hurricane or sorts, that whipped up the valley floor and round the back of the house. It ripped the covers off the pergolas and stripped the trees of their new leaves, pots toppled and climbers fell. Chaos. Fortunately the damage was repairable, a strut was reinforced on the pergola that took the brunt of the wind. Pots were righted and broken limbs trimmed. We bought green wind-break material to replace the covers as it is woven with holes so it will let the wind through and hopefully we’ll not suffer in the future should another gale arrive. It is dense enough to work as a sunshade and at just 75c per square metre not a fortune to replace when the UV eventually rots it.

Before we knew it Easter week with Mikes birthday falling on Easter Sunday and the “Colour the skies festival was upon us. Mike decided, for his birthday treat, he wanted to see the air show at Castglione del Lago and have friends round for lunch instead of going out for a meal as most restaurants would be offering set meals with five or more courses and we just wouldn’t be able to eat it all. The show started on the Friday but we elected to go on the Saturday and visit around the lunch time when, in theory, it would be quieter. The police were out in force, at least 4 different kinds of police with very smart uniforms, the civil defence, navy, army and the emergency services were all represented around the airfield. People were selling parts, hangers, transporters, a fold up plain in a box trailer, DIY projects, clubs, trainers and so forth. Helicopters, private and commercial, were hopping in and out and one was offering rides over the old town and lake. There were even a few giro-copters, single and two man, versions on display and in the air. Many different types of private aircraft from things that looked like flying tadpoles to bi-planes, microlites, fans with parachutes that you strap to your back but our favourite was the microlite with a rubber dingy beneath. Personally they were all short of 2 engines and the phrase “you’ll never get me up in one of those” passed frequently across my mind also we wondered how anyone can afford to put fuel in these “hobby” machines with petrol costing anything from 1.47 to 1.60 a litre, that’s £7 a gallon !

Naturally bank holiday Monday it rained so the planned garden work was curtailed and we tidied the attic instead, taking boxes out for our friends who are moving and putting things in that have been stored under beds and on top of other things up, never a dull moment.

THE WEDDING. Naturally it wasn’t a bank holiday here but every TV channel was linked to the UK coverage but the commentators gave an entirely different slant on the event. Fashion was very high on the list, mentioning that William’s shirts were Italian, THE DRESS, which was highly thought of and the gossip. Scandals past and present were gone over, in detail from history to the present day. The guests were gone over in the same manner, who was and were not invited and why, then there was the speculation on the honeymoon, the number of children and when, would she work, will her parents get honours and change their lifestyle and her sister provoked many comments from her dress, fitness regimen and possible future. Few countries can pull off the pomp and splendour that the UK Royal family manage and it was remarked that this was a wonderful PR event for the country with all the foreign visitors and viewers that it had drawn. Possibly more than the Olympic games it was suggested, and the British tax payer would be amply repaid in raised GDP via tourism. There were tinges of envy in that observation and it was readily admitted to that the few countries with monarchies did draw more tourists than those without when it came to special events, after all did anyone make this much fuss over a Prime Minster’s marriage?

Readers who submit articles must agree to our terms of use. The content is the sole responsibility of the contributor and is unmoderated. But we will react if anything that breaks the rules comes to our attention. If you wish to complain about this article, contact us here