We went to Corciano to the lady who made our metal pergola as 2 tables we purchased from people heading back to the UK had hollow leg supports that had rotted and were teetering precariously. We'd priced some in Marina fa Mercato on the way and a simple urn support was 110 euros. We were delighted to be able to buy a sort support at coffee table height and a normal height support for just 80, as they both needed de-rust treatment and painting, this was a bargain. So the first weekend had us working on them and replaced before total collapsed occurred.

Turning over the pots and putting the geraniums, angles trumpet cuttings and lemons into the north door section away from any frosts, although leaving the cover pulled aside for the moment so they still receive light as the weather is still mild for the season 15c-28c in the day 5c at night. Then we had a hoolie of a gale that lasted 2 days with lashing rain that had our rose arch flattened to the floor.

We turned our mattress over, top to toe, as Mike had a wallow on his side to discover 2 springs had emerged on the back side. We patched it up with elephant tape and have decided to buy a new one as our Xmas present this year.

Pa had his hip done, at last, on the 5th November and seemed to be managing well.

Nello's 77th birthday on the 7th and Ann's 71st birthday on the 10th was celebrated without us a Mike caught a head cold that lasted 3 days and passed a portion of it to me, 48 hrs of dripping and sniffing then it was over so we were able to meet up with them over pizza a week later. Annie and Melanie went to the UK to meet family, friends and attend a birthday party. Annie also took a ring and an earring to a friend who's a retired jeweler to see if he can repair and replace parts at reasonable costs.

We invited Stephanie along with Brian and Sue to supper on the 12, just before they drove back to the UK with a package for us to send on to Ma & Pa with the Xmas cards and next years birthday pressys. We had intended couriering it back and then discovered half the contents were banned by the carrier, so B&S offered to send it for us when they got home. We'll have to read the small print a lot more carefully before we use the shipper from here next time.

Fence repairs started around the pool, 40 feet, followed by the soft fruit garden 10 feet and then it was tops and cross pieces under the roses by the house and a short length near the grotto. The long run above the gazebo to the gate only needed 2 top section but the cross pieces will have to wait until we've done the bonfires in the olive grove as the lengths needed are buried under the pile.

The mild weather with intermittent rain caused havoc with the local farmers, no olives, mold, flies, infestations, mushrooms and fungi abound. One farmer with 3000 olives got just 67 ltrs of oil ! A regional disaster, mills didn't get work and sold out of the previous years oil in 2 weeks, warning the price will rise and some will make a killing selling under the Italian label inferior oils and blends to cash in on the market.

A black cats arrived and battled with PK and treed Mach1. PK got an abscess on his front leg from one encounter and we spent most days listening out for war cries to get the water pistol out and chase off the intruder. It wasn't taking the hint as it had another go at pool PK who got 2 more bites and Mach1 had to be separated from the monster with a broom.

3rd week it dropped to 2.5c, under a thick blanket of mist, but CDP in sunshine looking at a sea of white with green islands here and there, very magical but chilly when you are in it. It did pick up to 12c and is dropping gently back again on one day then it was bright and sunny for 2 days but as the last week started the fog and mist didn't clear and the house started to feel damp and chilly although it was 14c out side during the day and 6-8c at night the lack of sun cools the stones very quickly so we lit Bertha to maintain the interior temperature at 18c. The duvet and electric blanket as well as the kitchen fire and living room wood burner kept us cosy too. There were nice days and when these occurred we trimmed the large acacia by the pool of the new sprouts and the gentile opposite the kitchen to a lollipop shape. Both had been chainsawed but reacted by sending up 6-8 foot sprouts which had to be taken off and we wanted to reshape a little too.

Popped into Soggegross to get loo rolls on offer and can out with 60 ltrs of pink wine in 1ltr cartons for 30p a ltr, that's us set for Xmas!

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