Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Trullo Azzurro - opening up 2011

Locorotondo, Italy - 25/27-March-2011.

Our usual flying visit to open up for the start of the season. We took Friday afternoon off and flew RuinAir out of Stansted. Straight to T-A for a late cupboard supper of pasta, sauce in a jar and a bottle of red wine.

The next morning an early dash to Trito village stores for bread, butter and milk. After breakfast a trip to Conforama to look for extra sun loungers and a few other bits and bobs including buying ingredients for lunch.

lunch al fresco
Lunch al fresco

After lunch was when we dragged all the beds and mattresses out into the courtyard, turning every hour, to toast them in the wonderful spring sunshine and drive off the winter damp.

While that was happening I neatly folded the olive nets into the crates - they had been hastily stuffed indoors after our last visit to harvest the olives.

In the evening we popped into Cisternino for aperative and free wifi in Bar Fod.



Then back to T-A for a relaxing evening in: fine food, fine wine and an early night. Bliss!

Sunday morning there was only time for a quick tidy up but I did plant half a packet of rocket (arugula). Hopefully when we are out there in a month's time for Easter we might have some fresh picked salad available to eat.

Trullo Azzurro logoTrullo Azzurro: beautifully restored trullo in delightful, secluded valley near Locorotondo, Puglia, Italy. Available to rent on a per week basis, sleeps 4-6. For more information visit http://www.holiday-rentals.co.uk/trulloazzurro

Wednesday, March 09, 2011

Weekend in Scotland - March 2011

Last weekend was spent in Irvine doing DIY for the MIL. Not that I begrudge it at all. She is Mary's mum after all *and* she has been very generous to us in not spending the children's inheritance but passing it on. Also it takes some of the load off the SIL who does an awful lot for May, being so much nearer.

bathroom mirror
Bathroom mirror

Saturday's task was drilling holes in tiles for the bathroom mirror - always a nerve-wracking task. Went smoothly I'm glad to say as did the towel ring and loo roll holder.

French drain
French drain

Sunday's task was creating a French drain along the edge of the lawn. The troughs were killing off the grass and made it difficult to lawnmower up to the edge. Some black plastic, six bags of gravel and a couple of hours hopping about like a frog fixed that.

All in all a good deed kind of a weekend well spent.