I suppose it's usual at this (early) time of year to reflect on what's gone before to look forward to the coming year and what it may bring, and today, as I look out on a cold, yet sunny day, it seems to be the thing to do.
Exactly a year ago today we set out to drive to Venice. We had visited Venezia in the summer of 07, Mrs J's first time there, and she was smitten, and so we wanted to return when the crowds were thinner and the atmosphere heavier. We were not to be disappointed. After our summer trip through northern Italy (Udine, Venice, Padova & Verona), this period in Venice probably sealed our fate with regard to buying our house, but at that time we probably didn't even realise it ourselves. Whilst we have our fair share of trials & tribulations, we could not have dared to imagine what last year brought us, in particular 3 things come to mind as the high spots of 2008:
1: Finding Romolini's (by accident), and through them buying Chicken House, not a Palazzo, but it is somewhere that has everything that we could want out of life at the moment, and it will be our base to explore further afield in Tuscany and Italy.
3: I started this blog to record our journey (and to prove I wasn't too old to learn new tricks), as I couldn't find any such similar stories on the web, and maybe to perhaps inspire somebody else to do the same. A quick look at the map of readers shows just how interesting Tuscany is, with readers from USA, France, China, Brazil (and even Italy).
I've spent some time over the Xmas break to tidy up my 'project file', update my 'cash-flow forecast' and started to compile a list of questions for Alberto, for our next telephone chat next week, well after watching all those TV renovation shows I must practice what I preach, so what about Italian hopes for 2009....
- Can't wait for the first night we spend in Chicken House, and the countdown-ticker on the blog constantly reminds me of our target completion date.
- I'm sure when we move in there will be a few things yet to sort out, but when it is to be able to invite all our new friends to a 'housewarming' party, will be a day to remember (for us at least).
- To crack-on with the garden, and to plant our first Olive tree. Is it the Chinese who say, 'the best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago, the second best time is today'.
Of course we have a few other family-targets, but compared to 2008, we are already looking for 2009 to be the best one yet. Buon Anno









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