my blog
Last Monday, I was sitting in the Olive Mill waiting to press our 2011 crop . And No, it's not like 'Under the Tuscan Sun'. It's cold, the air is hazy with fumes from the olives and the machines are really, really noisy. Oh, and I'm the only woman amongst many elderly Italian men.
I do this every year but this year is different. The mill is eerily quiet.
I phoned the press last week and couldn't...
As the summer draws to a close, I've been reflecting on our first year of renting the barn.
When I suggested the idea, the whole family threw their hands up in horror.
“Do you really want people knocking on the door in the middle of the night asking you to unblock the loo?” Good point. I must say standing in my nightie armed with a plunger wasn't appealing.
“Mummy we won't...
About a year ago, my husband hauled me out of bed at the crack of dawn.
“We're going to miss the window if you don't come now!” Pulling my sweatshirt on, I thought it might be something romantic.
“I've got a conference call at 9 and we need to pick these figs. The hornets are devouring them. We'll have no jam”
Rubbing my eyes but too tired to argue, I grabbed...
Last week my friend came to stay. She is über chic, stratospherically tall and sips cocktails with A-listers in London. I love her as she reminds me of my old life. Actually that's not true. She reminds me of the life I could have had if I wasn't weeding raspberries, cleaning pools and smiling at clients who complain that the cat is too noisy!
Anyway, to prove I haven't gone totally 'rustic',...
First of all, I have to say a huge thank you to Mr Colin Firth. He may have been at his most gorgeous as Darcy, his most repressed as George VI but I happen to think he was at his most wonderful when he spared me his Garden Designer, Mr Frederic Whyte.
Houses, I can do, but gardens are an anathema to me. Most plants, particularly flowers, have a death wish when they come near. I swear they look...
I was in the supermarket the other day when I bumped into some English neighbours.
“How's your knee?” David quipped.
“I read your blog, but I was disappointed that you didn't write anything about the wedding.”
Riddled with guilt, I ran home and switched on my computer. For anyone who doesn't know, Kate and I share the same name and we were married on the same day. And...
