You are currently browsing the category archive for the ‘family and friends’ category.
When Elsie, and two of her belly-dancing friends, Karen and Sylvia, volunteered to come and help us with the olive harvest, I begged them to bring their costumes, so that perhaps we could put on a little show.
They have been attending belly-dancing classes for several years, perfecting the necessary muscle control and complex choreographed manoeuvres of this dance form. They belong to a dance troupe who perform locally in South Wales.
I organised for the “Belly-Dancing Extravaganza” to take place one evening at the Bellavista Restaurant, which is run by our good friends – la famiglia Riccardi.
We had invited several of our Italian friends from Itri, some of whom have known Kay and Elsie for many years now, but in true Italian fashion, up until the last minute we had no firm idea of how many people would be able to attend.
We arrived in good time, so that the girls had time to dress and prepare themselves.
Then, one by one our invited friends started to come through the door and it soon became apparent that there was going to be a good turnout for the evening’s entertainment. This resulted in augmenting the girls’ pre-performance nerves, which were already running somewhat high.
The girls looked absolutely stunning as they elegantly swished their way onto the dance floor.
Their glamorous costumes were richly bejewelled with sequins, glass beads and jingling coins.
Each had taken great care in putting together their exotic, eye-catching ensembles.
Sylvia dressed in rich purple …..
Karen dressed in vivid scarlet …..
and Elsie in opulent black and gold …..
As the rhythmic music began the girls began to gracefully undulate and gyrate, whirling and twirling, with a shimmy or two of the hips. Their elegant flowing movements were seemingly effortless.
The audience was totally captivated by their magnificent performance.
Especially Massimo !!!
Later members of the audience were invited onto the dance floor to try their hand at some of the typical moves. Some individuals turned out to be somewhat more competent than others, which resulted in much hilarity !!!
The evening proved to be a great success, and was enjoyed by all.
A big Thank You to the Belly-Dancing Girls from South Wales !!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A new range of items for the “Woof-Gang” Doggie Shop
Those of you who have stayed with us at Tre Cancelle, will know that in each apartment we have created a little “Doggie Shop” putting together a small selection of gifts, a little something to take back home, perhaps as a little thank you for a dog or cat sitter, or for the neighbour who picks up the post and keeps an eye on the house during the family’s absence. All are designed to be light-weight in the suitcase.
Paul’s range of homemade jams and chutneys are very popular with guests and there is a selection of my handmade greeting cards.
This year I have taken up a new hobby and have added a range of handmade jewellery to the display of goods on offer: earrings, bracelets and necklaces in a variety of designs and colours.
Please contact us for more details.
All proceeds from the “Woof-Gang” shop go towards feeding and generally taking care of our rescue dogs
and help towards paying for vaccinations and otherVet’s bills.
On behalf of the “Woof-Gang” Max says “Please Help Us”
and a big “Thank You”.
Max sitting his cool shady hole under an olive tree.
Many thanks to Joan, Mary, the Burroughs family and Elsie for their kind donations
and anyone who has already kindly purchased gifts from the “Doggie Shop”.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Happy 50th Birthday Paul
In October our dear friends Marilyn and Clive invited us for a rather special
meal to mark and celebrate Paul reaching his half century.
And also we had a lovely BBQ with Filippo and Pauline.
Filippo insisted on presenting Paul with a lovely bunch of flowers !!!
Paul, Louise, Louby and Barney
Thank you dear friends
xxxxx
Words of Wisdom ……
The best is yet to be, the last of life, for which the first was made.
– Robert Browning
The man who views the world at fifty the same as he did at twenty has wasted thirty years of his life.
– Muhammad Ali
Birthdays are good for you; the more you have the longer you live! – Unknown
The older the fiddler, the sweeter the tune. – English Proverb
Our birthdays are feathers in the broad wing of time.
- Jean Paul Richter
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
At the end of August we were delighted to have our younger son Ben, his “other half” Emma and “Baby Bump” to stay. They are expecting a little arrival at the end of November and were both much in need of a relaxing holiday. This was to be Emma’s first trip to Italy.
Although their stay here was all too brief, Ben and Emma managed to fit in ….. a couple of days at the beach …..
some local sight-seeing (Sperlonga) …..
and a day in Rome.
We were all kindly invited to our friends, Luca and Loredana’s home, for a special meal to celebrate Luca’s 50th Birthday. Buon Compleanno Luca !!!
By the way -such a landmark birthday is shortly looming for
Paul this October !!!
One day we were also invited to San Donato and Atina in the Val di Comino and enjoyed another delicious meal with our Italian cousins.
Emma is a very passionate and creative cook and during her stay, delighted in preparing some srumptious food for us all.
Local tomatoes, Mozzarella di Bufala Drizzled With "Tre Cancelle" Olive Oil
Breakfast - Emma's Tasty Potato Cakes
Please come back soon Emma !!!
“Papa Woods” and Emma are about to move into their new home together in Cardiff, in time to get settled before the little addition to their family arrives.
We wish them all lots of love and all the very best in their new home.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
some local sight-seeing
Well, we have had a busy summer here in Itri, and a very hot one, with temperatures getting up to around 40 degrees C during July. We had a second heat-wave towards the end of August, which zapped our strength.
We have welcomed some lovely guests from all around the globe, from the USA, Canada, Denmark, France, Italy, Germany, Serbia, England and Scotland in the UK. Consequently we have had the great pleasure of making some very special new friends. Here are just a few:
Ivan and Derryn
Kathy and Claudio
Nonna Elizabeth, Elizabeth, Carol Ann and Sandra
Mike and Jane
Our first guests from Russia were Marina and Andrei, who kindly presented us with a calendar of their home city of St Petersburg, together with a bottle of rather special Russian Vodka. They absolutely loved Sperlonga and the little medieval hill top town of Campodimele.
Andrei and Marina
Paul was delighted when an ex-work colleague, Martyn from Bristol, paid us a surprise visit en route for a week’s holiday with a group of friends in Sorrento. Martyn seemed very taken by the beautiful area that we are so lucky to live in.
Martyn, with a View of the Coastline and Beautiful Sperlonga
The abandoned puppies that we took on, as you can see, have continued to grow well and have benefited from lots of love and attention from all our visitors.
Alessandro, Emigliano, Monica, "Mini-Max" and "Little Lizzie"
Emigliano, Monica, "Mini-Max" and "Little Lizzie"
Solenn and "Mini-Max"
Solenn and "Little Lizzie"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The puppies, as you can see, have continued to grow well and have benefited from lots of love and attention from all our visitors.
On the 24th June we were very kindly invited to lunch by Filippo’s family in Formia and to watch the procession and celebrations of the feast day of Saint John The Baptist. San Giovanni Battista is Formia’s co-patron saint, along with Sant’ Erasmo who’s feast is celebrated on the 2nd June. The annual celebrations are normally spread over a three day period between the 23rd and 25th of June and consist of various religious processions throughout the streets of the city. One, held on the evening of the 23rd makes its way down to the waterfront area known as La Mola, where there is a 13thcentury cylindrical tower . This was constructed to guard various water mills in that vicinity that were used to grind grain, and from which it derives its name. Here the priest carries out a special blessing of the local fishermen and their vessels.
On the day of our visit we met up with our friends Pauline and Filippo in the centre of Formia.
The main street of Via Vitruvio was lined with copious stalls selling sweets and confectionery, toys and balloons and there was a lively atmosphere in eager anticipation of the main procession. We began to make our way down towards the harbour to find a good position to watch the spectacle. Proceeded by a band, the long solemn reverent procession gradually wound its way through the streets, the two statues of Sant’ Erasmo and San Giovanni, were carried aloft by some of the local men of Formia, on ornately carved and guilded platforms. Near the harbour, at the Molo Azzurra, prayers were recited and hymns of thanksgiving were offered in praise of the saints.
The procession then continued along the quayside before the statues were carefully transported onto a waiting barge.
Accompanied by a cocophany of ships hooters, horns and claxons the vessel set off on a tour around the harbour, followed by a flotilla of other colourful smaller craft. A red fire-fighting boat of the Vigili del Fuoco sprayed plumes of sea water into the air. A large wreath of laurel leaves was then cast into the harbour in memory of those lost at sea.
The event culminated in a ear splitting display of daytime fireworks from the far harbour wall. Huge rockets were fired into the sky, each emitting a low thud, a trail of silvery stars, a small puff of white smoke, swiftly followed by a massive deafening detonation, like a sonic boom, accompanied by its reverberating pressure wave. The astounding extravaganza was seemingly never ending. Here is a You Tube Video of the proceedings by “ReporterMarco”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xp214FVLeA&feature=channel
We then realised we were going to be late for lunch so hurried our way back into the centre of town to our friends’ family apartment. Filippo’s elderly mother, and his three sisters, namely Rosa, Patrizia and Pompea, had prepared an exquisite homemade seafood risotto, some delicious fresh prawns with a salad, followed by a selection of fresh fruit.
Pompea, Rosa and Patrizia
The family were also celebrating the birthday of Giancarlo with a bubbly toast of Prosecco and some delicious Italian pastries.
Suddenly the focus changed from wonderful fare on the table to the TV in the corner, as the Italian National Squad were playing a match in the World Cup. As usual there was a vociferous mixture of opinions as to how good the current national side was and how they might progress in this latest match. Having performed poorly in previous matches a feeling of impending doom was prevalent.
Before long Italy went a goal behind to a chorus of moans a groans, muted swear words and of course much gesticulation towards the television. The gestures got increasingly animated as technical transmission problems became apparent as the picture kept breaking up on the screen, probably due to the sheer volume of people who were trying to watch the match !!!
With the score standing at 2-1 to Slovakia the screen froze again just as it appeared that Italy had managed to equalise, which was confirmed by the cheering and hooting from the street and surrounding apartment windows. However the joy was short-lived because not only had the Italian goal been disallowed, but by the time the picture finally returned Slovakia had scored and the score now rested at 3-1. Before very long the TV transmission packed up all together, and our friends then gathered around the radio in the kitchen to try and follow the commentary of the game. Nine minutes from time Italy managed to score a goal, but it was too late to save the reigning champions from being knocked out with the final score at 3-2.
“Oddio, che scema proprio !!!”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In the evening there were further celebrations in Formia with musical concerts, a funfair and yet another spectacular firework display at midnight from the harbour. Here’s another You Tube Video by “ReporterMarco”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jO_SqQyYmTw
You can read more about the interesting seaside town of Formia
at our South Lazio Website:
During our visit to the UK we were invited to lunch at our dear friend’s home in Bristol. Esmé, as a part of the continuing celebrations for her birthday, was keen to cook for us. As always the fare was most delicious and we enjoyed, with Paul’s Dad Peter, a very pleasant couple of hours in her good company. She has a real zest for life and lives each day to the full.
She has an eye for interior design and her apartment is beautifully decorated, mainly done by her own fair hand, and adorned with many of her own colourful oil paintings and remarkable photo collages.
She is also a dab hand on the old sewing machine.
It has to be said … that Esmé is a bit of a “Handbag-aholic” !!!
A habit which is easily fed during her many visits to us here at “Tre Cancelle”, during which she has spent many a happy hour browsing the local market stalls for unusual handbags and bargains. Indeed, when she is here she is in “Handbag Heaven”. She never fails to haggle with the North African stall holders, in whatever language is most useful, to achieve the very best discounts. Consequently, she never fails to fly back home rather heavily laden – with many more bags than she came with !!!
Esmé, Peter and Paul, Gaeta Harbour
Ciao Em !!! Looking forward to your next handbag expedition !!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Over the past few months we have been corresponding with a family living on the Isle of Mann, they had found us via our “Tre Cancelle” Blog. They were making plans to leave the damp and cold of the UK to start a new life in Italy.
Davide is in fact Italian, from the north of Italy, whereas Nandi was born and has spent most of her life in South Africa. They have three lovely children: Tomasso, Dante and Giada. What beautiful names !!!
Davide, having some relatives living in Itri, felt that this would be the perfect place to make their new home.
From our own experience we were able to offer them some guidance and advice regarding some of the challenges they were liable to experience, with Italian bureaucracy etc. etc.
It just so happened that their arrival date here in Itri coincided with our holiday in the UK, but soon after we arrived back we had the opportunity to meet up with them all which was a great pleasure.
The shyness of the 3 children soon wore off as they warmed to us, and we soon learned what three little live wires they can be.
As with most children of their age, they immediately fell in love with the “Woof-Gang” here at “Tre Cancelle” and as you can see they have enjoyed helping to give several of the “woofers” a bath. Of course the kids got as wet as the dogs !!!
They are a lovely family and we wish them every success in their new life in Italy.
By the way, if anybody out there needs help with
Designing their Web Pages, Davide is your man !!!
http://www.studioitalia.co.uk/
If you would like any advice on relocating to Italy
or indeed coming here to Itri / Sperlonga, South Lazio on holiday,
let us know and we will help if we can.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Now that Paul was feeling so much better after the heart Cardioversion treatment that he received at the beginning of March, we were at last able to plan our long awaited trip back to the UK, to catch up with family and friends. We decided to really push the boat out and to take a 3 week break.
However, in order for us to do this we had to ask our good friends Luca, Loredana and their son Lorenzo, if they could help us out. They volunteered to come and live at “Tre Cancelle” during our absence to look after the house and animals. Indeed they seemed quite excited at the prospect. They live in a small apartment in Itri town, but all love being in the countyside surrounded by nature.
Here are some of the photos they took of the local wildlife at “Tre Cancelle” …
… and the garden ..
Loredana even tried her hand at some strimming …
Of course they got to know all the members of the “Woof-Gang” well and indeed became very attached to them. Photos of some of them …
We had a fantastic time in the UK and managed to catch up with many family members and spend some prime time with them. We also managed to visit some close friends and it was lovely to get together.
We miss you all back in England and Welsh Wales !!!
Thank you so much Luca, Loredana and Lorenzo
for making our trip back to the UK possible
and for taking such good care of the “Woofers”.
You are so very kind, who could want for better friends !!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Recent Comments