A cornucopia
28th January 2025 Christmas week and as previously foreshadowed (though I guess it would be a bit hard to foreshadow retrospectively) Monday evening we were at Marco and Maddalena’s to exchange presents and break bread together. “Don’t do a lot,” Stephen had said. “No, just tortellini in brodo,” Maddalena replied. We are, by now, well versed in just what “just” means to Maddalena, though to be fair, she did show some restraint when there were just a few olive all’ascolana t
Dough!
21st December 2025 It was just as well that Stephen decided there wasn’t enough to keep him tethered to his desk while the boss was occupied elsewhere, seeing as getting home for five on Monday was a blip on an otherwise demanding week. At least he made it home by 7.30 on Tuesday so we were only a few minutes late for meeting up with Ben and Alessandra for pizza at Bar Corradini. We are a little behind the curve on this one, Vittorio having served up pizze for quite some ti
Art Decor
14th December 2025 Monday reprised Sunday’s lovely winter weather and set the standard for the rest of the week: cold but very crisp and clear, so clear that Tuesday morning was one of those where, as we drove to Conad to do the shopping, we could see the Sibillini mountains, covered in snow, in sharp relief away in the distance. Monday was also a holiday, the 8 th being the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, and Stephen made the most of his day at home and the fine weath
Tinsel and lights
7 th December 2025 Our train home not leaving till just before ten on Monday meant we didn’t have to rush unduly, pacing ourselves to pack, enjoy breakfast in the Eden room and pay our bill (which, at €26, was just the city charge, Booking.com having been settled beforehand and the minibar being untouched by human hands during out stay) before heading to the station. We allowed plenty of time in case of unforeseen circumstances (none) and to get a sandwich for lunch on th
