S.H.O.P.P.I.N.G.

After the success of the past two days and the arrival of our goods and chattels and with it being the weekend, it was time again to hit the shops and to add to the pile that has amassed downstairs at La Case dei Due Baffi.

First on the list was a new television, for which we drafted in the services of Marco, who, being much more media savvy than either of us, was charged with guiding us through the minefield that is modern technology. As mentioned previously, the last time we made a vague attempt refine our options we left the shop bemused at the range of choices. The only thing we knew was that we wanted a 40” screen – modest by some standards but for us used to our old small set it was like investing in Panavision.

Conveniently, Lorella had cancelled her lesson yesterday morning due to an almost insurmountable amount of housework so we were able, theoretically, to set off reasonably early (which for Marco meant 10 o’clock). However, as happens to mice and men, our plans went agley due to two events: a) we had to make a detour to the recycling site for Marco to deposit a variety of unwanted objects at the gate as, unsurprisingly in Italy, although it should have been open according to the times displayed, it wasn’t and b) on the way back through MSP Marco got a phone call from Andrea the plumber who was waiting outside his house as arranged but which had slipped Marco’s mind. This latter had an exciting adjunct as, while Marco, was discussing things with Andrea, Maddalena twice had to clamber into the driving seat and, in a scene befitting ‘The Italian Job’, steer the car through the narrow cobbled backstreets and sharp corners of downtown MSP as it was blocking the traffic.

That all sorted, we eventually made it to Civitanova slightly after 11 – which, remembering that lunch is at 12.30 whether you’re there or not, left us a narrow window of opportunity when we had not only a TV to find but a dryer for M&M as well. Undaunted, we did find a Samsung in Euronics that seemed to fit our requirements and with €200 into the bargain. But of course we didn’t buy it as we needed to go away and think about it. Why? It was a television, it was right and it was reduced in price; what’s to think?

After lunch (for which we were only ten minutes late) we had a date with the nice ladies at Dream Ceramiche to discuss bathroom furniture. Not buttoned, velour seats but things to hand towels on and such like. After some discussion and flicking through brochures, decisions were made and items chosen; we now need to await Lucia sending Stephen an email with the cost before we say yes.

As we did all this in under an hour - for once - it meant we had time in the afternoon to go shopping for TVs and dryers again with M&M. This time we headed past Corodonia to a place called Piedripa, which seems to consist almost entirely of roundabouts and retail parks. To cut to the chase, we went to their Euronics, saw the same model at the same price and bought it – obviously we’d had time to think about it and make up our minds. We were lucky to get it, though, as it turned out that there are only six of these TVs for sale in the whole of Euronics, and the only two in Le Marche were in Civitanova and Piedripa. This caused great disgruntlement to the lady who arrived minutes after us and wanted to buy one as well because there wasn’t one, not even for ready money.

Fired up from our success, we really did make an early start this morning when we headed for Ancona and were waiting with time to spare for IKEA to open up for business at 10am. After the usual route march through the shop we left with lots of storage things for the kitchen cupboards and drawers, lights for the study, bowls for Flavia, a kitchen island and various other odds and ends – and this time we were home well before lunch.

In the afternoon we made our usual visit to the house for what has become the ritual sweeping up of newly settled dust and tidying up of odds and ends abandoned by various workmen. We then collected Flavia to come and inspect progress, this being her first time inside the house. She thought the bathroom ‘strano ma bello’ (strange but lovely) but said that the house was ‘bellissimo’. I have to say that as we stood on the terrazzo in the warmth of the autumn sunshine, surrounded but the peaceful rolling countryside I had to agree with her.