A window on the world

Three days have passed since the last entry and our world has been transformed thanks to the wonderful people at Folusci and their equally wonderful windows and doors. In a day and a half they have delivered and fitted: five double glazed windows, two sets of external double glazed doors, three internal doors and frames, six sets of internal shutters, four sets of external shutters and thirteen anti-zanzare (mosquitoes to you and me) screens. And what’s more, it was all done with utmost professionalism by a fabulous set of workmen.

It all began on Friday morning when two men and a large van made it down the road to LCDDB, unloaded and then immediately started fitting the door frames – which surprised us as the actual fitters were not due till later that day. These men worked till lunchtime before handing the baton over to a couple of their colleagues who came in the afternoon and worked till late in the evening. The glass for the windows and doors arrived in the late afternoon so that meant they were able to proceed apace.

There was a bit of a hiccup, though, when during the afternoon Stephen realised we were two outside shutters short. On checking the emails and documentation we (meaning he) had to hold our hands up and accept it was our fault – somewhere a misunderstanding had arisen which we had not spotted and only the windows on the terrazzo side of the building had new outside shutters. Not a major disaster and one that can be rectified – and certainly not enough to detract from the success of what has been installed.

The workmen were back very early yesterday morning and again worked their calze* off, completing the job to a fantastic standard by lunchtime, which left us free in the afternoon to hasten back to Corridomnia and Maisons du Monde for the desk which we had decided would work in Stephen’s vision. Never ones to do things buy halves, we also decided to buy the plastic hedge on offer that we’d also spotted on Thursday. Hopefully, this will make an effective barrier to keep Bella and Harry on the terrazzo when we want to know exactly where they are – but considering Bella’s infinite ability as an escape artist, we will keep our fingers crossed on that one. To increase the ease with which it can be slid back and forth, Stephen at some point is going to make it a wheelie hedge and when not serving as a gate will make a verdant backdrop to my bistro table and chairs.

In the evening, thinking that it was about time we had pizza again, we headed to Il Priore but this time with the senior Stefonis in tow. Flavia was pleased with the invitation as she’d been spending nearly all of the day preparing for a large family lunch today; though when we mentioned it at Friday tea Romolo looked nonplussed by the idea while Remo appeared vaguely murderous – which may have had something to do with him suffering another agonising bout of gout. You may feel sorry for him if you wish, but seeing as it is partly self-inflicted because, as well as consuming hunks of cheese at dinner, he will go to the bar and drink red wine and Campari (not at the same time) in the unfounded belief that no one knows he is doing it and consequently it can’t do any harm.

The pizze were as wonderful as usual, the birra cruda still just that bit sour and the chips for starters always a wicked treat. All this, though, was lost on Remo who, due to his gout, found it impossible to get comfortable no matter how many times he rearranged himself on his chair, looking like Douglas Bader trying out a new pair of legs. He finally gave up two thirds of the way through his pizza and went to sit in the car while the rest of us did our best not to let his discomfort spoil our enjoyment – though I have a sneaking suspicion from the look on Flavia’s face that it actually added to hers.

Today, as I said, there were hoards for lunch – so many that we ate in the dining room as it was the only place that would accommodate all sixteen. This family gathering stemmed from Romolo’s desire to have fish ravioli and such a treat was this deemed to be that others had to be included so they could relish it as well. Now I don’t want to appear churlish or a gastronomic illiterate but I’m not convinced that it lived up to its hype – or its cost (I saw the bill and it wasn’t cheap). Judging by how many others didn’t want second helpings despite the copious amounts Samuel had cooked, I wasn’t alone in this. Anyway, Romolo was happy and Flavia, despite all the work preparing, relished having her family around.

As for us, the lunch did interrupt our day at the house where I, at last, was able to get started on cleaning ready to move the furniture in while Stephen continued with his odd jobs. Domestic bliss…

*socks