Breaker one-nine

4th June 2023

I would say that it has been back to normal this past week, but the amount of washing that Stephen has got through would only be normal if we had a family of ten – which we haven’t. Such is the drawback of a week away, when you need clothes for daytime, clothes for the pool and clothes for the evening, at least if you want to cut a dash as we always try to do.

There was a bit of a reacclimatizing required for Bella and Harry, who came bustling in on Monday morning from their early walk, looking to be fed, only to stand somewhat bemused when I put their bowls down. After a few moments and with some encouragement, they tucked in but perhaps with less of their usual gusto. The same thing happened the next morning, and we came to the conclusion that they were wondering what had happened to the sprinkling of meat we presume they had become accustomed to at the kennels. By Wednesday, however, after we had sat them down and explained that we were not given to that sort of pandering (others yes, but that sort, no), they a little reluctantly got back into the old ways.

Stephen, meanwhile, has been on a bit of a mission to source some tomato plants. The ones that he planted before our holidays are not exactly thriving, due, he feels, to waterlogged roots. He is obviously not alone in having to replace or augment his current cohort as both the places he tried on Wednesday and Thursday had none, even for ready money. There is some comfort in knowing that the wise old hands of the area are having the same problem and need to restock their vegetable gardens – some, but not much.

Just as we had had to visit Marco and Maddalena before we went on holiday, custom had it that we had to see them when we came back so we could tell them all about it. This time we convened at Baia Principe, a restaurant opposite the Tods empire on the main road that runs from Casette d’Ete to the superstrada, the one we use when we are going into Civitanova Marche. We have, therefore, passed the restaurant countless times, and whilst we have often wondered about it, we have never stopped there despite Stephen mentioning wistfully that it’s popular with truck drivers. I’m not so sure about that, as I can’t recall ever seeing anything huge and articulated in the vicinity, and certainly not on Thursday evening when we ate there with M&M, just ordinary families whose children were taking advantage of the large garden and play area in the back.

So why did Maddalena suggest this spot? The short answer is family connections, the co-owner being her mother’s cousin (which is a very loose term where Italians are concerned, but does imply some sort of blood connection, no matter how distant). The long answer, as explained by Stephen, is that the cousin was born in the area but the family moved to Rome when he was 1. He came back to live in Porto Sant’Elpidio a few years ago following “marital troubles” and worked in a restaurant there, whose owner also owned the Baia Principe. After this said owner died the other year, the cousin, together with a colleague where he worked, took on the restaurant in Casette d’Ete, and so we are offering them, if somewhat tardily, our support. There, I bet now you wish you’d never asked, but be consoled by knowing the food was very acceptable and we would be more than happy to drop by again. And who knows, there may even a couple of the elusive truck drivers, should Stephen take a slight detour to pick up a packed lunch on his way to the fireman’s chalet in Pescara.

Friday was Festa della Repubblica and therefore the start of a three-day weekend. This meant no haircut, and with two weeks since the last one you can appreciate how devastating that was. It also meant that Coal was closed, though fortunately Conad was open in the morning (see what I am reduced to in finding interesting things for the blog, post-holiday), even if there was little fresh fruit and no bread. On the positive side, with Stephen off work for the day, he had plenty of time to get on with the ironing.

That continued yesterday, but he did have time first thing in the morning to go to the large nursery near Casette d’Ete (the other side from Baia Principe) where not only was he the only person there, but he managed to come away with a fine selection, including a free gift. As well as tomatoes, courgettes, lettuce, and parsley and basil, the assistant gave him some free celeriac plants. They were looking somewhat forlorn and when Stephen excitedly remarked on them, the woman said that they had grown them as a bit of an experiment but no one wanted them.

This is not really surprising as it is rare to see them in a supermarket, and then you have to go to the large ones in Civitanova, and while there is a word for them in Italian (sedano rapa in case you ever need it) I have yet to find anyone in MSP or surrounding area that has ever heard of it. Anyway, to get back to the main narrative, seeing his joy, the assistant said he could have one free, then considered for a moment after he said he wanted to buy six, and said that actually, he might as well have six free. Going that well then, are they? Crossed fingers that they flourish in our soil, as we don’t have a great record where root vegetables are concerned.

We decided to make it a whole weekend at home, with things to do and things to catch up on and being just happy to be here, but we did venture out briefly this morning. First to Pina for breakfast and to buy some fresh ravioli for lunch from Maria Teresa, where we happened to be one of the first customers for the young girl who was being trained by Leonardo, who usually serves behind the counter, on how to pack and weigh the pasta and how to work the till. We did our best to be jolly as she looked understandably nervous, partly due, no doubt, to wondering what these two strange British men were going on about.

It was then to Coal to make up for missing our fix on Friday, and also to stock up on the bargains in the current volantino, the fortnightly paper that lays out the bargains for that particular period. As they are up this coming Wednesday, we didn’t want to miss out on their money saving offers. We do have to find some way to make up for all the money we splashed out on clothes while we were away, though at 60c off a jar of condiriso, we’re going to have to get through an awful lot of them before we break even.