Catching up

16th Occtober 2022

Although the weather this past week has been at its October best thanks to l’estate di San Martino, with lots of sunshine and temperatures in the low 20s during the day, further provisions against the oncoming cold season, after Sunday’s wardrobe changeover, were kickstarted on Monday morning – even if I did my best to thwart them.

With the current energy situation, it was time, we had decided, that we did something about making the workroom downstairs a little more snug. There is an oil-filled radiator that I use during the winter, but it is maybe not as efficient as it should be given that since the earthquakes (yes that long) we have put up with the odd crack in the wall and the slight gap between the doors, as any cold draught was a temporary phenomenon, and the heater would keep the students warm if they were placed near enough to it.

Now though, enough is enough, and so last week we ordered some filler for the cracks and a pair of thermal curtains and a curtain rod to put up at the door. The curtain and filler were no problem as they came to the Amazon hub at Coal’s relaxation/eating area and were collected on Tuesday morning (though I did have to move the furniture in order to open the door as it was in a bottom locker right against a settee). As for the rod, that was too long for the lockers and so it had to be delivered to the office in Montegranaro, which has taken over from the factory that side of life.

Theoretically, this shouldn’t have been a problem either as things had already been delivered there a few times, so I was a bit surprised when, late Monday morning, I got a garbled phone call on a bad line saying something about Amazon. Putting two and two together, because I’m quick like that, I realised that it was the delivery man. Further incisive conversation in a manner resembling a crucial moment at the tower of Babel made it clear that he was unable to find the office, and I, unfortunately, was unable to help him, never having been there.

I could sense he was getting a little frustrated when something clicked in my head and I tried to tell him it was near a shop selling things for children, but I had lost him. He had given up and hung up on me, but obviously found help from some source as it was only moments later that an email hit my inbox saying ‘consegna effettuata’. And indeed, when Stephen arrived home for lunch, he had the parcel in his hand. I told him about the phone call; “Oh,” he said, “that explains why he was so off-hand. He was cute though.” Surly but cute - at least now I know what to put on the feedback.

One consequence of the warm weather was its reinvigorating effect on our gecko community. We did, though, think that the one (or maybe two, we are not sure) that, on Wednesday lunchtime, had somehow found its way into the fireplace would have been better off outside. I came back from walking the dogs to find Stephen with the fireplace door open, encouraging the visitor to make the most of the sunshine. It was not impressed with that idea, and instead of making its way out or getting into a position where we could throw a towel over it and catch it, it scurried down through the grate.

There was not much we could do, other than leave the door slightly ajar while we had our coffee. Stephen went back to work and shortly after I went to brush my teeth (I’m good that way) but was stopped by a skittering near the front door. Here was an opportunity, and what fun we had for five minutes playing catch me if you can as the becko shot behind the wine rack and then under the door into the living room. I followed it there, towel in hand, and while I didn’t manage to catch it, I was able to shoo it back into the dining room. It scuttled under the radiator then headed again for the wine rack, this time going in from the front and huddling at the back.

I removed the bottles in the bottom section and then pulled the rack away from the wall and, as it is open at the back, managed to gently poke it out. I can only think that being so outraged at this treatment was why it didn’t immediately hasten to another hiding place and I was finally able to cover it with a towel, gather it up and release it on the terrazzo. I tell you all this should you ever be in need of a game guaranteed to break the ice at parties; Hunt the Gecko beats bobbing for apples hands down.

Continuing the current trend for things not working (from which list I previously omitted the light switch in the bedroom, but that is quite minor, I suppose), the boiler turned temperamental towards the end of the week, with the pilot light being a little picky about when it would condescend to ignite the burners to heat the water. This was, in some ways, not a surprise as every year Stephen says that we must get it serviced but somehow it is one of those many things we don’t get round too.

Now, with the prospect of cold showers, it was more now a priority - but where to find an engineer? That’s right, ask Manuel. He gave Stephen the name and number of the man he uses, but when Stephen called him, he apologised but said he didn’t have any time Friday or Saturday. He would, though, try his best to fit us in tomorrow, Monday. Fingers crossed.

Yesterday, Stephen made good on his promise to treat me to aperitivo at Artasylum, and we enjoyed the usual plate of affettati and finger food as well as going a little off piste by opting for a Cynar spritz – made with the amaro aperitivo of that name, which contains thirteen herbs and plants including, surprisingly, artichoke from whose botanical name Cynar is derived – as we thought its colour and bitter edge would be more in keeping with an October evening.

We had, beforehand, done a spot of shopping for general bits and pieces as well as calling in at Auto Pompei, the Fiat dealership from where we got both the Panda and the Freeclimber. We wanted to see what they might have in the way of second-hand cars – but it left us more confused than we were before. The nice owner took us up to see his selection on the first floor (how do they get there?), showing us a sixteen-year-old Suziki in very good condition, especially inside, and with a very low mileage and at a price considerably less than the three-year-old Renegade (in white, to Stephen’s dismay – it looks too much like an ambulance, he said), looking all flash. And that is our quandary – older and cheaper but we have been there before with the Freeclimber, or newer and much more expensive but smarter and theoretically more reliable. The jury is very much out.

What was an easier decision was for Stephen to use his free day today to sort out the workroom. He plastered the cracks this morning and then after lunch put up the curtain. He did this while I was talking with Nico, one of my conversation partners, and he obviously did it in double-quick time for during our chat I heard a motor going. It was Stephen, taking the mower for a spin round the grounds to keep the grass trimmed. He had thought the previous cut he gave the grass would be the last one of the year, but Saint Martin’s summer has encouraged continued growth – and given that it’s forecast to linger for at least the next ten days, he may yet have to whizz round again. That, though, is something of a mixed blessing, for what is the point of having fabulous new thermal curtains if you can’t use them?