Thereby hangs a tail

21st September 2025

It was back to normal on Monday after our weekend away, if you discount the scorpion in the kitchen. I’m not sure how long it had been skulking there, nor was I sure what I was seeing when I lifted out the washing up bowl to wipe the sink, thinking it couldn’t be from anything we’d eaten as it was pizza the night before and just fette biscottate integrali (see picture) for breakfast.

My prognosis, working on the available visible evidence, settled on a scorpion, and leaning forward for a closer (but not too close) look that was also my diagnosis. Fortunately, in case you were worried for my safety, as I think I’ve mentioned before, our scorpions are not of James Bond proportions, and the odd ones I’ve seen this year have only been very tiny. This at double their size was still only about 4cm, but while I had to do something, I didn’t want to come within striking distance.  

Fortunately, the scorpion was resting on the white sink protector (hence the reason I could see it against the black sink) and I lifted this up by the opposite corner to the creature. It clung on as I gingerly carried it outside and down the steps into the garden, where I encouraged it to drop into the grass, hopefully to find more suitable accommodation.

Tuesday, we had our date with destiny, otherwise known as the insurance agent in Montegranaro. With the bank policy cancelled from October, we were free to finalise the cover details with him, requiring an hour sitting at his desk as he input various details into his computer and chatted in that Italian way. The result is a more comprehensive level of cover for a lower price – which would have been much lower if we hadn’t have included an additional policy for earthquakes and other such land events. When he went to work afterwards, Stephen showed the details to Bertrando who thought it was very fair, but why the earthquake cover? As with a lot of things in life, the Italian way is not to plan ahead, just hope that everything will be ok and if something does come up we’ll deal with it then – which accounts for the way they drive.

That was that for the next couple of days, other than Irene getting in touch with Stephen to say that Loris, the builder, would be coming on Friday to measure up prior to ordering the materials for the support work on the east wing of the house. This may or may not have something to do with Stephen commenting, when arranging with her for the second session with the crystal prisms (which all went without a hitch, even if they did come while Stephen was away, mainly thanks to the absence of the previously offending tree branch – if you remember all that palaver) that a year on, maybe it was time to investigate alternative options.

It was arranged that Loris would come at six, after, presumably, finishing his work for the day, which was good for us as it didn’t require Stephen going AWOL from work. As it happened, a message came through during the day to say that he wouldn’t be able to make it after all, and would Monday be ok. Sort of, replied Stephen, only he would be in Milan so they would have to liaise with me. That was enough to scare them into saying they’d come on Saturday morning, so you see I do have my uses.

There was still, though, a change to our usual Friday evening when Stephen received a cry for help from Bertrando via a message asking him to call asap as there was an emergency, or, if you prefer the affair of the keys. He had left his house keys in his bag at the office, which wouldn’t have been too much of a problem if Stephen hadn’t locked up the office at the end of the day not realising Bertrando had also left his office keys there when he went out on a business matter. Last time he found himself locked out of somewhere, he marshalled the local fire brigade, but this time he thought better of bothering the emergency services and, instead, asked Stephen to leave his set at Pina for him to collect. If only Bertrando had called a few minutes earlier before Stephen had poured our Friday night g&t, but being the hero he is he left the ice to slowly melt while he undertook the rescue mission and I showed incredible strength of character by not starting on the crisps.

Loris was as good as his rearranged word and was waiting when Stephen drove to the top of the road yesterday morning. There was still a delay, though, as it was ten minutes or so before Irene’s father, whose name we haven’t managed to catch, turned up. Presumably, she had something better to do. They came down, measured up and inspected, (which included Loris venturing up the ladders into the attic room and letting us know that we have bats).

Time obviously needs to be given for the beams and columns to be made (and coated black to match the railings) but work is pencilled to begin after the 15^th (soon after, we hope). The good news is that of the two cross beams, one will go through the attic and the other through the office, nestled against the wall, so nothing in our actual living area.

With Stephen heading to Milan tomorrow morning for Linea Pelle and therefore being in residence for only the start of my birthday, we had an early celebration yesterday evening at CarloCarla. The main holiday season being over, it was very select dining and as good as usual. I would tell you that we enjoyed a glass of Prosecco and a fine bottle of Montepulciano (the lion’s share to me as it was my birthday bash and Stephen was driving) but I seem to have been focusing a bit too much lately on the vino collapse so I won’t.

Although today has been a day at home, we did fit in two important tasks. One was with Booking.com, entering our flight details so we didn’t miss our complimentary taxi service to our hotel, and the other was completing our checking in with Ryanair. I know what you’re thinking, leaving it this close to departure, only eleven days, doesn’t leave us much time for sorting out what we’re going to wear, but don’t worry. Our problem has never been deciding what to take, it’s been deciding what to leave behind.