It was a stormy morning, the rain fell heavily and dark grey clouds rolled across the Florentine sky.  It wasn’t looking like the weather was going to improve as  I drove into the drive-way and saw a group of people huddled under umbrellas.  At least I had arrived at the right place. I saw him standing out from […]

We are experiencing such a beautiful Autumn at the moment.  Lovely warm days with crisp mornings and fresh nights.  One downside of this time of year is that we have turned our clocks back so it is depressingly dark at 6pm and it feels so late when I leave the office to pick Matteo up […]

Home Made by Emiliano Emiliano’s favourite desert believe it or not is a traditional Tuscan biscuit – Cantuccini accompanied of course with a glass of Vin Santo.  He has been nagging for weeks now that he wanted to actually try to make them himself so the other night he finally got his wish and we […]

I don’t want to blow my own horn but I make a pretty good risotto! It is the ultimate comfort food and a sure sign that Autumn is here. If you were to ask me what is the secret to a good risotto, I would say patience. I will never forget a cook book that […]

Cos this week you really don’t have an alternative! The World Cycling Championships are currently underway in Florence and for most locals it basically means blocked streets and looking for alternative transport to get to work this week. Fortunately (depending how you look at it) I live very close to the office so will have […]

Andare a Campeggio in Toscana / Camping in Tuscany We are keeping it local this Summer for our holidays – mainly because most of our savings this year went into our new kitchen (which is AMAZING!! It really has made such a difference to our house that it was worth every cent!- but more about […]

Enjoying (surviving) the Tuscan Summer   If you like the heat, and I mean really love a hot summer, then August is a great time to visit Florence! Mainly because most of the Florentines have left the city and the roads are very peaceful. You can find a carpark nearly everywhere and as a lot […]

We have just spent a very relaxing week in Pietrasanta with my brother and his family who are visiting from Australia. Luckily for us, Chris and Marian booked a beautiful beach club, Versiliana Beach which we were able to enjoy as their guests. You really couldn’t ask for anything more from a beach club. Great […]

Eccomi! Which roughly translates as Here I Am! Just in case you thought that I had disappeared, I’m back after an embarrassing three months since my last post! I really don’t know what to say! I have had a lot of good things to share over the past three months but unfortunately not as much […]