Vasto and Fossacesia

Trabocchi Coast

Vasto

Life doesn’t get much better than this. The Chieti coastline.

Abruzzo – The Old Olive Mill

What a difference a year makes. My daughter and I fell in love with this old house when it was empty, dusty and dressed in yellow. I know immediately it was the one.

The Beauty of Abruzzo

I never tire of the rugged beauty and greenery of Abruzzo. It soothes my soul!

Relax

A year ago we were in staying in the beautiful Adriatic town of Vasto.
It was my husband’s first trip to see the home we’d bought for retirement in Abruzzo. We had no time to relax. Two weeks were spent cleaning, finding furniture, buying and fitting light fixtures, opening a bank account etc., etc., before returning back to the US to work (we have to pay for the house somehow).
I found this photo today. It’s the view from the beautiful Residence Amblingh
This was where we stayed for two weeks while we worked on our house, it was our haven and kept us sane.

The Final Move

Not long now until we make our final move, and I know its going to be a good one!

I’ve enjoyed everywhere I’ve ever lived. Shildon, Butterknowle, Summerhouse (all in county Durham), Brompton-on-Swale (North Yorkshire), Blandford (Dorset),  Dortmund (Germany), Worthy Down, (Wiltshire), Chatham (Kent), Parker and Franktown (Colorado), but it’s almost time to retire and live out our dreams.

Abruzzo is calling, and the call is getting louder.

 

 

 

 

Bowie is in the Building

Finally we got to stay in our new home in Abruzzo! Never thought it would happen so quickly. We closed on the Old Olive Mill in Colledimezzo less than a year ago. After only two trips and a lot of help from the wonderful folks who live there, it feels like home. David Bowie has been with me my whole life, so his presence makes the move complete.

Many Moons Ago

Many moons ago (seems like yesterday), my daughter was eight years old, and we took her to Italy for the very first time. Happy memories from Lake Garda. I sat down to write this blog and went to put my glasses on, something was in the way, I was already wearing a pair!!! Yup many moons ago I was young, now I’m old and forgetful.
The one thing I never forget is my love of Italy and my love of writing. I made my Italian dream come true. We bought a house in Abruzzo. Retirement looks good to me now.
What about writing? Ten years ago I began to put my stories (I have a head full of them) onto Amazon. My first published book, Dead of July, has started selling again, so I decided it was a good time to publish my collection of stories. I re-read and edited them and here they are in a cute little bundle and available to purchase in the next couple of days. Many moons ago I had a dream, and now I’m making it come true.

Soon!

Soon you’ll see my face at this door!
Big Smile!

Fried Pickle?

I’m sixty-one, where did the years go?
There were things I used to do that I can’t anymore.
I can’t stay awake late!
I can’t sleep through the night!

There are many things I don’t have to worry about.
Like the pain of getting my bikini line waxed.
Don’t do that anymore!
I don’t have to worry about making myself look good for the young men at work.
They don’t care!
I do have a better friendship with them though.
They look after this old girl!

I don’t worry about my figure so much.
You can’t fight gravity.
No need to worry about the latest fashions.
Walking became easier.
Why?
No more heels!

Don’t have to worry about getting my bottom pinched in Italy anymore.
Or getting hit on at the bar.
An old guy at the bar did take a shine to me a couple of years ago.
Sent me a fried pickle???
Didn’t eat it!

Getting old isn’t all bad, you just have to embrace it, and remember its better than what comes next. Won’t be able to blog about that!!!!!

(Or maybe I will)

Colledimezzo

Can’t wait to call this place home!