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.

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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!

Living the Dream

A year ago we were on our way back from an Italian vacation with thoughts of buying a very expensive house on the Amalfi Coast. A beautiful tumble-down house that needed a lot of work. It was a great dream, but would have made us broke. However, it made us determined to find a house we could afford. I searched long and hard and found Abruzzo. I was captivated by its beauty, its reasonable property prices (and its lack of tourism). So captivated that by the end of August 2017 I was on my way back to Italy to find my retirement home.

I remember the first time I walked through this door into the kitchen area of the Old Olive Mill in Colledimezzo. Without even seeing the rest of the house I knew it was the one! My daughter was with me and she felt the same.

Now, less than a year later, this house is ours. We’ve been back a couple of times, but not able to stay there because there was work to be done. A kitchen to build, a boiler and radiators to put in, and of course furniture to buy, but now its ready. When we fly out in October, we can make it our home.

Having a dream is great, but living that dream is much, much better!

The Old Olive Mill in Colledimezzo

An old stone building in a quaint old village. From the moment I set eyes on it, I knew it was special. A building that had been restored with loving care. In years gone by, it produced olive oil. From now on, it’s going to produce happiness and lots of laughter.

It’s my new home in Italy and I can’t wait to share it with friends and family.

The Old Olive Mill in Colledimezzo!

Trabocchi Coast – Beautiful Adriatic

When I need a zen moment I remember August 2017 and my first visit to Abruzzo. A visit of discovery. I immediately fell in love with the place. Why did it take so long to find? Good things are worth waiting for!

Abruzzo – Italy at its best!

ABRUZZO ITALY

Can’t wait to call this place my home.

I’m enjoying a lovely Colorado day. Catching up with my blogs and trying to finish the last short story in my current book, but my mind wanders off the to the dramatic unspoiled beauty of Abruzzo.

Own This Life!

When the sun goes down on your life do you want to say you just lived it? Or do you want to say you really lived it! Do you want to say you OWNED IT?

Looking back at my life, I’m pretty happy. It wasn’t perfect, but I have an amazing daughter, quirky husband, a job I really enjoy and a great future ahead of me when I retire to Abruzzo. I’m not rich and worked hard for everything I have, but I always had something to work for. We moved from England to the US in 1995. I changed my career (by accident). We travelled as much as our money would allow.

This old girl writes, laughs, loves and cries. She didn’t just live her life, she took control and owned it.

Keeping up with the Italians

 

Retirement was always something I dreaded.
It meant I was getting old.
Only two weeks ago I was in my sixteen! Now I’m in my sixties.
Last year we bought a home in Abruzzo, Italy. It changed my whole prospective on retirement and now I think about long lazy days in Colledimezzo with a goofy smile on my face. I have a few years to go yet, time to practice my cooking. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to compete with the fabulous traditional dishes that have been passed down from mother to child, but I can start with the sweet treats. So far these have been a success. On the left, Almond cookies, on the right, Italian breakfast cookies, which are very good to dip in your morning cappuccino.