3096 I'm back

Ciao tutti
just got back on-line, arrived in Abruzzo on 6th feb, furniture arrived on the 8th, no water, elec nor gas. Water next day, elec in a week gas in 5 weeks not too back I guess. Never cut so much wood in my life, have lost a couple of stone already, feel better for it.
saluti
Dave

Category
General chat about Italy

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 03/30/2006 - 15:08

presumably no telecoms either - since you have been nel Abruzzo 54 days already!!! :) and this is your first post since!!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 03/30/2006 - 15:22

Thanks Paula
Have had telephone for a couple of weeks but been too buzy, tried vodaphone but the man could not load the prog. onto my laptop, 2 lads from the village came around last night and connected me, we have been introduced to the operators of the village website and they have been very helpful, taking us on a visit to a local cantina followed by wine tasting followed by a talk on drink-driving by the cops.
spent today on the beach with my partners daughter and grandchildren a nice break from sorting out the house.
Stribs

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 03/30/2006 - 15:45

Welcome back Stribs :)

Looking forward to reading your posts on how things are coming together. Glad to hear that you and your family are taking some time to enjoy your new home and local activities.

Congratulations!
Dee and John

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 03/30/2006 - 16:13

Welcome back stribs, glad all is going in the right direction and that you are enjoying yourself. :D

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 03/31/2006 - 02:22

Nice to see you back again Stribs.. seems the best will always return!

:) :)

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 03/31/2006 - 04:07

Good to hear from you Stribs, sounds like you are settling in. Keep us posted on progress and most of all enjoy:)
Michelle

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 03/31/2006 - 04:12

Welcome back, Stribs! :)

Great to see you're enjoying your adventure! Keep us posted...

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 03/31/2006 - 14:53

Thanks for all your replies
Went to the beach yesterday and took the grandchildren sledgeing today what a beautiful part of the world.
The vines and olive trees have been pruned, first attention for at least 2 years, the crop won't be good but we expect 100L of oil, not too sure about wine time will tell, at least a lot of wood for the future once its all cut up.
saluti
Stribs

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 04/01/2006 - 03:02

Good to see you're back, happy you're enjoying life now, errm, got any spare wood ??? :)

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 04/01/2006 - 04:34

Hi Stribs
Good to know you are settling in. One of our first jobs, back in December ,was getting wood. 2.8 metric tons of it!!! and just Dave and I to shift it into shelter.Good job we did because it snowed the next day and we were snowed in for a week. As you say. it's a really good weight loss excesise.

I'm looking out at the sunshine, blossom and lizards basking and find it diffucult to remember that we nearly froze in those early days.

Hope all continues well for you.

Carol

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 04/02/2006 - 10:09

Wood was a problem to start with, spend all day cutting up old bits of timber plus a few dead trees just to last the night. now after all the pruning has been done we are still cutting wood but can now take it a bit easier as this is for next winter.
hoping to get part of the land ploughed next week ready for cropping, some plants are nearly ready to plant out.
Big day tomorrow, sign the final contract and hand over the pennies, can then get the builders in to do various jobs plus extra bathroom.
Sun back out for a while after heavy thunderstorm, more work to do, more wine to drink, oh dear, what a cross we have to bear.
saluti
Stribs

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 04/08/2006 - 08:38

Hi there

I'm very envious of you Stribs you seem to be getting so much done.We are still waiting for our planning consents..no doubt it will be at least another 2 months.Glad to hear you are making more progress.was it a really bad winter?I was over in Feb and it was mild but wet...certainly warmer than here when it was around 6 degs from Dec-March!

My friend and I are out in Manoppello in June fixing up the garden!! Have no hope that any other work will be possible! Do drop in for Vino/cafe if you want send a pm and I'll give directions.

Becky

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 04/09/2006 - 06:50

Hi Becky
The weather in Feb wasn't too bad I guess athough the locals can't remember it being so cold and wet for such a long time, some days in Feb were extremely hot, just like the last fortnight, shorts and no shirt weather, not a pretty sight.
Our main problem was no electric for a while, candles and log fire, romantic but not practical, we had a portable gas stove for cooking and a portable heater for the bedroom plus hot water bottle, the house has got central heating but we didnt have gas for a while, we also used it carefully until we get some idea of costs. I guess we are luckier than some of you settlers but that thought does not cross you mind when your bits are about to fall off with the cold.
Visited your area the other week on the way down from Passo Lanciano, it looks good, we will like to see you for a vino when you are over again, please pm me.
Dave