Photo: A Quooker bought directly in The Netherlands On return from London we had a couple of new toys to play with. Kitchen toys. Not only had the Quooker all in one (hot, cold and bioling water) tap been fitted but we brought this little beauty from London:
City Break
Photo: We discovered a new cocktail place for us to enjoy in Soho. La Goccia. For most of August we enjoyed a City break - in London. The main purpose of the trip back was for Colin to do Paris Brest Paris, but then Colin's brother, Darren, advised us that their main holiday this year …
Weekend whirlwind
Photo: Between Southampton and Scotland, a flying visit to London for Darren, Trish, Cam, Jacqui and Graeme They arrived from Heathrow, but didn't fly in. Cam had got the right airport this time, but they had to return a hire car to Heathrow before heading into London. Cam, the London expert after two days here …
Final fling
Photo: Festa della Gluppa on the beach in Fano. What's a Gluppa? It's a word in the Fanese dialect to describe a handkerchief tied to a stick to carry food. The festa is a BYO DIY event. They supply the tables, chairs and entertainment, you bring the rest. This was our last social event before …
Italian robots
Photo: Colin, Jan, Gessica and Mirco One of our favourite places to eat. Da Gustin, Bargni. We wined and dined very well as always, but it was the company that made it. It was an innocent question about their robot lawn mower (we are seriously thinking of getting one). It turns out that their German …
Double Dutch
Two dinners with Dutch friends in as many days. After Monday it was Gerard, Jelina, Joep and Bernadette's turn to enjoy Jan's cooking. Champagne on arrivalAsparagus cigars (The Wine Society's White Burgundy)Sea bass in pesto (The Wine Society's White Burgundy)Polenta cake (Vin Santo)Coffee/Moretta Great company. Great view. Great food and wine. The hours just slipped …
Pile ’em high
Photo: A hint of what was to come It didn't matter to me. I'd just burnt over 2,000 calories climbing Monte Nero on the bike with Leo and Maddi. 13km of pointing upwards, rising to 1,400m aboove sea level. After a fast descent we met Jan at the Ristorante Il Poggio in Cagli for lunch. …
Going Dutch
Willem, Lotte, Marieke, Philip and Peter came round for dinner on Monday evening. Great food (as always) by Jan and some wine and chat to go with it.
Al Giardino Botanico
Photo: More food, more drink, more partying The party season continues. This time at Paolo and Sonia's place. It was all set up for eating outside in their garden. The thunderstorm put paid to that. A very Italian solution. The ladies ate inside, the men outside under the awning.
Plinky Plonky music
Photo: The SaltaRua - Borgo In Musica festival in Saltara We'd just got back from San Gimignano, a quick snooze, then back out again to a local music festival in the next village of Saltara. We joined some Pansèr friends to listen to some classic Italian songs played by a guitar duet. We knew they …

