A special visit

It's always special for us when our family visit, but our most recent visit, from my Dad, has been extra special as it's the first time he has visited us in three and a half years - something to celebrate - as well as, much more sadly, the first time he has visited without my dear Mum. Although he might not have been aware of it, Dad's visit made for some emotional moments for me when the absence of my dear Mum was so very clear, but at the same time it was also a truly wonderful and very precious gift to be able to spend 12 days of super-quality time together with him.

While having friends and family to stay can sometimes take us away from our day-to-day tasks and slow our progress (albeit in an enjoyable way), having Dad to stay was more like having an extra pair of hands to help us in our jobs and a very productive pair at that!

We made amazing progress over the 12 days, with veg planted out in the orto, the wood pile completely re-stacked under cover for next winter, 10 fruit trees bought for us and planted, a raspberry cage built (with raspberries planted inside), the old shed emptied of rubbish, the olive tree pruning started, wood chipping done, some wood turning lessons, daily dog walks and numerous other tidying jobs.

Stuart joked that the only way we could stop Dad from working was to get him in the car and drive him somewhere! And by doing so, we did also manage to have some lovely trips out - a handful of very enjoyable walks in the local area (one in the hills around Montecarlo with our local friend Daniele; one from Pescia to Collodi and back, with a stop off for lunch at our friends Amanda and Alessio's restaurant at the end of it; and one from Pescia up the hill to the small village of Monte a Pescia), some drives around the countryside further afield, a visit to the gardens of one of the Lucchese villas, and a couple of very enjoyable dinners out, courtesy of Dad.

All in all it was a busy and virtually non-stop 12 days, with a good balance of work and more relaxing activities, and it was an absolute delight and privilege to be able to spend such good quality time with Dad. We are very much looking forward to his next visit.

Planting onions and potatoes.

Onions going in.

A quick guide to pruning olives

Clearing the clippings.

Pruning in progress.

A Sunday drive and a visit to Massa.

View from Massa.

A newly painted chicken egg collection box...

...with newly added egg-stop blocks to stop the eggs rolling back under the nest boxes.

That'll be next winter's wood all under cover!

After a couple of days Reggie finally realised that Dad was also an extra pair of hands for giving tummy rubs.

The penny dropped.

Preparing stakes for planting out new fruit trees.

Persimmon tree planted.

Pomegranate planted.

Reggie supervising the planting of peach trees.

Apple trees planted.

Kiwis planted.

The chosen site for the raspberries

Raspberry cage in construction.

Raspberry cage completed.

Now Grow!

A visit to Villa Torrigiani.

Just about warm enough without a coat.

Happy daughter and Dad.

Stunning wisteria blossom.

The villa in all its glory.

A walk with our friend Daniele in the woods and countryside around Montecarlo.

Grapevines in the Montecarlo countryside.

Daniele, Stuart, Ugo the dog, and Dad

More vineyards.

Some very old barbed wire on our walk from Pescia to Collodi.

Beautiful blossom.

View from the Monte a Pescia road.

Happy walkers.

Looking toward Collodi.

Palms and olives.

Collodi church and olive pruning!

View from the top of Collodi village.

Exotic wildlife in Collodi.

Back at home... the old shed is now clear!

Just the frame left standing (just about).

Reggie's supervising position for the day.

View of Pescia from Monte a Pescia.

Happy in the sunshine on the steep path up to Monte a Pescia.

View from the Monte a Pescia path.

Pescia roof tops.

All the love. Dad and me at Monte a Pescia.