Villa San Rocco

Countdown

July 2010 —

“The Taxman's taken all my dough, And left me in my stately home...” The Kinks Sunny Afternoon

One month - that's the time left until the first 'proper' guests arrive. Fortunately, the 'improper' guests have not spent all their time lazing on these gloriously sunny afternoons.

In spite of the global hypnotist that is the World Cup (and possibly due to the fact that both Italy and England took early bows) work has continued apace. Luca and the boys are back tidying up the portico and altana above - the last external jobs for the timebeing - while inside, the scratch team has been busy with paint brushes, bench saws, silicone guns and scrapers, creating in some parts the illusion that this is, in fact, not merely a habitable but also a civilised building.

At least it's good enough for the swallows, a pair of whom are now lodged on a cross-beam in the hall, awaiting their first brood. It's wonderful to be living so close to these incredible creatures - no doubt the very thing going through their own, delicate minds. And as our first resident house-guests, they're invaluable for the snagging - so far, not one complaint.

May they set an irrevocable precedent....