March summary

Summary 5th March - 5th April

It is   a month since we arrived in Sardinia. Expectations were high , especially for good sunny days and work to be carried out. The unknown was part of this experience / experiment and certainly the days here  have given us many surprises, mostly on the weather patterns and also for the way the work was carried out. Indeed, here you cannot plan things and expect the plan to be followed precisely.  Many things can intervene from one day to the other or even in the same day,

Our shorts-t-shirt experience has had to wait for a while. We did have some  moments of very good weather but there we have not had a couple of days in a row without clouds. The welcomed rain was a blessing for the locals and Sardinia in general, but temperatures were more like winter and snow appeared on the high peaks a couple of times

As for the work on the vineyards and vegetable plots, we managed to do many different tasks, we think to a satisfactory level. Pruning vines and olive trees (admittedly not the ones here as yet), weeding  and planting new vegetable crops has taken up most of the time, There is so much to do that every time a job is completed another one awaits you.

The satisfaction will be in the fruits of the work done. We move about constantly and the most pleasant thing is being outside all the time. Here it  is mostly peaceful as cars are only arriving and going early morning and late evening . People coming to work the land. Whereas back home calling in at a shop for odds and ends, putting the TV on to see the odd programme or ‘news’, is part of our daily life, they play no part at all here, any more than hoovering, putting on the washing machine or looking to see if any letters have come for us.  No plastic-wrapped vegetables, no pre-packed foods, except for the UHT milk, the sugar and the coffee that the family keep us supplied with. Life is basic somehow, and as Lesley described it - like long-term camping. There are comforts though: good food, good wine, a cosy warm room and the feeling that you are at moments back in time in these surroundings.

Our front of the house display of floweres

Easter day was spent in Oliena at my aunties’ house. In Oliena,  On Easter Day there is a big celebration called “ s’Incontru” or “ the meeting”, where two groups, one carrying the Holy Mary, and the other an effigy of Jesus, meet in Saint Mary’s square. Following a noisy build-up of sporadic firing, he event culminates in a deafening crescendo of fire arms from numerous balconies around the piazza and beyond the town. Fire arms start to fire bullets from as early as 9.00 am. The climax of the procession is at 11.00 am. After that everybody goes back home for their Easter banquet.

Home made prosciutto, pancetta and capocollo.

The " Antipasti"

Ravioli

Roasted pig

 

In our case the starter consisted of  7 or 8 items  (small amounts of different things like artichokes, peppers, small onions, sliced cured ham and salami, olives – nearly all home-produced) , ravioli, pig and lamb roasted, salads, sevadas ( a Sardinia dessert), torrone (nougat – named after the town that is most famous for it here) and coffee. Of course, our own wine to wash everything down. We managed to escape the table at about 3.45 pm..and returned to Locoe. It was a good day and at the table, in true Italian style, discussion fills up the gaps between courses.

The " sevada", a Sardinia cake made with fresh cheese, lemon rind and topped with honey

Tiramisu'

Torrone

Next day is “ Pasquetta”, Easter Monday. Here in Italy, Pasquetta is the most important day of family reunion and is generally spent in the countryside. For the people who own a piece of land, that is where they go. For other city dwellers, sea side or a trip to the parks or nearby mountains is their option. We, lucky ones, we have our land and as far as the history of the family is concerned we always come to Locoe for Easter Monday.

Easter Monday roast

Preparations started early in the morning making the fire to roast …guess what? ….the pig and the lamb (donated by a friend of the family). Tables were prepared next door and as everybody arrived one by one, it was about 11.00 a.m. when the first drink was suggested.The party was made up of 14 of us. More food arrived with the “ zie” (Maria and Cicitta) in the form of home made lasagne, different vegetables, cakes and more starters. It was a very sunny day and after lunch  some of the company went out for a walk and for food foraging, namely wild asparagus and wild fennel. By 8 pm everyone had left for home.
So, on the whole our first month has passed as expected - adjusting, making some progress - some slower, some faster than predicted, surprising weather (but considering where we came from, no problem!), establishing working relationships and becoming involved in the day-to-day concerns of our relatives here.  Time is flying!

Next post will be a series of Pictures.