Here we are nearly into the end of  the month and the weather has changed to rain. We have finished some work on the vineyard and planted a few dozen vegetables. potatoes have been weeded and are looking good. The first courgettes  have appeared and we are happy to see many almonds on the trees again as well as an  abundance  of olive  flowers. Flowers are still closed so we hope the rain will not affect the potential crop of olives.

                                                  first courgette and olive flowers

Weeds on the Vermentino vineyard. After weeding, the job was to cut off excess growth. Lesley and Chris busy doing just that.

  In the other vineyard (Dule) where we worked together

Meanwhile, we have been gradually preparing and planting up the main vegetable garden as the early spring crops are more or less finished.  These are the trenches for the long, flat runner beans which are popular here.  They need a strong structure to support them and we use bamboo canes from the riverside to build it each year.

                                

                                                        Preparing the ground for the beans.

                 

                  Other vegetables we are growing including different variety of lettuce (trying not to plant too many all at once this year...), beet, aubergines, peppers, chilli peppers, cucumbers, celery, onions, spinach, cabbage and, of course, potatoes.  Next will be the tomatoes, both to make a supply of sauce for the year, and to eat as salad.

                                          
                                   Potatoes ( above)  and flat runner beans with their bamboo supports.

 


Flooded vegetables and vineyard. Torrential rain during the weekend has created serious problems and 15 people died in North East of Italy. Events that now are frequent and very disruptive. We had lots of rain but we think we managed to escape the worst of it. In a week or so we will be checking the olive trees as they are ready to  open their flowers and start self pollination. Rain is not good but most of the flowers were still closed before the rain started, so, fingers crossed....

Mountain excursion - 14th May

Following the success of previous years' excursions in the local area, this year, owing to the uncertain weather conditions,  we decided to attempt something less ambitious, yet still new to us.  

After lunch, the three of us met up with our guide, Davide, together with  Tonino and Andrea.  It is quite a slog to walk the initial 500 m up the windy road from Oliena to our starting point at an area known as Daddana, so we drove there instead, left the vehicles and set out on a secluded stoney track which picks its way through the oak forests that flank the mountainside, even at 860m from which we began. 

We reached the top of the ridge at 1260m, where the strong winds just allowed us time to gawp at the stupendous panoramic view - out to the coast and the sea to the east, across the limestone ridges and spectacular rock formations that form the biggest mountain range in Sardegna, then south and west where we identified various hill-top towns in the regions.  These days the various tracks are being signposted for easier access by climbers and walkers.

  

Wild cyclamen

  

At the top. Spot Davide!

  

Oak growing in the rocks and the view of Lanaittu (on the way to Tiscali), Gorroppu canyon, the sea in the distance.

  

Davide and Lesley; and the whole group

  

At the sea side. Our last 10 days are spent here at the house in Marazzino. The first two days were rainy but now the sun is out and we are walking to the beach in the afternoons for a dip. The mornings are spent doing some house maintenance. Several little jobs to be done. 

We will be back to Locoe on the 29th but Lesley will be heading back to the UK the same day.

 Christopher and myself will take a tour of Italy leaving Cagliari to Naples on the 1st of June, Two nights there,  then going to Perugia via Rome. One day in Perugia then heading east to the Adriatic seaside town of Pesaro where I spent 6 years in college. I will revisit the place with interest. After one day in Pesaro will be heading to Bologna for a two days exploration then via Milan toward Paris. Then back to the UK and work.