I does seem a little strange to spend all this time selling sunshine holidays with snow still thick on the ground.  Finally a few sunny days have driven it back to the hills.

Having had a disastrous christmas this year thanks to the great white god, (with me snowed into my mum’s house in England and Andrea and the kids stuck in Camerino, unable to join me as planned), – snow has lost all it’s charm for me.

But from this distance though, with just the mountains snowcapped and with some sun on our backs the whole place is looking fresh and lovely.  It reminds me of an american guest who came last year and said on arrival “Tell me you don’t ever take it for granted”.   I sometimes feel the same way when I see people trotting around Camerino, about their business, paying no notice to the wealth of renaissance architecture around them.  They may think I’m abit odd as they happen across me stroking ancient stones and gazing at worn chestnut doors.

On the other hand it is virtually impossible to buy anything of any real use in Camerino.  I like to go to Fallimenti, which is a local bankrupt stock shop.  It is similar to Poundwise – suddenly it’s almost like Bethnal Green.

With the retreat of the glaciers the debis is revealed.  The bits of ugly plastic which all toys naturally become as soon as they are out of the box must be harvested. As with all harvests timing is crucial.  It must be done early in the morning when the kids have just gone to school so that there is plenty of time to get all the naked barbies into opaque (that’s crucial)  bags and hopefully off to the tip without them being any the wiser.

It is time to patch up the trampoline, think about the garden – nah – nice cup of tea first.

This week’s painting tip:  When painting in snow don’t stay out too long (see picture)