An ever growing list

The logistical nightmare of selling a house in Italy and buying in another country,with another legal system,and another language had me wide awake at two in the morning - terror gripping at my heart. In the darkness of the small hours I mentally ran through a list of things that need to be done urgently. Thankfully sleep returned around about item three thousand four hundred and eleven. Why is moving so stressful and so time consuming?

This morning the 'font' is off for the weekly session of back torture in Orvieto leaving the two boyz and myself to fend for ourselves. On the to do list for this morning are:

1) Plan the quickest route by road to the new house

2) Choose and book comfortable 'dog friendly' hotels to stay at on the way

3) Rent a house for two weeks while the legal work on the purchase is completed

4) Find an English speaking lawyer

5) Push the agents in London to start showing the Italian house to potential buyers asap.

The boyz are blisfully unaware that their environment is about to change - a situation that will, with care, be maintained until the day of the move. This morning they were off up the hill sniffing the scent of wild boar and generally progressing with a purposeful air about them. Every so often Wilf would interrupt his ferreting to turn around to make sure I hadn't got lost or check to see I wasn't doing anything dangerous.

The rain that I've been expecting still hasn't arrived and the view from the pomegranate orchard towards Todi and the hills beyond was simply joyful. Although I'm brimming over with excitement (and trepidation) at the thought of finding new regions to explore,one thing is certain, we shall never find another house with views to match these here in Italy.

Two Polish Lowland Sheepdogs and the angry policeman

London has been hit by heavy snow again. The first flight out from Heathrow to Rome was delayed by nearly two hours and the next one was cancelled. I should be thankful I made it out yesterday.

Driving into town today I was flagged down by the carabinieri at a check point for a routine insurance check. After pulling over I unbuckled my belt and lowered the window - this drove the policeman mad. He shouted at the top of his lungs and banged his fist full force on the roof to let me know that I was not to undo my seatbelt before he had instructed me to do so ! The thumping on the roof and the screaming got the boyz barking wildly in the back of the car which didn't relieve the tension.

The police are usually quite polite but I guess there are bad apples in every barrel. Was thankful he didn't use force and pull me out of the car . Nonetheless quite upset by the display of raw anger- not what you would find in France or the UK.Thankfully the documentation was in order and the car recently serviced so he wasn't able to vent his spleen on me for more than ten minutes. After driving off I spoke to my lawyer in Rome on the telephone and he advised me that the best thing when pulled over here is simply keep as still and quiet as possible - the concept of citizens rights is not recognized here.

Washed the boys when I got home and they are now their once a month sparkling white which will last for all of 24 hours.