Heart in mouth time - how is the house getting on?

I Noci, clad in scaffolding, seen from the river Tenna - with Monte San Martino in the distance.

We decided not to visit the house on the way down yesterday on the grounds that if there was anything we didn't like, it would be better to see it with Gianluigi and Mariano who would probably be able to explain things and put our minds at rest.

The funny thing with building is that it really does seem to go in fits and starts. So one time you'll arrive and be amazed by how much has happened and another time by how little. This time unfortunately was more of the latter. It was almost two months after all and, apart from the fact that the roof was finally off, progress seemed to have been pretty slow. In fact there was a lot of detail work (e.g. all the door and window frames) and most of the internal walls were in but it all felt a bit disappointing. Having said that it was, in contrast to previous visits, all hands to the pump with half a dozen guys all working away rather than the unusual two. We also had the sparks and plumber on hand and were able to go through all the detailed planing of where every bath, shower, toilet, light and electrical supply would go. The sparks is particularly good with suggestions, not only to do with electrics and sound general advice too.

There's some really thoughtful stuff going on too. For example in the the window sill of the small downstairs sitting room, Mariano has cut in two holes. Mystified, we ask what they are for. Gianluigi explains it is a traditional thing for cooking - you put embers from the fire in the bottom and the pot on the top. Mariano thought we ought to have one. Great!

After a while it gets a bit overwhelming with having to make so many decisions in such a short time and we are reeling by the time we leave to meet our lawyer Luca - he's offered to buy us lunch. As we drove up the lane to leave we stop to enjoy the view. At this time of year there are poppies everywhere and it reminds us of why we chose this wonderful spot:


Lunch at the Hotel Roverino in Comunanza with Luca, his assistant Beatrice and several of Luca's cronies (including Bea's dad). This is where all the business people of this little town go for their long, liquid lunches. On the next table are the entire staff of my bank and not far away is the President of the Province. It's Friday which means fantastic fish. Afterwards Luca takes us all to see a fantastic old palazzo in the old town which he is doing up into holiday apartments - heavily assisted by government grants. Luca is an ultra-modernist so it's all going to be glass floors and hi-tech although he will keep the frescoes with his family's coat of arms (which he also has as a tattoo.) After that, we do the mundane business of taking out insurance. And then off to Elettro Idea to buy kitchen appliances. Turns out they are a client of Luca's so he insists on coming with us to make sure we get the best price and leaving Beat to help interpret while he gos off to a meeting. We get top quality / top name appliances (Smeg range cooker, AEG fridge freezer, Siemens dishwasher - really important for marketing and to differentiate our property from the competition) and the prices are very good - although the extra discount we get from being friends of Luca doesn't amount to much.

Dinner at Contrada Durano again (and we notice they have window sills with those cooking holes). The only other guests are a pair of American veggies so most of the food is veggie (apart from our main) which is very accommodating of them but not very appetising for us. And too much alcohol again - so decide to give it a miss tomorrow. We'll probably be going for a pizza with friends anyway.

Chris had been in touch with Jimmy before we even booked to stay there, via the Italymag forum, and he had recommended a furniture shop in Servigliano which they had used extensively. Nice people (brother and sister Enrico & Forestina Marini), good prices for good quality stuff. And they also do kitchens. Concetta said they would ring Forestina in the morning and let her know we would be coming.