2023 for us and our family of cats has passed relatively placidly. No very unusual holidays and no major accidents thankfully. The only dramatic things that have happened to us is that we finally succumbed to COVID-19 and had a short stay in Lucca’s main hospital before we managed to escape not without having to have a major blood transfusion because of some haematological problem. Thank goodness we live in Italy’s Lucchesia which boasts a health service which might be the envy of other parts of Europe. So we have since passed the year in relatively good health, particularly important at our age which has touched seventy five this year.

We have attended a wide variety of events: the Viareggio carnival, Easter festivities, costume displays in which we took part at the Villa Reale di Marlia, chestnut festivals and living Nativities.

We even managed a visit to old blighty in July. Riding on the Elizabeth Line for the first time we visited a variety of places including Brentwood and its cathedral, Boston Manor House and several fine arts exhibitions the capital offers. Best of all we managed visits to our sets of cousins who have moved to delightful locations in England’s garden, Kent.

Our bright, but often torrid, Mediterranean summer was enhanced by the arrival of a former work-colleague, now living in Australia. Guests can always add to visits to places of interest. We re-explored our area in her company particularly enjoying the appenine and apuan mountain ranges. Since our former place at Longoio remains unsold, our friend had.the advantage of having a whole house to herself. Indeed her stay there has encouraged us to consider letting the property.

One of our favourite seaside places remains Marina di Vecchiano. Together with fabulous river swimming in the Lima and Piadine rivers and with some fine walks, including one to the great traveller Maraini’s woodland retreat, we managed to fully enjoy the natural playground of our area.

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Culturally we availed ourselves of some of the fine theatres our area offers and among nights out we attended performances of two Vivaldi operas.

This year we sadly bid farewell to some unforgettable persons who inspired our lives. Among them were Wendy, Maureen and Fabio.

The cycle of nature is never more apparent than when one lives here. The seasons pass yet, disturbingly, spring and autumn seem to be ever shorter with summers ever hotter.

Our new home at La Costa is now, after two years and three Christmases, not so new but we remain glad to have moved and, among other jobs here, have enjoyed getting the garden into a less wild state.

Do people still read blogs? Looking over past years clearly we’ve had less ‘likes’. However, we still enjoy writing our posts even if it is just for ourselves. Indeed, re-reading our older contributions, some of which now date back ten years ago when we first started keeping a blog, can sometimes be a somewhat sensational experience as, indeed, is looking at our old photos which we are now spending some time in cataloguing.

As the year draws to its close with the world suffering major turmoils and, sadly, wars we each have to find a little place of peace in our lives to avoid being infected by global destructive influences.

We are lucky that we can find this relatively easily in our little part of the Tuscan mountains, although do not believe it is always a shan-gri-la especially with the winter winds biting our surrounding forests and our roads cut by landslides. However, we are able to enjoy the finest essentials of life here: the pure water of our streams, the timber providing our heartening evening fires, the presence of good people, the amusing company of our cats Carlotta, Cheeky and Archie, the sun which can shine brightly in all seasons, and, above all, the love that we can still give each after over forty-six years marriage.

May we take this opportunity of wishing our readers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year trusting that 2024 will bring much promise and hope of better things.

Francis and Sandra