Thursday, July 19, 2007
School Holidays
Here in Tuscany our boys get 14 weeks holiday. Quite long you might say, yes indeed I would reply,VERY. I always remember fondly my long summer holidays, a few trips to country houses, a week down in the west country and a few sponaneous days on the beach and voils school beckoned.How do I keep the boys busy and mentally stimulated so they don't start tearing each other apart for 14 weeks? Next year maybe summer camp, but is that more for the parents or the children? Do they really have a great time? Who am I kidding I just don't want to be bald by next september!
Sunday, July 08, 2007
Schooling an English speaking child in Italy
Where do we send our boys to school at the end of Italian primary school? An international school where as parents we could really get involved would be ideal.
How many of us are there in the Lucca area just that little bit too far from Florence and Pisa for a daily school run at rush hour . To test the waters I have been looking in to setting up a teaching group to meet once a week. This way the children get to make new friends, their english grammar keeps up with their UK contemporaries and they can return to the UK or US for 6th form or University without too much extra preparation.
If you are interested either in a teaching group or international school for Lucca let me know.
Barley salad for a hot summer day
This flavoursome salad is delicious on a hot summer day and quick to make.
You will need ; some barley (farro), onion preferably red, courgettes, ripe tomatoes, olive oil and 1/2 a stock cube( veg or porcini mushroom if available).
1. cook the barley in boiling water for about 15 mins or until tender. Then drain and rinse under cold running water.
2. Chop the courgettes into cubes and fry in a little oil and crumbled stock cube, when tender take lid off the pan and continue to fry until golden.
3. Dice the onion and tomatoes.
4. Toss all ingredients together in a large salad bowl and decorate with some parsely.
Extras you add to pep it up a bit : tuna, chilli oil, diced pancetta
You will need ; some barley (farro), onion preferably red, courgettes, ripe tomatoes, olive oil and 1/2 a stock cube( veg or porcini mushroom if available).
1. cook the barley in boiling water for about 15 mins or until tender. Then drain and rinse under cold running water.
2. Chop the courgettes into cubes and fry in a little oil and crumbled stock cube, when tender take lid off the pan and continue to fry until golden.
3. Dice the onion and tomatoes.
4. Toss all ingredients together in a large salad bowl and decorate with some parsely.
Extras you add to pep it up a bit : tuna, chilli oil, diced pancetta
Friday, July 06, 2007
An Appenine Haven
Having returned from a hectic 'holiday' in the soggy pastures green, we needed a night away to relax and aclimatise. We headed up into the mountains north of Pistoia in search of a cool breeze and fresh porcini. Quite by luck, struck gold.
Owing to extreme hunger and three frustrated children we stopped at Cutigliano. Clinging to the mountain side with no HGV route barrelling through its centre its the type of place we would stop off for lunch at , make a quick tour of the main sqaure, exclaim 'how lovely and quiet ' and then move on. However this time that wasn't an option, our three boys were no way getting back into the car for another long slog to find somewhere to stay.
We wandered around the square in and out of very individual shops, tempted by last years ski wear that we didn't need. Through narrow streets where cars were no go and locals sat on their front steps chatting of this and that, through some woodland to discover a meadow had been set aside as play ground shaded by mature cherry trees dripping wth fruit. Three clay tennis courts with people playing at 3 in the afternoon... is this still Tuscany? Not to mention the dramatic view across the valley.
We spent a very lazy afternoon under the cherry trees while the boys made friends. Found the perfect rest house for the night and sauntered down to a patriotic trattoria where signed photos of Zeno Colo and formula one filled the walls.
Can't wait to return to this deceptively bustling community. Next time on our list is the cable car up to the lake, a walk to the shepherd festival, the aerial walk way and I must remember to pack our tennis rackets.
Owing to extreme hunger and three frustrated children we stopped at Cutigliano. Clinging to the mountain side with no HGV route barrelling through its centre its the type of place we would stop off for lunch at , make a quick tour of the main sqaure, exclaim 'how lovely and quiet ' and then move on. However this time that wasn't an option, our three boys were no way getting back into the car for another long slog to find somewhere to stay.
We wandered around the square in and out of very individual shops, tempted by last years ski wear that we didn't need. Through narrow streets where cars were no go and locals sat on their front steps chatting of this and that, through some woodland to discover a meadow had been set aside as play ground shaded by mature cherry trees dripping wth fruit. Three clay tennis courts with people playing at 3 in the afternoon... is this still Tuscany? Not to mention the dramatic view across the valley.
We spent a very lazy afternoon under the cherry trees while the boys made friends. Found the perfect rest house for the night and sauntered down to a patriotic trattoria where signed photos of Zeno Colo and formula one filled the walls.
Can't wait to return to this deceptively bustling community. Next time on our list is the cable car up to the lake, a walk to the shepherd festival, the aerial walk way and I must remember to pack our tennis rackets.
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