Italian Holiday 2007 - Sunflowers

The area around Camerino was a patchwork of small fields. Many of them were full of sunflowers in full bloom.

Those who got out of bed early could photograph sunflowers with the moon still very visible.

The sunflowers en masse were spectacular. So much nicer than the UK equivalent - acres of oil seed rape.

You have heard of the "tall poppy". Well this is the tall sunflower!

Italian Holiday 2007 - Camerino

We spent a couple of afternoons wandering around Camerino, the hill top city that provided our panorama at the cottage. This chap is Pope Sixtus V - the statue dates from 1587 - keeping watch over Piazza Cavour, the main town square.

The narrow streets with arches, doorways etc are one of the delights of all these Italian hilltop towns. This photo was taken around the side of Camerino's Cathedral and shows the beautiful local stone and the beautiful weather!

This is the courtyard of the Ducal Palace which faces onto the Piazza Cavour and is now used as part of the University of Camerino.

This beautiful doorway leads off the courtyard to the university's Law Faculty.

And this is the view from the balcony that leads off the courtyard. The mountains in the background are part of the Appenine chain called the Sibylline Mountains. Next time we visit this area we intend to explore these mountains which are famous for it's a biological richness including woles, golden eagles, peregrine falcons and beautiful wild flowers in the spring.

Looking north from the old "Rocca del Borgia" the old fortress built by the Borgia family. The gateway in the foreground is one of the original entrances to the city.

On the Sunday, as we wandered through the lanes, we came across a wedding party. The guests were piling out of the church and the bride and groom were being shown off to the city from the back of this elderly pick-up truck complete with sirens and the rattle of dragging beer cans. Great fun!

Italian Holiday 2007 - Assisi

Our "Grand Day Out" was a trip to Assisi the birthplace of St. Francis, who founded the Franciscan religious order in the town in 1208, and St. Clare (Chiara d'Offreducci), the founder of the Poor Clares.

The main church in the city is the Basilica of St. Francis. It is stunning to look at from any angle and the artworks inside were just marvellous. Words (and pictures) do not do justice to the place. You have to visit.

This is a view form the front of the basilica. This photo doesn't catch the beautiful rose pink of the stone. Nor does it show the stone carving which was splendid too.

In the main square is the "Tempio di Minerva" - temple of Minerva. This was built by the Romans in the first century A.D. It is now now transformed into the Church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva.

The second church in Assisi is the Cathedral of San Rufino (St. Rufinus), with a Romanesque façade with three rose windows and a 16th‑century interior. I liked this rose window with the carved figures supporting it.

The carved door was rather fine too. You can make out the pale pink stone in this photo.

And just outside the walls was this prettily decorated wall. We'll certainly go back to Assisi if we get the opportunity.

Italian Holiday 2007 - Early morning walks

Each morning I got up early and went for a walk. the views of the surrounding countryside were magnificent. Behind the cottage were hills covered with a patchwork of fields ...

... and in front were the Appenine mountains, a ridge that extends down the length of Italy.

In Tuseggia, the village a mile away on the hill behind the cottage, was a very small cemetery. There were some very simple graves marked with simple iron crosses and also a couple of more ornate ones. This memorial appealed because of the photos of those buried beneath.

Italian Holiday 2007 - San Severino Marche

On the Monday we visited one of the nearby towns - San Severino Marche. It is a beautiful town with two distinct parts, one below the hill and one on top of it. This is a photo looking down on the tiled rooftops of the lower town. The blue tent that is just visible is the stage for a Patti Smith concert!

At the top of the hill was an abbey, a convent and a cathedral and this statue of Christ overlooking the surrounding countryside.

Oh! and there was a magnificent tower too. The Italians are rather keen on their towers!

Italian Holiday 2007 - Views of Camerino

Our cottage was set about 3 miles from Camerino, a hilltop town just to the west of the Appenine mountains. This was the view we had of Camerino from the cottage.

Each morning I walked around the lanes and Strada bianca. At each turn there was a new views of the town. An early start meant that the walk was pleasantly warm but not too hot. Also the light was good for photographs and the moon was still clearly visible in the sky.

This photo was taken from the hill behind the cottage. The hills were surprisingly steep (or is it that my legs are getting surprisingly old?)

Italian Holiday 2007 - Our Cottage

The cottage was covered with climbing plants - including this vine around the front door.

The accomodation was at the end of an old farm house. The English owners lived in the main part of the house.

The cottage was at the very end of a "strada bianca". The surface was made from crushed local limestone - hence the name white road.

Great Dixter - Classic Cars

The day we chose to visit Great Dixter coincided with a Classic Car rally. What a line up of fantastic cars refurbished to the highest standard.

During the day, while we were visiting the gardens, the cars arrived and parked up in line for all to admire. Just as we were sitting in the gardens enjoying a well earned cup of tea, one by one, they headed off. A magnificent sight indeed.

Great Dixter

Last Sunday, sister Cate, nephew Tom, Cath and I visited Great Dixter Gardens in East Sussex. We had wanted to visit them for many years having seen them on the t.v. and read about them many times. They are even more beautiful than I had imagined. You approach the house through a wonderful, wild-flower meadow full of native orchids.

Sunday was quite warm and we were glad of the seats placed in the shade of the yew hedges. The yews showed off the plants spectacularly - and did a good job forming a background to this photo of Cate, Cath & Tom!

This photo shows the house behind the "long border". A magnificent building and a beautifully planted bed. We have some of these plants in our garden but unfortunately we do not have the space to rival the scale of these beds.

Spring garden

This photo was taken early one evening at the beginning of May. the view is across the raised beds towards the pink Weigela bush and the purple lilac bush. I am training a pale green Japanese Hop and a clematis into the lilac to give some colour later in the year.

Kitchen - nearly there now

We're nearly there now. Just the painting to do and fit a blind to the window. The paint is going to be "Soft Olive". Pale green to you and me!


This photo was taken after the kitchen had been stripped out and before the tiles were removed and the floor screeded. It all seems a long time ago!


The old kitchen. And when I say old ... But - we had some good times in this kitchen and cooked up some great meals. Please note that we got rid of the spotlights too. I promised to do this 10 years ago! Ah well!

On a cold, breezy day we visited Charlecote Park, a stately home and 188 acre estate in Warwickshire, owned by the National Trust. You approached the house down a long drive and through the gatehouse.


The house was given to the National Trust after the 2nd World War in lieu of death duties. The Lucy family, who have lived at Charlecote since 1247, now occupy one wing of the house.


The house has a marvellous sunny terrace overlooking the River Avon and countryside beyond.


Across the Avon you can see the neighbouring village of Hampton Lucy with its church.