Thorny

Fiddled around with a German boiler trying to understand its programming box. Still can't actually force it on because there appears to be no easy access to a thermostat.

Then picked up some toilet seat rubbers.The parts dept of a big plumber's shop was interesting, even had a number roll to take a ticket for good order.  It was a chaotic little area of 1970s Florence and I parked in a cycle area so I am definitely going to hell, St Francis or no.

Then to pick up 'ganci' - fittings - for the fridge so that the outer unit door is attached to the fridge door and they open as one.

It took a while for the shop (that had the 10 commandments of customer service prominently on the wall)  to locate the order but lady luck gave me a parking spot right in front of the shop.

Later having boiled and peeled fresh but rather unripe plum tomatoes to make a sauce we watched the Catalonia speech. It's a thorny old issue alright but I'm for unity or at least a properly organised, independent election for secession or no.

Catalonia accounts for 19% of Spain's GDP and despite the Franco backstory of undeniable oppression and disdain for the  culture, language and people of Catalonia (which, hey, was some time ago, no?) I can't help feeling there is also more than a little self-interest in the independence movement in wanting to stop having to transfer so much of 'their' wealth to the rest of (often incredibly impoverished) Spain.

It's a bit like the Home Counties voting for independence at a strictly economic level.

Although the parties of the hard left also have a clear radical anti-capitalist agenda behind the appeal for independence and hold the balance of power in the Catalan parliament.

I would have been out there with them thirty (or even less) years ago. But I am grown older and now revel in my self-declared and paper-thin sagacity.

By the way, our Tuscan house purchase advances by the day. Money is being transferred across Europe. Notaries - well one, at least - have been engaged. We are answering complicated questions about our property owning arrangements, tax bills are being drawn up, bankers drafts are in the offing, fiscal codes are being emailed into the ether and this small corner of the world is holding its breath.