Harvest

The promised rain did not really materialise. But I had a lazy day anyway. In the morning I went to the local producers' fair. It was low key but interesting and I had a couple of interesting chats with small organic growers in the Casentino.

I bought a nice, very sturdy blacksmith-made trowel, spelt (farro) flour, a string of white garlic, dried porcini mushrooms from the Pratomagno and a few Sambudello sausages - fresh pork-based sausages with a smattering of offal.

As thunder was grumbling when I got back to the house I picked figs, apples and veg. Most of the apple trees have been sorely neglected but they look like traditional Casentino varieties. The Union of Mountain Comunes (local councils) runs a nursery that stocks many of the traditional fruit tree varieties and I'm looking forward to paying a visit.

The sun broke through and I was suddenly breaking out in a sweat.

Later I had the sausages for lunch and they were delicious - with a strong fennel flavouring.  They are a speciality of the Casentino.

I watched the Italian Grand Prix on Italian TV which was really nicely presented in a non-partisan way.

I continue to make my way through John Bew's fabulous biography of Irish and UK politician Castlereagh.

The evening drew in chilly with the ground barely wet from the rain.