Saving the best …

Every stay over here, if it’s long enough and has gaps in schedules, demands a visit to Valvona and Crolla - always to buy at least one bit of Pecorino, at best to buy more and to enjoy a meal upstairs in the restaurant under the roof. On this hot day, we planned only that - an easy morning, not too long in the sun, catch the bus round the corner, have no rush …

And so it happened. Except, of course, that last time I was on a bus (two days ago? ) I’d shoved my bus pass in my shirt pocket and promptly forgot all about it. So today, after all our calm getting ready, I was throwing things out of bags, emptying my wallet, checking other trousers … and ended up paying the bus fare. Twice. I found the ticket at bed-time.

Lunch was lovely - not fancy, just salad and pasta (though I did end it with a fabby dessert that involved Marsala and egg yolk as a sauce), all eaten in the riotous conviviality that you find in Italian eateries in Italy. We shopped as well, and emerged into the blinding heat (really) of the afternoon.

The other lovely thing that happened today was a visit from grandson Alan, who’s missing the family holiday to train with his football club. We just chatted and nibbled crisps; I hope he wasn’t bored . We certainly weren’t- it was a rare treat.

We started to tidy up later, but have given up in favour of an early night. It’s very warm. I hope it’s worth it…