DIGGER DRIVER

This is Sauro, the driver and owner of the scavatore, digger, in which he sits. He operates the battered machine with surgical precision. I think he was puzzled to see a camera sticking out of the car, plus which it was past one o'clock and he was anxious to get back to work.

I felt very much in the way today. A pest. A blipping nuisance. Our road would be open only between noon and one when the workmen were all away at lunch. I took a lot of pictures around the house. Yawn! So off we went at noon on the dot at speed.

My destination was the pizzeria in the valley where I hoped to get a pizza for lunch and also a picture of the pizza man, his oven and the pizza. Closed. Panic. Back to the bakery for some focaccia instead. Took snaps of baker's wife, a basket of bread.

My cat burglar outfit was on the clothesline drying so did not stop at the old house for one or two last pictures. It looked as if it was going to turn out to be Blue (Blip) Monday after all.

When we got to our gate there was a traffic jam. This is a big problem on a narrow, one lane road. A lorry, cars. Piles of stone. Wonky cement mixer. Then I saw the bearded Sauro sitting in his digger. What a face! No time to ask if I could take his picture so took two, this one as we were moving off up the hill.

Basket of Bread.

For the record: On again, off again sun. Colder +8 C.