SALVATORE, MASTER CRAFTSMAN

This is Salvatore, a muratore or stone mason and a master of his craft. It is magic to watch him pick exactly the right stone. If he can't find it, he thwacks a big rock and gets the right piece that way. He is one of the nicest, kindest men you could ever hope to meet.

He is a bit camera shy, never changed his expression once for six exposures. He is also a bit hard of hearing and since I have a light voice and mumble as well, we don't have any lengthy conversations. I can shout, of course, but hate to do it in Italian because of my gharstly Anglo accent.

Salvatore is from Sardegna -- Sardinia -- and goes back to the island for his holidays every year. He loves good food but remains thin as a rake, probably because he works so very hard. He looks after his sister who is suffering from cancer.

Portrait straight from camera.

This is the scene down by the gate today. The wall is going up quite fast. There are three muratores working today, including Remo, the boss, and one apprentice who is mixing the cement. Wall in progress.

For the record: Cold and clear. +4 C, zero at night and frost in the valley. Biting wind but bliss compared to rain. Sunrise: 7:46; sunset 5:13. The same two crews as yesterday, one to rebuild the land-fill lawn, one to build the wall. I have bad dreams about euro notes going down the plug hole.