So many things to get used to. I said goodbye to my spacious, comfortable kitchen in Winchcombe, where everything worked, nothing leaked, there was lots of space and it was spotless, including all appliances. Before I write any more – Florek would say- anymore moaning- I know this is a temporary place to live. But still, when on the same day I realize the sink is still leaking, the washing machine the landlord left for us is filthy and only 1 programme works decently and there is no way I can clean the mould off the shower cabin ( mould inside the glass, so to speak, even my trusty Dettol is helpless), it was hard to keep the straight face. So I had a quick and intense meltdown and it helped. We went to Brickocenter the next day and the sink got fixed. We dug deep and ordered a nice, new, awesome washing machine, another Samsung like the one left in the UK, but a new generation. The next thing will be a coffee machine- yes, we did the unthinkable and had to leave our beloved Krups behind, we gave it to Keava and Simon as it simply did not fit in the already full car.

Shopping for food here is a delight. Filling my own fridge ( so many people back in the UK thought I was insane taking my fridge to Italy, I love it!) with things like guanciale, now available anytime we fancy carbonara, like delicious Italian yoghurt, Sicilian grapes, truffle sauces from around the corner in Via Fillungo, this feels great. Izzie helped making truffle bechamel and then sat at the table and ate the pasta coated in it straight from the pot, that’s how chuffed she was!

Carbonara had to be made, no brainer. Also, when making a nice tomato sauce for gnocchi I fried some guanciale and when crispy, chucked fresh, skinless tomatoes in and cooked them down in this wonderful, flavoursome fat. Miky told me a few days later that amattriciana sauce is made that way, only a good handful of pecorino romano cheese needs to be added too and black pepper.

And at Grumpy’s recently I went for pizza Capricciosa, with the most amazing, soft and delicious artichokes and black olives.

Having written all that, the scales actually is quite kind to us both! We eat less, as it’s hot, but also carrying shopping onto the third floor and moving a lot more really helps. Good stuff!

My mom is a big fan of veal, I never have been, but this is about to change. In the UK it’s mega expensive and I’m not sure if worth it. But having chatted to Michele, my food buddy from Ubon days I felt like polpettini and Miky said veal is the way to go.

I bought some ground veal, added some grated parmesan, an egg, lots of chopped parsley, a grated clove of garlic, a white bread roll soaked in milk and seasoned it well, before combining. While the simple tomato sauce was bubbling away I quickly pan fried the meatballs and then finished them off in the sauce. Served with penne, as per Izzie’s suggestion, less messy than spaghetti and cooks faster!

All went down a storm with some local Vermentino- another winner, 6 euro for a bottle of wonderful, light, Italian wine. Thumbs up!