We came to Italy in July, crossing France, Switzerland and Northern Italy with trepidation. Once here in eastern Tuscany, isolated in this unspoiled corner, we felt very safe. We were able to go on long mountain walks, make a long-awaited trip to Venice, which was eerily empty, but perfect to visit without crowds. Some of our children also visited, which was a wonderful bonus. An Italian friend showed us how to use the pizza oven that my clever hubby built and, for a few weeks, we have lived in a bubble.

[image error][image error][image error]I can’t resist the freedom of walking in the Tuscan Apennines



[image error][image error][image error][image error]Pizza, pictures and little people

We have found our Italian friends to be very careful about wearing masks and distancing but, suddenly, the numbers of Covid-19 cases are scarily high and so we are returning to England. We are driving today when Tuscany goes into the red zone (level 3 equivalent), and we hope that all our paperwork will be in order for us to travel.

Who knows when we will be able to return to our Italian home?

I am not usually political on social media, but Brexit will have kicked in by then and… what a mess that will be. It has already impacted on our life here. We will no longer be able to stay for longer than 90 days (in 180); we will not be allowed to drive a car with British registration after a certain period. My phone network will not include Roaming in my contract; our medical cards (EHIC) will probably not be valid… the days of only being permitted to bring back two bottles of wine through customs will probably be the rule… so many inconvenient changes. But, of much more importance: I wonder if people who voted to leave properly thought through all the financial impacts that will result from Brexit? In this time of huge uncertainty in the world, I feel that we Europeans should stick together and not hanker after a Britain that used to exist. It is all totally embarrassing. It is poo.

Anyway, enough of negativity. Thank heavens for the gifts of these past four months. I have been able to concentrate on my next book – to be published in spring. No title as yet. But watch this space. I fitted in research too – socially distancing on a visit to the partisan museum in our nearest town of Sansepolcro. (Our first gelato in the piazza felt wickedly decadent and tasted delicious too).

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Fingers crossed our journey today goes smoothly. We will be very careful. I shall try to stay calm and remember our wonderful break in Venice.

Stay safe, my friends.

[image error][image error][image error]Beautiful Venice in September