Villa San Rocco

On Odysseys and Getting Plastered

March 2009 — Updates

“Even his griefs are a joy long after to one that remembers all that he wrought and endured” The Odyssey

True, Homer's hero endured a tad more than three days on the road in a seven-and-a-half tonner, but it was a fine little adventure all the same. The plucky Iveco, so vast to us, looked tiny on the lorry deck of the ferry amongst the continent-pounding Artics - never more so than when it refused to start at Calais. A man-sized jump start fixed things. Temporarily.

We stopped at Reims, then headed south towards Marseilles, the brother and Lucy in the support vehicle as father and son (more like Steptoe and son) guided the 55mph missile to its destination. Electrics and worrying groans from the front suspension saw a sleepless night on the sleepy French coast; then wonderful back roads to Ventimiglia, some walls of which now elegantly decorated with tail-light casings from the Great Steed.

We made rainfall at dusk - Bagni di Lucca soon after. In a preternatural fog, the Boss (Snr) gallantly steered us up the sinuous mountain stretch to the village, avoided taking the church campanile with us and modified only one of the dozen hairpins. Lorry - 1, Mountain - 0. But downward - ah... That can wait. We made our Ithaca and were recognised by Alessandra and Giovanni at Tina's hearty pizzeria in the village. As of old, the wine fuddled tired heads and soothed stiff limbs, and a blazing fire care of our current sister of mercy, Roberta, put care aside for slumber.

Light of day now shows great forward motion at San Rocco: plaster finished and dry; top floor windows in; whitewashing and wood treatment commenced; domestic bedrooms/bathrooms suite under construction, and a host of ongoing jobs, including foundation reinforcement in the front yard, plumbing and wiring on the first floor, floors and doors ordered, soon to commence...on it goes. A living 'cell' should be ready by the end of next month. Then we'll see what it's like to really come home.