understanding patterns; connecting dots

Be active and eat well everyday Be kind to Maria Cultivate a home that is regenerative Cook Read (even when I don't feel like it) Go camping Go hiking Go surfing Go riding Remind myself that work is a privilege Be sceptical about my own opinions and beliefs Don't put much weight on proverbial self help slogans ;-)

Father, son board meeting this morning One day life will get harder. More stressful. More complicated. Sadder even.  But now is not that time. It is summer, we are healthy and life is a good mix of work and play. We are privileged and blessed. And we do not take it for granted. This little blog is to remind me. I hope that when life turns and we are struggling to smile, that I will remember life cycles through seasons. I hope I am big enough be gracious. I hope I am strong enough to think in years not in days. I hope I am sufficiently disciplined to do the basic things to regenerate wellbeing. I hope my world doesn't shrink too much.   But now I will work hard. I will surf and ride my bike in the sun. I will sit in front of summer sport and drink cold beer. And I will glance over at that woman and pinch myself.

We have experienced some incredible places in Italy, but the reason we are here is Pollutri, a village a few kilometres inland from Vasto and the place where Maria's father grew up and where her two of her cousins still live. with their extended families. Pollutri is home to Anna and Giovanni, wonderfully hospitable and gentle people who have made us feel like we belong here. A happy coincidence is our visit being at the time of the biggest village celebration of the year, the San Nicola bean festival, a key feature of which is a massive cook-up of locally grown beans which are then eaten as part of the family celebration. Maria's father was named after 'Saint Nicholas'. Having already visited the houses where he lived in the narrow roads below, it was difficult to imagine him as a boy in the medieval streets of the hilltop town centre. Imagine rows of massive pots (the kind used in historical movies in which people where cooked alive!) full of broad beans, and...

Vasto has taken our breath away and stolen our hearts, in part because Maria has yet again nailed the accommodation. But it is home for Maria's cousin Vincenzo and his family who live in what we have fondly been referring to as the DiCooco compound, a cluster of homes that has been in the family for generations and now renoovated into beautiful modern homes surrounded by their orchards, veggie gardens, vineyards and olive groves, from which they produce fabulous home grown food and drink. Guisippina's gnocchi, which Rachel helped make, was worth travelling to Italy for.

We will always remember our time gathered in a villa in Abruzzo. It was our base from which we began to explore Abruzzo and connect with family. From the living room the local village sat on a nearby hill, the Adriatic Ocean covered the horizon out front and the Gran Sasso National Park's snow capped mountains completed the vista to the left. The villa was our home, we cooked, talked, slept and reconnected with the world via our devices at the end of the days adventures. We've all arrived morning exercise with an incredible view, even if it was 5 degrees! anyone for eggs? breakfast is served minestrone brewing for dinner the Renault and Citroen chariots that carted us around Pescara and Abruzzo morning sun on the villa mountain backdrop outdoor eating would be good if the temperature was greater than zero! kitchen dining space off the kitchen lounging more lounging daily washing and drying routine s...

It is always special when our mob is together, these days mostly for special occasions. This morning we are gathered again after being scattered across the globe. The breakfast view that draws us out of bed is of snow capped mountains to the left, our 'local' mountain village on the right and the ocean coast inbetween. Special doesn't do the moment justice. Rare and beautiful. There will be more photos to come for sure ... the light is stunning. 

Some pics from Rome: Having never been to Italy but lived near Carlton for decades I always wondered if there was an authentic local version of what Brunetti's made iconic. The answer is yes. The view from our apartment. And some with us ...