kids these days!

There's not a lot happening here of much interest at the moment. We're starting to have some cold mornings and evenings and I've been lighting the fire each morning as I get up. I hear daylight savings finishes this weekend? Oh well ....all good things must come to an end. It's strange though because even though it is our third winter here the dark afternoons are still a bit of a novelty and the prospect that it may snow is very exciting!

We're a way off that though - today was another warmish (12˚) sunny day so I met Woz in Russell Square gardens for lunch. The park has a central fountain which Nate was completely transfixed with and his poor Dad who was relishing the opportunity to spend some time with his son hardly managed to get any eye contact whatsoever!

mum .... who are you again?

Today was the first time we've left Nate for a considerable amount of time and with anyone other than Woz or I. I left him with a new friend I've made recently for seven hours in total while I went in to work for the day. I was a little concerned that he might be upset and confused in a new place with someone he didn't know very well but he was fine and barely showed any recognition when I appeared to pick him up. Not the excitement and outstretched arms I was hoping for! He's either too young to miss me or he's a chip off the old block and happily independent. Time will tell.

just one more!

Each time we have a warm day it feels as though it will be the last before Autumn really kicks in and today was no exception. Woz met Nate and I at the park on his lunchbreak and we wriggled our toes in the sand!

old friends

Today we caught up with Niki who has been staying in London for the last week or so. We have managed to see her a few times while she has been here which has been great. We haven't seen each other since we left for London almost two years ago now and both our lives have changed significantly since that time so there was plenty to catch up on.

cheers!

friends in strange places

Woz spotted these crates on our drive back towards the airport in a small village called Padrid. They led him to the workshop where the repairer was mending crates and also making wine. He was such a lovely and friendly man and he invited us in to see his workshop where he gave us a tour and explained the process to us - all in Italian which of course limited our understanding! He welcomed us like long lost friends, sharing a drink with us and offering us some of his grapes to take home. He was taken with Nate, exclaiming "Bambino!" and chattering away in Italian baby talk which Nate loved as you can see by his expression!

mountain views

Our afternoon was spent driving through the mountains, following the coast. At one point we were driving along and heard bells chiming. We turned to see a flock of sheep clambering up the rocky hills each with a bell around its neck. The sound was beautiful and echoed through the hills like windchimes. Unfortunately we were too taken with the sound and sight to think to capture it with a photo.

something's fishy ...

No marketplace goes unnoticed by Woz's photographic eye.

bosa

After following the coast for some time we arrived in Bosa where we had lunch. Another beautiful little village, on the sea but with a river running through it also.

merrily we drive along

Our second day was overcast so we decided to explore the coast by car and see what we found.

breakfast fit for a king

After a jam packed day Woz found us a B & B to stay in. We were the only guests so we had the two bedroom, two bathroom apartment to ourselves. The lovely couple who owned it lived across the hall in another apartment and put on an incredible spread for us the following morning.

another first for nate

Ooohhh sand!

fun in the sun

a perfect day at the beach

Crystal clear water, mountain views, an ancient watchtower and a beautifully sunny day made for an incredible afternoon at the beach. The water was lovely once you were in but it took some getting used to so we decided it was a little too cold for Nate.

la pellosa

By late afternoon we reached La Pellosa beach which was an absolute paradise and provided a very welcome swim.

ghost town

What an eerie town. Argentiro was a small coastal town which was made up of old dilapidated buildings and new (built in the last ten to twenty years?) beachfront apartments which had never been properly fitted out. At some point this town had been abandoned and allowed to fall into a state of disrepair. Having "googled" it, I have since learnt that from ancient times to around 1960 the southwest coast of Sardinia was used for mining. It is now called "the silent coast," and this town is one of the many deserted villages marking a bygone era. Devoid of life and complete with swirling dust clouds and the hoot of an owl it was very spooky. The moment we stepped out of the car Nate started to cry and wouldn't be consoled as quickly as he might normally be. Claire reminded me that "they say babies can sense evil" and I was immediately petrified!

parkes & monroe

on the road in sardinia

After exploring the town of Alghero we drove along the coast and through the mountains. Lots of photo stops along the way of course.

good things come in small packages

Woz seems to have a love of small spaces - studio apartments, narrowboats and the Fiat 500. Well actually it seems to be a love of small things in general. Perhaps that's why he likes me so much?!

not happy!

Nate's first glimpse of the ocean was from a stone wall which lined the coast around the town. Not sure he was in the mood for it though!

The doors to a beautiful church in the town.

surprise!

Woz and I surprised Claire with a two day midweek getaway to Sardinia. We kept her completely in the dark and only told her where we were going when we had to line up to check in. Claire and I had travelled to Italy together last year but this destination was a first for all of us. So beautiful too! This is Alghero, the town we flew into.

claire and nate share some vegemite toast