Always ready to jump in for an adventure

Hattie was the dog you expected to live for ever. As long as she was breathing her trademark curved plume of a tail would wag and her face seemed fixed in a happy smile. So we couldn’t believe it when just a week ago on her regular daily walk she fell victim to barbaric poison put down to kill foxes.

We know nothing of Hattie’s pedigree, the black and white markings and those soft pert ears which flopped over so endearingly, as well as her gentle disposition, suggested Border Collie. Though her size, feisty temperament and determination – particularly for digging in the wrong places – made us think she had some terrier in her, maybe Jack Russell.

Showing off her trademark tail

As a 5 month old pup she soon got the measure of young Balzo making him pursue her in loops up and down walls until he lay exhausted. A huge fan of nuts she would take the fallen walnuts up to our apartment and cracking open the shell, leaving all of the detritus on Balzo’s bed. Though in later years when the big farm dogs would turn on blind Balzo she wouldn’t hesitate to defend him, chasing off the attackers and snapping at their legs. Now she lies alongside her old friend.

Less instinctively gregarious than Balzo, Hattie was a more loyal dog, and whilst happy to chat to the guests would return to us. After lunch it was almost impossible to sit on the sofa before she had jumped onto one of our laps for her afternoon cuddle. Though she did soon learn that guests mean scraps and she was often sat near the garden tables not actually scrounging but making it plain that if anything came her way it wouldn’t be wasted. Barbeques became a favourite of hers and if more than one was grilling she would run back and forth checking when the coals would be ready and a surplus sausage might go her way.

Wary at first of Jakes they soon bonded and Hattie enjoyed company on those longer walks which had been too much for Balzo in later years. Right up to the end she ran around with the agility of a goat and the speed of a greyhound, exhausting the young dog.

It wasn’t possible to look at Hattie and not smile, her cheeky face always looked so happy, now we have to rely on memories to make us smile. Luckily, like so many of our guests, we have plenty of those.

It’s the end of the season at Casal dei Fichi and, as usual, we have finished it off by running our gourmet breaks. This time of year we run our long weekends where we meet people from the airport and escort them to a selection of our favourite venues in Marche. This year we were delighted to run 3 weekends all for people who have been before or their friends who they brought with them. To demonstrate that they didn’t just get lucky on their previous visit we have been busy researching new restaurants, vineyards, cultural venues and cookery classes.

A popular evening is when Emanuelle from MyMarca comes to Casal dei Fichi to talk about some of the typical Marche produce which he brings with local wines to accompany it. And there’s good news for those who haven’t been able to visit Marche to try these delicacies for themselves, as well as those who have been and would like to taste a bit of Italian sunshine over the winter months. Just visit MyMarca’s online “emporium” where you will find a great range of local Marche food and wines as well as designer items which will they will ship for surprisingly reasonable prices.



As well as some of the delicious Peccorino cheeses and regional salamis like Ciauoscolo or a Porchetta of rolled pork they stock some great wines including our old favourite Umani-Ronchi and newer discoveries like Fattoria le Terrazze or Sant Isodoro.



So if you want some genuine Marche products at Christmas,  a slightly different gift or wines at a fraction of high street prices check them out.

CRASH!!

As I sit down to write this a bowl comes tumbling off the coffee table. A small price to pay for having a new puppy at Casal dei Fichi.

Although we went to the pound with the intention of re-homing a sad abandoned dog that would struggle to find a new owner we realised that the restrictions imposed by our business make taking on a dog with an unknown, and potentially troubled history meant that it wasn’t really possible.

Not that there wasn’t plenty of competition, like Mao the lame young retriever who had a paw caught in a hunter’s trap. In a country where dogs are often badly treated it was heartening to see that the nearby pound in Tolentino is clean and the dogs are well cared for with decent runs and caring staff and volunteers.

Since we couldn’t take all 200 home we settled on one. A 4 month old, predominantly border collie, with maybe a bit of spaniel. It is amazing how quickly he has settled in, sleeping all night in the spare bathroom, adapting almost immediately to the outdoor toilet routine, friendly with guests and curious, but gentle with the cats. Hattie is coming to terms with him but she makes it clear who is in charge. It looks as if he is going to fit in very well at Casal dei Fichi, another dog who has landed on his paws.

And as for the other 199 that we left behind, inspired by our friends Di and Ron, we hope to get involved with the pound and help out there so we can check on their progress. There was another black and white pup who we very nearly took as well, hopefully when we return she will have found a good home, if not she may be coming to rejoin her old mate Jake.

Now – where are my shoes???

2015 is shaping up to be a record breaking hot and dry summer here in Marche and now that we are well and truly into August everyone is heading to the coast. One of our favourite ways to get away from it all is to head to sea in a boat. There are various options but, for us, by far the best is the elegant launch operated by La Torre Restaurant.

It has become a highlight of our summers and last week we took it out for the second time this year. Just sit back and sip Prosecco as the skipper navigates the beautiful Conero coastline, one of the most scenic stretches of the Adriatic, past secluded beaches, historic fishermen’s caves and  a Napoleonic fort. Then, while you swim in the crystal clear waters he lays the table for a 4 course lunch or dinner, prepared by the restaurant and always a delicious treat whether it is the default seafood, veggie or meat option.

The beaches may be busy but, for a day, you can live like the other half!



 

If you saw Lorraine Bowen on Britain’s Got Talent recently you are unlikely to have forgotten her.

There was no mistaking Lorraine’s quirky individual style on the small screen but to us she is most at home in more intimate venues where she readily interacts with the audience. We are lucky enough to have seen Lorraine perform several times over the last 20 years, including some very cosy spaces, like our dining room and a tent in our front garden.

Lorraine arrived as a surprise for Ian’s 40^th birthday party, but the plan of performing in our small garden was thwarted by a summer storm so she set up her ironing board in our tiny London terraced house and gave her all in the humid heat.

The tent was actually a marquee here in Italy. We flew Lorraine out to entertain at our civil partnership, everybody loved her and it’s true to say that Francavilla d’Ete has never seen anything like it. Years ago we started collaborating on a song, we’ll let you know if it ever materialises.

It’s a shame that Lorraine didn’t go on to win but she was awarded the Golden Buzzer by David Walliams and catapulted into the semi-final. We really hope that the publicity has boosted her career. We always look out in case she’s performing when we are in London, you can never get enough crumble (or spinach!)

OK, so we can all try to take photos of the views from Casal dei Fichi, with varying results. But the brave come armed with sketch pads, watercolours and easels. Drawing and painting are skills that neither of us are blessed with, so we are always amazed when someone produces a piece of work either showing, or inspired by, the panorama from Casal dei Fichi. Some of our proudest possessions are paintings or sketches given to us by our guests.



Jane first arrived at Casal dei Fichi having driven all the way from Wales, we instantly understood her generous nature when she produced a goody bag of baked beans and other hard to find foodstuffs here in Italy which she thought we’d appreciate. Very soon we also got her lively personality and great sense of humour, never ameliorated to placate the embarrassment of student son or his girlfriend. To travel (harmoniously)  in a group like that takes a special type of person and Holly, Sam and Jane all share both a friendly considerate disposition and an artistic bent; photographic, musical or artistic.



A trained artist, Jane’s eye was captivated by the visions that Marche offers so we were thrilled when she agreed to produce a portfolio for us to display and to offer our guests the opportunity to buy a painting of Marche to take home with them. Here are some of the pictures on display at Casal dei Fichi. We’d be delighted if our guests want to take a piece of Jane’s work home, though (secretly) we’d be equally pleased if those images stay here for us to enjoy every time we climb the stairs.

These shots were taken before the paintings were beautifully framed, Jane uses the same framer as Kyffin Williams did, maybe one day she will be equally famous.



You can reach Jane at Jane-barnes@hotmail.co.uk, as well as the art on display here at Casal dei Fichi she will undertake commissions. She is also putting a website together, in the meantime you can learn more about her here.