The Tuscan region greeted us with a very fine day. We were expecting this, as previous homework prior to being extradited from Australia, we set up a weather watch list. 

I think I had mentioned this earlier but this can be ignored by those who don’t have dementia, as you would recall: for those of you who do have dementia (can you remember ?), this is a reminder. As a public service, I will seek your indulgence throughout this literary par excellence chapter, to seek out your level of recall. Yes, I can hear you now remarking, “how typical is this of Parno: looking after our welfare. He’s such a caring and sharing person, that he should be nominated for the Queen’s honours”. 

A nice thought, but really, modesty prevents me from mentioning this, but I could assist in the searching for the nomination form should you need.  

Tuscany is the Italian region found in the north west of Italy. You may remember Italy is shaped somewhat like a leg and foot. Well if you do, then dementia hasn’t set in: perhaps you may have a geographic skill which surpasses the norm ? Anyway, from a physiological perspective, (even should you not recall Italy’s shape, Tuscany is found in the thigh region of this leg: somewhere between the vastus lateralis and the vastus medali. Got it ? 

So continuing the physiological perspective, we find La Spezia near the top of the femur and Orbetello somewhere around the medial ligament of the patella. The region contains such places as Pisa (Fred’s favourite food !!.....I haven’t told her yet) and Florence (Parno’s favourite .... especially when she was a blonde !!). 

Can you now remember ?

The Tuscan region is named after the Etruscan people that live in the area and throughout it’s very long existence, was also known as Toscano. The Romans had a lot to do with the area during their empire building times. After all, they just iced down the road a little. But essentially it is famous for its wines (especially Chianti) and Olives (wasn’t she Popeye’s favourite ? Was she ever a blonde ?). 

The area being very old, has great traditions and strong architecture evidence of the past. We hope to be able to see these over the next six days in the region.

Anyway can you remember that last evening we were participating in a wine and cheese gathering ? You can ? Well, Fred can’t !! 

I don’t think that she is suffering from dementia: well, I can’t remember actually. But essentially, I think that she is more suffering from “vino excessivity”. No, not a physiological term, more medical.

Back to Tuscany, that’s where we were up to weren’t we ? Go back and check if you can’t recall. A major reason we are here is for the wine, olives and the history. We will endeavour over our stay to cover as much of these aspects as we can. Today however, was to be one of familiarising ourselves with the area and slowly meld into the region. Well, that’s what I remember from our initial planning sessions back at home.

Given this, we decided to test out a small visage not far from us that had a “supermarcato” (supermarket). This village being Forcoli. Driving down to the village from our somewhat elevated position, allowed us to pass through the many olive groves and the odd small vineyard. It came to pass that we noted that Colleoli seemed to be more of an Olive area than wine. Quite hilly area really, more suited for olive trees than sloping vineyards, I guess. But Forcoli changed all of this: the opposite in fact.

However Forcoli, was infinitely larger than our 6 dwelling village. A small shopping complex here. Civilisation !! Fred and I had a little fun here:

Back at the villa, we decided to eat at the restaurant for dinner. The restaurant was due to open this evening: awaking from the winter hibernation. Indeed our “late” arrival” at our downstairs culinary venue, was met by Manuel (General Manager of the villa), with a “grazie, you are our first customers for the season. None of the other guests at our Borgo Di Colleoli villa, had ventured down to this point. We were find to find out later, that we were quite early.

Not long after we sat, our Scottish friends that we met at the wine and cheese evening prior (remember ?), Shiela and David came and joined us. The food was exquisite with the “trippe” (tripe) and wild boar being my selections. Convincing Fred to have rabbit as her “platti uno”, was a futile exercise. She did have the wild boar though as her “platti duo”. All washed down with a local Chianti. The latter now becoming our preferred hydration intake. “Rosso, keeps my iron intake to an adequate level”, Fred has been heard to say.

David and Shiela were great company: both retired from Perth, north of Edinburgh. I did ask if Perth was 2 hours behind Edinburgh: Fred got the joke (quite minimally I must admit), but she had to explain it to them both. We appear to have a great deal in common: we swapped stories about family and life in general.

Our initial Tuscan experience was coming to a close. We both were tired and so called it a day. Back up the stairs to our room 104.

No competition on this occasion, just a quick “health check” for you to contemplate. Can you remember what Parno and Fred did prior to being extradited from Australia ? This will determine “weather” or not you can recall. Not “wether” or not you didn’t read the first paragraph, but whether your “memory” is short or long !!

Arrivederci  

Ciao