A happy place with happy people

Here we all are. Ready to celebrate my birthday and Gordon's birthday, in Castagneto Carducci, just as we did 2 years ago. Except that there was lots more to celebrate this time.

So many pictures to choose from and so many smiling faces to share. Let's start with Gordon's birthday 

Pizza night Italian style

My birthday was on the 16th September, the day after some of the party people arrived and my request for my present was that we would chill at La Casina, settle in and then enjoy a spread, a casa mia and then take it from there. Which of course we did, starting with a pizza night for Gordon on the 18th September. A chance for us all to gather round a round meal. A very big round meal.

I mentioned that there was more to celebrate this year, not just birthdays. As you can see from the pizza photo, Grainne was able to join us for a week, as was Susannah and Sean. Susannah and Sean are a very welcome addition to the family and we were all delighted with the engagement news celebrated in style at Santa Lucia, one of my favourite restaurants, where we all celebrated with even another sunset getting in the picture. 

Tanti Auguri Gordon and Suz.

Now I am going to let the pictures tell the story and hope that you can feel the love and happiness emanating from the characters in the following chapters.

                                                  SIGNS OF THE TIMES

Gelato time

    

Pool time

Chillin' time

coffee time

lunch time

We were very fortunate with the weather as we experienced wall to wall sunshine. 

However I felt more fortunate that my pal Grainne was able to join us for a week, as 2 years ago she had spent her few days with me in Tuscany looking after me. 

Delighted to say this time no need for TLC. We just needed to chill and enjoy spending time together and to welcome Andy's Canadian cousin Maggie and her husband Mark, who Grainne had bonded with 2 years previously when I was indisposed.

Maggie and Mark

Happy smiling faces say it all ...

                                                                    POINTS OF VIEW

Grainne viewing

Murphy viewing

Natalie's view from her apartment

Sometimes a picture tells a story better than words...

my view on BBQ night

                                                               

my view in pizza night

my favourite night time view

my view of happy smiling faces

So many photos and so little space to share them. We had a ball folks. It was a wonderful time with the extended family of Suz and Sean joining us and blending in with all the activities of pool, beach, funfair, football and many, many Italian meals. They even managed to see Pisa's famous leaning Tower.

Il Campo, Siena

Wonderful to share time with Maggie and Mark. They included visiting us before their 30th wedding anniversary trip, which they would celebrate on Malta. I am delighted to say that this time we managed an exciting day in Siena and ended the day with a sunset visit to Volterra.

Many thanks to Grainne for braving another holiday in Tuscany. I appreciate all your support and your ability to make any occasion a celebration. Looking forward to catching up again soon.

Kenneth and Natalie stayed on with me after everyone had left and helped me make sure that all was as it should be, in the many apartments we had called home. 

Rofolfo even said that I am welcome to return next year...

How lucky am I to have such a memory of this birthday time. A very precious one to add to all the other amazing times I have enjoyed over the years, in this very special place, Castagneto Carducci.

I have loved sharing time and adventures with the people who make every place, a happy place for me.

Grazie mille