This past week Bellaugello Gay Country House has been graced with the presence of Theodore who has been busy helping out whilst soaking up the hot Umbrian sunshine.
Theodore is a very experienced and fully qualified yoga teacher and masseur, and it has been a delight to have him here at Bellaugello, we are getting such great guys here in 2015!
Buongiorno! Good Morning!
I wake to this view, and kind of like it.. Come share it with me…
It is our infinity swimming pool and you are looking over the clouds low in the valley of the river Chiascio south towards the town of Assisi which is over the far side of the hill on the horizon. Bellaugello is a peaceful place, far from the madding crowds, a place to relax, unwind and find the real you.
The peacefulness and tranquillity does not mean that you need do nothing on a Bellaugello holiday, no, you can be as active as you wish, and we are here to help.
By popular request we are offering a YOGA RETREAT, with our resident Yoga teacher all the way from Amsterdam, a week to relax and find your inner spirituality, scheduled for 11 – 18 April. This will be followed on 18 to 25 April by a COOKING COURSE, learn how to make the finest pasta including a tour of one of Umbria’s finest vineyards, and in May back by popular demand our HIKING WEEK, 3 – 10 when Mirko our local guide will be leading guys over the hills in the Monte Cucco Regional Park. May also sees huge celebrations in our local town of Gubbio, which on 15th celebrates the annual FESTA DEI CERI or race of the candles. We have a week of cultural excursions planned 10 – 17 May with our guide Danilo, a native of Umbria, with a phenomenal knowledge of those places one normally cannot get to, you will be visiting hidden abbeys, admiring frescoes and drinking Sagrantino
Now is the time to REGISTER YOUR INTEREST for any of the above weeks. Simply drop me an email to: book@bellaugello.com and I will put you on the mailing list for the holiday of your choice.
A disturbing video from what is believed to be a tolerant country and some reactions you will not find at Bellaugello
A friend’s brother reportedly said “Boudicca – don’t let the Romans get near her!”
Last weekend a foal was born in the valley. The mother a beautiful white Camargue mare, both mother and daughter are doing well. Boudicca was born early in the morning and spotted nestling on the edge of some bushes by my caring and diligent farmer neighbour.
The photo is not the best, but it is a hugely happy one! Why Boudicca I asked, “Why not?” came the reply, “This is the year that our horses names begin with the letter ‘B’ ” and how great is that.
This afternoon as I type my blog at my kitchen window overlooking the roofs of Bellaugello Gay Guest House the sky is azure, cloudless, the sun is shining, soft week golds, the strength waning as sunset approaches, the shadows lengthening, not a breath of wind, all is still.
I am reminded that this morning I bundled the dogs into the cab and drove the Apetto down to the Chiascio river below the house where the dogs went for a swim. In the warmth of the sun I dozed languidly on a huge bough of an uprooted tree that is stranded on the rocky shore, suspended in mid – air almost horizontal, large, substantial, but flexible enough to sway gently too relaxing. The November floods have again changed the course of the river, our beach of last year is all but gone, now two huge new beaches full of large stones have appeared up and down stream, the limpid pools have been washed away, new ones carved out, and new swimming holes appear to be formed, they will be perfect for summer skinny dipping…..
JOIN THE TEAM! Come and enjoy life working under the Umbrian sun! I am looking for enthusiastic dedicated guys to work here at Bellaugello Luxury Gay Guest House in 2015.
Ideally you will have experience in the hospitality sector, and be looking to expand your experience and share your professionalism. Be it in the kitchen, or out front, I am looking to add to my existing dedicated squad.
Guys must have a love of working with people, be enthusiastic, ‘solare’ adaptable, and highly professional. I run the best gay guest house in Italy and I need only the best staff. You will be part of a small eclectic team working with great guests in a fabulous environment, Bellaugello Gay Guest House really is is a great place to be. Accommodation and meals together with a modest salary provided.
Are you interested in Cooking? Waiting? Cleaning? Gardening? Are you a qualified Masseur? You don’t need to be gay, just be tolerant, fit, comfortable with nudity, and open minded. English language essential, other languages a bonus. For an info pack send me your CV and a recent photo either by Skype “Bellaugello” or email: info@bellaugello.com
And even if you personally are not looking for a position, but you know of a friend or colleague who might be interested in working here then please do pass on the info and contact details to them.
So I have taken over part of a vineyard. I must be mad! The closest I have ever come to viticulture is helping neighbours in the valley at the vendemmia. As I discovered cutting bunches of grapes in long September days is pleasurable, especially when there is a good farmhouse lunch too….
Otherwise I know nothing!
Last week said neighbour came and showed us how to prune vines. He makes it look so simple, I guess it is, but these vines have been neglected and require radical pruning, to my mind a skilled task.
Anyway in the warmth of yesterday’s sun and ignoring the fact that I still require to finish pruning my olive trees and the lawns at Bellaugello Gay Guest House are growing madly and require again to be cut, the garden tidied and preparations made for our first weekend 29th. March I set off to the vineyard.
The newly bouncy Jenny at my heels, we went in the car, the Apetto would not start… Rats! Down into the vineyard and secateurs at the ready begin pruning. It is scarily uneasy when there is nobody else there. Analyse, cut, saw, trim, tie, working with the sun on my back it was a real delight. Three hours soon passed.
I managed to get all but three vines in one row done when my friend Isis with whom I am sharing the vineyard came down to have a chat and inspect my work. Isis started working in the vineyard last year, so her knowledge is slightly greater than mine… We walked my row of pruned vines, it was real odd trying to justify how I pruned individual plants, I couldn’t until I worked out that we were walking in reverse from how I had pruned them. Walking from top to bottom I saw the logic in my pruning, one puny vine then one vigorous vine, the differences explained.
So yesterday I pruned one complete row and two further vines, that doubles the pruned rows! Only another 19 rows to go……..
