I have spent the past three days working at the computer.  Outside it has been sunny, cloudless blue skies, crisp but cold.  Recently first thing in the mornings there has been a slight coating of ice on the swimming pool, and parts of the garden where the sun does not hit remain frosted most of the day, so ideal to be snug indoors, working at the computer and gazing out over the stupendous view.

Among other work things I have been collating photographs and writing captions for the Bellaugello Gay Guest House website, I have made several changes, some are professional photos, some taken by myself and some by guests.  It has been an enjoyable if exhausting work, the photos have now gone off by ‘dropbox’ to my webdesigners who are now making the changes, so guys check the website, the pictures are great!  Here is one I particularly like that will be on the webpage soon, taken last summer, it shows the upper terrace at Bellaugello Gay B&B.

On opening my blog to make this post I discover yet again a lengthy spam list.  Fortunately by the magic of a special programme it is siphoned off to a spam box, from where I can edit and delete.  The vast majority of spam is and for several weeks has been for Ugg boots and Northface jackets, you would think that the spammers would know I am not an Ugg boot man, please spammers give me a rest! – however guys I love to receive comments on my posts, they do not hit my spam box, do not stop them….

I did escape to Perugia this afternoon, part business and part pleasure.  I adore the historic centre of this great city.  Today I noticed that together with Assisi, Perugia is in the running for “European City of Culture 2019”  I wish them all the luck, together the cities are superbly suited for such an accolade.  I took a quick turn round the shops, thought I might pick up a sale bargain or two, but….  I am a simple country lad, I do not understand the concept of shop sales.  In the UK shops buy in ‘tat’ to sell cheaply and sell end of line or last season items at up to 60% off, in Sweden my friends tell me they reduce prices by 70%, but here in Italy they seem to raise the original price by 35% then reduce it in  the ‘sale’ by 20% or 30%. I was aghast to discover in the window of the Timberland shop a pair of  boots on sale at €145.00 reduced from €210.00.  I bought exactly the same boot last spring for €120.00…..  However I did pick up a pair of cozily warm if somewhat unfashionable Crocs (fur-lined) for €25.00 a veritable bargain, so maybe sales are good here in Italy too, you just need to look…

I finally bit the bullet and went to the mobile phone shop and at long last bought myself a new mobile phone.  My iPhone 3 was soooo slooow, it has begun to forget for  which purpose it was designed, it ceased to recognise any network and hated sending sms s and as to be more irritating many of the few apps I have installed crashed, guess it is built in obsolescence!  At the same very helpful store I also picked up a new cell number and now have a dedicated mobile telephone number for Bellaugello, much needed for our Italian clients who prefer calling on the mobile, it will be live soon.

Talking of which, thanks are due to both Fabio and Paolo, who have kindly sent photos of our recent Capodanno Houseparty, I will add some of them to my next post.

And lastly, great news!  Last night I had a lengthy telephone call and can confirm that in June this summer a young guy, Thomas is coming over for the summer season to help give a hand here at Bellaugello Gay resort.  Thomas visited Bellaugello some years ago when it was still in the making, and is keen to see the finished product and to be part of the team ensuring our guests’ stays are more comfortable. I will post more about Thomas at a later date, in the meantime I am off to read the new mobile phone manual!