Marco phoned yesterday with an urgent request.  He was in a mood plough land, any land, no matter how insignificant he needed to plough.  He had ploughed his fields and was looking for any piece of land to plough.

So late yesterday he arrived on his big red tractor at Bellaugello Gay B & B and proceeded to drive down impossibly steep slopes to our orto or vegetable garden.

To keep the Istrice out I had fenced the vegetable garden which is now on the southernmost terrace below the house and by simply removing a small section Marco manouvered the tractor and ploughs  into the vegetable garden.  Result beautifully turned earth which now has to rest for a few days before I get to work with the rotovator.

A luck-penny arrived on the tractor in the shape of several artichoke plants grown by Sergio another neighbour here in Valdichiascio who has the most perfect orto.  They are heeled in and will be planted shortly, our own artichokes, brilliant.