Preparing to return to Italy

It's almost 4:00 PM and the daylight is slowly disappearing on what is one of the shortest days of the year on this side of the planet.

@clareartista is sitting on the couch, right next to me, working on her weekly needleworkmonday post. The wood fire opposite us is burning nicely - is feels great to have so much lenha (Portuguese for firewood) and the two of us are fueled by love and Indian tea, as well as a nice late lunch consisting of thin noodles, green beans, scrambled eggs, tuna, avocado and Parmesan cheese that I vinprovised an hour ago.

Looking at my right, I notice that Clare is looking into a ferry trip from Spain to Italy, which brings me to the main thing I wanted to share in this post, namely our upcoming trip to Italy, next month.

Days ago, the two of us decided that it's probably best to return to Italy, to the city where Clare's house resides, to focus on preparing it for its eventual sale.

If you're curious and haven't seen it already, here's a recent post from Clare about it: House for Sale, Italy

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Even though my family ( mother, my brother and the woman he loves, my sister, my brother in law and their 3 kids ) are coming over in two weeks, from just after Christmas until the start of the year, and Clare and I are looking forward to that, it is fair to say that my/our main focus is on our upcoming voyage back to Italy, to the picturesque Guardia Sanframondi.

Although it will be a lengthy trip of several days - as we plan to not travel by plane but by bus/train/boat - I am very much looking forward to it. It is going to be a true adventure.

It also helps to have traveled together before, a little over 2 months ago, from Italy to Portugal, as well as the fact that Clare and I know each other on a deeper level now and have a mission to focus on: preparing her house for sale and selling it (one way or another ).

Over 3 months ago, I was the one who visited her with a mission ( to conquer her heart ) and this time it's the two of us who go there together with an entirely different energy. We are different people now.

It is gonna be fun!

I am looking forward to:

Spending time together in Clare's kitchen, where I can timber things (including vegetable- and fruit peels) onto the floor...

...and sweep them up later

I am looking forward to admiring the stunning mountain view from her two balconies and taking pictures...

as well as to eating yummy Italian food, including Calzone...

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I am even looking forward ( a bit ) to seeing Clare's cats again, especially Benjamino, the big ginger cat that is rubbing my foot/leg on the picture below.

The cats will probably be happy to see me too.

That is, if I do feed them and give them attention when they ask for it ;<)

It will also be nice to see Clare in her element again, in her own house. A special space she has lived in for 15 years and made her own, step by step, with blood, sweet, tears, love and dedication.

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It's fair to say that feeling good has been a bit more challenging (and that is an understatement) in the house that I have been renting since May and the two of us since October in the Portuguese countryside for a plethora of reasons that I won't go into right now.

We are doing quite well now but it was hard work to reach this state of relative peace and well being.

One thing’s for sure though, we will be returning to Italy full of positive energy and with a plan.

I can/We can't wait!✨

Let me end this with a couple more pics of Guardia Sanframondi, taken in September/October of this year...

Last but not least, a pic of Clare's Suzuki Wagon R, in Guardia Sanframondi, parked near her house. This impressive machine that took her from Scotland to Italy, over a decade and a half ago and us from Italy to Portugal, 2 months ago, will stay behind in Portugal, this time around.