It's been a long time. Things have....happened.
So, there was a small (about 50 cars worth) parking lot below us....down the hill. We really couldn't see it in the summer, only after the leaves fell in Autumn. The lot led to an elevator that rose about 8-10 stories to the main piazza here.
Well, said lot was expanded. A lot. I would say 3 times larger, although maybe a bit more. Why? I have no idea...no one was filling all that space. During the construction, land, plants, trees were moved. Lots of them. And for no apparent reason, all the vegetation next to our balcony, near the TOP of the hill, was also removed. Trees, bushes, a magnificent elderberry.
We lost the birds. The only stragglers were some crows and an occasional sparrow. What we did get was a whole lot of sun. So much so that I had to buy a blackout curtain for the bedroom because it was getting ridiculously hot. The other result? I could no longer enjoy the balcony. Too much sun, too much heat, too many bugs.
But then...ah, then....the back wall of the entire apartment...which included the dining room and the kitchen, where the caldaia (water heater) was mounted on the wall, where we had the refrigerator, and of course, where the balcony was located outside, began to crack. Seriously crack, as in it looked like it was falling down or off. If it was windy, you could feel it. Bricks were exposed. Not only unsightly but potentially dangerous. We had to move.
We had to move, and saddled with a place we could not sell. (We are hoping that the Comune or Italy or something, will decide to reimburse us something. Maybe.)
I'll make it short. We found an affordable place on the other side of town, up a hill. We moved at the end of March and I haven't even attempted to walk down the hill yet. I'm beginning to feel isolated. Also because my husband had a fall and hurt his hip and will need surgery to scrape arthritis from said hip in the very near future.
On the bright side, the place doesn't have outdoor space, but it is considerably larger. We have a large storage room (which is still a wreck) and two baths, sort of....agggh. There were surprises in store after we moved. What looked like a regular little bathtub is some weird thing with 2 levels and the bottom is curved like a tulip, so it is impossible to stand. We had to have a shower installed in the OTHER bathroom.
Also, the colors are...for me, anyway, mortifying. Only the bedroom has been painted, a creamy off white. (It was what I lovingly referred to as "hospital blue") The rest of the place is YELLOW. Like a freaking egg yolk.
The oven wasn't "new"...it was filthy and didn't work. The stove had a gas leak. So, I got a new stove/oven. The window in the bedroom had to be replaced, and the double door in the shower room. The one in the laundry/cat room will need to be replaced before winter.
But, little by little, it is...improving. Our upstairs neighbors are wonderful. She is a nurse in Pescara and just so helpful its embarrassing. She gives us peppers, tomatoes and cucumbers and EGGS, fresh from her cousin's yard. She has taken me, or my husband, to the supermarket, to the bank...I hate to impose, but she always asks.
And one other nice thing. Out the back windows the mountains are visible, and a small garden that belongs to the place next door, which is vacant, so the thing is getting unruly and overgrown. But I can see THE MOON!!! I haven't seen the moon in 6 years! I was so excited the first time I woke in the night and saw the light shining in. What is that? And this month, the moon has been nothing short of spectacular. Yippee, something that males me happy.
We have to visit the Questura this year to renew our permits. Needless to say, it is rather nerve wracking, considering what is going on across the pond. Should all go well, we can then think about getting the rest of place painted in the Spring. And also installing another shower in the bath with the strange little tub.
The clowns (cats) have adjusted. Moving was hard on them, except Calzini, who, after 5 years must have finally decided that we aren't getting rid of him. He made himself right at home. Scruffy took awhile. Our former neighbor is taking care of feeding the "colony" now, while we supply the food.
Lastly, I am gradually feeling better with a new rheumatologist and new medicine regimen. I hope to be able to walk down this hill at some point and join the living once again. Fingers crossed.
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