Too much fun!

Contrary to yesterday’s promise, the story of olives to oil will have to wait until next week. Dom and I spent today in Lucca doing errands and having lunch. It was after 4:30 pm when we reached Marlia. Knowing our friends Mary and Orlando had an appointment for that time, we swung by the frantoio (mill) to see what their final tally was. Mary had called earlier in the day to see what percentage we got and told me she estimated their take at around 900 kilos (and that from only 34 trees!). They ended up bringing in 1004 kilos! Joy and Bob also showed up because Bob has been helping Mary and Orlando harvest and they had never been to the mill. We ended up standing around for the next two hours (with a break at a local bar for a drink) while their olives were processed and they collected their oil. Afterwards we all went for dinner in Ponte a Moriano. Loads of fun but as a result Dom and I did not get home until 10 pm. Early tomorrow morning we are leaving for a few days in Padova and Zurich, Switzerland. There is a classic car exposition and market in Padova and my father, on his way to South Africa, will be visiting my brother and his wife who live in Zurich. So, a little car time then a little family time. Next new post should be on Wednesday.