We were up with the larks this morning – no mean feat as our builder popped by late last night to discuss some new ideas (wine & beer were involved) – and packing the car as we’ve never packed before. We’re not instinctively organised travellers. We can arrive on a beach with not a flip […]
Today, the scaffolding arrived. It was brought to us by Edo, a lovely Dutch guy who has really helped us ease into Istrian life, as he did the same thing 12 years ago. He brought the scaffolding to us because he was already going to Sergio’s, as he was taking hay for Sergio’s horse. Which […]
After yesterday’s excitement of taking down the false ceiling – plus removing a dead mouse, numerous critters and a hornets’ nest – today was always going to be a bit of anti-climax in terms of progress. However, in the short time that Misko and Sergio were here, they achieved an awful lot. In order to […]
It seems like no time – although it’s actually nearly four years ago! – that our West Didsbury home was being smashed to bits as we renovated. And, now we’re doing it all again – but this time in Istria, in northern Croatia. When we first arrived we knew no-one apart from the local go-to […]
It would definitely seem that any fleeting hopes we had of temperate winter climes have gone. They went overnight as winter arrived, with a bang. Quite literally. The shutters which we are painstakingly renovating, are nowhere near finished. The majority are still in the state they were when we purchased the house – untreated, […]
When we’re not working and running our business, we seem to spend a lot of time doing the jobs around the house that we can do ourselves. It would be lovely to have a limitless budget and get people in to do everything, but we don’t have such a budget and even if we did, […]
For foodies, Istria (and from what we’ve experienced so far, Croatia in general), is a real treat. If you love your meat, it’s perfect for you. Boškarin, considered to be the true delicacy from traditional Istrian cattle, is usually served in a hearty stew with fresh pasta, generally fuži. Although don’t ever tell a Croatian […]
We’ve done IKEA kitchens and while they’ve largely been great and just what we wanted/needed in the past, schlepping to Zagreb or beyond Trieste (the two nearest stores to us), just seemed a bit far, this time. It’s OK to do these trips to buy beddings and candles but we needed somewhere a bit closer. […]
The summer has been a time for travel, seeing family and friends and lots of white-washing of walls. The house feels much more light and airy, now that the bare stone walls are much softer. And now, as autumn starts to take a hold, our thoughts are turning to the bigger renovation projects. The ripping […]
…maybe not so hidden, because Bale (or Valle) is well sign-posted on the main road to Pula, but until this weekend, we’d not actually visited it, despite forever saying that we must. So, after spotting a great deal at Hotel La Grisa, we decided to go for it and do the Gourmet Package for €138 […]
In a few days time, we go on holiday. Our holiday this year will be a bit different, as we’re flying back into Manchester to visit family and friends. Returning to the city that has been our home for so many years, has made us reflect a little bit on the last five months – […]
We are surrounded by some of the most beautiful towns and villages imaginable. Many are perched, precariously, on top of high hills, clinging on for dear life, as they will have done for many, many years. But one town that has intrigued us for a long time, is Hum – according to the Guiness Book […]