Yes it was time to visit our home in refurbishment for the
last time this year. Wondering if the house looked like the last pictures we received.
With 14 degree C during the day and down to almost 0 at
night made the weather a bit strange for the season in Lucca Province and in
our commune Montecarlo. It should be Christmas, and Christmas it was. More in
Montecarlo and in Antica Dimora Patrizia than in Lucca, the way I remember it in Lucca 15 years ago with real
Christmas feeling was a bit gone. They have still a week to make the extra touch,
as streets were almost empty at lunch time and no tourist to see.
Back to the house both in sunshine and morning mist. Work
ongoing with plaster on the outside walls, roof on our office / hobby part of
the house and fire in the fire place, it was the way it should be along with
Christmas present from the construction company.
Upstairs in first floor agreement needed on what type of floor
we wanted, wood or “cotto”. A decision that had to wait until I was back in
Moscow, now I know it will be “cotto”, hope to find some extra special stuff
that make the “cotto” easy to clean, but it would give the family visiting the
extra touch of remembering that they are in Tuscany and Italy.
The refurbishing goes fast, keep spare time to ensure that
there could be other delay later for unknown reasons they need some extra time
later on. One of the reasons Galileo (the architect) and I went to the shop to
look at tiles for the bathrooms as well the floors.
When meeting up with Limpresa (Pasqual and Gianluca) as well
Galileo at the house I had organized a meeting with an alarm company
(Verisure) as family uses in Norway. With offices in 14 countries in Europe and
special for years in Norway I knew what they could assist me on securing the
house from burglars. For only 2 years in Italy, but leaning on to the many years’
experience from other countries I am sure they will do the job, ok remain to be
seen. However my friends from Limpresa and Galileo listened with interest, and
learned something new this day, and were happy with information they got.
Now I am waiting for the bid from Lorenzo at Verisure to see
some cost savings to our budget.
Another learning I hope that the architect would look into
is the Microsoft Project or similar. He is good looking at details and
progress, but our architect would benefit of looking into a project management
system. A lot easier to keep track and give advises of where in the process
they are.
Looking at the house this time was to see a milestone. How
it was finished upstairs and ready to get some new walls and installation in
the bathroom along with “cotto” on the floor.
Downstairs it is ready for water proofing and another layer
of concrete, electrical lines to be laid and the heating in the rooms we need
it. The bathroom and wardrobe and plaster on the walls along with injection
into the walls to secure against moist coming up from the lower earth levels.
We do not want to see the walls in the years to come, either outside, nor
inside moist damages that needs to be fixed.
So at last in the sunshine Thursday afternoon it was some
last pictures of the house for this time. With the workers having a coffee and
make the house look good from the north towards our neighbors with plaster on
the walls we could see the changes from a year ago and so can they.
We are soon becoming real Luccese, embracing the area with
all it can give us.
Sunflowers or potatoes, or whatever the garden will be full of. Follow
and see and have a wonderful Christmas all and a Happy New Year.
Now it is time to fixe all the outstanding details and “minor”
changes along with prepare for the garden. It will take time, but time is what
we have plenty of and best to be, prepared for changes, who know what next year
will bring? 
