My Lucca , My Tuscany: 3 MONTHS IS GONE

Yes we have been waiting 3 months to see the progress of the house in Montecarlo. No pictures have been seen from the work in progress, so it was quite exciting to travel to the house this time to see if the progress as indicated was on schedule, or any deviation to what has been told us.

Italians we knew are not as a person like me that have been involved in logistic work to the oil and gas industry in Norway. The importance of correct information is not known, it is not their culture. Do I know having a lot of Italian suppliers over the years. Some are however good, but you do not know until the end of the work accomplished.

We have a culture due to the new business that have been developed in Norway over the last 40-50 years that when we walk the stairs in a B&B in Italy we have hand on rail. Park the car with the front to the street on a parking lot. So when I asked prior to our arrival in Montecarlo just days before if all the work indicated was accomplished and I got a yes in return. Was it a yes, or a yes, but.

It is something we have to live with, but when we say that the installation of the kitchen will take place May 6^th the kitchen floor just have to be ready for the installation.

All is ready for the installation of the windows and doors that also need to be in place by the same date in May. Let say it is our new milestone. Milestone to us, and for the architect and all the other work in progress. It is our aim to be back at that date to watch the installation of the kitchen and get the real feel of an almost finish house.

The week we had in Montecarlo this time got busy. We knew that we had some activities, but things take time (3xT). First of all we had a minor tax issue that we needed to solve together with our neighbor, Real Estate Company and our local lawyer. An experience that the local tax office could come back 1,5 year after we purchased the house and change the taxes we paid. OK, we made sure to have a god local lawyer to look after or case, so we hope that issue will be solved in our favor, other than the cost of the lawyer.

Kitchen we had planned for over some months. When we were in Stavanger last November we went to IKEA to draw the kitchen so our architect could work out the electricity, gas and ventilation. Also for us to bring the drawing along to Italy so we could purchase the kitchen at the local IKEA. We had alternative PISA or FLORENCE. Due to the easy access to IKEA in Florence we picked Florence outlet. Just 30 minutes away from our home so for visitors I am sure if you come by air it will be the place to land.

Two visits to IKEA, and the last one on Thursday we had first a 1,5 hour wait in line to some to deal with us and then 2,5 hour dealing with the paper work. OK, we got free meal. What else could it be than Swedish Meatballs. So finished the meatballs and finished the complete kitchen order. We cross our fingers and expect that the installation will be to our milestone.

When we did the drawing for the house some months back, we had the layout in our mind and expectation of how things would be. At this visit we could see that our expectation will be fulfilled. The bedrooms upstairs are as we expected it with good space for the beds in the rooms for the kids as well for the adults.

On the ground level testing for the pipes at the water heated floor system was ongoing. The temperature levels both outside and inside the houses in Italy we noted will need it, so we are very happy for the installation of this system. We did not push too much of the system in our bed room, but all other rooms. In Moscow we sleep with the window open in 20 or 30 degree minus, just have a good blanket.

It looks like I will get some busy months ahead too. During May I need to arrange shipment of all our stuff in storage. In June heading back to Montecarlo to receive it all and get it in to the house.

In May as we watch the kitchen to be installed, we also will get back to IKEA and purchase some beds and other item needed for the house so we can live in it from July and the summer vacation.

Step by step we get there, and the goal is closer than ever. It was an imagination two years ago and now just a few weeks away.

Even it was a busy week we managed to get into Lucca to watch the beauty of Corso Guiseppe Garbaldi with all the Magnolia threes. It is just fantastic how it looks.

We also got time for some wine tasting and to buy some wine. One of our favorites is the ecological wine yard to Elena Carmignani. We went to her and got our wine cruiser filled up

Last evening we shared with Erica at the Antica Dimora Patrizia B&B were we staid the week. It is not the normal thing she does offer the guest dinners, but I am sure she try to improve her service even that is superb already. Her teacher in the kitchen is her mother and when meat cook for hours and pasta is made as it melt on your tongue, it is just heaven. To drink a bottle of red wine, sad to hear that it is a wine yard that had to stop it production and bought by another local larger wine yard that will implement the grapes their production. I do not like to see the large variances of local wine from Montecarlo reduced.