2013 Resolutions

The Xmas Muls in Servoz

Christmas brought best news. The building commission in Genoa settled for a fine for the illegal construction work done by the owner. Worst case scenario demolishing our new bathroom avoided! Still some red tape to go through, but in a few weeks we should officially become the new owners of Casa Lunas. The end IS in sight! And we can start filing for our own building permits…

Reasons enough to celebrate Christmas with my wonderful family in Servoz (Chamonix). Crazy and lazy days full of fun, food & drinks, snowy slopes, sleighing and skiing, good laughs and talks, kids having a blast, sauna and pool.. Time flies when you have fun, it was soon time to return to Olivetta for New Years eve. Au revoir Servoz and benvenuti Olivetta!!New Years eve a “quiet party” at home with the “kids” with food, drinks, games and at midnight some fireworks. Only to discover that Olivetta had set up their own show of fireworks, which we enjoyed  with best view from Casa Lunas. With a high “wow factor” we welcome 2013!!

1st january gay-day swim...

After two weeks of holidays, time for Alex to return to his girlfriend Chloe, his family, routines and school. Sebastiaan managed to stay for a couple of days longer and had opportunity to enjoy the great weather with some rock climbing with dad in Sospel. When the sun comes out over the mountains in the morning around 9:30, the temperature goes up in no time and we can actually have the lunch “t-shirt style” on the terrace. The advantage of the Mediterranean climate… love it. The last couploe of holidays we made sure to get our fair share of gelati, cappuccino and beach picnics (ending up on the gayest of all gay beaches…) during the day, red wine, open fire and games at night. Two full weeks of quality time. Time to say our arriverdecis.  A small part of me always leaving with Seb and Alex. I hope I am that invisible “guardian angel” on their shoulders.

Steep & hairpin turn village

Time to move on. To set out our own destiny. Firm up the guidelines and plans. With a signed deed we should be able to stake out the future, however the road is long. And particularly in Olivetta, steep with hairpin turns! This week an appointment with an accountant to start the process of registering our “agro-tourismo” business. That is the license we’re applying for, giving us the official right to accommodate and cater guests from home. You actually run a restaurant in your own home, allowing people also from the outside to dine. You are obliged to however, to grow and supply ingredients in the meals you serve.  Which will come out of our own future organic vegetable garden. We’ve decided to focus the construction work on the kitchen/dining room first, then go on with one guest house (Lunetta, which is already there but needs an extension) and secondly the rustico (the ruin). With kitchen and “restaurant” in place we can start creating an income, while we get on with the rest of the work. With no income, we need to get started and it is at times extremely frustrating being caught in the Italian bureaucracy. We’re turning patience into art!

All the best for 2013 !!

But time has its advantage. I feel extremely fortunate to have this “break” but at the same time guilty and restless. It allows for more time for the kids providing them a good start in their new schools. And more time to think through our own future, adapting as you go. When you’re obliged to change direction, you’re also forced to change your way of thinking, opening up new opportunities that you wouldn’t have thought of in the first place. So as temporary as it is, I might just as well try to shake off that guilt and enjoy while it lasts. Sooner or later, we’ll be back in business. Our hope for 2013 is that it will be sooner rather than later.

We wish all our nears and dears, a happy, healthy and prosperous 2013 and that we will be able to share our little paradise with you. Soon.

Peace & Love,
Jenny