I had a brilliant idea, I would hire a little digger and flatten part of the garden that has been driving me mad.
When I mow the grass, it normally takes 2 to 3 hours, if the mosquitos attack me while I am cutting the grass, it can take 2 to 3 weeks and I only persevere when it becomes apparent that the cats can’t find their way home through the jungle.
My son mowing the bottom grass
One year I dug over a piece of the garden, to plant tomatoes and vegetables, ok I didn’t actually do the digging Giorgio arrived with his big tractor and dug it over for me, but I did plant the seeds and water them.
Giorgio did the digging
As you can see, the garden had a little slope and it also had holes where I had dug up various vegetables, this made mowing the grass a little dangerous, if one of the mowers wheels fell in a hole… I was doomed.
Cecil, one of the vegetables I grew
On Friday night I wandered down to the local digger hire and enquiried about hiring a little digger.
Me: I need machine one day, how much? (as you can see my Italian is improving)
Owner: Mmm, 100 Euros, do you have a digger licence?
Me: Ha, you very funny man. I car/truck licence.
Owner: You must have a digger licence.
Me: I dig me garden, not road!!!
The owner sucked his teath and shrugged.
Fealing a little disappointed I drove home, I didn’t really blame the man for not wanting to rent one of his lovely diggers to a crazy Englishman who was wearing flip-flops and had the language ability of a five year old.
At seven a clock I received a phone call.
Hi Peter, how are you? Luigi told me, you want to hire one of his machines, I have told him I know you and he will deliver it to you at 9pm tonight, is that ok.
Me: What! Please you speak me slowly.
Pier: Digger will arrive at 9
Me: FANTASTIC
My new toy
I was so excited when the digger arrived, as I thanked the man, my mind started to wander, I started to wonder how feasible it would be to dig a swimming pool and could I do it before Mrs Sensible realised what I was doing.
I need a swimming pool
He then decided to show me how to dig and flatten my garden properly, I have to admit I had mixed emotions, yes he was doing a fabulous job and he obviously knew how to operate the digger, but I was sat on the side just watching… maybe even sulking a little bit.
Pier and his broken leg
I shouted “Ok, I can see how you do it” and “Ok, let me have a go” and finally ” That hard work can’t be good for your broken leg”
Pier was having none of it, he just smiled at me and waved away my concerns.
I now have a perfectly flat piece of land for the children’s tents next year. Did I tell you about the English Summer Camp I ran last week? I might in my next post, that is if I am not digging a swimming pool.
Have a fab summer
Pecora Nera
Englishman in Italy 
Only youuuuu (sings Elvis Presley through tears of laughter). Have you planted your grass seed yet?
LikeLiked by 2 people
We plough the fields and scatter …. Nope
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hee hee. You are something. Plant the garden and forget the pool. You can eat fruit and vegetables but you can’t eat pool water. Ok, just kidding. Make what ever is good for the soul. Your son is a good looking chap. I take it he favors his mother? Just kidding, again. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
My son is good looking, just like his father 😜
He flies over during the summer
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s great that he can visit during the summer, lots of guy time and a time to bond.
LikeLiked by 1 person
He will be disappointed he missed the digger fun
LikeLiked by 1 person
another great adventure. i’m sure you were chomping at the bit to have a turn in the big little digger. hopefully you guys can learn to take turns. it could be so fun that you get carried away and mow everything down )
LikeLiked by 1 person
He wouldn’t let me play, 😩
I was only allowed to watch.
I will wait until Mrs S goes to Sicily in August, and then I will hire a bigger one and dig a pool
LikeLike
I love your Italian! I am mortified everytime I remember some of the most terribly wrong things I have said. In fact Ive stopped going to lessons and speaking because I’m soooo embarrassed. Good luck with the camp,
LikeLiked by 2 people
My Italian is incredible bad, I do try… honest
The camp was great fun, The website is for next year
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your Italian he is improve much, yes, no?
LikeLiked by 2 people
No 😂😂😂😂
LikeLike
Umm, do you swim? Can you buy some nice floaties?
LikeLiked by 1 person
My swimming ability is far superior to my Italian language ability
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, that’s not very comforting, PN.
LikeLiked by 1 person
My Italian has always been good enough to order wine and grappa, what more do I need and even 10 years ago it was good enough to fool the British police….. sort of
https://englishmaninitaly.org/2013/04/03/a-mother-in-law-a-pen-knife-and-the-airport-police/
LikeLike
I hope you managed to sneak in a swimming pool without Mrs Sensible noticing – it will be a great activity to add to what’s on offer at your Summer Camp. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m waiting until she is away for a couple of days, I can then blame the pool on a giant sink hole that appeared overnight.
Erh! Can you get square sink holes?
LikeLike
Cunning plan PN – perhaps explain the squareness by saying that the authorities came and tidied it up due to some obscure Italian rule about the shape of sink holes. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Gosh you have an inventive mind. It might work
LikeLike