Seconds out, round one.

I went for my weekly boxing workout this morning. It is such brilliant fun it doesn't feel like exercise. The guy in the blue T shirt is Paul, my trainer. And there is never any point in trying to make an excuse for why I can't do something because something aches. We just work around it. I don't hit people, I hit bags, although one of my brothers suggested I should start hitting people and he'd give me a list. I think he was joking.

It's official, summer ends this Tuesday

I spoke to a friend in San Ginesio yesterday and they said it is very hot and humid there and the sunshine is set to continue. However the open air pool is only open June to August so sadly it closes this Tuesday until next year. So summer is officially over and it's back to school.

Rude Britannia

I have decided to keep the blog going but it's going to be "Autumn in London". And from the weather today I am being optimistic. It just won't stop raining. Wet and miserable. But it does save me from sweeping up the entrance in preparation for my neighbour coming home from his holiday. He is so neat and tidy (hoovers his decking which I am sure he won't mind me sharing with you) that I feel I ought to clean up the rubbish that blows in from the street. Also we had strong winds the other day and his tomato plants were almost blown over. His flatmate has tied them up but they aren't upright and I am worried that if I try and correct this, the main stems will snap. I went to Tate Britain yesterday to see "Rude Britannia" an exhibition of British Comic Art. Each room is curated by a guest editor like Harry Hill (never understood the fuss myself) and Viz (purile I know but absolute genius). Someone showed me a copy of Viz when I was at university, which wasn't long after it launched and I couldn't believe a publication could get away with being so rude and un politically correct. Anyway the Viz room was very very funny and I kept laughing out loud and getting strange sidelong glances. I have no idea what the picture of the man and dog was doing in the exhibition but I liked it. And the letter is an extract from Viz.

My neighbours were married today

I have just had a "breaking news" report filed by one of the Cub Reporters. They spotted white netting floral decorations on our neighbour's front door and then when they went to buy groceries there was a crowd outside the church in the square and the same decorations. So they waited around and witnessed Francesca and Pierfrancesco run out into a shower of confetti. Such lovely news and congratulations to them.

Italian A level

I logged on this morning and I have passed with a B grade. Very happy with that and going back to bed - it's early!

Pattern Market

Yesterday I walked along the Regent's Canal, which is very near my flat, and visited a new market that is billed as "vintage", a term that really irritates me. Whatever happened to "second-hand"? Anyway I was going to take some photos to post but I was shaking so much laughing at the prices that I couldn't operate the camera. £140 for a simple 1950s cotton dress. And the sad thing is that some idiot will pay that. I remember with much fondness the jumble sales of my youth and the thrill of buying a new outfit at pocket money prices. Until I find a new job I am on an austerity drive. The flat screen TV can wait. To be quite frank, if something still works - like the TV or my laptop - I don't see much urgency in replacing it. I do love clothes though, especially winter clothes, so I am keeping a wide berth of the shops.

San Fabiano

I meant to review this new restaurant at the time of visiting but didn't get round to it, so better late than never. When I first went to San Ginesio, Gianni and his wife Anna Maria were running the B&B in the main piazza. I stayed there many times as the house was being renovated and they became friends. It was Gianni who showed me where to sign up for an internet connection and who came to my house to set the equipment up for me. On the day we went to sign the contract we made a detour to the house in the countryside where he had lived as a child and which he had inherited and was refurbishing to include a restaurant on the ground floor. The setting is idyllic, in a cluster of houses in rolling fields and next to the tiny church of San Fabiano which is still occasionally used for mass. When the new Administration was voted in at the Town Hall 2 years ago they decided to sell the B&B to bring down the debts of the Comune and Gianni had to leave after running it for 18 years and this summer he opened his restaurant. If you want good, honest home cooking in a warm and welcoming environment then I thoroughly recommend this place. The night we went everyone seemed to know each other and I suspect that it will rely on local trade until word gets round visiting tourists. There is no website at the moment and you'll need to call to book 0733 656832. I had mushroom pancakes to start with which were absolutely delicious. There is no printed menu and Gianni speaks a little english so you won't have any trouble ordering. There is a garden with amazing views where you could have lunch or just go for drinks in the afternoon. To reach San Fabiano leave San Ginesio by the Porta Picena and turn right so you are driving around the town walls. Follow the signs to Sarnano and look out for the SS502 (small white surfaced single land road). At the time of our visit there were hand made signs in place but I expect they will put something more permanent up. The restaurant is on your right along this track next to the church.