The flood

G returned on a freezing morning - a day when we never got above 0C but by the end I was soaked in sweat.

He laid into a row of four more sprawling Leylandii. By close of play after he had left at noon I had it nearly all burned up. I simply shifted a barrowload of burning coals to a new spot and built a new towering fire.

G told me the next day he'd had a call about the impressive column of smoke filling the Casentino sky. It was me folks, burning for all I as worth.

After four nights in the house with a max temp of 10C I skedaddled back to Fiesole for a warm up and a wash.

Once more we are so lucky with our neighbours.