AFTER AND BEFORE

Oh, dear, this is most unsatisfactory. Too much greenery, lots of trouble focusing. Never mind, it will have to do, it is late. This morning, this porch was enclosed by panels made of aluminium and thick glass-like plastic. These panels are put up in the autumn so that the area forms an inefficient greenhouse for over wintering potted plants. It's always a great day when Aluminio Toscana comes and takes down the panels. Today was the day.

At the far end end of this area is what was once a chestnut drying room. In the days of subsistence farming, chestnuts were a major item in the daily diet. They were dried in rooms like this one was, tall, small and windowless. The chestnuts were spread on a platform near the roof, fires were built below and kept at smouldering level until the chestnuts were dry enough to be taken to the mill to be turned into flour. Somebody even slept in the room so that the fires did not go out during the night.

The room wasn't big enough for an ordinary single bed and is now my husband's office.

The area outside it was bleak and the August sun hit it like a death ray. It needed shade. First an awning went up but the wind took it away. Then I had this little illegal idea. A porch. The builder put up one chestnut pillar, attached beams to the house, found old tiles and there it was, looking as if it had been there forever.

It was, however, illegal. It could be taken down quite easily, though, if someone from the Comune came round and was tiresome. Local authorities declare amnesties from time to time and if the deed done is not too dark, a fine is paid and permission is granted. The porch, wreathed in jasmine, is legal now. Woot! That little window isn't legal, though.

This is how it was during construction. You can get a very good idea of the chestnut drying room as it was. BEFORE The difference is
considerable.

And this is the view of Lucca, six miles away as the crow flies, when sitting at that table.VIEW