Our pots of geraniums did not do well this year. So finally we decided to throw them away and on emptying the soil discovered the problem – chafer grubs. They are, as you can see, horrible looking things – fat and if you are a bird very succulent. In three large pots we discovered over 60 grubs. The grub of the chafer beetle survives by munching on roots of plants and grass. Chemical control is effective but we had only treated the soil once and obviously this wasn’t enough.
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The weather has changed in the last 10 days. The temperature has dropped by about 10 degrees and the nights are cooler. Television has news of students preparing to return to school and here in San Giorgio the comune is making final arrangements for the evening classes beginning in October.So we decided to have an end of summer trip with Elizabeth who lives in Cabarnardi. We decided to do a round trip from Cabarnardi to Matelica, San Severino, Cingoli and home. We left Cabarnardi at 9.45 and stopping on route for a coffee and brioche we arrived in Matelica at 10.45. We immediately went to the Museo Piersanti. This resident of Matelica had worked as secretary to 6 popes in the 18th century and the museum displays his personal collections of pictures, bric a brac etc. Very interesting collection set in Piersanti’s house, complete with kitchen on the top floor. Well worth the visit. After our spot of culture we had an “aperitivo” in a local bar and as Matelica is famous for its white wine this is what we had. |
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Most people get buried rather than cremated in Italy. In San Giorgio, as with most Italian towns, the cemetery is just outside the town. You are not buried in the ground but placed into a hole in the wall. The space is rented from the comune.
The comune had decided to increase the number of slots available and a recent communique from the comune has asked people to register an interest in acquiring a slot by the 30th October.
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While chatting to Thomas and Erica (our nearest German neighbours)on Saturday, their friend Klaus arrived from Munich. He has a house near Corinaldo and had just arrived for a week’s holiday. He had brought with him a keg of “Munich beer” and so invited us to his house for an Oktoberfest. Unknown to me the Oktoberfest takes place in mid-September. So we were only a week early.Sunday evening we arrived at his house where Klaus gave us a warm welcome. The barbecue was aleady hot and so after a quick concession to Italy – a glass of prosecco, we had a first course of German sausages, saurkraut, Erica’s delicious potato salad followed by a second course of barbecued pork, salad and more beer. To repeat a cliche – a good time was had by all. |
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It appears that work may be beginning on restoring the “Church of the Holy Spirit”at the top of our alley. Not all the money has been found but enough to let the work begin.
Lack of money and restoration seem to have been a consistent part of its history.
There had been a church on the site when in 1772 it was decided to enlarge and restore it. The previous church had been owned by the Confraternity of the Sacrament which had existed from at least 1702. The Confraternity was formed to prepare people for the after-life but became involved in social, political and religious issues. The richest families were members of the fraternity and often left money in their wills to the Confraternity and this allowed them to build churches, support priests and to help the poor. In fact two of its members left money to the church to ensure that 700 masses a year were said for their souls.
Initally, the architect, Damiano Piotti, wanted only to alter the church and strengthen the foundation. However, he noticed that water came in through the bell tower and that the store room above the sacristry was so damaged tht grain and vegetables fell onto the priest while celebrating mass. So the confraternity decided to build a new church on the site. It took 50 years to complete. Miscalculations about the costs meant that, despite selling land, houses and building material from other churches in the area etc, money had to be borrowed to finish the work. In fact just as the work was nearing completion in 1837 the new bell tower was hit by lightening and damaged the church.
Mike, Monique and Luke began their journey back to New York this moring. Hard to believe the had arrived 6 weeks ago for their annual visit. In that time they have installed a new kitchen (despite 35 degree heat), learnt how to bottle tomatoes, tried to learn a few more words in Italian, and survived meals with dialect speaking relatives.
Although in the photo they are looking happy to go we are sure they were just trying to put on a brave face.
They fly back to New York tomorrow and we wait to see if Dante, their slightly overweight dog, will be allowed on the flight. If not, we are ready to act as foster parents.