This morning, we had a nice walk into town, strolling along a mostly washed out market.
Even though it only rained lightly, especially compared to yesterday, there clearly wasn't much animo for it.
Half of the stalls didn't seem to be there at all and those that were there didn't really pique our interest much.
We thus ended up buying nothing at all.
Afterwards, 
Two and a half hours and two coffees later, we returned home, fully energized and motivated.
This was just the talk we needed!
We then enjoyed a hearty lunch of left-over 'veggie soup, yesterday's remaining baked potato and some sausages, to counter the caffeine- and city energy and wind down a bit.
Clare is now rummaging and re-organizing things in the other room/other side of the house. She is trying to turn this into a temporary atelier/sewing room, once again. Meanwhile, I am putting my thoughts on digital paper in the 'living room' area, near the slowing down wood fire.
Three hours from now, we will finally meet up with our favorite neighbors around here. Yesterday, one of them wasn't feeling well but we were happy to hear that he has recovered enough for them to receive us, today, in their cosy home two buildings away.
I am looking forward to that meetup, as we have a bit of an inactive social life, these days. This is mainly due to having moved house to the countryside.
Clare was trying to cut her ties with this place, after 15 years of investing loads of energy, blood, sweat and tears in it. And, after having moved country for the second time in less than 7 years, I am running a bit low on (nearby) friends.
Being in this small city for a handful of days now is an interesting experience, to say the least.
This is where Clare and I got together, exactly 16 months ago but it is also the place she wanted to get away from , asap.
We left for Portugal, a month after I arrived.
We then ended up staying there for 3 months but it didn't work out. Came back again and needed half a year - and a quick return trip to Portugal to get Clare's car back to Italy and deal with our remaining belongings - before we finally found our land in the province of Molise, two and a hours to the North of here.
Since then, less than half a year has passed. These months have been filled with moving house/moving back and forth between two houses and even an unsuccessful 6 week stay in a rental house, in the village near(est) our land.
aka even more moving house business...
It is an understatement to say that we are craving some more stability but that almost seems like too much to ask for, in these turbulent times.
Meanwhile we are starting to run low on funds.
I am not complaining though.
We are creative. We are intelligent. We are resourceful. We are healthy.
Things will happen at the right time.
Meanwhile, we can only take one step at a time ( "piano, piano!" as they like to say here ) and work on our patience and positivity.
Let's see where today's talk with J. about putting our house here up for sale will lead to.
Whatever's the case, it sure feels like yet another step in the right direction.
To Be Convinued...