Village Green

Riding through Forte Dei Marmi and into Pietrasanta, occasionally I would wander through shaded side streets, past crumbling-stone mansions and under tall bristling trees, along open wheat fields and past soundless glassy rivers. The cool breeze and endless roads were a relief from the hot sun and long hours of working and I would try get out often.

My Gran had a loaded apricot tree in her back garden where her neighbours hung their washing, all preen and pegged, and I thought the image was so characteristic of Tuscan society.

I collected a few apricots, washed them and put them in a bowl on the kitchen table where they glowed in the sun. 

The Girls

There are a few glass candy jars placed around the house- the kids always used to stick their little fingers in there and pull out a lollipop (chubachuba- Italian for lollipop), coloured gummy bear or pink sugar-coated marshmallow before giving a little persuasive grin.

The girls were constantly having to be kept entertained, most days we went to the beach -Bagno Annetta, one of the most revered beach clubs in Italy-  and played in the sand and swam. They had a large wicker basket full of toys- buckets, spades, plastic boats and multicoloured animal moulds.

Forte dei Marmi

Forte dei Marmi is a very wealthy part of Lucca in Tuscany.

Most families own houses here that they come to just for the summer, as did the family I worked for.

In the centre are many intimate restaurants and designer interior and fashion stores, and not far from are the privately owned beaches- hundreds that run along for miles. 

Carlotta and Nicoletta

I love this photo it's so telling. 

These are the beautiful children I taught English to in Italy, and was unknowingly appointed nanny to. 

I think it's the first time I've seen them sit still together. 

Every morning we used to sit on this very couch and pull out the same old books- they would always ask for the one in which a lion eats a boy, and every time we read through it they were surprised by this development.

Nicoletta was my favourite, she stole my heart (right).

Forte dei Marmi market

MY BIKE

This is the bike I rode in Forte Dei Marmi, Tuscany when I wanted to get around.

There is a long bicycle path along the main road to Pietrasanta which I rode when I wanted to go out for the night, crash at a friend and then come back early for work- 45 minutes a trip. Part of it is a narrow winding path that runs through the forest which is quite charming.