November has ended

I had fully planned to post about visitors, new puzzles, and our adventures, but time caught up with me again.  This sounds like a simple excuse, but trust me.  It's real.

First we had to take a trip up to Grardara near San Marino to arrange for a puzzle exhibition.  Sadly, George caught the whooping cough and we had to hand our hotel reservations over to a very happy Antonio and Elena.  They had a nice weekend while we spent it in bed. All is good though.  I've mostly gotten over it and George lucked out and his only lasted a month. 

Bruce and Sybil Whitehill arrived for a visit. They are hosting the AGPI convention in The World Puzzle Center this October and of course they had to come for a visit to check out our facilities.  We had a few wanders around the town, a dinner or two.  

I have put together a nice puzzling scavenger hunt around the town and we enjoyed walking through it together.  I also brought them on a tour of Castiglione del Lago.  Sadly the puzzle shop was closed this time.  

Between these guests and our next set, we had a ring at the doorbell one afternoon.  I appears that word is spreading about our little venture. This time it was an Italian family from over near the coast that had seen us on TV.  They came in and asked for a tour.  It was gladly given. There have been three of these impromptu visits this month alone.  

Once they left town, I got to work on adding a few more pieces to our Lego Christmas Display but didn't get too far before George's brothers arrived for a visit.  We loved having them and their wives and of course had to have a dinner at Gallo and Mosolino both.  Linda has cousins that live an hour away so they came over for a dinner and spent the night with us as well.  It was a real full house.  A few games of Eurorails were played, a lot of good meals were cooked, and much laughter was heard in the castle.  These three together is so much fun.  

We enjoyed a day trip to Orvieto.  I sat with Brother Gene and discussed life in general while observing the people walking by while George took the rest of his family to see the Orvieto Underground. After a bite to eat I took the ladies for a wander around town to do a bit of shopping.  

The day they left, we did as well.  We are now sitting at Oskars' place picking up a few more puzzles that have been donated to the WPC.  I suppose we could have had them shipped down to us, but it is so much more fun to travel and see friends. This also allows George and I much needed time with just the two of us.  We love having guests, but even when we don't have company, we have staff and workmen and random visitors from off the street.  There is no time alone. 

José and I spent a few hours walking around the Mall of the Netherlands.  I wanted to get a few Lego Christmas characters and to get my silly passport stamped.  Mission accomplished.  

While there, we wandered to a toy store or two and managed to find a few more puzzles I didn't have! We wandered back to the house with our packages and to spend a few more hours talking.

George and Oskar worked on some puzzle designs.  And as normal lately when George offered up the most recent puzzle he's been working on, Oskar handed him a similar version that he had already completed.

Our stay there was short.  We awoke the next morning and headed out to pick up the Van der Poel collection.  It was gifted to the museum after William's passing on the condition that it remain available for puzzlers as is our norm.  The collection was partially packed up when we arrived which was a big help.  George and I spent just short of 3 hours packing and loading the van.  We are very grateful for the collection and wish to thank both Hans and Peter for their generous gift.  

The van is now riding heavy.  We managed to return to Italy on 3 December as we had guests arriving on the 5th.  What a rushed trip.  This is turning into our M.O. 

Prague and home again.

This has been a month.  As have all of them I guess.  Does the definition of a month change?  Depending on your perspective; yes.  So what made this month more special than any other month?  Why it's friends, travel, and puzzles of course.

I had initially thought not to write about this, but a single sentence from Oskar has caused me to change my mind.  (That and a good spreadsheet.)  We were talking one night and he said what I was going to do would be a lie.  He's right.  So here goes...

DCD, Prague, and more

I've been going to DCD since 2013 and have no plans to stop.  It has always been a highlight of the puzzling year.  This year was no exception.  George and I took off for the Netherlands and as is our norm, stopped in Como and Baden Baden on the way to Oskar's.  Sadly, this time we took the van as we had a few things to pick up.  This just makes for a slightly uncomfortable ride for George and an aching clutch knee for me.  

Well, you read about that in the last set of ramblings so I won't do it again.  On to Prague.  

We drove 9 hours across Germany to Prague on Monday following DCD.  Our purpose?  To see that darned clock!  No.  Yes.  Sort of.  We were there to pick up yet another puzzle collection.  I had picked up 1/2 of it in days prior and went back to get the rest.  The van was packed to the gills!  

Literally.  I did manage to pack in some pepitas and a case of Pilsner Urquell for George.  Every square inch of that van was packed.  My seat was permanently locked in place and I had to squeeze out sideways from behind the steering wheel. On the return trip George was more comfortable as he had legroom.  This trip was a quick in and out.  

After picking up the puzzles, I went for a wander around the town.  There I finally saw the astronomical clock.  It's been on my list of must do things since I was in elementary school.  As an adult, I marveled at the ingenuity of the original clock makers, but honestly, it's a clock.  Beautiful, but a clock.  

I would have been remiss if I hadn't walked across the Charles Bridge and took a few photos of the beautiful buildings of the city.

Later I wandered around the town, visited a few lego shops, bought a few puzzles, saw the sunflower door (over-rated) and found a beautiful peacock set of windows.  

That evening we had dinner with a friend.  Sadly, George took a dark beer instead of the Pils and I had wine.  Excellent meat though!  We discussed puzzles of course, but over the night, I let slip that my MPhil is in History (It was supposed to be a PhD but I had this kid named Katherine and I opted to take the lower degree rather than do the re-writes-she was premature by 3 months and at the time it seemed more important to take care of her), namely the 30 years war, and more specifically the move away from isolationism.  (Sadly, American's don't seem to learn from History-but this isn't a political post.) Anyway, I asked where the window was.  Next thing we knew, we had a private tour booked for the next morning.  

We met our guide at around noon (I let George have a long over due lie-in) and off we went.  He gave us some wonderful information on the building up of the city that I did not know, then we left to go see the window.  

Now, I'm not bragging, but even the tour guide said I knew more about this aspect of Czech history than he did.  He even learned a thing or two about the country during that period of time.  I'm glad we used him though, had it not been for him, I would have never found the window that overshadowed 4 years of my life.  

No one was thrown out that day.  The arch to the right is the entrance to some public bathrooms.  Only fitting as one of the tales is that the ministers were flung out the windows and survived by landing in a pile of dung.

Once the tour was over George and I headed into town to go to a puzzle shop I have known about for most of my adult life and it did not disappoint.  But first, we stopped to have an authentic Czech sushi lunch.  

At the puzzle shop I did my usual "If I don't have it I will buy it" routine, and darn, this time it was a win for the shop.  We walked away with 6 bags!  Where was I going to put those in the van?  (I unbaggged everything and slid puzzles into any corner I could find.) I highly recommend the HRAS - the world of board games and puzzles for anyone going to Prague.  The shop while on the small side, holds so many wonderful puzzles and games, and the owner was just the nicest man.  Once he realized who we were, he became very enthusiastic and kept pointing out things to George.  It was well worth the visit. 

From there, we headed back to Italy.  8 hours later and we were at our hotel for the night.  We opted to have dinner in the hotel that night and I have to say a few things. First, Venison should never be cooked well.  Second, Chocolate has no right to be paired with pasta.  Third, the best wine in the world is in Italy.  George ordered a tartare and it was amazing.  

The next morning we drove back home.  Parked the van and our lovely Antonio and Elena were waiting for us.  We gave hugs all around and then unloaded.  

The drive and all of the excitement took it out of me and I was miserable sick. George went to Dahlia's concert the next evening alone.  I slept. Alfonso came to visit us from France and we gave him a tour of the place. It has changed a lot since the last time he was here.  He really enjoyed the IPP room and would have spent all day there if there wasn't so much more to show.  

We had a few non puzzling friends over for dinners.  Life goes on.  

This year we were asked to dress for halloween and in typical Roxanne fashion we went all out. The dungeon was decorated, candy was purchased, as was Prosecco and the puzzles were placed on the tables.  We ran out of candy 1/2 hour in and I had to raid all of the guest bedrooms and the extra stash.  The Prosecco we bought plenty of.  

A good time was had by all and as is normal, after we wandered into the square for dinner and a chat with a few locals.  After a laugh over a cappuccino we were refereed to as the count and countessa (the usual titles for the past castle nobility).  I corrected him and said I was the discount.  The name has stuck.  This morning I walked past the bar and the owner greeted me with a hearty laugh and a "buon giorno Sconto!"  I just love living here.

There has been much work done in the palace.  The kitchen cabinets are mostly up, the hood range is in and the pizza oven is mostly finished.  

The upper floor has had the shelving brackets installed, and the laundry room is 90% done.  The dead cat room has had a gutter installed and the main entrance to the castle has had drains put in place.  The dead cat room walls have been plastered over, the keys have been put in place to ensure it doesn't fall over.  The list goes on and on.  I am really beginning to be able to see the light at the end of the tunnel.  We were hoping to be in by Thanksgiving.  I realized last month this would be impossible.  The goal of Christmas this year is also out the window as the master bedroom and bath are still a construction zone with unfinished walls, lose wires, and concrete floors.  But I can see the end.  I really can.  The palace is starting to feel warm and homey.  It is no longer just a dull shell of a building.  

From now until Christmas we have no free time.  No trips planned, just guests and of course Babbo Natale  e il suo elfo.  

Visitors and puzzle parties

 As usual, October has been a busy month for us.  We have had a string of impromptu visitors and another puzzle party.  

The first set of guests was a family of 7.  George and I met the husband on a train to Mainz when we were taking that cruise with Oskar and Josè.  We gave him a card and told him if he found himself in our neighborhood to stop by.  He did.  This couple had 3 children with them.  All of whom were very well behaved.  One even solved a Rubik's cube for us.  After a long tour of the property we had cakes and a drink.  A new friend has been made.  

Our next guests were friends of Bob Hearn.  He was to visit with us but sadly had a friend's mother pass away and needed to attend the funeral.  He had a friend coming by when he was here and George and I saw no reason to not have her come along even without Bob. Lisa and Zac arrived in time for lunch in the square.  Zac ordered a cappuccino which lead to a look I've never seen before.  This has turned into a joke now with the owner of the bar.  He offers me a cappuccino whenever I walk in along with that wonderful dirty look.  (Italians do NOT drink any coffee with milk after around 10 am.)

After that we did a tour of the finished part of the castle and hotel followed by the disassembly of a Berrocal.  They successfully disassembled and reassembled Romeo and Juliet (with the aid of the book).  

Success!

Zac had a pair of the meta glasses and we had to give it a try.  They might help George with translations, but I think my language is good enough now that they would only be a novelty for me.  It was a real pleasure meeting with them.  

The next group was 5 people that were renting an AB&B down the hill.  I overheard them discussing a place to have dinner and I couldn't help but send them in the direction of our wonderful local restaurants rather than the one an hour away that they found on google.  They thanked me and asked if I knew how many apartments were in the castle.  This of course was answered with a chuckle and disbelief by them when I replied that it was just my home.  I then offered them a tour and they got to see the full castle and the ground floor of the hotel.  It's best not to take the full tour if one is not really interested in puzzles.  They were more focused on the furniture and structure of the building.  The newly opened passage and the area that leads to the apartment next to the castle and the pigeon house were of particular interest to them.  

All of our guests were a pleasure to meet.  Living here is just wonderful.  Every day is a new adventure and we never know when we will be able to meet new people.  

October is also the month for the DCD.  We have been going for many years now and are not about to stop.  This time though it was a very quick in and out as we don't want to run afoul of that time limit outside of Italy for our permanent residency.  I discovered that we brought a memory foam mattress along with us that Kat used at uni and cut it to make a bed in the van.  This way George would be able to take his afternoon nap in comfort while I drove on.  We spent the first night out of home in Como as is our usual and then because George was sick, we stayed in Baden Baden for the second night.  We had actually planned to push through to Oskar's house or sleep in the van if I couldn't make it.  Sadly, we did not take the baths as I was exhausted from driving through heavy fog and rain.  

We arrived at OJ's around noon on Saturday.  We were greeted warmly as always and around 3 or so Geertz and his friend (I'm sorry, I forgot the name) came over as did Ivan from Prague.  We had pizza for dinner and lots of great conversations.  I really enjoy this time being able to talk to friends.  

Sunday was DCD in it's usual place.  We all arrived around 9 or so and while Oskar and Josè set up their table, I brought in puzzles for Dinar and George sat down to chat with Diogo.  I spent a few hours walking around looking at puzzles and talking to people.  At 1 we had the normal lunch of hotdogs, sandwiches, and soup.  

Given my recent fascination with Lego, we had to buy this one.

My favorite Twisty Puzzlers

After lunch, we attended Jack Krijnen's lecture on his new puzzle "Twinkle"  the largest move 18 piece burr (which of course I bought for George).  During the lecture he said no one had asked him for the burr tools file on it.  I dutifully did and he sent it over!  Thanks Jack, you saved George a lot of time. I then gave an update on the WPC and we were given permission to show the Puzzle Palace Movie.  For anyone interested, it is now being shown at DOCNY and you can buy tickets for $15 to view it online here.  Rob gave his annual wrap up of the IPP puzzles.  I think the Blue Bird puzzle should have been included with the Texas theme puzzles that will appear in the CFF magazine, but I'm old so....

Once DCD was over, we all headed out to a Chinese restaurant for dinner.  I like the soup and the shrimp chips are amazing.  The rest of the food is good too, but I favor those.  We had a great conversation with Diogo and Louis about puzzling and life in general.  It was a fun night had by all.  Sadly, George is getting a bit long in the tooth and he was out of sorts from his recent illness so we left early.  When we arrived at Oskar's, we chatted for a bit, but then George headed up to bed.  I lasted a bit longer, but as I had a long drive ahead of me the next day I too bid goodnight to our hosts.  

The next morning we awoke early and after a nice breakfast we headed out around 9.  I had a 10 hour drive ahead of me.  

The best part of these puzzle parties is not the puzzles we purchase, or the cities we visit, it's the people.  We adore our friends and treasure every minute of time we spend with them. 

Next post: Prague!