Bormio

We made our way up to Bormio, our usual first call was the tourist information office to find out if there was a laundrette in town as we were getting desperate for clean clothes and facing the prospect of washing two weeks of clothes and bedding in a bucket. This time we were lucky and headed to a small dry cleaners in the old quarter who also did a service wash at 5 kilos for 10 euros. After loading the machines we went up to the Bormio Therm Baths and spent two hours relaxing it was bliss.
For the past few days we have been parked up the valley from Livigno ( a tax free area, Smirnoff 50% 1ltr Vodka 5 Euros, Baileys 1 ltr 8 Euros well it would be rude not to!) We are parked at the end of the road literally. It is one of two routes into Switzerland and it is closed for the winter the location here is stunning.

The Too Small Barn

The Too Small Barn
Originally uploaded by jacqui.jsb.

We have spent the past two weeks in the Italian Alps at various locations usually in the middle of nowhere. The land we were interested in at San Guiseppe was a no go, we would only be able to extend the property by 10% and the road connecting it to the outside world was closed most of the winter so we would not be able to use as a holiday home. This we had not expected as there was a village further up the valley and expected the road to be kept clear, but the villagers all head back down the valley for the winter. There were also various other access problems so decision was made and we decided to move on.

View from plot of land
Originally uploaded by jacqui.jsb.

The white area is the snow covered Swiss mountains.

Ian cooks curry for six.

Curry for our last dinner together, typical Brits but hey it's now not the last supper as our plans to leave tomorrow aint going to happen. Spent four and a half hours trying to get an internet connection this afternoon to upload the final site. In the end I had to have a few vino's and transfer everything onto Ian's 'games' mac and then finally get connected. Throwing the laptop out the door was a serious option at times today. The site is finally uploading and I dare not look for fear of seeing error-5002 yet again. One month's work is uploading tonight and thats not including the time for the photos. So much for taking time out, it has been one of the most stressful jobs i've had to do. But as Ian says about his own curry 'It was bloody beautiful' so what the hell.
Belle is back at the vets tomorrow for her final rabies blood test. Holls will be waving her off and hoping she don't come back but she'd miss her really. She's pure entertainment, she ran off across the field with a pair of my pants ( freshly washed) the other day and yesterday she managed to pinch a roll of wallpaper due to be put up in one of the guest rooms. If it's on the floor it's fair game.

Soon be on our way.

Well we are a bit behind our planned schedule of departing mid March. The arrival of Belle had a knock on effect with my work on the website for my stock photography. I was meant to have the website completed while Ian was away doing his instructor training. Instead I was running around after puppy and keeping Holly happy too. I have just spent the past few weeks working flat out to get everything done. Ian, Mum and Dad insisted one lunch time I had a drink and forget about work, six hours later we were all spangled and my hangover started at 8pm!
The site needs to be functioning before we leave here so that it is ready to upload to on our travels. There have been quite a few headaches sorting everything out but thanks to Andrew & Tottenham Totty we are getting there. I am just awaiting the final site template design from a chap in America, then hope to have the site uploaded this week. Hopefully if all works well we should be on our way in the next week!