This is where I will be next week. Actually, I tell a lie. It’s not exactly where I’m staying, but Bassano del Grappa is the nearest town to my mother’s house (which is on the outskirts of a village). This is where we love to sit in a café and watch the world go by. There are some fab shops and the architecture is amazing. In the pic above you can see the wooden covered bridge. It spans the Brenta River, which flows through the middle of the town. Known as the Ponte degli Alpini, it was designed by 16^th Century Italian architect Andrea Palladio, whom the Palladian style of architecture was named after. The Alpini are elite mountain warfare soldiers, part of the Italian Army. During the First World War, they marched over the bridge on their way to defend Italy against the Austrians in the mountains behind the town. They would sing a sentimental song about their sweethearts while crossing the bridge.  Once, when I was in Bassano, I saw a group of ex-soldiers wearing their old Alipini hats and standing on the bridge singing

Sul Ponte di Bassano
là ci darem la mano,
noi ci darem la mano
ed un bacin d'amor.

On the bridge of Bassano
There we’ll hold hands
We’ll hold each other’s hand
And give a kiss of love

They couldn't have been veterans of the Great War, but I expect the tradition has continued. Behind Bassano is the Monte Grappa where many young men lost their lives. It is the same front where Ernest Hemingway served in the Great War and set A Farewell to Arms. We sometimes go to the top of the mountain to escape the heat in summer. Grappa is also a grape-based brandy of between 30% and 80% alcohol by volume (60 to 160 proof). Right by the bridge is the Nardini Grappa Company and the fumes wafting out of the bar are enough to make you merry without even a sip of the liquid. I used to hate the taste of it but now I’m older a small glass after a heavy meal does wonders for the digestion.

Thanks those of you who sent me your good wishes for my visit to the dentist yesterday. All is well. He drilled out the old filling and replaced it with a temporary one. Now we play a waiting game to see if everything settles down. Hopefully, I won’t need a root canal. I must say there’s no pain quite like toothache. I was in agony on Sunday night and I felt poorly yesterday. It was a hard day’s teaching. Today, however, I’ve felt much better.

Charlie Cat is also his old self (no longer limping). And we’re having great autumn weather at the moment. Crisp and clear. Three more days till half-term! Yippee! How’s the week going for you?