It's time for a real Ta Dah Moment!

Day one of works December 2017

I can't believe it's been nine months since I last blogged and feel incredibly happy and proud to take a big deep breath and look back at where we came from - and to show you how far we have come. 

I cannot wait till Aussies can travel again because I know so many friends and former colleagues that will 'get' what we've done here and hopefully, will want to come and immerse in the Puglian countryside, enjoy the incredible food and explore the medieval towns that surround us. 

In the meantime, I thought I'd write less and photograph more as quite a few friends have asked for more pics. So, take a walk with me through Trullo Stella Mare, our crazy former pile of rocks, our absurd dream that's now become reality!   (And to my mum and dad who both love Puglia, thank you for not telling us we were mad and being so incredibly supportive all the way).

 Surveying what we bought four years ago

                     

                            

             Robert is probably thinking WTF are we doing?      

                             

                         From this above - to this below!

About seven months in

Oh isn't it pretty!

                            

       

The kitchen 

     Writers nook (oops the shoes!) 

        

      View into the trullo bedroom (cupboards in stone behind door)

   

 Lamia bedroom ensuite

                    

    

              The link between the lamia (new part/kitchen bedroom)                               and trulli with my weird holy water collection

                          

           Dinner under the pergola before bamboo shade

                      

  Trullo bedroom (my crochet blanket!)

                      

                     Hats and bedroom door (lamia)

          

      The pergola grape has taken and borne its first fruit!

                  Sunset pergola looking in to the kitchen

           Kitchen view

                                              

            Lamia bedroom (and second crochet blanket)

                  

Kitchen detail

               

                            

     Trullo ensuite 

                                             

         Hanging wardrobe!

                                                     

            The olive tree has an outdoor shower in its branches

                                  

             

Driveway at last!

Looking back, I am so grateful that Robert and I have a history of navigating rocky waters pretty well (see what I did there?!) 

Perhaps, being journalists, we have had a lifetime of learning to manage stress and while I don't wish to court fate, I hope we've come through the worst of it with this, our beloved pile of rocks.