Whenever I've been asked "What do you do?", this has got to be the only answer, "Fingers in many pies" as really I don't know where the days go but I'm always so busy. But this past month has been the strangest, bringing an almost euphoric change to my life.

A month ago, a good friend asked me to pop by his office in Cisternino, my first thought was "What have I done wrong?" He offered me a freelance job. Compiling descriptions for his properties for sale and answering emails on his behalf (if they were in english of course). I was taken aback as he'd employed a friend of mine for some time so I begged an explanation.


Then about a fortnight ago, maybe more, who knows where the time goes, I was contacted by the Producer of Channel Four Grand Designs and then by the assistant Director by phone. Could I introduce them to some people in Puglia who were buying, renovating or living here. Yes, of course I said. Not a problem but I wanted to verify that they would be interested in adopting the role first.

I did, and they were. They requested a meet with myself when they were out and I obliged.

Then they asked if they could interview me formally. I was once again taken aback. Well, why not, would be good for publicity for the websites but I was a bit concerned that they'd ask me questions that I didn't really want to answer, afterall a lot of TV programmes just accentuate the negative aspects of living abroad as opposed to the opposite. But they promised to balance the program.

One week on and I wonder what the world has in store for us in the days ahead!

Obstacles seem to be thrown in our path and with baited breath we leap the high and the low hurdles in the hope that things will turn out OK.

As often happens, we begin the day with the usual traumas, tears and laughter from having a brood our size. Around lunchtime, Tuesday last week, the rain had slowed to a miserable drizzle and we ventured outdoors to see the wreckage from storms, thunder and lightning. The dogs flew in all directions, a scent, not even the rain could disperse, within reach of their noses.

A distant cry eventually led us to a young male dog, hardly undernourished but without doubt just a little lost or having a wander from his abode. He followed us home despite Bob's taunting.

Not far from home the dogs caught scent of something equally enticing. My eyes strayed in the direction they were heading and I noticed a small furry bundle without movement directly in front of them. It was Lolita. Or so I thought. We disagreed because quite frankly she didn't look like Lolita after a day's disappearance, heavy rains and near enough mud slides.

As I sit here with a singular person's requirements for nourishment, ie. a plate of pan fried chips with extra salt; I am accompanied by Rex, a cani di corso. As I feed him chip by chip, the floor becomes more and more like a sloosh bar, if such a thing should exist.

As he drools, I become aware of the empty wine glass and as I leave my seat to search for a refill, I have memories of a child trying to do the splits, as one clog destined for a firmer spot rests somewhat further away than my flexibility would normally allow.

Sadie, sister of Rex, decides to joins us little do I know but for the sudden appearance of her head above the office table top.

These gentle giants are unaccustomed to being indoors, but stride the length of the house with a particularly amazing grace and silently.

Distant echoing from the basement which is normally home to my bedroom has now found room for Tootsie and her many friends, and reminds me of Monday last week.

Well I had to look up the spelling for that one!

Popped into the bank, like you do in Italy, to make a withdrawal of cash, and I noticed on the door. Closed at 11.20 for the rest of the day. Of course tomorrow being the Fiera Agosto. The very words brought panic to these here veins.

Imagine you've got all those hungry mouths to feed and not a sausage in the house!

After we'd done the usual with the bank, fought our way through the throngs of tourists in Ostuni, without a care in the world, to get to the wood yard before he closed up at midday for the next week, our nerves had reached striking point. Anything really disastrous should happen and the world would collapse around us, or so we felt.

Well we got there in good time as it happens, even had a chance to stop to have a listen to the motor of an M5. Hope I got the name right for all lovers of fast cars.

The day started at 7 a.m., as it would normally, with a hungry tribe of 16 dogs, puppy Totti (who we were babysitting) and 18 cats, with leaps of joy at the sight of us or the prospect of breakfast, one can only guess. Mark trotted off to work in the beaten down Renault Clio, covered in a dusty shower of sand from the Scirocco winds, and I busily worked my way through hairs and grime from twenty four hours of paws and claws drifting aimlessly through the house. The sofa being my main target of the morning to remove the reminants of chewed sticks, old dried melon from the compost and of course the dust. All in a morning's stride!

Around ten this morning the phone rang and it was Jane.I thought, "hec, are they here already, is it really the 6th of August". Jane had contacted me weeks, or was it days before, to help out with their water situation.

Of course, I had my Senor Pepe in mind to do the job and thought it a somewhat simple task. Call Pepe, arrange for him to come to the house, arrange for Jane to come collect him, hey presto and they'd be off with a tank full of water and everyone would be content.

For Senor Pepe this was not a task he was about to undertake. It was too far.

Allora, Massimo. He's always told me Massimo means Maximum and he knows everyone. So I phoned Massimo and left the task in hand with him to sort out.