Up with the sun and walking in the brisk morning air the kilometre and a bit back to the turning off the road.
A steep initial rise way from the house has me puffing hard and thinking–“Well, OK–this is doing me good.”
I hear a bounding and a breathing behind me and imagine the wolves are coming for me or at least an energetic wild boar.
Then a white furry streak is leaping round me, nudging me “Buon Giorno!” in a most friendly fashion.
It’s Alba of course, our friends Keith and Helen’s Maremmano [Tuscan] sheep dog, ready to guide me to the road.
“Not far now, just round the bend you’ll see, I know it well….”
She hears a scrabbling in the fallen leaves (there are boar tracks everywhere) and dives off the path, disappearing into the undergrowth and I lose her.
“Alba! Alba!” Oh no…! I’ve lost their dog–they’ll never forgive me!
Shows how much I know about dogs.
Back at the house, I’m doing my post-walk stretching on the terrace and as I bend there’s that black nose again–nudging me .
“Here I am!–thought I’d got lost?–silly!”
We arrived here in the Tuscan hills last night to help with the last couple of days of the olive harvest; our job–to sort the leaves and branches from the olives–as best we can.
The real work is done by Keith’s team of five–working an eight hour day.
Robin Ellis 
I have such a weak spot for dogs. They are goofy and intelligent and so refreshingly in the moment. And Alba is simply beautiful. Enjoy the harvest – it sounds like a lovely outing.
And I should have added – watch out for the boars!
Robin, “never underestimate the warmth of a cold nose.” What a delightful post. Thank you and enjoy the Tuscan hills and the olive harvest.
Kathy
I love the Tuscan, I have friends who have a cottage in Ponsacco which is a fable and a meeting place to celebrate our drinking good wine and good food, I had to come in but a week long hospital stay and recovery will not let me I live in the Veneto. If you meet any of your fans here in Tuscany me greetings, and I ask you in advance at least one autograph, and maybe we meet next year with the upcoming olive harvest, a hug too Meredith!
Hello Robin,
A very nice doggy.Enjoy it overthere but also have some rest.Enjoy the warmth of beautiful Toscana and come safe back.Here it’s getting cold now (around freeze point) but today the sun was also shining.Your friend, Chantal(from Antwerp-Belgium).
Give my regards to Alba, what a nice pic ! She reminds me of our dog, Bonnie, who is a Canadian White Shepherd / Golden Retriever mix.
Enjoy your stay in this beautiful surroundings and good luck with the olive harvest. Tuscany is always worth a trip.
Hi, Robin, I’m so happy to have discovered your blog and that you are a master cook and cookbook author! Congratulations!!! Happy to see you on facebook as well.
This gorgeious dog reminds me of my golden retreiver, Mr. Darcy, except that Darcy is copper colored. I’m going to have to know more about this breed!
I have appreciated and admired your theatrical work for years. I remember as a tween curling up with my mother and watching “Poldark” on Masterpiece Theater. You were so handsome and dashing as Capt. Poldark. I adored the series so much and went on to read the novels, too. I’ve recently gone on the web and rewatched a few episodes. I’m going to have to bite the bullet and purchase the complete DVD series. Best wishes for continued success! xo Suzanne (in Austin, TX).
Thanks, Suzanne. It’s a bit creaky in places (like me now!)–but good to hear it holds up for you.
One thing I like about it is the discreet use of music–no swelling chords to help you decide how to feel!