This December in our Village
Isn’t it wonderful to finally get to December! It crept up on us didn’t it?
End of year gatherings, both professional and personal, seem to be happening earlier this year, and even though I’ve missed a few (there is real ‘self-care power’ in saying no sometimes), spreading things out has its benefits!
Our calendar is a little more spread out this festive season, and I appreciate the time that gives us to properly connect, reminisce and celebrate in both formal and informal ways.
These gatherings are such a special reminder that among the ups and downs life throws at us, there are always reasons and seasons to get together, remember and celebrate the moments that matter.
And one such reason for a celebration for me this year was the recent launch of Villagio! When we pressed ‘send’ on the first email to you a couple of months ago now, I was sitting in the car about to head into a meeting and my heart missed a beat! But then the responses came in, and they were overwhelming and heartwarming. That was a moment I will treasure. And here we are growing this wonderful community.
Villagio’s purpose is to bring the joys of “village life” to busy women everywhere. To share a sense of belonging, the joy of cooking and eating home-grown and locally harvested food and appreciating the mindfulness that comes from deliberately slowing down.
And one of the ways we will do this is by travelling together. So, I am delighted to announce that we will be taking a group to Sicily in October 2024 for our first Villagio women’s only 10-day tour. This authentic experience will inspire you to restore and reconnect through slow food, immersive experiences and the wholesome pleasures of Sicilian village life. We will connect with local villages known for their happiness and longevity and learn their secrets so we can take these back home with us to support our lives and the communities that we live in. This authentic experience will only be offered to 10 women. More details will be coming your way early next year. In the meantime, please register your interest below.
Register for bespoke travel with Silvia
Thank you for being an early and supporting part of this journey. One that we will take together, with lots of great food, experiences and connections along the way.
I hope you enjoy reading This December in our Village and wish you a very wonderful festive season and summer break.
Silvia x
This month, we are cooking…
Limoncello Semifreddo
This month, we are reading…
Recipe for a Kinder Life by Annie Smithers
Annie Smithers is one of Australia’s most precious icons with a career spanning more than 30 years. I visited her small farm, Babbington Park, in Lyonville to learn more about her transition from city life to regional Victoria. She is so generous and down to earth and I personally admire her very much. I am in awe of her pearls of wisdom which she shares in this beautifully written book that I have now read three times. A book permanently on my bedside table and is part meditation and part memoir. A truly inspiring nod to how this strong woman has learned to live a life that is more in tune with her personal values whilst living more gently on this earth.
Visit Annie’s website here to purchase this book or learn more about how she and her family are making a positive contribution in the community.
This month, we are building our Village…
Pick some flowers from your garden and take them to a loved one. Go outside with your clippers, take a look around and see what you can find. Herbs, flowers, leaves. Make a simple bouquet, tie it with string, and visit someone to express a simple act of kindness.
Enjoy your beautiful crockery everyday. My mother-in-law Mary passionately collected the entire Wedgwood Florentine Turquoise crockery set which we inherited. This family heirloom is within arms reach in the pantry to enjoy every day and also for those special occasions.
Sit on the porch and take a moment. The busy period has sprung upon us. It is important to take a break as part of your daily ritual to remind your mind and body that all will be well. Only 20 minutes is required. The sun is restorative. And from time to time, a neighbour might just walk by for a quick chat.
This month, we are meeting my neighbour Andros…
I have known my Greek friend Andros for more than 20 years. He lives in our street. Because I am Italian I can speak a kind of ‘European slang’ that Andros can understand. He would always say to me…’I don’t know why I can understand you when we talk and nobody else in our street!....’. We formed a bond through simple conversation about family, gardens and his life growing up in a Greek Village.
When he was much younger he would come over in his overalls and sprinkle rose food in my garden beds. He would leave lemons, mandarins, oranges and freshly picked silverbeet on my front door step. And every day, he would walk in the morning and the afternoon, always passing my house along the way. He had so much energy.
Andros is now almost 90 years old and some days can be quite frail. One of his daily goals is to walk to my house. On the way, he would pick a yellow rose from someone’s garden (I’m not sure which house this is!) and leave it on top of my mailbox in the hope that I would see him and come out for a chat. It truly is a daily affair. Sometimes in the morning and sometimes just before dinner.
I can see him from my front window where I work. He would grab my attention by tapping his walking stick on my front fence and calling my name. If I’m ‘knee deep’ on a zoom call, I would gently wave to him to acknowledge his presence. Otherwise, I would stop what I am doing to go out and see him and catch up on all his news. A guaranteed highlight of my day and I’m very sure of his day too! Andros is a very important person in my village.
Watch my recent moment of receiving a rose from Andros here.
Visit Villagio's Instagram for weekly inspiration on how to build your village.
Until next time…
Thank you for reading Villagio.