The Dynamic Duo

Meet Kate and Lydia. My ever growing circle of friends here in Chianti is thanks to their initiative in creating the International Chianti Friends group on Facebook. Every few weeks they coordinate a meet up, either an informal coffee or a larger event like a dinner or an apertivo. They are a quiet but dynamic duo who manage to keep the momentum of the group moving without calling attention to themselves. It seems a new face joins us at each event!

I was very touched by their thoughtfulness when they invited me to coffee this week to celebrate my birthday with some other friends from the group. I was also grateful it gave me a chance to snap their picture!

Kate is a free lance journalist who writes about a variety of topics including parentling and faith for local and international publications. She has also authored a book on parenting.

Lydia is the Executive Director of an NGO that operates in Ethiopia to bring much needed primary healthcare to remote areas where families travel for days to access life saving treatment.

Both balance life between work and family. Lydia has two boys and Kate has a daughter. Lydia and Kate are both from the UK. Kate, married to a fellow Brit, always orders tea when we meet for “cofee” Lydia’s husband is a native Sardinian which gives her a distinct advantage in mastering Italian, which Lorella says Lydia speaks like a native!(I’m envious!) They each live a little north of Greve in Strada in Chianti. Our congenial Facebook group often includes families so I’ve had the pleasure of meeting both their families at some of our events. In fact, Kate hosted our last social at her home where her daughter Ruby treated us to some of her homemade vanilla gelato! Yum!

Kate and Lydia at a “birthday coffee” in Greve