Roy writes:
 I have a better social life in Assisi than I had in London among the Italian friends and the expatriate community.  We entertain one another and make trips together to other cities visiting exhibitions and galleries, the opera and concerts.  All together, living here, my retirement is the happiest period of my life!”
“The Italians are very friendly to an eccentric expatriate Englishman.  My neighbor Gina, when we meet in the street, cries “Ciao Roy”, flings wide her arms and clasps me to her ample bosom.  On festivals she knocks at the door with delicious home made dolce. Maria brings me bottles of home made wine, she has a little guest house round the corner, which is approached by steps overflowing with flowers. It is a feature of Assisi that, although few have gardens, all the houses are adorned with pots of flowers, on window sills, beside doorways, and in metal containers attached to the walls. Novella has a market stall where she sells only produce from her own garden, vegetables, seasonal fruits, fresh eggs and flowers.  She always adds something extra as a gift to your purchases.
Beside the piazza is a marvelous delicatessen where Marco presides over a vast array of cheeses, prosciutto and other cold meats as well as many vintages of local wine.  He bows and addresses me as “dottore”. “I am friendly with some of the friars from the Basilica of St Francis who, in-between being holy, like to visit my house and sometimes cook meals, while I have a drink and encourage them by promising heaven for their efforts (because, of course, “feeding the hungry” is one of the works of charity recommended in the scripture).  One of the friars brings marvelous “Limoncello” that he makes from newly picked lemons brought from Sicily.”
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