The Martini cocktail at La Bagnaia, a splendid resort with golf course near Siena, is a serious affair. The yellowish colour of this Martini is due to the fact that the young and eager bartender knew the qualities of the Carpano Vermouth and was prepared to mix it in one of my favourite Martinis; slightly bitter, well-balanced when confronted with the mellow notes of the rose-flavoured Hendrick's, this mix proved to be a nice relief after 18 holes fought along the golf course that Robert Trent-Jones designed in a day when he was in a very sadistical mood

The view from our suite of La Bagnaia, Sunday morning. You can say what you want about the decadent values of 'car porn', but the sight first time in the morning of a 911 'Safari' parked almost casually under your window always makes me smile. More than that, it makes me happy: probably it contributed to my good score on that day