Latest news from Villa Elena is the cutting back of a flowering tree near the kitchen door. Much as trees generally are desirable in the right circumstances,this one had to be drastically pruned because in season its foliage falls on a small part of a terrace = hardly acceptable either to the owner,other sun worshippers or the English managers looking after the villa and grounds.At the same time, palm branches by the wall dividing the villa from the next door property needed to be culled. Pruning is but one example of the maintenance needed for the villa and its grounds and,of course,the somewhat unusual kidney shaped pool.More seriously,last year a water leak developed in the kitchen,behind the cupboards.It took some tracing,but new pipework did the trick,though not without some hassles.Now all is in order - as it should be.