I've been dipping in and out of the Forum for months now and not really finding much of interest but today I have spent over half an hour reading all the posts- it's back to the old variety, some practical, some fun, some political, some beautiful
Really interesting, thank you Charlotte. Reinforces the necessity of making a will (or in our case checking it), even if your circumstances seem straightforward.
We have driven this route every Summer for years - Cambridge to Rome. When we had to do it quickly, due to having a dog, we took the tunnel and stopped at Lake Lucerne just short of the Gotthard tunnel. We would then leave early to get through the tunnel as early as possible (huge queues) but then realized that if the weather was fine, over the pass was much more scenic and cheaper. Costs involved: the vignette for Switzerland and French tolls but only one hotel overnight. More recently we have experimented with two overnight stops and we still prefer the Colmar area then Lake Como. This Summer we left Rome at 7 am, stopped in Menaggia on Lake Como and Riquewihr near Colmar and were home comfortably on the third day. Scenery to die for (we went over the Gotthard as well), relaxing drive but you have to consider the costs.
We have had nests of wasps and hornets annually in our chimney and every year (in the Summer) we observe them going in at dusk. As the house is in use most of the year they haven't come into the rooms themselves but I was never comfortable so got husband to get up on the roof with the long distance spray (only available from ferramenti as far as I know) and destroy the nest. This year we are removing the huge open fireplace and putting in a wood burner but the idea of putting netting over the chimney seems a good one if you don't want to take such drastic action.
No I won't laugh because we only have 13 trees and many are on slopes etc so more decorative than easy to harvest. We had 22 litres of oil from them last year but this year our trees were ' chilling out' or because of the prolonged cold spell last Winter had been forced to chill. Seems like most of the other trees in our area (Lazio) suffered the same. We didn't pick this year. We always pick third week in October and even though we have a modest amount, we get them down to the local frantaio asap and they fit them in when they can. We paid 21 euros for 163 Kg of olives (14%yield) and got 22 litres of oil.we then end up with cold pressed organic olive oil which keeps us going for the year. As the amount you have this year is small, go down to a frantaio, watch the process, have a chat to the people there. One year we had a very small amount and we put it with a few other small batches, shared the cost and shared the oil. It is an interesting process and you'll know for next year.
Here in Lazio we fry the porcini in olive oil with garlic, peperoncino and salt. Will have to look out for the nipetella - presumably mint is the dominant flavour of the herb
when we looked around for villas to rent with pools in Lazio there were very few - it is definitely an attraction, especially as in Frosinone you are quite a trip to the beach. It will add value to your home but will come at quite a cost -particularly the ongoing maintenance. You can cover it over for winter and forget about it but if you are not on site, someone to check it twice a week when you have guests in Summer is a must. I'd go for it personally if you are planning to rent out.
I read a short response from Kercher family in the UK press today and thought .....well they were at the trial and heard all the evidence...., they had a daughter of the same age and wouldn't have wanted a conviction if it were insecure and still they are sure the correct verdict has been given. For me, that's as secure as it gets (I've done jury service twice and have kids of the same age)
quote Sebastiano " i personally would rather be tried here by competent judges than a band of council house dwellers from some london borough "...... ( i've no idea what happens iin the uk) I'm sure Charlotte's fuming quietly- if you don't know what you're talking about, keep it to the pub!
We've owned our house, not far from Ciampino, for 8 years. For 8 years they've been building a by pass round Albano, Ariccia and Genzano. Some of it is finished. Some of it not started. 3- 5 years is a bit optimistic for a motorway link. Locally (South of Rome) rumour is that Viterbo isn't going to happen and Ciampino isn't going to close - could be local wishful thinking but these things take a lot of time, a lot of time
I'd like to join too - it's one of those topics where the more you know and keep up to date about, the better it'll be when/if the information is needed.
Comments posted
Really interesting, thank you Charlotte. Reinforces the necessity of making a will (or in our case checking it), even if your circumstances seem straightforward.
We have driven this route every Summer for years - Cambridge to Rome. When we had to do it quickly, due to having a dog, we took the tunnel and stopped at Lake Lucerne just short of the Gotthard tunnel. We would then leave early to get through the tunnel as early as possible (huge queues) but then realized that if the weather was fine, over the pass was much more scenic and cheaper. Costs involved: the vignette for Switzerland and French tolls but only one hotel overnight. More recently we have experimented with two overnight stops and we still prefer the Colmar area then Lake Como. This Summer we left Rome at 7 am, stopped in Menaggia on Lake Como and Riquewihr near Colmar and were home comfortably on the third day. Scenery to die for (we went over the Gotthard as well), relaxing drive but you have to consider the costs.
We have had nests of wasps and hornets annually in our chimney and every year (in the Summer) we observe them going in at dusk. As the house is in use most of the year they haven't come into the rooms themselves but I was never comfortable so got husband to get up on the roof with the long distance spray (only available from ferramenti as far as I know) and destroy the nest. This year we are removing the huge open fireplace and putting in a wood burner but the idea of putting netting over the chimney seems a good one if you don't want to take such drastic action.
No I won't laugh because we only have 13 trees and many are on slopes etc so more decorative than easy to harvest. We had 22 litres of oil from them last year but this year our trees were ' chilling out' or because of the prolonged cold spell last Winter had been forced to chill. Seems like most of the other trees in our area (Lazio) suffered the same. We didn't pick this year. We always pick third week in October and even though we have a modest amount, we get them down to the local frantaio asap and they fit them in when they can. We paid 21 euros for 163 Kg of olives (14%yield) and got 22 litres of oil.we then end up with cold pressed organic olive oil which keeps us going for the year. As the amount you have this year is small, go down to a frantaio, watch the process, have a chat to the people there. One year we had a very small amount and we put it with a few other small batches, shared the cost and shared the oil. It is an interesting process and you'll know for next year.
Here in Lazio we fry the porcini in olive oil with garlic, peperoncino and salt. Will have to look out for the nipetella - presumably mint is the dominant flavour of the herb
when we looked around for villas to rent with pools in Lazio there were very few - it is definitely an attraction, especially as in Frosinone you are quite a trip to the beach. It will add value to your home but will come at quite a cost -particularly the ongoing maintenance. You can cover it over for winter and forget about it but if you are not on site, someone to check it twice a week when you have guests in Summer is a must. I'd go for it personally if you are planning to rent out.
I read a short response from Kercher family in the UK press today and thought .....well they were at the trial and heard all the evidence...., they had a daughter of the same age and wouldn't have wanted a conviction if it were insecure and still they are sure the correct verdict has been given. For me, that's as secure as it gets (I've done jury service twice and have kids of the same age)
quote Sebastiano " i personally would rather be tried here by competent judges than a band of council house dwellers from some london borough "...... ( i've no idea what happens iin the uk) I'm sure Charlotte's fuming quietly- if you don't know what you're talking about, keep it to the pub!
We've owned our house, not far from Ciampino, for 8 years. For 8 years they've been building a by pass round Albano, Ariccia and Genzano. Some of it is finished. Some of it not started. 3- 5 years is a bit optimistic for a motorway link. Locally (South of Rome) rumour is that Viterbo isn't going to happen and Ciampino isn't going to close - could be local wishful thinking but these things take a lot of time, a lot of time
I'd like to join too - it's one of those topics where the more you know and keep up to date about, the better it'll be when/if the information is needed.