sebastiano's activity

a nearby village runs a big coach trip to Mussolini's tomb at Predappio in the Appenines, Emilia Romagna every year.It is,to say the least,a very suprising experience to go to that place.There is a restaurant which serves bottles of Mussolini labelled wines,the are "souvenir" stands selling just about everything from miltary berets,arm bands,jackets to daggers!and even statues of fascist symbols and people from just about everywhere! i've noticed that many non Italians are unaware of how difficult and divided this country was from 1943 to 1948, often referred to as a period of practically civil war the aftermath of which continued well up to the 1970's in the form of profound political divisions which perhaps only since then (70's) have started to slowly close with generational turnover.The period (43-48) was unlike for the Brits ( where the conflict was characterized by a them-us (black and white)scenario was far more variagated in Italy to the point that here it did not end in 45' but continued and was one of the factors contributing to the social/political stagnation of  Italian society ( despite industrial and economic progress) and under a very heavy presence of the U.S.A which only released Italy from it's hold with the collapse of the Soviet system (in the 80's)I don't believe that today however it holds any serious significance in political terms but there are still "vestiges"of Fascist beliefs which still appear regularly in most Italian regions........

i agree with everything you said eccept that i don't think we will see a "return of the jedi" with berlusconi the prospect of Bersani as prime minister is bad enough anyway.......

whilst,of course you can dig wells (with permission)and attempt storage of rainwater all of which are commendable and useful i don't really think that one can run a "modern" household without mains water whilst at the moment we do not have the extreme problems of the sabina here we are miles from anywhere and had mainswater put in.IF you are a permanent resident one pays a subsidised amount which whilst not cheap is not eye watering but if it's a holiday/second home etc it does get quite expensive  having said that it is or would be important for the value of the house when and if you ever wanted to sell it if it already had a mains connection....worth getting a quote from the water company anyway rather than relying on heresay of what is expensive

most old houses just had large open cavities which can easily catch fire as deposits build up.Here most people do not use fire board but a stainless steel tube going to the top of the chimney usually in the remaining space the cavity is filled with fireproof insulation a sort of rock wool around the tube.We had this put in and are more than happy and the soot deposits after several years were minimal and it doesn't adhere too well to the steel...is that what you wanted it for?....i believe these tubes are readily available in most builders merchants and then fitted together/cut to size by the builders..i think we got it from lucozzi if not the builders merchants in either comunanza or servigliano...

hi,contrary to what many think there are some really good deals to be had starting at as little as Euro 290> especially at this time of year except christmas/new year etc some web sites (they'll have an english mode too) www.crocierissime.it/offerte-crociere/costa-crociere.html         www.crocieraonline.com    www.msccrociere.it our neighbours just got back from a 5 day cruise starting near Roma it was great value and good mix of nationalities...good luck and welcome  

if we leave here where do you suggest we go..anyone found a good forum....

i can't speak for what to do in the garden vs mosquitos.However whatever your plans are for your house i would suggest as a sine qua non to have insect screens installed on all windows.You may be suprised to know that the worst period for things coming in is NOT in the summer but from September thru to December this is because as it gets cooler all the things want to enter.It would be wrong to consider them as mosquito screens they keep out flies,wasps,bees,hornets,small birds,spiders,flying bugs,beetles,bats and mosquitos.I know some people to whom i suggested this to,they did not have them put in then one day they invited us to some kind of buffet...the whole place was full of flies... as far as the garden is concerned don't have a pond or any other stagnating water,spray the bushes in the vicinity of the house at the begining of spring,put up ultra violet lights if you have a pergola,and keep the aiutan on hand..i think thats all you can do.Another problem is that the tiger mosquito from asia since about 10 yrs has become native to Italy these are particularly fastidious because they bite during the day too not only during the evenings like the euro mossie(they have striped markings)

thank you very much,badger. no i didn't know them but will look them up shortly.this just goes to show how if one looks around a bit one can actually find more than meets the eye...no neon lights,supermarket counters...great and you actually talk to somebody...

thank you sprostoni.Actually food always sparks off quite varied and interesting thoughts.I think one could say that,in general gastronomic issues,britain,for example is quite a homogeneous society.Of course you'll get a bit more salmon if you live in scotland or more sea food if you live at the coast etc but more or less for the rest it's distributed all nationally.Interesting how different italy is in this respect.For example.i particularly like eel (roasted,in umido,smoked...) around here it seems to be hardly eaten at all and worst you can't even find it, however if you go to  the triangle around the Po delta ,roughly,from chioggia to the north,Ferrara to the west and Comacchio to the south you'll find it in EVERY restaurant all year round in a dozen different ways and is readily available in shops,markets and supermarkets.i also like soft goats milk cheese (often prepared with varieties of herbs) also almost impossible to find here but i've found some producers in the mountains in Piemonte where it is common and widely found and eaten.Red beetroot which actually grows well here and i do, is hardly eaten,i gave a jar to my neighbour (beetroot in wine vinegar) he wouldn't eat it sustaining that beetroot was "per i porci"(eventhough his old mother ate the lot and liked it)BUT if you go to Emilia (modena/bologna) they eat and grow them normally there.The list could go on.The point was,in fact, that many foodstuffs of excellent quality are available in the country..but not everywhere.So before one has an immediate reaction to import it fronm abroad it is worth while finding out first as it could well be available and one can order/purchase and get it delivered from some other region rather than from another country.i've found a few on line operators absolutely serious and can access delicacies from all round the country.  

In Italy is now a penal offence that is taken unusually seriously .. this kind of telephone harrassment falls under this law.If the person harrassing her is in Italy she can act accordingly.IF the local carabinieri are appearing to take the matter lightly she should tell them that she will be taking the matter up with the legione ( that is the regional high command of the carabinieri)or will be going to the procura (public prosecution),both should suscitate  great interest/activity on their part. if the person (harrassing) is not in Italy it probably gets a bit more complicated but can still be done.Be careful however from what you wrote in the second post has the typical smell of the complicity that victims and their carneficers create and it can backfire despite your more than good intentions("she hasn't gone as far as making a denuncia yet")is she waiting for the worse to come?... Either she battles or she doesn't you can't do it for her.Been there got the T shirt.!