Maralyn's activity

 David, I have a house a stones throw from you in Picinisco on the Cassino/Sora road. We did think about a swimming pool but decided against that as we have four superb ones within 5 or 10 minutes drive and the beach 45 minutes away at Scauri or Gaeta (half an hour from you).   I am intending to do art holidays in four different types of glass art for about 4 or 5 months of the year.  I have a studio set up which is lovely and cool for most of the day but have thought about having a dip pool or a large hot/cold tub with lovely sitting area around/shade etc., We can use this in the winter enjoying the view of the snow capped mountains and cool off in it in the summer.   These are our thoughts but would be interested to know if anyone else has has this type of pool (if you want to call it a pool) installed. And if so at what sort of price etc.,  We decided against a full sized pool because of the high cost, high maintenance and the fact we have such lovely facilities so near to us. And would we use it to get our monies worth in the long run.  This is an interesting thread. I get such a lot of valuable information from this site. Maralyn

 "recently got residency sorted, however in answer to your question, we have friends a couple of villages away who have a RHD English reqistered 4x4 (it was worth more to them than the amount they could sell it for to buy LHD car, so they kept it) and they have lived there for several years with no bother at all on their English plates." When reading the above I did wonder how the friends with the 4X4 coped when it came to the annual MOT.  Do they go back to England every year to have the MOT done to re-insure?  Or can they get an equivalent MOT done in Italy? We are debating whether or not to buy an Italian friend's Fiat Multipla.  He has had it from brand new, it is in immaculate condition and he has been obsessively careful with it in that he has had it serviced and mechanically looked after since he got it, has it valetted every 1000kms and even the slightest door dent from a knock from another car door in a car park was immediately sorted out.  He is selling because he has two cars and doesn't need two cars any more.  And the size would be ideal for us and our visiting family and friends. But I do wonder about the insurance and how to go about getting it.    Maralyn

Like Tess and her husband we haven't sold our house in the UK and have a house in Picinisco, near Cassino, Lazio.  So rather than me being in Italy on my own and my husband work in the UK, we have decided that we will wait until we sell up and then both of us move over together.  Meanwhile we visit as often as we can.   I hope Tess gets settled in Italy. Maralyn

  Hi Col. Mustard I appreciate what you are saying and have been similarly hoodwinked in the past (but got out in the nick of time) for various other things such as double glazing, insurance etc., (here in the UK).    Fortunately when we saw the price of 3,500.00 euros stuck on the hob, under the lovely units with a large stainless steel cooker hood, we did think it was just for that section alone and asked if that was the case.  When we were told, repeatedly, that is was for 'tutti', with arms waving around the displayed and immaculate kitchen, opening and closing unit doors, gesturing to the appliances and moving the chairs and table and then being told it included fitting, we couldn't believe our ears.  I think we were very lucky and happened to call into the shop - Valentino Corsi - at the right time.  Being a local company where we have bought furniture from already and as they export to Scotland they transported a load of our stuff over to Italy for us, we knew they wouldn't be conning us.  To the contrary.   Best of luck for any others in search of a bargain. Maralyn      

  I thought we were very very lucky the year before last (2008) when we "popped into" our local furniture store near Atina to see what they had in new - we actually went to buy some heavy duty staples at a shop just past them and called in on the way back home - and got our bargain.  We wandered around the kitchen area and saw some fabulous kitchens, five of which were reduced enormously because it turned out they were the end of the range.  We got an "L" shaped kitchen in retro style pale blue with upper and lower units, glass shelves and cupboards that had integral lighting, all the appliances possible, (Electrolux Rex) including a plumbed in coffee machine AND a coordinating  table and six chairs.  The cost? 3,500 Euros FITTED!!  It was originally 14,500 euros so we are over the moon but as it was the end of a range we basically bought it for the cost of the white goods.  It isn't necessarily our first choice but it certainly looks fantastic in our large kitchen with our other things and is wonderful quality. I am so glad we got it.  So is our bank manager!   I cannot imagine an English kitchen company doing the same.  In fact today I have bought a new built-in double oven and gas hob for my house here in England. My first call was Comet who said they didn't have the one I wanted in the northeast except an ex display model. I asked if there would be a small discount on the price as it would be "shop soiled" and they said no because it hasn't been used as an oven as such (even though most likely hundreds of people, like me, have twisted knobs, opened doors etc., with their mucky dabs).  AND if I did have it they would charge me another £20 for delivery!    There certainly are some bargains to be had if you know where to go for them. We were just lucky and very happily surprised at our find. Hopefully your post will help someone who needs a kitchen/mod cons for a good price. Maralyn

 Leslie Cassino is certainly a worth a visit. It is not only in a stunning mountainous area but the WWII battles make it a very interesting historic place.  Cassino town was designed (in the American grid form) and paid for by the US government as it was totally destroyed during the war.  The Monte Cassino Abbey has been rebuilt on top of the mountain in exactly the same way it was prior to the war and again is a stunning place to visit.  You would never believe it is only about 50 years old as it looks hundreds of years old and has been rebuilt using old stone and some of the treasures that were hidden during the war.   The surrounding villages, mostly old and clinging to the sides of the mountains typical Italian style, all seem to have a story to tell including the one I live in.   I don't think you would be disappointed in this area if you visit.  I live about 20ks outside of Cassino in the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park.  I cannot begin to tell you how happy I am to own a house there in such a beautiful part of the world and cannot wait until the day I go there for a longer period than a few weeks holiday. Maralyn

 There are a few towns around where we have our house, namely Cassino, Sora, Atina, San Donato to name a few, and all of them have markets each week which are differently set out which makes each of them unique.  I am pleased to say there are loads of Italian stalls from fruit, veg, meats, cheese, fish, hot chicken and pork to clothes for babies and adults, hand made jewellery, shoes in abundance and all Italian, not non-Italian run.  There are the cheaper stalls with chinese stuff but they are obvious by their prices as well as the quality straight away.  The Italian items stand out next to them.    I love going to the markets and especially Atina where I sit in a cafe, drink coffee and watch the world go by as it most likely has for the past 100 years.  The backdrop of buildings would be the same, the smell of basil, fruit, meats and cheeses the same, just the dress fashions have changed (no cars allowed into this area).   And as for the shoes in Sora and Cassino market, the variety and quality!!! Wow!!!   Maralyn

 Hi Leslie I have a home near Cassino, between Rome and Naples but cannot move over full time just yet as I am in the process of selling my business in the UK.   Daily I look at the weather forecast for my area and just cannot wait to get out of the very damp (daily rain) and cold English weather to a milder climate in Italy.  Yes it does get cold in the winter over there and yes, it does rain (and boy, when it rains in the mountains it rains) and yes, there is snow (although not normally at the level our house is thank goodness.   But it is all so very beautiful with clear, clean air, wonderful light (even on a dull day) and far, far better than the northeast of England weather wise.   Look on http://meteo.ansa.it/Regione.asp?Regione=4&Comune=065116 and type in the town you want to know about, press 'vai' and you will see the weather for the next five days.  It is in centigrade though.   I wish you luck with your dreams for next year and your retirement. Maralyn

My house insurance says that we have to turn off the water and electricity when the property is empty for a length of time, ie when we have returned to the UK and it is not being lived in. Years ago we would do the same in the UK if I remember rightly, when going away on holiday etc., I also leave the beds made up ready for the next visit because our flights from Newcastle are mid evening and we don't get to the house until about 10.30 or 11pm.  So I have electric blankets that we put on and "air" the beds for a good while before going to bed.  Whilst waiting we have sat outside with a glass of wine, relaxing after our travels.  (The reason we sit outside is because in the winter months or early spring it is warmer outside than inside our stone house after not being lived in for a while). The house is bitterly cold, as is the tiled floor but snuggled into a lovely warm bed is great.  A couple of days later and all is normal again.Maralyn

Well done Amanda, I am so happy for you that you have found such joy in enjoying your surroundings and able to put your heartfelt thoughts onto canvas and into words.  As someone whose life is art I so love hearing other people doing something creative which gives them such pleasure.Have you any photos of your work? I would love to see some.Maralyn