sprostoni's activity

Questions Asked

I have tried to contribute, I have taken advice, I have given (hopefully) advice, I have tried to generate discussion, I have now given up, good luck to the rest of ya !S

Sun, 10/21/2012 - 17:27

Does anybody know more about this ?SReform of Italy: "40 provinces, 10 metropolitan areas"Rome - More than half of the Italian provinces are going to be cut and 10 metropolitan areas introduced.

Sat, 07/21/2012 - 11:25

How bad can life be..........desperate.........Ancona - Two illegal immigrants have been found dead, one almost dead and two in a coma on the Superfast ferry from Greece. The ferry docked at Ancona this afternoon at around 5.30 pm (CET).

Tue, 06/26/2012 - 03:44

Can anyone explain in simple terms, where all these BILLIONS of euros actually go? We now have Cyprus saying 'Can we have some?' This is the 5th eurozone country so far to say this..............Will I recieve a few hundred grand soon? S

Mon, 06/25/2012 - 15:31

We have just returned from a driving trip (slog!!) to the UK, and on the way back, we booked into a BARGAIN IBIS hotel in 'Grandate'.

Sun, 06/24/2012 - 11:47

I KNOW WE HAVE BEEN HERE BEFORE...........Is anybody getting UK TV (and maybe SKY) here in central Italy OTHER THAN via the Internet ?If so............please let me know howThanks in advance,S

Fri, 06/22/2012 - 16:52

Afetr 4 years of 'bliss' (!?!) here in Le Marche, I recently took my four year old car for it's first revisione. A few hours later, I got back the paperwork, with an appropriate stamp.

Mon, 03/19/2012 - 11:46

I know we've been here before but...........Italian tax men blitz the chic in ski resort raids Italian tax agents donned skis, gloves and goggles to launch an unusual blitz in the chic ski resort of Courmayeur, two months after a similar raid on

Tue, 02/21/2012 - 02:05

I have seen that the Italian Government is eliminating some public holidays in 2012 and/or moving those that occur mid-week to a Sunday.Does anyone have a link reflecting whether or not this has been officially confirmed ?Thanks in advance,S

Thu, 02/16/2012 - 05:56

Whilst snowed in here in Penna San Giovanni, I was looking for some bright spots in the financial world.

Fri, 02/03/2012 - 02:08

Comments posted

Thu, 06/18/2009 - 15:53

Hi Gala Placida.....................I should have just asked you in the first place, you are very kind and obviously very knowledgeable........... The 'big green 'thingy''  looked actually very like a VERY STRONG green coloured cricket, EXACTLY the same colour as the leaves.............it looked like there were buds appearing and I was then expecting a blossom/flower.................but the 'buds' ended up on the floor....................I am not hopeful.....................soapy water next year !!!! Thanks again, S

Thu, 06/11/2009 - 16:28

Thank you Valentina, I need all the help I can get!! S

Answer to: B&Q Like store
Thu, 06/11/2009 - 05:48

Certainly Self at Peidaripa is the nearest thing that I have seen to a B&Q.............and from Penna San Giovanni it is my 'regular' shop for all that sort of thing................. However the local ferramentas have pretty much anything and everything I tend to need............... Regarding prices........................buy EVERYTHING in the UK and bring it over if you can...................the only thing that we have found cheaper here tends to be wine (and the odd lunch) and plants .............wood , tools etc are very expensive!!

Wed, 06/10/2009 - 11:42

Penny,I have to say there are times when I wonder why I am here.................Personally I have worked for 40+ years in the UK and paid taxes, NI and all the rest, I come here thinking that well we are in the EU so we'll be sorted....................then you have all this ridiculous bureaucracy, and I feel I am here HELPING the eceonomy ofItaly through buying property, using local builders, shops, paying insurances (car in particular outrageous 1,100 for 3rd party only!!!).If my language skills were able enough I would come with you to protest.....................I try my best to 'do the right thing' but there are times that I despair! I will also go through what you are going through in a few years time, hopefully my Italian language skills will have improved enough by then!  Good luck, please keep us posted !

Tue, 06/02/2009 - 11:24

As absolutely ridiculous as it sounds, you CANNOT buy a secondhand car without residency, I believe that your ARE able to buy a NEW car (officially!), but no-one will sell you one!The European Union eh !You can buy a house though!

Answer to: Shoe Repair??
Fri, 05/29/2009 - 10:14

I was stunned to see my Italian neighbour in wellies recently with maybe five/six patches on the sides and top................(basically they were those patches that you get in a bicycle tyre puncture outfit).........................superb, ..................oh how we laughed !!!!Sorry that a can't help with an actual load of cobblers !!

Answer to: Deary deary me!!
Wed, 05/27/2009 - 14:39

Yippee!

Answer to: Deary deary me!!
Wed, 05/27/2009 - 12:23

Ronald...........I have voiced my concerns particularly over such a dramatic change which I for one was almost totally unaware. Change always causes problems, it will take time to work them through, meanwhile these little tiny tips will be useful to lots of people, hopefully they will be included in the FAQs? Good luck!

Answer to: Deary deary me!!
Tue, 05/26/2009 - 17:07

Kevan.............(and others) Thanks for the calming words.................age is probably an issue................I liked what I knew, I don't know this and 'would like' what I had and knew how to use........... I will persevere but..................I still maintain I (and others) shouldn't just be made to jump through so many hoops to get back roughly where we were ?? Rant over.......................isn't life wonderful and HOT (pool temp 29C !!!) , birra 5C................oh joy !!!!

Answer to: Deary deary me!!
Tue, 05/26/2009 - 15:18

I'm tempted to agree, basedon my years of (old) expertise...............but should have to trawl through FAQs to do what you did with ease before? I note you have not commented on my inabililty to find the 'search' posts facility?!Where SHOULD I have raised the query regarding medical charges ? How DO I stop skipping two lines when writing a post ? Just answering the queries would be good instead of me having to delve into the bowels of FAQs?????????????? Note the spaces here between the lines???