FromNowOn's activity

Questions Asked

With some Christmas money I bought myself a bread maker. The results have been lovely, with fresh bread ready each morning for breakfast when we come downstairs.

Thu, 01/12/2012 - 17:03

I've had this problem Try a new key, a very light, light touch. Maybe get someone else to have a go. My friend got it open whereas I had tried time and time again.

Sat, 07/30/2011 - 15:21

On Friday 10 June we were in the La Spezia area and it happened that Il Presidenti di Italia was there too.  The police were out in force, the roads had blocs, and the traffic lights remained red.  It was the first day of our 8 day stay and my 84

Thu, 06/16/2011 - 16:26

I'm Looking forward to seeing more good weather in Italy when we arrive later this week.  It's been wonderful here in England just recently.  I remember the hot days in early summer last year and our thwarted attempts to visit the olympic-sized pu

Sun, 05/08/2011 - 18:54

Last year in Pisa we parked the car in a disabled parking space and displayed my 84 year old mother's UK disabled parking badge on the dashboard of our hired car. A notice beside the disabled space gave a telephone number to use in case of any dif

Tue, 02/08/2011 - 08:35

The local hair salon just down the road from our Italian apartment looks a very traditional place.  It has photos of ladies sporting boufant hair dos as well others with stylish cut and blow dries.  Behind the net curtains I can see old fashioned

Mon, 04/26/2010 - 16:35

I have just read about someone else who has had trouble with work concerned with a waterproof  membrane being fitted incorrectly.  We are going to have to pay out approximately E5000 to our condominium administrator for our share of relaying our p

Mon, 11/16/2009 - 20:31

We got back from a week in our new appartamento in Lunigiana last night.  Didn't see much sun in Italy, but the weather was mild, and when we threw open the kitchen window shutters on the second morning of our holiday it was to see snow had fallen

Thu, 11/12/2009 - 18:26

There is an idea buzzing around in my head that I might like to set up and try out a market stall in our local town in Italy, selling some of my own, personal, ‘collectible’ items such as glassware (less than 75 years old, not antique), pottery, p

Mon, 10/05/2009 - 10:08

 Anyone looking to furnish their property quickly and for a reasonable price could try Mondo Convenienza http://www.mondoconv.it/  As well as stores in many areas they have an online catalogue.

Wed, 09/30/2009 - 09:42

Comments posted

Answer to: italian wills
Tue, 09/17/2013 - 19:46

Try Laura Protti who is the founder of LEP Law.  She is dual qualified as an Italian Avvocato and English Solicitor.  http://www.leplaw.co.uk/profile.html

Answer to: Summer in Italy
Tue, 09/25/2012 - 13:17

Thanks, Pilch, for your encouraging comments.  We're back again next month so perhaps we can take a trip to Bolgheri & Castagnetto Carducci.  I will google this place name in a moment and find out a little more.

Answer to: Swimming Pools
Tue, 09/25/2012 - 13:05

Sorry to hijack your thread, pags, but I could hardly believe my eyes when I saw your posting title on the forum.  I was just about to make a posting of my own enquiring if anyone had experience of above ground pools.  If there is stuff already hidden away on the forum then I will search it out now.  In the meanwhile, any comments would be helpful. We have a garden apartment with two terraces and a patch of grass.  I love sunbathing, but get too hot, and a mini-pool would be fantastic.  My husband isn't too keen on the idea as he thinks they are an eye sore (true), but I am sure I can work on him!  He says he will report me at the next condo meeting and they will quash the idea!!!  Not so I am sure, as the neighbours have great sympathy for me, the poor hot, "rosata", English lady.  The pools I have been looking at online range down to about 10 feet in size.  Not a swimming pool certainly,  but big enough to float-out, glass of wine in hand, and cool off.  My sister thinks it is a great idea, and I am sure the grandchildren will love it too.  It stand about 4 feet high, and there is a ladder to climb up before lowering yourself in.  It blows up, fills from a hose, and you run a pump for at least 12 hours per day.  I imagine there is a night cover to keep the wild life out. Seems a lovely idea to me and I can pack it up and stuff it in the garage until it is needed again the next year.  Shouldn't offend the neighbours unduly.  Would be in use for the month of August only. Cost on sale about £100, but £250 plus on posh websites.

Answer to: Salve!
Wed, 08/29/2012 - 15:27

Welcome. And how does the cat like the heat and Italian food?

Answer to: Thankyou
Wed, 08/29/2012 - 11:06

I wanted to support your book so downloaded the Kindle version and read it whilst sunbathing in my holiday home garden in Italy.  Well done.  I wasn't ready for the book to end when it did, so I hope it is not too long before you are in a position to write a sequel. We'll all wait and see!

Mon, 07/02/2012 - 09:35

Yes, I was expecting a sophisticated aperativo. I've seen loads of people sipping at these colourful drinks and they are not children.  The pink/green/blue drinks are served in medium sized plain glasses, look pale and translucent - no bits and pieces floating about - and are sipped rather than swigged. 

Sun, 07/01/2012 - 14:01

My sister phoned me this morning to say the kits are £6 on the ferry and £4 locally.  Halfords?

Sat, 06/30/2012 - 15:09

I have read about the tourist tax but not knowingly experienced it.  I know more about the Tourist Menu - once we were forced to pay half as much again for the Tourist Lunch Menu which was identical to the Workman's Lunch Menu in a Borzonasca restaurant.  They were displayed side by side on the counter, so at least we had warning before ordering. Welcome to the forum, there are people here who can advise you well.

Sat, 06/30/2012 - 14:55

Hi Esme, sorry to disappoint you but although the spirit is willing the knees would not stand the challenge of climbing mountains!  We travelled in 4 wheel drive vehicles across Southern Morocco, the Sahara Desert to the lush oases of the Draa Valley. We explored kasbahs and ksours of the Atlas Mountains and ended up in fabulous  Marrakech.  You know about Toubkal - does this mean you climb yourself? We are going ahead with the camping idea.  We have cancelled our previously booked hotels, and we've got the book of French campsites to take with us.  I agree with Annec that there are probably lovely campsites in Switzerland, but it is Lugarno that temps me most.  If this camping lark is too good we may never get to our place in Lunigiana!  

Fri, 06/29/2012 - 14:59

Thank you very much for the link above to sites near Colmar and the link to the municipal site close by.  The warning too is a reminder to be careful.  However, all the comments saying it is too much messing about and not worth the effort to save a few pounds I find defeatist.  I am 64 and can't help looking upon this camping venture as a bit of a change.  I like a bit of uncertainty and the chance to change our minds about location at the last minute.  I've got my i-phone to check availability as we draw close to where we might stop for the night. I went camping a few years ago in the desert in Morocco, and it was a lovely experience.  Almost everyone else was at least 20 years younger, but I slept better than many on my own roll up mat and in a light weight super efficient sleeping bag.  I cleaned my teeth the next day with bottled water and didn't get a shower until the evening when we reached a village in the High Atlas.  A few nights in a municipal camp site is a doddle in comparison, although it is true I would like to use my hair drier. I thought someone may have camped on their way to Italia, and I just though they might have a good recommendation of a place to stay.  After all, that's what this forum is for isn't it?