FromNowOn's activity

Don't like to make the suggestion, but might it be a cockroach?  Apparently cockroaches live in a wide range of environments around the world. Pest species of cockroaches adapt readily to a variety of environments, but prefer warm conditions found within buildings.   Uuugghhh!

We have returned to Mondo Convenienza twice since our first purchase.  Each time delivery was just as promised and the goods good value.  I like Grancasa too, especially for browsing.  My husband can't get me out of there!  

You've done a good job putting your wedding website together.  My daughter was married a few weeks ago, not in Italy, but in England.  I know she would have loved to get married in Italy, but family politics at the time prevented a wedding abroad! I have passed on your website link so that in turn, she can pass it to her romance-minded friends, who will enjoy a browse. You looked beautiful!

Our selling agent put us in touch with a translator who attended with us and also translated the deeds.  Cost was 200 euros for the translator's services.  Everything went very well.

We spent a winter researching Italian property prices on the internet and reading relevant forums.  We printed out details of properties in the right price bracket for cross reference purposes, and then made several visits to North tuscany, the area we were interested in. We hired a car, toured the areas shown in our property print outs, and walked into agencies with likely properties displayed in the windows.  Every time, the agents made time for us, and if they couldn't show us a particular property that day, then they called us on the mobile to tell us when they would take us to view.  In this way we got viewings of a wide variety of properties, and were able to make price comparisons.  We discovered that the photos of properties were almost useless.  Often you'd turn up and find all the other houses around were abandoned/derelict (or looked it).  Sometimes you'd get a lovely surprise with an amazing view that hadn't been advertised as a feature. There's nothing like going and looking for yourself, and giving yourself plenty of visits and time.  It became a project for us. We ended up with an apartment in Lunigiana (N Tuscany) as the prices are extremely reasonable in comparison to other parts.  We drew up a list of our priorities.  In our case it was a) around an hour's journey of an airport  b) not too much work to be done  c) shop and facilities within easy reach d) good road and train communications.  (We don't always want to have to hire a car), and most importanly, some outside space - a garden or terrace. We've only had the apartment for 9 months, so everything is still new to us.  We manage to get there about every 6 weeks or so.  Allan is doing well with the Italioan language, but I haven't made much headway yet! Good luck with your search.

Yes Patz.  I have great hopes of the Italian hair experience!  Mum does her own at home, you'd be amazed how well she does it - wash, blow dry, heated rollers, plenty of hair spray.  Often she does it better than many stylists.  When I was 4 or 5 years old she used to roll mine up and put it in rags for the Shirley Temple sausage ringlet look! I have noticed how many senior Italian ladies go for the classical hair look.  Often, they are so well dressed for outings too.  My mum should feel very much at home in Italy, at 83 years of age, she still loves to coordinate her clothing, wear lovely accessories, and a light make-up.

Thank you for the translations Raggio.  I will learn them off by heart and hopefully mum will not be disappointed and come out of the salon with stylish hair.

Just to say they were not only weighing cabin baggage at Stansted last week, they also got EVERYONE to place their bag in the measuring frame.  I saw a young couple with a baby and only one bag get an orange HEAVY sticker wrapped around their case handle as an alert to check in staff. Coming home from Pisa, again everyone was asked to place their case in the measuring frame. Mine got stuck, and amused smiles were soon wiped off some other passengers' faces when theirs also got stuck.  The attendant didn't seem to mind how much we heaved and tugged to remove it, so long as it went in and came out somehow.  One girl had to place her spiked heeled boot on the frame to keep it grounded while she used all her strength to heave her case out - nearly overbalancing herself and the frame!  

I am posting on this old message regarding Aardvark as 'new posting' is not working. We have used Aardvark Valet Parking at Stansted for the last 3 occasions - approximately, November, January and March.  It really is great, and no more expensive than normal long stay parking.  You just give Aardvark a call from the motorway as you approach Stansted, pull up outside the airport at the drop off area, and within minutes a cheery Aardvark rep is there to take your keys and remove the car.  Similarly, when you come home, a call from the arrivals hall gets the Aardvark man outside within 5 minutes with your car.  We can't believe that we get such a good valet service at a normal parking price.  We are waiting to see if they can maintain this standard during the summer months, and whether they put the price up! I have no idea where they take the car to - I expect it is on the booking form but I haven't looked. We take the old car to the airport to avoid any anxiety on our part, but certainly we have had no cause to be concerned. We are going from Gatwick next time - has anyone used Aardvark from Gatwick?

Just to help out, the link to Kiko cosmetics should be http://www.kikocosmetics.com/