myabruzzohome's activity

Apparently this group has been in possession of the 'recently revealed' infomation for 15 years !!!! They know that the eco-mafia have been regularly disposing of toxic waste in the seas off italy polluting not only Italian territorial waters but also other country's territory as well!You might ask yourself why no-one in government wanted to act on the evidence that Legambienti presented to them over and over again during this 15 year period! Sadly If you have any experience of Italian politics both local and national you will not be at all surprised at their lack of interest.Meanwhile you might want to avoid seafood not just in Calabria where the current dumping has occured but possibly from all over Italy.BTW the mozzarellas a bit dodgy too something to do with dioxins and toxic waste dumps around Naples.

If you put your criteria into a search box  you'll see this subject has many useful posts.You say you want bricks sandblasted but did you know that a brick actually has a skin that protects it and stops it crumbling in rain and frost? I would consider another option of cleaning the bricks with a scrubbing brush and water.We've removed lots of stains and marks this way.Sandblasting unless its done very carefully could be a disaster for your building.If there are patches of paint / grout on bricks a nylon scourer can work wonders! Alternatively  there are all sorts of drill attachments that will save the elbow grease!Good luck with the project.

So whats the best less sugary Limoncella? I'd like something a bit more lemony!

I am very concerned that Bussi and the water pollution is being 'forgotten' by all but a few campaigners. The earthquake in Aquila killed many people and left even more homeless but over the long term I'm convinced that Bussi is the bigger diaster of the two for Abruzzo.I almost felt like crying during the scene in Gomorrah where the barrels of toxic waste were being dumped very convieniently in a quarry ready to be covered over and left . It was just too near to the truth of what's happeneing and a real tradgedy.I cant drink tap water at our house in Abruzzo anymore- last time I was there and drinking water for a period of over a month I started getting quite severe gastric problems with irration to my lungs and throat - I tried everthing then decided to stop drinking water fromthe tap or using it to make tea or coffee.My symotons dissappeared in a few days and after a week I was fine. Most times I've drunk this water I've felt unwell and as soon as I stop I feel ok again.As a person who is in the business of selling property in Abruzzo I salut Adriatica for raising this subject here. Mostly I find that anyone who stands to make money in anyway from Abruzzo refuses to face up to the fact that there are matters of environmental concern there.I personally cannot understand any agency or person who would knowingly advertise or promote a house in a place which is dangerously contaminated anywhere in the world - not only in Italy.

I used Michael Thomas but as there are no classes in our part of the uk the first time I went out to Italy I'd only got the basics.After 4 years of working on the house dealing with 3 or 4 different workmen who speak no English I've got to the stage I can speak Italian in a basic form ie no philisophical conversations.I like to listen to how people use Italian in reality rather than how its written or taught in a class.I find I pick up at least 2 or 3 useful new phrases each time I go out - for example I arrived at a hotel and someone heard me and shouted arriivo! So now when anyone calls for me I use that as a reply if Its something I'm doing.I also picked I that Italians use I said ie 'ho detto' and I can just put the to have verb which I know in front of the to say verb!In Abruzzo most of the peole speak dialect and drop the vowel sound from the end of words and in the next vilage they use a French/Italian mix of language so its hopeless just learning from a book or CD.I've just bought Barrons Italian Idioms - which I got on Amazon and its excellent as these are the things you'd love to say but just cannot translate to Italian.Whats this mean in English???'un morto di fame' 

I hate being indoors in the winter if I don't have to be but I do need to make a living and that involves working at my work table at least for 5 hours every da', even if I'm using the computer ( I do have to use it for reasns other than this forum believe it or not!) here in Cornwall my hands are like ice blocks by lunchtime on a cold day so if you are still working and must send emails etc etc for a couple of hours everyday you need an office space that's quiet and warm so don't forget this when you are doing the plans!Maybe iusing a screen to enclose a corner of the main room will be enough.Being up a mountain is glorious on a spring or summer day but in the winter I hardly see them as a thick cloud covers the higher peaks.So possibly not a place to live all the year round.If you have small children it might not be practical to use just one room in the winter - I know children don't feel the cold ! If you can make sure its safe for them to play outside in an enclosed whatever the season that's going to help too!Its amazing how a covered and sheltered area can feel warm even when there's snow and ice around.I don't really agree about the windows- my mum's house is a modern 70's design in Essex with huge 'picture windows' - double glazed and the house is so warm during sunny winter days just heated by the sun alone - you dont need heating.Our house is old and we have kept original window openings but if I could create a brand new eco house I'd use passive heat more - by having some large areas of glass .If windows are sealed and properly double glazed with shutters that can be closed at night then surely they can only help with the heat in the house?

Thanks for that great advice!I would feel worried about a solar collector at ground level if a house was not occupied all of the time.Surely they are vulnerable to vandalism or accidental damage? Also Italian wildlife seems to see any new object of its territory as a food source .Even plastic window seals on another house have been attacked by woodpeckers!The advantage would be no need to get planning permission?The last time I asked in our Municipio they told me to get the Geometra to submit plans - thats another £500 on top of the solar system costs!I'm trying again with a photo and measurements in the hope that they will pass it without me needing to pay a Geometra.I feel loads clearer now on what system we should go for.   

Can we see a picture of it?I'm wondering if its been seen all over Italy?

Are these geraniums or pelagoniams?Small butterflys could be BROWN ARGUS or COPPERS or SKIPPERS- none are known to lay eggs on these plants or otherwise damage them and I think their beaty at least rivals that of the flowers so why not live and let live?

The main problem is that people are trying to 'shine' a material that was never meant to be shiny!!If we could accept a dry unpolished appearance to an old  floor brick it would save us much time and money.BTW after some corespondence on another forum I'd like to create a page on my website with pictures of old italian brick floors - if anyone would be interested in  contributing by sending their own pictures and info I'd be very grateful.