"Alpine Settler": March 2006

Friday, March 31, 2006

Today is 'Special'

Today is very special for me... a cause for personal celebration.

Two years ago today, I smoked my very last cigarette..... HOORAY!!!!!

The fact that this momentous event was followed, within hours, with my heart attack made the moment even more memorable. Memorable because - despite ignoring all the warnings for years - I am among the 'lucky ones' who are still around to tell the tale.

I don't know why I chose to ignore all the advice of 'everyone'. Pressure of work - always away from home - constant long journeys driving on my own - most of my friends smoked too???? So many 'reasons' that some people always saw as excuses.... No I didn't want to give up!!! It was MY life - and MY choice - and that was the end of it! Well it nearly was 'the end of it' - my life that is.

But I survived, and I'm still the same 'happy go lucky' person, though I will admit a little bit (well quite a lot) better off financially than I was before once I became a 'pensioner'. I'm not one of those ex-nicotine addicts who tut tut's every time anyone with a cigarette comes near. I remember quite clearly how nasty some people were to me (and others) when I smoked, and could never be like that.

But I will confess that I have, on just a couple of occasions felt like having a cigarette. The first time was when I was allowed to drive 'on my own' again following the HA. When I shut the car door, latched the seat belt, turned the key and moved off...habit locked in - and just for a fraction of a second - made me think 'cigarette' - and I dismissed it straight away! The second was not too long ago, having been out to a nice meal with the family and when the coffee was served, that 'cigarette thought' re-appeared... But you know what? It was followed immediately by my brain saying to me "Cigarette? But you DON'T smoke".

Then I knew I had won! And, boy it feels really good....

The Garden - aka The Jungle!

This is the current state of the garden (aka the jungle).
The trees are now as 'bald as bath buns'

(English saying...), and all the cut branches, I hope, will be taken away by a neighbour who is starting his wood store for next winter. Their heating is still done by wood burning stove (brrrr)!!!

1. The entrance from the terrace.

2. The middle bit, from the balcony.

3. This is the other end of the garden

- the 'hay store' is here and you can just see the see the steps down to the bottom of the garden on the left. The plants here are a peach tree, a 'sort of' apple tree/bush a small (young) vine and one of the hydrangeas.

The fence in the garden is the limit of my little bit of land.

Tuesday, March 28, 2006

Just Another 'Tuesday'

Don't even breathe.... I've actually 'uploaded' a photo!

YIPPEE!!!!!

This shows the view from the terrace now the snow has finally gone. The lower part of Monte Legnone is in the forefront and stretches behind my neighbours houses that you can see.

Can't see any of this today though...there's a low lying mist and it's been raining steadily now since last night. But oh how it was needed.
Put my lemon tree back on the terrace this morning, and put the balcony baskets and (last years) geraniums out. I'll give 'em a tidy up when it's dry - that way the rubbish from them will be easier to sweep up from the drive where I'll throw it all.
I suppose I'll have to think about switching off the central heating soon too, but I'll alter the hours that it's on, then perhaps close it down in three or four weeks.

On Sunday (no visitors - almost bliss), I didn't know what to make for lunch, so I took some 'spezzatini alla diavola' out of the freezer and just 'made-up' a recipe with all the things that
'I like....' - and am allowed to eat of course. Bear in mind that the amount was enough for me to freeze several extra meals!

It went something like this:
750g of spezzatini alla diavola (don't know if this is a local thing) made of bits of local sausage, fresh pork and fresh turkey.
1.5 kg mixed red and yellow peppers - cleaned and cut in pieces
3 cloves garlic - chopped
2 large onions - sliced
1 pkt- 'Colemans' Creamy Curry Mix - mixed with 300ml of water

I placed all this in my large terra cotta casserole dish, and popped it in the oven on 130°c ....then just left it for 2.5 hours!!!

The family, with one exception, don't like curry or chilli flavoured food, and while this was NOT a curry by any means, it did satisfy my yearning for a hint of curry flavour with my food. Oh it was heavenly....no not 'Cordon Bleu' - but who cares - my taste buds and I enjoyed it!

I wonder if other people are like me - if there is something I really like/enjoy, it wouldn't/doesn't bother me if I was given it every day for days on end.... I'm like that with peppers, curry or chilli 'flavoured' food, 'tarted up' vegetables - I love 'em. For tonight I've got some baby Cherry Tomatoes and I'll cut them in half, add a small sliced onion, a good teaspoonful of origano then some olive oil from Lago di Garda , balsamic vinegar and to finish the salad off, a small tin of tuna in brine (drained).... 50g of crusy bread roll and I'll think I've died and gone to heaven.... I just may - but don't tell anyone, finish with a 'caffè corretto al cognac'. It's about three months that I've not had one of those - hahaha.

Found a few jokes for the 'blog' so I'll probably put one on next time I 'blog'.

Bye for now!

Friday, March 24, 2006

Ciccio's Passport!

Yes I guess some may think it's a bit of a laugh. But this is European Law no less! It is valid for dogs, cats and ferrets, through out the European Union. But there are much more stringent laws for the UK, Ireland, Sweden and Malta.

There are many people who leave their pets at home when travelling, and in the UK that was, for years, the case. You could not take your pet abroad with you. That is unless your animal underwent 6 months quarantine when you returned! Not just quarantine at home, but locked away from you in state approved (excellent) kennels, where you could visit, but not touch, and that was soul destroying for both the pet and the owner (not to mention the exorbitant cost). But then, in the case of the UK, there had been no recorded cases of rabies for goodness knows how long, but there was a dreadful fear of it. I can even remember a dog getting off a merchant ship in the port near where I lived, and the police were sent immediately, the dog quarantined locally, and the poor seaman (from the then USSR) had to leave without his dog - a gorgeous golden labrador. Local people visited the dog and handed in treats for it, and all ended happily.

The actual passport is controlled by the EU and can be seen here:

http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/pri/en/oj/dat/2003/l_312/l_31220031127en00010013.pdf

This gives all the details about what to do and shows what the document looks like.....

So for all you pet (dog, cat and ferret) owners - you can take Fido, Puss and 'whatever you call a ferret' with you when you travel.

But it does takes take a bit more time than getting a 'People Passport'

Wednesday, March 22, 2006

A bit 'up' and a bit 'down'!

First of all I need to point out that I'm fed up with this bl**dy computer. For some reason the 'Picasa' programme that I got from the 'Hello' part of eblogger has decided it won't work. That's why you cant see the chickens on the previous blog.... I've been trying and trying to get it to work for a week, but 'no go'.

Then this morning my radiators sounded as if they were all leaking - at least I could hear water dripping - but it was inside them - (?) A quick look at the boiler under the roof confirmed my worst fears - yes I'd got a leak right next to this 'all singing, all dancing' German monstrosity. A quick call to the agents for the boiler had a technician at my door this afternoon. It was caused by TWO faulty valves. One was letting water 'dribble' out of the system and the other was allowing air in. Well the boiler was due for it's first annual revision in two weeks time, so we decided to go ahead with it now. So having done that and changed the valves all problems were solved except the hole in my purse - not for the repairs or the work - but for the service revision I opted for last year - goodbye to €90 ... That on top of my gas bill for the last two and a half months )which is an estimate and must be wrong) for €904 - suicide is looking increasingly attractive at the moment. (LOL)

This morning was expensive too - with Ciccio off for his 'microchip' and to book is first anti- rabies jab for next month. He had his other jabs last week, after the vet got back the results that he'd been given nothing by who ever had him before. So both these visits have said goodbye to just over €70 as well. For his passport to travel to the UK it's going to be a long haul. First his jab, then wait 3 or 4 weeks for it to take. Then blood samples to be taken and sent to the University of Padova for analysis. If that shows it's 'taken' then there's a wait of 130 days before the vet can issue his passport for the UK. I can have one straight away for mainland Europe - but not for the UK. Though it has made things difficult - I fully accept these stringent anti-rabies laws for the UK.

So frantic calls to the friend who was due to visit on 22nd April and travel back in the car with me and Ciccio... and to the other two friends who were coming back with me at the end of May to stay for a while. My holiday has had to be put 'on hold'. Pat is, after all still coming over on the 22nd, and she'll stay for two weeks, so that's nice. Still waiting to hear from the others about their stay in June which was to have included the GTG... Then of course Sergio was due over about now, even if only for a weekend. But he phoned on Saturday to say he couldn't make it....he's off to Miami in Florida for work for a week at the 'World Music something or other'.s'..

So apart from those couple of little 'glitches' everything is fine, and I'm totally....totally - well totally 'fed up'!

Thank heavens the sun has been shining all day today, but because of the boiler problem I couldn't get to the 'Circolo' this afternoon - so four of the members called in to make sure I was OK, and stayed for a cup of tea.

The fruit trees are beginning to look 'bald' now - Michele is gradually getting them pruned. I used the last of the apples from last autumn over the weekend. Did the just baked in the ove - boy were they good. Got one large squash (like a pumpkin) left now...i'll probably do that this cominf weekend. I'll clean it out and stuff it with a 'meat loaf' type mix I think. Loads of garlic and persley. The last one I did was great!

I hope I can find out why I can't post photo's anymore - that os really galling!

Bye for now!

A presto.

Thursday, March 16, 2006

The Story is below.....

Still can't get anything to 'upload'.... so no chickens - OK who said 'Hooray'????

Monday, March 13, 2006

We're all feeling the cold!

The neighbours chickens, not running up and down the road today looking for 'goodies', but all curled up snugly in the relative warmth of the laurel hedge which protects them from that biting North wind today. This photo was taken from the car window, so you can see they are 'free as birds'.... on the side of the road!

The wind here today has made me just a little homesick. I love the wind. Having been born on the south coast of England in a house which 'literally' faced the Channel. Then a move to Grimsby on the Humber and seeing the North Sea from Spurn Head when there was a force 8 gale blowing. Then on to Dover and the 'White Cliffs' which were a great place to watch those storms accross the Channel, often seeing storms around the Calais (in France) area from the cliff tops..... such great memories. No regrets though, as there is little that compares with a really heavy thunder storm when it 'rattles around' the Alps - then up and down the Valtellina - now that is worth seeing!

Even the mutt hasn't really wanted to 'set forth' today. Nose outside the door - pitiful look at me as if to say "Out there? Me? You gotta be joking"?

Tomorrow I'm off over to the other side of the Lake to have lunch with 'Expats' Terry and Sharon from the UK. They had to cancel their last visit just after Christmas due to the snow and the fact that Bergamo Airport was closed down. They're back now for a short break and I think Terry will be off skiing up at Madesimo. It's nice to have people so close (approx. 3 miles away), even if they are only here for holidays. I'm looking forward to seeing their place tomorrow. They only bought it recently.

These last couple of weeks have been quite busy with translation work - it's not making me any money to speak of, but I really enjoy it. It keeps my mind active and gives me a huge sense of satisfaction. Last week I did a paper on the Italian 'Malocchio' (Evil Eye). Not only was it interesting, but some of the things needed to ward 'it' off - tail of a wolf, naill clippings etc. - had me rolling about.... and today I translated the guidelines for the exchange/recognition of foreign driving licences in Italy under EU laws. Once again - several new, interesting things I've learned. I've now got some birth and marriage certificates that are about 140 years old to translate for a friend...I'm really looking forward to doing those.

Michele, the gardener arrived for an hour or so late this afternoon. He has started to prune the fruit trees, and reckons it will take him a few evenings to get the lot finished. It's over 10 years, from what I can make out, since they were touched. So with any luck - he reckons I should have a bit of fruit this year, but a really good crop the next.... Just have to wait and see I suppose.

Thursday, March 09, 2006

"Tip over Tail"

How come I always get everything 'Tip over Tail' (me being polite - I would normally say 'ar*e over t*t....

All that downloading, uploading, typing etc. etc. this morning for the 'run down' on all of yesterday's excitement - and what do I forget? I forget that being the communication 'find of the century' a blog with more than three/four photo's in it has to be written 'bottom to top' (I'm trying to be polite again).

Well I'm not going to bu**er about with the story any more.... If you want to read it - your choices are THREE:-

1. Place head on ground in front of PC and kick legs in the air so they rest half way up the wall, using your hands to maintain your balance.
OR
2. Start at the third item down with the basket of 'mimosa' and work back(up)wards.
OR
3.Just say 'Oh s*d it', admit defeat and go on to someone else's blog!!!!

Yours,
'Disillusioned from N. Italy'.......

International Womens Day, The Supper - Part 2

Dolce

Isola gallegiante su laghetto di vaniglia in giardino di fragole

(Floating island on a vanilla lake in a garden of strwberries)

'Absolutely to die for'!!!

Biscottini 'fatti in casa'

The company - all 14 of us....

All in all - a very enjoyable evening!

International Womens Day, The Supper - Part 1

Antipasti

Fritteline al bitto su coulis di pomodoro
and
Carpaccio di bresaola ai porcini e scaglie di bitto

Primi

Tagliolini al ragu di coniglio profumato alla menta

Gnocchetti alla 'mimosa'

Secondo

Cuore di costata ai pistacchi con salsa al sassella

Formaggio

Ricotta alla brace con frutti di bosco

International Women's Day '1'

Yesterday was International Women's Day. But here in the village, and I believe throughout Italy, it is celebrated simply as 'Giorno Della Donna'.

The local Circolo Di Anziani (aka 'Wrinklies Club') Held their usual fortnightly GTG.... and as the day was 'what it was' we were all presented with a lovely little mimosa buttonhole. Before the basket was demolished I took this photo....
For me, it was my second buttonhole of the day, as I was given one at the local hairdressers too (along, this time with a 'Mon Cheri' chokkie as well).

There weren't too many there this afternoon as later in the evening we were all off to the new village restaurant for our Women's Day Supper - see below - sorry, that should read above....).

But there was time for some to play cards (Briscola or Scopa) and the rest of us to give in to the incredible excitement of Tombola.
BTW the first lady on the left of the photo is 96, whereas next to her (wearing glasses) is Mariuccia, who is still a 'youngster' at only 83!

I am really beginning to feel that I am starting to be accepted within this little community just a 'little bit more' as each day goes by...

Wednesday, March 08, 2006

Now the snow has gone....

ere is my little waterfall accross the lane from my house - not quite in 'full flow' yet. There's still an awful lot of snow left up on 'Lengnone' to melt...

This is the view now looking past my entrance and down the

lane towards my neighbours.

The corner of my place is on the left.

The point where the lane branches in two behind the house and winds it's way up the mountain. This soon becomes a 'goat track' once the few houses above me are passed by.

The final view looking out of the drive that was waist deep in snow before. The garden, which is on the left of this is 2 metres lower, so the view from the patio is really nice.

I had hoped to get some photo's of the 'neighbours' (chickens), but I understand that the village foxes killed another 23 two nights ago and carted off three of them, plus a goose they killed in the next road!

My, they must be really hungry - and now they've found this easy source of food it will be the devil's own job stopping them!

Sunday, March 05, 2006

Spring is 'springing'!

The buds are beginning to show, the hazel tree is full of catkins, the hydrangea's are covered in big fat buds - add a good dose of bright sunshine to that and you have a good idea of what today has been like.

The family turned up unexpectedly yesterday and stayed for supper... nothing fancy just a nice home made minestrone of sorts - made with oddments of fresh veg to start off with. So instead of the normal soup it consisted of a piece of ham diced small and fried with onions in very little oil, and then a load of carrots, a red and green pepper, coste (cut up very small), borlotti, zucchini and a couple of large 'very' ripe tomatoes plus a good sprinkling of frozen basil for a bit more flavour. This was followed by some local rabbit that I had casseroled with red, yellow and green peppers that I made this earlier in the week, but there was so much I put some by in the freezer. So that solved the problem of supper. We then had some local 'caprino' - fresh goats cheese from the local dairy mixed with EV olive oil and plenty of ground black pepper, and that with some crusty bread went down a treat!

They're coming up again - well two of them - next Friday evening and staying over 'til Sunday. They have to visit the Abbot at Piona Abbey near Colico as they have arranged to renew their marriage vows there at the end of April to celebrate their 25th Wedding Anniversary. It's not going to be a huge affair, and at first the Abbot said 'no'. It seems that the monks discontinued this practice some time ago. But when my niece burst into tears and explained that her parents (neither of whom are with us any longer) held their wedding renewal service in the Abbey some years ago, the Abbot gave in and said yes..... So we're all looking forward to this joyful ceremony which will be followed by a family luch at an agriturismo in the mountains.

Friday, March 03, 2006

A Grumpy Old.........!

Today I feel like a real grumpy old 'f*rt....

I see and hear all this stuff on the television about the San Remo Song Festival, then on top of that there's all this 'hoo - ha' building up about the forthcoming Oscar ceremony... so why aren't I excited? Why does it all bore me to tears? It never used to. I used to love Canzonissima and the San Remo and Neapolitan song Festivals. Perhaps it's because I don't know any of the 'participants' (I'm not going to say 'singers' - 'cos some are, some aren't). See what I mean? One short paragraph and I'm sure you've got the ghist of just how I'm feeling. Yet this isn't ME - No way!!!

So why now? Perhaps because Spring is just round the corner, but not quite here yet. Perhaps because I'm finding it harder than I thought to finally accept that lot's of things I want to do - I can't any more! Despite giving many things 'a go' - I have to surrender and that makes me first of all frustrated - but then, even worse - makes me so bl**dy mad at my total inability to do some really stupid everyday things!!!

And yet when I think about it - what the hell have I got to moan about? There are so many who are a damned sight worse off than me.....

So I'm 'off' song festivals, and 'off' film awards ceremonies. So what? I don't like them - don't watch them. At least I've got a television and the choice of switching it on or not as I choose. Now if I didn't have that choice, then perhaps I might 'just' have the right to complain about such trivial thoughts.

I've got my health (well sort of), I've got friends all over the world, I've got a loving son - who 'cares' about his Mum. I've got a little 'mutt' who thinks he's found 'America' here with me and who loves me almost to death. I have fond and loving memories of those no longer here with me so I suppose I have many things for which I should be grateful haven't I?

'Cos when you get right down to it - there are only 'two things prime'...... That I have a peaceful life among caring people - and I am able to afford and do (almost) everything I want!

And those two things I have got!

Thursday, March 02, 2006

Anything for a laugh!!!

The 'lemom tree'. It will go back outside at the end of the month. Two ripe lemons plus 7 little 'uns still there.

Ha.... and Ha! 'She' thinks I don't know there's a tree in the house...

Really.... Naive or what?

Mind you - I'm gonna really be 'for it' if she suddenly puts two and two together on why her lemons are that colour!

Yikes - how do I get out of here without 'her' spotting me?