"Alpine Settler"

7 - 2....Can't be bad!

2007-12-07T17:45:00.001+01:00

OK – so it’s not been the best month or so in my life – though there have (obviously) been worse times. But I really felt like having a moan at how the life had treated me on my last blog….

And things have started to get better now...

The snow that we had crossed our fingers NOT to get – we didn’t! 1 - 0
The continuation of the rain never materialised. 2 – 0
RAI said I hadn’t owned a TV license for 3 years. I PROVED I had! 3 – 0
No ICI tax to pay in December (Hooray!) I paid it all last June. 4 – 0
Dates for friends Christmas visits now fixed…. 5 – 0
Discovered where, when and how ‘Naughty Nina’ died! 6 – 0
Discovered that her (Nina’s) sister in law lived to 97 and died in 1997! 6 – 1
No.1 son flying over on the 11^th just to have lunch with me!!! 7 – 1
Yesterday my dishwasher ‘died and went to heaven’ (blo*dything –
just before Christmas too)! 7 – 2

So – I suppose all-in-all at 7 -2 I’m still on the winning side. The new dishwasher has been chosen and should have been delivered ‘sometime’ today – but HEY, come on now - we’re in Italy where ‘today’ could mean anytime this (or next) week really.

(I wonder how long before I run out of clean plates though?)

Tomorrow is a National Holiday – the Festa del Immacolata concezione di Maria – The Immaculate Conception of Maria. It is also the Festa of Sant’Ambrogio in Milano. But everywhere (well almost) will be closed and so NO dishwasher tomorrow either! Sunday? Nah…not in Italy. So that means fingers crossed for Monday and on Tuesday I’m not here – off to Bergamo for lunch with Sergio.

Just think, his return flight with Ryan Air cost a WHOLE 2 pence ( €0.27 or $0.04) – plus taxes of £21, but as he says “Mum, I can’t even travel the 36 miles from Maidstone to London for that!” So thank you Ryan Air….

I know a lot of people complain about the ‘cattle truck’ treatment, but hey…it’s not exactly ‘long haul’ is it? A couple of hours of resisting their (RA’s) get rich quick sales pitches during the flight and you’re OK.

Back 'On the ball'....

2007-11-25T15:19:00.000+01:00

These last three weeks have not been the best time I've ever had. It was delightful to have Sergio and his partner here for an, all-be-it, very short stay. One (actually two) bright stars in my firmament. We enjoyed catching up with the news and gossip - even thought Skype is a great way of shrinking distances between friends and loved ones at little or no cost. Thank goodness that phones aren't like this anymore! But calls can never replace sitting across a table and chatting about this, that and the price of fish can it?

Of course there were birthday presents to give - Serge for his BIG 40 and Lynsey for the belated gift for her $%&(£"% th birthday (she said she would shoot me if I revealed her age...hahaha). I gave them both a gold chain and let them choose between two gold charms... one was of a new moon and the other of a sun similar to this one here

...Lyns suggested that as Serge is a night owl with his work, he should have the moon. Seemed like a good idea.

While they were here I got my birthday and this years (all in one) Christmas present too. They bought me - wait for it...it IS exciting; an external hard disc for my computer. It was something I had wanted (not to say needed) as my PC only had 18gig (?) of which 15.5 was used. It was so slow it almost got a parking ticket every time I switched it on (talk about 'snail mail'
- well that was my PC!). But this new gadget/widget/thingamajig has no fewer that 268gig - so that will probably last longer that I will!

But back to the last three weeks - well I had a cold when they arrived and I almost needed a dog licence for the 'bark' I had.... a really hacking cough. Then that turned to catarrh and breathing when one's 'dose is all bugged up' and your coughing - just ain't a whole load of fun.

Climbing the stairs became a real chore when allied to the increasing arthritis too. So all in all I felt pretty sorry for myself.... I wasn't a 'happy bunny' - no way no how!!! Going out was literally limited to a quick dash for a bit of shopping then back in the warm. Couldn't even get my 'flu jab until I was a bit better either.

Things have slowly improved and despite a whole week when heavy rain has just NOT stopped for a minute - where's the nut who said "Well we do need it"? (GRRR), I managed to get to Milan for my annual check-up. That all went reasonably well and I'm 'free' again for another 12 months (phew)! But now I'm so behind with my own schedule that I've really got to get my finger out and re-organise all the jobs I've not been able to do and had to put on hold... As the Italians say "Beh - la vita e cosi!" ("Yeah - life is like that!"!). But all I really feel like is finding one of these

and rocking away 'til the cows come home...

During this forced 'rest time' though I have profited by having Skype and managed to at least have a bit of company each day - very important if you can't get out. Last week I suggested that friend Heather and her OH, John should come to me for Christmas - the reply was "Well maybe next year"... Better than nowt, and something to look forward to I guess. Then two days later they called back and asked if they could come over from 20th December 'til 3rd January'" - can they come over? I ask you... Of course they can. I can't wait. It will be lovely to have people here for both holidays.

So now it's really a case of 'nose to the grind stone' and waiting for the joys of Christmas with some very, very dear friends....

I'm back now.... Sorry to have been so long!

2007-11-05T11:39:00.000+01:00

Yes I've been somewhat remiss again (sorrrry) about keeping up with the blog. But I'm going to plead insanity - no no no...I didn't mean THAT! I meant 'inability' (but then again maybe I was right the first time hahahaha). I've just been unable to find a minute to myself this last month. The time has literally flown by. In fact the seemingly 'distant' visit of No.1 Son and Lynsey (his lady) is already here and nearly - but not quite - over.

The research for 'Naughty Nina' is finally producing results - I've at last found where - and when - she died! The latest episode of the 'saga' will be written shortly; I'm still waiting for a copy of her death certificate (God Bless the British Post Office and it's strike....). In addition my partnership genealogy site "Gente di Mare" is growing. The membership is increasing slowly, but the 'visits/views' are very encouraging. In the 4 months since we launched we've had nearly 180,000 views - and October was our record month at over 50K. Then the translation side of my time is slowly growing and will - I'm sure grow even more when my new all singing, all dancing "Alpine Settler Journal" website is completed - this will be hosted by http://www.gentedimaregenealogy.com/index.php
I'm really looking forward to that as it will encompass my various hobbies and pastimes together under one roof. I'm not rushing though - I want the site to be pleasant and welcoming to anyone who pays me the wonderful compliment of spending their own precious time reading about my mundane life and interests..... so while I 'm on that subject let me just say

"Thank you - your company here with me IS appreciated, and it goes a long way to ensuring that terminal loneliness will never find a seat at my table!".

Well it's now Monday morning....
'The visit' is done and dusted and the 'children' (bless 'em) departed yesterday evening. I didn't cry when I said goodbye , well not until their car was out of sight.... I know I often speak to them on Skype , but that is never going to be the same as us sitting down to a meal together or watching a particular programme together. This time I asked them to bring over the DVD of 'The Queen' and it was nice to have some company to watch it with. THAT is one (seemingly silly) thing that I do miss.....being able to comment on a programme/film in English and so stimulate some discussion. I wonder if other expatriates understand what I'm trying to say.

I don't envy Sergio at all this week - he will have got home last night (this morning) about 12.30am, and at 10am today he flies to Amsterdam - returning later in the evening. Then a whole day back in the office, before leaving again - this time for meetings in Washington DC and then New York. All being well he'll get home on Sunday morning... He also told me that he is going to double up business with a bit of pleasure on his first trip to Japan after Christmas. He will take Lynsey with him and visit (between the ever present meetings) Tokyo, Osaka and hopefully Kyoto too. They will be spending New Year over there too. What a wonderful experience that will be - I must confess to a little touch of envy here. I have always wished I could have visited Japan - not modern Japan, but the rural areas where some of the 'old ways' still survive.

I suppose it's a bit like many of us who are now 'living abroad' - many of us have chosen to live an idyllic rural life - away from the rat race we lived in before! No - for me the quiet life of an Alpine Settler still has it's attractions and I don't think that will ever change!

The angel with 'warm hands'.

2007-10-07T01:06:00.000+02:00

This afternoon there was an unexpected ring on the door bell – and as I had not been expecting anyone a quick peep from the window showed it to be one of the ladies from the village. So without more ado – I welcomed her and we sat for a while chatting about ‘this that and the price of fish’ as one does during unexpected visits.

But she kept looking at my hands – clearly she was curious - and she finally plucked up the courage to ask “Do you have problems with your hands? Are they painful?” Well it wouldn’t take a genius to realise this as my wrists are swollen and on the back of both hands between my index fingers and second fingers there has been a swelling for some time - that my GP puts down to ‘using the computer’….. The swellings aren’t painful, but a little unsightly, but I also have (and have had for a number of years) a stiff neck and shoulder. So much so that I do find it difficult to turn my head to the left without pain and if someone holds my shoulder at the top I will yelp from the pain.

This was caused, I believe, when I took my son (then aged about eight) on a fast carousel – a bit like this one here, but with the ‘buckets’ alternating with two-seater motorcycles, one of which my son 'just had to go on!

This went very fast and I had to hang on, not just to me, but to him too… long story short – I damaged the muscles in my arm and shoulder. Within an hour my shoulder was twice the normal size. Visit to the doctor told me I was right – torn shoulder muscles “Put this cream on it and it will get better…..” he said. So I did and it did seem to. But over the years it has continued to give me some pain.

Now the reason I’m telling you this is that this neighbour ‘told me’ that I had injured my shoulder (?????) and that though I did have some arthritis, a lot of my problems were with the nerves and tendons in my shoulder, arms and hands! There she is sitting on my pouffe next to me and holding one of my hands. That was when she started to ‘rub’ my forearm very hard with her fingers, which seemed very hot, and suddenly I felt a searing pain and literally ‘yelped’…. “Ah” she says “there’s ONE of the problems, now let’s find the others!”

She then explained that she would have to start at the top of the arm and she dug her fingers into my shoulder! Well I didn’t yelp this time – I damned nearly hit the ceiling!!! Geez – that really hurt… But she continued with this kind of massage and I could actually FEEL the pain easing. After nearly an hour of this she said it would be best to rest now and she would come back in a few days to continue working on the ‘inflammation’ that I had in my one shoulder and both arms. But in just that hour the swelling on my left hand has almost disappeared and I can now turn my head more that I have done for at least thirty years. She reckons that given a bit of time it will be back almost to normal. Both hands and fingers feel so much freer than for sometime and far less tender/painful to the touch……

Honest it was like a miracle. I have heard of people with these powers but have never believed, or disbelieved, in them. But after today I’m really not so sure. After the session we had, as we always do when she visits, a nice cup of English tea, and she refused me flat when I offered to pay her for what she had done. We arranged that she would come back on Tuesday afternoon – so, fingers crossed there might be some more improvement!

She did 'let slip in conversation that she had tasted some 'Grand Marnier' and liked it, so I think for starters, at the very least, a bottle of that next Tuesday will be in order.

Time flies when you're having fun!!!

2007-10-02T17:45:00.000+02:00

Well it doesn't seem possible, but Paddy's (aka 'friend Pat') visit has already come and gone. I picked her up at Orio al Serio Airport (Bergamo) on the 23rd for her (what has now become) 'autumn break' here with me.

We hadn't made any specific plans about what to do - just as long as we went over the Spluga Pass to the village of Splugen to visit the 'Piz Tambo' for our favourite Swiss rosti.

Once we were home on Sunday the first job was for the 'mutt' to go bananas 'cos Paddy had come back.... he does his kangaroo impression every time someone he knows returns! Then Paddy unpacked her case which (as per usual - bless her) contained such treats as 1lb Lincolnshire sausages, Brussels pate, 250g English County salted butter, packs of Coleman's Chili con Carne mix and Coleman's English Mustard (the new squeezy bottle)! All very welcome indeed - a little bit of dreamed of satisfaction for my taste buds!

The weather on Monday was 'fairish' (see the photo above) - a bit overcast, but not cold. We went out and did a bit of shopping. That's Paddy's pastime- show her a shop and she's like the proverbial pig in ****! She's a self confessed 'shop-a-holic'!!! While we were shopping I actually went into a jewellers - much to Paddy's delight - as I am still looking for a suitable gift for No.1 Son for the 'Big 40'! He has since told me that he will be able to get over for a long weekend on 1st November - not quite on his birthday - but hey....it's just nice to have him here. I bought his card some (long) time ago back in the UK and wrote it this week. Paddy is going to post it for me from the UK to be on the safe side.... when I had written it I read what I had said and we both ended up like a sobbing mess for quite a few minutes! Sentimental - that's too often my problem...

So Tuesday arrived and so did the rain. It actually started late on Monday evening and was heralded in by one enormous clap of thunder about midnight. Then this is what we woke up to on Tuesday morning - snow above the 1400m line.....

In fact there was a decided 'nip' in the air and as the day went on, the rain continued and it just got colder and colder. So there was nothing for it but to turn the heating on - in SEPTEMBER - in ITALY!

But on the Wednesday morning we woke up to this wonderful sunrise - I couldn't resist taking a picture

Well the week, weather wise, didn't change at all, but I managed to shift her thoughts of 'shopping' to a new interest.....GENEALOGY! She had read my 'Naughty Nina Saga' and we chatted about what was entailed in following leads to find ancestors. She asked if that could be done for her family too? Of course it can be done for any one's family and as I am a paid up member of 'Ancestry.com' that is a good place to start. So we did! Within minutes we discovered that her great grandfather had joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force in 1914. We found his signing on papers and there were a few tears as Paddy saw his actual signature for the first time. Result? Yes you've guessed - she was well and truly 'HOOKED'. From then on, apart from our meals and one or two visits to a restaurant or a shop, plus of course the evening dose of 'Eastenders' - we were searching away to find details of many of her 'long lost' family. I must say we were pretty successful and Paddy is now going to continue searching now she's back home.

But we both agreed (her family is the same as mine) that our forebears created a real minefield with their habit of giving the same name to at least one person in each generation..... AND it is surprising just how many people have exactly same name, at the same period, but in different towns and even countries! That really does cause confusion to novices like Paddy and I.

So now I'm here on my own again - not that this is a problem - back to talking to everyone via Skype and following various translations and family researches - my own included - with Nuccia (aka Amie) my friend and partner in Toronto.

Debra tells me that she is almost back to normal (but I don't really believe her...) but now has an album of about 400 photos to remind her and Joe of their Italian experience. So it seems it's now all systems 'GO' for their planned future retirement to (maybe) Bellano. Now that would be nice!!!

Another nice surprise came too from Heather and John this week - a lovely photo of the house from the 'mountain stream end'.... Don't usually take photo's from there. John took this one and it does make it look nice now it's painted.

So the time for my 'visitors' is over for another 'season'. Just Sergio and Lynsey now for their 'quick dash' in and out of Italy and then I'll settle back and wait for next spring and see who that brings to my door....

"Cant wait!"

Nearly the end of the 'Visitor Season' - alas!

2007-09-22T11:07:00.000+02:00

Well here we are at the end of the summer. This morning it was only 14°C at 10am and that is quite a drop over recent days. There is a decided 'chill' to the air these days and last night I had to get out a ''light trapunta" (eiderdown) for the bed. I have what are called 'mezza stagione' (half season) ones which are just right for early autumn and late spring, then of course the heavier "duvet's" that are either 'twin' TOGS that can be separated and the heavier 13TOG ones. But that light trapunta was really welcome last night - it's not frosty (yet) - but I sense that frosty mornings aren't too far away... I always sleep with my bedroom windows open and the 'persiane' (shutters) closed. NO heating either...so a good trapunta or duvet is really a neccessity.

But tomorrow sees the arrival of Pat (aka Paddy) for a week here with me... it maybe her last this year. I might have to turn the heating on for her - only set at maybe 20°. I don't want her getting a cold. Mind you - I've got a real 'stinker' at the moment. I got cold on Tuesday when we had some pretty awful storms here - accompanied by high winds. Something hardly ever seen hereabouts. We do get - at this end of the lake - a breeze every afternoon about 4pm. It is called 'The Breva'. Each part of the lake gets a breeze like this and all have their own local names for them - like the 'Tivano' found only at the southern end of the lake at Lecco, and from time to time the north wind called the 'Vento' or 'San Vincenzo '... as you can see here these winds are great for para surfing and sailing - but can be treacherous too....

Just four weeks ago two 15 year old boys from my village were canoeing when a sudden violent gust blew their canoe over - one managed to swim ashore - his friend didn't. His body was found the next day. A tragic moment for his family and for us all here in the village. Both boys were brought up 'on the lake' so to speak and despite their young years were very aware of the dangers - but this time the 'Breva' beat them!

I've never known a country so taken with giving names to 'winds' that always arrive from certain directions.... A few that Italy has/uses are the Scirocco, Bora, Libeccio, Mistral and the Levantera!

But leaving the weather aside for a moment - tomorrow (Sunday) it's a nice easy journey (no weekday rush hour traffic) to Orio al Serio airport at Bergamo to collect Paddy. She's flying this time from East Midlands airport instead of Stanstead. EM is better for them as they live near Banbury - but we'll see what advantages there are over Stanstead.....at least I know that Jozef (DH) won't have to get up in the middle of the night to get to the airport in time. The EM - Bergamo is a later flight and gets here at 2.55pm!

Paddy is my last 'scheduled' visitor this year. Though No.1 Son is due some time in October. It's the "BIG 40" for him on 10th October, but he will be in London then. He'll celebrate with me later in the month - who after all wants to be reminded of the 40th? Not him, I know....and certainly NOT me as his Mum!

Geez - FORTY YEARS - where HAVE they gone?

The 'Naughty Nina Saga?

2007-09-12T09:06:00.001+02:00

For anyone who may have found an odd couple of minutes to spare - and who used them to read about Naughty Nina (my maternal grandmother) - you may like to know that after several months there is a little bit ('but not a lot') of new information about her early life! I've now written Episode Two to the 'Skeleton In The Cupboard' and it is getting quite interesting now.

I do suspect however that Episode Three is going to involve quite a lot of research as it is going into the realms of Public Census' taken from 1911 onwards that are not yet available to view by the public. So without access to those it means a search for a person, bless her (not) whose sole aim for the last years of her life was NOT to be found by her daughter... I now know that she might/could have been using any one of FOUR different names during this time and that alone makes the research, if not difficult, then very long winded!

Here's the link to Episode Two....N.B. If you missed Episode One just scroll down to see it!

http://www.caroleinitaly.com/thenaughtyninasaga.htm

Hope you enjoy it!

Need a translation?

2007-09-05T00:09:00.000+02:00

I posted this on my 'links' sidebar here on the 'blog', but someone said to me "Why don't you write a post about it?"

About what? Well about my sort of part time translation service.... "Alpine Settler Translations". It ticks over quite comfortably and keeps me fairly busy. I do quite a lot of genealogical translations, but also certificates and other documents, flyers, brochures etc.

If you want to know more - just pop in and have a look. I'm right at the top of the sidebar on the right - listed as : New "Alpine Settler" Translations - just click on that.....

I don't go in for those large commercial translations, but prefer the 'little jobs' that others can't be bothered with. I love doing this, especially the genealogical research ones which often are a real headache to decipher the old fashioned Italian handwriting..... sometimes you can do it all....and others there are often bits which unfortunately just cannot be understood.

But when it comes to modern day certificates, well they are almost a 'doddle' but not quite such fun!

Sorry......

2007-09-04T09:51:00.000+02:00

I have been decidedly remiss about keeping the blog up to date recently. No excuses - I've just NOT got round to it.... so here's a start with the 'tail' of the Deb and Joe visit.

I definitely got the impression that:
a.) They had a good time
b.) They enjoyed the cuisine.
c.) Deb loves Alpine cows....
d.)They will be back again pretty soon!

One huge sigh of relief for me was that they did like the (now downsized) Meridiana Hotel which I had recommended. But if you ever get the chance to stay there too you will understand just why they liked it and why I have stayed there for years.... and still visit often for a nice lunch or with friends for supper.

Our visit for them to Lake Lugano was a nice start to a day out which culminated with a drive over the Spluga Pass into Italy. Deb was ecstatic - her love of Switzerland and the Alpine terrain could be heard at every turn of the road....I think she took at least a zillion photos that day (shh...mainly of chocolate and cream coloured cows!)

But the pleasure for me was to be able to show them parts of Italy and MY Alps that many tourists never see. In a coach or a train you can't just say "Oooo STOP - I want to take a photograph!"

In a car - you can! And we DID!!!

Shiela and John, another two friends that Deb made on the 'net' - retired Brits who live near Geneva - drove down to spend a day with them and we all met up and went for supper up to Mama Santina's for the usual mountain fayre.... And you will never believe it - Deb got herself locked in the same 'lavatory' that Paddy did.... What is it with my visitors and the 'loo' at Mama Santina's?

Our 'Last Supper' was at another of my favourite mountain retreats "Il Capretto" http://www.agriturismoilcapretto.it/home.html
Here they wanted to try the roast goat, plus the 'tagliata'
- we shied away from the pizzocheri this time as both Deb and Joe wanted to try the home made 'dolci' (puddings to you and me....). Then to finish up - the host Bruno - always puts a bottle of their home made Crema di Limoncello on the table.... it IS pretty potent but as neither Joe OR Deb were driving that night, they did rather enjoy it. It is drunk from small icy cold 'shot' glasses - see the results...

and you can see who really REALLY enjoyed it???

But their holiday - alas - is over - they flew out on the 29th and I bet that all this already seems a long time ago for them. But they do have, I'm sure, some wonderful memories and that feeling that most people leave with having visited this part of 'The Boot' ....

That it is most definitely a place to come back to -
and may it be soon!

Well they arrived!

2007-08-22T10:03:00.000+02:00

Yep - they've arrived - Hooray! But so has the rain. Or to be more precise THAT has been here for a couple of days. I was so sad that the cloud cover meant no view of the continent as they flew over and landed in Italy.... I bet they would have had a wonderful view of 'wall to wall' ocean though.

But I managed to park really near to one of the two Exits that they would have to use and suddenly "there they were!" And there was Deb coming towards me at a fair rate of knots - she just grabbed me and hugged me - wouldn't let go... and she kept saying "Are you real? Can I pinch you?" - yes it was great, but of course I was just dying for the chance to 'hug the hunk' . Now don't get me wrong - hugging Deb was GREAT - nothing better... but 'oh boy' is Joe a hunk!

Their first request was for some breakfast (in Italy? Yeah, right - as if!) so we stopped at a 'services' with an Autogrill where I knew they could at least get a 'toast' or one of the other 'toasted delights' usually on offer in such places.

Then it was on to the hotel which they really like. I left them for a while so they could have a quick 'wash and brush up' and we agreed that I'd pick them up and we would go for lunch together in a 'non tourist' trattoria. Now that was an experience for them...and a treat for me as I could eat a couple of things that I really 'shouldn't have' (ssh!). Deb and I started with tagliatelle with wild mushrooms an followed with cotoletta alla Milanese - mine with mixed salad and Debs' with french fries. Joe started with ravioli al magro (cheese and spinach filling) with melted butter and followed with roast veal and a mixed salad. Neither could finish it all - understandable I guess after the toasted sandwich. But I did - and then just had fruit for supper.... I'm not sure what they had (if anything) for supper.
Following lunch they wanted to come back to meet the mutt and see the house - but the rain (and their tiredness) seemed to put a damper on it a bit. I really hope they had a good rest and a nice leisurely breakfast this morning. We'll see - later!

Nearly, almost!

2007-08-20T11:18:00.000+02:00

Yes it's nearly time for 'friend' Debra and her dishy, tall (to me anyone over 5'3" is tall, and he's 5'11") red headed husband Joe are due to fly out of Newark N.J. airport later today for their holiday up here with me... YIPPEE!!! (and before you ask - NO Bijoux is not coming with them....)

I'll be picking them up from Malpensa airport (just north of Milan) tomorrow morning. They are due to land at 7.50am so it will be a fairly early start for me. It's not that far though (140km) so I'll probably leave at about 6am but I'll check that their flight left on time before setting out.

We've been in contact on numerous occasions over recent weeks - for obvious reasons. And right up 'til last night there were one or two points that Joe wanted to check on. But perhaps the most important call, from my point of view was mine last Wednesday. I had a favour to ask... I have heard about the things that I wanted them to get for me over the years, in films and from other people - but I had never (even during my times over there) ever bought or tried one. So what better opportunity that this to satisfy my curiosity once and for all. On Wednesday I did just that and asked Debs if she could possible bring me not one but TWO Hershey Bars!!!! Well whatever did you think I meant - pastrami on rye - a bagel???? No...CHOCOLATE is what I crave - and two bars will last me for ages. I'm very good with things I shouldn't eat, especially chocolate. No.1 son bought me a 1/2lb bar of Cadbury's Milk at Christmas and I made that last me 'til the end of March! But 'Good Grief' it is soooo difficult to resist temptation.

It is going to be a wonderful 10 days for Debbie and Joe, as in addition to meeting me for the first time (though we do talk regularly on Skype), they have another English couple who have just moved fro the UK to near Geneva but in France. They are driving over for two days to meet Deb and Joe for the first time too. It's going to be great - I just know it!

They will be seeing a lot of the lake and the surrounding mountains and several days out are planned. Maybe a boat trip from Bellano to Belaggio then down to Como and up to Brunate too. Deb said she wouldn't mind 'dropping in' to George's place (Cloony that is) for a cup of tea or whatever he might have on offer! Fat chance of that I reckon - and if it 'was on offer' I rather feel she would find herself at the back of a queue long enough to stretch back to New Jersey (LOL).

So all that remains now is for their arrival in the morning. Can hardly wait to meet two lovely people who already feel like old friends!

Is Blogging A Hobby!

2007-08-15T22:57:00.000+02:00

Well is it, or should it be, no more than a hobby?
I'm asking 'cos I don't know anymore. When I started this 'blog' in early January 2006 it was - initially - pretty scary. But as time went on I began to really enjoy recounting the odds and ends of my life as an Alpine Settler. Ciccio (aka 'the mutt') arrived on the scene just days before I started the blog. Plus, at that time we in the Valtellina were in the grips of a pretty long, hard and very cold winter. This was the snow outside my front door at the time.

But as time went on I managed to find various things to write about. Not easy when you lead a pretty mundane life and are happy to do so. Not for me the dreams of shooting off here or visiting there - not any more....I've been there and done all that and I'm quite happy now to lead a quiet uneventful, and for many what must seem a totally boring existence. Gone are my days of shopping for those 'days in the sun' or those long touring holidays. Yes I do - to some extent - miss the ability to do so nowadays....finances are what they are when you're a pensioner - with the 'average to low income' that all governments declare is more than enough for anyone to live on (so long as it's NOT THEM!). But that doesn't bother me - I am free of debt (for the first time ever I might add.....) and while I'm not, and never have been, extravagant - I lead a pretty good life.

I have friends who visit regularly and who are always a constant source of joy - be it during a visit or just chatting on Skype with them. I have my son (and his girl) who, while not able to visit frequently due to his own music management business and his globe trotting, does keep in touch. At least it is years now that I don't get anymore of those calls that 'Hyacinth Bucket' used to get regularly from 'her Sheridan'! I'm sure many of you know just what I mean (LOL). He's more likely these days to ask me if I need anything - bless him!

But I'm now finding it increasingly difficult on various fronts to continue 'blogging'

My involvement with my new partnership on the http://www.gentedimaregenealogy.com site.
My ongoing search for 'Naughty Nina' - who - it now seems was born in Egypt!
My translation work with 'my' AST (Alpine Settler Translations).
A total lack of ideas and interesting daily events to 'blog' about.

So though I know I get quite a few visitors to the blog - it's nothing mind boggling, and most while they do spend time here, don't comment. But why should they? How can anyone comment on a mundane and totally uninspiring life style? It's nice though to see from my 'stats' that there are still some regular visitors. That is comforting, but more than I expect - or deserve. You see I'm warm in my shell - I don't like sticking my neck out and taking risks anymore - so I shall continue like this 'til no one visits any more....THEN, and only then, will I put my 'cyber pen' down and shut up shop!

So "Here's looking at you babe!" At least until the next time....

Just 'peachy'!

2007-08-13T09:28:00.000+02:00

Last Wednesday when getting some fruit I noticed some particularly delicious looking peaches. Now I'm not a lover of peaches - preferring nectarines because of thier smooth skin. If I do buy 'furry' peaches it means I have to peel 'em. I can't bear biting into that furry skin - eugggggh!

Well - back to these peaches on Wednesday - HTG they were the largest I have EVER seen! They are called 'pesche percocche' and it seems they are the ideal ones for bottling due to their fragrance and their flavour. Well - having eaten them (I shared two of the three I bought) over the weekend I can tell you that the word about the flavour is just sooooo true.
Here's how big they were

This is next to a normal sized nectarine.

Here below on a plate with the nectarine, some medium sized 'toms' and a couple of plums.....

This one weighed in at 338gr. That's just on 12oz! Quite incredible.

The three I bought - as you can see - weighed in at a total of 1kg 150gr and that's almost
2lb 9oz!!!

Deb's gift has arrived!

2007-08-11T16:55:00.000+02:00

At last, after waiting on tenterhooks for several weeks, the beautiful gift that Debra from New Jersey made for me has finally arrived.

Deb had spent weeks of her precious time making this very personal gift for me - all the while asking me things like "What are your favourite colours?" and "What time of year do you like best?"...It got to the stage that I was actually threatening her (in the nicest POSSIBLE sense) that if she didn't tell me what 'it' was, then she'd be s.o.o.o.o.ry...and I would never, never speak to her again (LOL). Well she didn't tell me and I just had to wait....but that's where the problems arose.

Good old Deb posted it on the 16th July and sent it Air Mail - yeah, right! It must have been sent from Kitty Hawk on the 17th December 1903 and the plane had to be piloted by Orville Wright 'cos the parcel didn't get here 'til Tuesday 7th August August - 22 DAYS LATER ! Let's face it - that is scandalous... It hadn't been checked by Customs or tampered with - it was just as Deb sent it. So how come that 'man' can fly the 375000 miles to the moon like the Apollo spacecraft did and that only took about 3 days?

The postal services of today really do 'beggar belief' - but it DID arrive - and 'boy' was it worth waiting for....

Deb had put SO much thought into making it a really personal gift - one that would mean little of nothing to anyone else. A really lovely thought which I apreciate so much.... and so you can all share it - here it is:

It has many things applied to it as a 'collage' so it is a very tactile picture. There are little strips of brown lacy ribbon covered in little flowers made from beads. Copies of Italian stamps and an antique Italian 1 lira bank note. A map of part of Italy , some Italian 'mock' leaves, a supposed antique letter complete with postage date stamp and finally down in the bottom left had corner mi initial, a key (to my home) and what appears to be an ols stencil with my village post code. Much more personal than that.....

It is so beautiful and the time and thought that Deb put into creating it for ME is so appreciated!

THANK YOU SO MUCH DEB - AND A BIG HUG!
BUT YOU'LL BE WITH ME IN JUST TEN DAYS AND I CAN'T WAIT!

Not lazy - just busy!

2007-08-07T15:02:00.000+02:00

I was soundly 'ticked off' by friend Judith (in Umbria as was...) because I had not posted here for almost a month - and very little for the previous weeks either. Judith commented " Hey, Carole! It's time to get off your rear end and post something, so I am tagging you". So that put me firmly in my place.

But these last couple of months have been (to use an old fashioned word) fraught with pitfalls and problems. Nothing mind boggling or World stopping - things of that genre started passing me by some years ago (thank goodness).

No, I have been busy with visitors (Heather and John) who were over for two weeks - which was really nice. Apart from the fact they chose to come for the last two weeks in July. Yeah OK - I understand that most Brits lately have been convinced that they were heading for Mount Arrarat, but here we were resembling (or I was anyway) a piece of well done roast beef! The day I went to pick them up a Linate was one of those days - blo*dy hot! Their flight had been delayed so while I tried to find a parking place near to the exit the temperature soared in the shade to a mind shattering 40°C (104°F).... there was nothing to do but await their call from the baggage hall to say they had landed OK. So instead of leaving Linate about 4.45pm we didn't get away 'til nearly 6pm. Straight into the Milan rush hour around Sesto and Monza. To be (generally) avoided at all costs! We finally got home at 8pm, resembling three bits of rag that needed to go through the spin dryer. Then there was (almost) a fight on which two of us would get the showers first....

But long story short - their two weeks flew by - holidays have a habit of doing that and they departed on the 30Th. But not before John showed me how to cook an authentic curry, using the wonderful set of Indian spices they bought me back from their holiday in India last November. I had mango chutney and had found poppadoms - add the basmati rice from Lidl and I was (literally) like the proverbial 'pig in sh*t'.... Oh the utter delight in savouring a real Indian curry for the first time since November 2004!

While they were here we also went to eat at 'Il Capretto' where Heather (tentatively) tasted goat for the first time. John had tasted it years ago in India where he grew up. He is Anglo/Portuguese. While there I noticed that they had some new benches in their garden. The owners brother-in-law makes them. I enquired if he made them for sale - he didn't - but he offered to make one for me (at a price). Well I jumped at the chance and he delivered it this week and it now has pride of place on my terrace....

But also during this last few weeks I have been working with a new partner (old friend) and we have set up a 're-vamped' website. She had started a free website in April (I was an administrator with her) and it had caused so many problems and had continued to 'crash' so often that we decided to get a web design company to provide a customised version of one of their designs. That was done and when it was downloaded something went wrong and the new site was not complete and in addition it crashed my partners PC too. Well the designer stepped in VERY quickly and solved all the problems and on Saturday we (finally) launched the brand new version of our new genealogy site:
"Gente di Mare Genealogy.com"
http://www.gentedimaregenealogy.com

So if searching for your ancestors interests you, we do have a small - but increasing - team of research experts who are willing to either help, or guide anyone who is researching their roots/background. Be it for citizenship or just to build a family tree - here you will find help. They are building up a large surname database and Italian State Archive data base which is growing by the day.

Do come on over and have a look. You never know - we may even tempt you to delve into your family's past too!

So as you can see - I've not been lazing on a sunny beach somewhere with a dry martini in my mitt...but I have been rather busy!

Now for the next 'summer milestone' - in just 14 days Debra (aka Pia), and her husband Joe (who I met via 'Expats in Italy'), will be here with me for 10 days holiday....I don't know who's more excited - them or me!

A Prince of Thieves!

2007-07-13T10:41:00.000+02:00

I bet you can't possibly guess who I might be talking about. Then again.....

Yes the 'Prince of Thieves' - aka the 'Mutt' - aka 'Ciccio'.

Now ever since I have had him he has had a 'naughty habit' (only usually when I'm out) of getting onto the table in the kitchen. He discovered, within just a few days of coming to his new home, that the table gave him a super view of anyone who came to the front door. Forewarned meant forearmed in his mind, and the sight of ANYONE was a signal to 'bark for England!'

But I found a way - as spoil sport owners like me do - to foil this bad habit. Five chairs wer pushed right under the table and the sixth (wouldn't quite go) had cardboard box placed on it so he couldn't get on the table via that route. He's too small (or too much of a coward) to jump straight up from the floor so the problem - so I thought - was solved.

Yeah - right! Well there's none so sly as a pooch who gets the whiff of a 'cooling' almond cake! Yes that's right - you've guessed.... The other day I was expecting visitors for 'tea' so I had baked a cake (from a packet I might add - I'm a lousy cake baker) early in the morning before going out shopping. I didn't take Ciccio with me as it was going to be a hot day and I can't leave him in the car while I'm shopping. The cake was put in the middle of the table, with a wire cover over it, to cool while I was out. (No DON'T ask me why I didn't put it on a work-top - I've no idea....).

Well I'm sure you know just what happened.... This is what was there to greet me when I returned

Yes that's right - he's snaffled nearly the lot - greedy little bu@@er!!!

I called him and he appeared, tail wagging (the fool). I got him onto a chair, grabbed his collar (don't read any further if you have a 'squeamish' nature), and dragged him onto the table - pushed his nose right onto what was left of the cake and then (for the first time ever) gave him three strong whacks accross his rump with (wait for it...) a plastic fly swat! He was astounded - honest. But with a loud yike, yike, yike - he was pulled back OFF the table and told to 'get out of my blo*dy sight' (yes he does understand English - well swear words anyway). Well he did just that, and went to hide in the corner of the terrace for the next three hours!

That'll teach him....

But there is a short epilogue to the tale. The next morning - all forgotten with cuddles etc. back to normal - while having my caffè-latte who should arrive, hoping for the chance of a few cornflakes? Ciccio did!

Well I had saved the remains of the 'you know what' in a paper bag, I took it out and offered it to him. Honest to Gxd, you should have seen his expression! He almost turned white!!! I tried not to laugh when he did a smart about turn and disappeared down the hall like a doggy Michael Schumaker....

OK - Who's a "Dork?"

2007-06-29T09:34:00.000+02:00

Question: Who's a Dork?
Answer: I am!!!

Here's a serious sensory perception test for you to try....

I thought I was (absolutely no doubt about it!) very observant, a real 'clever clogs' in fact -
Ha... well how wrong can you get? I was really fooled by some of the questions - or I ran out of time. (any excuse is better than none I s'pose).

OK, OK. My score? Well I managed to score a 'terrific' 8 (out of 20)....

Yeah yeah - well wait 'til YOU try!

CLICK HERE

Oops!

2007-06-23T08:36:00.000+02:00

Oops - I forgot to say that 'niece Dani' is doing fine. She's slowly on the mend. They did think they might have to operate and 'pin' the shoulder (?), but have decided not to. Luigi bought her up for a few hours last weekend, and it was nice to see her. But I think the hour long journey took it's toll a little bit.

I was just thankful that it wasn't worse than the shoulder and bruised and grazed knees and wrists...

Oh - by the way - there are two new (well nearly new) posts that I've just added below this one!

We're all going rusty up here!

2007-06-22T23:16:00.000+02:00

Over the last few weeks the weather here has been totally unbelievable. Quite literally we were 'cooking to death' one minute and 'going rusty' the next!

I know the recent rain in the UK was bad too, but because it happened over such a short period of time, the drains, rivers, sewers etc. just couldn't cope with that volume of water, hence the devastation.

But here in Italy - especially in the mountain regions it has been a disastrous month so far. Where I am we have had twelve straight days with from two to five thunder storms every day. A week ago last Thursday there was one that lasted for two hours - stuck at the top of the lake by the mountains. Then there was another short one in the early evening - and then about 9.30pm 'the big one' (or so we thought), which 'seemed' to be directly overhead but it was so huge it must have been everywhere. This one lasted until just before 3am - a total of over FIVE hours!

The advantage that we have here is that over the centuries they have understood where the 'flash points' are for the rain which runs off the mountains and have built storm trenches at the base of all the mountains. There is one right along the side of my house which leads (ultimately) into Lake Como. It is fed by a tiny waterfall on the opposite side of my lane. These are our safety valves, but they are normally dry from April until the winter being used mainly for the snow melt. But here we are in mid June and the one at the side of my house is going mad!!! I actually took a very short film of it (on my camera), but I don't know how to upload it anywhere!

But the storms have caused considerable devastation up here. Just one tiny example in the scheme of things is the state of this beautiful hydrangea in my garden..

But the other evening there was another 'biggie' and it was like a cloudburst.
I took the next two photos with my window closed, so I'm sorry if they are a bit blurry, but you can see the rain and the hailstones literally bouncing off the road and the roof opposite

This final picture I snapped at 4pm yesterday just as the storm was about to break somewhere over Gravedona on the opposite side of the lake. It looked so dramatic I just had to snap it. Needless to say, within 30 minutes it was here - over us again...

Shall I 'twiddle my thumbs!'

2007-06-09T08:07:00.000+02:00

I have been very remiss for the last two weeks. I started to draft this blog on the 9th June - for some reason, having saved it, I was just overtaken with other things to do.... So now I find myself with a bit more totally mind blowing news to bore everyone to death with and I've not even finished this bit.

So here's your chance to have a quick kip before returning to whatever you were doing before you got here!

9.6.07.
I'm sure I'm not the only one who experiences moments when there's plenty to do, some that isn't important and some that should be done, but despite that I am bored and seem totally unable to motivate myself.

Well this is how I've felt nearly all this last week. Plenty that needs doing and plenty that it would be nice to do - but I almost couldn't be bothered! Though having confessed these thoughts, the past week hasn't been a total disaster!

I completed a difficult translation of a document that was hand written in Italian just over 100 years ago.... and 'Geez' what a task that was. It's one thing understanding a language but quite another to understand the caligraphy styles from past centuries and different countries! But it's finally completed - I've been very naughty and continuously put it 'on the back burner' for ages as it was really hard going at times. But in the end, as it was a labour of love for a very dear genealogist friend's own 'personal' research - I really did need to get it 'done and dusted' for her.
So that was one task completed. One down - loads still to go!

Next there was the mutt...bless him. He was going through the 'doggie' moulting season and I swear to god there was enough of his hair 'wafting around' the place to be able to spin it and make enough wool for a jumper! So he was booked in for a trim, shampoo and set two weeks ago! But the pet shop's hot water boiler went on the blink so it was rebooked. All was completed this week though, so he now looks like a dog again instead of a scruffy urchin..... In addition I bought him a car 'safety harness'. I already had an attachment that would clip into any seat belt anchor and then on to his collar. But I read somewhere that to do this could cause the dog's neck to be broken in the case of an accident! So I explained what I wanted to my pet shop and asked them to order one for me. That has now, without a doubt, made travelling in the car much safer, and more comfortable for him too.

Oh dear. Poor Dani!

2007-06-02T00:47:00.001+02:00

Bit of bad news yesterday - my niece Daniela fell off her little moped on her way to work in the morning. No other vehicles were involved thank goodness, but even so she did manage to break her shoulder. So now she is strapped up from 'neck to navel' like...like - well like I don't know quite what, suffice to say she only has the use of her right arm and hand (plus her legs - of course...hahaha)!

She's going to be like this for at least 40 days, so at home her two sons - Yuri (25) and Aaron (19) plus her husband Luigi will now have to learn to do all those things they've been used to her doing for them.

I would dearly love to go down to Milano to help her, but their flat is small with only two bedrooms and when they so kindly cared for me following my heart attack and long recovery (I was with them from June to New Year)- the two boys gave up their bedroom for me and slept for all that time on a divan bed in their living room.... But now there is the problem of the 'mutt' too.

I am worried though that Dani will try and do things she shouldn't do, and will prolong the healing process - so I'm trying to convince her to come up and stay with me. I can look after her and there is plenty of room too. She said she wanted to go to her own little place in Colico - near to me, but that really isn't feasible as they have a narrow spiral staircase there and she wouldn't be able to hold on properly to climb it without hurting herself.

She has a control visit to the hospital next Wednesday and I hope that she will consider letting me collect and take care of her after that.

But it's June in three days!!!

2007-05-29T08:47:00.000+02:00

It's was no surprise I suppose to wake up to all this....
It's been raining here for several days and the temperature has been gradually dropping from the 'heady heights' of 38°C that it was ten days ago.

We've been getting some pretty long thunderstorms every afternoon, evening and nights too for the last six days. I know the farmers and fruit growers were desperate for rain following the failure of a snow melt of any significance this spring. But now there are worries about their hay drying - with so much rain, that already cut will go mouldy where it lays. That will cause them problems with winter fodder! The problems for them do, at times, seem endless.

But back to my perspective on this weather. Being surrounded by the Alps, it was NO surprise to wake up this morning and see that the rain had fallen as snow above the 1200m (appro. 4000ft) mark all around me. I just had to take some pictures of my panorama as it does seem incredible to think that in three days time it's June, and in a little over three weeks the nights will start drawing in again!
The four photo's here are all taken from my terrace and are - top to bottom:
1. West over the top of Lake Como.
2. North up the Val Chiavenna towards Switzerland.
3. North East at the start of the Valtellina.
4. East, across the village towards Sondrio, Bormio etc.

Once again it's mornings like this which remind me of just how lucky I am to live here. Not being a sun and heat lover, days like this don't cause me any problems at all!

All done in two days!!!

2007-05-12T16:38:00.000+02:00

My friend Deb, (here on the left with her pooch Bijoux)
from "Noo Joisey" (LOL) almost knocked me off my perch last Wednesday. We were talking about "this, that and the price of fish" (as one does), when she suddenly said "I think Joe (DH) and I will be coming over for a holiday soon. "Yes I know" - says I - "Next year or the year after - right?"

"Oh NO" she says....."This August!"

"WHAT? - OMG - What a wonderful surprise!"

Well we chatted for ages (almost two and a half hours) - plus several more times over the next 48 hours (thank heavens for SKYPE), and everything was literally 'done and dusted' by Friday morning!!! They often say that impromptu plans do work out better than those which are meticulously planned ages before the fact. Though I must admit that is the way I usually work. Lists for this - lists for that - memo's stuck all over the place - stuff ready to pack ages before it's needed. But the few times I've just 'upped sticks and gone' it has always worked just fine....

So in mid-August Deb and Joe will be here on Lake Como and I will have the pleasure of showing them some of the wonderful attractions here.

They will have the opportunity of exploring the lake on the wonderful 'batelli' (lake boats)

and exploring all the little 'alleyways' in places like Bellaggio.

Plus - they'll see the area where I live - my wonderful Valtellina!
Oh I'm just soooo excited!

Shhh - Now she's gone.... Ha ha ha!

2007-05-08T10:38:00.000+02:00

I told Paddy I would post this story.
Her reply was that if I did she would return and 'sort me out' ! Yeah, right..... Well now she's back in the UK I'm feeling quite brave (though not a lot I must admit).

But I digress - back to Paddy's embarrassing moment. Well we had gone up to Posallo where we held the "Como Get Together" in 2005. Paddy had been there before and enjoys the food and the company in this mountain 'trattoria' which has almost become 'my regular eaterie'.

We had a nice lunch and 'La Santina' (the elderly owner/cook) came out to join us for a chat after our meal. It was during this chat that Paddy 'needed to go' . I explained that the key for the 'you know where' was on the counter by the till. This gives access to a 'proper' toilet as the other two are 'alla turcha'. That is - a hole in the ground - which for ladies of our (mine and Paddy's) stature - is to say the least somewhat challenging! But please DON'T dwell on that thought for too long!

Santina and I continued our conversation (as one does), not noticing that Paddy had NOT reappeared...... Some time later though she did! Red in the face and trying to decide if she should be laughing or crying. She had, she said, been shouting for help for some time as she was unable to turn the key to unlock the 'loo door' (ha ha ha ha.... sorry Paddy). We were busy talking and never heard a thing (shame), so she continued to jiggle the key about until she finally made a successful, if embarrassed exit.

Well I'm sorry, but I couldn't stop laughing - I just saw the 'funny side' of it, imagining just how much Joe - her 'other half' would have given for the key not to have worked at all!!!

But then I really thought Paddy would indeed beat me up when I started singing..

Oh dear what can the matter be?
Poor old Paddy got locked in the lavat'ry.
She was there from Monday to Saturday.
Nobody knew she was there!

HA HA HA!!!

Spluga Beauties - No. 1!

2007-05-06T12:20:00.000+02:00

Three small sets of photo's follow here from the Spluga Pass which, as you will see, is so variable in spring time. These alpine flowers are beautiful and like all 'alpines' it is totally verboten to pick or take cuttings or roots from them. Some may try but if it is ever noticed that you have any of these alpine flowers growing in your garden I understand that the penalties are very stiff!