Little Italy 23

[BananaGio]

Siamo qua!

I jhave been looking for a SMS number or something too - I thought I was being disorganised.

I am quite taken aback by the reaction of the leadership; the situation in Veneto seems to have been downplayed in the media if anything... Berlusconi's silence is silly (could use Veneto to deflect attention from other problems), but Bossi's lack of reaction is stupid: after all Veneto is one of the Lega's main enclaves and this could damage him quite a lot - I suspect that people will think "if Lega will not defend the "north" who will?" And a lot of people in FVG will think the same: too little, too late.

Oh, and yes, it seems so much better to harp on on what constitutes a Mulino Bianco family and what does not...

For me, it is mostly another proof of how crap Lega is.
I too wonder why B. and the pdl kept shhhh about this emergency. Maybe they find it easier to contend with all the Ruby shit.

Did you see what happened in Pompei?

I cannnot believe that money has not been finaced to keep Pompei and other real 'historical' sites going one wonders if the money has vanished as so many times it does.....
I can't turn the news on to hear the cr!!!!p that will be said . Anyway I am going to pallestra tonight I am shattered as the last few days have been hectic but after minirosas birthday I need to work the kgs off.
Oh I loved brownies but wasn't so keen on girl guides as the uniform wasn't trendy !

Gosh - not been up with the news and you will groan 'old news' but I'm just oh gawd at his B business with the young (17 year old) girl and his helping her get off charges. DH reckons the age of consent is 18 (is it?) and if so this is surely the end of him? But doesn't look that way. This is very old news for many of you but I have a real issue with stuff with underage people (ie children). Surely B cannot survive this - huh?

I, on the other hand, have bagged myself a job. I cannot believe it. Whooping for joy because we are so skint (given dh had two accidents in rental cars in Italy over the summer the it wiped us out financially). We won't be rich but it will certainly help (part time job).

Oh congratulations on the new job Giveitago, well done !

Yes, I find the story about B and the underage girl disgusting, but I'm not sure this will be the end of him

Yes, where does all the money we pay in taxes go? I'd like my money to fund schools and monuments and health services... but it probably goes in the pockets of some corrotto... how sad this all is.

On the positive side... I've just received my order from amazon (free delivery) in 6 days! How amazing!
I can't wait to show the children The Witches dvd, do yuo think it's too early? (they are 8 and 6, ds has read the book already)

COngratulations giveitago!!!!! And part-time too? That's excellent, and I do hope you enjoy it.

Argh I spent two hours on photobox last night tryng to sort out Xmas calendars and the bloody thing would not save!!!! So I have to start again tonight. Booooored.

On the other side, I managed to spend a huge amount of money on a xmas tree last weekend. I will be sad to see our old one go (it's the first xmas tree we have ever bought, and as at the time we had zero money we bought it second hand from a rather sad Sunday market in Bradford!) - but it's going to a good home (my sister who recently moved out of my parents' house). GOd, do I sound pathetic or not.

No, you don't sound pathetic, it is hard to let go of things, I find.

Where's Sputnik?

Congratulations Giveitago! Great news!
Minerva I have spent most of my life on photobox over last few weeks so feel your pain. Diaries arrived yesterday and are lovely though.
Just put in an order at M&S - got some fab Xmas books for a quid each! An Italian friend has also put in an order because she wanted something English for a present. So has bought a black silk tie. Which will no doubt have Made in Italy on it as I told her . Also got things like 5 pack of vests for a fiver- can't beat Marks. I read this morning that the new owner is pushing Marks internationally so started dreaming of a Rome store- DP doesnt understand-- ma che ti frega-c'hai Upim! Not the same at all!
And very excited and motivated feeling as have joined the new weightwatchers plan online. Was only way I lost weight in the past and want to get down to a fighting weight if we are going to be going for dc2 next year so I can avoid all the humiliating Italian weigh ins. Am sure that's one of the reasons have waited a while before wanting to go for another child! No doubt this motivation will last until I walk past the local pasta shop and smell their yummy lasagne.........But hopefully the fact I have shelled out cash for WW will motivate me as well

ps Minerva, not pathetic at all. I am a hoarder. Can't bear to let go of things with memories attached. I tend to wallow in nostalgia.

{grin] Gio. I have to say that I'm a bit like your husband, I can't find much enthusiasm for M&S ... it must be an Italian thing???
I was passionate for the food section of M&S though. I'm still craving their tuna pate and the carrot cake, and all those lovely biscuits.... (wonders if esselunga would ever let M&S in)

I didn't know you could do ww online. So exciting that you are planning for a baby soon ... we'll virtually hold your hand when you pass the pasta shop...

in case anyone's interested they've just posted a veneto donation number, send a text to 45501 to donate 2 euros (corriere della sera and TG la7)

Sms done thanks. I got a bit cross with the M&S site as so much was you can't post Internationally Delias book and some stocking fillers yet some dolls you could it diddn't make sense. I love M&S food hall as well especially some of the cold fish stuff round Xmas. DH and I have not yet discussed what we will be doing yet ....wait for steam from MIl and SIL !!!!
Well done on the job giveitago hope you enjoy it !
Gio try the sport 'walking' its not walking as we think but stuff on a treadmill. Its 45 minutes and burns between 500-800 calories. Its hard work but fun and the girls in slinky leggings sweat like pigs as well ! How can you do ww with Xmas coming up ?

I'm back from another Photobox sesh as well.Although kept having to go and find different discount codes as despite voucher codes website saying they were current, they'd all expired. Found 15% in the end.

Eurocommuter, you'll be pleased to hear your first "pagellina" will be along any time soon....(kind of a half-time round-up chat with the maestre) Then you'll get the first proper "pagella" the first week of Feb which will have "voti" on it. Then you will notice loon-mothers galore queuing up to batter the maestre for only giving Povero Francesco 8 when Mamma knows he deserves 10 because he's been going to doposcuola since he was 8 weeks old.

I wouldn't,I don't think, be considering a pysch evalutation for him yet. Is it just school he's arsed off with? That seems normal to me, this time last year, both dd and I would almost end up in tears with all the compiti and expectations that you just aren't prepared for at materna.

I was wondering why Bossi and Berlusca hadn't been before. Bet Bertolaso thinks "FFS will I ever get a day off". I mean, after L'aquila he was sleeping there wasn't he? (Berlusca I mean)

Rosa, I'm reading Delia's book in the evenings and she is really making me and in equal measure. She's just so prissy. It's the "take 3 black olives, and slice each one into 4 slices, discarding the rounded end". I mean, just chuck a few buggers on whatever you're making.

Thanks for the number spook, I'll text them.

So, do you think Sputnik is lost in Photobox too then?

Gosh Bucharest, where do you find all those bizarre people ? Do they really complain that much about the voti? Mind you, mothers here tend to make the most bizarre complains. Boh!

Complaining about the voti???? At primary? But no one is ever going to ask for those ever again aren't they?

Franca, I am afraid I will defend M&S actually - they are not great for grown-ups clothes but following advice on here I got a coat for DD and it's fab - I get lots of compliments. And I also got a fabulous witch costume and hair decoration for 10 pounds (to be used at carnevale not Halloween). Converted, moi?

Sput, I do not understand the Uk's obsession with Delia. I have tried various recipes of hers and I only ever found one that was nice. And the last series she did was just disappointing (tinned lamb? Yuk Yuk Yuk).

I hate Photobox. I hate Photobox. I hate Photobox. Repeat after me...

Mmmm maybe their children's clothes have improved in the last years, I've never really found much I liked. Or maybe it was my local M&S that was a bit of disappointing mess.
The food hall was divine though

Aw - thanks for the heads up ladies! I'd completely lost my confidence. Relieved, as I felt us slowly going down the road of big debt.

Oh no childcare yet - LOL -but dh can change his hours to help out in the interim but need to get cracking on to find a decent childminder.

I predict B will go at next election though.

Oh blimey christmas is really coming. You all sound so organised. We are now confirmed as having dh's staff (8 of them) coming over. They are going to be missing their family back in Italy so dh organising a traditional Italian christmas lunch and I'm going to buy all the girls coming some little mini presents so it feels more homely. DH and I will be playing mummy and daddy to them all. It will be fun. I'm actually excited but dh will open up the resaturant on x-mas day and cook there and bring the food home as there's no way our tiny kitchen will deal with feast for 10.
Exciting stuff and I cannot wait.

What is Photobox - can I use it in the UK?

Gio - lovely news - go for it. My specialist advised me that it's best to carry a bit of extra weight - so don't walk past the pasta shop. Eat well and enjoy.

No, I'm not organized, I haven't done anything yet for Christmas. I just can't wait to go to IKEA and get some christmassy stuff.

I hadn't realized your dh worked in a restaurant! How lovely of you to have his colleagues, I'm sure you'll have a nice time

Here I am!
Please disassociate me from Delia, think you meant Rosa!
Sorry I have been awol, my parents were here last week so very busy. Also stuff going on with DS, we now have an apt at the beginning of december with the pediatric hospital here so he can be evaluated for ASD. Apparently he shows enugh symptoms for it to be a concern, though not lots of the "classic" ones so probably on the mild side. Good news though is that should they confirm a diagnosis he already has a place on a really brilliant scheme here which should be able to help. We visited them on Monday and they are all very young and enthusiastic. So anyway, been doing a lot of reading, and not had much time for MN.

Me neither re xmas. Not done anything yet except book tickets to UK.

Oh Sputnik, I thought you were lost in Photobox or something...

Wow, things are progressing fast for mastersputnik, I'm glad you have been not left in Limbo and they are being scrupulous. Is the scheme run by an Italian organization? If so, I'm impressed, it means things are moving in this country as well

Let us know how it goes, my dear.

Yes it's an Italian organisation and a totally new thing here, a new kind of therapy which seems to produce very good results. The doctor running it speaks very good English and the 2 young women who played with DS on monday had reasonable english, essential as DS's Italian is virtually non-existant.

Sounds fab sputnik ... I need to run and get the dc, ciao x

I use snapfish usually, have heard a lot of moans on MN about photobox! They usually do 30% off offers in the run up to xmas.