Little Italy 23

[BananaGio]

Siamo qua!

Hi Cellini, welcome! Are you happy to be moving over here? I don't know Asolo at all am afraid (apart from that looks beautiful). There are a few of the others who are Northern based so will hopefully be able to help out more. I am based in Rome (am English, Italian DP, 4 year old DS).Re the language for you, people told me that it clicks after 6 months and I found that to be the case in the sense it was around that stage I could find myself having conversations without thinking of every word. Re your son, how about getting some cartoons on DVD or something in Italian for him? Have a look at this site. Or ebay italia. You'll find he'll pick it up when he mixes with other kids. My son's speech has been delayed but it is improving in both languages and it doesn't seem to cause him issues at school.
Off to get ds ready for school.

Hi all! Happy friday! On my way home after a very long 3 days in london.
Lol re the hot meals, scarves and bedtime. Dc now feel they haven't eaten if they haven't had hot meal at either meal. Usually pasta at lunch. Although their breakfast is very british. Wheatbix and porridge in the winter. Bedtime for used to be 8-830. Now that ds. Has to be up earlier for school its 730-800. I get the usual come fai? But I feel sorry for our friends dc who are Irritated when we are out in the evening and no one connects that with being tired. I can't handle the hyper activity/tantrums from my children when they are tired. But friends think I'm unkind to the children for not letting them out in the evening.

Hello Cellini, hope u are looking forward to your move. I- don't know the area. I'm in abruzzo. Tip for the language, don't be embarrassed about making mistakes. It took me a long time to learn because I was embarrassed of being laughed at for the mistakes. Then I just realised I never laugh at non english speaker who don't speak english very well. I let go and I'm doing better. For ur ds, children pick up the language much quicker by being around those who speak it. So hopefully you'll find a nice community and expose hiim to the language though them.
Good luck

Cellini hello! I am Italian and DH is Cornish, DD is also 2.

We live in the North East of Italy(Friuli, the region next to Veneto where you are going to be). Asolo is really pretty, and is a short distance from sea, Dolomites, Venice/Treviso airports etc. Treviso is probably just a little bigger than Truro, and actually is a nice town despite its "industrial" reputation.

You will find that the area is quite provincial (no large cities around us really) but that's not dissimilar from Cornwall. Public services (schools, hospitals etc) operate on a different system but you will find that up here in general they work OK - not excellent but you should not have any major problems hopefully. A car is, however, necessary to get you to places.

North-eastern Italians are not the most open-minded bunch (I can say that given that I am one of them ) - we are a bit ehm "insular" and perhaps not as friendly as Italians are often stereotyped to be. This is of course a maaaassive generalisation - but DH says he is always miffed that we do not align to the stereotype of party loving, pasta eating, mandolin playing, siesta needing image so I thought I would pass it on!

You are doing well trying to learn Italian as English is not really spoken - do not worry too much about DS; I guess that if he will be going to the local asilo from the age of three he will pick up the language there (totally normal here to go to local asilo even if it's not part of compulsory education - but there will be private options if you prefer those). Second Gio's advice on cartoons books etc.

Hello everyone.

Cellini, welcome . I've never been to Asolo but I know it is a very pretty place, a short distance from other wonderful places like the Dolomites, Venice, Treviso, Padua, Bassano etc etc.

I second what Minerva said and yes, I think that Veneti in general aren't the most open minded people in the world (and I can say it too, as my dad is from Treviso and I have lots of relatives there), however I find them to be pretty friendly and quite simpatici when you get to know them.
Veneto is an area with many contradictions, it used to be a seriously deprived area until the 1950s, and then it had a huge economic boom. They accumulated lots of wealth in the last 20 yrs, but are now feeling the recession.

I agree with Eurocommuter to speak as much as you can and don't be afraid of making mistakes, I think Italians are pretty tolerant with english speaking people...

Your ds is entitled to a place in the local scuola materna the year he turns 3. It is pretty common for children to attend materna, which, if you find a place at your local one, is free and you'll only have to pay for school dinners.

Me and dh are both Italians who lived in the UK for quite a long time. Our children were born in the UK, and in order for them to learn English we sent them to part time nursery when they were about 12 months old and it worked fantastically well.
But I have no prejudice against good nurseries for little ones and I've always considered it to be a great experience. I appreciate lots of people (not the Milanese though, we love our asili nidi ) don't want to send small children to nursery, especially in a foreign place!!!

Hi cellini - I am from Cornwall and will not be that far from you . Asolo is lovely a bit small but it is a beautiful area. Apart from some stroppy Venetians the Veneto people are a pretty friendly lot and you have a child which is always a good start. As for him picking up the languauge via play area / parks. We don''t have many mother and baby groups ( well there might be nearer Treviso but certainly not here). Learning the lingo I bet will come faster to your ds than it will to you but people are generally pretty paitent when they see you are learning !
Franca yes we ordered the kitchen months agao. They said the wall ties had to be on - they were and 1/2 the floor done - it was level and you could see the line as to which it would be done. NOt good enough for the SME and we had to wait until it was complete.Plumber was delayed by a week and now the imprese should have been doing the floor today won't be until Tues. SO we want the SMe to come Thurs. They will be coming or so they say but DH was faffing and being a man.
Also with these delays we won't be in for Xmas so I have said I am going to the Uk ....That went down like lead balloon !!!!! Anyway huge argument and I won't see him this evening as he is at karate and then I am doing walking ......He is working sat and sun so I might have calmed down by Monday !

Rosa ! I'd be really pissed off too!

Hello!!! how's everyone? what's new? sorry about the long absence, just never seem to get time and at night, well, I'm just too knackered, between work, ds's spelling practice and dd's super-activity... anyway, better get back and do some work before I have to go pick DS up.

Hello Camo !!! ciaoooooooooooo!
You need one of Rosa's famous recap!

Yay Camo! I was just wondering about you and if you would ever be back!

Thank you everyone! I've just googled Peppa Pig Italiano! Just need Signore Tumble now...

Good to hear people's opinions about the region - I'm actually originally from Manchester but have lived in Portugal before settling more recently in Cornwall(six years ago). So, I have learnt a foreign language before myself, as well as having taught English - although this time living abroad will undoubtedly be different with a toddler in tow! I'm looking forward to the challenge but will no doubt be checking-in here to hear how you all are - and ask for help and advice!

I've not really used MN before - except for looking at odd bits of advice - but I must say, Little Italy strikes me as one of the friendlier threads here!! thanks again.

Canmmmoooo Wonderful to see you . DO drop in more often !!
Cellini - No Mr Tumble but on the website you do get the odd activity etc . My dd is 4 and she clicks her way round the c beebies website no problem! MInd you if you are staying for a while then you can get a huge satelite dish and pick up Sky Uk with has all the Ukchannels on it - no good for your Italian however.
We have been going for over 22,000 posts on Littel Italy so we can't be a bad lot. Right off to take dd1 to gym club then battle a tiny coop for Nappies , jam and fabric softner all things I forgot yesterday but this time I have to do it with Minirosa arrggghhhhh Can't cope with the big supermarket on a sat !!! Buon weekend rain for domani Noooo bhave the dds alone and dh working ,, Still haven't really forgiven him but an hr or this walking really does take the stress away it is knackering but fun ( nearly !)

Hi Camo! So good to see you back. Pop in more often.
Had a skive day on Friday. Decided as my Mum was over I should take DS out of school and we should go to the beach. So we did! Was lovely and got a couple of hours sun before clouds came. Mum gone now

Gio, I know, it's awful when mothers leave, I know it very well (even if when ds was 3 months old, as she was leaving she told me "mi raccomando, curamelo bene"... typical Italian nonna )

Cellini, give us a shout whenever you need to and good luck with the move!

I've just ruined a lovely cake, by setting the wrong program of the oven... che cretina...

Rosa, shopping on a saturday is a nightmare. Yesterday I went to the mercato, you can hardly walk.

Oh Gio I know how you feel it is so rough when they go .
I hate my oven with a passion but I have just made this with both dds and it is yummy - so quick / easy / also only 1 pan !!!
Its an apple or pear cake!
110g Butter or marg
110g sugar
240 g sr flour ( or plain with a bustina of that leivito stuff)
1 egg
2 - 3 apples or pears
Canella in polvere
brown sugar ( but I didn't have any !)
Melt the butter in a pan , Add in sugar and stir well. Then beat in the egg and fold in the flour. Grease a 7 or 8 inch tin and place half of the mixture ( it forms a sort of ball ) in the tin. Sort of pat it down to the edges with a spoon. Then place the apples sliced over the base. Then using the rest of the mixture sort of put in blobs on the top . ( Bearing in mind I had a 4.5 and a 23mth yr old doing tis we had lots of different sized blobs!Sprinkle zucchero di canna and cinammon on the top and then put in oven for about 40 - 45 mins ( 180). Fatto. It is yummy with gelato but we diddn't have any so the dds ate it with yoghurt ( dd1) and custard minirosa!
IT is crappio weather here but looks as if the rain has stopped and its blowing a huge wind. Dare I risk going out and getting a bolloking from ILs??? Vediamo dopo !

mmmmmmm delicious rosa!!! thanks for posting the recipe.
Mine turned out being very good, it was (as 80% has already been eaten) a cake with blackberries and sour cream (I used creme fraiche, which I now find in Esselunga).

Dead easy too

Creme Fraiche how fantastic that would be great if I could get it here. Mind you I did see Panna Acida the other day in the supermarket which knocked my socks off. My bet is that when I decide to do Mexican ( has to be a bit colder for me) they won't stick it any more as the Venetians don't know what to do with it !!!!
It is still horrible here......

I see that we have the same concerns! I'm often tempted to stock up on Creme Fraiche, fearing they might stop selling it too!
Mind you, here in Milan panna acida is sold in those posh supermercati biologici like Naturasi, it's made in Alto Adige, not too far away from you

Yes, it's awful here too. Depressing.

Panna acida no problem over here, any supermarket does it (Austrian/Slovene influence I suppose)... Creme fraiche remains a dream, but Franca you have just given me hope eh eh.

Rosa, we had Mexican last night - it was a thoroughly horrid and freezing day yesterday so we spent it slouching on the sofa, demolishing a fruit pie. So cheese quesadillas with beans went down really well.

Oh well, better go and do some work...

OK, I want recipe for quesilladas!

It's sunny here today, but I'm home nursing a terrible backache. Every time the weather changes my back plays up. Che palle!

Sunny here bit cooler. My M&S order arrived today with my per una coat !!! Cue weather to drop another 10 degrees so I can't wear it ALso bought dd1 a cinderella dress ( for natale) and am already regretting it. glitter all over it and me and the floor. SO gave it a massive shake outside and will spray with hairspray before wrapping and fingers crossed. Decided that the house is not going to be ready for Xmas so undecided on what to do either UK or here. I do so want to spend it with M&D asD is 80 next year . BUt looking at flights I can do E Jet for EUro400 but the internal flights will be £400 and I don't think its wise to rent a car after the last winter we had! DOn't know !

£400 !!
How much would the train be? Can you fly to Bristol and get a train?
Will you be on your own?

They don't fly to Bristol any more!
TRain is a nightmare as you have to take Gatwick Express to Victoria then cross to Paddington and then take the train from there. Minirosa pays for her seat from November so thats a difference. Logic says we should stay here and save the money - heaven knows we need it but my heart is saying differently.

Oh what a nightmare!
I understand how you feel, it's nice being with your family at Christmas.
Can't your parents come over? or would it be too tiring for your father?

I'd probably rent a car, and hope for a better weather than last year...

They are coming over at the start of NOv for a few days ( he has had medicne changes and is due for a scan on the 21st due to some fluid on the lungs ). I just feel that he would probably be happier at his own home as here he can't get any peace. They do stay in a little B&B next door but dd1 asked if we can go to Grandmas for Christmas as well !!! Probably the cooking is better! Mind you if I have my kitchen I will go and cook in the new place and then carry it all over !!!!! The geometra is coming on the 21st now from the kitchen place but I still feel that my sanity will not be up to moving just before Natale and having everything a bit sorted out ! It will all be up to me as you well know it and moving , natale, 2 bimbi with feste etc etc I just don't think its fair on them wither - WHere do we put the tree up , etc ?