Little Italy 24

[BananaGio]

Ciao tutte!

Actually it's going ok, I've sold quite a bit lately, though not enough for an actual ipad! But a cheap ipad wannabe maybe.
Now I have both DCs at school I'm stepping things up so hopefully should do ok leading up to xmas. I have branched out into printing, which is exciting (for me anyway!)

Great, I am happy for you Sputnik

How are the dc doing at school?

DS is doing brilliantly, settled in really well I am very happy so far. DD is her usual swotty self, she is now learning recorder, maybe we can duet at some point as I was a wicked recorder player in my time .
How are yours getting on, is your DD any happier this year?

I hid my recorder when I was in the Uk I dreaded to think of the consequences!
Really pleased for you Sput that things are going well with the dc and esp ds. Printing as well I am impressed..... Puts my cupcakes to shame ! ( But the Italians still can't get cupcakes .....) Slight drop in temps today maybe as there is a breeze but it feels so much better.
I was thinking Ipad but maybe in the future....ALso my teaching money will not stretch to that maybe a bit of a gas bill !!!!!

Sputnik, happy to hear master sputnik is settling well and that dd is playing the recorder... (I remember playing "Il Piave mormorava" when I was 12...)

Dd seems much happier, she was eager to see her school mates and she also had a great summer, so she started well rested and I think they do develop and grow (not just physically) a lot over the summer. So fingers crossed she'll be "stronger" this year.

Rosa, I adore cupcakes! There is a shop here in Milan which sells them, and I think it is pretty successful. Even Laduree with its macaroons seems to be doing really well here! (they are delicious if a bit too pricey for my liking)

Still very hot here, I came home today feeling like a camel after a long ride in the desert.

Hello... Long time no hear... Or whatever the correct expression is for an internet forum...

Back to the land of the living, after 8 months of really hard work. I think I had 3 free weekends since January, which I believe was the last time I posted on Little Italy. But the project's over for the moment, so I can breathe again for a while (there was an article about it in the sole24 ore, so I am pretty proud...). I am sorry I disappeared but I could not face spending any more time on the computer.

GLad to hear everyone is OK - DD is in materna too (first year, but went to pre-materna too so inserimento took about 5 mins... Brilliant!), DH is away on business somewhere in northern europe, and I am doing not so much at work. Tomorrow I am actually even leaving early to take DD to first "proper" swimming lesson - e.g. with instructor and no parent in the swimming pool. Not looking forward to it as DD seems to have developed real fear of water in summer. We will see.

Anyway, big issue for us is whether we go back to the UK next year or not Struggling to sort out schools for DD (in case we do go back), although it will work out. To some extent life is much easier in the Italian provinces, but I am still not entirely convinced about DD growing up here... Decisions decisions...

Ciao Minerva, so good to hear from you again!!!
Glad to hear all is going well, and that you are now enjoying some "free" time. What is the article about? (nosey )

Mmmm going back to the UK... that's a tough choice. I am not sure what I would do if faced with the same dilemma. Italy always seems on the verge of breakdown. And life in the province must be hard, on some levels. And Britain is such a comfy place. But relationships are easier here, and this is really important to me.

welcome back Minerva. When do you have to decide whether to go back to the UK? Difficult decision. Where would you go back to in the UK?
good to hear everyone's dcs doing well in school. Franca I agree re growing over the summer. DS always seems to make massive progress and development over the summer months. Sput well done on your business!
I have got hayfever!! How is that possible in Sept?

Hayfever in september? Banana that is a new one on me...

We would go back to London/SE, easier with jobs (we have contacts), easy travel to see family and we still kept our flat there anyway, which may come in handy. I would say we need to decide by the end of the year/january to get going with jobs etc etc.

Sput, sorry I am out of the loop - what kind of business did you set up?

Nice to "see" you again Minerva! I can see why you're in 2 minds about returning to the Uk, it's a tough one.
I started a very small scale business selling cushions, I have a shop on Etsy, here: www.etsy.com/shop/EarthLab?ref=si_shop
Now I have both DCs in school I am hoping to step it up a bit, maybe find some other places to sell too.
Gio are you sure it's hayfever and not some other allergy?

Hi Minerva ..Big decision . I am not sure what I would go for to be honest . I would love to be nearer my family but both countries seem to have pros and cons right now.
Well its cooler here now but no sign as I type of the huge thunder storms we should be having maybe later?
Starting pallestra domani sera and I can't wait ....I will be finished physically but have to start again somewhere !

Oh yes, at the moment both countries aren't doing particularly well. I am more optimistic about the UK, to be honest, and it is at least Berlusconi free.

Mind you, we've just had our last holiday this weekend, we went to Puglia with friends, we left a 30 degrees paradise for a wet depressing day in Milan

Rosa, I saw the latest pics of your dd on your fb's page, how adorable! And they look so different too, no? Bellissime!

Good luck with the palestra, I am starting yoga on wednesday, even if my hip has been hurting for the whole summer.

Sput, will check you out on Etsy! (site blocked at work grrr).

Franca, very depressing here too - proper November weather this is. 12 degrees this am according to my car, and snow on the Alps.

Thanks for your support re: going back to the UK. I know the situation is not particularly rosy in either country, but you know what worries me the most? Growing up in Italy as a woman (for my DD that is). The latest Berlusca thing just shows once more the prevailing anti-women culture in this country. I am not saying that in the UK equality has been achieved (far from it), but things are better. Well, I think anywhere in Western Europe is better, actually.

Oh yes, things are generally better abroad, no doubts. However, I wouldn't be too quick in thinking that everything here is like villa certosa. There is another kind of society in Italy too though, where women aren't considered like pieces of meat.

Oh the pics are old Franca I must add a couple more. Well today minirosa went in fine to materna . I stayed for about 40 mins and then left her happily. However domani we go in the same time as the other little ones who are a bit of a tearful bunch from what I have heard so it might be a different story !
Minerva I think Italy is coming along better as far as women are concerned. I am hoping that we will maybe do from age 16 studying in the Uk for the dds as I think that the final years at the moment are better and the Uk offers more also I think that the University courses are generally better recognised. Howver this is pie in teh sky as so much can change.
Puglia how lovely long way to go though.... SUn is coming back out here now so expect humidity to go through the roof again after the storms but we diddn't have any thunder just rain......
AM looking at UK flights and the internal one is more than the international one ...How stupid is that?

Totally agree with you Rosa re schools. I'd love mine to go to University in the UK, or maybe do a degree here and then an MA in the UK. But that's so far away in the future... who knows what's going to happen?

Puglia is a long way to go, but there are Ryan Air flights from Bergamo at very appealing prices. I know it's not echo friendly, but una volta ogni tanto...

Put up some foto rosa! I will post a new one of mine on fb.

What about trains rosa, we managed to buy really cheap train tickets to go to Exeter this time. Mind you, it will all work if the flights are on time

Yo sputnik, I am loving the printed little houses cushions... they are lovely! (starts saving money)

From Gatwick though its a train round to Reading and then Reading down so its quite a long way but I will have a look.
When I feel guilty with flights I add in the extra £ for carbon offset. I read on BA what they have done with it so it takes a bit of the guilt off!
I can't find the cavo that I need from my camera will have look on dh side and see if I can find a few.

I know, it's a nightmare, we are doing the same, but flying to Heathrow was too £££

Ftto un paio di foto su FB.....

Did somone mention Puglia? Huh? And you didn't come and visit l'il ol' me?

Maybe you didn't recognise me? Sporting my new (well, 1987) pop songy inspired name?

How the heck are you all then? Me and dd been back in the sweltering boondocks since last Saturday......she went to back to school happily on Wednesday and we are settling back into the old routine.

I did my 10 weeks work in the UK, and have some teaching lined up as usual.

If you see me around too often,kick me off MN, because part of the reason for Bucharest's demise is that she is writing a bit of a story.....finally getting her arse into gear to do what she's been threatening to do for many years.....

Baci a tutti x

Hbloodyray its about time you showed your face !!!!Sign me up I will purchase it as if its written in your unique style with that touch of scarcasm / wit I will love it !!
Glad Uk went well and dd starting school went ok. Don't abandon us just pop in every once in a while and let us know how things are going.
Franca looked at trains 6 hrs with 1 change I don't think minirosa will cope..... Might be easier to drive but how stupid is that seeing what teh last winters have thrown at us ? BOH !

Rosa, the dds are gorgeous! I'll post a new pic asap.

Bucharest so good to see you! We want updates of that famous book! I hadn't noticed you around with your new name and was wondering where you were.

I didn't come to visit because I was a bit too far from you, we stayed nr Ostuni. Lovely part of the world, spent a day at the beach on the Ionian coast (wonderful sea), ate a lot of fish. I could get used to that very easily. It was quite a shock coming back to rainy Milan. Mind you, it is sunny already.

Don't be a stranger Buch!!!