MUMsnet little Italy

[mediterraneo]

buonasera!

At the moment I work in Segrate, before that in Cinisello. I used to work in Milan ages ago. Where are you going in August? We're thinking of going to England for a week sometime in August (bloody asilo is closed for the whole month. I mean, how primitive!!!), I've been looking up nature or walking holidays and B&Bs in nice national park places and it's so expensive. The train fares are astronomical too. Still, it will probably still cost me less than a week in Sardegna. I hate going on holiday in August, Milan is only really bearable one month a year and everywhere else is too crowded, too expensive and the service rubbish.

Just been to the m ost beautiful beach on Sunday, Bantham beach near salcombe, but probably more expensive than sardinia. I wouldn't go on holiday in August, but ds started reception and is going until the 24th of July.
We are going to an agriturimo in Toscana, on the hills, so not too bad. We otherwise usually go to Salina in the Isole Eolie, it gets busy in August but it's not as bad as sardegna.
why not somerset? you can fly to bristol with easyjet (from malpensa, but mind you the flight is at 7 in the morning...) and then it's pretty close. Exmoor park maybe?

Ok confession time I don't think I have ever studied what a yam looks like in the UK..Makes note to look in Sainsburgers when am in the UK. I bought Patate Americane ( white) and then when I saw Patate Americane ( orange) it threw me. MInd you dd loved the orange version but can only get for a very short time in season here.
Brangelina we were going to go to Sardinia this weekend but the cost of flights Euro 954 return for 2 adults 1 infant put us off. Its too far to drive / ferry for dd . So we might go in Sept. I would avoid Sardina like the plague in August went once never never again .Love the place June and Sept. Franca are you going to Tuscany in August ? So if we meet in the west country it will have to be July !!
Dd had mmr plus varicella jab but she might come out in varicella like spots anyway !!!!
Hope your dd is not too itchy they don't seem to have calamine lotion here . My mum used to sware by it .

gotta run for the school run, yes, we'll be here until the 24th, we could meet at the beach! bantham beach is amazing

Funnily enough Franca I was looking at Exmoor as a potential destination. I've travelled the world but never been anywhere in the UK. I saw B&Bs for about £25 but they were off the beaten track so we'd have to hire a car which I want to avoid as DP would expect me to drive seeing as it's "on the wrong side" and I'm not sure I can anymore (nor can I find my licence). Toscana is lovely, I spent many a summer near Città di Castello (OK I know that's Umbria but it's on the border).

Goodness, do schools really finish on 24th July? Bliss! Here they finished last week. What am I going to do with my DD for 3 whole months???? Not a problem now but I'm already hyper-ventilating about the future.

Rosa - we went to Sardegna last September and spent a ridiculously small amount of money. We got a Bungalow at a campsite near Palau and got the overnight ferry from Genova to Palau. Very smelly but really quite cheap - I think AR with 1 car and cabin came to around 250/300 euros but maybe I'm hallucinating. DD was 13mo at the time and slept most of the journey, so wasn't a problem but I suspect things might be different with an older child.

If you find your licence try Europcar for an Expat rate .. They knock loads off the basic price for normal to mid range cars . I call the Europcar reservations in the UK. As for the driving it is like riding a bike you don't forget ..but the british queue and don't race you at traffic lights
DD is 15 months and as she goes in her car seat about 1 a month she gets a bit frustrated after about an hour. Even witha 15 min run round break and stops for meals etc With a 5 hr drive and then a ferry I don't think its worth it. I agree re the prices off season they are so much cheaper . I am looking at apartments in Cannigione as the beach is like a small bay.
Brangelina what about Wales ? Lovely walking countryside areas and you can still fly to Bristol? Or probably Cardiff as well.

I love Exmoor . And wales (though just been once). But you could take the train till say Taunton and then hire a car for just the last bit?
Yes, 3 months of summer holidays are very difficult to organize and a nightmare for every full time working parent. For a child it's bliss ! Once, when more money was invested in the community, councils organized all sorts of activities for children... even days away in "colonie", some were very good other less so (my mum remembers her first colonia al mare as a nigthmare). Dh used to go as a child, in the Seventies there were very "progessisti" projects for children in his hometown. I was usually sent to my grandmother's in the countryside. I had a great time, and fantastic freedom. My friends usually send their children (the ones alle elementari) to WWF campings or centri rousseau, or they share babysitters or have very supportive nonni.
We took an overnight boat last year to go back to Italy, it wasn't the most relaxing of time but it wasn't too bad either. We then drove through France. Without a radio!!! I read and sang so much that when we got to Italy I had completely lost my voice. I made my (very tight) dh buy a radio for the trip back.

Bon d..Brangelina how is your dd doing ? Decided on where to go on hols yet ?.
Hot and humid here today. DD suffering with after effcts if mmr and teething so life is warm to say the least.
I have been on a Yam hunt and I think you are right about the patata americane but will get back to you next winter so the debate goes on.. BIt like the Nespole one in the Uk we just can't agree.
Franca how are your teeth doing all better now ?
Have a good day all Little Italy mums !

Lol at nespole rosa! I had a dry socket, which was dressed on Monday. I've been taking antibiotics since tuesday. Feels a bit better, but not a 100%. I might go back to see the dentist tomorrow, it may need re-dressing.
coraggio rosa, non manca moltop!

Hi Rosa
DD's recovering, but we had a horrendous night and day yesterday, no sleep at all and a total whineathon. Luckily DP is with her today so I'm getting some respite and time to myself (which is why I'm on here!). I should actually be getting some work done but hey ho.

No I haven't decided what to do and where to go this summer. I've also been researching campsites and found a few "rustic" ones in the depths of the wilderness that cost very little but are also very basic. Not sure about those either, I wear contact lenses and have no night sight so I see myself stumbling over other people's tent pegs on my way back from the bubbling brook.... It's getting very stressful and not what I need when I've got to pay ICI and do my 730 too (oops, I think I'm late already on that?). I'm not even sure I have holiday in August anyway!

What are nespole in English anyway? I've never seen them in an English supermarket, but then I left before lollo rosso became a salad staple.

Franca - try sucking on chiodi di garofano, it's supposed to be miraculous for sore teeth. I couldn't tell you from personal experience, though, as I've never even had a filling [smug and polishing halo emoticon]

Thats the problem we get so many different ideas on what nespole are = meddlar fruit is one ??????????
Lo so non mamca multo but my dd is suffering half a day temp fine then another half day of 38.5/39 , whingy , teeth that are driving her insane. Tired etc etc ..YOur dc's are older so you have been through this already. Today humid again can't put the ac on as it only cools one room and does more damage than good.
Agree re rustic campsites stayed in a couple of very dodgy ones in France - clothes peg on nose in toilets and take bleach in shower and clean shower before entering type of things. Are you looking still in the UK or Italy ??
Franca keep taking the pills and hope its better soon..When I had wisdom teeth out I was laid flat for a week ( I had a general though !)

Take your warm jacket Rosa, it's freezing . Your poor dds... and actually it's horrible being unwell when it's so hot and humid. My mum told me it's just really weird, the weather keeps changing.
I'm knackered today, yesterday night couldn't fall asleep and kept waking up because I was cold . I think it's the antibiotics.

They are now saying that from next week we will get a 'big heat' if only it could wait until we have gone and in the UK !! I am packing 4 seasons for dd and for me what I can get in if any space left!
DD still had temp even with tacchip but thankfully the wind has got up so I have a breeze coming through the house now. We were supposed to be going out for dinner tonight but I guess that will not be on now as it was en famille so dd coming as well!
how long to you have to take the antibiotics for?

, rosa, sorry to hear your dd is still under the weather...
I saw the dentist again today (he's actually not too bad ) and needed a re-dressing of the socket. Taking antibiotics until monday night. Hopefully I'll have an early night tonight.
Where the hell is Pippi? She was also goig on hols, wasn't she?

Tanti auguri a me
Tanti auguri a me
Tanti auguri a MEEEEEEEEEE
Taaaaaanti auguri a me

Ah yes, I'm back! Possibly for one night only!!!!

Nespole are definitely medlars by the way. The English translation of I Malavoglia is called 'The House by the Medlar Tree'.

Rosa, hope your dd feels better soon. Anche tu, Franca.

Anch'io

Auguri kookaburra!

Auguri to you both! Ah I love gemini people

Rosa is it true there's been a tromba d'aria in Venice?

Elbell TI AMMMMOOOOOOOOO This nespole thing has been going on for years in my family. Lovely to see you back here spero tutto meglio con te cara.
When I go to the Uk if I have any free kilos left I bring fruit is season. Hence the translation thing.Mad I know but here it really is seasonal so its good ( not like buying apricots in December in the UK!) When I used to go to the Uk for work I had 5 kg of clothes and 5kg of fruit / cheese etc.

YEs Franca there was a tromba d'aria. I was out in Venezia centro ( dd a casa) and the wind got up . It was hot and humid weird. It was very black Mestre way.About 5 it rained 10 gocce in Venezia but in Mestre the tromba hit the Parco San Giuliano where the Heinekein Festival was taking place. about 25 people injured as the torre holding the speakers blew over and bits of the stage collapsed.One of those expandable towers like a platform on legs blew over as well. Festival has been suspended and Vce is full of rockers obviously come to see the culture as they can't see Iron Maiden

DD a bit better thanks only 37.8 this am .. keeping her at home sta mattina incaso che va su ..Vediamo dopo. Mind you papa came home with a croissant and she only picked at it !

lol at smuggling frutta to the uk. I usually illegaly bring salame... .

Is Salami illegal ? OOOPS

gosh it's lonely here. where are you all????

io ci sono...... ma per poco xche dd is keeping me occupato.