Mumsnet Little Italy 3

[francagoestohollywood]

Welcome everyone

didn't get it yet!!! I've checked both email addresses. Oh I am so so curious now!!!!

Glamorous? I doubt it!!

dghkgshkgshkjgg. will try again

got it?

WOW!!!!! It's a great house!!! I'd be sad to leave it too!! Can I have it? Can tell it's italian by the white walls. Was it like this when you bought it or have you made it this way?

I cannot believe no one has put an offer. I'd have gone for the asking price straight away.

Thanks . It is lovely, and I'm just trying not to think about the fact that we are leaving it too much, because I'm really attaccata al mattone... .
The house had been refurbished only 4 yrs before we bought it. We just repainted the walls and stripped the carpet/sanded the floor and made lots of bookshelves (which are not featured ).

hello italian lot, may I join you? And pick your brains? I'd be so grateful for any help from anyone who knows Milan. I'm currently in Switzerland. Dh started work in Milan on Monday. Basically, I'm not sure I want to move to Milan / area, so initial plan is dh commutes back here at weekend. He's spending 1st month in hotel. Then he was supposed to get a flat (maybe in city centre) for 6th months & we visit there at weekends and get to know it, then if we decide to move over, we choose an area and all move over to bigger house ( 3 kids plus 1 on the way).

Now tonight dh announces getting flat/house is proving tome consuming for colleagues so wants to skip 6 month flat and just go straight for family home.

So, question is does anyone know good area with great public transport? I was there last weekend (near stadium?) and it seemed nice enough but was a bit alarmed to note all the houses had bars, even on the upstairs windows Is this normal? Is crime a big problem?

Help me feel better about Italy!!!

And finally, if anyone is in the Milan area I'd love to meet up and get to know you & the city Thanks

Ernest, I'm from Milan, and it seems that we are going to move back there over Christmas, after 8 yrs in the UK.

Well, where do I start????

Ok, here it goes:

I honestly think that for an English, outdoorsy person moving to Milan/Italy might be a big shock.
These are Milan's biggest problems:

1. traffic. it is bad bad bad
2. lack of green spaces, compared to other European big cities
3. Italian bureaucracy
4. crime. I don't think it's actually worse than Paris, or London or another big city. I think the statistics have remained more or less the same, however the media keep banging on about it. Italians particularly fear breaking in from burglars, hence the bars (especially if you live in more "residential" less central areas). I don't know whether house burglaries happen more than in London, for instance.

Having said that, I really like Milan, it's were I grew up, very happily I must say. I am though very apprehensive about moving back with two small children. We are living in Exeter at the moment and the "logistic' is very very easy.

If you need to move to Milan you have to choose very carefully the location of your new home. You'll need to be close to a tube station and quite near your dh's workplace and possibly your dc's school, if you want to avoid wasting ots of time on commuting.
Would you send your dc to local school or English school? I have lots of info about those as well, though decided against it, it would have meant for my dc to commute 2 hrs a day to go to the English school!

From A and lead me by the hand to Z

I do not know Italy at all, have no knowledg of /feel for the country or language. Dh wnts us all to move over. I'm really not getting a feel for it, tho the boys after 2 visits seem to have developed a mad passion for the Duomo. They squeal with excitment every time they catch a glimpse of it? I just can't get my head round leaving here and going there. Are you able to tempt me?

Are italian women open and friendly and easy to meet? Or reserved? And does no one in Italy speak English??? I must say I ended up doing quite a lot of bizarre mimes trying to be understood. I have been to many countries and was amazed at how few people spoke English. This is worrying. How would I cope?

Where are you living at the moment?
Would it be a permanent move?
I'd love to believe that Milanese 30something have at least a basic knowledge of the English language, but never count your chicken
I can promise for all the Italian women. Some of them are really open and friendly, others less so. Ernest, do you want me to CAT you?

I can't promise, that is

No idea about school as yet. Company will pay for international school (poss. english or swiss) for 2 years only, so big Q is whether we would stay longer, because it would be too expensive for us to then pay, and I wouldn't be happy to make them change schools after 2 years. BUT they are in local schools here and speak Swiss German & I worry it will be so difficult for them to tart all over again with a 3rd language.

Oh I don't know. Very difficult.

Anyway, you don't have to convert me tonight! But I'd love to hear from you more and learn. I have driven in Milan (once).

So where in the city on the tube is good for families?

Must go to bed now. Interested to learn more. ta. goodnight.

that'd be great (cat). At moment north of Zurich. VERY different to Milan. Calm, clean, countryside, small village. Chalk and cheese

Ernest I think you are being very brave .
I know that areas like "Milano 2" or "Milano 3" are quite popular with English expats, but they are far from the city centre and no tube station.
I know there is a Swiss school in Milan (and I seem to remember I heard it was very good by some friend, I could ask for you) and it is in zona Brera, if I remember well. It is a very posh central area, I wouldn't mind living there (too expensive for us though ).
Other popular residential areas are: San Siro (don't know very well, I fear it's too "residential" for my liking) where you stayed last time. zona Fiera, especially nr via Mario Pagano (beautiful houses, tube station, near Parco Sempione, stazione Cadorna, quite central: very expensive). Via quadronno/via Crivelli is another very beautiful area, near tube, in walking distance from the Duomo (again, expensive).
Brangelina is another mn who lives near Milano, hopefully she'll come and give us a hand.
Ok, my brain is not working anymore, I need some sleep, I'll be back tomorrow

howdi Cali . how was your halloween?

that's exactly what I did with my flat, put wood floor down, stripped wallpaper and painted white and lots of shelves and a bidet!!!. I think the agency should put more pics on the website TBH. You should ask them if you think not many people are coming to view it. Shame it is winter as as it is 'low season' for buying, isn't it?
I'd cry at the thought of renting it out to students or even professionals... I am very attaccata al mattone too, especially when you fell in love with a place. I hope mine will look like yours soon... will have darker floors this time though I think. Kitchen is swell!!

too much sarah beeny do you think??????

ups sorry, I didn't refresh and I was stuck with old conversation.

don't know milan at all but, re friendly italian women: bran, cali and rosa might be giving you a better view but as for my experience they are a bit suspicious at first of 'new girls'. so be prepared. (not us of course!!! ) guys will be friendly and will try to speak the little english they know, not because of ulterior motives hopefully!

I'd prepare myself for lack of green spaces within the city. when I last went to Udine I asked for a playground/green for kids and was sent to a the nearest place: a 'big park' miles away... well what can I tell you: it was a handkerchief, not sure where kids go.

Ciao tutte just a quick message to get me on the new thread ..have been in bed with horrible stomach virus but only lasts 24hrs the nasty bit now just have cramping and feel as have been hit by a bus! Am hoping dd and dh don't get it!
Ernest Can't help on Milano as I live a bit away from there but am sure that Franca and maybe brangelina can help you a bit more. Generally Italians have been friendly but as for making good friendships you really have to work hard at them I have found but I hope to make more when dd goes to school. Good luck !

oh povera Rosa. It is nasty isn't it? Rest as much as you can.
Pippi: a bidet . You are decadent
Ernest, will cat you

A bidet???? Brilliant idea! I don't have your email pippi, can Franca copy it to me? And I will send you pictures of my appartament, anch'io sono molto attacata al mattone.
Good luck Ernest with possible move.

Shall I email you together Pippi and Hothell, so that we all have our emails and we can exchange mobile numbes and decide a location for sat ?

yes! a bidet! but wait, would you believe that DH, who is 100% english, had one installed in his bathroom (which had a 'proper' shower and a mixer tap in the sink!!) even before he met me??? Maybe that's when I fell in love with him !!!

I haven't got yours Hothell and I do want to see your place as well. can you girls forward please? I'll bring mine on sat.

Oh I forgot, came back from hairdresser blonder than I thought and a lot more groomed than usual. will wash hair before we meet otherwise you think I am more refined than what I normally am!!!