Mumsnet little Italy 5

[francagoestohollywood]

Welcome!

Cloudy in Milan. It pissed down the whole afternoon yesterday... .

Bloody awful in Rome.
Looks like in the next few days it will go to being ok, just cooler than normal

Was FOUL here yesterday but today after a wet start it has come out nice. A bit 'fresher' than usual but much better than it has been.
LOL at tights !! Have not been reduced to that just yet . Thanks for the web sites some have been saved. What about any gifty ? present sites ...am thinking ahead to Christmas and wanting to do all on line as can really see myself hitting the centro commerciale with tiny baby !!!
Have returned to my old laptop and refuse to touch main computer have installed impossible for dh to remembr password and all I need to do now is get a decent antivirus . Dh has installed one you download from the web but I dont trust it !
No Franca not booked flight am waiting for 20 week scan date then will book . Doc says he will do for me in hosp... BUt he will give me date when I next see him. Just waiting for villio results scritto then can book.

Thanks Sputnik for that, it was one of the ones I looked at. The photos weren't terribly inspiringso I was undecided. DP has said yes to Puglia, only better if up at Gargano end as less far to drive. I must admit I picked Salento because was thinking of the Aram Quartet.

Franca - yes, Emanuele! Is he related to someone at Rai? Or even Berlusconi? Is he shagging la Ventura? IMO he should have gone ages ago, he's such a pisello floscio (apparently that's the male version of a figa secca, or so I'm told). DP and I have decided that if he wins then we're definitely not paying the licence fee! Who do you think should win? It's so hard now, isn't it? I find Tony adorable because non se la tira and I like the Aram, but I reckon Giusy will win as she seems quite popular....

Rosa, are you wanting gifty sites for the UK or Italy? That reminds me, I've got someone's birthday coming up in the UK, will have a gander on a couple of sites. They are such a lifesaver, especially for someone as disorganised as me, no hours spent trawling around crowded shops, no having to buy wrapping paper, no having to organise a trip to the Post Office. Bliss!

Sputnik, you don't wear tights under your jeans do you? People always seem to be shocked when they find out I don't. I can't imagine anything more uncomfortable.

PS I'm sure the crap weather is my fault for defying the weather reports.

Good lets Blame Brangelina for the weather then...

I am after sites for Italy really as for the Uk I am going to be organised ( yeah watch this space !) and get all the Uk presents this summer whilst I am in he UK. And if forget any then will send to parents or sister and get them to forward. It is more the Italian clan and dd ( and maybe dh) . I am going to get some stuff for her in the Uk and bring back but with dd2 arriving she will need some serious spoiling in Nov and of course now she knows what presents are all about so this Christmas should be fun ... Now can I get an xmas cake in M&S in August ?????

Rosa, there's this for toys. I haven't ever used it but found it when browsing for something lese and it looks quite good. There's also this.
For adults I couldn't tell you, maybe you should try googling a gift you have in mind and see what sites come up, then go from there for all the others. There are loads of cut price designer sites, one was called something beginning with Y but I can't for the life of me remember what it was.

TMMJ - the sun has come out

TMMJ yes the sun has come out in Milan, and it got HOT in less than half an hour. Be prepared . (how did the hospital appointment go btw? will check on your thread)

Rosa, lol lol lol at getting ready for Christmas . I'm a last minute person, and I'm getting worse. It's dd's birthday on Friday and Dh's birthday on saturday and have only managed to buy him a shirt on my mum's behalf .

I don't know what to get dd, who is turning 4. Things I like are either huge (won't fir in their tiny bedroom) or too expensive, often both. Have just been to posh toyshop in piazzetta san carlo and they have a wooden pippi longstocking's house and it's 120 euros!!!!
I need ideas.

Brangelina, x factor: I think it's the best tv program in a long time. I'm usually very snobbish and don't watch "reality" programs but I got hooked, mainly because I find Morgan rather "intelligent" and I like his relationship with Mara Maionchi, they are genuinely fodn of each other and rather funny. I cannot stand Ventura though. And even dj francesco turns out to be nicer than expected.
I like Tony as well, as he is very sweet and genuinely shy (have a small crash ). My favourite are aram quartet. Giusy is good, has a good presenza scenica, but too similar to amy winehouse. The only one I don't like is Emanuele, Ilaria was better.

Sputnik, has the weather improved there?

Well it stopped raining, which is a start. Good thing too as I had a wooly cardigan on as well as tights. No tights under jeans here, but then I don't actually own any jeans atm. I did recently order some actually, but when I'd finished having a good laugh I sent them back, as have serious post-natal muffin issues.

Were you thinking of yoox.com?

I am thinking of a dolls house for my DD, she turns 4 in July. Will get ILs to contribute as they usually are clueless what to give.

There a small wooden doll's house at our local giocheria on on offer at 24 euros!

Yes it was yoox. I got loads of stuff once when they were having a promotional sale.

Sputnik, have you become more freddolosa since you've been here? My mum (Italian but living in the UK) laughs at me for being froccia because I wear a cardi in gale force Norfolk winds, yet here I get weird looks because I'm wearing just a tshirt in April.

Franca, wooden doll's house at 24 euros sounds like the way to go, also because if you get the expensive one you can guarantee that after a week she will totally ignore it and it will only gather dust, as happened with my niece's £ 100 doll's house.
Also, at this age you can still get away with something cheap, just wait till she starts proper school and wants the Armani Jr pencil case that her friend has....

I reckon the Aram should win too, but the "public" may have other plans. Anyting as long as Emanuele doesn't win. Are we the only 2 saddos that are actually watching this? I normally hate reality too but this is much better than watching people talk mindless drivel all day alla GF. Mind you, when will la Ventura buy a shirt that actually fits? The burst button look is just so tacky.

I don't want to spend too much money, as she will receive plenty of stuff from an absurd number of loving relatives .

I don't think x factor is being that successful, which once again shows the "tastes" of the Italian public. Amici, the program of the EVIL Maria De Filippi has been more successful, with a bunch of untalented kids (I think the most untalented won) and rowing "teachers". bleurgh

X factor fans......thing is I put Simona Ventura in same category as Md Filippi..NOt my cuppa also dont get this x factor and dh cannot stand anything like this ...
Sun out this am but forecast is bad for fri ..dd just done another delightful poo in pants We just cannot get this pooing buisness!
Have a nice day all and yes Brangelina I am the same as you I tend to wear more in the Uk than I do here- I am the one with a scarf in August when the wind gets up !!

TMMJ I find www.eurometeo.com quite good. for Venice put in Venice Tessera for Garda its probably Brescia or Verona Catullo . will keep you updated.

rosa, have you got a recipe for kids friendly moist yummie chocolaty cake????

I have a good Nigel Slater one, if you're interested?
DD loves it, but she's a chocoholic like me

Oh yes please, I love Nigel Slater

there's been an explosion at exeter's shopping center !

here you go
It always gets compliments. I substitute pinoli for almonds because I prefer them, and spread apricot jam on top, with a light dusting of cocoa powder.

sounds just delicious!!!!
what's the italian equivalent of caster sugar?

There isn't one, I just use normal granulated. You could always put the granulated in a grinder if you can be bothered, but honestly, it doesn't make enough difference to be worth the effort. With a chocolate/coffee cake I tend to use muscovado, it has a nicer flavour.