Mumsnet Little Italy 6

[Rosa]

Ciao , Hello , Welcome .

Blur who are they ?????

DD in nido and I have another 40 mins to hang out washing and try to wash floors - I have already done shopping with carrello hence sitting for 10 mins just to recover blimey It was exhausting. Franca sponge is ready and cif if you want to come and do my bagno - will trade you for the muffins receipe which I must dig out for you !
Good news about the house at least you will have some money coming in.

blur ... the rivals of Oasis . I also have a small crush on the singer here he is

Ok Rosa, will do . I don't mind cleaning bathrooms!

Well I managed to bribe DD into being brave and not crying wen I dropped her off this morning, I hope to nip the crying in the bud before it becomes a habit, which is what I think happened last time.

These half days are a pita, aren't they? I dropped off DD, went to the supermarket, came home, attempted to get the baby to nap (unsucessfully), now I have 20 minutes before I have to turn round and pick her up again.

Hiya Pippi!Blimey you were gone a long time. Did you go to Punta Ala on holiday after all? We were just down the road from there and I often wondered if you went.

I'm trying to nip the crying in the bud too, tried to rush off rather than hang around this morning with the excuse I had a train to catch. DD really isn't happy about going though, in the mornings she's quite "naughty" and refuses to get dressed by herself, eat by herself, complains about the breakfast etc., all stuff she didn't do when at nido. Oh well, this too will pass, I hope.

Franca, there's a farmers' market organised by Coldiretti today in via Ripamonti, although apparently you only save up to 10% on shop prices. Is that the same in the UK? What's the point then?

Glad you've sorted out renting the house, at least you're earning something on it. Agree that research funding is shite here, had a friend who was a researcher involved in an important biochemical project and he was paid something like 800 euros a month with a contratto a termine. He used to have to work in bars in nero to make ends meet. He's now working in the US (or maybe Canada, can't remember which).

So, where's this muffin recipe then Rosa? I won't offer to clean your bathroom as I'm not really that way inclined

Brang we did go. It was very good! bless the friend who gave us the house, I have nightmares I left it in a mess or smth like that.
when where you there and where exactly!!! bugger we should have met!!

franca, rented? to whom? not student surely? cleaning the house to a specchio???? wow. Impressed!!! I must admit I have ironed for the first time in years the other day, partly because I bought one for dd1 and she inspired me and partly remembering franca saying that it is relaxing while listening to the radio. I must admit, it was!

I too had a crush on dear old damon!!!

We were at Principina the last 2 weeks of August, so only about 20km away. DP found a cheapo flat there. at you with friends with houses in cool places. It's lovely around there, isn't it? I miss the profumo di pineta

You bought your DD an iron? You mean a real one? Do you now iron in tandem? Ironing relaxing? Gah! If you want to listen to the radio it's far more relaxing sitting down with a cup of tea and perhaps a gossip mag.

Brange, so you were in Principina! My mum's been going on about going there with the children for yrs!

I think Brange your dd is trying "to test the boundaries" as, not only she had to change setting, but she's also growing up and might want to "change the rules" iyswim... in other words they can get a bit less cooperative at her age !

Pippi, no, it's not students, but still, i don't have much trust that the house will be loved as much as I do. But we can give it a bit of TLC before putting it again on the market/or if we go back there.

I'm knackered. Have walked miles today. Have signed ds for swimming lessons, as apparently you have to have swimming lessons. At six he is deemed too old . I think people are going mad.

Forgot: I knew about the farmers market but didn't have the time to go. There's a farmers market in exeter every thurs, and I used to go there religiously, but it was def more expensive than shopping at sainsbos or tesco or whatever. But it was worth. Fantastic veggies from a farm only 15 miles away, excellent organic meat, honey and bread. I'm always ready to spend good money on good food (fool emoticon)

Today I bought a pair of trainers for ds at decathlon for 7 euros

It's a great place for kids. Does your mum know someone with a house down that way? If you do go there's a contadino in this tiny road called via della querciasecca who sells lovely fruit and veg really cheaply.

I also think with DD it's "growing pains". Sigh, she used to be one of those nauseating children that are so good. Never mind, it couldn't have lasted.

I wanted to find a farm nearby that does vendita diretta, there's supposed to be a website that lists them all (a project by la Cattolica) but it's not up and running yet.

Swimming lessons - hmmm, I'd promised DD I'd take her to the pool weekly but still haven't got around to it. Need another leg wax you see. Oh, I'm such a bad mother, ignoring my DD's needs in the name of vanity.

Yes, the paediatrician recommended she start swimming lessons this september. I am in 2 minds really, I'm not sure she'd get on in the formal setting and without 1 of us in with her, on the other hand we can't just go together to the local pool as it's part of a gym and I'd have to sign up minimum 15 months . There is another pool but it's at least 30 minutes drive away. This is the disadvantage of living in the middle of nowhere.

Anyway, more tears at drop off time today, despite bribery with pancakes for lunch.

Sputnik, I'd give the formal swimming lessons a miss for now, given that your dd is still settling in in materna (so sorry she cried again today, poor little mini sputnik).
I honestly find that 4 yr old is too early for formal swimming lessons for many children (some children are ready, both "emotionally" ie not scared of water, not shy with new teacher, love water etc both physically, ie good muscles, good coordination etc), I'm actually quite that in the last 15 yrs it seems so bloody important that a 3 yrs old knows how to swim.

Brangelina, you are not the only mother who ignores her baby's needs in the name of vanity. I avoided taking them to the swimming pool for 6 yrs (I thought the water in the exeter pools was too cold for me to do those mother and baby things... plus yes hairy legs). I feel now it's time for ds to go. He learnt how to "swim" without braccioli over the summer, sounds enthusiastic enough, and most of all he is quite independent in changing etc.

Actually I should be going to my first aquagym class today, but my two friends who are going with me can't and I'm having second thoughts as I'm very self conscious not having waxed recently.

Just grab a razor Franca.

I think you're right about the swimming lessons. It would be nice to take her somewhere though as she gained loads of confidence in the water this summer (last year she wouldn't even get in) and has just started swimming independently with the braccioli on holiday.

Plus I am wondering exactly when she is going to settle in at school, given this is her second year. I just wish the teachers would make a bit more of an effort though, if I can hand her over quickly to someone who "takes charge" then I can escape with no tears. If there's no one to hand her over to she just follows me back out, and tears ensue. I am going to try and talk to them today.

Why don't you sign her to start after christmas? or as soon as she's more settled at school? I loved swimming as a child was very confident in the water since an early age, BUT nothing made me more anxious than lessons at swimming pools: I was fine with the teacher, loved to swim etc, but hated changing, I stressed about loosing things... .

Def talk to teachers today. Ask them what she does during the day. And most of all, yes, I think one should dedicate herself to welcoming your dd in the mornings (for instance dd's maestra takes those who are a bit teary to wave bye bye to their mummies from the window. She's also paired a 4 yr old girl, who seems really confident etc to a 3 yr old who has just started, she holds her hand, it's rather sweet)

I can't shave . I have brutti peli in my interno cosce, if I shave them they'll turn as thick as pubic hair!!!!

at the idea of shaving here too. If I did that I'd shred my trousers with the stubble .

I think 4 is OK for swimming lessons if you have a confident child. I was swimming at a very young age but my sis was a total wuss and it took her years to get her 10m cert. IMO the key to a good swimmer is water confidence, I've heard a few worrying things about swimming lessons from a few people here (like they force your face under water. Is this true?) and something like that would kill any water confidence my DD has. She only just built up the confidence to go into the sea by herself this summer and I'd hate to have her traumatised again. I'd only want to do lessons if I could be there too, but then there is the hairy leg issue....

That's reminded me, I must ring that ballet place to see if DD can start this year. She was desperate to go dancing salsa with nonna the other day, bless.

Naaaaah, those are ancient stories I think. They have to be very gentle if they want under 6 clients for their swimming lessons. My friend's dd has been going to piscina solari since she was 3 and they are very pleased with it. Ma non c'e' piu' posto.

Yes, solari's always full. I never even managed to find a quiet hour of nuoto libero when pg. In the end I went to the small piscina in Conca del Naviglio, you just booked your hour and had the lane to yourself. Children's lessons were quite pricey though IIRC.

I hope they're anciant stories, DP's friend had to withdraw his DD from 2 separate courses for the same thing. She's only 5 so don't think it was too long ago.

Yes, i ended up signing ds in that pool in conca del naviglio. cheap it ain't, but was too late for solari, and mincio is too scomoda for me (29 +tube).

Ugh, Mincio is where DP's ex lives and his DS got a nasty fungus from there. Lots of people go there to wash, according to non PC DP.

Conca del Naviglio is lovely and warm, I used wallow like a hippo in the deep end. It was a sensorially pleasant experience, esp at 9 months pg.

DD went swimming from piccola twice a week and she loved it. We want to send her again but as she is small it is with either of us. With nonna we will have to saltare the fist lot I think . We have decided that after 3 when she should be going into group classes we will probably do private lessons as when they are small they seem to do lots of sitting on the side and hanging round. Then one of us can take her when there is nuoto libero to practice. She already can get herself over the pool with one of those floaty sausage things! DD has a pidgeon chest - like a buco / indent on her chest bone and so paed says it is important she does sport from a early age as it might 'grow out'.

Wow rosa, that is quite impressive for a little one!!! Yes, I'd persevere!

Brange, I think Mincio has been revamped recently. And friends tell me that the corsi di nuoto for children are good. But, given that I try not to drive (not to mention that it's virtually impossible to park in the area), it's too scomodo to get there. It's only 4 stops of tram going to conca del naviglio for me.

Do you know that they opened a spa in piazza medaglie d'oro in the old atm place? it looks very posh, I'd love to give it a try!

You mean where the old Ragno d'Oro was? Wow. I might be tempted to do an all day thing myself. I'll try and find out how much it costs and then that's my Xmas present from DP.

Rosa, I quite like the idea of private lessons. I might investigate that at our local pool. I was just going to take her for nuoto libero with me but that might be a while in the offing. Am very impressed your DD goes in with just a noodle, mine will do that only if I'm holding her hands

yes, the old ragno d'oro. It's not cheap, I think it's 45 euros for 1 day (me and a friend gave this as a present to another friend). More expensive if you add a massage. But I'd love to spend a day there!

45 euros is a very cheap Xmas present, I might have to ask for a carnet for multiple visits. What does the 45 euros include?