MN Little Italy 7

[francagoestohollywood]

Ciao, hello, welcome!

TantiK, I cycle everywhere too. I've had people telling me I'm mad, that my DD would get ill from the cold and the fumes (well if you sods used your cars a bit less the fumes wouldn't be such a problem) and that I must be a weird hippy.
There are a lot of monstrous pick-ups and SUVs and the figli di papà 15yos around here get given those minicars instead of motorini - basically all the classic road users who don't actually know how to drive - so it is a bit hairy at times but there are plenty of back roads and I don't have to look for a parking space. I hate driving anyway and would end up a Very Angry Person if I ever had to drive in Milan or indeed in any Italian city. I find myself swearing at other drivers from the passenger seat as it is.

I'm fine driving round here but the thought of driving in Rome sends me into a cold sweat!

Tantik, well done for cycling, although obviously you are exposing your DS to those dangerous correnti d'aria, which is probably why they disapprove. Is there no scuola bus where you are? My DD was 4 in July. no problem I think with her understanding, as she went to nido before school, it's just the talking. Are you anywhere near Passo Tonale btw? That's where we went on holiday several years ago.

I am umming and ahing what to do about DD's shoes, she has her new 10 euro trainers from Decathlon, I'm just wondering whether to wait for the sales for some nice winter shoes. It doesn't get really cold here til january.

So I just realised this week that in Italy kids start school based on the year of their birth and not the academic year, as in the UK. I am totally clueless. I also made the faux pas last year of sending DD to school in a white grembiule instead of pink. I hope being on this thread might save me a bit in future.

If it doesn't get cold then I'd wait for the sales. I've often bought a second pair in the sales and still got plenty of wear out of them, but then it doesn't really get properly warm until Mayish around here. Now that DD is older I'm a bit more relaxed about "proper" shoes all the time and have also been putting her in trainers and those 10 euro canvas shoes in the summer. Italian children don't seem to have warped feet from those canvas Superga things so I'm sure they're fine.

Also, I've signed DD up for ballet and if she continues she's going to bugger up her feet anyway

It's Jan-Dec here, which is a relief as DD is a July birthday. Is it the same where you are?

No grembiule necessary here luckily, otherwise I'm sure I'd have made the same mistake. Also because I hate pink.

Well I guess so, as I have finally figured out! DD is july too, I thought she was 1 of the youngest, instead she's in the middle.

I hate pink (particularly pink gingham) which was why I bought the white one. But anyway, lots of kids don't wear them so neither does DD. I think they enforce it at Elementare though.

Thanks for the coffee and bun and am sooooo pleased to have found people with non-perfectly sanitised houses! (I have solved problem by being a social misfit and having no friends so never need to invite anyone over)
T'is not quite orecchiette time yet dahn sarth, but things are looking decidely greener on the verdura front...
I buy all dd's shoes in England in the sales.....found some geox ones that were loads cheaper than Clarks etc but dd insisted on the all-singing-and-dancing flashy light ones....

Sputnik can you put maybe the odd cream puff on the coffee table please- or crostata- thats dd2 talking of course( confess don't like canoli ).
When in the mountains we cycled lots with dd in one of those basket things - I was about 20 weeks I think with obvious bump - but maybe we looked 'in ferie' so diddn't get too many wierd looks.
Only thing I found about Geox is that the trainers if your dc have slim ankles they slip out the back. But they are a fair bit cheaper.
Talking of messy houses must go and do something about it !

Welcome Bucharest! Where are you down south?

I actually like Italian kids shoes more than British. I'll probably have my citizenship revoked for that. DD has had some really nice ones from Chicco.

Chicco closed here last year - have to go to the mainland but when loking for dd first pair found the soles pretty hard. Also expensive - but that is Chicco in general IMO - heard there is a great outlet somewhere outside Milan where all the Chicco stuff is massively reduced.
Bought 4 cottone caldo vests yesterday 23 effin Euro. Blimey...... And I bought 1-3 mths not size 0 despite suggestions [protests] from comessa - No thanks she can have a baggy vest and grow into it thank you !!

Oh sorry to be rude Sputnik - cakes appreciated !!!!

We got ours just in the local shoe shop.

They are building one of those massive outlet malls near us, so I'm sure I'll soon be buying loads of crap I wouldn't otherwise saving loads of money

I have just bought a navetta ( carrycot ) thing off e bay as given up asking SIL for the pram to see if the buggy board will fit- so dd2 will have the cot attachment on the buggy we have thing is paypal acc is in my name - so have just coughed up - it better be in good nick or my head will roll !!!! and we cannot tell SIL and MIL its second hand so I will have to invent some story about how the shop found me one or something .

Yes, omg the shame of a 2nd hand carrycot

Have you got everything you need? Getting all the baby bits together is one of the few things I enjoyed about pregnancy

Rosa - silly me - I have loads of 0-3mth vests, although all short sleeved as DD was a summer baby. I also used them under things in the winter though so maybe they'd be useful anyway? I'll gladly send them to you. I also have a load of 3-6-9mth winter wear (jumpers and the like) and newborn/6mth all in one sleepsuits. There's also a 6mth snowsuit that was eternally too big for DD. Nothing is pink though, I don't know whether that would bother you.

The Chicco outlet near here is very cheap but only for the really ugly toot they wouldn't put in the shops. I've never managed to find anything nice there, except once maybe a tshirt.

I prefer Italian shoes too. My sis spends ££££ on clarks and I've never seen a nice shoe in there. DD has also had some nice Chicco shoes (bought in the sale) as well as Primigi and is now wearing some nice Puma trainers (are Puma Italian?). I've definitely had my citizenship revoked. I do prefer English sliced bread though, so maybe I'll be allowed to keep it?

Well you drink earl grey so again thats pretty british ...Again can't stand the stuff - have just eaten my last bite for the day - I x digestive biscuit , glass of water and a gaviscon- sad I know but will be popping to Sputniks for a panino al uva, tom am and possibly a few baci di dama or maybe a krafen with crema - love them !
I am ok for sleep suits and a snow suit thanks as have 2 one 0-3 and one 3-6 - but I might come back for it later if dd2 is a dribbly , chucky baby and I have to wash the things. If you do have a couple of sort of cardy, jumpers that you can put over all in one sleepsuits for those chilly days might not say no - Mum will be knitting another couple of tiny cardigans but dd1 was March and then it went really hot so then I have a jump to 6-9 which I seem to have a few.
I am doing ok on sorting I things but thinking how the hell am I going to be able to get rid of this stuff after dd2 grows out of it - am a sentimental old cow really !!!

Where is the outlet going to be Sputnik? Did you get my email btw?

Looks like I will have to stock up on shoes before I come over next year. Are there any shops that cater for larger women On previous trips i've noticed their large size is about a uk 14 or am I just looking in the wrong place?

Yes I got your email, did you get mine?
The outlet place is on the other side of the motorway/river, near the Ponzano exit.

There are shops with larger sizes, there are plenty of larger Italians around these days. But you're right lots of places, Benetton for eg, seem to stop at 14ish. Then you go in at sale time and everything is small/extra small. Don't they realise they are losing custom.

Rosa are you avoiding eating in the evening because of heartburn? Huge sympathies, I hated that.

Anyway, this won't get the DCs fed...

Yes I did thanks . Have keyed your number in and give you a bell over the weekend if that's ok unless you'd rather I call you on a weekday?

Rosa, I used to have to sit up in bed to sleep with one of those v shaped pillows. Have you tried that? With a large bottle of gaviscon and a glass of milk handy.

Is the sun still shining over there, getting mixed views on metcheck and I'm sure it's cooler in Sabina? Will I get away with packing all our summer stuff with a couple of cardi's do you think?

Yes thats right amazing acid heartbun- never had anything like it with dd1. Can't get Gaviscon here I think and am down to last 10 or so tablets - should have asked Franca to get some. I sleep with 2 pillows and then one smaller cushion that I sort of fold in 2 under bump and have got into the habbit of taking it with me when I turn over . I have bF cushion which is like a beanbag but its too big to take to bed - well if I evict dh maybe !
I am not a 14 and if I have to buy in Italy I go to Oviesse, Coin ( when feeling very flush - not been there for years !)odd top from H&M but I tend to buy bottoms in UK as you can get more choice.
Nothing from Gio for a while - I hope she signed for her flat on Sat !

Rosa I had it bad too with DS, they prescribed me something called Malox (maybe Maalox) which was quite good. Mint tea helped too, as did avoiding wheat.

Call me when you like Delgirl, the weather has been fine here, around 20-25° in the day, you'll probably be ok with British summer gear and range of cardis. It's getting chilly at night though.

You called Rosa ?
Flat all signed for. Went round flat first while landlords told us how lucky we were as had all been restructured and that the daughter had cleaned the bed , then went to sign where we all sat round a big table (2 estate agents, landlord and wife, daughter, grandson and us. We then spent an hour reading it out loud. Finally amid much signing of copies (everyone bar ds signed!)and stamping of dates we got keys! And then we spent all weekend in Ikea much to dps dismay. We are moving gradually but i cant move finally until have phone and internet connection due to work (and MN of course!). So hopefully in about a week and I cant wait!
Get some gaviscon posted Rosa, feel for you. Hi Bucharest, whereabouts are you?
I also need to get ds some shoes urgently, sent him out in socks and sandals much to dps disgust (che figura!) the last few days as has grown out of anything closed toes .
Any crostata left??

Yay Gio! LOL at all the signing palaver, I sold my house quicker than that!
You have no excuse re shoes, there is a big Decathlon next to IKEA at Porta di Roma

Hurrah , Hurrah for Gio thats great news---FIL diddn't object I hope! Off to bed am shattered - will go and hunt out Maalox when Gaviscon finished ! SO pleased for you !

Rosa, I could bring some over for you if you like? Where are you?