MN Little Italy 8

[francagoestohollywood]

Benvenuti, ciao hello

I was suppose to do a brief translation today, instead, I wasted lots of time in indulging in some property porn... I thought that with the economy being so and bad no one sold flats in Milan, instead I find there are lots of posh huge flats, 250 mq, with terraces, fireplaces etc. I wonder if they sell.

supposed

franca, was meant to take care of the washing but didn't want to wake DD up (she's still not herself poor thing) as she's here in the kitchen, so I indulged in cloth nappy porn and ended up giving into temptation too, but guess it'll be a bit more difficult to but a flat in Milan on impulse

Yes Franca, I've spent loads of time lately looking at online estate agents, and noticed the same thing. WTF lives in these houses? Not that I'm or anything. I really wonder if those are selling these days.

Nasty jabs - hope she picks up soon we have them at the end of the month health pending.
I don't lok at the property pages anymore as we can't afford the mortgage . Think we need to save more and then put in more of a downpayment - or just pick another area / country to live in. Here it is the small monolocali and the huge ones that are selling not the middle of the range ones.
I am sorry to say I use disposables here as I just could not cope with the washing . 2 wet days and my house looks like a laundry as it is. Electric and tumble drier is also a no way they are all a consumo c and cost a fortune to run. I do have some larger cloth ones and intend to try in the Uk when I have lots more drying space and a drier if needed!!
I have named minirosa rompe during the day - if i can't get out she is a pain ... I can't get out to find a swing as I need to see them to see if we have enough space for the actual swinging action- my lounge is small enough as it is !!!!
Lavoro - am not sure what I will do but I think I might have to do something to contribute . Franca do you still work in the shop ?

Rosa, I work in the shop on a very casual basis. I'll work 3 full days in the next 10 days. Plus I do bits of translations. I screwed up my "career" even before the children arrived, and this is totally my fault, lack of self confidence and fate. I still ponder over the midwifery degree, but as I said a million times already , while I'm happy for the dc to go to scuola a tempo pieno and scuola materna, I'm too used to be the one picking them up at 4 (actually, today my mum is picking ds up and dd has gone playing at her friend's)... I sound like a pain, sorry.

[sunflower] I wonder how many cloth nappies you can buy with the average price of a flat in Milan?

Sputnik, yes, I wonder. I suppose in Rome it's politicians/diplomats/who else? What's the average price there?
Btw, if anyone is interested in a 350 square meter with a terrance near the Universita' statale, let me know

Franca the prices really vary according to the area, we're looking way out in the periferia, and 3 bedroom apts are all over 350,000. That's the asking price anyway, who knows what they actually go for.

Dh (the optimist) thinks that it's a buyers market and it should be possible to lower the price considerably. I'm not that convinced...
But, we are not looking to buy as yet. Just starting to get a feel of what the prices are like in areas we like ()

That's what we are counting on really.

But then I'm a pessimist. Trust my husband

ps: today dd - who is 4 and a half, told me that "she's never wrong". I think she took after dh.

Haven't you made an offer already (memory like a scolapasta emoticon)?

LOL at memory like a scolapasta .
franca got you some sainsbos recipes today...

my brother has sorted out dh's and my Ipod so we are both sitting on the sofa with headphones on... ahhh married life.

Awwww Pippi you are lovely

Lol at listening to i-pods. I'm mnetting and dh is working on his laptop

No you're right, we were going to, but haven't yet as stll looking at stuff.

pippi, I'm here, DP's doing his annual appraisal and all frustrated (he's only got 2 pages of q&a really, I normally have 10 pages of how, why, evidence, marks - civil service bureaucracy not better than italian in this case!)

DD managed to hold down last feed and now in her crib... hopefully she'll sleep well too

Oh I see. When are you looking to move? It takes ages to buy a house in Italy.

I forgot to wash my hair... now it's too late. Should go to bed really. "Night!

pippi I wouldn't worry about feeling depressed, am sure you'll be fine and if you're in housing am sure you would get something else if you chose to go back. I used to recruit for housing and there always seemed to be a real shortage of good candidates. I am guessing that even with the economic climate currently it is a sector that wouldn't be affected too much?? Same if you decide to do teaching. I have just read out your post to DP re your dh giving you half his wage Hot . He ran out of the door to walk so quickly!!Git.
Anyone got any recipe ideas to share here?
I can never get over those ridiculously priced houses as well, same on the rental market- places going from 2500-5000 a month! Who pays this? I think it must be the expats here working for UN organisations etc

Gio you gave Portofino the best suggestions ! I love Amatriciana, could live on that!
on 5000 rent. Here in Milan there are some company who used to play that kind of rent for expats who worked here for short term periods. But again, not sure they can still afford to do it!

play? pay

Our rent has just gone up - it is official rent so its done on IStat but it really needs so much doing on it !!!Nebbia in the lagoon today and it will roll in again later. I want to go back to iana and get a jacket at 50% off .thing is will need to take both of them and don't know if I can manage it !!! I need dd to try it on as it has to be big as am thinking for next Autumn and its no refunds on exchanges so she has to try it !! They also had minirosas size but putting them in matching coats is just a bit too kitch !!!!

Gio I know that multinationals here pay rent for employees if they're recruited elsewhere, as do the UN, if it's over 1000 euros. Lucky buggers!

Managed to hit the market today and the second hand stalls, and got a bunch of scarves and hats for 1 euro each, one of them is silk cashmere, plus a couple of bags, 1 felt 1 leather, for 3 euros each, result! I love going through the second hand stuff [saddo]

Rosa, buying winter jackets requires in depth study. But it can be very rewarding if well planned. I once bought ds a petit bateau giaccone (at serravalle outlet) and he wore it for 3 yrs in a row (ok, last yr it was very short, but he didn't mind )

Hothell, have just received your parcel with the books, thank you!

Sputnik, see, the bookswap can be done. Even with the Italian mail. Shall we go for it?
If you are interested I can list a few good books I have here

Have to go, I'm in a hurrrrrrrrry

I have been looking for a jacket for dd1 for next year in the sales in italy but didn;t find anything. talking of bargains though I went to primigi outlet near my mum and wanted to buy everything it's so cheap. from 40ish to 18 euro. lots of models. only got one pair for dd1 in the end, as my new year rev is not to spend at all, for spring. but from now on it's there or nowehere else!

Gosh Pippi, you're soooooooooo frugal . 18 euros is a great bargain.
I've done really well with the dc's shoes this year. They both have: 1 pair of leather shoes, 1 pair of moon boots (15 euros at decathlon) and ds has a pair of trainers for gym at school (8 euros from decathlon). And dd is happy to wear ds's old trainers and his old red kickers Yuppie!!!!!!

Mind you, this year I had to buy a winter jacket each .