Junefinnigan's Weblog

The Tuscan Office
Photo P Finnigan

As I write this blog, I am listening to a CD by a local Italian band called ‘Neuro’.  I bought it because I know two of the band members who live in Montespertoli and it is heavy metal/punk.  Now punk was not my thing in the past and still gives me the eebie jeebies, however, I will persevere through to the end!  I’ll let you know my verdict next week.

Well it was back to work last Monday and four days in the UK for me, whilst my man and Farty Barty the cat manned the Tuscan office.  I can honestly say that I find it quite impossible to come up with fun things to say about England, anyway you have logged in to read about life in Tuscany!  Traveling back on an early flight I was delighted to be sitting with two lovely ladies, Sarah from Exmoor and Shirley from Cardiff, both off to meet their men who are currently working in Tuscany.  We got on so well that we shared two small bottles of prosecco between us.  A sort of champagne breakfast!  Girls, I hope you are reading this, keep in touch….

Me and the Rock Chick Band

It was a great weekend back with my man and we enjoyed our traditional visit to Montespertoli on Sunday.  Glorious weather, icecream and prosecco in the Piazza; nothing like it.  We are both heavy metal fans and listened to some great rock music in the car and later at home.  I have since decided to add Gary Moore & Phil Lynott’s ‘Parisienne Walkways’ to my repertoire for next year’s garden rock concert party here in Tuscany.  The date for your diary is June 28th 2014, send me your email if you would like an invite.  june.finnigan@virgin.net

Meanwhile, back in our local village of Fiano, the newspapers were still not being delivered and we have discovered that the delivery agent has gone out of business.  Whilst the tourist industry is still surviving quite well, others are struggling and many businesses could not afford to take the traditional Ferragosto holiday this year.  However, our locals remain cheerful and greet us with the usual smile and ‘Buon Giorno’ or ‘Bondi’ each morning at coffee.

Eeyore, ‘In his gloomy place’

Now my man had been home alone for four days and he was very much ‘in his gloomy place’ without a paper to read.  I did pick up a free Telegraph in Waitrose and a Times on the plane, so all was not completely lost!  He has now gone to London and we must hope that the local papers have arrived by the time he returns on Friday!

Laura and Benedetta at the Bar/Alimentari in Fiano
Photo J Finnigan

Laura at the Alimentari/Bar continues her struggle as, after a fleeting return by her daughter Benedetta who is recovering from a broken foot, she is manning the shop alone again.  However, her coffee is second to none and she is a lovely lady, so we will keep supporting her.

Things are returning to normal here in Tuscany as the shops, bars and restaurants re-open after the traditional holidays.  September is a really nice month, whilst still warm, it is the time of harvests and the vendemmia (grape harvest) will begin shortly.  The vineyards will be full of imported grape pickers and it’s not unusual to see coolie hats amongst the vines!  The countryside then becomes quite noisy with tractors & trailers lumbering past our villa, loaded high with luscious purple and green grapes.

I have just checked the news for Silvio, then came across another amazing story from the North of Italy.  As you are no doubt aware, the economy here is in a poor state and taxes on businesses pretty horrendous.  Fabrizio Pedroni, a factory owner near Modena, moved his factory and contents to Poland whilst the workers were away on holiday!  Why?  High Italian salaries, crippling taxes and dismal productivity rates.  He has not made a profit since 2008 and it was either get out quick, without the still strong unions getting wind, or ‘shoot himself in the head.’  What a to do!  I caught the end of a BBC interview ‘Hard Talk’ last night when the prime minister Enrico Letta promised to make things easier for Italian employees & employers.  Speriamo di si!  Meanwhile, the lovely Silvio Berlusconi has appealed to the Human Rights Court in Strasbourg over his ban from politics.  The thirty-three page appeal includes ‘It would deny the legitimate expectation of voters that he remain in office for the remainder of the legislative.’  I say, what about all his illegitimate ones?

Tuesday morning – I am finishing with a glassful of  very good news.  I have just come back from my morning coffee and Milko has only two of my books left to sell at the cartolibreria in Fiano, the newspaper delivery is back, so is Benedetta and the sun is shining after heavy rain!  Hurrah!

Sorry for the later than usual blog, however, I hope you enjoyed it and do get in touch!

Amore  June x

ps Check out http://www.firstchapters.com for your Autumn reading.  I have heard lots of people raving about ‘My Father, The Assassin’ by J W Finnigan!