Junefinnigan's Weblog

Benvenuti to all my lovely Loyal and New Followers

Runners outside Bar Solferino in Certaldo.
Photo J Finnigan

Well, we were just settling in to our morning coffee in Certaldo earlier this morning, when everyone started rushing out the door!  “What’s going on?” I asked the barmaid, who was also on the way out.  “The runners are here!” She said, in Italian of course, so I tried not to look completely stupid and strolled outside too.  My man stuck his head deeper into his newspaper and left me to it.  Now you have to be a ‘local-local’ to know what’s going on in Certaldo.  We are only locals, in the singular.  Apparently the ‘Corsa Podistica’ had been organised a year ago and everyone knew it was happening today, except us of course.  It seems that several hundred people of both sexes and all ages were competing in running, walking and trekking races in and around Certaldo.  Earlier, on the drive in, we had spotted some people in dayglow outfits standing on street corners; so this then was the reason why!  Anyway, I stood opposite Bar Solferino and took a few pics, and marvelled at the fact that the ones who were heavily wheezing did not collapse in a heap directly in front of me.  These were not trained runners, all shapes and sizes staggered past and I was very impressed at the extreme effort that was going into this race.  I returned to my man, finished my coffee and ordered another one; that was my exercise for the day sorted.

A laughing Pope Francis
Magazine in Hairdressers

Earlier in the week I went to Sandra’s to have my hair done and in a glossy magazine I found the most heartwarming picture of a laughing Pope Francis.  Now whether you are religious or not, this man does have a certain something.  His smile is enough to make everyone smile back, and that’s not a bad thing.  Of course he’s currently in Africa, bless him, sending out that so important message of peace and love.  With the world in its current state of terror, we need men like this.  ‘All we are saying, is give peace a chance….’ The Beatles.  Which reminds me, he has just released an Album, the Pope that is!  Yes really – you can hear him talking to the sound of background pop music – sounds like a Christmas hit to me.

Bob Dylan touring in Tuscany.
La Nazione.

On a lighter note, have you been wondering what Dylan is doing these days?  No, not the lazy rabbit in ‘Magic Roundabout’ silly, I’m talking about Bob, the sixties icon and great protest singer.  Well, I can tell you , he is here in Tuscany strutting his stuff on stage looking more like an aging cowboy than his old image of a stoned hippy.  Yes, they all come here, because the Italians love aging rockers.  This is partly why they like me and my band The Rock Chick Band!  If you guys are reading this, I’m not talking about you, you are all young and gorgeous.

Silvio says Renzi is Falso.
Photo la Nazione

OK.  So what has the other Italian vintage rocker been up to then?  Who is that you ask?  Well Silvio Berlusconi of course!  Now, I’ll just pop off and check the latest news on-line; don’t go away….  Ha, well look at that!  His current wealth is estimated at 7.7 billion USD and whilst I endeavoured to get really up to date information for you, a big notice came up saying ‘Some results may have been removed under the data protection law in Europe.’  Well really!  Anyway, in the newspaper Il Nazione, I did read that the gorgeous Silvio has been calling the Prime Minister Renzi ‘Falso’ which needs little translation.  But otherwise, very little seems to be happening in the Berlusconi camp, other than the fact he continues to travel and attract huge followings.

But enough of that.  It’s cold here, but the sun came out today and was warm enough to allow an hour or so soaking up the vitamin D rays, which included lunch in the garden.  Yes, life eeez good, life eeez now.

Have a great week, do drop me a line and see you next time.

Salute June x

PS Visit my author site at http://www.amazon.com/author/junefinnigan

‘My Father, The Assassin’. Book one in the series.

‘The Bolivian Connection’ Book two in the series.