Welcome and Benvenuti to all my Lovely Followers around the World,
Yet another beautiful day in Tuscany!
Well, as the dust settled after the five-day Mercantia Festival in Certaldo, our local village of Fiano was gearing up for its own three-day event Festa in Fiano. This is a lively annual event and today, Sunday, is the final day. So if you are nearby, head over to Fiano for the final evening’s blast. Great music, food and wine; what more can I say!
Yesterday, two of Fiano’s handsome locals were crying out for a foto, so they very happily posed for this blog. Fotos J Finnigan
Now the highlight of the last week for me was a visit to Castello Sonnino in Montespertoli with my two lovely American friends. Thank you to Caterina for squeezing us in to a busy July schedule and releasing your lovely assistant to give us a history tour of the Castello. And, the history is to die for. Foto from website.
Sidney Sonnino was twice Prime Minister of Italy and later Finance Minister during the First World War. The current Sonnino family have proudly dedicated their time to preserving all the archives for that time and more. They have also built an enviable income producing estate to help preserve the castle, its history and the land. Read lots more on their beautiful website. You can even stay there, so check it out! Sonnino website
Meanwhile, down in Florence, the new T1 Leonardo Tram-line is up and running. Foto from official website. In issue 247 of the Florentine Weekly is a great article all about it. The Tram stops at lots of interesting places, twenty-six in all, over 11.5 Kilometres and you can jump on every four minutes! Brilliant I say! Can’t wait to get on board! Go to The Florentine website
If, however, you want to go around the city on bicycle or further afield by vespa, you can also arrange this in Florence. We often see the brightly coloured vespas whizzing along through our bit of the Chianti hills. Not a lot has changed since the ’60s! Looking at their website, you could have a great day out this way! Go to Tuscany Bike tours
And what about eating? I hear you say. Well if you want a real Tuscan experience, you only need to drop down below Fiano, our local village, to find Osteria di Casa Chianti where you will not only find local food, wines and oils, but a bit of theatre too. In the evening the sunset from the big outside terrazzo is fabulous. Foto from website. Now this place gets very busy, is only open in the evenings and for sunday lunch, so booking is essential. My man and I had an excellent supper with our American friends last Friday, to whom we wish a safe journey home and hope to see you next year! Visit The website
Well, must get this blog finished and off to you. It’s a little cooler today, so we are feeling fresher, thank goodness. Hope you are too!
Have a great week, drop me a line and do visit my official author site at June’s Site
My man and I live in the Chianti Hills above Certaldo and our beautiful daughter and grandchildren are only thirty-five minutes away. We always jump to attention when we are invited to lunch, what with my own and our daughter’s hectic lifestyles these are very important get togethers. We also get to see Monty our grand dog, a beautiful Maremma we think, but anyway he’s adorable.
Long family lunches are traditional here in italy and we are more than happy to embrace the idea. My man was presented with his all time favourite desert, strawberry Pavlova, a belated father’s day treat!
In Pistoia the three-day blues festival started 13th July and included Graham Nash, James Blunt, Steve Hackett, ZZ Top and Crosby Stills & Nash. Go to 
In Lucca the Summer Festival continues up to 26th July and includes Ringo Starr, Alice Cooper, Jonny Depp, Roger Waters, Lenny Kravitz (look him up he’s brilliant) James Taylor, King Crimson, Nick Cave and loads more. 
Ok, and continuing for the moment on the same subject, I am pleased to tell you that I am learning to play the acoustic guitar. About time, I hear you say, and yes I know but I have been so busy writing books and stuff over the last few years, but I am so in love with my new Fender I can’t keep away from it!
Well, that’s enough of my music indulgences, what is happening in our local town of Certaldo you ask? Oh, it’s the amazing Mercantia of course, which every year attracts musicians, dancers, acrobats, theatricals and produce from Tuscany, you have to see it to believe it. The Historical Centre, Certaldo Alto, is the place to be as it provides the most stunning backdrop for all these fabulous goings on. The festivities finish today, but there’s always next year! Diary date for 2019! Go to 
Well, the dust has finally settled and we have at last returned to our quiet & idyllic lifestyle in our little bit of Chianti. Some of our concert going friends are still here, staying in and around Certaldo, and I was delighted to take two of them to visit Anne Shingleton’s studios at Vico D’Elsa near Poggibonsi. Now I have known Anne for many years but this is the first time I have managed to visit her, see her wonderful paintings & sculptures and to hear her story. Foto J Finnigan.
Anne, on the left above, as an artist is way up there with the world’s greatest painters of wildlife, being a zoologist herself, this is the medium of first choice for her. But Anne can paint anything from portraits to landscapes creating better than photographic images. Then there are the sculptures and her most recent undertaking was a huge Swan, which is currently exhibited in the beautiful Gheradesca gardens of the Four Seasons Hotel in Florence. Ask at reception and you will be shown through to the gardens, Anne’s swan is next to the pond. 
Well, how does one follow that? As I was musing over this, my man called out “June, you’ve got to come and see this!” So I detached myself from my chair and rushed into his study, where he was watching something on TV. “You won’t believe this and it could only happen in Italy, but they are showing a recent ‘tug o’ war’ match on a bridge over the River Arno in Pisa! But they have two teams back to back, trying to push, yes push, each other with their feet in strangely wedged trainers!” It was a contest called Gioco del Ponte and it had as much action as watching paint dry! They had been in a gridlock for ten minutes already and it was another fifteen before the sweating big guys in red, finally overcame the red faced yellow ones. This, and they were all dressed in tudor costume! Crazy Italians! Ha ha! Foto P Finnigan.
Of course, not to forget, I did promise you a Hunk of the Month for July, and guess what, it had to be the latest Armani Man! I have been saving this picture up, but now I think I should share it, I’ve been gazing at him long enough! Phew, now I’ve completely lost my train of thought! Foto Giorgio Armani.
Ah, zucchini or courgettes to you. No, no, no connection you naughty thing. But here is a bag of freshly picked Zucchini, which was placed on our lunch table today at C’era uni Volta by the adorable Paolo, before we had even ordered our meal! These were straight out of his orto, veg patch, which is overproducing the things in this lovely weather, forcing me to once again find our kitchen and cook something! Would love to have some new recipes for Zucchini! Leave your messages below or write to june.finnigan@virgin.net. Grazie mille. Foto J Finnigan.
What a fabulous evening! On Friday 22nd June we celebrated the 8th Annual Rock Chick Band’s Concert Party in our beautiful Tuscan garden. We rocked the night away with lots of well know covers including George Harrison, Robert Plant, Mathew’s Southern Comfort, The Stranglers, Traveling’ Wilburys, Phil Lynox, The Pretenders, Cream, Peter Gabriel, Mumford & Sons, Dire Straits, Pink Floyd and Patti Smith. You would have been hard pressed not to have found a favourite there! Thank you to Stefano, Lorenzo, Lorenzo and Fillipo, the boys in the band!
Guest performances included our lovely Polish friend Tomek Tryba, who sang the classic Italian song Volare in perfect Italian.
And English buddy John Reilly, who did a stand up comedy song dedicated to me! Bless him. Thank you also to John, for teaching me the first steps in playing the acoustic guitar, my fingers really hurt, but it will be worth it!
What a beautiful morning it is, here in our little bit of Chianti in Tuscany. So much so that I thought you might like to see a picture of our garden my man having cut the grass, or rather the weedy stuff, yesterday! No matter what else is going on in the world, we always have our lovely haven to return to. Foto P Finnigan.
Anyway, back in the real world, yesterday (Saturday) was Festa Della Repubblica. Another holiday and yes, everything was closed apart from a sprinkling of enterprising bar and shop owners. Goodness only knows what the tourists were thinking when they found whole towns and villages virtually shut down and on a Saturday! Meanwhile, the Festa itself, was in full swing in most towns and villages, commemorating the institutional referendum held in 1946, in which the Italian people were called to the polls to decide on the form of government, following the Second World War and the fall of 
Enough of that! What about our Motorcycle racing hero Valentino Rossi who, at the age of thirty-nine, has just clocked up his 55th pole position after completing a new world track record in advance of the World Grand Prix. Sadly, he was to come third in the actual event on Sunday afternoon, but a brilliant effort nonetheless! Foto La Nazione.
And so to my other love, my man being my first love, Rock Music. Firenze (Florence) will shortly be hosting an incredible line-up of iconic rock bands. Be there, or be square I say. The concerts are over four days from 14th to the 17th June. The difficulty is, which day to attend? I would not want to miss any of these, but four days might be tough going. I think I would probably go for the Guns N’ Roses line-up but then what about Iron Maiden? Oh and Ozzy, what to do? Mama Mia! I think I had better let you decide so here is the link for the ticket office; you had better act fast as the tickets will rapidly sell out! 
I would be impossible to start the day and feel balanced, if one had not gone for morning coffee here in our little bit of Chianti. Now I had reason to go to Certaldo yesterday (Saturday) so we made a beeline for Jam Caffe for our early morning fix. And, what a beautiful day it was, glorious sunshine and cheerful chatty Italians. Foto J Finnigan. The Chef at Jam Caffe is called Andrea, and is a brilliant cook and all round lovely guy. They bake all their own pastries, so you can be assured of really fresh and delicious pastini. I am so lucky to have persuaded Andrea to do a finger buffet for my Concert Party on the 22nd June. Rock on!
At the weekend, and assuming the weather is good, we do like to pop over to Montespertoli for aperitivi. Foto J Finnigan. The town will shortly be hosting the annual Wine festival, which is really worth going to, however, I should warn you that historically it tends to rain a lot during the two weeks of festivities! You can also book a Horse and Wagon excursion, which will take you on a wine tasting tour! The dates are 26th may to 3rd June; enjoy. For more info visit the town’s 
And on the subject of wine, did you know that one hundred and sixty-two thousand tourists visit Italy every year and consume seventy-three thousand bottles of Vino Rosso (red wine)? The bulk of these visitors are American, German and French. Well, I wonder how they come up with those figures, but anyway, that’s a lot! Then there’s also the Brits that are increasing in numbers each year, bless them! Foto La Repubblica
Now on a completely different subject, although you may want a glass of the red stuff after you read this, Silvio Burlesconi is back! I mean really back. I heard a whisper that the courts have allowed Silvio to run for local government again! Well, something dramatic needs to happen, we still have no government as such, as the two leaders of the largest majority holders cannot agree to work together! Luigi Di Maio, leader of the 5* Movement has confirmed that he has no desire to become Prime Minister and quoted “I’m very satisfied, we brought to our government the program that is.” He said on Facebook, underlining that the prime minister will be “a person who must be a friend of the people.” Stop Press – I’ve just been told that a new Prime Minister has been selected – watch this space! Could this be Silvio, I wonder? But I also heard that he, Silvio, has to appear in court on 1st June on more corruption charges. Hey ho, I doubt if that will deter him, such is the way of things in Italy! Foto La Repubblica.
My man came rushing in from the garden yesterday, shouting “The Rose is Out!” Now what is exciting about a rose being out? You may ask. Well, this rose, my friends is very special rose indeed. In 2004 we packed our whole life up into a furniture van and loaded up our car, in readiness for our journey of no return with Bosun the dog, to Italy. The last thing to go in the van was a metal dustbin into which my man had put some of his tools. We took a last look around and then I saw the rose, a beautiful red English climbing rose that had really taken root and was climbing up the front of our old farmhouse. “I can’t leave the rose behind” I whined. The van driver said, “Sorry missus, it’s illegal to take plants across European borders, soil contamination and stuff you know.” I was heartbroken so my man persuaded him to put it in the bottom of the dustbin and surround it with the tools. The driver would be paid well, so he agreed! So over fourteen years, we moved five times and in each garden, we planted the rose. Somehow it survived, not very well I have to say, but now it’s liking its current position and is blooming! Praise the Gods! Foto P Finnigan
Lots of insects are now arriving. So far no Zanzari (mosquitos) but they’ll be here soon. An astonishing visitor was a huge Sawyer Beetle who settled on our outside airer. Go in close and look at its amazing face. Now, you clever clogs may beg to differ; so if you think its a different kind of insect, please tell me! Anyway, what a privilege to see such a stunning creature in close-up. Since last weekend we have also seen the arrival of Swifts, a cuckoo and have heard the Bee Eaters but not seen them yet. So summer is now ready to go! Yes! Foto P Finnigan.
Now, I’m sure you remember talking about the ancient European Oak Tree, which guards our front gate. Well, on Friday it underwent tree surgery as many of the branches were dead and at risk of falling on our heads! apparently, the tree is listed and could only be cut by authorised surgeons. Well, anyway, it still looks stunning and I’m sure it will go on for a few hundred years more! Foto J finnigan.
As you know we like to go out for coffee every morning and usually to Fiano and La Dispensa. In the newspaper, was an article about the lovely American Ruth Orkin, who became famous for her iconic foto taken in August 1951, walking through a group of lustful Italian men, in La Piazza Della Repubblica in Florence. Look at the guy on the scooter to the right and the guy to her right is clutching his vitals! Almost hidden on the left is a very handsome man at a table; was she going to meet him? So good-bye to Ruth who died on 2nd May, but never to be forgotten. Foto La Repubblica 
Also in the paper was an article about the Trevi Fountain in Rome. Two pictures are printed, ‘then and now’. Back in 1975, we see local children frolicking in the lovely clear ice blue waters collecting the coins, a normal and delightful scene during a hot summer in the city. Now, no one is allowed in the fountain. It remains beautiful and breath-taking, but the coins are scooped out by the local authorities along with all the rubbish that gets thrown in. I know which era I prefer. Foto La Repubblica 
Back closer to home, new exhibitions are now open to the public at Casa di Boccaccio and Palazzo Pretorio in Certaldo alto. If you have not visited this beautiful ancient hilltop town, you really should. I must go and see for myself soon, but I should warn you that there are often some very strange exhibitions there, sometimes macabre or explicit. But this is Italy. Foto La Nazione.
And finally, before I try to find the kitchen, here is a lovely foto of our view from the old English bench under our big Ash Tree. It was taken yesterday, after my man had cut the green stuff that is supposed to be grass, and a heavy shower of rain. The distance was a little misty, but lovely anyway. Foto J finnigan
In a moment I’m going to wax lyrical about the plants and wild life in and around our beautiful garden here on the edge of Chianti. As before, I am not going to talk about Italian politics, other than the fact that we still have no government; you will just have to keep watching this space.
So, back to our garden and what a wonderful week we have been experiencing. Last weekend the Acacia trees started dripping with white blossoms and the Fiorentina Irises we planted last year have burst into flower! We have been swamped with butterflies, including the Swallowtail and the birds, well, the birds! We now have an owl which we have yet to identify, who hoots in the daytime, pairs of pheasant, Jays, Hoopees, swallows and wood pigeons. Arriving anytime soon will be the colourful Bee Eaters. Two visiting hares, deer and the occasional cinghiale (wild boar). And, the weather has been glorious, so my man and I have been able to spend aperitivo time outside, breathing in all the exotic perfumes! Fotos J Finnigan
And continuing on the subject of aperitivi, I’m really pleased to tell you that the last two weekends have seen us back over in Montespertoli for cocktails, a lovely village just twenty minutes from here. It is a year ago that we stopped going as the pressure of writing deadlines had me working away every weekend at the keyboard. But with the weather having turned to sunshine we have returned, and it is so nice to greet old friends again and watch the occasional vintage car rally hooting past. Foto J Finnigan.
One friend is the lovely Caterina, or I should say The Baroness Caterina de Renzis Sonnino. Caterina is a very hardworking lady who entertains guests from all over the world giving guided historical tours of Il Castello, Educational visits and Wine tastings. Yesterday the newspaper printed this article about a visit by Gucci, the Label having chosen Il Castello Sonnino as one of seven cultural projects. Now, I will try to find out a lot more when I next speak to Caterina, but in the meantime you should visit Il Castello’s website. My man and I were very lucky to have been given a private viewing a few years ago, and believe me it is an incredibly beautiful and atmospheric place to go. Oh, you can also stay there, so check it out here! 
Meanwhile, back in the world of Music, I noticed that good old Ringo Starr, or Sir Richard Henry Starkey, was in the news and is doing a tour in July/August. He will include Lucca, Marostica and Roma. Now I have been to outside concerts in Lucca, which is just over an hour from us, and the setting is fantastic. Open air concerts are held in one of the most beautiful piazzas and the acoustics are amazing. Now, in case you did not know, Ringo does do more than just play the drums; he also sings, acts and paints. It will be interesting to hear the old boy performing, he is seventy-eight, bless him! I think it’s great that so many of the oldies are still performing live, so there’s still hope for me being discovered at a late age and being sent off on tour! Rock on I say. Foto La Repubblica. See Ringo’s dates here 
Now, lest we forget, the 25th April was Liberation Day and it should be remembered that there are a lot of Partisans still alive today who can tell you all about the German Occupation. Apparently, we are supposed to say Nazi Occupation these days, strange how things get changed for the sake of the modern lifestyle and the now friendly relationship with Germany. There are some amazingly heroic stories still to be heard about the fight to rid the country of the nasty Nazi’s. My novel ‘The Italian Connection’ includes a bit based on a partisan’s real life experience, my having interviewed a lovely man called Gianfranco in Montespertoli a few years back. Foto La Nazione. Visit my author site at 
Meanwhile, something else being celebrated last week was the 50th anniversary of La Vespa. That iconic scooter that we all loved seeing in the sixties films and still to be seen today weaving in and out of the traffic in the major Italian cities, and whizzing through the country villages at the weekend, often in big convoys! Tourists can also hire bright red ones in Florence and surrounding areas, so I’m told. Did you ever have a Vespa Scooter or were you a Rocker like me, dangerously hanging off the back of 650 motorbikes? Hey ho! Send me some of your Fotos. Foto La Nazione. Visit Vespa’s site at 
And finally, lets end with another beautiful Italian fashion shoot, this time found in La Repubblica magazine. I just love this casual yet sophisticated colourful summer look. And, the models are so enjoying wearing the clothes, which as you know is something I strongly support, not the usual miserable lot many designers employ. Also, the weather here is now warm enough to enjoy having one’s feet back in sandals and flip-flops; wonderful. Visit Oltre’s site at 
Well, thank God for that, spring is really here at last and the forecast is sunshine for the next couple of weeks. But hang on a minute, if you are thinking of rushing out to Tuscany with your cossies, the swimming pools do not open up until the beginning of May and anyway the air temperature can still be quite chilly this time of year. On the other hand, there are no mossies around in April, so if you pack layers and don’t want to swim outside, come anyway! Foto J Finnigan
Now for me, spring brings a big lift to the spirits and I feel much more like going out and about. I noticed an advert for an exhibition over on the coast in Pietrasanta, which is in the Comune di Lucca. It’s called ‘Il dolce Rumore della Vita,’ which translates to ‘The Sweet Noise of Life’. It is all about paintings and sculpture by very talented people including the Irish sculptor Paddy Campbell and Tuscan artist Simona Dolci. I really fancy going over, and to breathe in some sea air before the bulk of the tourists arrive. It’s easy to get a train there too, so no need to slog along the fipili dual carriageway. Now I just need to persuade my man to join me. Foto La Nazione. Have a look for yourselves, the exhibition is open until 10th June. Perhaps we’ll see you there. visit the 
Meanwhile, yesterday saw Florence full of fun runners and their supporters, all there for good causes. Yes, it was the annual Half Marathon. What I love about Italians is that they always remember to include families and particularly children. So, not only did you have the competitive race, but also a non-competitive race of 8km, a walking race over 5km and a kids race called ‘The Tommasino Run’ over 1.5km. The events were spread around the beautiful city and included Piazza della Signoria and Piazza Duomo. Foto La Nazione.
What else? Oh yes, we cannot ignore that beautiful Italian creation the actress Claudia Cardianale who is celebrating her 80th birthday! Can you believe it? Now, some of you younger readers may not have seen her films that included starring roles in the sixties opposite leading men like Burt Lancaster, Alain Delon, Henry Fonda, Jason Robards, Charles Bronson and Paul Newman. Most of her films are now classics, so look them up! Just like Sophia Loren, Claudia still scrubs up very well indeed. Buon Compleanno to her. Foto La Repubblica 
Meanwhile, back in our local village of Fiano, relaxing over coffee and reading the newspapers, I found an article about Sulla Orma Citta Millenaria, that is ‘On the Millennium City Footprint.’ I know, it doesn’t really make sense, so one should not always try to translate literally. What it actually said was, it is a thousand (mille is a thousand in Italian) years ago when the foundations were laid for San Miniato al Monte and other churches in Florence and the surrounding province. A thousand years! Think about it, that’s the year 1,018 AD or the 9th century. These incredibly beautiful buildings were built all that time ago with no electronic or mechanical assistance. Of course Florence is a most stunning atmospheric ancient city, and that’s not just the places of worship. Florence was also the birthplace of Leonardo di Vinci and other illustrious designers and inventors. So, If you have not visited yet, you really should! 
Back here in our lovely bit of Chianti countryside, we had an invasion of bees in my study! A queen had flown in the open window, yes it’s warm enough, and refused to leave. After she eventually left, the worker bees found her scent and thought she was still here. So my man being a gung-ho ex-marine, goes in and tries to encourage them to leave by waving a cobweb brush around. The buzzing got angrier and louder. “Get out of there!” I screamed from outside the door, which opened a crack and he squeezed out. After much discussion, we decided to shut all connecting doors and wait. Over four hours later, all went quiet, they had finally given up and flown out into the dusk! What a relief. I hope they found their Queen. At least my daft hero man did not get stung! Foto Queen Bee – pixhark.com
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