Junefinnigan's Weblog

Welcome and Benvenuti to all my Lovely Followers

After the concert with two lovely American friends. Foto P Finnigan

Yes, I’m back, ‘to let you know that I can really shake them down’.  I know sad 60’s lyrics again.  But, don’t worry, now the dust has settled after the Rock Chick Band Concert, I have been busy concentrating on other things, like updating you on the fun happenings in our little bit of Chianti and Italy generally.  However, here is a final bit of memory from two weeks ago.  The date for next year is Friday 22nd June.

Vasco Rossi at Modena. Foto La Nazione

Just one week after our concert, the hugely popular Italian Rocker, Vasco Rossi, hit the stage in Modena and despite the heat attracted 220 thousand fans!  Rossi cut his first record in 1977 and is still adored by his fans for his heavy riffs and romantic power ballads.  Now, for we northern Europeans, his ‘gravelly speaking way of singing’ is unusual;  you either hate it or love it.  The Italians love it!  He is effectively Italy’s most succesful rocker and at the age of sixty-five even has the youngsters squealing in the aisles!

Our vintage Sony music centre circa 1980. Foto P Finnigan

Back in our lovely converted monastery farmhouse, my man has hauled our vintage Sony Music Centre out of storage.  Sadly, it hasn’t worked for years and we have a great collection of vinyls from the 60’s through to the 80’s that have not been played for donkeys. We popped into our electrical man in Certaldo this morning and he has offered to have a go at reviving it.  So next Saturday, we will take it down.  I’ll keep you posted.

Addio Paolo Villagio Foto La Repubblica

Meanwhile, whilst reading the papers over coffee in Fiano, there was some sad news from the world of film and television.  The death of that very funny man Paolo Villagio at the age of eighty-four.  Many of you outside of Italy will recognise some of the characters he played; that image of the plump little man in trousers or shorts pulled up over his round belly to his armpits and held there by braces.  A character that made the audience laugh before he had spoken a word.  Addio Paolo.

We also read that, Silvio Berlusconi is back, and having invested a huge sum of money into his party Forza Italia, he is on the hustings again.  We do not have a date yet for the General Election, but probably around November.  It will be nice to have a bit of colourful entertainment back in the political news.

Last night (Saturday) Fiano had an open air cinema in the parco (scrubby grassy area) behind the apartment blocks.  We did not go, but this morning’s talk in La Dispensa coffee bar was all about it and my man spotted this left over sign in the hedge walking back to the car.  “Look at these prices!”  He moaned.  “Perhaps we should have gone; one euro for a glass of wine!”

Well, enough of that; off to C’era una Volta for lunch.

Have a really great week and do drop me a line.

Salute June x

PS Visit my author site at http://www.amazon.com/author/junefinnigan  or any other amazon site worldwide.  Or simply google June Finnigan.

Ciao Tutti

The Rock Chick Band 2017

Just a quick thank you to all our lovely guests at last Saturday’s Rock Chick Band Performance, for your gifts, food and drinks and of course your great company.  And thank you too to my band members Stefano, Riccardo, Charly and Fillipo for another brilliant performance.

Check back in early next week for a full report and my usual blog about our little bit of Chianti.

Amore June x

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

Benvenuti and Welcome to all My Lovely Followers

Here in our little bit of glorious Tuscany, we are suffering from the heat and wall to wall sunshine.  What’s that you said?  How can we be suffering?  Well, actually I said it to to make you feel better, particularly if you are enjoying rain and grey skies, ha ha!  But actually, we could do with some heavy overnight rain, just to give us a break from watering the dryed up grass, or rather ground cover weeds, and the flowering pots.

Programma di Marcialla Foto J Finnigan

But enough of that, there is a whole lot of stuff going on in our area during June and July, so if you are visiting, you should not want for entertainment.  I say this every year, but please don’t postpone your visit to Tuscany until August, which is a dreadful month for tourists, when 90% of shops and restaurants close in the rush to the coast or the mountains.  Marcialla, a village just fifteen minutes from us has a very active events programme, ranging from jazz and classics to local bands and children’s entertainment.

Aperitivi a Jam Caffe Foto J Finnigan

Meanwhile, my man and I enjoyed a delicious aperitivo early last Friday evening at Jam Caffe next to the stazione in Certaldo.  When my man has had a few days in London we meet there for a welcome home cocktail and are presented with a different one every time.  I have to say that our barman excelled himself this time.  It comprised a mix of pomegranate juice, vodka, prosecco and a few other secret incredients.  We took a sip and I asked my man how his journey went.  “what journey?”  He sighed, as he stretched his legs out and luxuriated in the delicious concoction, atmosphere and good company of course!

Gianluca inamore Foto J Finnigan

Later we popped over to C’era Una Volta in Lucardo for supper, where Gianluca our good friend and waiter, seemed to have fallen in love with a very large bottle of Chianti Wine.  We are currently drinking a delicous local one called ‘i loppi’.  Not as dry as some Chianti and a little more full-bodied.

Anyway, back out in the real world we read in the papers that a number of local elections have taken place thoroughout Italy.  This will unquestionably give a good indication as to the current leaning of the electors for the General Election.  Interestingly, there seems to be a real mix of voting with not much between the Centrosinistro and Centrodestra, Centre left and centre right.  However, the lefty and aging rock star look-alike Beppo Grillo’s following is growing by the day!  Will we have another UK scenario?

The Rock Chick Band

Well, enough of that.  I’m getting very excited as we come closer to my rock concert with the Rock Chick Band on 24th June.  Our final rehearsal will be Sunday 18th, then it’s the hectic organisation of the piazzina in the garden and the sleeping arrangements for visitors.  Still time to send me your email address if you would like an invite. june.finnigan@virgin.net

Have a great week and do drop me a line, I love to hear from you.

Salute June x

Visit my author site at June’s author site  or any worldwide Amazon site.

Benvenuti and Welcome to all my Lovely Followers

Here in our little bit of Tuscany, we are once again horrified at the latest news from London and our love and support goes out to all our family, friends and colleagues in that hard-working and glorious city.

The view from here, parched fields and garden.  Foto J Finnigan

Back once again in Tuscany, the first week in June looks and feels a lot like August.  No rain for weeks has resulted in bleached fields and gardens, and masses of dust flying up behind vehicles along the strade bianche (white roads) that are actually gravelly dirt tracks.  However, this was good news for La Mostra di Chianti (Wine Exhibition/Fair) in Montespertoli.  It was the first dry week in years; it is normally rained out!  Some rain is forecast tomorrow, but who really knows?

Mini Rock Festival at Ristorante Quinoa.  La Repubblica

Meanwhile, in our local village of Fiano we enjoy coffee at La Dispensa, and read the papers.  I see that a Mini Rock Festival celebrating the ‘Grande Icons di Rock’ will be staged at the Quinoa Restaurant in Florence.  This is a double whammy for me as the restuarant is Gluten Free too!  The Festival, in the restuarant’s ‘ZAP’ space, will have exhibitions and live music from today through to 7 September. Visit Website

50 years of Sgt Pepper.  La Repubblica

To coincide with this, there was also a big write-up about the 50 year anniversary of the release of Sgt Pepper’s Lonly Hearts Club Band.  The Italians, or at least the journalists, really keep up with what is happening in the music world!  I love it!

Stefano Bartalesi Foto P Finnigan

And, continuing on the same theme, The Rock Chick band had its first rehearsal yesterday and its lead singer, yours truly, got the date wrong and my fabulous lead guitarist and ‘boss,’ Stefano Bartalesi, had to ring me up!  We have a great new line-up this year and I am really pleased to welcome back our original rythmn guitarist from 2011, Riccardo Bagnoli, who has been with the professional circuit for the last six years, so we are very lucky to have him.  We also have  English bassist and good friend Charlie Lucas and a great charismatic drummer, Filippo Colca.  Yesterday, over lunch, I expressed some concern to my man about some of the dubious characters that came last year, you know the pot smoking Glastifarian types?  My man responded “Well that rules out the Band then!”  “Very ha ha.” I groaned.  One person has asked to bring a tent this year; things are hotting up!  Email me at email  if you would like an invite to our Tuscan concert on 24 June.

Fresh fruit and Buffalo Mozzarelli at my desk.  Foto J Finnigan

Oh, what’s that you said, yes I know I have been talking a lot about Rock Music, but you should know that I do also work very hard at my desk during the day, so much so that I even have working breakfasts!

Anyway, may I wish all you lovely people a safe and happy week.  Hopefully with the election out-of-the-way, the UK will become a little calmer.

Salute June x

Visit my author site at My site

Foto Finnigan

The Nightjar dozing during the day.

“So why is a Nightjar still calling out when the sun is already up?  Do you think they are on shifts?”  My man asks as he sips his fresh orange juice.  “Well, anything is possible, why not?”  I smile and open my Kindle for a ten-minute read of ‘Contract to Kill’ by Andrew Peterson.  We have been sleeping with the window open and enjoying the Tuscan fresh air, whilst the Nightjar and the crickets trill their way through the nocturnal hours.  I have yet to see a Nightjar, but they are very shy and their camouflage is incredible.  They can settle down on a branch and sleep all day, right under your nose, and you would never know they were there!  But then you bright sparks probably already know that!

The Obama’s in Tuscany. Photo La Repubblica

So, it is Sunday morning and La Dispensa, our local caffe bar/alimentare in Fiano, is full of locals, buying their Sunday joints and generally passing the time of day.  We grab the newspapers, before someone else does, and take up our usual position at the long wooden table.  Well, so now we have the Obamas here on vacation, it says in La Repubblica and apparently, they love Tuscany.  Who wouldn’t, I say.  I notice that they are staying near Siena and there is some mention of Bibbiano Wine, which is our current favourite.

Beautiful art by Olga Niescier at Certaldo Alto. Photo J Finnigan

On the subject of wine, last Friday evening we went to Certaldo Alto, the old town up on the hill.  (The cover of my latest book features a silhouette of the town against the backdrop of a stunning sunset which, by the way, I took myself.)  We were there to visit an exhibition of paintings and works by Olga Niescier & Andrei Reggi and to indulge in a little wine tasting.  The artworks were fantastic but sadly, the event itself was rather confusing.  www.vitalitart.it  Nevertheless, we enjoyed ourselves and then whizzed off to C’era Una Volta in Lucardo for cena.  This time of year there are a lot of events going on, particularly wine tastings.  The American tourists love them.  They arrive by the planeload into Roma and get bussed up to Chianti.

The view from here with two newly planted Jasmine. Photo J Finnigan

Meanwhile, back in our own little bit of Chianti, it is the time of year for the rattle of old tractors trundling up and down between the vines and the sound of strimmers clearing the ground around the olive trees.  We bought a load more plants on Saturday morning and now have bright colours in the garden pots and a couple of climbing Jasmine to cover a bit of fencing.  The evenings are perfect for sitting outside for aperitivi, with a nice feeling of satisfaction having done the outside work.  If you are coming this way, there are a few mosquitos arriving, so be prepared.  But we don’t care about that, life eeeeze good, life eeeeze now!

The Rock Chick Band – 2016

Well, doesn’t time fly!  Only five weeks to our next Rock Chick Band concert and I must get on with those daily voice exercises.  We’ve got a few new songs in the repertoire this year and are being joined by an English bass guitarist, which will be fun.  As I always mention, if you are in Tuscany on the 24th June and would like a personal invite, drop me a line at june.finnigan@virgin.net

OK, time to organise those aperitivi and relax with the Tuscan sunset.  Have a great week and do get in touch.  I love to hear from you.

Salute June x  PS Visit my author site at My author site

Benvenuti and Welcome to all my Lovely Followers

This morning will be noted in my diary as the first real day of early summer.  Why, because finally, it was warm enough to wear flip-flops to our local village of Fiano for coffee!  This gave me a huge lift.  The only sad thing is that my favourite biker jacket may have to be put in mothballs until the Autumn.  But it’s still a strange time of year, here in Tuscany, the clouds can suddenly come over and it changes from hot sunshine to a cool breeze.  As a rock chick, I’m never quite sure what to wear, particularly as one needs to keep that ‘famous in Fiano’ image going.

Mick soon to be rocking in Tuscany.  La Repubblica.

The most exciting news of the week was the announcement in the papers that The Rolling Stones will be in Lucca, which is just north of Pisa, in September.  Tickets went on sale yesterday on-line, and were sold out in two hours!  My good friend Flavio, who loves rock concerts including my own, told me that the Piazza Arena in Lucca only holds twenty thousand and a Stones tour generally needs space for more than twice that number!  So it was not surprising that it was a sell out so quickly.

My delicious breakfast.  Photo J Finnigan.

Anyway, back to the relative calm of our lovely old monastery farmhouse, where my man and I are enjoying big bowls of fresh fruit salad for breakfast.  The markets are full of summer fruits including strawberries, peaches, nectarines, kiwis and the last of the pears.  This also makes me feel so much happier, as we shed the need for hot meals and start thinking about salads.

Gluten free school lunch. Il Nazione.

On the subject of food, my man spotted an article in the paper.  “Look at this!  Would you believe it, it’s International Coeliac Week and the schools are going to be serving up gluten-free meals on Tuesday and Thursday!”  He said, looking very serious.  Now I was surprised to hear this, I had not heard about it in previous years.  I have to eat gluten-free and I was aware that there is a very high percentage of Coeliacs in Italy.  So, this is a step in the right direction, although non-coeliacs are warned not to take up a gluten-free diet unless they are advised to do so by their doctors.  Fortunately, wine is gluten-free.  Praise the gods!

Looking east at the sunset’s reflection. Photo J Finnigan.

Meanwhile, we are having some wonderful sunsets here and I thought you might like to see the effect of the sunset looking east from our home across the hills.  The dramatic contrast of orange against the green of the olive trees and vines is really dramatic.

And finally, on the subject of summer again, it’s not just time to put away the winter clothes, but also to bring out one’s summery handbags and sandals.  I have just changed my bag from orange to cream, another lift to one’s psyche.  And, of course, we are now enjoying lunchtime and evening aperitivi in the garden.  So far, we have not had an invasion of mosquitos (zanzari), so life is pretty idyllic.  I did just touch wood, can’t have the little devils waking up now, can we?

Well, enough of that.  I’ll finish this blog off when we get back from lunch at C’era Una Volta in Lucardo.  OK, I’m back, had a great lunch and another delicious bottle of Bibbiano.  I’ve had a siesta and now feel refreshed enough to finish this blog and get it off to you.

Here’s wishing you a good week and don’t forget to chill out in the evenings with a nice aperitivo.  Working long hours is not good for you!

Salute June x

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