25th April. The Festa Della Liberazione March in Certaldo.
Photo J Finnigan
Benvenuti to all My Lovely Loyal and New Followers
Last Saturday was a very important day for Italy as we were celebrating the 70th anniversary of the Allied Force’s final flushing out of the German occupation. Whilst different parts of Italy were freed a little earlier or later, it is the 25th April when that event is celebrated. Now, I found this very emotional as I watched the parade in Certaldo. Old boys struggling along and in wheelchairs. The band was followed by every generation from the few remaining Partisans through to their great-grandchildren. Also marching were representatives of the fire brigade, ambulance and of course the police and army.
25th April. Home grown local fruit and veg in Certaldo.
Photo J Finnigan
The main piazza was full of colourful stands selling fruit, veg and crafts. As the sun was quite bright and over-head, the stall holders and their products were in the shade, so getting a good photo was difficult. However, I did manage to take a few nice ones.
I am currently writing my third novel entitled ‘The Italian Connection’ and a couple of years ago I interviewed a Partisan in Montespertoli, as I intended using his story in the book. Gianfranco was already in his late-eighties and was a young man when the occupation began. He told me a story about how he lost close friends and hid in caves and other peoples’ houses for months on end. He is immortalised in the book, so I will let you know when it is published and hopefully before Christmas. Very emotional stuff.
Remembering Saturday lunchtime. Hot and sunny. Beautiful.
Photo J Finnigan
It is Monday morning and hard to believe that Saturday had been so hot and sunny. The wind is currently howling around the villa, it is raining and everything looks grey. My poor man is in bed with an English virus, having returned from London last Saturday evening, and Farty Barty the wild cat is curled up tight on his kitchen chair, which is a sure sign that the bad weather is not going to disappear very quickly. But the good news is on the weekend we saw Hoopies, swallows, Jays, and heard the first Cuckoo and Bee Eaters! Yes, Life eez good ninety-nine percent of the time!
Silvio at AC Milan
Photo Antonio Calanni/Associated Press
So what is Silvio Berlusconi up to I wonder? Perhaps he can cheer us up. Ah, just as I thought, SB appears to be close to selling 75% of his shareholding in Milan football club to a Chinese consortium including Hong Kong’s Richard Lee. The one billion euro takeover bid is expected to include Silvio’s daughter Barbara. Hang on a minute, I’ll read that again! Ah yes, that is ‘to include Barbara continuing in her position as club director.’ Mmmm, there is also a whisper the Chinese Government is playing an instrumental role – see, what did I tell you? They are everywhere…..
Well, enough of that. I must go and see if I can encourage my man to eat something, poor thing.
Have a really great week and do drop me a line.
Salute June
PS Don’t forget to visit Amazon for my current books.
My Father, The Assassin. Book on in the series.
‘The Bolivian Connection’ Book two in the series.
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