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Fiano Vittoria nel Calambur, Olives, Rome Olympics, Fashion and Sunsets in Beautiful Tuscany

Posted in Life, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on September 27, 2016| Leave a Comment »

Welcome and Benvenuti to my lovely Loyal and New Followers,

Yes, I know, I’m a little late this week!  My apologies, but here we go.

'Il Fonti' the winning team. La Nazione

‘Il Fonti’ the winning team.
La Nazione

The victor's beautiful Banner on display at Fiano. Foto J Finnigan

The victor’s beautiful Banner on display at Fiano.
Foto J Finnigan

The highlight of last week was Fiano’s victory in the ‘Calambur’.  Just to explain, the Commune di Certaldo is divided into five ‘villages’ so to speak and all have their own flag.  These are really districts and every member of the commune belongs to one of them.  Fiano is the main village in ‘Le Fonti’ and the team was made up of many friends and family from Fiano, our local village.  ‘So what’s it all about?’ you ask.  Well the teams compete against each other in a complicated day of races, obstacle courses and intelligence tests, hoping to win the coveted Victory Banner.  Well, guess what, our team won and the beautiful banner has been on display in La Dispensa, our still fairly new bar and alimentare, in Fiano.  It really is a beautiful thing and I have enclosed a foto for you to see.  Wow!

The anticipated olive production. La Nazione

The anticipated olive production.
La Nazione

Well, what next?  Oh yes, the olive harvest.  The grape harvest has been going full pelt since the beginning of September and is the busiest time of year for the country folk.  Then it’s the turn of the olives and the countryside changes once again as multi-coloured nets are spread around the olive groves.  Sadly, I read in the paper that the production is estimated at 30% down on last year due to the pesky olive fly.  So the price of Extra Virgin will likely be higher in the coming months.  Whilst we love freshly cold pressed oil, we still have a huge demijohn from last year in the cantina, so we won’t go short.

The Mayor of Rome, Virginia Raggi, makes the announcement. La Repubblica.

The Mayor of Rome, Virginia Raggi, makes the announcement. La Repubblica.

Meanwhile, down in Rome, there has been a big debate about whether the City should host the 2024 Olympic games.  Now I am a great one for sport, but when I read the announcement from the Mayor of Rome, Virginia Reggi, that the city was withdrawing from the race, I was quietly pleased.  The locals all talk about the lack of money spent on long-term employment, pensioners and the country’s infrastructure.  So good for Virginia and the Romans, lets see some government reaction and some more money put into the economy!

Autumn Italian Fashion, beautiful. La Repubblica.

Autumn Italian Fashion, beautiful. La Repubblica.

Anyway, back to my world and fashion.  Yes I know, I’m a great lover of handbags, scarves, shoes and gloves and this time of year it’s all about autumn colours too.

Then of course, we have the wonderful sunsets as the sun has slipped lower in the sky, or has the planet moved up a shade?  Probably the latter. I sat out on the lower terrace yesterday evening and not one mosquito!  So the imminent arrival of house guests will be pleased to hear that.  August and most of September kept us inside in the evenings to avoid getting bitten, so we’re looking forward to enjoying aperitivi outside.

OK, enough of that.  Must crack on with the day job and the thousand words a day for my third book in the Joanna Wilde trilogy, which I know you are desperate to read!

Have a great week.

Salute June x

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

'My Father, The Assassin'. Book one in the series.

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

'The Bolivian Connection' Book two in the series.

‘The Bolivian Connection’ Book two in the series.

 

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Slow Travel Fest, The Who, Zucchero, Rock Chicks and Fashion in Beautiful Tuscany

Posted in Life, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on September 18, 2016| Leave a Comment »

Ciao e Benvenuti to all My Friends around the World,

Well, you will no doubt have heard of the Slow Food Movement in Italy, it’s all about cooking and eating slowly and actually enjoying the experience.  This allows time for conversation and good wine whilst anticipating the delights of the food to come.  The Italians have no problem with this, they like to talk a lot about good food, as well as eat it.  You should try it….

Slow Travel Fest, La Repubblica

Slow Travel Fest, La Repubblica

I am delighted to tell you that Tuscany will also be celebrating the Slow Travel Fest between 23rd and 25th of September.  What does this mean? You ask.  Well, big crowds of people will be travelling very slowly on foot, to enjoy the Tuscan countryside and the delights therein.  The long walks starting around nine in the morning, gently visit places of cultural interest as well as vineyards in and around the Monteriggione region near Siena.  To me this is the ultimate way to see this beautiful land, which we are lucky enough to call our home.  Driving around the hills of Chianti is nice enough, but you can only see the real countryside if you get out and walk.  A piede!

'The Who' still rocking after 50 years! La Nazione

‘The Who’ still rocking after 50 years!
La Nazione

Meanwhile, over coffee with my man in Fiano, I read that The Who have just had a hugely successful concert here, whilst celebrating fifty years in rock!  Two of the original members were in the band including the all important lead singer Roger Daltry and guitar man Pete Townsend.  The guys are looking pretty good and the music was apparently spot on.  I also note that Earth, Wind & Fire are touring, as will Bob Dylan and Paul McCartney in the near future.  Great stuff!

The Italian Rock Singer known as Zucchero La Repubblica

The Italian Rock Singer known as Zucchero La Repubblica

Now an Italian friend, who is a great rock fan, asked me why I always promote rock bands from outside of Italy.  Well, I think that is obvious, however, I have not mentioned a great Italian performer before, who does deserve a mention.  He is known as ‘Zucchero’ and actually does make good music with his gravelly voice and excellent band.  There, that should make my friend happy, you know who you are!

Loredana and La Repubblica

Fiorella and Loredana.
La Repubblica

And, on the continued subject of aging rockers, I was pleased to find an article in a glossy magazine at the hairdressers announcing the start of a new series on channel 5 in the Autumn called Amiche in Arena.  It will star two great female performers Fiorella Mannoia (62) and Loredana Berte (65) both looking absolutely fabulous!  The concert will raise awareness of the violence against women, so a good cause too.  Rock on!

My Autumn handbag. Foto J Finnigan

My Autumn handbag. Foto J Finnigan

Now, I know you understand my need to talk about fashion, particularly you girlies, and hopefully some of you men too.  It’s time to change my handbag for an orange one, which will go perfectly with the autumn colours that suit me so well.  No it’s not another new one, it’s been carefully packed away in the wardrobe all summer.  And, here it is!  Send me a pic or your current handbag!

Anyway, it’s time to think about sunday lunch.  Borgo Antico and Osteria Casa Chianti are full, so we are popping back to C’era una Volta in Lucardo for some Tipica Toscana food, cooked and eaten slowly of course.

Have a great week and do drop me a line.

Salute June x

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

'My Father, The Assassin'. Book one in the series.

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

'The Bolivian Connection' Book two in the series.

‘The Bolivian Connection’ Book two in the series.

 

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A Four Man Piano, Giant Easter Eggs, Handbags, Apple Blossom and Green Valleys in Beautiful Tuscany

Posted in Life, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on March 20, 2016| Leave a Comment »

Benventi to all my lovely Loyal and New Followers

The four man piano and boxes. foto J Finnigan

The four man piano and boxes.
foto J Finnigan

As I start writing this blog, I am expecting the doorbell to ring at any moment.  Giuseppe, the removals man, is coming to assess the amount of furniture and rubbish the English couple has accumulated over donkey’s years.  He will be relieved to know that we are not moving very far, but he’ll probably balk at the upright ancient iron-framed piano that we have been lugging around since we left England.  Ah, he has just telephoned as he is lost and I cannot understand everything he is saying.  He has either shot past the turning to our village or arrived in a completely different village, which I can’t recognise by the way he’s describing it!  So back to the keyboard and we wait.  In anticipation, the sitting room floor is now covered in cardboard boxes.  Hurrah, Giuseppe is here and he says he needs four men to move the piano!  But that’s OK, better than losing more friends due to slipped discs!

Gorgeous handbags on staircase. Glossy magazine.

Gorgeous handbags on staircase.
Glossy magazine.

Earlier this morning we dropped down to Certaldo and The Jam Caffe, by the station.  This was mainly because there was a big market filling the main piazza where we normally park.  Somehow, I always manage to have other committments when there’s an interesting market and, once again, could not stop to drool over the handbags, much to my man’s relief.

Oh, and last Thursday, when I was at Sandra’s having my hair colour topped up, I saw this picture in the glossy magazine and thought, ‘Wow, our new home will have a short stone staircase inside the front door, I could do something similar with my own handbags.’  I haven’t told my man yet, I’ll just spring it on him!

Catarina's big Eater Egg display in Bar Il Solferino. Foto J Finnigan

Catarina’s big Easter Egg display in Bar Il Solferino.
Foto J Finnigan

Earlier in the week in Bar Il Solferino, I was impressed with Catarina’s big Easter Egg display.  If you look closely, you will see little chickens and ducks peeking out of the straw, oh, and a coffee machine of course!  And, it is starting to feel very much like Spring and Easter time, which is all taken very seriously here in Italy.

Apple bossom and the green valleys below us. Foto J Finnigan

Apple blossom and the green valleys below us.
Foto J Finnigan

The weather too suddenly seems on the turn.  We had lunch in the garden twice this last week!  The heavenly smell of blossom is now filling the air and the valleys are all lovely and green again.  Life eeeez good, Life eeeeez now!

Well, I’m having to end this blog a bit smartish as we have a hectic afternoon!  Don’t forget, I love to hear from you, either through this Blog, my Expat Focus Column or my Author Site.

Salute June x

PS no blog next weekend due to packing, but do visit my author site at http://www.amazon.com/author/junefinnigan

 

'My Father, The Assassin'. Book one in the series.

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

'The Bolivian Connection' Book two in the series.

‘The Bolivian Connection’ Book two in the series.

 

 

 

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Yummy Fruit and Veg, Open Air Cinema and more Handbags in Beautiful Tuscany

Posted in Life, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on August 24, 2015| Leave a Comment »

Benvenuti to all my lovely Loyal and New Followers

Last week I told you about that hidden structure across the valley and that I was determined to find a path or track down from the road.  Well my man and I have agreed to disagree where we need to stop on the main road that runs above it.  There are a maze of tracks that run down beside the vineyards  and also possible pathways at the back of farmhouses and little hamlets.  “Here stop here! Dammit, you’ve overshot it” I groan.  “No I haven’t, it’s just around this bend” he insists.  “Blast I’ve overshot it…”  We drive on a bit further.  “Haven’t we gone too far now?”  I say.  “There may be an access path behind these buildings, lets slow down… Oh no, you’ve overshot that one now!”  “Oh, hell, I’m not turning around again, lets drop down for coffee in Certaldo.”  He says commandingly.

Yummy veg in Certaldo's Saturday morning market. Phot J Finnigan

Yummy veg in Certaldo’s Saturday morning market.
Photo J Finnigan

It being Saturday morning, we cruise into the main piazza and park.  The fruit and veg market is half its normal size due to the mass exodus a week ago to Il Mare (the seaside).  But its better than the previous Saturday when there was no market at all.  I buy some lovely fresh insalate (green salad) from a local producer and am happy with that.  Our cheese family are not there and obviously up to their necks in the Mediterranean Sea.

Empoli's Open air Cinema from 21 to 31 August. Photo La Nazione

Empoli’s Open air Cinema from 21 to 31 August.
Photo La Nazione

Over coffee I read that a nearby town, Empoli, is holding open air cinema showing some of the great films in one of their main Piazzas.  Now I cannot describe how fabulous it is to be in a beautiful piazza surrounded by gorgeous old buildings to watch open air theatre or concerts.  The cinema epic will have a huge screen on the side of a building and everyone will go to watch their favourites, sitting on the ground with picnics.  The ultimate favourite actor amongst Italians, George Clooney, is heavily featured and he is also a part-time resident in Italy of course.

Handbags galore! La Nazione

Handbags galore!
La Nazione

Then I turn the page and, Oh heaven, there is a two page article on handbags!  But my man is getting irritated because I’m taking so long to read the paper.  “Haven’t you finished yet, I’ve had my pastry and coffee and nothing to read!” He groans.  I smile sweetly and whisper ‘amore,’ but he is not impressed.  So I hand over La Nazione, as I have also snapped a couple of fotos I knew you would like, and it really is his turn.

Back in my studio, I manage to write a chapter and a half of ‘The Italian Connection’ and I am very pleased with that.  I read my emails and our landlady has confirmed that she would like our little rented villa back at the end of the four-year contract, which is February next year.  This is OK with us as we really would like to find a bigger place as we are a little cramped here.  So if anyone in Tuscany knows of an old large independent villa with garden in the area, do let me know.  We don’t mind if it’s a little worse for wear.  write to june.finnigan@virgin.net

Well, must get back to the day job until the weekend, when I will update you with our continuing adventures.

Do drop me a line.

Salute June x

PS Don’t forget to visit my author site at http://www.amazon.com/author/junefinnigan or join me on Facebook, twitter or Pin it.

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

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

'The Bolivian Connection' Book two in the series.

‘The Bolivian Connection’ Book two in the series.

 

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