Welcome and benvenuti to all my Lovely Followers around the World,
As I begin writing this blog, which I hope you will enjoy, I have started to sneeze and I feel a little fluish. Well, not surprising, as we have just returned from ten days in the UK where we were surrounded by people with colds and viruses! You may not be surprised to know that living in Tuscany, I rarely catch a cold. We were in England for a mix of family gatherings and work, and by the time we got back to our lovely bit of Chianti, we were both exhausted. On a lighter note we did have some nice moments, like the strawberry cocktail served up with a rosemary twig at the Italian restaurant Ask in Wells, Somerset. We also had a good lunch at the Fountain Inn there.
We then travelled to Exmouth in Devon and cannot recomend any of the eateries or hotels there. So other than downing a nice bottle of Pinot Grigio with my lovely school chum Jane from Spain, whilst watching some rugby on the TV in the pub, nothing nice to say!
Then on to London on the Monday for some business meetings and a couple of catch-ups. My man and I did have a very good lunch at La Cucina Caldesi in Marylebone and we can definately recommend this restaurant to you. Funny how we always seek out Italian places to go!
But what a relief to get home to Beautiful Tuscany and to find that yesterday our local village of Fiano has won back the coveted banner having been victorious at the annual Calambur event! Bravi to all our lovely italian friends who participated! This event is a bit like the UK’s It’s a Knockout which was televised and hugely popular in the 60’s and 70’s.
And, I read in the paper that Fiano had also won the title Contessa della Cipolla, which is awarded for the most magnificent dishes based on the delicious Certaldo Red Onion. Wow, the talent is unlimited in Fiano. Yes it’s that time of year again, the markets are brimming over with the locally grown beauties. No silly, I’m still talking about the onions!
Next week I’ll bring you up to date with the Vendemia, the Grape Harvest!
Well, enough already, I must get stuck into my working week and also write a few more book chapters.
Have a great week and do drop me a line.
Salute June x
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Well, would you believe it, Silvio Berlusconi’s ex-wife Veronica Lario has has been told by an Italian court that she will no longer receive her monthly alimony payments of 1.4 million euros, yes, read this again 1.4 million euros, from billionaire Silvia Berlusconi, as it has ruled that Silvio had been unfairly treated! Who the hell really needs that much a month anyway? Well, Veronica does have cash deposits of some 16 million, jewels and a real estate business, so methinks she won’t go hungry. There will, however, be another small dent to her wealth as she will have to pay back around 60 million of alimony, which the courts said she had no right to! Well, that’s the Berlusconi planet for you. Meanwhile, it looks like his political career is on the rise again too! Watch this space. foto La Nazione.
Meanwhile, back in the real world and in my case, our little bit of Chianti, it’s fig or Ficchi time! I love Italian figs and Paolo has just started serving them up at Ristorante C’era Una Volta in Lucardo. When the olive wood platter arrived with a wonderful display of figs and Pecorino cheeses, I couldn’t wait to dig in, then remembered you guys! I should have taken a foto before I started eating! Anyway, here is the last one for you to drool over. it is also Zucchini (courgette) Flower time; Paolo’s Zucchini Flower fritters are to die for! Foto J Finnigan
Now another important indulgence for me is my four weekly visit to Sandra at La Parrucchiera in Certaldo for ‘colore.’ Sandra is my hairdresser and has been for the last fifteen years! Fortunately, she is a lot younger than me, so should be around even when I am in my nineties. My man understands that, no matter what my state of physical or mental health, he must get me to Sandra’s. It is also the only time that I have the chance to read some glossy magazines and last week I spotted these gorgeous Hand Made Italian Moccasins. As you know, I am dead against trianers as a fashion item, other than for sport. All I can say ladies, if you want to look good in flats here’s the answer; beautiful and comfortable at the same time! 
Where were we? Did you know it is the 50 year anniversary of Woodstock. Woodstock? Now come on, even my grandchildren have heard of Woodstock and by the way, love my music from the 60’s an 70’s. Our local village of Fiano is celebrating this momentous event in the Piazza with great food and two bands thumping out the original music! I absolutely adore the Italians for their love of great music and bands. Where else in the world can one be an aging rocker and be considered normal? I sometimes include the song ‘Woodstock.’ by Mathew’s Southern Comfort in my concert repertoire. Pop on to You tube and have a listen.
Of course the next thing we have to enjoy is Il Calambur. This is the annual battle of Certaldo Commune’s factions (Quarteriere), ours is Fiano, which won the year before last. The big event is held in central Certaldo and we hope the this year our village will come out on top again! There will be sporting and intelligent tests and a lot of fun. Put 15th September in your diary! The flags will be flying soon!
Firstly, we were really delighted to see the arrival of a community Drinking Water Fountain/dispenser in Fiano, our local village. I am so very pleased because if this is happening in all the communities, then Italy is already making a massive leap towards reducing the plastic bottle problem. Tap water in Italy has always been a little suspect, so the demand for bottled water has been enormous. Now we can just refill our existing bottles with fresh still water absolutely free! In the picture is Milko demonstrating how to use a plastic card, which you can purchase from his Cartalibreria next to the Fountain, should you want the chilled or fizzy variety. The cost for these is only a few centesimi per litre. Brilliant! Foto J Finnigan.
Meanwhile, Fiano is gearing up for Il Calambur and the big annual dinner will be held in Piazza Gasparri this evening. This then marks the run-up to the Calambur contest itself, which will be held in Certaldo on Sunday 16th September. The contest involves the five teams of the Commune di Certaldo wearing medieval outfits, who compete to win the coveted banner. Fiano’s team is all in red and is called Le Fonti. The contest involves all kinds of races and intelligence tests. It’s all sooo exciting! Visit the website for lot’s of colourful pictures from last year. 
Meanwhile, I spotted this gorgeous jacket in La Repubblica as I was enjoying my coffee in La Dispensa this morning. I know, I do go on a bit about fashion and particularly those modelled by happy models. And, yes, Luisa Spagnoli has done it again with a jacket you could wear smart or with jeans & T-shirt. OK, she is not cheap but in my view something like this is timeless and therefore a very good investment. 
Oh dear, I nearly forgot! My man’s new Man Bag, which we purchased in Barbarino Val D’Elsa last Thursday, is really beautiful. Hand-made (fatto a mano) and it fits his apple lap-top perfectly. So he’ll be swanning around London posing in his hand-made shoes, bespoke suit and his new bag casually slung over his shoulder! Don’t you just love him? I do.
Yes, the beautiful walled city of Lucca attracted over fifty-five thousand fans and the majority were young enough to be their grandchildren. Thankfully the Italians love aging rockers, so I’m still in with a chance! Foto La Repubblica
Meanwhile, down in our local town of Certaldo, glamour turned to traditional costumes, as the Calambur teams were fighting it out to win the coveted victor’s banner. The Calambur is a sort of ‘It’s a Knockout’ contest between the four sections of the Commune di Certaldo, running races, obstacle courses and solving intelligence tests! Our local village Fiano, is in the red and white team and we won last year. But sadly, this time the banner went to the green and blue team called ‘Canonica’ so we had to hand the banner over. There’s always next year….. Foto La Nazione
Well, we may not have won the banner, but we can celebrate the season for Porcini Mushrooms! I am already over indulging in wood-fire grilled giant Porcini at Ristorante C’era Una Volta in Lucardo. 
Elsewhere, and in the world of Politics, another aging star has raised his profile once again and is making inroads into getting back all his old followers and lots of new ones for his Forza Italia party. Silvio Berlusconi, despite having announced that he was going to concentrate more on his family having turned eighty last year, is very much back out there on the hustings and looking very serious too. Watch this space. Foto La Repubblica
And finally, back to glamour again and one of my most favourite subjects, Italian Fashion. I have already posted some Autumn Fashion, but I have to say that I have completely fallen in love with the brand Gaudi. And, the latest colours are right up my street, gorgeous browns and russets, oh and the handbags! I know, I know, I do go on a bit, but I must blame it on the Italians, their wonderful designs and the quality they produce. I’m really looking forward to seeing my man in his new bespoke Italian suit, which will be ready soon. Wonderful! Foto La Repubblica
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