Benvenuti and Welcome to all my Lovely Followers around the World,
Phew, well, yet another beautiful Sunday morning in Tuscany, despite the heat and humidity. Things were quite normal on the main road into Fiano; an orange (the colour you go when you have been to the coast) overweight Italian in shorts and trainers (no shirt) running backwards down the middle of the road, two tourists walking on the wrong side of the road wearing pink lycra, a small group of Italian cyclists in racing colours riding impossibly thin-wheeled bikes and an deeply tanned old boy walking just in shorts and a pink cloth cap. Yes, pink is the colour it seems.
In Fiano La Dispensa was noisy and busy, but we managed to grab the papers and our favourite places at the end of the long table. We were joined by Italian tourists from Rome who like to come to our bit of the world in Tuscany for the weekend staying with friends, then returning home with local oil, wine and hams. When the Tuscans claim to have the best oil, foods and wines in the country, these Romans said they were spot on! The cheeses here are seriously delicious. Tuscan Pecorino, sheep’s cheese to you and me, can be consumed young & squidgy and at several other stages right up to aged, when it has a similar texture to Parmesan. I just love it and this great picture; wherever you are in the world go to your cheese specialist counter and ask for Tuscan Pecorino, they might just order it in for you!
I don’t know about you, but I have been struggling with my summer wardrobe. Just when I think I have enough outfits to chop and change my look and still be cool, in both senses of the word, I find myself undecided on what to wear. I don’t seem to have enough lightweight cotton flared skirts! And dresses, nothing looks right, I have to admit my figure could do with trimming down, must have put on half a stone since this time last year. But I need to wear these clothes now! Do I buy new clothes a size larger or not, that is the question? So I found myself once more flicking through the Italian fashion mags. Wrap around tea dresses look lovely, but not from the rear if you have an extra layer on the hips! How many of you actually look at your rear view image in the mirror? I cannot help but notice those who never do, looking wonderful from the front and awful from the back. Lots of flowing cottons are best I think. Loose tops and skirts are good for me at the moment. What are you wearing? However, just spotted this gorgeous orange number, (see picture) I could be tempted……
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n the same magazine I came across an article to make you green with envy. A stunning italian beauty with a massive artistic talent, namely Beatrice Venezi. Perhaps envy is the wrong word, I think admiration is more correct. Beatrice is beautiful and wears fabulous clothes, however, it is her talent that really draws one’s attention. Beatrice is the award winning Principle Conductor for both the Orchestra Milano Classic and the Orchestra Scarlatti Young of Naples. I hope she is also in love, as then she will have everything a girl dreams of! Go to her website to be even more impressed. Beatrice’s site
Photo by Maria Isabella Bernotti on Pexels.com
Meanwhile, I’m back hammering away at book four in the Joanna Wilde series. I have just had an email from another writer, who lives near San Casciano, complaining that she is living and working in the dark in the same room, blocking out the heat with thick curtains. Now she wasn’t really complaining, just stating a fact. There is nothing else one can do in this scorching heat, live in the dark during the day and let in the light early morning and late evening! Methinks this next couple of months should be great for creative thinking, drinking gallons of water and hugging the air conditioning unit. Most sane people, and mostly Italian, have gone off to the seaside or mountains, we will have to think about how we deal with next summer a little more creatively. If anyone has an apartment on the coast that is available for a week or two next month, let me know!
As you have probably worked out, the dust has finally settled after our rock concert and I have had some lovely messages, thank you. There is a lot of activity on the music front in Tuscany at the moment, so if you were coming over, you’ll find plenty to do. But do avoid August, I know I say this every year, as you will find 80% of shops, cafes and restaurants closed. Hey ho.
Anyway, time to get this blog off to you, I’ve already overrun into Monday, sorry about that.
Do drop me a line, I love to hear from my readers, oh and visit my Author Site for lots more info.
Have a great week.
Salute June x
Fotos from La Republica.
What’s that you said? A European Election? Oh, yes that one, I had noticed. Don’t get me wrong, but I promised myself I would not write about politics this week. But how can one ignore it, especially with the massive move to the right in many of the European countries. But it’s hardly surprising. Apart from Tuscany, Italy has followed the lead of the very proactive Matteo Salvini, currently the Minister of Internal Affairs, who’s Lega party has swept it’s way to a massive victory. Sig Salvini has spent many months out and about wearing various uniforms and T-shirts, making himself as visible as possible and shutting the ports to the immigrants, as Italy is supposedly sinking into the sea with the weight of the thousands already here!
The most surprising election victory was for the Forza Italia party in Milan, where the veteran of politics and purveyor of scandal, Silvio Berlusconi, has won a place at the big round table in Brussels. At the age of 83 there is no keeping Silvio out of the spotlight. From a non-political point of view, I’m quite pleased to see him back, it makes for more colourful reporting. When allegations swirled about escorts and ‘Bunga Bunga’ parties, Silvio admitted “I’m not a Saint, you’ve all understood that.” Watch this space…..
Meanwhile, back here in our little bit of Tuscany, our local village of Fiano hit the news when it was chosen as a place to interview the locals on their view of the impending election. We were delighted to find our favourite cafe bar and shop singled out for this purpose and in the foto you will see our lovely friends Fabio, Sandra and Rossella at La Dispensa. If you are in Tuscany, do pay them a visit.
Well, I thought I would change the subject and talk about Italian interior design. We live in an ancient converted Monastery Farmhouse, which has it’s original brick floors and beams. Modern Italian furniture designs really lend themselves to old properties. The contrast makes for a perfect blend. As does modern art. We have recently bought new sitting room furniture, comfortable but modern. It is also possible to muddle in a few antique bits here and there; somehow in this property it works. A set of modern furniture in a large high ‘ceilinged’ villa also looks great; like in the enclosed picture. 
Then of course, if we want to get into Summery Fashion designs, I’m all for it. The weather has been terrible and we have been out and about wrapped in winter jackets every day in May. The poor tourists have been drenched in rain for weeks on end, however, we are reliably informed that summer starts tomorrow! Do you get maudlin after lengthy periods of grey skies and rain? I am a naturally cheerful soul, but just lately it’s been hard to keep a smile on my face. Anyway, I love the relaxed look in the enclosed foto. Whilst my signature colour is black, the occasional colourful outfit will catch my eye and this look has both. 
Well, I always say that if you are feeling a little down, buy clothes or better still a new handbag! And, that’s exactly what I did on Thursday. My man felt sorry for me and offered to drive me across to Barberino val D’Elsa and my favourite atelier Colleregio Firenze. I have mentioned this place before; for me it is the ultimate shop for all types of bag, purses, belts and hats. However, I must fill you in with the run-up to buying this, my latest bag, and the importance of understanding how these specialist shops operate. Or don’t as the case may be. Two weeks ago I did the round trip to Barberino and arrived at the shop during opening hours, to find it closed! OK, well things happen, so I decided to ring and check that they were open before going for a second time, this time with my man, and yes the nice lady said she would be there. Guess what, they were closed! So late afternoon I ring again only to find that the nice lady had been waiting at their other shop in Castellina in Chianti; apparently the telephone number goes through to her wherever she is! But no worries, the shop in Barberino would open for us that evening. We arrived and yes the nice owner Francesco, had come up from Florence to open it for us! Thank heavens they had the bag I wanted, otherwise, I would have sunk into a bout of despair. The moral to this story is ‘be very precise.’ If you ring a shop, make sure they know which shop you want to go to, as they may have more than one, If you turn up on spec you may be disappointed. It was all worthwhile, I love my new bag!
Anyway, Last weekend was a pink one. Yes, pink or Rosa in Italiano. Montespertoli and Certaldo were bedecked in pink balloons and flags as it was the first time that the big cycle road race, Giro D’Italia, had passed through in sixteen years. Pink is the colour for this very popular event, the winning cyclist ended up being presented with, yes you guessed it, a pink shirt! There was a lot of excitement being generated in our local village of Fiano, which is half way between the two towns! The Tuscans love a festa and especially if it involves cyclists!
And, this weekend was another celebration, that of Street Food! Certaldo hosted a street food festa over a long weekend in Piazza Boccaccia, which is normally the central carpark. I walked through it on Friday evening and it was heaving with people and children enjoying the fairground type rides. I couldn’t help but notice two tourists who had obviously arrived by train, pulling their cases through the crowd heading for the funiculare, the little cable train which would take them up to the safety of Certaldo Alto, the historical centre. They both looked scared to death! There had also been a train strike that day, which only ended in the early evening! Poor things. But they will love Certaldo Alto!
But enough of that. Life eeez good, life eeez now! back in Fiano and reading the papers over coffee, I notice that a new film is about to be launched simply called Leonardo. You may think that there have been enough films and documentaries made about the great man, but apparently this is not the case. I really enjoyed the Medici films so I will look out for this one too.
OK, where are we? Oh yes, just a little cautionary story. Italy is a very welcoming country and particularly Tuscany. But down in Rome, some not very nice eatery charged two tourists 81 euros for two hamburgers and coffees, which is totally unacceptable. So just beware of the tourist traps!
So sorry, but am down with a nasty virus and my creative brain cells are not functioning. So I am sending you this lovely picture of the gorgeous green Tuscan countryside, viewed from our garden, for you to enjoy.
It’s been a busy week here in our little bit of Tuscany on the edge of Chianti. It has also rained a lot, which dictated much of planning for the week. I decided not to buy more plants this weekend as it is still too damp, but just for you I have taken some pictures in our Tuscan garden. The smell of the Acaccia Blossoms and our now climbing English Rose, shortly after the rain, is intoxicating. Just standing under the dripping trees and breathing in the air is so invigorating.
Most of the time things are very quiet here, the sound of ancient squeaky tractors spraying the vineyards can be heard, but this is almost drowned out by the birdsong. We have a small number of Magpies roosting in our trees and one fat male has taken to admiring himself in the glass of our windows and doors. That’s Ok until he starts loudly banging the glass to get his reflection to respond to his posturing!
Meanwhile, back in our local village of Fiano, I was somewhat taken aback to be asked by a man I have only seen occasionally to go up to his apartment to see his ceramics! Well, you girls have no doubt heard the saying ‘would you like to come up and see my etchings? Well, let me explain. I was paying Fabio at La Dispensa for my coffee, when I noticed a new ceramic dish for the change on his counter. I said how much I liked it and as if by magic the maker of said dish, was at my elbow. Fabio introduced me to Leonardo, yes I know, whose surname is Lazzeri. With a manic wave of his arms and a big smile on his face, he invited me up to his apartment! So there I was, standing in his big parlour (having met his lovely wife) and agape at all the beautiful ceramic creations, both big and small.
Leonardo is now retired, but still does the odd piece now and then. His work is sold in San Gimignano which, if you do not already know, is the city of towers and is massively popular with tourists. Leonardo’s work is unique, in that he concentrates on an Antico (old fashioned) style with the characters having distinctive pointed noses. He has also published books containing his works over many years. Unfortunately, Leonardo is also old fashioned and does not have a web site to show you, but if you are in Fiano or San Gimignano, I know he would love to meet you! He gave me this lovely spoon holder as a parting gift, such a nice man!
Now, in addition to Easter we had Liberation Day to celebrate on 25th April. Much is written about the French Resistance during the 2nd World War, however, the heroics of the men and women of the Partisans, the Italian resistance, is an incredible story. I have met and interviewed some of these amazing people and learnt how whole villages were wiped out by many of the retreating soldiers. Memorials can be found in many villages and seeing some of these really can bring a lump into one’s throat.
On a lighter note, this morning my man and I had coffee with friends at La Dispensa. Our friend Ute was telling us about the amazing number of weddings she is overseeing at Villa il Pozzo a 3* hotel close to us. She already has ten wedding bookings this year and was meeting with two further clients this weekend in preparation for next years nuptials! I have to say, Il Pozzo is a very beautiful place, castellated and with stunning views. Take a look. 
Yes, it’s that time of year again, Easter Weekend and the Tourists have poured in from every part of the globe. Cars and mini-buses are cruising past our Old Monastery Farmhouse with big-eyed faces staring out of the windows. Then there are the walkers. As we are surrounded by agriturismo places to stay, it’s normal to hear the sound of footsteps on the gravel track and wondrous voices in many different languages. But, we don’t mind, as this weekend heralds the run up to summer and it’s a pleasure to see and hear visitors enjoying themselves. Anyway, we have our giant spider guarding the gate; just in case.
Now the tourists will have found ninety percent of shops, bars and restaurants closed on both the Sunday and Monday. This includes our usual haunt La Dispensa in Fiano as Fabio, Sandra and Rossella have taken a well deserved two-day break. The Italians like their festa days and most will have gone off to the seaside or mountains. But if you know where to go it’s not a problem. On both days we dropped down to Certaldo and Jam Caffe where you will find the best pastries in the region and of course very good coffee. The weather is beautiful at the moment so you can enjoy sitting outside on the big terrace. We like to be inside looking out.
On the subject of coffee, which the Italians serve up so much better than anywhere else in the world, on Saturday I spotted this advert for illy coffee. Yes, I know, the hunky guy in the advert did draw me in. But look at his face; which look do you like? Clever advertising this; Classico, Intenso (intense) & Forte (strong). I must say I do rather like the Intenso look; that hint of danger in the eyes….. Sorry, where was I? Oh, yes, I was about to mention that I do buy the tins of illy classico coffee. I like the tins, they look great on the sideboard and the coffee is seriously good too!
On Saturday morning, the Mercato in Certaldo was heaving. We stocked up with fruit, veg and Cheese, but our lovely plant lady had not turned up again. I asked one of the neighbouring market holders and was told she had not been there for months. But the good news is, I suddenly remembered a flower kiosk at the top of the hill next to the old cemetery, where our old friend Simon Moody rests in peace, bless him. The kiosk was busy, but to my delight I found lot’s of plants for sale as well as flowers. I bought quite a few, but will need more, so will go back next weekend. I’ll send you some fotos of the finished pots next time.
OK, what else. obviously the National news has not been too good this last week, what with the Notre Dame fire. Here in Italy we have a Joint Deputy Prime Minister who likes to dress up in various uniforms, depending on where he is appearing, so it was inevitable that one of our Italian cartoonists would come up with this cartoon of Matteo Salvini. We quickly move on….
Meanwhile, the various Leonardo exhibitions and festas continue and for a change I will mention Prato, which is a rather attractive town between Florence and Pistoia, where there is an Ingenuity & Textile Exhibition going on at Il Museo del Tessuto. I’ve always been fascinated by machines, big and small. I love steam trains and the workings of clocks and watches. In fact anything that is not dependant on electricity or technology. Prato is also good for historical buildings and excellent restaurants! 
Yes, it’s that time of year again; the run up to Easter or Pasqua as we say here in Italy. Florence has experienced a big increase in tourist bookings for the Easter holidays so you can guarantee the city will be heaving. But don’t worry about that, it’s all part of the Florence experience at this time of year! Park your car south of the river and walk or telephone Taxi Firenze on 055 4390 and they will pick you up in no time! The shops are full of giant chocolate eggs and it will be a weekend of family festivities whether you are religious or not. In the foto you will see an advertisement for Quinoa Gluten Free Restaurant, which is my absolute favourite place to eat. Don’t be put off by the ‘gluten free’ thing, they cater for all diets and you will love their freshly baked bread. 
Whilst in or near Florence, there are some really interesting museums and exhibitions to get your teeth into. The Stibbert Museum is one place I will be going to in the next few weeks. I have been promising myself a visit for ages! It is easy to reach on the tram, which you can pick up outside Santa Maria Novella train station. The museum has a vast personal collection of military and lots of other collections, from around the world. Frederick’s English father came to Italy after fighting against Napoleon in Spain. He came to Rome and then Florence where he met and later married Frederick’s Italian mother. After Frederick’s death, his home and museum was opened to the public in 1909. It’s a fascinating story, do read about it and try to visit. 
Now I love the work of the Italian artist Marcello Scuffi. You would be forgiven for thinking his art was from the art deco period of the 1920’s or 30’s. But no, he was born in 1948 in Pistoia, near Florence and his medium is sometimes described as GrecoArte here in Italy. I am mentioning Marcello because he currently has an exhibition at the Florence Art Gallery, which ends on 27th April. If you like his style, do drop in for a visit. I would love to own one or two of his paintings. Let me know what you think!
Again, on the subject of museum pieces, we may think of Archimedes, his being one of the most famous historical mathematical geniuses of all time. Hang on a minute, I hear you say, but he was Greek not Italian! Yes, yes I know this, I was just testing. Well actually I was leading up to introducing Italy’s very own modern-day Archimedes, eighteen year old Valerio Pagliarino! It is a reminder that many of the most intelligent mathematicians and inventors were Italian. And still are. This is not just a land of wine, olives, pizza and pasta, oh no. Valerio’s innovative new technology, the LaserWan project, is able to transmit data with light and has been recognised as Industrial Patent of Invention! Unsurprisingly he was one of the winners at ‘Intel International Science & Engineering Fair 2017.’ So bravo to Valerio and all the other young brilliant Italian techno designers rising to the surface! Foto La Repubblica magazine.
Now what else did I have to tell you? Oh yes, the Chianti countryside is currently having a deluge of rain. It’s also cold. But the coming week is looking better and I know that many of you will be travelling here during the next couple of weeks and will be glad to know that. I can see the beautiful Hoopoe bird trotting around the wet garden at this moment, easily finding worms that have come up to the surface. There is nothing like spring in Tuscany. Foto Pininterest.
No, I don’t have a personal assistant. I was asked this the other day and it got me thinking, perhaps I need one. The thing is, I work out of a private studio and I like the privacy and quiet. Having finally finished typing up the lyrics of my repertoire for The Rock Chick Band’s concert in June, which has taken weeks due to my hectic schedule, I am beginning to wonder. However, each song needs a lengthy period of concentration as I note every beat and bar, as well as the lyrics themselves. So passing this to an assistant just would not work. Then there’s the current book I’m writing, the Expat column and this weekly blog, it is all hands-on stuff. Oh and the day job! Enough already. But life eeez good, life eeez now! Foto P Finnigan – The Rock Chick Band.
Now, I’m just preparing for one concert, whereas Vasco Rossi is about to embark on his ‘Vascononstoplive2019’ tour! The Italians can’t get enough of this aging gravelly rocker. Looking at his site, it was interesting to look behind the man and to check out his band and back up team. He has two Americans in the band. Matt Lang is a very good singer and guitarist; you will find him doing his own thing on You Tube. And, Stef Burns is a really good rock guitarist. Since 1998, Vasco has also been fortunate to have the support of Italian trumpeter, Frank Nemola; what an amazing sound he makes. Whilst I am not a great fan of Vasco’s voice, his band is second to none. Foto from Frank’s website.
But what about the guys. Have you noticed how men wearing shoes or trainers without socks, can look a little err unstylish? This is not the case with Italian men, it suits them perfectly. In fact I have yet to find a nation of men who can better the Italians for wearing their clothes well. I recently read an article which declared the results of a world pole proving that Italian men were the best looking and the country was voted the most beautiful in the world! Well, I’ve been here for fifteen years and am in no rush to leave! Say no more! Foto La Reppublica.
Meanwhile, back in our lovely Tuscan garden the Ash tree has taken centre stage. This year its new leaves are looking particularly lovely. It is a big tree and offers shade during the summer months and a nice vantage point for the views across the Chianti hills. If you enlarge the picture you’ll be able to spot our English park bench hiding underneath the tree! Today, Sunday, it is raining so we have not been able to get back out there to finish tidying the pots. Also, our favourite plant lady was not in Certaldo’s market yesterday, so we will have to get the new plants next weekend. The rain was needed of course, we’ve had weeks without it, and the countryside certainly looks a lot greener and fresher now. And, it is the start of the tourist season so everything is looking good for the visitors. Foto J Finnigan – from kitchen window.
Sunshine, smiling happy locals in Fiano and the smell of cut grass. Yes, the joys of Spring and the first of April, what a wonderful morning to start the day here in our little bit of Chianti. Even the Poison Dwarf stopped me to wish me a ‘buona giornata’; she usually glares at me!
And, in the garden, what a wonderful weekend! All the wintering pots came out of the cantina. They needed some TLC and thankfully we only lost two plants. The sun was hot yesterday, so much so that I eventually gave in and wore a hat as I tidied and pruned all the plants on the garden table. Still lots to do and we will be down to the market in Certaldo next Saturday to buy more plants. Really looking forward to that!
Meanwhile, back at La Dispensa, our local shop and bar in Fiano, I found a newspaper article about a female politician who has given up politics in favour of being an entertainer. Yes, I know. Well, I think the lovely Nunzia De Girolamo does have a certain something, but I’m not too sure about the outfit. The former Minister of Agriculture, Food and Forestry has taken to the stage. She is a forty-three year old lawyer, but it just goes to show that ‘you can do anything, if you want to’! So, perhaps Theresa May should think about this as a new career. Theresa, if you are reading this and would like an introduction to Nunzia, do let me know. PS Song lyrics above from Thin Lizzy’s ‘Do anything you want to,’ which I will be performing at my next concert in June. Theresa, if you would like an invite email me at june.finnigan@virgin.net
Now here’s something to make you smile. An Italian handbag so beautiful it is being promoted by the stunning Penelope Cruz. Yet another excuse to visit 
You may have come across his ongoing TV series Don Matteo, where he plays a priest, who is friends with the hapless Carabiniere, in a remote Italian hill town. He goes about cycling madly from a. to b. on his bicycle, cassock flying and black beret hairgripped on, solving crimes and rescuing the helpless. I love the series, you can get it on DVD or stream it! 
Anyway, on a much lighter note and what with all the fashion parades going on, I did spot this rather lovely outfit in La Repubblica. But, as I was about to take this foto at La Dispensa this morning, I was approached by a very sweet local Signora who loves to talk about her one and only visit to London a quarter of a century ago. So, I’m trying to take the foto for you, and she is pulling up a chair and kissing me on the cheek. She is about four-foot-ten so she did not think much of the outfit I was photographing. Anyway, I listened for at least ten minutes and understood about eighty percent, which is a way of helping with my language skills I guess. Eventually, she must have seen my eyes glass over, as she finally stood and went about her shopping. Bless her. Anyway, I finally got the foto!
Where was I? Ah, Sock Shoes. Now these seem to be the latest thing here in Italy. They look very comfortable, but methinks you need slim ankles or long legs and preferably both to set them off. But then I also feel the same way about the fad for trainers with everything. If you are short or dumpy, they are so unflattering! What do you think?
Back out there in the world of politics, which I have not talked about recently due to the confusing nature of everything, we are about to have the European elections. Now my man and I are allowed to vote, but what or whom do we vote for? Look at these two Joint Deputy Prime Ministers that make up the head of the coalition government. They are like a couple of cry baby siblings, with completely opposing views, no wonder things are all over the place! Listening to the rumblings over coffee at Fiano, there is a big desire to return to the Lira, which to me also smacks of wanting out of Europe. At least by watching the way the Brits are cocking things up, there will be a lesson learnt on how not to do it! Watch this space.
But enough of that, I saw this interview in the paper and whilst you may not recall her name, Giovanna Ralli, you will remember her beautiful face. This Italian actress was hugely popular in the 60’s and at the age of eighty-four, still looks stunning. There have been many Italian actresses who graced the cinematic screens over the years, more than you may realise. Giovanna made her first film in 1942 at the age of seven and her last one in 2013. She was nominated for numerous awards and was awarded the Golden Globe for her career in 1975. Recently asked if she would be making any more films she retorted I’m eighty, why not?
And, here is another thing of beauty and made in Italy, the new Ferrari F8! But what’s this, I here you say, they’ve painted it blue! Now I always thought Ferrari were traditionally red, but my man who knows about these things, says not. Anyway, methinks that whilst I need a new car it is too low slung for our dirt track roads, so perhaps not.
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