Welcome and Benvenuti to all My Lovely followers around The World,
Yes, Spring has sprung early this year, hopefully we won’t get another nasty cold snap and kill things off. Bees have been buzzing for the last couple of weeks and I learnt recently that they take nectar from dandelions if there is nothing else available, so don’t dead head those weeds yet! Other insects are appearing as are small creatures like lizards, which is a little worrying as animals are starting to come out of hibernation a tad too early. Our resident Viper will no doubt appear soon; she had a big nest of swirling babys last spring. Our resident pheasant Phil, is sending out mating calls from various perches around the garden so we look forward to seeing one or more hens arriving.
This is also the time of year for finding Wild Asparagus. These are not the big thick stems you find in the supermarkets, oh no. They are lovely thin stems often missed growing amongst grasses that resemble them and under brambles. Well, you know me, I let other people hunt them down and then I buy and cook them. I was delighted to find a big fat bunch in a pot of water, just waiting to be grabbed by me at La dispensa in Fiano. There was enough for me to eat them three days running. Now, most of you know I am not the greatest of cooks; I like to do things the easy way. I snapped off the tough bits, then steamed for about five minutes, dropped them on to some baking paper, drizzled with olive oil, topped with pecorino cheese & pine nuts and baked in a hot oven until the cheese had browned. And, hey presto! I know you are out there clapping, which I appreciate. I just hope my friend and neighbour the celebrity cook Judy Witts Francini isn’t reading this, she would probably hold her hands up in horror. A local signora told me I should make risotto with them, but that’s too much like hard work. PS you should go to Judy’s site and buy her wonderful Tuscan cook book!
Today is Sunday and the forecast is for temperatures up to 17 degrees centigrade! Well, I braved it this morning, popped on some thin tights and flats, so glad to have my feet out of boots. Meanwhile, I have been thinking about spring jackets and coats. Why is it that on every change of season, I find myself with nothing to wear? My man is horrified when I say this, he says I have a wardrobe full of stuff, how can I have nothing to wear? But you girls understand, don’t you? Then I saw this rather lovely coat in a magazine at Sandra’s hairdressers, perfect for the cool to warm weather, what do you think? I love it. And, the bag too! But I could only find the bag on the website, which is a rather nice one, website that is, so I will have to do a bit more research! Ah, I’ve found it in the Sale section! The site is obviously still work in progress, so not brilliant to negotiate. But the clothes are really gorgeous!
OK, enough of my fashion indulgences and time to go off for lunch at my daughter’s home between San Gimignano and Volterra. Meanwhile, here is another sunset picture; it’s the time of year for fabulous skies every night. Enjoy.
And, don’t ever say that I never indulge the man I love. I do not eat or cook with eggs, but for him I am persuaded to cook pancakes on 5th March as it’s pancake day and he misses them more than words can say. Bless him.
Have a great week and do drop me a line. Visit my website at my site and email me at june.finnigan@virgin.net if you have not already received an invite to my Tuscan Rock Concert in June.
Salute June x
Just a short distance away and closer to us, Dominic Miller’s concert tour hit Empoli last night. Now Dominic has been around for years, a lesser known but brilliant guitarist who is best known for supporting Sting (our neighbour) on many world tours. I have only just spotted this in the paper, so too late for me to go, I am a little annoyed with ‘Bands in Town’ who are supposed to notify me of these events! But anyway, look out for Dominic’s new album being released on the 1st March called ‘Absinthe’. Visit 
And what else is happening in Tuscany? I hear you ask. Well, whilst enjoying coffee in Fiano this morning, I discovered an article about The Orient Express. Now I never travelled on this rather intoxicating sounding train, I would have loved to mind. But this reminded me of a much more local steam train excursion which takes you through gorgeous Tuscan countryside stopping at towns and villages along the way. You can take a whole day out just indulging in the ride and stopping for events, festas and wine tastings. The train company is based in Siena and is called 
Also in the newspaper, as in most papers around the world, it was addio to that unique fashion designer and celebrity, Karl Lagerfield. As you know, I follow Italian fashion closely, and whilst Karl was based in Paris and associated with Chanel, since the sixties he worked closely with Fendi and became a director of the company, which is based in Rome. Fendi dedicated it’s show in Milan last week to the great man. Well I had best get my orange handbag out again as it is obviously back in vogue!
And staying with the subject of fashion I couldn’t help but fall in love with another 
Along with the rest of the western world, we have just celebrated San Valentino, when the single men chase replacements for their Mamas and single women chase men for love and romance. Maybe that’s a little unfair, we do have a number of single men locally who are happy to stay at home with Mama and have the occasional dalliance. I hope you found your valentine last week!
But back to romance; I have just read a lovely article in 
Gosh, how does one follow that? Well, if you are not already here, you are likely to be dreaming of Italy right now. A fabulous magazine that will have you drooling even more is 
Now, most of you know that my other love is Italian Fashion and I spotted this beautiful cardigan by 
In February, It is possible to fill one’s diary with events, particularly Art Exhibitions. I love galleries, they have a sense of calm away from the madding crowds, unless you go on the opening day, which I avoid. Whilst drinking my morning coffee in Fiano and reading La Republica, I noticed an article about finding Italy, that is historically, in Art form. Just look at these fabulous pictures by Italian greats that include Umberto Boccioni, Giacomo Balla, Francesco Hayez and Federico Zandomeneghi painted between the late 18th and early 19th centuries. They really bring the era alive. This Grand Exhibition is open now through to June. Visit 
Then I saw another article and a completely different medium; the modern work of Maurizio Monti. What draws me to his paintings is the intense colour and the combining of the beauty found in the female form and flower petals. A sort of fairy like fantasy that reminds me of book illustrations done in the 1930’s. His exhibition is at Florence Art Gallery now until 23rd February. Do try and go!
Meanwhile, this past week has been all about the Sanremo Music Festival. Yes, it happens every February, a ‘so very Italian’ music contest to find the best singer of the year. You either love it or hate it. However, this year it was co-hosted by Claudio Baglioni who is celebrating 50 years crooning at the microphone. I have to say, he has aged rather well, despite the white hair he is looking and sounding rather good. If you hang on a minute, I’ll pop onto his website to get you some more info. OK, I’m back. Now to be honest, whilst he is hugely popular here in Italy, his music is not quite up my street. Despite that, I think we can award him the longevity medal and nominate him aging Italian Hunk of the Month! Google Sanremo 2019.
Anyway, this time of year in Tuscany is great for sunsets. Also the air is cold, but clean and fresh. And, when the sun shines it’s possible to sit outside in direct sunshine, as long as you are in a sheltered spot protected from the wind. So life eeez good, life eeez now! Foto J Finnigan
But otherwise, it being the season of fashion, last week was the mens’ time for strutting their stuff, this week has had the newspapers full of Bimbi Pitti (children’s) fashion. Now I am a little out of touch with children’s fashion outside of Italy, but here the kids are very fashion conscious and from an early age. Black is very vogue and apparently styles are currently being influenced by the Rock Music scene! Well, at least the Bimbi will be growing up with a taste for good rock music; I hope. Addio to the pastel shades we kids were adorned in, and that’s not a bad thing methinks. What do you think?
So what else is going on? I hear you ask. Well a great news magazine to follow, particularly for Florence and surroundings is The Florentine. I’ve mentioned this publication before and I follow it regularly, it’s also in English and can be subscribed to online if preferred. Events include HOPS/Brewer of the year, (there is and increasing number of micro-breweries popping up in Italy) A shop Vintage event and International Ice skating Awards. Busy, busy. 
OK, what next? Oh yes. The children returned to school last week and much is being talked about regarding the state of the buildings. Some students went out on strike as the temperature in the classrooms were as low as 10 degrees centigrade! Of course, we are now formerly in recession here (again) so spending on the essentials is not always happening. In today’s paper was an article about a survey of the under 18’s. The new young people (Giovani) mostly love school and their teachers. They have had enough of disputes and want to get on with preparing for the future. My man and I arrived here nearly fifteen years ago and so a whole new generation has grown up during that time. Fifteen years ago, society seemed thirty years behind us Brits, but the new Giovani seem to have caught up and cut the time difference down by at least half.
And moving to the much older generation, which includes the Peter Pan of politics Silvio Berlusconi. Yes, Silvio is back! At the age of 82, and as leader of Forza Italia, he is campaigning for the March elections for the European parliament. This assumes it hasn’t fallen apart by then, the parliament that is! Anyway, Silvio has a way of putting a bit of colour back into the world of politics. You either love him or hate him, either way, it makes for an interesting time.
Yes, I’m back and what a pleasure it is to be writing again after all the flus and viruses of last year. As I sit in my studio, the sun is pouring through the window, brightening up the day with all the promises the New Year will bring! But before we move on into 2019 properly, I would like to thank the lovely family at La Dispensa in Fiano, Fabbio, Sandra and Rossella, for providing that lovely warm atmosphere where we can enjoy our morning coffee and read the papers every day. In the picture, beautiful Rossella stands next to the hand-made designer Christmas Tree on which we happily hung our names like all the other customers.
So what is happening now? I hear you ask. Well down in Florence it’s the time of year for the male fashionistas to be strutting their stuff. Yes, it is the annual Pitti Uomo, when mens’ fashions are celebrated and anyone who is anybody will be proudly walking the streets hoping to be photographed. Yesterday was the last day and we went into the city for Lunch. We did not strut, but there were many that were. This foto is obviously not in Florence, but purely on the basis that they are real men & gorgeous fashion models, I shall nominate them as joint Hunks of the Month for January!
Now lunch was a bit special, because our beautiful daughter the editor of Envy Italy magazine took us to lunch at the iconic restaurant, Sabatini Firenze, which is under new management. The restaurant is about to undergo some modernisation, but limited by the fact that it is a historic building and its interiors are to be retained for posterity. It has a fascinating long history and just about every famous person has dined there from Frank Sinatra to J.F.Kennedy. A new website will be launched shortly and an exciting future awaits the new owners and staff. We enjoyed a very artistic tasting menu and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Thank you Sharon. 
Meanwhile, back in our local town of Certaldo, I finally got around to framing some pictures as a little New year treat. I just love artisan framers, the smell and the atmosphere just sends me into a heavenly bubble. Bologni Arreda, another well-established family business, are framers to the world. Eighty percent of their frames are shipped overseas. It’s so good to find a successful business in our own back yard. Here is a framed picture of Farty Barty my former writing buddy, who went up to cat heaven a couple of years ago, drawn in coloured crayons by my talented sister-in-law Jane. 
Back in our lovely, if rather overgrown winter garden, a stroll around revealed all sorts of colourful wild flowers and weeds. Also, what with all the damp morning mists, some fascinating fungi. It’s really cold at the moment, so gardening may have to wait a little longer. My man and I would quite like to start a raised vegetable garden, but that’s another project for another time. I would love to hear from you if you already have one!
Oh yes, lest we forget, Italy and Tuscany in particular, is also celebrating the 500th anniversary of Leonardo di Vinci’s death. So 2019 is going to be teeming with tourists visiting all the exhibitions and celebrations. Leonardo of course, was born near Florence at Vinci, just north-west of the city. We visited some years ago, a lovely place. So if you are fascinated by this historic genius, get booking your hotels ASAP.
And what of the Music Scene? You ask. Well, as you know rock music is my main passion and from that point of view I can tell you that a lot is happening. You may be interested to know that I follow D’Alessandro & Gallo’s site which is smack up to the minute with touring bands and performers. In March we will see Tears for Fears, Mark Knopler, Elton John and many more. The Lucca Summer Festival and Firenze Rocks in June/July have line-ups to die for. And, of course, my own band will be playing on 21st June near Certaldo! Watch this space. 
I just love Christmas and I feel sad for those that do not. For me it is much more than a religious festival, it is a time when families get together again and to take some quiet time chilling in front of a log fire, without feeling guilty for a few days. Our kitchen is now all festive, ready for gatherings of friends or family who happen to pass by.
Here in our little bit of Chianti, we will move the TV from my man’s study to the sitting room and watch really silly DVD’s of UK sitcoms and some good films, in front of the fire. Italian TV is terrible, just don’t go there! We will get the old board games out and thoroughly enjoy ourselves. What will you be up to?
As you know I am a keen follower of Italian fashion labels and it’s been great to see models walking down the catwalk in Christmas Sweaters! It seems lots celebrities have been spotted wearing them! This is very good news in my view, the brighter the better. Try not to smile when you are chatting to someone wearing one, you can’t do it can you? Chuckle. The more reasons we have to put smiles on our faces the better. If you girlies want something festive yet sophisticated, I spotted this lovely cashmere one from Somers, always one of my favourite Italian sweater designers. 
Now you know how much I love Italian food, I harp on enough about it, but at Christmas time there are somethings I really miss. These include mince pies, sage & onion stuffing mix, parsnips, Birds Custard and Branston Pickle. But all is not lost. My man will be popping over to London for a visit before Christmas and will bring some of these things home with him. Otherwise we have Richmond’s British Food Shop, which delivers to your home in Tuscany! 
Meanwhile, back at our regular local ristorante, C’era una Volta, Paolo has done it again. He has secured a good fresh supply of Tartufo Bianco, white truffles to you and me, and we had lots grated over our pasta yesterday for lunch. Heaven! Here in the picture is his hoard, which won’t last long even at the high price these dishes demand! So whilst I miss some of the English foods at Christmas, pasta and white truffles more than makes up for that! 
But we don’t care about that! Here’s a really funny foto my man saw in the paper. Silvio was obviously blowing out such a blast of hot air again that poor Dudù is having to hang on for dear life! Ha ha!
For the first time ever, last Saturday we went to a show at the Old Cinema in Fiano. Not a lot happens there. It is used by the local primary school for gymnastics and the occasional concert. We were really surprised to find it newly refurbished inside and settled into our third row seat to wait for the start of a Comic Opera. This being Italy the start time of 9pm stretched to 10pm as it takes that long for old friends and family chatting away in groups, to finally take their seats. The set was very good and the characters funny and singing excellent. Whilst my man and I did not understand all of it (regional dialects abounded) we did laugh in the right places and thoroughly enjoyed it.
Then at the second break, I reached for my bag, which had been carefully wedged between our seats, and my purse was gone! To cut a long story short, the strange looking couple who had been sitting behind us, had gone too! They were the only strangers in the place, everyone else was known to us and they were all horrified that this should happen to the English lady who had been made so welcome in the village. The villagers hunted high and low, but it had obviously been stolen. So I hastily cancelled my plastic cards then drove down to Certaldo at fifteen minutes past midnight to report the theft to the Carabiniere. A sign outside said to return at 9am unless our visit was very serious and urgent. We decided to go back on Sunday morning. The lovely police officers were very helpful and as my purse/wallet had included all my documentation and driving licence, I had to make a written statement and apply for the police to issue a new licence! Foto pinInterest – I make no excuses.
And so to lighter things and I read in the paper that the amazing Italian singer Patty Pravo, now aged seventy, is still performing! She of the amazing gravelly yet sexey voice, and without an ounce of fat, is still wowing her audiences. If David Bowie had wanted a female look-a-like, Patty would have been perfect. A big hit in sixties Italy, she reinvented herself in the mid-nineties and hit the charts again. If you would like to listen to an italian female singer with attitude, Patty is for you. 
And now for something completely different. All you lovers of Tuscany may not be aware that we have a thriving grain industry. No, it’s not all vines and olives! Wheat, Barley and Corn and other crops I cannot recall, are all grown here. Also, of course, big fields of sunflowers for their seeds. Italy does have a growing beer industry, so that’s one route some of these grains might take. And, of course, Tuscany’s very own pasta made from local wheat.
This then leads us on to the other Italian drink, so very popular with the men as a digestivo, yes you are right Grappa. Grappa is a fragrant, grape-based pomace brandy of Italian origin that contains 35 to 60 percent alcohol by volume. I’m not too keen on it, we more northern europeans would more likely choose a port after dinner. Mind you, after my purse theft experience, I might just drink anything!
Just five days to December and it’s the time of year for colder damper weather, which in itself creates some of the most breathtaking scenery and camera shots here in our little bit of Chianti. Early morning mists fill the valleys below us and as the sun peaks through we witness shafts of sunlight breaking out from the mist and spotlighting the thousands of cobwebs covering just about everything!
Then the sun rises a little more and shines on nearby properties, but the mist has not risen yet so we get these ghostly looking apparitions. It’s important to stand still for a while and watch the vista changing as the mists start to gradually roll away. Beautiful. So then we drive to Fiano, our local village, for coffee at La Dispensa, which means going higher up still into brilliant sunshine. The drive back will be views of fog filling the valleys over Certaldo and looking like a great white lake.
We relax with our coffee and read the papers, greeting the locals as they come and go. On rainy days they joke with us saying that we have brought Tempo Inglese (English Weather) with us! But what is this? In the paper I read that there has been a miracle in Pisa; The Leaning Tower has straightened up by as much as four centimetres over the last twenty years! It seems that consolidation work carried out between 1993 and 2001 has resulted in this unexpected turn of events! Well that’s good, but if it keeps going, will we end up with the Once Leaning Tower of Pisa? All those tourists that travel long distances to have their foto taken looking like they are holding the building up with one hand, yes what of them? I guess they will instead come to see the Miracle of the Tower that moved!
Anyway, another article in the paper caught my eye, and something close to my heart or should I say waistband, Pecorino Cheese. I don’t just like cheese, I absolutely love it and it is the only thing stopping me from becoming vegan. Pecorino is the most popular cheese in Italy for everyday use. It ranges from very young and soft to a hard mature version, a bit like the texture of Parmesan but the taste is different. I love it for the fact that it is not cow’s cheese, which I avoid. When we first arrived in Italy, I had to find an alternative to English Cheddar, particularly for cooking. Pecorino hit the button and more! Can you buy Italian Pecorino in your country?
And, what about the Italian fashion scene for the run up to party time? Well, firstly chunky footwear is in, even with the most feminine smart couture! 
I was always a stiletto fan until the knees started complaining, so if you are following the younger women in the British Royal Family, you can still wear them and that can be your excuse. Otherwise, if like me you are crazy about everything Italian, perhaps not.
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