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Posts Tagged ‘My Father The Assassin’

Feeling like a Little Girl Again, in Beautiful Tuscany

Posted in Life, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , on December 21, 2013| 4 Comments »

Egg shell Tree Decoration

Egg shell Tree Decoration
Photo J Finnigan

It’s so exciting, I feel like a little girl again, our Christmas tree is twinkling with lights and all the presents are wrapped.  I have brought the lovely old-fashioned tree decorations out of storage, made many years ago from eggshells, by an elderly lady in Somerset.  Unfortunately I’m the only one in the family who likes them.   My man is trying not to mumble humbug, however, the carol service I want to go to tomorrow evening is not on his wish list.  Of course, this is the time of year when we want our loved ones to be happy, so there has to be many compromises!  My mother is just short of ninety now and does not understand on-line banking so, despite the difficulty involved in depositing it, I wouldn’t dream of asking her not to send me a cheque.  When we were little kids at Christmas time, sixpence (2.5p sterling) would buy a pretty brooch in Woolworth for my mother, a big bag of fig biscuits, a bag of broken chocolate pieces, balloons,  rolls of coloured crepe paper for making decorations and still leave some change.  My mother still thinks that ten pounds is a lot of money!  My grandfather, bless him, always managed to turn up with a tree and we could guarantee to find a tangerine orange, an apple and nuts in the bottom of our Christmas stockings.

Alessandro enjoying Laura's shoulder massage. Photo J Finnigan

Alessandro enjoying Laura’s shoulder massage.
Photo J Finnigan

Back at Laura’s Alimentari/bar in Fiano, everyone is talking about Natale (Christmas) and it is traditional for Italian family members to return home from all corners of the globe for Mama’s Festive lunch and dinner.  Signore Rotund (Alessandro) used to dress up as Babbo Natale (Father Christmas), but apparently not this year.  Best not to question why, however, he is struggling with a bad knee at present.  This morning he was getting a shoulder massage from Laura whilst reading his sporting pages and he agreed to my taking a picture!  Tomorrow we will be at the Christmas market in Montespertoli with our beautiful daughter and two grandchildren.  There is nothing like a small town Italian piazza  for enjoying a market and, preferably with an aperitivo in hand, watching the bustling world go by .

Today, Saturday, we begin our formal festive holiday; the offices are closed until January 6th.  I bought a box full of DVD’s from Amazon, so we are well and truly set up with good films to see us through to the New Year.  We have also dusted off the board games ready for the grandchildrens’ invasion.

We have just had a visit from our English friend and neighbour Terry, who came with an invite to a New Years Eve Festa in Fiano, where at midnight he will set light to a huge ceramic statue hidden inside a wooden kiln. (He is a very talented potter http://www.terrydavies.it) The sun was warm enough to enjoy a couple of vinos on the terrace, where he updated us on the local scuttlebutt.  Apparently our old house across the valley has just been sold to Australians, so the area is becoming even more cosmopolitan!

Farty Barty's silhouette under the orange tree cover. Photo P Finnigan

Farty Barty’s silhouette under the orange tree cover.
Photo P Finnigan

Farty Barty the cat, is ignoring all the festivity and has been hiding under the cover over the orange trees.  We discovered his hiding place when suddenly a moving lump appeared in the white cover and with the sun shining through it, there was his silhouette.  I may have mentioned that he is currently frightened of a large black tom cat, which is trying to invade his territory.  Subsequently, he has been staying in at night and only venturing out when we are in close proximity!

Meanwhile, here is the latest from the media on the gorgeous Silvio Berlusconi.  Unfortunately, he has just been denied a passport after a legal bid to reclaim it, so is probably feeling a bit down in the dumps.  Now, the Telegraph tells us that his lawyers have dismissed claims that he was filmed having sex with prostitutes in Panama in 2010.  O dio, once tarnished the same brush keeps coming back like a slap in the face.  And to cap it all, poor SB is said to be planning an ‘Austerity Christmas’, forgoing lavish dinners and expensive gifts.  Instead the struggling billionaire will be giving a modest buffet lunch and spending a quiet Christmas with his girlie Francesca and her beloved toy poodle, Dudu.  Ah bless.  Funny though, I thought dudu was a baby’s word for poo!

Well enough of that, its time for lunch, but indoors today, because the sun has moved round and the temperature has dropped.  Then its time to challenge the man to another game of ‘Sorry’.  He’s currently in the lead and we can’t have that now can we?

Have a fabulous Christmas.

Salute and Cin Cin June x

PS don’t forget to visit http://www.firstchapters.net were you can download ‘My Father, The Assassin’ by J W Finnigan at a huge discount!  Auguri.

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A Big Discount when you download my Book!

Posted in Books, tagged , , , , , , on December 20, 2013| Leave a Comment »

Merry Christmas x

Only at www.firstchapters.net 

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Winding Down, and Winding Up for the Festive Season, in Beautiful Tuscany

Posted in Life, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on December 16, 2013| Leave a Comment »

Well, from a business point of view we are tying up the loose ends, meeting with valuable associates and contacts for a glass or two,  readying ourselves for a good 2014 and generally winding down.  From a personal point of view, we are winding up for the Festive Season and here in Tuscany a very good time will shortly be had by one and all.

Last Wednesday I spotted a lonely little Christmas tree in the Coop that needed a good home, so as one does, I carefully popped it in the car and brought it home.  For years we have had gigantic trees, often as tall as fifteen feet high, but this was when we had properties of equal size.  We once lived in a converted barn that had an entrance hall about twenty feet high and I bought a tree to fit it.  Unfortunately, I got to the top of the ladder with the fairy and froze, having completely forgotten that I had no head for heights!  My man was fortunately in the house and eventually rescued me.  He also once rescued me in the pacific Ocean when I was snorkeling over a coral reef.  I suddenly found myself floating over a bottomless watery canyon and panicked!  I have to say, my man is my eternal saviour, and it’s not just his commando training, it’s also his amazing stamina when it comes to living with an eccentric writer for donkey’s years!

Back in our local village of Fiano, I spotted a notice about the Christmas Carol Service on 22 December pinned to the front of Laura’s counter and my man has agreed to go.  This will be the first time that we have done this in Tuscany and whilst we are not religious,  I do miss singing carols.  I also happen to know all the words, however, only in English so I hope that our lovely locals will not mind too much as I am their local ‘famous’ writer.  This Friday we will be going into Florence for some festive cheer, lunch and maybe some shopping.  I have pretty much finished the present shopping and got most of it locally.  I do like to support the local shops as, unlike the UK, the huge department stores have not yet taken over the high streets.  It is probably only a matter of time, but for now we can enjoy life the way it used to be in England thirty years ago.

Taglierino del Tartufo

Taglierini del Tartufo Bianco

Before we head into the Festive Gastro season, just a mention that Tartufo Bianco (white truffles) is still being served at ‘C’era una Volta’ our  local ristorante in Lucardo.  For how much longer it’s hard to tell, but I have added a photo to make your mouth water!

Well, I am afraid I must cut things a little short this time as it is already Monday and I have to clear my desk before we can relax for the festive season.  I’ll update you on Silvio next weekend.  Before I forget, I am currently reading ‘Christmas at Carrington’s’ by my good friend Alexandra Brown. If you like romantic festive girliness, you’ll love this book and can find it on Amazon.  You will also find my own book ‘My Father, The Assassin’ by J W Finnigan on Amazon, which is a Romantic Thriller.  If you prefer to download the E-book go to http://www.firstchapters.com where you can currently get a huge discount.

Have a very good week and I’ll see you next weekend.

Salute June x

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Hot sun, Freezing Fog and Christmas Markets in Beautiful Tuscany

Posted in Life, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on December 8, 2013| 6 Comments »

Crumbling Cliffs left and our villa top right. Photo P Finnigan

Crumbling Cliffs left and our villa almost hidden in the trees, second from right.
Photo P Finnigan

Driving along the strada bianca this morning, the sun was a russet gold and the light fantastic.  So much so, that my man stopped the car and took some lovely photos of the of the foggy valley and inland cliffs below our villa.  I have mentioned before that we live in an area which is constantly on the move and the crumbling cliffs provide a reminder that within staggering beauty is a landslip always waiting to happen.  The cliffs are full of fossils and ancient seashells, reminding us that these Dolce Colline (sweet hills) were under water during the ice-age.   The steepest parts are largely covered in mixed woodland, so the area is teaming with wildlife.  A young roe deer crossed the track this morning at some considerable speed, so we braked and as anticipated a second one was not far behind.

The much hunted and beautiful Cinghale.

A Tuscan Cinghiale.

A couple of weeks ago our daughter was driving across country and a big old male cinghiale (wild boar) broke cover and dashed across the road.  She expected several more to follow or perhaps hunters’ dogs, but no, the frightened animal was being chased by a cock pheasant!  Don’t you just wish you had a camera at a time like this?

Back in Laura’s bar/alimentari in Fiano,  the ever popular Sig Rotund enjoys a shoulder and neck massage provided by a number of passing local ladies, whilst reading his paper.    My man has recently been acting very stiff shouldered to see if he can get the same attention, but no luck so far!  Sig Rotund has provided the Christmas Raffle this year which, unfortunately,  consists of some rather gaudy silver plate things.  The thing is, do we buy a ticket and ask to have the prize put back if we win, not buy a ticket or buy a ticket and try to lose the prize somewhere?  What do you think?  Oh, dio….  Here in Tuscany the festive season is taken very seriously and Christmas Markets are everywhere.  Germany is said to have the best European Christmas Markets and, would you believe it,  Florence is actually hosting a ‘German’ Christmas Market right now!

And now something completely different.  If you live in Italy, well certainly in Tuscany, finding an idraulica (plumber) who a) actually arrives, b) can do any plumbing job and is not restricted to one specialist area, and c) does not take all day to do a few little jobs, is almost impossible.  Well, we popped into Bar Italia in Certaldo the other day and discovered that Fabiola, who works behind the bar, is married to just the man we have been searching for!  The amazing Salvatore arrived the next day and did everything in less than three hours, then rushed off and said he would leave his bill in the bar at sometime in the future!  We now have flushing loos and taps that no longer drip, so we are all ready for the festive visitors!

OLive trees overlooking thefog filled valleys. Photo P Finnigan

Olive trees overlooking the fog filled valleys.
Photo P Finnigan

Back at the villa, despite the freezing air temperature, we have been able to sit outside in hot sunshine at around 1pm on most days this last week.  The magic thing about southern Europe is the fact that the sun, when it comes out, is still hot in winter.  So if you take your folding chair, even on a frosty day, get out of the wind and have direct sunlight on your face, you can soak up that much-needed vitamin D and enjoy a pre-lunch aperitivo at the same time!

And so to the Peter Pan of politics.  How is the gorgeous Silvio Berlusconi doing?  The New York Times provided a very amusing article last week.  Quote, “SB cares about his friends as long as they do what he says.  He talks fondly about his late Mama and adores his kids, in fact he loves family so much, he has had three already!  Hang in there SB, the girlies still love you!

Well, as it’s a lovely sunny day, we are off to Montespertoli for an aperitivo in the main piazza, then a bit of lunch.

Have a great week and don’t forget to check out ‘My Father, The Assassin’ by J W Finnigan on http://www.Amazon.co.uk (.com or .eu) or http://www.firstchapters.net for your Christmas reading and/or presents.  If you would like my autograph, I can send you a very nice sticky label to go in your book.  Email June.finnigan@virgin.net with your details.

Amore June xx

PS We have just bought a nice bunch of mistletoe, so may be a little preoccupied for a while….

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Warming Chianti Wine by the Fire and Flying with Royalty, in Beautiful Tuscany

Posted in Life, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , on December 1, 2013| Leave a Comment »

Welcome to all my loyal and new followers,

Warming a nice bottle of local wine. Photo J Finnigan

Warming a nice bottle of local wine.
Photo J Finnigan

Yes, its freezing cold and when  Chianti wines are served at room temperature in the winter its enough to make you tremble with the chill of it all.  So we are now keeping two or three bottles in the nook next to the fireplace that is specially made for this purpose.  Even so, it still needs a little more heating in front of the fire along with the glasses, before it is the right temperature for drinking!  Yes we do have central heating, but it drys the air so badly and the gas is very expensive.  It’s best to dash out of bed in the morning, manually put on the heating upstairs for half and hour, drape bath towels over the radiators to warm up and climb back into bed with a hot drink and wait.  This is also the best time for reading a book, while snuggled up with my man who is generally playing with his Smartphone .  I said Smartphone.  My current book is ‘The Beekeeper’s Apprentice’ by Laurie R King, a really gripping & beautifully written Sherlock Holmes story.  In my studio, I am butted up to an electric fire which our daughter delivered to us when we met for coffee in Fiano last Monday.  Our lovely girl was concerned about my poor aching joints, sweet thing, and thought it would help as I spend so much time working at the computer!  By choice, we live in an old villa which, by its very nature, is a cold house.  all the windows and doors are well fitted and double glazed, however, the cold always manages to seep through the roof and the high ceilings upstairs don’t help.  Despite this, I have to say, that since we left England almost ten years ago, I have barely had a sniffle and only a couple of viruses.  In England I lost whole months of work every year due to heavy colds and flu!  There is a lot to be said for homes warmed by  things other than central heating and fitted carpets.

Well, I don’t know about you, but keeping moving is the thing and its amazing how warm you can get trying to cover the plants with white muslin in a high biting wind.  Last Tuesday, I filled my pockets and mouth with clothes pegs and frantically pegged away at the flapping cloth and then tied it all down with string, leaving the pegs for extra security.  Now granted,  it does not look all that pretty, but it was a job well done.  The day before, my man had erected the polytunnel and all the vulnerable potted plants went under cover.   We were just in time, because come Wednesday, when he had flown to London, we had the first frosts.

The Duke and Princess Michael of Kent fly to Pisa looking a little overdressed. Photo Mail online

Prince and Princess Michael of Kent fly to Pisa looking a little overdressed.
Photo Mail online

On the subject of flying to and from London, my man was joined by Prince and Princess Michael of Kent on his return flight to Pisa on Friday.  Now it was quite obvious that the Prince did not know the rules when flying in a lower class than he had become  accustomed to.  He had arrived at the front of the plane at the same time as the other ‘priority passengers’ and decided that he preferred the front  aisle seat to the one he had been allocated.  However, passengers are allocated seat numbers and when the chap arrived who had paid for and booked that seat, the Prince was asked to move!  Oh dear, but then the chap was a regular, always sat there and knew his rights!

The lovely little caffe bar, at Terra Viva, in Poggibonsi, with the shop beyond. Photo J Finnigan

The lovely little cafe bar, at Terra Viva, in Poggibonsi, with the shop beyond.
Photo J Finnigan

On Thursday, I popped down to Poggibonsi to visit ‘Terra Viva,’ a vegetarian shop and cafe bar, as I particularly wanted to buy some vegan margarine to make some stuffing balls.  This is a new recipe that I found on the vegan website, so I thought I would try it out in plenty of time for Christmas.  ‘Terra Viva’  is a treasure trove for vegans, fresh organic fruit & veg and a kitchen that serves up vegan lunches.  They also sell lovely perfumed oils, candles and mini water fountains set in crystal.  I had a caffe latte there made with organic coffee beans and rice milk – it was surprisingly delicious!  Whilst we are not fully vegan (I adore cheese and cream) I would like to be and we do have some vegan friends to cook for.  I have also been reading up on vegan dishes and its amazing how creative one can be without dairy produce, so I must have a go.  If anyone can recommend some good ideas for a vegan Christmas, do let me know.

And how is the virtually challenged, but gorgeous Silvio Berlusconi doing?  I’ll just go and check the latest news and come back to you.  Poor old SB,  the news is not good.  He must feel like he’s walking trough a wind tunnel, one step forward and two back.  It seems the courts are now claiming that SB “gathered women together at his Milan mansion last January,” then they suggested that “he paid off the would-be show girls with 2,500 euros each a month in return for giving almost identical testimonies  in court, playing down the sexually charged nature of his ‘bunga bunga’ parties!”  Oh dear, they are also claiming that “many of these women lived in apartments owned by SB, wore gifted jewelry and drove cars given to them as birthday presents!”  You don’t say!  Well, of course SB has responded  saying that “it was simply in his nature to try to help people in need.” Well bless his warm and generous heart….

Well, enough of that, it’s now December 1st and everything is getting very Christmasy! I must go and get the Christmas box out of the storeroom and check the state of the crushed decorations and wrapping paper.  Then off to lunch at one of our lovely local ristorante.

Book Cover for 'My Father, The Assassin'

Book Cover for ‘My Father, The Assassin’

Have a great week and don’t forget to check out your Christmas books, especially ‘My Father, the Assassin’ by J W Finnigan on http://www.amazon.uk (eu or com) and at http://www.goodreads.net where you can download an e- book at a discounted price!  Enjoy…

Amore June x

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A Roaring Log Fire and Looking Back Fifty Years, in Beautiful Tuscany

Posted in Life, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on November 25, 2013| 1 Comment »

Benvenuto to all my lovely loyal and new followers,

Last Wednesday our legna (firewood) was delivered by our local man in his Ape (pronounced Apay), my man bought some rods and a brush and he swept the chimney on Thursday morning.  My man enjoys this kind of thing, but the brush was too large for the last quarter of the chimney and a very red-faced, puffing ex-commando, uncharacteristically admitted defeat.  “Virtually nothing has come down, so I’ll dash to Certaldo and get a smaller brush” he announced.  However, it was 12.35 when he left on his ten minute journey and yes, you guessed right, the ferramenta had closed at 12.30 for pranzo (lunch).  So we agreed that a three-quarter clean was probably good enough and lit the fire that day.  Thank god we were right and what a pleasure it was to have a roaring fire, on that dark cold evening.

Alessandro and his hand-made Samurai Armour. Photo J Finnigan

Alessandro and his hand-made Samurai Armour.
Photo J Finnigan

On Friday we collected my black leather handbag from ‘La Rapida 2’ in central Certaldo, where it was being mended.  I must introduce you to the handsome Alessandro Barozzini, who not only mends shoes, boots and other leather things, he makes the most amazing things in leather and metal.  Alessandro is a dashing thirty-six year old with a history of fighting in ‘Medieval Costume reenactments’ and most of his creations are linked to battle dress.  He is also writing a book, very slowly, about the history of fighting.  Of course my man is also an expert on such things and the conversation became quite involved and lengthy.

Autumn flowers, , on the Bougainvillea. Photo J Finnigan

Autumn ‘flowers’, at the end of November, on the Bougainvillea.
Photo J Finnigan

Despite the cold damp weather, the climbing Bougainvillea in the garden seems to think it is early autumn and is still full of bright pink blooms.  Also, the pepper plants are still fruiting in abundance.  However, tomorrow we will have to cover a number of potted plants as the temperature is dropping fast.  There is also snow on the distant mountains.

Last week the world remembered the assassination of JFK and the following day the UK celebrated fifty years of Radio One.  I can tell you that on both these days, fifty years ago, I was tuning in my new transistor radio (then called a tranny, until the word was pinched by a certain section of the human race) on my bedroom windowsill in Devon, England.  Despite being only twelve, I can remember the shock of JFK’s death as he was hugely popular then.  However, the launch of Radio One by Tony Blackburn was so exciting that the JFK thing was made a little less awful.  Prior to this, I used to sit on top of my mother’s upright piano and glue myself to the old wireless there, which picked up Radio Luxemburg and the pirate ship Radio Caroline.   Radio One was to be a huge influence on the 1960’s and we used to tune in every weekend for Alan (pop-pickers) Freeman’s top twenty hits.  A little later, Top of the Pops was launched on TV and the  radio Disc Jockies all took their turns in presenting the latest bands and pop singers.  Ultimately, the DJ’s became celebrities too.

Silvio addresses new young recruits to his party Forza Italia. Photo AP/Mauro Scrobogna, Lapresse.

Silvio addresses new young recruits to his party Forza Italia.
Photo AP/Mauro Scrobogna, Lapresse.

And so to the dashing, Silvio Berlusconi.  SB addressed a group of new young members to his party Forza Italia , yesterday, telling them that the vote to remove him from parliament is tantamount to a government coup and was based on “an incredible verdict, absolutely unfounded, used to lay the groundwork of the political murder of the centre-right leader.”  The charismatic seventy-seven year old, said he would not ask for a pardon, but that President Giorgio Napolitano should concede him one on his own volition and called the sentence, reduced by an amnesty to one year performing social service, “a humiliation”.   Now let’s read that again.  Did he not  just ask for a pardon, if indirectly, or I am a imagining things?  And just a footnote, we hear that SB and his new ‘wife’ are sleeping in separate beds!  Life is tough being a billionaire.

Well, we are off to ‘C’era una Volta’ for lunch today.  Good Tuscan cooking and popular with the locals.  Visit http://www.ristorante-ceraunavolta.com

'My Father, The Assassin' By June Finnigan

‘My Father, The Assassin’
By June Finnigan

Have a great week and don’t forget to check out my current thriller, ‘My Father, the Assassin’,  on http://www.amazon.co.uk (eu or com),  http://www.goodreads.com or http://www.firstchapters.net

Amore June x

PS I am hard at work on the sequel, ‘The Bolivian Connection’ which should be published in the spring.

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‘The Peasants are Revolting’ in Beautiful Tuscany

Posted in Life, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on November 17, 2013| 2 Comments »

Welcome to all my new and loyal followers,

Sunset over Geneva on the mans flight home. Photo P Finnigan

Sunset over Geneva on the mans flight to London.
Photo P Finnigan

At 7am sharp on Saturday, the hunters started shooting in the valley below our villa.  Fortunately, my man was traveling from London that day, because he had stayed over on Friday night with a ticket to watch rugby at Twickenham.  However, Sunday morning when he most needed a lie in, the shooting started again at the same time.  My man groaned, turned over in bed and said “The bloody peasants are revolting.”  I said, “don’t worry I have a cunning plan.”  But that’s my secret.

Farty Barty exhausted after laying the table. Photo J Finnigan

Farty Barty exhausted after laying the table.
Photo J Finnigan

Then the cat fight started, so I clambered out of bed to check on Farty Barty who had stayed out all night.  Black Cat, a big local tom, was standing on Barty’s favourite perch over the orange trees staring down into the orchard, so I opened the window clapped loudly and shouted ‘vai’.  The horrid cat looked angrily back at me and then casually climbed down and waddled off.  This then leaves you thinking, ‘Oh god I hope Barty is alright’.  Well of course he was fine and strolled in an hour later saying ‘feed me’!  Meanwhile my man is mumbling, “Are you trying to wake me up?”  Then at eight o’clock it’s the rumbling of tractor and trailer as Alessandro arrives with his team of Romanians (I think) to finish the olive picking.  So, despite it being Sunday we were off for coffee at nine!

The good news this week is that I went to Sandra’s new Hair Salon which, is very nice and girlie, with a beautiful mural of Audrey Hepburn on the wall.  I took Sandra a present and her mother & mother-in-law were there to greet the ‘famous English writer’, warmly shaking my hand and kissing my cheeks.  Sandra is quite rightly very proud of her new salon, and took two hours doing my hair instead of the rushed hour and a half at the old place.

Yesterday morning I dropped down to Certaldo, very slowly, as an old boy was driving his invalid carriage along the white line in the middle of the main road.  Now thinking about this, it’s possible that he thought there was room to pass him on either side of the road, however, I felt that the wind of my car might topple him over.    I followed him for half a kilometre with my heart in my mouth, praying that nobody overtake me and not see him.  So I put my hazards on.  Then a truck came round the bend towards us and the old boy casually swerved to the right, then returned to his central position immediately afterwards!

Paintings on wood from the Doggy Charity sale only 5 Euros each! Photo P Finnigan

Paintings on wood from the Doggy Charity sale only 5 Euros each!
Photo P Finnigan

There is always a fruit, veg and plant market on Saturdays in Certaldo, however, this time there were around fifty stalls selling home-made chocolates!  Dear god, how can one possibly eat sensibly in this sweet toothed country!  I was also really pleased to see a Doggy Charity in the community hall,  where I bought two wood paintings and a tray.  My sister-in-law would have loved it there, as she is brilliant at spotting good labels in jumble sales and then selling them on E-Bay.  Sadly, I rarely see any charity shops or sales in our bit of Tuscany, whereas, England is overrun with them.

I am really pleased to tell you that Laura’s Alimentari/bar in Fiano is open again.  Laura & Benedetta had both been down with the same virus, so all is back to normal.  Signor Rotund was delighted to see my man back and Italy has just beaten Fiji at Rugby, so that’s more good news.  I had a conversation with Benedetta yesterday morning and she said in English “this is your break”.  so I tried to explain that in English one normally takes a ‘break’ say mid-morning, or at least after having worked for a couple of hours and that I was taking my caffè latte before starting work.  It was then around 9am or 8am UK time.  Of course, Benedetta and her mother start at six thirty, so for her it was already mid-morning, so then the conversation got a bit confusing!  So I also explained that it was important for me to ‘Uscire’ (go out) each morning, otherwise one could go ‘stir crazy’.  Try and translate that one!  However, she understood the phrase only too well and finished the sentence for me with a big grin on her face!

Silvio & Angelino Alfano in happier times. Photo BBC News Europe

Silvio & Angelino Alfano in happier times.
Photo BBC News Europe

And so to the successful survival of our heart-throb, Silvio Berlusconi.  SB has now formerly re-launched Forza Italia.  A supporter commented, ‘We could do with at least three Silvios in government, he’s the only man capable of restoring this county’s prosperity!’.  Well, it’s hard to recall a time of prosperity over the last  twenty years, but hey ho.  Meanwhile, SB was ‘in a lot of pain’ over the break away of his former right hand man, Angelino Alfano, who has formed a new faction of dissidents.  I say, never mind SB, the girlies will still support you, anyway who wants a new leader who always looks as if he’s sucking gobstoppers!

Well, time to go and put on the lipstick and head out for lunch at ‘La Gramola’ in Tavernelle.  If anyone is interested, the food is really good and they specialise in gluten-free, which is great for me.  Visit http://www.gramola.it

Have a great week.

Amore June x

PS You can now find me and my novel ‘My Father, The Assassin’ on http://www.goodreads.com, http://www.firstchapters.net and of course on Amazon.  Enjoy!

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Yet another Gorgeous Autumn Week, and a Nasty Shock, in Beautiful Tuscany

Posted in Life, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on November 10, 2013| 2 Comments »

Benvenuti to all my loyal and new followers

My normal hair colour on the left - no, not the right! How dare you... photo P Finnigan

My normal hair colour on the left – no, not the right! How dare you…
photo P Finnigan

You may ask, what could be so terrible in this beautiful little bit of Chianti, that it could put me into a state of shock?  Well, all you girlies will understand when I tell you, that to lose your personal hairdresser of eight years, suddenly and inexplicably, and no way of knowing where she has gone, is one terrible blow!  The girls in the salon ‘claimed’ not to know, so my man and I set out to track her down.  Once when Sandra had gone on holiday, one of the other girls dyed my hair and it was an absolute disaster.  I have been dying my hair various shades of red ever since I turned seventeen, but this colour was a violent orange!  Immediately afterwards, I was meeting my man at the station cafe in Certaldo and he saw me from half a mile away.  As regards sitting with me, well, you can imagine his discomfort.  Now my man likes me to be happy and if I am a little down, he will offer to pay for me to have a pedicure & manicure as this always gives me a lift.  Beautiful hair and nails are at the top of my list, oh and my man’s happiness as well of course.  So he enquired at Bar Italia, and Vanya rather awkwardly on account of her being the sister of the salon owner next door, told him that Sandra was opening her own salon next to the photographers!  My man does have a way with girlies, particularly pretty ones.  We found the shop and the opening date was the ninth of November, and I am about to ring for an appointment!  Hurrah!

Olives ready for picking. Photo J Finnigan

Olives ready for picking.
Photo J Finnigan

Back here at the villa, Alessandro the local contadino and his crew, started at seven this morning on the olive picking.  A couple of hours later it started to rain so they all rushed for cover.  At twelve thirty the sun came out and it was perfect for returning to the harvest.  But no, this is Italy and it was time for pranzo (lunch) so they all went off until two o’clock.  By this time heavy dark clouds were building up again!

Farty Barty guards the villa on top of the trellis over the Orange Trees. Photo J Finnigan

Farty Barty guards the villa on top of the trellis over the Orange Trees.
Photo J Finnigan

Meanwhile, great excitement as we manage to get fat Farty Barty into his cage and then to the vet in Poggibonsi.  He was there for his inoculation and I confess that I tucked his tail between his legs so that our lovely lady vet was not reminded that he still has his vital bits.  He was passed as ‘fighting fit’ which will be very important for him over the next couple of months.

Lemon Tree Blossoms after the rain Photo J Finnigan

Lemon Tree Blossoms after the rain
Photo J Finnigan

In the garden the Bouganvillea, climbing one of the cypress trees, is looking amazing and in mid-November is acting like its spring.  Also, the potted lemon trees are bursting with heavily perfumed blossom! Gorgeous.

Earlier in the week my man, also known as Nonno, was dedicated the school run to Staggia and Siena to collect the grandchildren and take them home.  Our daughter has had to go to England to do some PR business and her man needed to be away for the day seeing a garden design client near Lucca.  Nonno took the granddaughter for a strawberry & hazelnut gelato and then collected the grandson from Siena and talked rugby all the way home, as one does.  Our boy is currently doing trials for Tuscany under fourteens and he not only looks like a young Jonny Wilkinson, he plays like him too.  We are so proud!

Back in our local village of Fiano, I decide to visit our lovely Dottore Flavio with some test results.  I arrived and realised that I had left the results at home, so we talked about rock music instead.  Before this I had managed to leave my sunglasses in the Cartolibreria and Milko’s mother had handed them to the local baker, who then took them to the cafe bar.  Don’t ask!   All the talk is currently about why Laura’s Alimentari/ Bar which has been closed for three days with a sign on the door saying ‘malattia’, however,  nobody knows which member of the family is ill!

And so to the gorgeous Silvio Berlusconi.  Poor SB.  He is claiming that the whole world is against his family and is treating them like jews under Hitler.  This is not the first time that he has courted controversy with references to World War Two.  Mind you, you can’t always believe everything you read in the paper.   I just spotted in the Independent, quote: ‘In August Silvio Berlusconi was convicted for a 7.3 million tax fraud vomited between 1994 & 1998.’  Yes really, their actual words.  This makes me feel a little better because readers have spotted a typo in my novel!  I challenge you to find it and I will send you a signed copy of the book.

Well, enough of that.  Time for a nice aperitivo with my man.

Salute June x

PS You can now find me and ‘My Father, The Assassin’ on http://www.goodreads.com, http://www.firstchapters.net and of course on Amazon.  Enjoy!

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October into November and Lovely Balmy Weather in Beautiful Tuscany

Posted in Life, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on November 4, 2013| 4 Comments »

"Read my lips, I am not fat!"

Farty Barty – “Read my lips, I am not fat, I can still see my paws!”
Photo J Finnigan

It’s hard to believe that we are already into November, particularly as the days have been really balmy over the last week.  We are still enjoying lunches outside on the upper terrace and marvelling at the peace and quiet after the vendemia (grape harvest).  The olive picking has now really got going and it has been an unusual year with both harvests so close together.  Farty Barty, the cat, is getting far too plump as he builds his winter coat and fat layers.  In no time at all he will be off courting and running himself ragged again.  Yes, I know, at six years of age, he still has his vital bits.  The problem is, whenever we try to trap him in his cage, he  knowingly disappears off into the wild for four or five days!  Now my man feels that, at such a mature age a male’s important bits should be left well alone!

Orange harvest from the orchard. Photo P Finnigan

Orange harvest from the orchard.
Photo P Finnigan

The garden continues to amaze us with new growth on many of the flowering plants and shrubs.  The potted lemon trees are sporting autumn blossoms and the oranges from the orchard are huge and juicy.  The man is very happy, of course, because there is still plenty to do outside.  In addition to this, we are decorating the spare bedroom for our discerning friends & family that will be here before and over Christmas.  These things may not be exciting to you, however, my man and I spend a lot of hours each week doing brain work, so it is a joy to turn one’s attention to practical stuff.

Back at the Laura’s bar/alimentari in Fiano, Tuesday was a day for the locals to burst into song.  It was a case of the conversation suddenly inspiring a song (mostly Italian) and short bursts of pop, rock or ballads were sung with gusto.  I threw in a few English lyrics and it was great fun!

Giovana and Vittorio's memorial. Photo P Finnigan

Giovana and Vittorio’s memorial.
Photo P Finnigan

Friday was a festa (All Saints Day/Day of the Dead) and Halloween to you.  The churchyards are now full of fresh flowers  and we particularly like to visit Giovanna & Vittorio’s memorial in Luccardo Alto, which has hand painted likenesses on the wall.  if you have never visited an Italian churchyard, you really must.  Each dearly departed has a photograph, and at night lovely little lamps let out a warm glow.   Laura’s bar was closed that day, so we had morning coffee outside Bar Piazzetta and soaked up the glorious sunshine.  Reading the paper there, we discover that Empoli, a town about half an hour away, has a Sherlock Holmes Society.  How amazing is that?  This is an all Italian group of people who just adore S.H!

On Sunday we went to Montespertoli and, whilst enjoying our aperitivo in the Piazza, we met Rhett & Ginger, two lovely American ladies who were on holiday.  Girls, if you are reading this, we hope you enjoy my book and the rest of your holiday!  And so to Sunday lunch.

Gianluccas brings our antipasti. Photo J Finnigan

Gianluca brings our antipasti.
Photo J Finnigan

I have been meaning to introduce you to Gianluca who is a waiter at ‘C’era una Volta’ in Luccardo.  Gianluca has been a temporary member of staff for around eleven years, as he is really a perpetual student of History.  He is also very charming to girlies of all ages and speaks English, French, German and Spanish.  We are very fond of him, however, he loves to stop and chat to us at some length, despite shouts from his boss Paolo to get on with serving the customers!  You could say that he likes to perform for his favourite customers, which regularly gets him into trouble!  He is off to Cuba next week with his mates, and asked us for all the words for a joint!  Did he mean a smoke or a seedy bar?  We did our best to help.

Whilst the storms have abated, we are still seeing the after effects and a busy B road near Montespertoli has subsided.  I know I mention this quite often,

Road subsidence near Montespertoli. Photo la Republica

Road subsidence near Montespertoli.
Photo la Republica

however, you need to travel these roads regularly to appreciate the precarious state of shifting land around us.  I won’t bore you too much with stories about Italian drivers, but this morning driving along the two kilometre stretch of strada bianca from our villa to the main road, we had to break three times as to avoid oncoming vehicles cutting bends at speed, over seriously eroded surfaces!  Then we were overtaken by an elderly Signora, on a blind bend and it is a single track road!  Enough of that, but sometimes one has to rent one’s feelings!

I have just checked on the latest news for the gorgeous Silvio Berlusconi.  Well, golly gosh, bunga-bunga girl Marythell Polanca has claimed that SB married his overage fiance Francesca Pascale three weeks ago, in a private chapel at his home!  Francesca is currently seeking 10 million euros damages after a TV station broadcast claimed that, according to a Bulgarian Actress, she was a lesbian!  Meanwhile, SB has managed to persuade the courts to reduce his alimony payments to his ex-wife by half.  The poor wretch is now having to manage on only 1.2 million euros a month!   So, nothing really sensational on Silvio’s front then.

Enough for now.  I really must get on with the day job and do a bit of business.  Please get in touch, and if you have read my current book, do leave a review on Amazon or Goodreads.  Thank you.

Amore June x

PS You can now find me and ‘My Father, The Assassin’ on http://www.goodreads.com, http://www.firstchapters.net and of course on Amazon.  Enjoy!

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Autumn Colours and a Tea Party in Beautiful Tuscany

Posted in Life, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , on October 22, 2013| 2 Comments »

Benvenuti to all my new and loyal followers

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Autumn Vines next to the Strada Bianca
Photo P Finnigan

As I prepare to send you this blog, heavy rain is hammering the windows and flood water is seeping under the kitchen door!  Farty Barty, the cat, warned me that a storm was on the way by burying his face in his cushion and refusing to go out last night.  Just after midnight the thunder started to roll, quickly changing into deafening thunderclaps directly overhead, followed by torrential rain.  Shutters banged and clattered in the easterly winds and then the electricity died.  When we have storms in Tuscany they are massive and lightning forks can take out whole trees in one mighty flash.  Flood water cascades down the hills taking surface soil and plants with it, completely changing the landscape.  You may recall that I have mentioned the shifting land, crumbling inland cliffs  and landslides. Often roads are blocked and not cleared for several days.  It is now eleven thirty in the morning and the storm continues unabated.  I dare not think about whether the strada bianca (white track) from our villa to the main road will be passable when the sky eventually clears!  Worst of all, I have had to make my own coffee this morning as I cannot get to the cafe bar in Fiano!

GiGi and her surprise birthday desert at Osteria La Sosta di Pio. Photo J Finnigan

GiGi and her surprise birthday desert at Osteria La Sosta di Pio.
Photo J Finnigan

But hey ho, let’s look back at what has been a glorious week, which included three lunches in our sunny garden, three at local restaurants and only one in our kitchen.  At the Osteria La Sosta di Pio near Barberino Val d’Elsa, my mother-in-law, known as Gi-Gi, on account of her being a Great-Grandma, was presented with a surprise birthday desert with candle and ‘Happy Birthday’ was played in English over the loud-speakers.  Her little face lit up as she remembered, once again, that it was her eighty-eighth birthday!  Every ten minutes or so, her short-term memory loss kicks in, so we had to constantly remind her what day it was.  Bless her.  In the afternoon four generations of Finnigans descended on the villa for afternoon tea and birthday cake.  GG flew back to England on Sunday with my man and may or may not remember her visit!

Meanwhile, back at our local village of Fiano, the tourists had thinned to a trickle.  The unplayed and crushed conkers in the piazza had mostly been cleared away and the horse-chestnut trees were dressed in beautiful shades of red and gold.  Offset these against a row of dark cyprus trees and a bright blue sky; very breathtaking.  As we walked to the alimentari /bar the intoxicating perfume of red wine wafted over us from a passing truck, loaded high with grape skins.  We arrived for coffee feeling very light-headed.

main via in Certaldo alto oct 2013

Certaldo Alto
Photo P Finnigan

Funiculare ride down to Certaldo Basso

View from the funiculare train down to Certaldo
Photo P Finnigan

On Saturday morning we took GG to Certaldo Alto, which is the centro storica (historical centre) of Certaldo perched high on its own steep hill.  We traveled up on the little funiculare train packed like sardines with Italians, their children, nonnas and cameras.  We visited the gallery and were delighted to meet the artist Walter Sarfatti.  His work is rather special as he produces ‘original prints’ from zinc plates by the process of etching.  No one print is exactly the same as it varies according to the colour and the density of the ink chosen by the artist.  We are now the proud owner of a small masterpiece.  You may like to visit http://www.sienaart.org/walter-sarfatti .

And so to the Italian Stallion Silvio Berlusconi.  Yes, as anticipated, he has been thrown out of political office for two years. Can he still remain ‘high profile’ during this period?  We do hope so.  Whilst his love life continues to be fraught with scuttlebutt, it is very likely.  Watch this space.

Well, I have finished this blog by hand as the storm is still raging.  I am reluctant to go on-line as I have first hand experience of a lightening bolt hitting the electricity wires at our old home and destroying the TV and my lap-top!  I may have to send this tomorrow….

Heres hoping you are having better weather.

Amore June x

PS You can now find me and my book, ‘My Father, the Assassin’, on http://www.Goodreads.com as well as http://www.firstchapters.net and of course Amazon.  Happy reading.

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