Welcome and Benvenuti to all my Lovely Followers around The World,
Well, it’s a beautiful sunny Saturday morning but very cold. Hopefully, if we sit in the right spot in the garden, the sun will be hot enough to enjoy an aperitivo before lunch and we are well stocked with local wines, so no worries there. Meanwhile, I’m getting on with writing to you.
January is an interesting month for events. Every year you will spot the male fashionisti in Florence and particularly around the Fortezza da Basso, flaunting themselves at Pitti Uomo in anything from very classy suits and overcoats to gaudy excentric outfits. These guys just love to be noticed and photgraphed! I had a big choice of fotos to show you and finally decided on this one borrowed from The Florentine and taken by Marco Badiani. Elton John would fit right in! You will find lots more at http://www.theflorentine.net
As most of you know one of my indulgences is Handbags, made in Tuscany of course. I spotted these lovely bags hand crocheted and apparently available locally. But the website does not seem to offer on-line shopping. I suggest you visit Le Kosette on Facebook and if you find a way to buy on-line, let me know! Otherwise, there is an email address and a chat line, probably only in Italian I suspect, I might try it later.
Meanwhile, back here in our little bit of the Chianti Hills, we were very sad to say addio to our once beautiful Ash Tree, which finally gave up the ghost just over a year ago. It has now been chopped down and there are various ideas floating around for adapting the remaining stump. We had spent many happy shady hours under it’s branches, it will be sadly missed. We also have the piece from above the stump, included in the foto, which I am convinced could be turned into a beautiful carving of some kind. I would love to have your ideas, drop me a line.
‘So what are the rules for your bit of Tuscany now?’ I hear you ask. Somewhat confusing, I reply. We are currently a yellow zone, white being no restrictions and up to red being total lockdown. In yellow It’s very important to be fully vaccinated and to be able to prove this by showing your ‘Super Green Pass.’ This applies to virtually everywhere; restaurants, caffes, shops, buses & trains and the new white FFP2 mask must be worn in all public places. and, It is likely to become mandatory for the over 50’s to be vaccinated soon. But things can change with little notice, so watch this space!
But Life eeez good, Life eeez now! Our Brick kitchen floor has finally been fixed, so less chance of crashing down into the gymnasium below! It’s Certaldo Red Onion season and Paolo at C’era Una Volta Ristorante is serving up hot Zuppa di Ribolita! Paolo’s Ribolita is like a rich tasty vegetable & bean soup, thickened with stale bread. My man loves it!
OK, time to think about lunch, or better still, an aperitivo! I hear my man already busy in his kitchen; I have to ask permission to enter the room these days! Actually, I love the fact that he learnt to cook during my recovery and he wants to continue too!
So, may I wish you all a splendid week, stay safe and come to Tuscany as soon as you are able!
Salute June x
Visit my website at http://www.junefinnigan.website
Now, this is a great time of year for getting out and about, particularly visiting museums and art galleries. There are less tourists about, so we can enjoy a rather more pleasant experience, particularly in Florence. Il Museo Galileo, which is dedicated to the great man, is an amazing place for children and adults alike. Fantastic collections of antique scientific instruments and some great hands on experiences for those budding scientists or physicists. I love this sort of stuff. And, it’s only a short walking distance from the Uffizi Gallery and Palazzo Vecchio, beside the River Arno! It’s also a good excuse for going to Florence for lunch! Lets go together! 
In the evenings we are currently tucked in with the log fire and the DVD player. We have been wading through the whole of The Sweeny series from the 1970’s. A reader recently asked me what did I watch on TV? I rarely watch TV here in Italy, however, I love the TV series Don Matteo; it’s about the only thing that will encourage me to switch the television on! Terence Hill plays the local priest who has a shoulder to cry on and a clever detective brain for helping solve crimes. A new series has just started, hurrah! I also want to mention that Terence has made a new film in memory of his side-kick actor Bud Spencer. It is called ‘Il Mio nome e Thomas’ (My Name is Thomas) and was shown on Rai 1 television on New Year’s Eve. I am checking out the availibility of streaming or dvd purchase. I’ll let you know. Can’t believe that Terence is 80 now! And, he is Italian, so I have nominated him Senior Hunk of the Month! Foto Wikipedia
Yesterday was a festa because of Befana, the friendly witch who arrives to check on the childrens’ behavour over the festive period. If they have been good they get a present, if not a lump of coal. I can’t honestly say that I have ever seen a child holding a lump of coal or sporting black hands in evidence of being naughty. Befana also celebrates the end of the festive period, so life can return to normal! Phew.
Well, in many ways it’s good to return to work and to see all the shops and restaurants opening normally. This week we celebrate men’s fashion with Pitti uomo and you will see some amazing sites in Florence from today through to Friday. All the male fashionisti are strutting around the streets, trying to outdo each other. But oh, they have such style. Only in italy! Of course the fashion shops are open now too, so we have to go!
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. 
The next day I thought, hurrah, we can get back to normal, ditch or plant the Christmas trees that many of us are allergic to, the shops will all be open and the post office will be functioning. How, after nearly fourteen years living in this beautiful bit of the world, could I forget that Befana also heralds the start of a week’s holiday for thousands of Italians, when many shoot off to ski destinations! Last Monday I found a note in my post box, telling me that a long overdue Christmas parcel was waiting for me at Certaldo Post Office. So I waited in the usual queue and arrived at the counter feeling pretty relaxed. “Sorry Signora” the male counter assistant said, in Italian of course, “The sorting office is still on holiday, you will have to come back tomorrow!” Take note, the date was 8th January….. I took a deep breath and walked back out into a hail storm and did not have a brolly with me! OK, grumble over, I went back the next day and got my parcel. Foto La Repubblica
And on the subject of skiing, you would love the Dolomites in Northern Italy this time of year. Very crowded mind, although from next week onwards most of the Italian tourists may have finally returned to work. Meanwhile, a little further north in Austria, our brilliant female ski team have just won the World Championship and good for them I say! Are you a keen skier? I have always wanted to ski, but never got round to it. Too many other priorities I guess. My man skied in Norway with the military; when you next see him, ask him about his experiences, he loves to talk about his wooden skis!
Junefinnigan's Weblog 