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Posts Tagged ‘Rock Concert’

Buon Giorno Ragazzi & a warm welcome to yet more Fabulous Followers,

Yes, summer has finally arrived here in Tuscany and what a relief it is.

2012-08 Upper terrace Pino-BacioToday I am talking about Fiano’s Preparations for Celebration and our local Characters, A Large American, Farty Barty, My Man & a Smashed Rear Windscreen, Silvio Berlusconi (yes him), our Rock Concert Rehearsal & ‘My Father, The Assassin’.

Our local village of Fiano is getting ready to celebrate La Festa di Prima Estate, basically the start of Summer.  Also, ’15 anni di Storia del G S Fiano con Cena in Piazza’, that  is 15 years of the History of Fiano with Supper in the Piazza on 21 June.  So it is all getting very hectic here.

A local character, who had best remain nameless, was telling us that a lovely lady in her sixties or seventies, who we see regularly, brought a large American into the Alimentare/Bar recently and now she is pregnant.  How recent this was, we are not sure, but she denies everything!  We are told lots of tall stories in Fiano….

I forgot to mention that whilst I was in England, my man had a little problem with Harry Honda the car.  A passing tractor managed to fire an old vine root, looking much like a fossilised dog’s head, straight through the rear windscreen! My man, sweating buckets and upping his blood pressure, chased the tractor across three large vineyards  waving the offending article above his head.  The driver calmly rang his boss who arrived, rang his own garage and arranged for the delivery of a new rear windscreen immediately!  This seemed too good to be true, but no, it was genuine and the new glass was fitted last Thursday at no cost!  However, we can hear lots of small pieces of glass rattling around inside the door.  Nothing a drop of Chianti won’t fix.

The offended vehicle and the offending article.

The offended vehicle the affending article, fossil thing

After two weeks of trying to catch Farty Barty the cat during vet opening hours,  we finally got him in the cage yesterday morning.   He always knows when something is up and has been arriving for food last thing at night!   He has now had his overdue jab, but looked very upset when the vet suggested snipping off his vital bits.   So, I doubt if we’ll see him again for at least five days when hunger will have him sneaking low profile into the kitchen at midnight!2012-07-30 18.47.48  My man has also been in defensive mode, clapping his hands over his own bits every time I pick up a kitchen knife or a pair of scissors!

I’ll be back in a minute;  I just want to check the latest on the gorgeous Silvio Berlusconi!  Mmmm, this will take a bit of reading, so I’ll  join my man for an aperitivo and come back later……….  Well hello again.   I’ve enjoyed a nice aperitivo & had lunch (pranzo) and can now tell you what is going on with our good friend Silvio.  I also visited his blog site and fan club site.  I’m sure he must visit the latter last thing every night so that he can feel loved and refreshed in the morning.  Well, the news from the courts is much the same; this time former dental hygienist, Nicole Minetti, claims she loved the ex-prime minister and never invited anyone to his Bunga Bunga parties.  Perhaps he was just after a good flossing!

Thursday evening was a final rehearsal for ‘The Rock Chick Band’s” concert party and despite my lack of practice, my voice seemed OK.  One high note was a bit difficult, however, Lorenzo the rhythm guitarist has an alto voice (or very tight jeans),  so worst ways he could cover for me!  We are getting very excited now, only two weeks to go and if you are in Tuscany and would like to come, email me at june.finnigan@virgin.net.

Well must go and plant some new rosemary and dead-head a few roses.  On the other hand, it might be aperitivo time again…..

have a great week and don’t forget to click top right of this page if you want to view or buy the book, ‘My Father, the Assassin’.

Ciao June x

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Ciao Ragazzi and a big welcome to all my new followers,

Today I am talking about my visit to England, Marketing ‘My Father, The Assassin’, Signing Autographs, Cuckoos, Giant Moths, Fungi, My Man Home Alone, Silvio Berlusconi (who?) and The Rock Concert.

Yesterday I returned from six days in England having left my man in charge of the villa and cat.  I am always homesick when away from Tuscany and the homecoming is always very emotional.  My man organized some lovely fizzy prosecco on the upper terrace and I started to unwind in no time.  It was a good week, meeting with new potential clients, promoting the book and seeing family & friends.  I particularly enjoyed handing my writer’s card to people on trains & planes and watching them immediatley download onto Kindles or order on-line direct from their phones – incredible!  This morning we went for our coffee fix at Fiano and was greeted by the lovely Laura & beautiful daughter Benedetta like a long lost friend.  Benedetta even asked me to sign her autograph book – wow!

Laura & Benedetta at the Alimentare/Bar in Fiano (not to be confused with the other bar in the piazza)

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My Man had quite an eventful time when I was away and talked a lot to Farty Barty the cat.  He also had a lengthy conversation with a giant moth that landed on his lap and stayed for ages. 

Giant Moth on the man’s trouser leg.

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Then he was visited by three cuckoos, which is extremely rare as they are very shy and usually alone, so he chatted with them.  Then he discovered the most amazing fungi in the garden and chatted with that.

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Finally, he resorted to taking a picture of his own reflection, but he’s OK now……

My man in reflective mood.

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Anyway, what is the latest from the hunky Silvio Berlusconi?  You may be aware that he is being prosecuted for under age sex (he’s 76) and fraud, amongst other things.  He claims that he is being persecuted by by Italy’s magistrates.  On Saturday he turned a ‘political’ rally in Brescia into a protest against the Italian judiciary.  Karima el-Mahrong now claims that she never slept with Silvio when she was seventeen and that he gave her money purely out of the desire to help her build a life for herself….. Well, just look at that face below, I wouldn’t hesitate to buy a used car from him or accept a donation to further my career.  What do you think?

Silvio in Brescia

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And finally, I really must get on with some singing practice as Stefano, my lead guitarist and mentor, wants to do a rehearsel on Thursday!   The Rock Chick Band’s concert will be on the 22nd June, which is only three weeks away – fantastico.

Have a great week and ci vediamo la prossima weekend.

June xx

PS if you are in Fiano, you can buy my book from Milko’s Cartoleria or on-line by clicking the top right hand side of this page.  Enjoy! xx

 

 

 

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Ciao Ragazzi and all my New Followers – welcome,

Well, I am very excited and can’t wait to tell you about my amazing book sales here in Tuscany.  I am also going to be talking about Milko, Silvio Berlusconi (remember him?), The Rock Chick Band, Cold Winds, Zucchini Plants and Snails and going to England.

Firstly, I am delighted that Milko the owner of our local Cartoleria (stationers) has already sold two of my novels ‘My Father, The Assassin’.  One to a lady from Finland and the other to our local doctor, who speaks a little English.  As the book is only currently in English, this is quite an achievement!  So well done Milko!  We saw a couple of German tourists today, so hopefully more English speaking people will be passing through soon!

The very handsome Milko and his book display in Fiano!

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Things are hotting up with our plans for the next Rock Chick Band concert in our lovely garden.  My lead guitarist and mentor, Stefano Bartalesi, is checking that I am practicing and we will be having a rehearsal with the two backing singers and rhythm guitarist in two weeks time.  My alarm goes at noon everyday to remind me to do a half hour singing practice before pranzo (lunch), however,  I am so side tracked by work and book marketing that I don’t always achieve this.  But don’t tell Stefano.  My plan is to practice like crazy during the two weeks run up and to soothe my throat with some lovely Chianti from Claudio Corbinelli’s vineyard!  If you are in Tuscany on the 22nd June and would like an invite to this private concert party, email me at june.finnigan@virgin.net.

So what is the latest from the gorgeous Silvio Berlusconi?  Mama Mia, Ilda Boccassini, prosecutor, has been sent threats including a letter with two bullets, her office said.  Well, what can we say, Silvio has such a huge fan club that they could have come from a little granny or a seventeen year old dancer, who knows?  Silvio claims he is the victim of a campaign by left-wing magistrates.  Look him in the eye and tell me what you think!

We have been coming up with all sorts of ways, short of stepping on them which sometimes cannot be avoided, to keep the snails off our zucchini (courgette) plants.  We collect bucket fulls and throw them, one at a time, in a gentle arc into the olive grove which gives them a second chance.  However, if you come out at dusk you will find them trooping back up to the garden in convoy.  Whilst the plants are small enough, we have them inside plastic bottles overnight and coffee dregs around the bases.  Please don’t suggest any chemical deterrents; our local plant shop gave me some crystals to sprinkle around and I was heartbroken to find the tiny plants eaten and the snails belly up!  Never again….

The weather has been wet, cold and windy, so my going to England tomorrow will not make any difference to my wardrobe.   Arrgh, you might say and I agree with you.  However, I must make an appearance from time to time and will be networking and promoting my company, http://www.hoareworth.com, whilst handing out lots of cards for ‘My Father, The Assassin’.  I read recently, that an American writer hit record novel sales because her husband was handing out cards on all his business trips!  My man (bless him) also does that, and I shall do the same this next week.  I will be back next Saturday so will send you my next post on Sunday 2nd June.

Have a great weekend.  June xx

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Bentornati Amici & Benvenuti to all my new readers,

It’s a glorious Saturday (Sabato) in our little bit of the Chianti and once again I am sitting in my studio writing to you.  A very warm welcome to all my new followers from WordPress, Twitter, Linked-In, Facebook and those lovely people I have met during the last week.  Today I am talking about The Rock Chick Band, Flowers (fiori), Farty Barty, Italian Gold Reserves, Large Ants, Enrico Letta(who?) and Silvio Berlusconi (remember him?).

Some of you will already be aware that my band, The Rock Chick Band, will be once again performing live on the 22nd June in our beautiful garden.  We have finalized the repertoire, ordered the wine and will have our first rehearsal in two weeks time.  If you are in Tuscany on that day and would like an invitation, send me an email to june.finnigan@virgin.net.   You will be made especially welcome!

Me and the Band.

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After a few showers of rain and sand from North Africa, the garden has erupted with colour.   I cannot wait to get on with more planting today as the weather is so beautiful.  Below is one example of all the gorgeous blooms in our garden and we are told that they are called ‘Fiore del sole” as they only open when the sun shines.

solefiori

And what about these Italian Gold Reserves then?  The World Gold Council has advised Italy to deploy its 2,000 tons of gold to break free of EMU austerity dictates.  What, only 2,000 tons?  I suggest that we all get shovels and start digging up all those pointless roundabouts that have mysteriously appeared over the last few years.  Why, you say?  Well, It has been whispered in certain bars that the lovely Silvio Berlusconi owns some of the land that these are sitting on….what better place??

In today’s paper we read that our handsome Mayor of Florence, Sig Renzi has been heaping praise on our new Prime Minister Sig Letta.  The only thing against him, he said, is the fact that he comes from Pisa!  Just like the old English rivalry between Lancashire and Yorkshire, the Fiorentini and Pisani are no different.

We have solved the mystery of the disappearing butter.   No not mice, Farty Barty our very naughty cat was spotted slinking away from the butter dish and pretending not to notice us.

And finally, if you are not already aware, we have some very large ants here.  Whilst trying to write in my studio earlier this week, this particularly persistant one kept jumping on me.  When I told my man that I was being jumped on, his reaction was ‘Oh, did you have an anticlimax then?’  Men….!

Buona Domenica x  Happy Sunday x

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