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Posts Tagged ‘Romantic thriller’

Singing Practice, Ten Minutes to Live and a Redstart in Beautiful Tuscany

Posted in Life, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , on May 13, 2014| 2 Comments »

Benvenuto to all my New and Loyal Followers

Over coffee in Fiano this morning my man let out a groan.  “Well, that just about sums up the Eurovision Song Contest!”  He thrusts La Nazione newspaper at me and there on the front page is the winner, a stunning drag queen in glittery dress, long dark wig and a full black beard…….mmmmm.  This is the sort of thing that makes front page news in Italy!

june at microphone

The Rock Chick Band Archive Photo

Yes, it’s that time of year again; the run up to my next Rock Concert.  This means lots of singing practice to get my croaking voice back into shape.  As a courtesy to my neighbours, I shut the windows and outer doors as the voice exercises I need to do, could have them ringing the police or ambulance if they were to hear me!  Meanwhile, my man goes out into the garden with Farty Barty the cat, or he shuts himself in his studio with his radio up full blast.  Now, I do not want you to think that my voice is not up to the challenge again.  Each year, it gets a little deeper which is apparently normal for aging Rock singers (e.g. Blondie), so I have to check with my lead guitarist that we are still using the correct keys.  We have added five new songs to the repertoire this year:  Paint it Black – Rolling Stones, Broken Crown – Mumford and Sons, If I needed Someone – Eric Clapton/George Harrison, Parisienne Walkways – Gary Moore/Phil Lynott and Woodstock – Mathews Southern Comfort.  My choice of songs are simply ones I love, I can manage to sing them and there are great instrumentals for an acoustic band and in particular, Stefano’s fabulous guitar playing.  If you would like a personal invite for the concert on 28th June in Tuscany, email june.finnigan@virgin.net

Earlier this week, my man and I went off to a posh clinic in Empoli, so that he could check out that all his vital organs were working OK.  I sat in a very nice waiting area, playing scrabble on my Kindle – as one does, and got chatting to a family who had taken a picture of a burning bus on the FPLI (the fast dual carriageway between Florence and Pisa).  Italians can be a bit on the gruesome side; just visit some of the religious art exhibitions or Greve in Chianti’s piazza for a nasty statue of a bleeding torso, to see what I’m talking about.  My man returned with an envelope containing pictures of his insides for taking to our local doctore, the rock music loving Flavio.  “Did you understand everything the specialist said?”  “I think so,” he smirked, “I may have a little stone on the kidney, which is nothing to worry about, or she gave me ten minutes to live…”  “Bastard” I hissed.

Back at Laura’s bar/alimentare in Fiano, there is a big stock of charcoal for the outside grills in all the local gardens.  This is also the time of year for the weekenders to arrive and to start firing up their barbies.  Our immediate weekend neighbours come up from Certaldo and cram themselves under a tiny car port to play ping-pong.  If I ever mention the Ping-Pong family, you will know who I mean.  Also new in the village, is a clever electronic hawk screeching machine which is designed to stop the birds nesting in the roof of the latest modern apartment building.  Amazingly, despite its volume, the locals continue their conversations as if it’s not happening! Oh yes, and our Moroccan street seller has brand new stock.  Everything appears to be in the original wrappers and not a clothes peg mark on anything!

Male Redstart Photo National Geographic

Male Redstart
Photo National Geographic

Yesterday, Sunday, we met with lovely friends for a cocktail in the piazza at Montespertoli.  She is a glamorous eighty-nine and looks twenty years younger and her toyboy husband (a world-renowned photographer) at only eighty-three, still looks as if he could return to the game of Calcio Storica (historical rugby) in Florence, without a problem.  She was telling me that as an English women in her twenties, she arrived in Milan to dance with a ballet troupe and never looked back.  A fascinating and relaxing get together indeed.  We returned to our garden to be greeted by our new resident Redstart which has been acting very friendly and curious, just like a Robin.

Silvio Berlusconi

Silvio looks enthusiastic as he arrives for his first day of Social Work. Photo Oliver Morin/AFP/Getty Images

Meanwhile, the undaunted Silvio Berlusconi has started his four hours a week community service at a home for Alzheimer’s patients near Milan.  He has apparently spent ten days learning about the disease and may even help with one to one feeding of patients.  This will be a challenge, according to the head of a hospice, as the patients often have to be reminded that they are eating.  SB said, “I think in the end I will stay longer than I have to – I have a big surprise ready!”  Mmmm, does he mean that he may forget to leave?  He may be trying to forget that his political party Forza Italia is only third in the running for the European elections; poor Silvio.

Well, I must forge on.  I have a column to write and a working week in the business to attend to.

Have a great week and do get in touch.

Amore June x

PS Son’t forget to visit my author site at http://www.amazon.com/author/junefinnigan or to read the first four chapters of ‘My Father, The Assassin’ go to http://www.firstchapters.net

 

 

 

 

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Easter Day, Stylish Outfits and the Invasion Starts in Beautiful Tuscany

Posted in Life, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on April 27, 2014| Leave a Comment »

Welcome to all my Loyal and New Followers

Fiorentino in strange crouching position. Photo Official Website

Fiorentina in strange crouching position.
Photo Official Website

Easter morning in our local village of Fiano and like every other self-respecting Italian, Laura has closed her bar/alimentari for the Festa.  So we repair to the other bar, Caffe La Piazzetta, in the piazza where it is sunny enough to sit outside and watch the world go by.  The village was very quiet, even subdued, then the man reminded me that the Fiorentina (Florence) football team lost their match the day before.  The football results always affects the mood in the village.

The tourist invasion starts at Easter and the advance guard were five Russian men at a nearby table.  I studied these characters and noted that the leader was a bit of a loudmouth.  The others consisted of a humorist, a silent old boy, an idoliser and a bored one.  The latter went into the bar and came out with some hair of the dog to try to liven things up.  I gazed around the piazza, which is really a car park.  The big horse-chestnut trees were sprouting their first blossoms and what with the wintered in brollies now being up, it was all very relaxing.  Then I saw my man stiffen as four aliens arrived in bright skin-tight dayglow outfits and oval hard hats, floating on bicycles.  Their strangely clad feet made tapping noises as they walked into the bar, to check which planet they had landed on.  They did not stay long, and left sucking on tubes stuck into plastic bottles.  My man shook his head, “Ha, look at that, only pansies have mudguards on the back of their bikes….”

Buratta con Verdura Grilliata

Buratta con verdure Grilliate

Later, over lunch at ‘C’era Una Volta’ in Lucardo, the ristorante is full.  Paolo had saved us our favourite corner spot so that we could people watch again.  “Gosh, look over there, the last time I saw an outfit like that it was worn by  a member of The Who Band in the early 70’s,” my man hooted.  He was right; a beautiful purple trouser suit with flared trousers, black shiny cuban heeled ankle boots and a matching scarf thrown around the neck.  Make-up had been carefully applied and the hair was big and sprayed carefully into place.  The eighty plus year old Nonna was stunning.   “To your left June…” my man was nudging me, “Those two are the Italian version of Absolutely Fabulous!”  I tried not to laugh out loud, as he was spot on again.  Patsy and friend (please remind me of the friend’s name) were posturing two tables down to my left.  Hair and faces were almost identical to the TV stars and the clothes were so seventies.  I was starting to really enjoy myself.  I dug into my wonderful dish of Buratta con verdure Grilliate and sighed with contentment.

Earlier, over cocktails in Montespertoli, we had spotted a thirty something male with a pony tail in silver lame suit and black silk scarf, several smart jacketed ladies in tight jeans, leopard skin stilettos and matching handbags.  And the Crew-Cut Family, all ladies and three generations walking in twos, arms linked with matching black crew-cuts.  The parade from church is always fascinating.

Easter Monday, the family invaded and our granddaughter stayed on for two nights.  The grandson was recovering from a bout of asthma, so went home with Mum and Dad.  He is fine now.  My Man went to London on the Tuesday so my beautiful nine-year old granddaughter and I, had some quality girls time and far too much chocolate!

Silvio gaffes again photo Huffington Post

Silvio gaffes again
photo Huffington Post

Oh dio, Silvio has gaffed again.  SB has provoked outrage, in suggesting that Germany did not acknowledge the existence of World War Two concentration camps!  Some say it was a swipe at his old foe Martin  Schulz, the German president of the European Parliament and the centre-left candidate to lead the EU Commission.  The two previously came head to head in 2003.  SB said that his own centre-right party would pick up around 20 percent support in the up and coming elections in May.  SB claimed that his original comments in 2003 were not meant to be insulting, suggesting that MS might like a part in a film, thinking of ‘Hogan’s Heros’ and the part of the stupid guard, Sergeant Schultz!  He had thought MS would have been flattered…….!  Oh Dio…….

So, its back to the drawing board for SB and the novel for me.  I would love to hear from you, so do drop me a line.  If you would like an invite to my Tuscan Rock Concert on 28 June email june.finnigan@virgin.net

Salute June x

ps visit my Amazon author page at http://www.amazon.com/author/junefinnigan

 

 

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The First Cuckoo, Barty to the Vet and a Snippet in Beautiful Tuscany

Posted in Life, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on April 7, 2014| 3 Comments »

Ciao to all my lovely Loyal and New Followers

The Common Cuckoo

The Common Cuckoo Photo Wikimedia

On the  first day of April, and right on cue, we heard the first Cuckoo of the year.  Then, on the way back from coffee a swallow swooped over us and out across the valley.  So we are now certain that spring has arrived.    Later, I was delighted to see two wood pigeons building a nest in one of the fir trees surrounding the villa.  I just love that sound; doo-do0 doo doo-doo, doo-doo doo doo-doo.  I rushed into the kitchen and found my man, “We are going to have babies!” I announced.  “I bloody well hope not, not at our age…! He groaned.  “No, no, baby wood pigeons silly!”  “Oh, of course, how did I not guess the first time, baby wood pigeons…” he sighed.

The stunning Copper Carnival, one of our new garden plants. Photo j Finnigan

The stunning Copper Carnival, one of our new garden plants.
Photo j Finnigan

Despite the weather warnings from the farmers, we have bought more plants for the garden pots at the market in Certaldo.  Our lovely plant lady popped in some freebies as well, as we are such good customers.  By next weekend we will be very ship-shape and ready to show off the garden in all its potted glory.

Meanwhile, I mentioned to my man that Farty Barty the cat was due for his first jab in April, and he had a swollen front knee.   He is very good at sensing when this is about to happen, will disappear for up to five days, and then come in starving in the evening when the vet is closed.  But this time we managed to fool him and got him off for the jab and some antibiotics on Friday morning!  The

Farty Barty preening after his visit to the vet. Photo J Finnigan

Farty Barty preening after his visit to the vet.
Photo J Finnigan

vet said, oh, but he’s not due for a jab until May.  “You’ve got your Marzo’s and Maggio’s confused again,”  my man groaned on the way home.  “And that swelling is no worse than ones he’s had before and we just got charged 30 euros for the visit!”  Then we went to the farmacia (chemist) for the antibiotics and they cost another 13,50 euros.  Meanwhile, Barty has disappeared without trace.  If you spot a grey tiger cat, who swaggers  like John Wayne, let me know.

Back in our local village of Fiano, Paolo from ‘C’era una Volta restaurant’ waltzed in to the bar (yes he has a funny sort of dancing walk) to buy his bread, looking very bronzatta after ten days lying on a beach somewhere in the Indian Ocean.  We are glad to see him back, as we have taken to having Sunday lunch there of late.  On Wednesday the Sister and Niece returned to England and were disappointed to have found him closed when they were here.

Last week I promised to let you have a snippet from my current novel ‘The Bolivian Connection’, which is in progress.  So, here it is:

Chapter two;  Joanna, our heroine,  is relaxing in her farmhouse garden in Devonshire with a glass of Pinot Grigio and her black Labrador Dippy…..

‘I do not know how long he had been standing there. I sensed him before I saw him. There had been no sound of a car or footsteps on the gravel drive. The air had become very still, just like the lull before a storm. The birds had stopped singing and the gentle breeze had gone. He moved then, reaching inside the gate to untie the string, his face breaking into a crooked smile. Dippy had not moved and neither did I.  My half-brother raised his hand in greeting and started walking slowly across the lawn towards me.  I had no idea who he was.  A youngish man, perhaps in his twenties, smart dark suit, black shirt, and matching tie. Shiny expensive black shoes, black hair greased flat to his head and curling at his neck. His crooked smile revealed a gold tooth and he looked foreign, possibly Spanish.’

Maybe a little tweaking, but hopefully that’s wetted your appetite and it also reminds me that its gone two o’clock and I’ve missed lunch……

So I’m off to have an aperitivo in the little bit of sunshine that is peaking through the heavy clouds.

Have a great week and I’ll update you on the continuing adventures of Silvio B, next time.

Amore June xx

PS Here is the link to my Amazon author page:

https://www.amazon.com/author/junefinnigan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Squeaky Tractors, Bonfires and Giant Emperor Moths in Beautiful Tuscany

Posted in Life, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on March 24, 2014| 2 Comments »

Benvenuto to all my loyal and new followers,

The valley below our villa Photo J Finnigan

The busy valley below our villa
Photo J Finnigan

“Did you call me to attest to your insanity?”  My man is staring up at me from the garden, whilst I am hanging out the studio window with a hoarse throat.  “No goddamnit” I croak, “I wanted you to remind me what it was you said to your London friend, when he asked you what ‘the sounds of Tuscany’ were.”  “Oh, yes, squeaky tractors of course.”  Well, it depends on the time of year, however, at this moment in time my man is right.  Ancient squeaky tractors are currently rattling their way up and down between the vines, rotovating the soil.  this goes on for quite a few weeks, whilst imported workers are trimming and tidying the vines.  Meanwhile,   the pruned branches from the olive trees are being dragged into piles and burnt.  So the air is rather smoky at present.

Last weekend in Fiano, Benedetta had gone off to the coast to celebrate her twenty-third birthday, so her mother Laura was holding the fort at the bar/alimentari alone.  Over coffee there, I told my man about the quotes I had had for translating my novel into Italian and that they were all very expensive.  I explained that I had been asked for the number of ‘characters’, rather than words, and wondered if they included the spaces.  “Ha, I’m surprised they didn’t want to weigh the book, they weigh everything else here!”  he groaned.  You may laugh, but what my man said is very true.  If you order a sandwich, the Italians slice the bread and weigh it, slice the cheese/ham and weigh it, and weigh tomatoes and/or salad before slicing.   So, back to the book, I may have to postpone the translation, until I make a lot more royalty money from the English version.

Yesterday, our beautiful nine-year old granddaughter arrived to stay overnight, whilst her big brother went down to Perugia to play rugby with his team from Siena.  Sadly, the result went heavily against Siena this time.  Our girl introduced her granddad to a new game of cards, which they are currently playing at her school.  There was a lot of shouting, laughter and slapping of hands on the table.  “What’s going on?”  I enquired.  “Oh its this game called Manaccia” my man replied, “It’s a bit like snap with attitude!”  Earlier in the morning, we had dropped down to Certaldo to buy Primula and Pansies, but were disappointed because our usual lady was not in the market with her plant stand.  However, all is not lost as  we managed to get some plants in Montespertoli this morning.

Giant Emperor Moths on Garden Lamp Photo P Finnigan

Giant Emperor Moths on Garden Lamp
Photo P Finnigan

My man called me down to the garden a couple of days ago and  I was amazed to see two, probably newly emerged, Giant Emperor Moths hanging off the bottom of one of our garden lights.  This light stays on all night, so they probably had toasty warm feet.  Fabulous, and my man managed to capture this picture for you all to see!  I must say that all the signs are here now for the end of any

The first baby fig of 2014 Photo P Finnigan

The first baby fig of 2014
Photo P Finnigan

cold weather; ants, flies, dragonflies, butterflies flitting and dancing together,  six bats emerging at dusk and the first baby fig on our tree!  However, it’s a bit chilly this morning….

Enter, the much adored Silvio Berlusconi.  Oh no, things are sadly on the downward slope for SB.  Italy’s highest appeal court has upheld his two-year ban from

Silvio swallows the pill. Photo Indiatimes

Silvio swallows the pill.
Photo Indiatimes

public office, after which he ‘auto-suspended’ himself from the ‘Federation of Knights’ ahead of a meeting, where he expected to be stripped of the title.  Described by many Italians as ‘Il Cavaliere’, he will now have to get used to being simply Mr Berlusconi!  Meanwhile, he has scotched rumours that his children will stand as candidates for his party Forza Italia in the EU elections.  What to do next, that is the question?  When you are the sixth richest person in Italy, one’s choices are very limited…….

Oh, I nearly forgot.  I promised to send you a snippet from my new novel ‘The Bolivian Connection’ to be published later this year.  I will send you a taster mid-week as I am now under pressure to get on with the day job.  Nevertheless, life eez good, life eez now!

Have a great week.

Amore June xx

PS here is the link for my Amazon Author Page:

http://www.amazon.com/author/junefinnigan

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Back from the London Author Fair, in Beautiful Tuscany

Posted in Life, tagged , , , , , , , , on March 3, 2014| Leave a Comment »

The London Eye over the River Thames. Photo P Finnigan

The London Eye on a rainy evening.
Photo P Finnigan

Ciao Amici

Just a quick note to say that ‘I’m back’ from a really interesting visit to the ‘London Author Fair’, where I met and mingled with around three hundred odd (yes very) authors and members of the publishing industry.

Having filled my weekend with travel and exhaustion, I know you will forgive me if I postpone my more lengthy blog until next time.  So, I’ll be back in touch with the full story next weekend and updates on how our little bit of Tuscany survived without me.

Have a good week.

Amore June x

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San Valentino, a Musical Farewell, Mimosa and a Resignation in Beautiful Tuscany

Posted in Life, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on February 17, 2014| 2 Comments »

Benvenuto to all my loyal and new followers

Readers Digest 1973 cookery book photo J Finnigan

Readers Digest 1973 cookery book
photo J Finnigan

As you all know, I am not the greatest cook, however, as San Valentino’s Day was looming I decided to find my vintage 1973 Readers Digest Cookery Book, which had a very musty smelling recipe page for Mushroom Strogonoff.  Now, if you carefully weigh all the correct ingredients and follow the instructions to the letter, what can go wrong?   The Basmati rice was perfect, the sauce looked creamy and delicious, I had added a drop of best quality chardonnay and the mushrooms were cooked to perfection.  Now in these old books, dried mixed herbs were in everything, however, here in Italy the dried herb mixtures are a little different.  So when I sprinkled some dried mediterranean herbs in, it never occurred to me that there might be a problem with that.  It was only when my delighted man took his first mouthful and smoke came out of his nose and ears, that I knew something was up!  “Oh my god he yelled, what are you trying to do to me!”  Well, I am used to making mistakes in the kitchen, but this was terribly disappointing.  “Never mind” I said, my face all red with embarrassment and hot spicy herbs, “I’ve made us a lovely creamy desert using the rose petal sauce that our good friend Paolo the chef gave us!”  My man is incredibly patient with me over the subject of food, however, he responded through deep gasps for air with “I love the smell of roses, but

Paolo who made the Rose Sauce, shaking a bottle of frozen crema di limoncello. Photo J Finnigan

Paolo who made the lovely Rose Sauce, shaking a bottle of frozen crema di limoncello.
Photo J Finnigan

I’m not sure about eating them…..”  So I presented the gorgeous looking rose perfumed creamy desert.  He managed two mouthfuls.  “I’m sorry June, I know you’ve tried really hard, but I don’t like it…”  I was also finding it a bit rich and realising that the lovely sauce was obviously meant to be used in tiny quantities, so I gave up on the fourth spoonful.  “Let’s open that new bottle of Vin Santo” we chorused, and then got out the game of ‘Sorry’ to take our minds off the food thing.  Well, we downed two glasses of Vin Santo each and thoroughly enjoyed the board game.  So it was a lovely evening after all.

The following morning we are back at Laura’s Bar/alimentari in Fiano , where I had bought the mushrooms, and everyone is rolling around in hysterics as my man describes my cooking.  Fortunately, I don’t really mind being laughed at, but secretly would love to be up to the amazing standards of some of my blogging friends!

Last Wednesday, we bade farewell to our friend Simon Moodie at his funeral in Certaldo.  Many of his friends are musicians and as the grave was being filled in (by a JCB!), we played and sang some of his favourite rock songs which he had particularly asked for.  He would have loved it.  Addio Simon.

Mimosa in our February garden. Photo P Finnigan

Mimosa in our February garden.
Photo P Finnigan

On a much lighter note, we are delighted to see our Mimosa tree already in full blossom.  As the mornings start to get lighter my man is looking forward to getting up at six and doing a couple of hours gardening before going out for coffee.  We do have a fabulous terraced garden and I can’t wait to bring all the pots back out from under the polytunnel.  We will wait until the 1st April though, as past experience has seen the weather change dramatically in these Chianti hills during February and March.  We have been incredibly lucky with the weather so far; quite a bit of heavy rain, however, temperatures are currently up around the 17 centigrade mark!

Henry Winkler, The Fonz and Matteo Renzie, The Prime Minister... Photo Il simplicissimus

Henry Winkler, The Fonz Vs Matteo Renzie, The Prime Minister…
Photo Il simplicissimus

You have probably picked up on the international news, that Italy’s Prime Minister Enrico Letta resigned after a vote of no confidence.  Well no surprise really, everyone was complaining that the so-called reforms were not happening fast enough.  However, our friends in Fiano all seem to like his replacement, the current Mayor of Florence Matteo Renzie.  He will certainly get the female vote, and quite a few guys, as he is young and handsome and rides a bicycle to work.

Well enough of that, I’ll update you on Silvio next time and meanwhile wish you all a very happy and exciting week.

Salute June x

PS  Don’t forget, there is currently a huge discount when you download the e-book ‘My Father, The Assassin’ by J W Finnigan from Amazon or Firstchapters!

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Download ‘My Father, The Assassin’ E-book for less than Half Price!

Posted in Books, tagged , , , , , , , , , on February 7, 2014| Leave a Comment »

Ciao all my Lovely Followers and Readers

My_Father,_The_Assas_Cover_for_KindleIf you have not already done so, you can now download my novel ‘My Father, The Assassin’ by J W Finnigan, to your Kindle at less than half price!  There is an awful lot of competition out there, and it seems that E-books are being sold at considerable discounts, so for the forseeable future, my book is available at the following prices on Amazon.

http://www.amazon.co.uk  –  £2.50

http://www.amazon.com  –  $4.11

http://www.amazon.eu   –  3.05 Euros

More than anything else, I want you to enjoy the book and it is important for you to read it before the follow-up ‘The Bolivian Connection’,  which will be published later this year.

Molto Amore June x

PS do not forget to post your review on Amazon – Thanks again.

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Amore, Searching for a good Coffee and a Little Sadness, in Beautiful Tuscany

Posted in Life, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on February 3, 2014| 2 Comments »

Benvenuto to all my Loyal and New Followers

Long Winter shadows

Long Winter shadows & Amore
Photo P Finnigan

When you have been lucky enough to have spent a lot of years living with the one you love, it is impossible to ignore the fact that the loss of that person would be catastrophic.  So as my man prepared to head for London a week ago I asked him, “If you go before me, and you may not, how can I capture the whole being that is you?”  My man looked very thoughtful and said “Feel free to lop off whatever you want!”  Now he is normally a very romantic guy, but can you imagine?    I was thinking that I would like to have my own ashes sprinkled across the Chianti Hills, this would then put back into the vineyards a little bit of what they have given me over the years.  Why am I thinking about morbidity?  Well, one of Fiano’s sweet old ladies, Iolanda, died on Friday.  She loved to do embroidery and I bought two pretty tray clothes from her a couple of years ago.  Her hands were already shaking with Parkinsons, but she persevered.  Addio Iolanda x

The Rock Chick Band

The Rock Chick Band

Personally, I hope to fade away disgracefully singing loud rock songs with the Rock Chick Band, whilst holding a nicely warmed glass of Chianti.

But enough of that.  Wednesdays, in our little bit of Chianti, is the day for making an executive decision.  Where to get a really good cup of coffee, fresh pastry (if one is not still on a diet) and a relaxing environment?  You see, Laura’s bar and alimentary is closed on that day, so we must go elsewhere.  The other bar in Fiano serves reasonable coffee, however, the ambiance has a lot to be desired.  So more often than not, we will head for Tavernelle, where there is a nice pasticeria (baker of pastries and cakes), and the locals are friendly.  However, last week we drove over and found that they had closed for a two-week holiday.  February is quite popular with the Tuscans,  for disappearing off to the Far East for a warm break.  So we decided to drop down to Certaldo, which almost completed a full circle.  When we finally got home again, my man, who is the analyst, worked out that we had travelled thirty kilometres in our search for coffee!

Things have been very busy over the last two weeks.  I have booked flights to London for the end of February, as I will be attending an Authors Fair and also for the end of May as my mother will be celebrating her 90th!  Flights are pretty easy between London and Pisa and likewise to Bristol, but prices are on the up.

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 what about the other main character in our lives?  Please put your hands together for the one and only, Signore Silvio Berlusconi!  There is a standing ovation and it takes five minutes for the devoted followers of SB to calm down.  He smiles, flashing his perfectly white straight teeth and starts to speak.  More cheers and clapping and he raises his hands in thanks,  then waves the devotees back into their seats.  It is a fact that millions of Italians still believe him to be the most dynamic leader ever, in Italian politics.  They accept his version of events, not the courts, and believe that he only has the people’s well-being at heart.  He now has the advantage of being in the opposition during a period of austerity and, whilst he will not be able to stand for election, he will certainly choose someone who will!  He may have been caught with his trousers down on more than one occasion, but he still has a good pair of legs!

I am now well into writing ‘The Bolivian Connection’ where Joanna Wilde is nervously watching the arrival of the worldwide assassins’ ring, who are being dropped off at ‘The Castle’ by various helicopters, for the reading of her evil dead father’s will.  Watch this space!

Meanwhile, have a really great week and please do leave a review on Amazon if you have read ‘My Father, the Assassin’ by J W Finnigan.  I’ll be eternally grateful!

Grazie Mille June xx

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I Urgently need Your Help in Beautiful Tuscany!

Posted in Books, tagged , , , , , , on February 1, 2014| Leave a Comment »

Ciao Ragazzi

My_Father,_The_Assas_Cover_for_KindleI urgently need your help in raising the status of my novel ‘My Father, The Assassin’ by J W Finnigan on Amazon.  I know that loads of you lovely people have bought the book and have told me how much you enjoyed it.  However, I need at least five more, four or five-star reviews on the site to be able to uplift its status.  You simply need to revisit either http://www.amazon.co.uk or http://www.amazon.eu or http://www.amazon.com, whichever one you purchased it from, paperback book or E-book, and write something!

Cracking on now with my weekend blog and will post it shortly.

thank you again, I will be forever in your debt!

Amore June x

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Bouncing into 2014 in Beautiful Tuscany

Posted in Life, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on January 13, 2014| 2 Comments »

Buon Anno and welcome to all my Loyal and New Followers

I love the start of a New Year.  I know, many will say that starting a New Year is purely a calendar thing, but I disagree.  I always feel that I am bouncing into an exciting new era, with good things just waiting to happen.

Father Christmas unconcious on New Years Day Photo P Finnigan

Father Christmas unconscious on New Years Day
Photo P Finnigan

Now, before we leave the Festive season completely behind us, I must tell you about the amazing spectacle that greeted us in Montespertoli on New Years day.  No one seemed to have noticed that on the roof of the Bar in the main piazza, Babbo Natale (Father Christmas) was lying on his back seemingly unconscious, having stayed on for the New Years Eve festivities!  This was very disturbing and we felt it necessary to call for help as he looked horribly lifeless.  Finally he was helped down, and despite being embarrassed and deflated, he was pointed north and  his stopper pulled out!

In our family we have celebrated three birthdays.  Our genero (son-in-law) on 31st December, our granddaughter on 5th January and my man on 10th January.   My man arrived back after a few working days in London on his birthday. I had laid a log fire, put some nice wrapped presents on the coffee table and some Prosecco in the fridge.   Gradually that handsome smile returned to his face despite the fact that A.  He was not happy to have reached such a great age.  B.  He was annoyed with the weight he had put on over Christmas and C.  He had had a pretty frustrating journey on the train!

Farty Barty Enjoys the New year Sunshine Photo J Finnigan

Farty Barty Enjoys the New year Sunshine
Photo J Finnigan

Today is Sunday and the weather is lovely.  Warm sun and blossom on the cherry trees.  We are half way through January and are now cautiously optimistic about  escaping a hard cold winter.  Farty Barty the cat is very happy, and obviously has a girlie on the go.  Our grandson is just a week away from going to Blundells School in Somerset, England for a two-day sports scholarship exam and I have completed chapter five of my novel ‘The Bolivian Connection.’

Florentine Iris in the garden Photo P Finnigan

Florentine Iris in the garden
Photo P Finnigan

My man is now grinning up from the garden as I gaze down from the studio window, and he tells me he has taken some nice photos.  Would you believe it, a beautiful Florentine Iris is in flower and so I have attached a picture.  The sun is now dipping towards the west and is hidden by woodland, however, the long shadows are creating the most beautiful three-dimensional vistas.  Ah, life is good…..

The idol Silvio (Jesu) Berlusconi Photo sdpf

The idol Silvio Berlusconi
Photo Doug Porter, San Diego Free Press

And finally, a quick mention about our idol, Silvio Berlusconi.    I see that Wikipedia has updated SB’s page and now reads ‘SB is an Italian politician (really?), entrepreneur (yes), media tycoon (yes), frequent criminal defendant ( not in his view), and convicted tax evader (wrongly he says) who has served three times as Prime Minister (yes sort of).  it is important to remember that he is considered a hero by many, and idolized by your right-winger as a man to look up to.  If one ignores that he is virtually challenged, possibly.  Opposite is a picture of how some people see him through rose-coloured spectacles!

Have a wonderful week, do drop me a line and see you next weekend.

Amore June x

PS  Check out my book ‘My Father, The Assassin’ on http://www.firstchapters.net, listed under thrillers, and download immediately at a big discounted price!  Buy the paperback on http://www.Amazon.co.uk or .eu or .com.  If you would like a personal message and autograph on a pretty sticker to go in your book, send your postal address to june.finnigan@virgin.net  Enjoy!

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