Benvenuti and welcome to all my Lovely Followers around the World,
It is Sunday morning in Beautiful Tuscany and we have returned from Fiano having enjoyed morning coffee and a chat with three visiting hunks from Milano. Paolo’s (his English was excellent) father lives locally and his mother in Montespertoli. I thought there had to be a good reason to visit our part of the world during an August heat wave, as every other Italian that can, has gone off to the coast or the mountains. These nice looking young men apparently live near Lake Como, which is one place I would really like to visit. anyway, I picked up another pack of bottled water and headed home with my man who is now stretched out on the sofa with a fan whizzing around full blast, and ready to take off, in the sitting room. Yesterday, we realised that our air-conditioning unit was getting very hot, only to discover that the filter tray was completely blocked. You may all like to check your own units! We have had the out pipe stuffed up our chimney, but now we have realised that the hot air is heating up the metal flue and radiating the heat back into the room! Saints preserve us! Foto – The Relentless sun at Osteria La Case Chianti, from website.
Reading the papers I see that the Chinese and Japanese tourists continue to flood into Florence, that beautiful city that anyone with any common sense, avoids during the heat of summer. The only difference is that it’s not the guide holding up the brolly for the faithful to follow, it is the tourists themselves that have converted their brollies into sunshades! Foto La Repubblica.
Anyway, I’m sure my story is very similar to all you other poor souls fighting the European heat wave. I watered the pots at seven o’clock this morning and made sure the two water bowls were full for the wildlife. We have a large old black bucket outside our fence for the larger creatures (wild boar, deer etc) that cannot get into our pond, which is rapidly disappearing anyway. And a smaller one for the cats, family of pheasants and visiting hare that manages to get under the fence.
Well, what else have I got to tell you. Quite honestly, it’s been too hot to spend much time doing anything other than an early morning coffee at Fiano, then shutting ourselves in until dusk! But I have had some new ideas for my fourth book ‘Assassin’s List,’ which is finally coming together. Also, I must find the energy to keep up the strumming practice on my lovely Fender guitar, which sits on its stand in the corner of my study, begging to be played. I need to change the strings to some that are better for learners, thank you John, but am frightened to death of trying to do it myself. So I must wait for my band member Stefano to surface from his summer break!
So, what are you up, to apart from staggering around with your tongue hanging out and using up whole packets of wet wipes to cool yourselves down? Perhaps Iceland would be a good idea. My man and I did discuss moving out of Tuscany to cooler climes for a month in August last year, but here we are again, still here. Life’s events can tend to get in the way and prevent any well laid plans from happening! Actually, I can recommend a hotel there, Iceland that is, its called Hotel Ranga, my daughter stays there regularly. Foto from website. Go to Website
Gosh, am I rambling? That’s what this relentless heat does to the brain! I’ve even started talking to Izzy Lizard; he dashes from his vantage point above left of the cantina door, races across the side wall and hides behind the compost sacks. But the last couple of weeks, I’m convinced he has been devising a cunning plan. He’s started making strange cackling sounds that to me is talking, but not in a very friendly way. So I talk back and say nice things to keep him relaxed. Today he stopped halfway across the wall and stared at me! I smiled, then he went behind his sacks, cackling away, until I had finished sorting out the laundry. He’s quite big and fat, so I think he’s the one keeping the insects down. Perhaps he thinks I’m after them too!
OK, must get this blog off to you. Sorry about all the gobbledygook, that’s the way it is at the moment!
Have great week and do drop me a line, and/or visit my official author site at June’s site
Salute June x
PS In this hot weather make sure your loved one is provided with plenty of chilled drinks and pampering. Amore is the one thing that keeps us sane at times like this!
Despite the heat of July, the Italians still manage to remain busy with Festas. In nearby Vinci, north of Florence, today is the last day of La Festa dell’Unicorno. Now I only know that it is in Vinci because I asked Rossella in La Dispensa in Fiano the other day. The Italians, and I can only speak about the Tuscans with any real hands on knowledge, have a way of advertising Festas in both the newspaper and on posters, leaving out either the place, day or time, and sometimes all three. Now the reasoning behind this is that everyone should know these things. If I ask “Where is it being held?” the facial reaction is one of amazement, the shoulders and hands are raised and the answer is “Why Vinci of course!” Well OK, I have lived here long enough to know these things, but I’m afraid I have not managed to grab the art of remembering when, where and what is going on at any one time. Then I look closely at the advertisement in the paper and realise that it is nearly over and the performances are so complex and muddled I have to go and lie down. But, nevertheless, today is the last day and if you are in the Vinci area, you should go and experience this Festa of music, dance, food, wine and just about everything you might find under the Tuscan sun! It starts at 9.30 pm so you still have time to get ready!
Now a bit closer to home I see in the paper that it’s time for the selection of the regional candidate for Miss Italia, nestled up to a picture of the band King Crimson. Italy still considers the Miss Italia contest to be very important, where the mostly olive-skinned contestants parade in bathing costumes reminding us how beautiful the Italian woman really is.
Not to be overlooked, is the fact that we have a world champion on our hands. Yes, the thirty-five year old golfer, Francesco Molinari, has just won the 2018 Open Championship, the first Italian ever to do so! Well bully for him I say. Oh, I think that’s a hocky term, but hey ho! It seems that Francesco has homes in both Turin and London. How fantastic to earn a living playing a sport you love and to have homes in two of the greatest cities in Europe. Visit 
Well, as the dust settled after the five-day Mercantia Festival in Certaldo, our local village of Fiano was gearing up for its own three-day event Festa in Fiano. This is a lively annual event and today, Sunday, is the final day. So if you are nearby, head over to Fiano for the final evening’s blast. Great music, food and wine; what more can I say!
Yesterday, two of Fiano’s handsome locals were crying out for a foto, so they very happily posed for this blog. Fotos J Finnigan
Sidney Sonnino was twice Prime Minister of Italy and later Finance Minister during the First World War. The current Sonnino family have proudly dedicated their time to preserving all the archives for that time and more. They have also built an enviable income producing estate to help preserve the castle, its history and the land. Read lots more on their beautiful website. You can even stay there, so check it out! 
Meanwhile, down in Florence, the new T1 Leonardo Tram-line is up and running. Foto from official website. In issue 247 of the Florentine Weekly is a great article all about it. The Tram stops at lots of interesting places, twenty-six in all, over 11.5 Kilometres and you can jump on every four minutes! Brilliant I say! Can’t wait to get on board! Go to 
And what about eating? I hear you say. Well if you want a real Tuscan experience, you only need to drop down below Fiano, our local village, to find Osteria di Casa Chianti where you will not only find local food, wines and oils, but a bit of theatre too. In the evening the sunset from the big outside terrazzo is fabulous. Foto from website. Now this place gets very busy, is only open in the evenings and for sunday lunch, so booking is essential. My man and I had an excellent supper with our American friends last Friday, to whom we wish a safe journey home and hope to see you next year! Visit 
My man and I live in the Chianti Hills above Certaldo and our beautiful daughter and grandchildren are only thirty-five minutes away. We always jump to attention when we are invited to lunch, what with my own and our daughter’s hectic lifestyles these are very important get togethers. We also get to see Monty our grand dog, a beautiful Maremma we think, but anyway he’s adorable.
Long family lunches are traditional here in italy and we are more than happy to embrace the idea. My man was presented with his all time favourite desert, strawberry Pavlova, a belated father’s day treat!
In Pistoia the three-day blues festival started 13th July and included Graham Nash, James Blunt, Steve Hackett, ZZ Top and Crosby Stills & Nash. Go to 
In Lucca the Summer Festival continues up to 26th July and includes Ringo Starr, Alice Cooper, Jonny Depp, Roger Waters, Lenny Kravitz (look him up he’s brilliant) James Taylor, King Crimson, Nick Cave and loads more. 
Ok, and continuing for the moment on the same subject, I am pleased to tell you that I am learning to play the acoustic guitar. About time, I hear you say, and yes I know but I have been so busy writing books and stuff over the last few years, but I am so in love with my new Fender I can’t keep away from it!
Well, that’s enough of my music indulgences, what is happening in our local town of Certaldo you ask? Oh, it’s the amazing Mercantia of course, which every year attracts musicians, dancers, acrobats, theatricals and produce from Tuscany, you have to see it to believe it. The Historical Centre, Certaldo Alto, is the place to be as it provides the most stunning backdrop for all these fabulous goings on. The festivities finish today, but there’s always next year! Diary date for 2019! Go to 
Well, the dust has finally settled and we have at last returned to our quiet & idyllic lifestyle in our little bit of Chianti. Some of our concert going friends are still here, staying in and around Certaldo, and I was delighted to take two of them to visit Anne Shingleton’s studios at Vico D’Elsa near Poggibonsi. Now I have known Anne for many years but this is the first time I have managed to visit her, see her wonderful paintings & sculptures and to hear her story. Foto J Finnigan.
Anne, on the left above, as an artist is way up there with the world’s greatest painters of wildlife, being a zoologist herself, this is the medium of first choice for her. But Anne can paint anything from portraits to landscapes creating better than photographic images. Then there are the sculptures and her most recent undertaking was a huge Swan, which is currently exhibited in the beautiful Gheradesca gardens of the Four Seasons Hotel in Florence. Ask at reception and you will be shown through to the gardens, Anne’s swan is next to the pond. 
Well, how does one follow that? As I was musing over this, my man called out “June, you’ve got to come and see this!” So I detached myself from my chair and rushed into his study, where he was watching something on TV. “You won’t believe this and it could only happen in Italy, but they are showing a recent ‘tug o’ war’ match on a bridge over the River Arno in Pisa! But they have two teams back to back, trying to push, yes push, each other with their feet in strangely wedged trainers!” It was a contest called Gioco del Ponte and it had as much action as watching paint dry! They had been in a gridlock for ten minutes already and it was another fifteen before the sweating big guys in red, finally overcame the red faced yellow ones. This, and they were all dressed in tudor costume! Crazy Italians! Ha ha! Foto P Finnigan.
Of course, not to forget, I did promise you a Hunk of the Month for July, and guess what, it had to be the latest Armani Man! I have been saving this picture up, but now I think I should share it, I’ve been gazing at him long enough! Phew, now I’ve completely lost my train of thought! Foto Giorgio Armani.
Ah, zucchini or courgettes to you. No, no, no connection you naughty thing. But here is a bag of freshly picked Zucchini, which was placed on our lunch table today at C’era uni Volta by the adorable Paolo, before we had even ordered our meal! These were straight out of his orto, veg patch, which is overproducing the things in this lovely weather, forcing me to once again find our kitchen and cook something! Would love to have some new recipes for Zucchini! Leave your messages below or write to june.finnigan@virgin.net. Grazie mille. Foto J Finnigan.
What a beautiful morning it is, here in our little bit of Chianti in Tuscany. So much so that I thought you might like to see a picture of our garden my man having cut the grass, or rather the weedy stuff, yesterday! No matter what else is going on in the world, we always have our lovely haven to return to. Foto P Finnigan.
Anyway, back in the real world, yesterday (Saturday) was Festa Della Repubblica. Another holiday and yes, everything was closed apart from a sprinkling of enterprising bar and shop owners. Goodness only knows what the tourists were thinking when they found whole towns and villages virtually shut down and on a Saturday! Meanwhile, the Festa itself, was in full swing in most towns and villages, commemorating the institutional referendum held in 1946, in which the Italian people were called to the polls to decide on the form of government, following the Second World War and the fall of 
Enough of that! What about our Motorcycle racing hero Valentino Rossi who, at the age of thirty-nine, has just clocked up his 55th pole position after completing a new world track record in advance of the World Grand Prix. Sadly, he was to come third in the actual event on Sunday afternoon, but a brilliant effort nonetheless! Foto La Nazione.
And so to my other love, my man being my first love, Rock Music. Firenze (Florence) will shortly be hosting an incredible line-up of iconic rock bands. Be there, or be square I say. The concerts are over four days from 14th to the 17th June. The difficulty is, which day to attend? I would not want to miss any of these, but four days might be tough going. I think I would probably go for the Guns N’ Roses line-up but then what about Iron Maiden? Oh and Ozzy, what to do? Mama Mia! I think I had better let you decide so here is the link for the ticket office; you had better act fast as the tickets will rapidly sell out! 
I would be impossible to start the day and feel balanced, if one had not gone for morning coffee here in our little bit of Chianti. Now I had reason to go to Certaldo yesterday (Saturday) so we made a beeline for Jam Caffe for our early morning fix. And, what a beautiful day it was, glorious sunshine and cheerful chatty Italians. Foto J Finnigan. The Chef at Jam Caffe is called Andrea, and is a brilliant cook and all round lovely guy. They bake all their own pastries, so you can be assured of really fresh and delicious pastini. I am so lucky to have persuaded Andrea to do a finger buffet for my Concert Party on the 22nd June. Rock on!
At the weekend, and assuming the weather is good, we do like to pop over to Montespertoli for aperitivi. Foto J Finnigan. The town will shortly be hosting the annual Wine festival, which is really worth going to, however, I should warn you that historically it tends to rain a lot during the two weeks of festivities! You can also book a Horse and Wagon excursion, which will take you on a wine tasting tour! The dates are 26th may to 3rd June; enjoy. For more info visit the town’s 
And on the subject of wine, did you know that one hundred and sixty-two thousand tourists visit Italy every year and consume seventy-three thousand bottles of Vino Rosso (red wine)? The bulk of these visitors are American, German and French. Well, I wonder how they come up with those figures, but anyway, that’s a lot! Then there’s also the Brits that are increasing in numbers each year, bless them! Foto La Repubblica
Now on a completely different subject, although you may want a glass of the red stuff after you read this, Silvio Burlesconi is back! I mean really back. I heard a whisper that the courts have allowed Silvio to run for local government again! Well, something dramatic needs to happen, we still have no government as such, as the two leaders of the largest majority holders cannot agree to work together! Luigi Di Maio, leader of the 5* Movement has confirmed that he has no desire to become Prime Minister and quoted “I’m very satisfied, we brought to our government the program that is.” He said on Facebook, underlining that the prime minister will be “a person who must be a friend of the people.” Stop Press – I’ve just been told that a new Prime Minister has been selected – watch this space! Could this be Silvio, I wonder? But I also heard that he, Silvio, has to appear in court on 1st June on more corruption charges. Hey ho, I doubt if that will deter him, such is the way of things in Italy! Foto La Repubblica.
My man came rushing in from the garden yesterday, shouting “The Rose is Out!” Now what is exciting about a rose being out? You may ask. Well, this rose, my friends is very special rose indeed. In 2004 we packed our whole life up into a furniture van and loaded up our car, in readiness for our journey of no return with Bosun the dog, to Italy. The last thing to go in the van was a metal dustbin into which my man had put some of his tools. We took a last look around and then I saw the rose, a beautiful red English climbing rose that had really taken root and was climbing up the front of our old farmhouse. “I can’t leave the rose behind” I whined. The van driver said, “Sorry missus, it’s illegal to take plants across European borders, soil contamination and stuff you know.” I was heartbroken so my man persuaded him to put it in the bottom of the dustbin and surround it with the tools. The driver would be paid well, so he agreed! So over fourteen years, we moved five times and in each garden, we planted the rose. Somehow it survived, not very well I have to say, but now it’s liking its current position and is blooming! Praise the Gods! Foto P Finnigan
Lots of insects are now arriving. So far no Zanzari (mosquitos) but they’ll be here soon. An astonishing visitor was a huge Sawyer Beetle who settled on our outside airer. Go in close and look at its amazing face. Now, you clever clogs may beg to differ; so if you think its a different kind of insect, please tell me! Anyway, what a privilege to see such a stunning creature in close-up. Since last weekend we have also seen the arrival of Swifts, a cuckoo and have heard the Bee Eaters but not seen them yet. So summer is now ready to go! Yes! Foto P Finnigan.
Now, I’m sure you remember talking about the ancient European Oak Tree, which guards our front gate. Well, on Friday it underwent tree surgery as many of the branches were dead and at risk of falling on our heads! apparently, the tree is listed and could only be cut by authorised surgeons. Well, anyway, it still looks stunning and I’m sure it will go on for a few hundred years more! Foto J finnigan.
As you know we like to go out for coffee every morning and usually to Fiano and La Dispensa. In the newspaper, was an article about the lovely American Ruth Orkin, who became famous for her iconic foto taken in August 1951, walking through a group of lustful Italian men, in La Piazza Della Repubblica in Florence. Look at the guy on the scooter to the right and the guy to her right is clutching his vitals! Almost hidden on the left is a very handsome man at a table; was she going to meet him? So good-bye to Ruth who died on 2nd May, but never to be forgotten. Foto La Repubblica 
Also in the paper was an article about the Trevi Fountain in Rome. Two pictures are printed, ‘then and now’. Back in 1975, we see local children frolicking in the lovely clear ice blue waters collecting the coins, a normal and delightful scene during a hot summer in the city. Now, no one is allowed in the fountain. It remains beautiful and breath-taking, but the coins are scooped out by the local authorities along with all the rubbish that gets thrown in. I know which era I prefer. Foto La Repubblica 
Back closer to home, new exhibitions are now open to the public at Casa di Boccaccio and Palazzo Pretorio in Certaldo alto. If you have not visited this beautiful ancient hilltop town, you really should. I must go and see for myself soon, but I should warn you that there are often some very strange exhibitions there, sometimes macabre or explicit. But this is Italy. Foto La Nazione.
And finally, before I try to find the kitchen, here is a lovely foto of our view from the old English bench under our big Ash Tree. It was taken yesterday, after my man had cut the green stuff that is supposed to be grass, and a heavy shower of rain. The distance was a little misty, but lovely anyway. Foto J finnigan
In a moment I’m going to wax lyrical about the plants and wild life in and around our beautiful garden here on the edge of Chianti. As before, I am not going to talk about Italian politics, other than the fact that we still have no government; you will just have to keep watching this space.
So, back to our garden and what a wonderful week we have been experiencing. Last weekend the Acacia trees started dripping with white blossoms and the Fiorentina Irises we planted last year have burst into flower! We have been swamped with butterflies, including the Swallowtail and the birds, well, the birds! We now have an owl which we have yet to identify, who hoots in the daytime, pairs of pheasant, Jays, Hoopees, swallows and wood pigeons. Arriving anytime soon will be the colourful Bee Eaters. Two visiting hares, deer and the occasional cinghiale (wild boar). And, the weather has been glorious, so my man and I have been able to spend aperitivo time outside, breathing in all the exotic perfumes! Fotos J Finnigan
And continuing on the subject of aperitivi, I’m really pleased to tell you that the last two weekends have seen us back over in Montespertoli for cocktails, a lovely village just twenty minutes from here. It is a year ago that we stopped going as the pressure of writing deadlines had me working away every weekend at the keyboard. But with the weather having turned to sunshine we have returned, and it is so nice to greet old friends again and watch the occasional vintage car rally hooting past. Foto J Finnigan.
One friend is the lovely Caterina, or I should say The Baroness Caterina de Renzis Sonnino. Caterina is a very hardworking lady who entertains guests from all over the world giving guided historical tours of Il Castello, Educational visits and Wine tastings. Yesterday the newspaper printed this article about a visit by Gucci, the Label having chosen Il Castello Sonnino as one of seven cultural projects. Now, I will try to find out a lot more when I next speak to Caterina, but in the meantime you should visit Il Castello’s website. My man and I were very lucky to have been given a private viewing a few years ago, and believe me it is an incredibly beautiful and atmospheric place to go. Oh, you can also stay there, so check it out here! 
Meanwhile, back in the world of Music, I noticed that good old Ringo Starr, or Sir Richard Henry Starkey, was in the news and is doing a tour in July/August. He will include Lucca, Marostica and Roma. Now I have been to outside concerts in Lucca, which is just over an hour from us, and the setting is fantastic. Open air concerts are held in one of the most beautiful piazzas and the acoustics are amazing. Now, in case you did not know, Ringo does do more than just play the drums; he also sings, acts and paints. It will be interesting to hear the old boy performing, he is seventy-eight, bless him! I think it’s great that so many of the oldies are still performing live, so there’s still hope for me being discovered at a late age and being sent off on tour! Rock on I say. Foto La Repubblica. See Ringo’s dates here 
Now, lest we forget, the 25th April was Liberation Day and it should be remembered that there are a lot of Partisans still alive today who can tell you all about the German Occupation. Apparently, we are supposed to say Nazi Occupation these days, strange how things get changed for the sake of the modern lifestyle and the now friendly relationship with Germany. There are some amazingly heroic stories still to be heard about the fight to rid the country of the nasty Nazi’s. My novel ‘The Italian Connection’ includes a bit based on a partisan’s real life experience, my having interviewed a lovely man called Gianfranco in Montespertoli a few years back. Foto La Nazione. Visit my author site at 
Meanwhile, something else being celebrated last week was the 50th anniversary of La Vespa. That iconic scooter that we all loved seeing in the sixties films and still to be seen today weaving in and out of the traffic in the major Italian cities, and whizzing through the country villages at the weekend, often in big convoys! Tourists can also hire bright red ones in Florence and surrounding areas, so I’m told. Did you ever have a Vespa Scooter or were you a Rocker like me, dangerously hanging off the back of 650 motorbikes? Hey ho! Send me some of your Fotos. Foto La Nazione. Visit Vespa’s site at 
And finally, lets end with another beautiful Italian fashion shoot, this time found in La Repubblica magazine. I just love this casual yet sophisticated colourful summer look. And, the models are so enjoying wearing the clothes, which as you know is something I strongly support, not the usual miserable lot many designers employ. Also, the weather here is now warm enough to enjoy having one’s feet back in sandals and flip-flops; wonderful. Visit Oltre’s site at 
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