Welcome and Benvenuti to all my Lovely Followers around the World
Just five days to December and it’s the time of year for colder damper weather, which in itself creates some of the most breathtaking scenery and camera shots here in our little bit of Chianti. Early morning mists fill the valleys below us and as the sun peaks through we witness shafts of sunlight breaking out from the mist and spotlighting the thousands of cobwebs covering just about everything!
Then the sun rises a little more and shines on nearby properties, but the mist has not risen yet so we get these ghostly looking apparitions. It’s important to stand still for a while and watch the vista changing as the mists start to gradually roll away. Beautiful. So then we drive to Fiano, our local village, for coffee at La Dispensa, which means going higher up still into brilliant sunshine. The drive back will be views of fog filling the valleys over Certaldo and looking like a great white lake.
We relax with our coffee and read the papers, greeting the locals as they come and go. On rainy days they joke with us saying that we have brought Tempo Inglese (English Weather) with us! But what is this? In the paper I read that there has been a miracle in Pisa; The Leaning Tower has straightened up by as much as four centimetres over the last twenty years! It seems that consolidation work carried out between 1993 and 2001 has resulted in this unexpected turn of events! Well that’s good, but if it keeps going, will we end up with the Once Leaning Tower of Pisa? All those tourists that travel long distances to have their foto taken looking like they are holding the building up with one hand, yes what of them? I guess they will instead come to see the Miracle of the Tower that moved!
Anyway, another article in the paper caught my eye, and something close to my heart or should I say waistband, Pecorino Cheese. I don’t just like cheese, I absolutely love it and it is the only thing stopping me from becoming vegan. Pecorino is the most popular cheese in Italy for everyday use. It ranges from very young and soft to a hard mature version, a bit like the texture of Parmesan but the taste is different. I love it for the fact that it is not cow’s cheese, which I avoid. When we first arrived in Italy, I had to find an alternative to English Cheddar, particularly for cooking. Pecorino hit the button and more! Can you buy Italian Pecorino in your country?
And, what about the Italian fashion scene for the run up to party time? Well, firstly chunky footwear is in, even with the most feminine smart couture! NeroGiardini
I was always a stiletto fan until the knees started complaining, so if you are following the younger women in the British Royal Family, you can still wear them and that can be your excuse. Otherwise, if like me you are crazy about everything Italian, perhaps not.
And, so to the big glittery C. Yes, Christmas is everywhere already. Festive markets in all the towns and cities. Also, Opera and Theatre with a festive edge. We will certainly go to some of these; I’ll report back when we do. What are you doing this festive season? Do let me know what you are up to!
Meanwhile, I am working on my ‘Buy real books for Christmas, you can’t unwrap an e-book’ campaign. See my own books at June’s Site
Well, time to get back to the day job and don’t forget to buy your advent calendar. I love them.
Salute June x
Well, last Sunday morning was busy at coffee time at La Dispensa, in our local village of Fiano, with lots of locals wearing their team Calambur T-shirts, in readiness for the exciting contest due to start at two-thirty. This was going to be a hard-fought contest for the coveted victor’s banner, which the team can keep displayed in their zone for the next twelve months. Our Fiano team is called La Fonte, and our colours are red and white. The village was festooned with flags as was Certaldo, where the big event was to be held. The event is a bit like the ‘It’s a Knockout’ contest we used to have in the UK and is very entertaining to watch, but taken very seriously indeed by the contestants.
At the end of the day it was La Canonica team from Certaldo who came out victors, despite our team putting in a superb effort. La Fonte did win two years ago and I remember the beautifully embroidered banner being displayed in La Dispensa. Oh well, there’s always next year!
Meanwhile, there has been a lot of busy preparation for the Truffle (tartufo) Hunting Season, which starts on 22nd September. Lots of tourists include this rather exciting event in their holiday itinerary and if you visit EnvyItaly on-line you will find an article all about it. Click on ‘Magazine’ then ‘Best Experiences in Italy’. There are also hunts available locally to us; I can put you in touch with the right people. Foto Envy Italy.
And, so to my other love, Italian Autumn Fashion. The papers and magazines here are filling up with gorgeous Autumn colours, my favourite time of the year. I noticed that Burberry in England has taken on a new look, but believe me, Italian designers do have the edge when it comes to style. I just adore this fringed coat, couldn’t you just snuggle up in it? MaxMara’a models are not the most cheerful lot, but I have let this fact pass for once.
The other advert I found, was for a pair of comfy shoes! Arrrgh, I hear you say, fashion and comfort just don’t go together! I have spent a lot of years trying to combine both, and yes it’s difficult. However, what do you think of these shoes? Are they stylish enough or too clumpy? I’m almost tempted to buy some, but I’m not sure…..
And back in the real world, yesterday, Monday, was back to school day. Lots of nervous children and students were starting the new term and some, like my 13 nearly 14-year-old granddaughter, a new senior school in Siena! The Italian school holidays, particularly the summer one, is very long, almost three months in fact, so parents and grandparents alike are sighing with relief.
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