Welcome and Benvenuti to all my Lovely Followers around the World,
Well, would you believe it, Silvio Berlusconi’s ex-wife Veronica Lario has has been told by an Italian court that she will no longer receive her monthly alimony payments of 1.4 million euros, yes, read this again 1.4 million euros, from billionaire Silvia Berlusconi, as it has ruled that Silvio had been unfairly treated! Who the hell really needs that much a month anyway? Well, Veronica does have cash deposits of some 16 million, jewels and a real estate business, so methinks she won’t go hungry. There will, however, be another small dent to her wealth as she will have to pay back around 60 million of alimony, which the courts said she had no right to! Well, that’s the Berlusconi planet for you. Meanwhile, it looks like his political career is on the rise again too! Watch this space. foto La Nazione.
Meanwhile, back in the real world and in my case, our little bit of Chianti, it’s fig or Ficchi time! I love Italian figs and Paolo has just started serving them up at Ristorante C’era Una Volta in Lucardo. When the olive wood platter arrived with a wonderful display of figs and Pecorino cheeses, I couldn’t wait to dig in, then remembered you guys! I should have taken a foto before I started eating! Anyway, here is the last one for you to drool over. it is also Zucchini (courgette) Flower time; Paolo’s Zucchini Flower fritters are to die for! Foto J Finnigan
Now another important indulgence for me is my four weekly visit to Sandra at La Parrucchiera in Certaldo for ‘colore.’ Sandra is my hairdresser and has been for the last fifteen years! Fortunately, she is a lot younger than me, so should be around even when I am in my nineties. My man understands that, no matter what my state of physical or mental health, he must get me to Sandra’s. It is also the only time that I have the chance to read some glossy magazines and last week I spotted these gorgeous Hand Made Italian Moccasins. As you know, I am dead against trianers as a fashion item, other than for sport. All I can say ladies, if you want to look good in flats here’s the answer; beautiful and comfortable at the same time! Moccasins Live!
Where were we? Did you know it is the 50 year anniversary of Woodstock. Woodstock? Now come on, even my grandchildren have heard of Woodstock and by the way, love my music from the 60’s an 70’s. Our local village of Fiano is celebrating this momentous event in the Piazza with great food and two bands thumping out the original music! I absolutely adore the Italians for their love of great music and bands. Where else in the world can one be an aging rocker and be considered normal? I sometimes include the song ‘Woodstock.’ by Mathew’s Southern Comfort in my concert repertoire. Pop on to You tube and have a listen.
Of course the next thing we have to enjoy is Il Calambur. This is the annual battle of Certaldo Commune’s factions (Quarteriere), ours is Fiano, which won the year before last. The big event is held in central Certaldo and we hope the this year our village will come out on top again! There will be sporting and intelligent tests and a lot of fun. Put 15th September in your diary! The flags will be flying soon!
OK, it looks like I need to cook lunch today as my man has just asked for one of his favourite lentil bakes. He’s been very loving lately, so I can hardly refuse him, can I?
I’ll quickly do a last minute edit first and get this off to you. Do drop me a line, I love to hear from my readers.
Salute june x
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Well, if you were here in Tuscany at this very moment, you would be amazed to find hardly any British or American tourists in the area. Even the papers are talking about the huge drop in tourists from outside the Eurozone. The beaches of Versiglia, a typical high-end resort north of Pisa and usually packed solid with Russians and Americans, was photgraphed with empty sun-beds as far as the eye could see. We have to face it, exchange rates are apalling at the moment. One pound sterling will only buy you 1.09 euros today. When we came here nearly sixteen years ago, we could buy as much as 1.49 euros! This will change of course, but at this moment in time it seems to be having a profound effect on the tourist industry! Foto trip advisor.
But lets not worry about that. Just up the road from us is our most frequented ristorante called 
Of course pizza is so very Italian, but a less talked about food is the Italian Potato. I absolutely love the new potatoes here. Not the little round things that the Brits like, simply newly harvested ones in all shapes and sizes, sliced in their skins boiled and tossed in butter. The Itallians like to chop them up into small pieces and roast with garlic and rosemary twigs, also nice, but I prefer them as they are. In the picture is my favourite brand, which I can buy in our local Co-op.
Meanwhile, back in Fiano our local village, we catch up on the papers over coffee and can’t help but notice some fotos of the politician Licia Ronzulli of Forza Italia (Silvio’s party) in house with her new baby strapped around her, oblivious and sleeping as it’s impressive mother gets on with the debating and voting. I must say good for her. I know there are those out there that would not approve of such behaviour, but here in Italy all mothers would understand. Things have changed a lot since we have arrived. There are fewer grandparents taking care of the little ones, and the pre-school nurseries (Asilonido) are getting busier.
And, still on the subject of Politics, I see that Silvio Berlusconi, that veteran of all things controversial, is back in the news. Formerly an Italian Prime Minister presiding over four parliaments, a cruise ship singer and Bunga Bunga party goer, he currently represents North West Italy as MEP for his Forza Italia party and has a net worth of around $6.6 Billion due to his entrepreneurial activities. Now keen to give his political profile a boost, he has announced that he wants to launch a new party. I wonder what he will call it? Perhaps you could come up with some suitable names and I’ll let Silvio know! Leave your thoughts at the bottom of this page or email me at june.finnigan@virgin.net
You thought I had forgotten the Hunk of the Month didn’t you! Well I’m glad to say that I spotted a picture in The Telegraph the other day and I thought ‘perfect’! How, I wonder, have I only just come across Jack Savoretti? He’s apparently made six albums! He’s gorgeous, plays acoustic guitar and sings like a god. Yes, OK, he’s English but he is of Italian descent so he definitely qualifies, well you will hardly argue that point will you? Check him out on You Tube, you’ll be mesmerised! Foto found on twitter.
What’s that you said? A European Election? Oh, yes that one, I had noticed. Don’t get me wrong, but I promised myself I would not write about politics this week. But how can one ignore it, especially with the massive move to the right in many of the European countries. But it’s hardly surprising. Apart from Tuscany, Italy has followed the lead of the very proactive Matteo Salvini, currently the Minister of Internal Affairs, who’s Lega party has swept it’s way to a massive victory. Sig Salvini has spent many months out and about wearing various uniforms and T-shirts, making himself as visible as possible and shutting the ports to the immigrants, as Italy is supposedly sinking into the sea with the weight of the thousands already here!
The most surprising election victory was for the Forza Italia party in Milan, where the veteran of politics and purveyor of scandal, Silvio Berlusconi, has won a place at the big round table in Brussels. At the age of 83 there is no keeping Silvio out of the spotlight. From a non-political point of view, I’m quite pleased to see him back, it makes for more colourful reporting. When allegations swirled about escorts and ‘Bunga Bunga’ parties, Silvio admitted “I’m not a Saint, you’ve all understood that.” Watch this space…..
Meanwhile, back here in our little bit of Tuscany, our local village of Fiano hit the news when it was chosen as a place to interview the locals on their view of the impending election. We were delighted to find our favourite cafe bar and shop singled out for this purpose and in the foto you will see our lovely friends Fabio, Sandra and Rossella at La Dispensa. If you are in Tuscany, do pay them a visit.
Well, I thought I would change the subject and talk about Italian interior design. We live in an ancient converted Monastery Farmhouse, which has it’s original brick floors and beams. Modern Italian furniture designs really lend themselves to old properties. The contrast makes for a perfect blend. As does modern art. We have recently bought new sitting room furniture, comfortable but modern. It is also possible to muddle in a few antique bits here and there; somehow in this property it works. A set of modern furniture in a large high ‘ceilinged’ villa also looks great; like in the enclosed picture. 
Then of course, if we want to get into Summery Fashion designs, I’m all for it. The weather has been terrible and we have been out and about wrapped in winter jackets every day in May. The poor tourists have been drenched in rain for weeks on end, however, we are reliably informed that summer starts tomorrow! Do you get maudlin after lengthy periods of grey skies and rain? I am a naturally cheerful soul, but just lately it’s been hard to keep a smile on my face. Anyway, I love the relaxed look in the enclosed foto. Whilst my signature colour is black, the occasional colourful outfit will catch my eye and this look has both. 
But otherwise, it being the season of fashion, last week was the mens’ time for strutting their stuff, this week has had the newspapers full of Bimbi Pitti (children’s) fashion. Now I am a little out of touch with children’s fashion outside of Italy, but here the kids are very fashion conscious and from an early age. Black is very vogue and apparently styles are currently being influenced by the Rock Music scene! Well, at least the Bimbi will be growing up with a taste for good rock music; I hope. Addio to the pastel shades we kids were adorned in, and that’s not a bad thing methinks. What do you think?
So what else is going on? I hear you ask. Well a great news magazine to follow, particularly for Florence and surroundings is The Florentine. I’ve mentioned this publication before and I follow it regularly, it’s also in English and can be subscribed to online if preferred. Events include HOPS/Brewer of the year, (there is and increasing number of micro-breweries popping up in Italy) A shop Vintage event and International Ice skating Awards. Busy, busy. 
OK, what next? Oh yes. The children returned to school last week and much is being talked about regarding the state of the buildings. Some students went out on strike as the temperature in the classrooms were as low as 10 degrees centigrade! Of course, we are now formerly in recession here (again) so spending on the essentials is not always happening. In today’s paper was an article about a survey of the under 18’s. The new young people (Giovani) mostly love school and their teachers. They have had enough of disputes and want to get on with preparing for the future. My man and I arrived here nearly fifteen years ago and so a whole new generation has grown up during that time. Fifteen years ago, society seemed thirty years behind us Brits, but the new Giovani seem to have caught up and cut the time difference down by at least half.
And moving to the much older generation, which includes the Peter Pan of politics Silvio Berlusconi. Yes, Silvio is back! At the age of 82, and as leader of Forza Italia, he is campaigning for the March elections for the European parliament. This assumes it hasn’t fallen apart by then, the parliament that is! Anyway, Silvio has a way of putting a bit of colour back into the world of politics. You either love him or hate him, either way, it makes for an interesting time.
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.
Yes, the beautiful walled city of Lucca attracted over fifty-five thousand fans and the majority were young enough to be their grandchildren. Thankfully the Italians love aging rockers, so I’m still in with a chance! Foto La Repubblica
Meanwhile, down in our local town of Certaldo, glamour turned to traditional costumes, as the Calambur teams were fighting it out to win the coveted victor’s banner. The Calambur is a sort of ‘It’s a Knockout’ contest between the four sections of the Commune di Certaldo, running races, obstacle courses and solving intelligence tests! Our local village Fiano, is in the red and white team and we won last year. But sadly, this time the banner went to the green and blue team called ‘Canonica’ so we had to hand the banner over. There’s always next year….. Foto La Nazione
Well, we may not have won the banner, but we can celebrate the season for Porcini Mushrooms! I am already over indulging in wood-fire grilled giant Porcini at Ristorante C’era Una Volta in Lucardo. 
Elsewhere, and in the world of Politics, another aging star has raised his profile once again and is making inroads into getting back all his old followers and lots of new ones for his Forza Italia party. Silvio Berlusconi, despite having announced that he was going to concentrate more on his family having turned eighty last year, is very much back out there on the hustings and looking very serious too. Watch this space. Foto La Repubblica
And finally, back to glamour again and one of my most favourite subjects, Italian Fashion. I have already posted some Autumn Fashion, but I have to say that I have completely fallen in love with the brand Gaudi. And, the latest colours are right up my street, gorgeous browns and russets, oh and the handbags! I know, I know, I do go on a bit, but I must blame it on the Italians, their wonderful designs and the quality they produce. I’m really looking forward to seeing my man in his new bespoke Italian suit, which will be ready soon. Wonderful! Foto La Repubblica
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