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Posts Tagged ‘Silvio Berlusconi’

Well Hello to all my loyal and lovely new Followers –  let the fun begin,

Today I am talking about The Rock Chick Band, Great Friends & Groupies, Fun and Silliness over the weekend, A Contadino and his Ape, A good friend’s request for his Wake, The Racquet that Turned and of course the downfall of Silvio Berlusconi.

I want to thank the guys in the band for a tremendous performance and particularly Stefano Bartalesi (lead guitar and band leader) for his flawless electric guitar performance.  The lovely Paola, with legs up to her armpits, gave a great performance as our new backing singer, harmonizing and uhhuhing like a professional.  Thank you also to my man for doing the speaking bit at the beginning of Meat Loaf’s ‘You took the words right out of my mouth’ and for the large rose to fit my cleavage.  A huge hug goes to all our friends and family who came, despite the competition from other music festivals and concerts going on around the Chianti Hills.  I hope to post more fotos in future blogs as the people taking them, they know who they are, forgot to put their cameras on ‘night mode’!

Me and The Rock Chick Band (yes very dark)

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The following day we were a little slow to rise and when I ventured out into the fresh air, my sister-in-law was heard saying, ‘Well I looked up from the parsley and there was Paul pushing June on a sack-truck!’  Unfortunately she had a photo to prove it….O dio!  I think we may have also annoyed the neighbours, as immediately after the rehearsal, they let loose with a noisy strimmer.  I did give them invites, but hey ho, we made a lot more noise than they did!

A few days before, we were waiting in the petrol queue and this little old farmer (contadino) got out of his Ape (small three-wheeled vehicle and pronounced apay) and spent three whole minutes studying the pumps at close range, doing funny little head nods and swaying movements (Aka the English comedian and actor Norman wisdom, who was big in Albania).  We broke down with laughter and just as we were about to get out and assist him, the pump attendant came to his rescue.  Now this is the queue for self-service as the petrol is cheaper,  but he was being assisted anyway.  Meanwhile the queue was getting longer and longer.  Then, as one does, he rocked his vehicle to make sure the petrol was going down and asked for a drop more.  All this time he is swaying & nodding and we were having hysterics.  Then he opened the wrong door and got in,  got out again, scratched his head, stared at the ape and then walked round to the other door.  We were amazed when he actually managed to drive away without some further dilemma.  Oh, if only we had thought to film it….

Meanwhile, a good friend and musician was planning ahead for his proposed funeral party and he wants us all to have a really good time.  He also made a special request that a certain musician from the north, who he really dislikes and who will no doubt invite himself, may like to ‘accompany’ him on his final journey…..ha,ha!

Oh yes, last week I promised to post a limerick, which a wrote a few years ago after my man hit himself with his own tennis racket on Valentines Day.   The poor boy arrived home late with a single rose,  a pale face and a very convincing excuse!    I should have been really sympathetic, but I’m afraid that I see a lot of humour in mishaps, including my own!

The Racquet that Turned

 By June Finnigan

There was a young man called Paul

Who rushed for a high tennis ball

The racquet instead, hit him hard on the head

and now he’s not nearly so tall.

 

The nurse smiled and said “What a shame,

self-inflicted! Then you are to blame.

But please do not worry, t’will mend in a hurry

we’ll glue it to keep out the rain!”

 

For days Paul felt terribly glum

His head held together with gum,

After such a mishap, he’ll be wearing a cap

and the jokers will not spoil his fun!

 

Of course, there’s a moral to this.

When you run for the ball and then miss,

do not hit your own head, thrash your partner instead

for the blame is most certainly his!

And back to the real world….

The gorgeous Silvio Berlusconi

Silvio 020613Well, what about poor (if wealthy) Silvio.  Last Monday was decision day and he has received the much dreaded seven-year jail sentence and a lifetime ban from public office.  We think this is most unfair, particularly as the prosecutor only asked for six years!  The judges also failed to consider the cost of a penthouse, en-suite cell with resident hairdressers and make-up artists!  Of course there will be an appeal and he will remain free in the meantime.  Time for him to dig up all those gold bars supposedly buried in all the useless roundabouts that have appeared around the country over the last few years.  Only ‘bar’ talk, but well, nothing surprises us here in Italy.

Well, must head off to Montespertoli for our traditional aperitivo & then to ‘C’era Una Volta’ for pranzo.  Then tomorrow it’s back to the day job for few working days.

Buona Domenica June x

P.S.  I would love to have your comments on ‘My Father, The Assassin’.  To view or buy the book click the top right-hand bit below Blog Roll.  Also, if you have already read it, please return to Amazon and leave a review and  I’ll be eternally grateful.  I’m working hard on the follow-up novel, ‘The Bolivian Connection’  so watch this space….xx

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Benvenuti to all my lovely followers, new and old,

Today I am talking about being Home Alone, Concentration or the lack of it, Eyes,  Election Boards, Secrets from a Tuscan Kitchen, a Beautiful Friend and scuttlebutt, Singing practice, Silvio Berlusconi (yes him) and The Rock Concert.

For a brief moment, we thought that summer had come and gone because last week we only had one day of sunshine.  But now, thank god, it is 29 degrees and the sky is the brightest of blues!

My Man and the Summer Sky

2013-05-11 pau lin gardenMy man went to London last Monday.  Sometimes we have to make an appearance for the sake of our business and the need to eat and drink.  This then left me home alone.  Well, you might say, make the most of the quiet and no cooking agenda.  Unfortunately, I am the dizzy one and he stops me from spinning all over the place.  Tuesday morning was the first crisis.  I knew my concentration had gone out the window when I started to mascara my glasses.  Then I drove to Fiano for my espresso fix and got asked, in Italian of course, how many eyes I had!  Now this chap is a regular joker, so I thought he was probably up to something.  I had put on my reading glasses to read La Republica, so not to be caught out I said ‘four’.  No,  he said and so I put my thinking cap on, which has never been a very good fit.  Eyes in the back of my head, I thought, so I said six, triumphantly!  No, came the reply from our friend, then he returned to his sporting pages and gently chuckled to himself.  Ready to leave, I put my sunglasses back on, my reading glasses in my bag and walked back to the Piazza.  I got in the car and adjusted the rear view mirror and would you believe it, my spare pair of sunglasses were on my head along with my glasses with the mascara smudge!  So the answer was eight, and nobody had pointed out my absent-mindedness, they just had a good laugh!  Numerous other things got confused and forgotten during the week, but this story could go on and on….  My man is back now, so things are a little calmer!

                                                              Very informative election boards in Fiano

Election boards fiano may 2013The election boards finally came down in Fiano,  so the non-government has obviously decided to muddle along with what they’ve got.  So nothing changes on that front.  It’s pretty pointless putting up these boards in the first place because, as you can see opposite, the Italian government  has nothing useful to say!

Secrets from my Tuscan kitchen by Judy Witts Francini – visit http://www.divinacucina.com

judys cookbookAlso on Tuesday I met a lovely lady called Judy Witts Francini who has a fabulous Tuscan cookbook, which you must buy.  Its called ‘Secrets from my Tuscan Kitchen’ and it is not just a gorgeous book to look at, it also contains the most wonderful Tuscan recipes.  We have lived in our current home for eighteen months and have never managed to chat with Judy, an American married to a Tuscan, and she lives next door!  It’s amazing how busy and very interesting people can pass in the night….

On Wednesday morning I met my tall, blond and beautiful friend from Bavaria for coffee.  She filled me in on all the ‘scuttlebutt’ from where I used to live.  It’s amazing how easy it would be to write a soap about a tiny hamlet (borgo) containing just four houses!  she also reminded me of a limerick, which I wrote a few years ago, called ‘The Racket that Turned’.  As Wimbledon is just around the corner, I’ll post it in my next blog – watch this space!

I was very good all week, stopping for singing practice every day, doing my brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrs,  oooooooooooooooohs and eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees with great gusto!   When I collected a prescription from my doctor’s surgery, the envelope contained a little note in English,  ‘I am longing to listen to your songs’ it said.  Yes I know, I’ve even invited our local medic!  But really, he is seriously into rock music and a very nice man.    And by the way, the person who said that I was overheard in the cafe bar shouting ‘ I need groupies, please come to my rock concert, I’ll pay you’,  is a rotten liar!  The garden is looking fabulous now and our concert guests on  Saturday will really enjoy it.  I certainly will!   If you are in Tuscany and would like to come email me at june.finnigan@virgin.net.

Silvio 020613I would love Silvio Berlusconi to come to our Rock Concert Party.  Can’t you just imagine it;  little Silvio bouncing up and down to ‘Your so Vain’ and ‘Forever Young’.  All the girlies would go wild and argue over who should be his dancing partner!   So what’s the latest from the courts?    Very little is being said at the moment other than Silvio quoting  ‘If you think you can scare me, you are very mistaken’, in Italian of course.   I suppose his confidence comes from being vertically challenged;  it’s difficult to spot him in a crowd.  I think he should be more afraid of all those girlies that offer him a wardrobe to hide in.

Well, enough of that.  We have guests arriving on Tuesday and I must get the house sorted.  My lovely English sister-in-law is our VIP guest as she is like a real sister to me.  She loves to rummage in cupboards and last year managed to find some Scholl shoe deodorant and spray it under her arms!  It did say deodorant on the container, but the rest was in Italian, of course.  Then she trimmed the bottom of our fly curtain and left it four inches short!  But we love her anyway.

Very, very excited now with only six days to go!

Salute June x

P.S. If you would like to view or buy my book,  ‘My Father, The Assassin’ click the top right of this page under blogroll.

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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  big welcome to all my new followers,

My apologies for being a day late, but there has been a lot of fun and excitement this last week.  Today I am talking about a Shifting Villa, Bunga Bunga Parties with the gorgeous Silvio, the Mille Miglia, Harry Honda, Farty Barty, ‘My Father, The Assassin’ and Rain, Rain, Rain.

A couple of weeks ago all the internal doors on the east side of the villa started squeaking and dragging the ground.  So last Saturday my man got his big Jemmy and some oil and asked me which doors he should tackle.  To our amazement they had all returned to normal.  We mentioned this strange phenomenon in the cafe bar at Fiano and everyone shrugged and said it was normale in these hills.  The ground below the villa had probably shifted a fraction and then moved back a week later.  Signore Rotund (not his real name) told us how his house had formed a crack as wide as his fist, a big plump fist, and a few weeks later it had closed up again!  We were also told, in Italian of course, that our house had been in the same place for 200 years and that they knew of several that had moved as far as the next village!

The big excitement of the week was our joining the Mille Miglia race for the leg between Poggibonsi and Tavernelle.  This is an annual event that has wonderful classic cars road racing from southern to northern Italy with stops for picnics and vino.  What a thrill it is to be nose to tail with Bentleys, Alpha Romeos and Lamborghini!  What  was that you said?  Oh, our car….Er, well it is called Harry Honda and if I was being honest with you I would admit to our having ‘accidentally’ got caught up in the race for the fourth time.  But don’t you just love it when the crowds wave to you!

Farty Barty, our grey tiger cat, got a reprieve yesterday.  We had borrowed a cat box to take him to the vet for his jabs and the little gate fell off before we even got him to the car, so he made a dash for it!  Well who can blame him.  He’s suffered worse and still returned to be fed.  When we moved house he returned to his old one and waited for us to go back and feed him.  Now, we are reliably informed, he visits his old friends, and probably children, on a regular basis.

Farty Barty

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So, what has the lovely Silvio Burlesconi been up to.  The courts are currently going over has past life and his love of Bunga Bunga parties.  Apparently the girlies all dressed up as Nuns and then did a striptease!  If he had wanted the real thing he could have just popped next door into the Vatican City!

Well, I have ordered a carton of my book, ‘My Father, The Assassin’ from the publisher as I have worked out that I can make a bigger profit if I buy in bulk and sell them to the tourists.  The only problem is that the tourists are still thin on the ground in Fiano, however, a neighbour did spot one yesterday!  If you are in the area and would like a signed copy, let me know!

The weather has been awful and I feel really sorry for the visitors.  However, when the sun comes out it is blissfully hot.  We are going to take a chance and head off to Montespertoli for our traditional Sunday cocktail in the main Piazza and to watch the world go by.  We might then drop into one of our local restaurants ‘C’era Una Volta’ (Once upon a time) at Lucardo for lunch.  Hey, the sun has just come out so we are off….salute.

Buona Domenica and see you next weekend xx

Here is the direct link for my novel ‘My Father, The Assassin’ by J W Finnigan.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/My-Father-The-Assassin-Finnigan/dp/1481904396/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1358800225&sr=8-1

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Buon Giorno Ragazzi

Welcome to another weekly blog and con piacere to all my new followers!  Today I will be talking about Burning Hats, Bee Eaters, Rain, Acacia Trees, Jasmin, Silvio Burlesconi and ‘My Father, The Assassin.

The exiting event of this last week was my man setting light to his hat when he was still wearing it!  He has been helping our son-in-law (genero) prune, clear and burn the debris from the olive trees.  He was in charge of the bonfires.  Now one has to be careful not to let the fire spread and fortunately the land was fairly damp.  However, bits kept floating upwards and what goes up must come down.  He smelt something burning very close at hand and could not identify it until some rancid smoke blew done over his face!  Then he realized he was on fire and grabbed his hat just before the flames started on his hair.  He still has a handsome crop of hair, so that was a relief!  Sadly, it is goodbye to his ancient green jungle hat that he wore as a young Marine…..

Some good news.  Just about all of our feathered friends from North Africa are now here, including the beautiful Bee Eater.  The birdsong is fabulous, even at night.  In the garden and countryside the Acacia trees are dripping with white blossom and starting to send their snow flurries of seeds drifting slowly through the air.  Soon the roadsides will look like we have had an overnight snow shower.  The Jasmin is particularly lush this year, and the perfume is to die for.  We have had quite a lot of rain this last week which, with the help of warm sunny breaks, has encouraged every imaginable wild flower to burst through the grassy banks.

Bee Eaters in Acacia Tree

https://i0.wp.com/www.birdforum.net/opus/images/thumb/d/d8/European_Bee-eater.jpg/550px-European_Bee-eater.jpg

And how is our gorgeous friend Silvio Berlusconi doing? Mama Mia, his tax fraud conviction has been upheld on its first appeal!  He says his conviction is politically motivated and he is expected to appeal to Italy’s highest court.  Slip in a few gold bars here and there, that’s what I say…..

Back in our local village of Fiano, I am very excited to tell you that Milko, our local Stationer (Cartoleria) has placed his book order for ‘My Father, The Assassin’.  I’ll start with three, he said, what cartons I asked, no three books and we’ll see how the tourists take to them!  No silly comments please….  But we don’t care about that, Amazon is doing a reasonably good job.    Run your cursor over to the right of this page and you can buy one now!

Well the weather is now gorgeous and it’s time to organize pranzo in the garden.  Then we can look forward to the beautiful light display put on by the Fire Flies this evening.

Buona Domenica x

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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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Ciao Amici

Well here we are again, with lots to talk about and smile at.  Today I will be talking about my being famous in Fiano, the Italian stampede to buy plants for the vegetable gardens, Silvio Berlusconi (who?), Enrico Letta (who?), Big slabs of concrete and Italian roadworks.

I am delighted to report that our local cartoleria (stationers) in Fiano, run by Milko and his lovely mother, want to sell my novel to the tourists.  Milko thinks they should promote me as their local famous writer!  Well, I said (in Italian of course) I am delighted to hear it, you are the first bookseller to suggest this, so I had better order you a batch!

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After two months of political wilderness, things seem to be coming together here.  Enrico Letta has been nominated as the new Prime Minister by our aging friend President Giorgio Napolitano.  He’s only in his forties, which kind of goes along with a number of other European countries, and has the ear of the lovely Silvio Berlusconi.  Silvio, however, wants back in as Minister of the Economy.  In other words he’ll still be running the country!  This is important as he is also a great advertisement for the thousands of hairdressers, plastic surgeons and makeup artists in the country.

My man and I went to Certaldo this morning and got caught up in the stampede to buy freshly delivered plants for the vegetable gardens (l’orti).  It’s important not to be shy on occasions like this, because everyone pushes in front of one another.  Fortunately, I am taller than the average Italian and can shout as loud as the locals, so got my purchases reasonably quickly!  We will be planting Courgettes (zucchini), peppers (pepperoni), and numerous herbs (l’erbe) this weekend, assuming the rain stays away.

Last Wednesday, I set out for Fiano and my coffee fix.  After two km’s of dusty track I came to the main road and turned left for Fiano.  Then I was waved down by a local farmer (contadino), who told me to turn found, because the three week old landslide was finally being removed and the road was blocked by diggers and cranes.  So I did and found the road blocked the other way by more workmen and a no through sign!  So I retrace my steps and the only way to go was back past my villa and down to Certaldo for coffee!  We have a favourite saying here – ‘Only in Italy!’  Thursday, the road was open again and vast concrete blocks have been placed below the cleared landslide – unfortunately the Italians love concrete!

I have not included a snippit from ‘My Father, The Assassin’ by J W Finnigan today, but will do so next weekend.  Why not view the whole book on Amazon!

Buona Domenica x

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Ciao Ragazzi

 My man and I have just returned from our coffee fix in Fiano and I am getting on with this blog, which I had intended doing yesterday!  A glorious day and expected to be 24 degrees by lunchtime.  Today I am talking about the lovely Silvio B, the Cuckoo and My Father, The Assassin.

 “La casa brucia, altro che pettinarele bombole. Governo forte o elezione!”  The house is on fire, another that combs the cylinders!  Strong government or election!  Well that’s the translation as quoted on his personal Facebook page ten hours ago.  Silvio Berlusconi will be back.  Vertically challenged, rotund and wearing makeup, at 76 a very high percentage of the female voters love him.  506,000 ‘like’ him on Facebook and you can be sure they are not all women.  Crowds have been thronging to the piazzas to hear him blow his own trumpet.

 So, on to the subject of the cuckoo.  No the bird variety silly!  Our feathered friend arrived last Tuesday and locals are talking excitedly about the formal arrival of spring.  All outside areas from balconi to giardini are being made ready for living and eating outside. And the weekenders, who own the property behind us, are outside playing ping-pong.  I cannot describe how good it is to be breathing in the warm scented air.

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 My man thought you might like to read an extract of my novel, ‘My Father, The Assassin’.  Now remember this is his idea, however, if you have not already read the book I will be interested to know if it encourages you to do so.  So here is a bit of chapter 6 where Joanna is preparing to leave for Singapore on her quest to follow the ghost of her father; she rings her daughter Emma…..

 After putting the phone down on the enthusiastic Jimmy, I realised that I was probably rushing into this adventure of mine without any proper planning.  I rang Emma.  “Mum, how are you?  Harrys just landed himself a superb job running the John Nichols Golf and Country Club.  That means we have free access to all the facilities and its the best club in the country now.  Did you know that annual membership is £15,000 a year and you need to be sponsored by an existing member?  Harry wont have to pay his fee anymore, instead they’re going to be paying him – isnt that just amazing?  Oh god!  Finny has just come in with the dead rabbit the cat was playing with, hold on a minute!”  The receiver clattered onto the table, and I listened to Emma shouting at Finny the lurcher and trying to retrieve the poor dead rabbit. “Blast” Emma gasped, “hes gone under the bed with it, can you believe it?  Harry will have to sort it out; Finny doesnt take a blind bit of notice of me!  where were we – oh yes, and my friends are so jealous.  We thought we might have our wedding reception there, what do you think?”

“I didnt know you were getting married!” I gasped.  “Of course you know, Mum, It’s living in the depth of beyond that makes you to lose your memory all the time,” Emma quipped.  “Emma, I need your help.  I want to fly out to Singapore to do some research, and need to be away for two to three weeks.  I wondered if yourself, Harry and Finny would like to come down and house sit for me.  It would be ideal for you all and you badly need to take a rest.  Dippy would love to see Finny again and….”  I was suddenly interrupted.  “Actually mum, that’s a brilliant idea, we have just been talking about taking one of those Landmark Trust properties for a couple of weeks; coming down to Devon would be an even better idea.  Harry doesnt start his job until the middle of next month, leave it with me!”  And she was gone.

 Here is the direct link to the novel;

http://www.amazon.co.uk/My-Father-The-Assassin-Finnigan/dp/1481904396/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1358800225&sr=8-1

 Drop me a line and don’t forget to share with all your social networks!

 Have a great week, June x

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