Welcome and Benvenuti to all my Lovely Readers around the World,
Now, if you read my blog on a regular basis you will know that it is very rare for me to grumble. However, I hope you will allow me one gripe having almost got past the final Christmas, New Year and Befana celebrations here in our little bit of Chianti. As you know the Italians love festas. That is the excuse to take time off for a day or more and celebrate with family, friends, good food and wine. Nothing wrong with that, I hear you say. Last Sunday was the final celebration called Befana, when the good witch pays a visit to all the Italian children to check if they have been good or not, and then award them with presents or a lump of coal.
The next day I thought, hurrah, we can get back to normal, ditch or plant the Christmas trees that many of us are allergic to, the shops will all be open and the post office will be functioning. How, after nearly fourteen years living in this beautiful bit of the world, could I forget that Befana also heralds the start of a week’s holiday for thousands of Italians, when many shoot off to ski destinations! Last Monday I found a note in my post box, telling me that a long overdue Christmas parcel was waiting for me at Certaldo Post Office. So I waited in the usual queue and arrived at the counter feeling pretty relaxed. “Sorry Signora” the male counter assistant said, in Italian of course, “The sorting office is still on holiday, you will have to come back tomorrow!” Take note, the date was 8th January….. I took a deep breath and walked back out into a hail storm and did not have a brolly with me! OK, grumble over, I went back the next day and got my parcel. Foto La Repubblica
And on the subject of skiing, you would love the Dolomites in Northern Italy this time of year. Very crowded mind, although from next week onwards most of the Italian tourists may have finally returned to work. Meanwhile, a little further north in Austria, our brilliant female ski team have just won the World Championship and good for them I say! Are you a keen skier? I have always wanted to ski, but never got round to it. Too many other priorities I guess. My man skied in Norway with the military; when you next see him, ask him about his experiences, he loves to talk about his wooden skis!
Meanwhile, back in our local village of Fiano, we continue to enjoy morning coffee and despite the owners, Fabio and Sandra, being on holiday, their lovely daughter Rossella (on the right) was running things at La Dispensa. She and I always speak in English and at normal speed so that she can even further improve her very good command of the language. Relaxing over coffee and the newspapers here, always starts my day off brilliantly. Foto J Finnigan.
Well, must get my head around completing my column for Expat Focus and complete a short story called ‘The Man in Black,’ which I started a few years ago. My man has, over the last few weeks, inspired me to go back and finish it. So watch this space for news of its publication. Or, if you have not yet registered for updates on my website, go to June’s Official Website
Do drop me a line, I love to hear from you.
Salute June x
PS My fourth novel ‘Assassin’s List’ is also progressing well!
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