11790 Hello

Hi and welcome to the Forum, neighbour. The villages up in the hills are lovely and we nearly bought there, but then we found our small mill and we fell in love with it. Our geometra was also very good and organised a few tradesmen for us. The people in the area are also great and we could not have better neighbours.
The Forum has a new layout. As for arguments.... perhaps there is an uneasy truce. Let's hope it lasts.
I am sure that we all look forward to your participation and comments.
By the way, there are quite a few people in our area now: however, many of us do not live there permanently, which is unfortunate....

Maybe Gala you could set up a group specifically for those in or around Bagni Di Lucca.

Sorry - welcome G Man

Following Sally's good idea, I have just created a new group which extends to Northern Tuscany as I feel that there are quite a few members in the area. Everyone with an interest in this particular region is most welcome. Sorry, I did not want to hijack the thread, G Man, but you may be interested in joining the new group as well.

Hi G Man and welcome.
I am also the grandson of Italian immigrants and a big genealogy fan as well.
Back to around the late 1500's which is why it is so marvellous to walk round this medieval town almost as it was then and picture my ancestors here. :smile:

Hi Gman

Another impetuous type eh?

Please do chip in regularly - the more the better.

I've only ever been too Bagni di Lucca once - stopped for lunch in a great Trattoria in the centre on my way back from Pistoia with a truck load of hedging plants. Can't remember the name of the place, but it was a bit tardis like - small entrance, and then loads of rooms opened up off the main part.

As for the argunents, i think maybe some of the members were taken round the back of the bike shed and given a warm handshake:bigergrin:

Hi Gman and welcome.

What finally lured you into participate?

Thank you all for the welcome. Nielo, funny how sometimes the smallest questions are the hardest to answer. It's taken quite a bit of analysis to not really come up with an answer. I am fairly reserved, both my wife and I, when we are in Italy, are cautious of introducing ourselves to Brits. Hope it's not our snobby side but one or two we have come across, well you would not want them dropping in every day. Having said that others have been wonderful, takes all sorts and there is probably a lesson for me there. Just would hate to build up a "little Britain". So put me down as anti social and someone who misses opportunities, a ditherer.
Come to think it was typical of me when we viewed the cottage we bought. The geometra quoted a price based on the square meterage of the floorspace as it was not in the best of condition.Now six years ago I had hit a late mid life panic having always been employed, never taken on any major projects, earning a very average income and facing the prospect of working until I reached 65, and wanting to at least leave a little mark somewhere. Now the prospect of buying abroad was a huge undertaking, none of my peers at that time had dared. So having viewed the property learnt there was a bit of garden with a barn which was not allowed for in the estimate but was included in the sale, we were faced with deciding whether to take the plunge. It was a bank holiday Monday, we were on a day trip, so I agreed we would decide and give an answer on the Tuesday.
My heart said yes and my head said "are you sure though?" All over £32000 !!!
So no decision was made by the Monday evening. "s** it", I will offer £28,000 and if we get turned down at least I could put that dream to bed. It wasn't for the likes of me. Unread, no wealth to fall back on etc.
Accepted ! Oh dear what now, scary !
So Nielo in answer to your question, I am really not sure but I am already enjoying getting some bits of my chest.
We have stunning views from the house, if we lost everything tomorrow the experience alone has been worth it. So why does it still take so long for me to put my foot in the water ?

Many times, we make decisions with our hearts and not our brains and they seem to be the best ones. It is fate that pushes you in certain directions and you simply have to go with the tide.
Regarding friends, not everyone who speaks your language may be a suitable one. Look around and try to find people of any nationality who will have things to share with you.
This is all a big adventure, so you must enjoy it. Best luck with your plans.

Dear Gala, I forgot to ask, where do I find your new N. Tuscany group ?
Iritalia, I know what you mean. Just let your mind wander and feel it.

With a second post like that G Man - you're very welcome to the forum. :yes:

G Man, to join the groups section you look at the top of the page and you will find the word "Community" and just below you will find Groups to your right. Click to enter that section and there you have all the list of groups you can join, including "Northern Tuscany". Very easy to follow. We look forward to your participation.

I know what you mean Gman, I used to be indecisive but now I’m not so sure :laughs:

[quote=Gala Placidia;112448]Many times, we make decisions with our hearts and not our brains and they seem to be the best ones.[/quote]

In my case the process is quite simple since I have been blessed with 'tantissimo' of one and 'pochissimo' of the other.

So without thinking I have hurtled off to join the N. Tuscany Group.

Welcome G Man.

Hi Gman and welcome neighbour. Hope you enjoy the area just as much as we do. The Summer is the best.:bigergrin:

Buying abroad is not a flip of the coin thing, though it can be, depends on what type of individual you are. Play safe or throw caution to the wind.
What type are you? How did all you make your decision to come here? And after all the dust had settled was it a wise choice. What would you now do differently?
Bunch

If only it was a flip of the coin. The house was going for the price of a fairly expensive car in which I have no interests, and still I could not decide. However taking into account I had no mortgage, not having moved home since marrying in 1975, the main obstical was could we afford to pay back the sum borrowed in the 12 years I had left before I retire. Ticking those two boxes was what convinced us both.
I have joined the N. Tuscany Group and when I can get my head around posting photo's I will show you a couple of pics looking out from our lounge. You could pay more for a landscape painting that is not as good as our view. There is nature all around us, the food is good, the air is pure and it can be so peaceful. We have met some of the most special people. The locals still enjoy the simple things, porcini mushrooms from there own "secret" plots and chestnuts. An education in itself.
It has been an education, and has been one of life's greatest investments. I was thinking better than money could buy, not true, but it has all been on a budget.

It is true what you say, G man, the Bagni di Lucca area is absolutely great. Local people are terrific, genuine and a happy lot. They enjoy the simple pleasures in life, but at the same time, you have so much culture and sophistication within an hour's drive or a train ride that you can have the best of both worlds. Lucca is a great city and it only takes 25 minutes from Bagni di Lucca to reach it. Florence is a bit over an hour's drive but you can also catch a bus, a train from either Lucca or Pescia and you are right in the centre of the city without having to worry about your car. Abetone, the wonderful Garfagnana, Lunigiana, the Swizzera Pesciatina, Lerici, the Cinque Terre... small and beautiful towns such as Barga and Castelnuovo di Garfagnana, full of history.... And the magnificent landscape that surrounds you. There is something for everyone.
Good choice, you will never regret it. We had a look at some of the mountain villages as well, but we are not getting any younger and my husband felt that he would not enjoy the extra driving, so we settled for a downtown location on the banks of the river and within walking distance from everything. And we are very happy about it.

After plucking up the courage to introduce myself something big cropped up at home. I did hope to post a few mails by now but we have had a little problem with Greenbelt issues at home. Under the threat of the East of England authority my Council Planners have decided to concrete over a vast swathe of Greenbelt land directly behind my house. Now it is not an idyll or anything romantic / breathtaking, but it is "our fields". It's the last bit of natural land inside our perimeter roadways. I organised a petition and got a good response. This has been lodged in Parliament. But it's obviously needs more, so I hired the local village hall and it has taken of from there. The Newspaper picked it up and all of the Politicians have come out of the woodwork. The Leader of the Council has threatened us with no new Sports Centre or Central GP Centre if we don't adopt the Councils Plan. Now I find myself stuck at a computer or reading reports on Flood Plains of an evening. If you are interested, it is poor old Canvey Island, the website which is under construction, is [URL="http://www.canveygb.co.uk"]www.canveygb.co.uk[/URL] ,still, I have a weekend in Italy to look forward to in April, roll on. All the best, from G Man

Best wishes regarding your endeavours.

I am new to the forum, and I read your thread and looked at the links, I have no connection to Canvey Island, but I do have a Bracci in my family tree!!! How fantastic would it be if we ended up related ??? :yes:

G Man, I must have missed where you said you had a family background with the name Bracci, and now another 'newbie' hs that name in their tree too. Small world, isn't it?

Genealogy fascinates me. I wonder if both your Bracci's originate in the same area of Italy? Have either of you looked into it?

When I was looking for my Bracci, I found this,

[URL="http://promise.blaengwawr.co.uk/HTMLFiles/bracchi.html"]PROMISE: Bracchi[/URL]

[quote=Lollita;114284]When I was looking for my Bracci, I found this,

[URL="http://promise.blaengwawr.co.uk/HTMLFiles/bracchi.html"]PROMISE: Bracchi[/URL][/quote]

It seems from that the cafes adopted the name of the family that started them and all became known as Bracci's instead of Cafès... with the name of the owner added. Like Saying 'Servini's Bracci' instead of 'Servini's Cafè' - is that right?

Did you find any other links to your family name - perhaps from Ancestry.com or similar?

Wonder if Gman has investigated the name at all...

Sorry - I just get excited when there's a family tree mystery/puzzle. :reallyembarrassed:

There exposed myself, I should have known better.
Bracchi's were the subject of a Radio 4 programme at least ten years ago. I have also heard Neil Kinnock share memories of their cafe's from his childhood in Wales. Sorry not my side of the family , no H's.

[quote=G Man;114353]There exposed myself, I should have known better.
Bracchi's were the subject of a Radio 4 programme at least ten years ago. I have also heard Neil Kinnock share memories of their cafe's from his childhood in Wales. Sorry not my side of the family , no H's.[/quote]

And [U][I]that's[/I][/U] the difference Gman... Knowing when there should be that little 'h' in the middle!

I knew a family in Pontypool who had a Bracchi called 'Pezzini's' - and very nice and proseperous it was. Their daughter was my neighbour when I lived in Milan - that's how I met them.

This is the point when I become boring, Bracci, Bracchi, Brachi, Bracky, Brackey !!!
all appear on my tree, hunted down using original records from Italy. My first record in England I think is 1871. By the way, I have yet to find one in Wales - but I live in hope.

Hi friends!!!
I am Mark.. i love Italy and after my friend's advice.. i joined in this forum.. it feels great to be here...

The first of the month, to me this means just one thing, 17 days before I grab my first weekend this year in Italy, can't wait. Will our little barn have been restored by now ? Will the Pound have recovered a little to help me pay for it ? Dream on! At home the fight goes on for our little piece of greenbelt. Anybody that wishes to have a look at our struggle feel free to visit the campaign website [URL="http://www.canveygb.co.uk"]www.canveygb.co.uk[/URL] , it will give you a little insight. Talk about David versus Goliath though, it has drained me. The sort of thing that, in our village in Italy, would never be an issue as the Italians have recognised that they must protect the character of places. That's not to say they live totally in the past, their sense of style would not allow that. It's about balance, they recognise it, all we see in Britain is collateral damage and Pounds, shillings and pence ! April 17th Can't wait !

Lolitta
Before people could read and write names often changed as it was down to the person who was keeping the records. Different dialects is also a factor in the name being spelt differently. This is one of the 'interesting' quirks of family history!! To tell you the truth it drives you up the wall as you worry that the person you have found might not be person you are actually looking for. Keep at it!! :smile:

I have 17 different spellings of one name in my tree !!! and a Paul transcribed as Pane?
Clearly Paul on the census. My Bracci lot changed their name to Brackey when they came to England, but are buried as Braccis. Makes the searching more fun :bigergrin: