I'm in a muddle! I had no idea about ICI and have been sent invoices to pay at the Post Office for years 2007 - 2010. No problem now I know what it is. My problem is 2011. I haven't received an invoice and therefore don't know how much it is or how to pay it. I could wait until next year when they will add interest and send me an invoice for the PO again. I went to the Comune on my last Visit (not resident) who simply directed me to the PO. As I didn't know what was going on it has taken me until now to understand. Should I receive an annual statement or am I being naive?

Hi, My daughter is getting married in Lucca this year and we will be travelling over and back from Ireland to organise things. As using an irish mobile phone is very costly I was wondering could I purchase an Italian sim card for my phone and if so where would I be able to obtain it? Also any other recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

We are going to spend 3 nights in the northern part of Abruzzo (around the Controguerra area) before heading to southern Marche again. We'd like to check it out to see if we are interested in the area as a potential place to retire. (We have already spent a week near the city of Teramo in the past.) Does anyone know of a nice agriturismo or bed and breakfast in the Val Vibrata area? We were there just briefly to visit Illuminati windery right before closing time. Also, any particular towns you'd recommend we consider living in as well as any good cantinas for red wine?

I live in Marche and have had, for 4 yrs now a plumbago growing in a pot as I thought it was not hardy enough to withstand the winters here. The pot is 40ltr size, big and heavy and I have been bringing it inside to protect it from the elements overwinter. A friend has just brought me a piece of his, (a sucker) that came from his plant in Spain that is happily growing in the ground. Is anyone here having success with planting theirs in the soil? Would save a lot of effort and free up some inside space !