Annec's activity

Taking the idea of "politics" to mean slightly more than idiot macho posturing,  what about women in Italian society? I'd say the States was streets ahead in that field anyway.In that I could walk into a bar on my own in the US and not be considered a strumpet.In that (as far as I am aware) Miss USA does not get blanket TV coverageIn that it is not obligatory to have a bimbette doing a very strange dance in the middle of every show hosted by men old enough to be their grandfathersI know that Italian women are tough and the cult of the Mamma/Madonna etc etc but don't really know enough to come to any firm conclusions (though the above examples don't bode well IMHO).

Beauty contests - Pah! - Sooooooo 1960s

"Dark Heart" is depressing but useful as background to Italian politics, but I agree doesn't really help you find out what it's like to live here.I go along with the Tim Parks recommendations - and also anything by Annie Hawes.  She has had a house in Liguria for many years and writes very well and non-patronisingly about living here.DON'T read "Under the Tuscan Sun" - or if you do, have the vomit bucket to hand (and even more so if you watch the movie)

Thanks coppicer - next time I'll risk not taking a wad out with me and test out the local ATMs instead

Unless you are a lawn nut and are going for the bowling green look, if you just let stuff grow and mow it you will very quickly have a decent lawn at no cost.I have turned several dock-filled areas into grass by this simple expedient.  Things grow so fast during the growing season in Italy that what looks like bare earth very quickly greens up.  Almost the only thing that survivies regular mowing is grass, and if there is other green stuff in there as well, so much the better in my book.

In one of her books Annie Hawes describes spilling olive oil on her floor by mistake.  It turned out to be the perfect finishing product!Has anyone tried that?

There's a reason for tiny rooms and small windows in old houses - they are easier to keep warm in the winter.So although I wouldn't say keep all your rooms tiny - I would try to ensure that doors/curtains etc can be used to convert the glorious large living room which is perfect for a hot summer's day into a cosier area for winter hibernation.Shutters on all windows to keep the cold out.  But open them on sunny days to take advantage of the warmthMake sure any heating system is fully adjustable, so you can turn off rads in all but essential areas.  keep doors into non-heated rooms shut.If possible, design one room where you can eat, cook and sit.  That way you have to heat only that room in the winter and just make a run for it up to bed. Alternatively (and taking up adriatica's theme of an active social life) - spend all day in the bar by the pellet stove!

If you're burning wood, it is a carbon neutral activity.  You are only releasing carbon which would have otherwise been released as the wood rotted down.  And trees suck up lots of CO2 whilst growing, so its a double bubble. Or that's what I've been told....

Thanks for the replies and to abruzzo for the question.  We are sort of halfway there, in that we have a gas system but it is set up to include solar when we get around to it.  We have underfloor heating int he cantina which I would like to think could also use the solar-produced hot water when the house is empty - just as a sort of tick-over system. Not sure if that would be feasible though.I'm also interested long-term in photovoltaics - will they ever actually be cost effective?Abruzzo, we seriously considered then dropped the idea of a pellet boiler.  Mainly because you need somewhere absolutely dry to store the pellets, and in winter in teh mountains (especially if the house is empty) that's difficult to do, given the quantity needed. We have two woodburners, and now that I have finally persuaded the builder that the flue must end above roof height, that makes for cosiness without smokiness. We do also try to shut down a lot of the house for the winter, and put up heavy curtains to make it a bit less open-plan.I agree that winter can be the best time - although weeks of fog, cold winds and rain are not to everyone's taste.  But a bright December morning warm enough to eat outside can't be beat.

Hi JohnThe chestnut festival in Montefalcone - or to give it it's full title "Sapore d'Autonno" is huge.  Thousands arrive for it and the village is packed out for two whole days.Others are more local affairs.  They nearly all have some sort of food theme (sardines, trout, funghi, tartufi etc), though that's merely a hook to hang the excuse for a good knees-up!If you're coming from abroad it can be difficult to get to hear about them in advance - posters go up in the locality and that's it.  Others may be able to suggest ways to find out more.However the Montefalcone one is always the second weekend in October.  Apart from all the many stalls selling local produce and knick-knacks, there is an English tea room run by the proprietors of Il Granaio http://www.il-granaio.com/navigationin.htmlNot necessarily what you come to Italy for, though the cross-cultural implications are entertaining