Annec's activity

I think Penny's suggestion is probably the best one D, I don't live in Marche f/t and she'll have much greater knowledge than me AS for what I brought over - roses, cornus (red and yellow stemmed), viburnum, salix - I think that was it.  

  I suspect that umbria/tuscany may be better than Marche - just because they've had longer to get used to the desire for a wider range of plants. Also - there is nothing to stop you bringing stuff in from anywhere else in the EU.  I bought a whole lot of "whips" from a UK nursery - stuck 'em in my suitcase and brought them over.  Obviously you can only do that in winter during the plant's dormancy. Given all the online plant sales these days, you might be able to order from the UK (though actually Penny's recommendation should probably be your first port of call - I think we all beleive in using local suppliers if poss.)

  Thanks piano - Alfredo must have been in one of the Marche camps.  I'll try and contact his son via YouTube (if I can work out how to!) to find out more

......some time agohttp://www.d-daydodgers.com/intropage.htmBeware though, the research can get quite addictive

 I'm researching PoWs in Italian camps during WW2 and their Italian helpers. I post periodically on this same topic, because I think it is a fascinating and unique event. There were PoW camps throughout Italy, and after the Italian Armistice (Sept 1943), many thousands of Brits, S Africans, N Zealanders, Americans etc just walked out into the surrounding countryside. It was expected that the Allies would sweep up through \Italy and so they would soon be reunited with the troops.  Actually it took a year of carnage for the Allies to dislodge the Germans - the casualties probably outdoing those of D-Day and the battles through France. Those in the Italian campaign were unfairly known as the "D-Day dodgers" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-Day_Dodgers Anyway, as a result, the escapers had to make a decision - Stay put and wait for the Allies to reach them Start walking south to meet up with the Allied troops Go north and escape over the border into Switzerland Join up with a local partisan band Undoubtedly almost none would have survived without the help of Italian contadini who, in defiance of German orders that those caught helping be shot and/or their houses burned down, sheltered, fed and watered anyone who came to their door. I am collecting accounts, particularly in the Marche region, of those who went through this experience.  Without exception they speak warmly and movingly of their Italian hosts.  Some stayed for months, helping with the farmwork in return for shelter.  Others moved on swiftly, accepting food but diligently moving on towards the Allied lines. Many bonds were formed between the escapers and their helpers, some of which lasted a lifetime.  Others never spoke of their wartime experiences, and it is only now, as children and grandchildren decide to research, that memories are being recorded.  Often these descendants regret they never spoke to their fathers and grandfathers about this before it was too late. My neighbour Luigi remembers as a young boy having an English escaper, known only as Frederico, live with his family for 6 months.  My researches uncovered a photo of a "Fred" from the nearby camp at Servigliano.  Luigi tells me that's not his Fred, but he does recognise him as someone who was sheltered by his neighbour just down the road.  Sadly Fred passed on a year or so ago, but his wife is still alive, though frail, and I'm hoping to get more info from her to add to the story. I recommend these websites for a bit of browsing on a wet day - they contain many stories and mementoes.  The fact that they are written by non-professionals adds to their immediacy and poignancy. http://camp59survivors.wordpress.com/ - read the story of Robert Dickinson and his notebook covered with flattened Red Cross cocoa tins, which contains some wonderful poetry - try starting here: http://camp59survivors.wordpress.com/2009/01/06/robert-dickinsons-last-letter/ or look in the Italian section of http://pegasusarchive.org/pow/frames.htm and find Sgt William (Bill) Cooper's account of his escape and journey through the mountains down to Rome. If anyone's interested, I'll try and post some individual stories here.  Just one for now: Dany Billany, who in his day had some fame as an author of detective stories pre-war, was imprisoned in Fontenellato, near to Bologna (the same prison as Eric Newby - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Love-War-Apennines-Picador-Books/dp/0330280244 ).  He wrote a book whilst incarcerated, together with his friend David.  They escaped together, and stayed with several contadini whilst moving South.  They completed the book whilst on the run, and left the manuscript with an Italian family.  They didn't make it, and their bodies were never found. His family were devastated, but about a year after the War, a package arrived from Italy.  It contained Dan's manuscript and a letter explaining that he had asked that it be posted back to his family when it was possible to do so. The manuscript was eventually published as "The Cage", and was a bestseller

 This company is the Staples in Italy - Penny put me on to them http://www.mondoffice.com/ They accepted my UK credit card - and I would expect they stock most of the things you want. The downside si that you get endless marketing emails/phone calls ever after.

 I'm going to get my red hat out right now.....http://labyrinth_3.tripod.com/page59.html

Me too - I have my own privste obsessions with italian history which I would love to share!

  Beautiful stuff Sandy.  I'm sure lots of us would like to know what brought you to Marche and how you've negotiated the perils of setting up and running a business from Italy.  Please tell us more.

 ..but are they meant as a clue or a distraction Pilch???