Annec's activity

Yes, he speaks English and I'm sure will "know a man who can"....

Have you tried asking Stefano Lucozzi in Amandola?  He's on the left had side on teh road to Montefortino

Glad you had so much success Sherwood. You both might find interesting an article to be published on this site by the weekend (or so I'm promised by the webmaster) http://camp59survivors.wordpress.com/ The site is dedicated to a PoW camp much further South, but does include stories of those who passed through and on elsewhere. It will include the story of a PoW, Norman Davison, who was on work detail in Vigevano, South of Milan, and the Italians who helped him after the Armistice.  His son John has just tracked them down through the wonders of the internet.  Good luck with your search Geoffb

turns out it was a typo and should have read "cibo, abiti e altro" - which I CAN manage!

..it makes perfect sense now!

Same article: Quando la situazione si fa più rischiosa I giovani inglesi vengono portati in un bosco vicino e per qualche giorno Gigi e Giovanni si occupano di dare loro il necessario: cipportare a conoscere bo, abiti e altro. I can't find "cipportare " or "bo" in my big dictionary.  I wonder if they've slipped into dialect?  (this is in the Lombardy region) Any ideas?

Hi Tork I presume you've seen this post http://www.italymag.co.uk/community/post/free-cat-wanted and decided it was too far away??

You'll see from above posts that I have been helping John Davison, whose father Norman wrote the book referred to above,  trace some of the Italians who helped his father. Norman was in Camp 59, Servigliano, Marche, but was then transferred up North on a work detail and ended up working in the fields for a farmer - Giovanni Bellazzi.  After the Armistice in Sept 43, Norman and his friends were hidden by Giovanni and were eventually escorted to the Swiss border and escaped.  Like many survivors, Norman never spoke of his adventures to his son, and although he planned to travel back to Italy in the 60's, his wife then died and he lost the will to do so.  John regrets the lost opportunity and would like to make up for it by visiting the families and places concerned. Norman did type up his story, and John eventually got it published after his father's death.  However he had difficulty in starting the search for the Italians who helped his Dad. Through the wonders of Google, I put him in touch with a website devoted to the Resistance in Vigevano, a town close to where his father was hidden.  As  a result the local Italian newspaper took an interest and traced the children of several of the key players.  In an echo of John's experience of his father's silence about those times, these children also said that their parents hardly if ever talked about what they had done.  John will be going out in August to visit and make contact with those families, to celebrate their bravery some 60-odd years after the event. I have copies of the Italian newspaper articles if anyone is interested.  I can't attach them here - so pm me if you're interested    

As a for instance on Fillide's comment - geometras and builders are not going to be interested in "original features".  As far as they are concerned they are an impediment to getting on with the job.  All doors and internal woodwork will be ripped out and burnt.  All old beams will be replaced.  All original flooring will be thrown out (those BEEAUTIFUL terracotta tiles!!!!) as too difficult to clean up and re-lay. So being onsite will be vital if you are concerned about all of that.  And being able to understand and counter their reasons for not doing what you want. I don't think this is only an Italian issue - builders everywhere want an easy life.  Of course you can get specialists who understand sensitive restoration - but they'll cost.  All the best Jeremiah (and possibly Cassandra)

We went the renovation route and whilst I reckon we were lucky with geometra and builder, it caused many a sleepless night.  I have to admit that over the years the budget changed many times.  Luckily for us re-mortgaging was easy to come by in those halcyon days.  These days I think you need: An iron consitution Ability to withstand serious stress Have a backup plan for budget emergencies Expect it to cost twice as much and take twice as long as predicted Many people have commented that renovation is much more expensive than buying new or fully renovated.  I'd agree, but the upside is buying a bit of history that you have added to yourself.  So if you are planning on buying a ruin - don't do it because you think it will be the most cost effective approach.  And if your physical or mental health is at all fragile - definitely don't You will of course ignore all this advice when you find your perfect gem on the perfect hillside with no utilities and no access road.  Non importa, been there, done it, and still survived!