Angie and Robert's activity

Our Italian accountant charges nothing for the initial visit, has saved us money and worry and has many ex-pat clients so is up to date on their needs, we would never attempt to do our own submission, hopefully there is one in Lazio that can do the same for you. 

Not too distant!, but too distant in snow..... Badger could send his dogs out with little barrels of brandy.

Badger its September!...but we have the wood, gas, led lights, canned food and wine already......just in case.

I think that if you are on site then renting out a house or apartment is a good source of income, we and many friends do it and whilst you might get the odd strange guest, most people do repect your property, and are a pleasure to meet. Sometimes its even sad to see them go!. It is satisying to share your knowledge of the area and to find them so appreciative of this part of rural Marche. Also this area does seem to attract the independant traveller, who wants to get away from the crowds and have a restful and serene holiday......meaning they are not going to find any nightclubs and come back drunk in the middle of the night. (as yet!) If the owners are not on  site I would be very hesitant to let, unless there was a really good management system in place. 

For rental pools a maintenance contract is essential.....guests will always jump in covered in sun-screen, however often they are asked not too, (and will always take their beer bottles down to the pool-side, even when plastic glasses are available.) They are on holiday!. This in very hot weather can turn a pool from crystal clear to sludge green in a matter of days. I know of one part-time resident here who had to refund his rental as he had not taken care of his pool and the guests refused to swim in it and de-camped to another property. So its not any use cost cutting with pool care. From my personal point of view we have friends with a salt water pool, which is just so nice to swim in, it is used by friends and family and they have never had any problems with it. The system (I am alittle hazy on this) seems to run on automatic pilot.....trouble free.

Its the concrete base that would be a talking (and sticking) point I think as it denotes an immovable structure (even though it is in wood). I am afraid as your neighbour is already at odds with you he would complain whatever you did. Any chance of making friends with him?.Or at least discussing what you would like to do.

I am trying to think when I joined the old forum, probably over 7 years ago and before we came to live here. Then it was used for help and information, and for a place to make friendships, there is still a large Marche contingent active on here, and many of us meet socially. So now it is a place to meet old friends again, and still do some learning. I have always had my favourite posters (take a bow Ram) and the advice from Penny is always spot on, she has taken a huge amount of time and trouble over the years to keep us all informed. And there are many others whose internet friendship I have valued.

Beeryspice...in a nutshell your comments are very accurate.

I think alot of peoples experience of Italy depends on their attitude to life here. It is not the Uk .....surely the whole point of being here is because you want to live in Italy?. Its no good saying its not like this "at home"....for some this is your home now. It has its drawbacks, and frustrations as any country, but you wont get the most out of it if you are always comparing it with somewhere else. We have had our share of problems (the day the road collapsed....did we laugh!) but today picking our figs, grapes and almonds in the sunshine you are reminded of why you came here in the first place. This is just my observation not directed at any particular poster, La Dolcevita what you need is an Italian zapper...a long handled hoe/spade type thing......our neighbour gave us one of his...part of his lethal weapons of garden kit which he has had for years.

After nearly 7 years here La Dolcevita my Italian is not good, I know the words as you say but its the tenses that floor me. However make my self understood mostly and will chat to anyone.(poor souls!).It is at its most frustrating when in official or medical situations, but we get by. Robert is a swot so is pretty fluent, its the text book back to school stuff I find so difficult....and hard to take up again after so many years, was always rubbish at languages anyway. I think it is very difficult to ever be fully fluent, I know a few ex-pats that are, but they have lived here for years, and some are married to Italians. Off now to have a shout at a few hunters.....sometimes there is a univeral language which everyone understands!