Gala Placidia's activity

 Normally, warm weather cannot be expected until the end of May.

 Saint Swithun is very effective in case of a drought. You pray to him if what you want is a good shower. Keeping in mind what regularly happens in the UK, he is a very busy saint! I thought that we were praying for fair weather. In the case of electrical storms, Saint Barbara should be invoked for protection... Possibly they are having some fun together.

 I understand that autumn is the right time of the year for transplanting. Anyway, here is an article with very precise instructions. http://www.abc.net.au/gardening/stories/s1902659.htm

Is British citizenship compulsory, or is it an option?  That would be the question to ask. The newborn child would have an Italian Birth certificate, which would be then accepted by the British Consulate if you decide to register him/her in order to have the British nationality.  Section 3 would apply to people over the age of 18 only. At least this is what I understand and would also follow current legal requirements in other EU countries. What about dual nationality? This is quite usual nowadays. I have dual nationality (not Italian, but Australian and Spanish). 

  Great Anne! I loved it! Thanks.

 Penny, I think that your child is entitled to Italian citizenship by birth and sections 1 and 3 that you are quoting relate to naturalization only. As far as I know, Italian citizenship by birth is granted to: 1) A child with an Italian mother or father 2) A child born in Italy to unknown or stateless parents 3) A child born in Italy to non-Italian parents providing that they are from a country where the law does not impose adopting the citizenship of the parents 4) A child of unknown parents found in Italy without proof of citizenship or identity This is the law which is applied in most EU countries

 Cilla, it is always hard work for both teachers and students. The rewards are great but it takes a lot of patience and perseverance. Keep on learning, you are lucky to have a very patient teacher and someone who is keen to help. Only very young children learn languages quickly because their brains are like sponges. Once we are over 12 years of age, it becomes increasingly difficult. But you can make it.... I had students of French in their 70's and they made it into university....Keep on trying and practice as much as you can.

 Very funny, story, although it may not be "historically" correct. Franco had been agonising for many months. His son-in-law, the Marquis of Villaverde, who was a heart surgeon tried to keep him alive all this time as members and friends of the dictatorial regime were afraid of what may happen. So his agony was unmercifully prolongued. In the end, nothing happened and Spain regained its democracy.... with a few hiccups...but the transition was smooth and bloodless. I only found quite interesting that both Franco and Skorzeny died a few months apart. Actually, Franco may have been technically dead before Skorzeny and Perón also died around that time.... Can´t remember the exact date. Perón was also an unconditional admirer of Mussolini. Both Hitler and Mussolini helped Franco during the Spanish Civil War....

 A fascinating story, Postmac. I read about it a long time ago, but it had faded.... An interesting detail about Skorzeny, he came to live in Spain under the personal protection of Franco. He was a multimillionaire and resided mainly in Majorca; however, he was found to have a tumor and died, as you said in Madrid on July 5th, 1975. His "protector", Franco, died on the 20th November of the same year. Skorzeny was also an adviser to Nasser.

 Wrong saint! That is St Médard, a French saint whose festivity is in June. According to customs, if it rains on his day, it will keep on raining for 40 days..... That's what they say. Now, the patron saint to pray against cold weather is Saint Maurus, an Italian Benedictine monk born in Rome in 512 of a patrician family. He is the one who protects against the cold weather... so he may be more helpful, being Italian... Only problem, taking into account the EU, it may be a good idea to pray to both saints.... There is also a German saint, St Sebaldus. Perhaps the three of them could get together!