Joy's activity

It is strange how new people to this forum appear to know all about certain people/things. I didn't find Judecas being a 'hateful' person - he just had a view - and most of it was right!  Italy is not perfect but then no human is either and just because the problems are discussed doesn't mean we don't love it alll the same!

Definitely Admin as a new post was edited due to an advert!  Sprostoni - Please don't bury you head in the sand - sometimes good ideas can come out of debating stuff and there's no getting away from the fact Italy does have problems.  If you have good news stories then please start a thread on them - they will be welcomed! Joy

I have been out this afternoon and obviously I have missed something as I can see posts are missing and Judecas has gone!

Gala, I am sorry but a couple of people or a family farming will not produce enough to create any difference to the economic state of Italy or Spain.  Unless they can sell enough to bring in more money than they need ie so they are buying other goods, paying taxes etc it is a complete waste of time.  I know some people now 'barter' erm.. that went out even before the groat came into being!  Yes, grow some veg and fruit, keep a few chickens etc, but the young people need to 'work' at a proper job as well in order to raise the standard of living.  And the standard of living in Italy (in rural areas at least) does need to be improved as some people are 60 years behind the likes of UK and other northern european countries that's why so many of the educated have left and are leaving. Even in China now the young are leaving the countryside for the cities as they want a better life.  Italy spent too many years avoiding tax and letting the mafia control things and now they are suffering. Unfortunately they have to work harder and pay up and yes it will hurt - just like in Greece but sitting on one's backside will not save them.

Yes Jude happening everywhere - certainly a boom industry! Giving money to the 'green' brigade to do organic growing is not going to help the country out of dire economic  problems.  Mass produced is the only way forward to be cost effective and supply growing demands.  Industry is where help is needed.  We have dealt with a large company in northern Italy for over 25 years and they are really struggling at present.  They still close for August which is crazy when selling worldwide.  They have changed banks  4 times in last year!  And now they want payment in advance instead of the industry standard of 60 days.  Sorry but I will not be buying from them now as I am not paying thousands of pounds in advance in case they go under. Some people have 'gone back home' and are doing a little farming.  This is all very sweet but these people are not helping the economy - they are just playing at it.  I have a relative who has done just that.  He, like many others are enjoying it but that is not helping anyone else but their own self esteem.

This isn't a new problem Angie.  The younger generation haven't wanted to do farming for probably 100 years.  That's why so many left the country and moved to UK, US etc where they could 'improve' their lot and consequently villages have been abandoned and fell into disrepair.  The more educated people become the less they will want to work with their hands.  Some will move back to farming when they have sampled the more sophisticated lifestyle of the west and earned enough cash to be comfortable for the rest of their lives. 

Our biggest problem when eating out in Italy is the lack of veg also we have had salad in a couple of places that consisted of just lettuce and tomato!  The first pizza we had was in Levanto and the base was like concrete.  Ham and cheese etc topping was fine but what was with the greasy fried egg slapped on the top!!  Our local fisherman has brought round 2 lovely crabs and 2 lobsters just now so that's us sorted for the next couple of days!!

Nipped in Sainsbury late this evening for a couple of items and there was loads of stuff reduced.  Not one to pass up on a bargain I bought several items and one was a large pack of pork ribs reduced to £2!!  Wish now I had bought the 2 but I didn't like to appear greedy.  Anyway Badger your recipe will be used upon said ribs in the next couple of days (instead of just roasting like we normally do) Sod the diet - I'll run round the beach later, much later....!!!!

ooh don't know what my basil is -  not very strong flavoured - got the pot from Tesco!  My hubby shoves herbs in everything!  Never had thai food but I will take a look at your recipe link and see how we get on. thanks for the link!