Andrew's activity

Lidl (@ Castel di Lama) now stock Salad Cream, printed on the label 'Salad Cream' in English, not as acidy/vinegary as Heinz or C&B, but quite light and tasty. 'Light' version available also. Horseradish Sauce at the Coop; called 'Kren' but Horseradish all the same. As good as Coleman's; packs a real wallop. Co-op at Castel di Lama even has 2 varieties.

http://www.lemarcheretreat.com/2013-courses/course-information/ I know the organisers personally, and can vouch for their quality.

Owd on a minit; tha munna get thi nikkas in a tizwaz; wen thas fro Matlock spellin goz owt'winda... Lernt mi gramma int Sycamore off Smedley Street... where duz tha ang owt? Art ovva ere? Uz'r in't Marche clos'ta Asculi Picenner, wen tha's reddy frra brew, t'kettle's alus on...

Great side distraction regards the Yorkshire input re. medal table, even if the best thing that ever came out of Yorkshire is the road to Derbyshire....oops, that will upset th'apple cart. Only joking...as an adopted Yorkshire person (Northallerton) a great event shown on TV with Jessie Eniss in Shefful. What a great ambassador/ess for sport, let's just hope lots of young people follow her example. Nice little touch also, the Italian guy who won a medal in the shooting is from our village! (Monteprandone)

I've finally found a company who will ship smaller loads out here to Italy (Marche; Ascoli Piceno). Background story; I need some sports kit (Rugby Contact Shields) and the best quote for shipping 10 of these smallish foam filled pads was about £360 just for the shipping costs! This doubled the cost of each shield. Contacting a different supplier in U.K. they are shipping 10 shields out to me for a total shipping cost of £60! They are using a company called DSV, who will include my stuff in a container that leaves at the end of September for here. www.dsv.com . I'd emphasise that have no connection with this company except being part of a customer / supplier situation. Could be an idea...

What's the difference between a Buffalo and a Bison? You can't wash your hands in a buffalo...

Where are you in Le Marche?

If you have your back to the shopping centre; Decathlon to your left, exit straight on out of the complex to the main road. Ahead you'll see a large new building called Forum. At the Stop turn right and the hire place is about 400 metres on your right just past a builder's merchant. Not sure quite what they hire out, and also bear in mind we are approaching traditional holiday close down period.

There's a tool / machinery hire place near Porto Grande Shopping centre at Porto D'Ascoli.

With the development of 'high rise' living in some parts, a curious situation arises... Often extended families are housed in the same apartment blocks, one on top of the other, and generally the first generation on the ground floor (mobility etc). On the first floor you may find their (married) children, and on the next floor up their married grandchildren etc. Sometimes it happens that the grandparents (ground floor) are responsible for the veg. garden, and do most if not all of the work, supplying the others with produce. This is a common occurrance where we live. The real experts are the 'nonni', and it's great entertainment to listen to the various opinions when they get together with uncles, great uncles/aunts dicussing just exactly how you do things like plant out, water, fertilize, keep your eye on the moon's cycles etc. Generally, if one of them leans over to your garden when you're doing something, 9 times out of 10 you're doing it wrong! In our tiny reality, the next door's generations are all involved in the allotment, and even the children of 5/6 years of age are part of the process. It's heartening to see a little one of about 8 years of age sitting halfway up a tree picking and eating fruit, but also encouraging their friends to do the same. When we planted our seedlings/plantlets etc. out, 'spot the plant' games generally result in even the youngest knowing a tomato from a courgette, a bean from an onion etc. I'm lucky to be involved in delivery of sport in schools, and often parents will ask me about their childrens' diets. Usually it revolves around the children not eating fruit and veg. My advice is to buy a couple of trays for the balcony, and ask the children to grow something - lettuce, tomatoes etc. When they cultivate their own, it takes on a whole new aspect! Works for me... Rambling now.....