Andrew's activity

Heiko; you sound like my sort of bloke!I've working in the sport, health and fitness industry for about 40 years now, and have followed many a trend that has then been contradicted by science a couple of years later. I've also found that wrapping your throat in a woolen scarf overnight then burying it in the garden under a certain tree didn't help a sore throat; and that a balled up piece of thread stuck to a baby's forehead didn't cure hiccups or gripes.I've also been told that If you go outside with wet hair, you’ll catch a cold. Viruses, not weather, cause colds. It’s more common to get sick during winter months because these viruses thrive better indoors due to the warmer conditions and also because the air may be more dry indoors.Anyway, enough pre-amble. Feeling good about yourself is for me an excellent aid to keeping well. I think that wine in moderation (how long is that piece of string?) can help the feel good factor, and having grown up in the retail food trade am convinced that the exaggaration of 'best before' or 'use by...' is better often ignored as it is here in Italy if you shop in certain places. We have certainly suffered after the government insisted (ish) that market traders had to issue the scontrino, therefore negating the opportunity for nonna to bring her excess produce to market and sell from the roadside. We buy from farmers stalls, opportunist sellers that look 'legit', and apart from what we grow ourselves are happy with that. Neither of us have ever smoked (anything) having never felt the need to. What is advanced from a meal is often recycled by Jean but she doesn't write on the container 'best before...'.We are in great shape, happy to be like that, and very noncholant about the little tweaks and creaks that crop up. Oh, and we always look carefully before crossing the road. Bus Aware!

Firstly; truely heartfelt congrats to Heiko for having the courage to move to Italy to enter a more sustainable lifestyle for your wife; surely not an easy move, but definitely the best move. I hope she continues to enjoy her life to the full, and admire your determination.Jean and I have lived both in the north east and middle of Italy. The difference is notable in that in the north east (Viadana MN) - not to be confused with Viadana near Brescia - the expansion of industry seems to consume the coutryside at a rapid rate. Planning permission is often retrospective, and the timescale of daily work tends to be more 'English' - early start - snack (ish) for lunch - back to work. This may be because the worker who once lived near his place of work would return home to have lunch, then rest up before a mid-afternoon start. People tend to travel further for work opportunities, so going home at lunchtime is a no no much to the consternation of 'Nonna'. We found that after about 7;00 p.m. village centres would become deserted, workers having finished at 6;00 p.m. and gone home. Often shops would close at 7;30 p.m. and then 'ghost town'. We also found that the locals were less accepting, and would even 'cold shoulder' you, maybe due to the huge influx of migrant workers (Italian and not) required to sustain the local industries. The roads infrastructure is aimed at better heavy goods movement, so slowly even more minor roads are being upgraded to support the eternal lorry procession.We moved to the Marche region where I had originally lived 1985-1993 before returning to UK, and found that the pace of life seems to retain more the traditional values and timescales, although there's considerable industry in our area (near Ascoli Piceno) there doesn't seem to be the 'constant 'busy bee' element that we experienced in the north, and the industrial elements seem more contained. People here have time for you; welcome you into the community, and actively try to involve you in local activities.Having moved here (Le Marche) from North Yorkshire, we have found many similarities to the attitude that we experienced in Yorkshire. There generally people are friendly, homely and welcoming, but most would certainly not support the 'Italianisms' that we are involved with (and actually enjoy).

Whilst I appreciate that there are many very concerned individuals out there prepared to advise us all on our health etc, I think it fair to take into consideration that unless people are prepared to state their actual qualifications, then comments are often simply opinions. Would it be possible for commentators to make a note of their relevant qualifications (doctor / social worker / nurse / nutritionist etc) so that should we decide to take advice we can also be confident that it comes from a qualified source?This isn't in any way intended to offend anyone, but rather to try and filter 'Old Wives Tales' from the medical situation. I do also appreciate that what is often affermed to be correct today can be turned on it's head tomorrow!

At Porto D'Ascoli (AP) there's a couple of pubs with a vast range of draught beers. Also from now until 9 August at Stella di Monsampolo along the Salaria - Ascoli - Porto D'Ascoli there's a beer sagra with Liffe, Löwenbräu, Becks etc on draught. Not the same I must admit as a decent pint of warm Bass, but anyway...When I make our beer anyone passing our local; 'The Jean's Arms'; is welcome to call for a pint, a game of darts and some snacky type things!

On the Salaria at Spinetoli is a store called Camaioni www.camaioni1930.it/ where they sell those great beer kits that we used to get in UK. The young man at the counter is a real fanatic, and when we started to discuss making your own beer he even copied the instructional DVD for me free of charge! He has a great range of types of beer, and when the weather gets a bit cooler I'm determined to have a go.If any of you decide to call there; it's on the main road just before the traffic lights on the left. They also supply wholesale bottles for wine / oil, demijohns and the next size up (Johns?), ornamental dispensers for grappa etc, and a full range of bee keeping stuff. As ever go with time to spare as you won't get simply in and out. We're in Italy...

Just a few thoughts;Make sure that you have your lights on at all times when on any road.Remember to check that the car has a set of replacement car light bulbs and the compulsary reflective waistcoat.If you can, get a portable coolbox fridge (we have one that plugs in to the cigarette lighter socket) and stock up on lots of bottles of water. Really handy also when you're coming away from the supermarket with perishables...Check that you spare tyre is inflated, and that you can get at your emergency triangle easily.If you have mobile internet, get a passenger to look at www.autostrade.it and put in your route; this then will indicate the bad travel situations.When approaching a motorway exit / bottleneck watch out for the lane or hard shoulder to your right. Italians will often anticipate the exit along the hard shoulder, and motorbikes will use it as normal highway.Finally, as my old Dad used to say, treat everyone else on the road as a complete idiot; anticipate that they are going to do something stupid, and you'll be o.k.

The 'Zingari' that prey on people on trains and in crowded areas are a real danger, and they operate using their small children often as a distraction. Some years ago in Rome I was guiding a party of English visitors around the centre. We were approached by a group of these Zingari from both front and back. The children were behind; mother with slung on baby at the front. The trick used was to rustle something inside a newspaper to distract the tourist, whilst the children attempted to 'dip' handbags from behind. If you are in open  areas, and have someone large and physical, get them to point the camera quickly and look like you're taking their picture. They soon scarper. Don't try this in a confined space however. In trains they are a particular hazard as they get on the train without paying the ticket, are happy to be kicked off the train at the next stop.Recently in Civitella del Tronto we were visiting the ancient fort. A beggar asked for money. We refused. He shrugged his shoulders and that was it. We then went to the car park, we saw him get into a reasonably modern pick up truck, full of various scrap etc, and drive off. Probably didn't want to be late for lunch.Also good to remind people that in the more prestigious cities; Rome; Venice; Florence; Verona; Milan etc the pickpockets are not always appear as vagabonds. For many years very well dressed people - almost aristocratic in their bearing - have been arrested after being found to be very well prepared and affluent pick-pockets.

An Irishman is rowing his boat in a field of hay. Paddy drives past & stops. He looks at the Irishman in the boat & shouts 'Its thick twits like you that give us Irish a bad name! I'd come over there & kick the s**t out of you if I could swim!'

Mick & Paddy are reading head stones at a nearby cemetery. Mick say 'Crikey! Theres a bloke here who was 152!'Paddy says 'Whats his name?'Mick replies 'Miles from London !' 

Paddy & his wife are lying in bed & the neighbour's dog is barking like mad in the garden. Paddy says 'To hell with this!' & storms off..He comes back upstairs 5 mins later & his wife asks 'What did you do?'Paddy replies 'Ive put the dog in our garden, lets see how they like it!'