Andrew's activity

Maybe we are lucky; we have a small patch of ground behind the house; 5m x 5m plus a strip of 10m x 1m. We manage to grow all our veg. duing the summer months, and what we don't use, we freeze for the winter months. We're also lucky to live near the local Consortium (Spinetoli AP) where we buy our plants. Occasionally you feel a bit daft buying just 12-15 tomato plants when the local guy next to you is buying 200, but what the heck. Excess tomatoes are turned into tomato sauce for pasta etc, and frozen into portion sized 'bricks'. Courgettes cubed and frozen also, rhubarb made into crumble etc, and onions dried and hung in the garage, as are the chilli peppers. The little plot is actually good fun, and although it needs tending regularly, this is also quite therapeutic, and we're lucky as we're both the types that don't go far for any length of time, so not too time consuming. Front garden; although full of roses etc also contains lots of different herbs; very low maintainance, popular with neighbours who may live on the first floor and don't have gardens etc. We tell them simply to help themselves, and this is repaid in the occasional bottle of 'family made' wine; cakes or similar. One neighbour who actually has plants etc gave us 5 kilos of lemons from their trees, so Jean made Lemon Curd and Lemon Marmalade duely delivered to 'next door'. Even after explaining that Lemon Curd is the sort of thing you may have at breakfast etc, we found out later that they had enjoyed it with their smoked salmon..... Just a few ideas then; I reckon if you are prepared for some graft, then give it a go. Certainly nicer to look at than weeds or places for the local cats to ......

thanks

Hi Flip; Quick question; which LeClerc do you use? Gran Sasso Centre? Thanks; Andrew

Just a thought; offer leaflet arrived today from MediaWorld; they have Indesit front loader washing machines on offer @ €199. Offer runs from 12-29 April. There's a Mediaworld at Val Vibrata at the Shopping Centre. This is the next autostrada exit after San Benedetto going south. The shopping complex is next to the autostrada exit.

If you can get to Ascoli Piceno then there's a couple of places near the 'Caserma' that have this sort of furniture at economical prices. Try Mauri or The Bazzar of the Assasin, both within 50metres of each other.

Took my car for its revision. It took longer to fill out the paperwork and receipt for payment than it actually took to 'revise' the car. However, when you see some of the wrecks that travel around; particularly in rural areas, are you surprised? Nothing to do with this topic, however; Always makes me smile when we see the very elderly couple; plus at least one dog; crammed into the cab of an Ape on their way to market / Mass, oblivious to any other vehicle on the road.

Here's a bit of typical Italian legislation for you; In the province of Ascoli Piceno you only need to carry snow chains or have thermal tyres fitted if you're driving over 300 metres above sea level, or on the autostrada / superstrada. In the neighbouring province of Fermo you need them wherever you are including autostrada / superstrada. A friend of a mate in the Fermo area was fined for not carrying snow chains / having thermal tyres fitted whilt driving along the Lungomare of Porto San Georgio. Knowing your provincial boundries can be useful....

We find all we need at the consorzio at Spinetoli, along the Salaria after Colli del Tronto (where we live) and just before Pagliare del Tronto. We only have a small garden but produce all we need including tomatoes, peppers, beans, cauli, cabbage and much more besides. Prices at our consorzio are ridiculously cheap. Happy New Year

so, after carefully compiling our census form I took it along to the Comune today, where I found a room (complete with beautiful historic 'quadri' created by local artists); dedicated to receiving my form, and was assisted by a charming young man who slowly and meticulously took me through the form, and explained where I had made a few errors. He also explained that; as he understood the English language to a point, that he understood also the small errors, and corrected them accordingly. The whole process was pleasant; dignified, and perfectly acceptable. Having then gone on to Lidl where most ex-pats in our area seem to congregate, I received a cellphone call from this young man, asking for clarification regarding one point in particular. Sorted, all happy, and no hassle. Works for me.

Hi Penny Unfortunately due to a prior comittment we can't attend the meeting this evening. I thought it might help if we outlined a short case history directly connected:- We lived in Fermo 3 years ago; attended the relevant office, and were given our Tessera Sanitaria(s); albeit the paper version. When we visited the hospital some time later; there was a notice to inform clients that the paper version was no longer valid, and they would accept only the plastic card version. I called the relevant office, asked where our cards were, and they replied that yes; they were there. "Could you send them please?" "Oh yes, I suppose so...". Cards duely arrived. We moved to live in Colli del Tronto; near Ascoli; obtained our Residency; and we come under the auspices of the Ascoli Hospital. As during our move our Tessera Sanitaria(s) expired, we visited the office in the Ascoli Hospital complex. There we were told that we could not have a new Tessera Sanitaria, as, according to the lady behind the screen; we were extra-communitarians! (We are both 'pure bred English!). We managed to point out - using our Passports - that we are in fact citizens of a member state of the European Community. She then produced a form, and told us that we should fill it in, and we would have to pay almost 400 euros x year for doctor's services. She then asked me if Jean was my legal wife; I told her no, we have cohabitated for the past 18 years or so, (never got around to 'formalising the situation) and the lady told me that Jean would also have to fill in a form and pay 400 euros x year! All this dialogue with a lady who was terse, occasionally rude, and simply didn't want to help. Hope this might add some 'grist to the mill'. Best wishes Andrew