Fillide's activity

I have no opinion on insurance, but the search engine does work!It isn't the box at the top right - that trawls through old Italy Magazine stuff: but when you have the Community page open there is a line of links just below where it says Italy Answers. If you click on the word Search that searches the 'community' and the old forum answers.

A couple of sources - this one gives you a pic of the mite which affected my friend, and a pic of the sort of rashy bites which they cause (Figure 6). The mite is called Pyemotes ventricosus and if it sounds like a possible candidate you could try searching on this term for English results.http://www.edpa.it/photogalleryEDPA.htmlThe next link is in Italian (and it is from a pest control company who specialise in microwaving woodworm!) but it is a very clear explanation of the method of attack of these mites. Interestingly it mentions that the bites occur on parts of the body normally covered, and peak in the summer.http://www.eurogreen.net/News.htm?jump=NewsArticle.asp&idnews=3&id=147 

I have never used this site, but it might compare with Uswitch. Dunno - explore and report back!www.facile.itAs far as water is concerned, you get it from your local supplier (AFAIK) and there is no competition in this market.

Having looked at the tin, it is a product called Ard Fill which I used. http://www.ard-raccanello.it/3skl/vortal/ard2/immagini/tecnica_98.pdf is the technical sheet.It isn't quartz (my misremembering) but acrilo-silossanti (acrylic and silicone is my guess). I'd be careful about latex because that is probably not breathable. The paint is produced basically white/neutral, and you get the colour you need by having it tinted (very accurate stuff) by the shop.

I have used stuff from this company http://www.ard-raccanello.it/3skl/vortal/ard2/index.jsp?id_lingua=1&id_struttura=111&opzione=documento&id_categoria=106&subopzione=doc&id_documento=24&visPrimo=0&titoloPagina=ARD%20F.LLI%20RACCANELLO%20S.P.A.I will have to go and find the tin to see exactly what I used, which was pretty top of their range (but applied to new plaster externally) and it cost abour €50 for 14litres. The coverage was good, (better than they quoted on the tin) and five years on it is looking immaculate. It had quartz in it - but I haven't been able to find it on the ard site (due to site being pretty useless IMO)!Take advice from your local specialist paint shop - they will know! It's an easy DIY job, but do read the instructions because nearly every Italian paint is sold ''thick'' and expects you to dilute it. If you don't do this it goes on patchily and you miss out on coverage.

I'm not sure if this is relevant, because the bites I'm going to talk about are not great lumps, but more like a generalised rash.I have a friend who suffered from loads of itchy tiny bites, and they were diagnosed (after a lot of research) as bites from a spider mite which is a parasite on woodworm larvae. She trawled up some good reference material, (which unfortunately I haven't refound). If you have ever seen any evidence of woodworm in your house (and if it is rashy bites rather than lumps) it is maybe worth you researching this further.Guests maybe don't completely understand mossie screens: it is not only at night that you should keep them closed - the 'tiger mosquito' (slightly smaller and on close examination striped black and white) is active during the day as well as after dusk. 

Generally third party liability cover comes (almost) free with your house (buildings) insurance - ask your bank, because often they offer a very good rate (but of course you should read the small print) - or check your insurance cover if you already have building insurance.Dealing with notoriously litiginous American people, maybe you should consider whether your cover is adequate (in dollar terms). I'm not speking from experience - I'm simply being cautious 

They need to go to a notaio, taking with them a copy of their original atto (from the notaio when they bought the property).I'm not clear whether they are or were married to each other, or if one or other is still married to someone else, but if no marriage enters into the equation it should be very straightforward.The notaio will almost certainly recommend doing an ordinary act of sale, and the notaio's fees and the taxes payable on a property transfer will need to be paid. They can almost certainly ígnore the requirements for thermal or any other certification (because the purchaser is already a co-proprietor) so it should be possible to do this deal very quickly.Another (cheaper) alternative would be an act of donation rather than sale, but most notaios counsel against this, and if I were in the position of your friends I wouldn't go down that route.

Well, I'd not elect for EZ, or anywhere (eg Bulgaria,Croatia) which might get hobbled by the single currency imperative of Globalisation (aka Goldman Sachs)I find Morocco quite attractive, maybeTunisia if you are brave - but I'm thinking local and achievable.- so maybe I'm too blinkered.and should look beyond north Africa for a peaceful retirement squat. If Greece bites the bullet and exits the EZ it wouild be a no brainer. Well, you did ask!

Two observations. The pdf I linked to (a bit more tricky to follow than I had imagined!) talks about employing a geometra 'by the hour' (though this is frowned upon by the geometra's associations), and quotes a rate of €45 per hour. That's less than I pay the mechanics who service my car.The second misapprehension (certainly for UK people in Italy) is that there is some "independent"  disinterested state control system over building works. There isn't. The geometra (if he is direttore di lavoro) takes upon himself the responsibility (okay, in theory, they are difficult to take to court) for the building standing up. Thus he insists on devolving some of this responsibility to his "engineering" or geological consultants. It's all about professional indemnity insurance (aka financial institutions want their cut) coupled with the threat of incarceration by the state if the geometra is found culpable of a collapsing buiding which kills someone.The sort of people (Germans probably the same as Brits) who want to build/restore their dream house in Italy are often 'hands on' types and they really do not want to be obliged to pay for a 'full service'. Unfortunately (IMO) it is almost impossible in Italy to avoid handing over a huge amount of money, but more importantly, choice to a geometra (or architect or engineer). Add to this legal framework loads of health and safety stuff coming out of the EU, and lots of trade protectionist measures which Italian politicians love, and it is a wonder that you can even paint your own ceilings! But that's how it is.