Our electricity was recently cut off by ENEL for non-payment of bills. We hadn't paid because we hadn't received any bills!
KarenSheffield's activity
Questions Asked
We are having our outside staircase renovated - at the moment it is all in rather rough concrete which is crumbling. Out builder has sent us details of the work this involves.
Sat, 02/23/2013 - 13:23
We are having our outside staircase renovated - at the moment it is all in rather rough concrete which is crumbling. Out builder has sent us details of the work this involves.
Sat, 02/23/2013 - 13:23
We have had problems when hiring a car in Italy - they seem to deduct random credit card payments for imaginary accidents and traffic violations. However, it is a long way from Sheffield to Basilicata. Is there anybody who had cone this?
Sat, 11/17/2012 - 09:41
Our house is ready, but there is still no water connection, despite myriad requests and a variety of excuses from the water board- software problems, short staffed, August, wrong kind of water etc.
Sat, 08/20/2011 - 10:43
The property is an ancient wine vault that was used for making and storing wine. It is part of a terrace of similar structures built into the hillside, with cantinas underneath.
Wed, 07/06/2011 - 10:33
Hooray! Our house is finished! Well, apart from the water connection...
Mon, 07/04/2011 - 15:30
Our wine vault in Grottole is being renovated. The plastering has been done, kitchen and bathroom installed, but still no electricity or water connections.
Fri, 05/27/2011 - 12:35
These photos show our house in Grottole, an ancient wine vault, and some views of the village.
Wed, 04/06/2011 - 11:24
Comments posted
Glad you have friendly neighbours, - it does make a difference. Ours are an elderly couple who always greet us when they are out on their top step. Rosaria is often there hanging out washing and watering her flowers and herbs, and her husband Nicola feeds the cat. Every night they stroll up and down the street with other elderly neighbours- the famous 'passegiata'. Some of the older people speak only dialect- this is Grottole, in Basilicata - so Rosaria translates. They have given us wine from their own vineyard- white and frizzante, not unlike prosecco - and have ordered wood for us so that we we will be warm when we come out in winter. I was initially startled at local people's level of interest in our activities. One day I went for a walk down in the valley, and a neighbour leaned out of the window to ask where I was going! But their interest is friendly, and compared to some people's experience reported on this forum, with spiteful and obstreperous neighbours, we are lucky indeed.
Yes, Yorkshire certainly punches above its weight when it comes to Olympic medals. I have lived in sheffield for 34 years, and think of it as home. Seb - now Lord- Coe is from Sheffield, although I prefer lovely Jess Ennis. Sheffield boasts a thoroughfare called the Wicker which crosses the River Don- yes, you know, where t'water runs over t'weir.
I am grateful that Ryanair are still operating flights to Bari/Brisndisi. They go from Stansted, which isn't at all convenient for us in S Yorkshire, and it means staying overnight at either the UK or the Italian end, but the alternatives are just too expensive and inconvenient to contemplate. But if we ever want to take the dog out with us we will have to contemplate them, as Ryanair don't take animals. They do treat their human passengers like animals though...
My brief experience of driving in Palermo was a nightmare, worse than anywhere else in Europe (though I have never driven in Rome) Give it a wide berth if you can!
Esme, you are a fountain of knowledge!
Ciao! Well, all the finger-crossing seems to have helped - thanks Esme for the Italian version! The problem of the awkward neighbour has been resolved. apparently, he wasn't objecting to having pipes connected to his wall in principle, but the water company had fixed the pipes and water meter in such a way that his antique fireplace on the other side had been damaged. This sounds very odd to me- it's only a cantina, not a house- but the water company have agreed to shift the pipes and meter to avoid his precious fireplace! Can't wait to get out there, but will have to for now. Apart from both of us being too busy, there is snow out there at the moment - as in Sheffield - so travel will have to wait until warmer weather. The next problem will be buying a stove... But we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. No doubt there is an Italian equivalent of that phrase too!
We have been told that 'there has been some progress' in the dispute with our neighbour about fixing our water pipes onto his wall. Apparently some sort of agreement has been reached. I just hope this will not involve any financial concessions to this person. And I hope he or she will not change their mind! Fingers crossed! By the way, is there an equivalent phrase in Italian to 'keeping one's fingers crossed'? If so, do let me know!
Yes, indeed, a happy 2012 to everyone, and have a good time at your Capodanno celebrations!
The photos are lovely. I must say your little town looks very spruce and well cared for. Down here in Balsilicata the villages are a bit more scruffy and delapidated- though still charming.
Unfortunately we do not know the awkward neighbour, and as we are not there- because we can't stay in the house with no water- it is difficult to find out who it is. A representative of the company who sold us the house is trying to find a solution, but we feel a bit helpless. I have suggested to her that the mayor of the comune might be approached as an intermediary, but for all we know he is the owner who is being awkward! What is especially irritating is that there is an ugly, rusty stove pipe or flue running from his cantina up our wall just beside the window! But I hesitate to rip this down... things might easily escalate! We would rather not go down the legal route, knowing how slow and inefficient the Italian legal system is. Any advice/suggestions would be welcome!