Archive for September, 2016
My Mother And The Italian Sculptor Posted by Serena on Sep 30, 2016
I recently wrote a couple of posts about my mother’s encounters with famous Italians. The first was Beniamino Gigli, the operatic tenor, then was Mario Tobino, psychiatric doctor cum writer. Well, those two were just casual meetings, but there was another famous person in my mother’s life, with whom she shared a proper friendship, in…
9 Lives! Posted by Geoff on Sep 28, 2016
It’s hard not to anthropomorphise cats. They’re certainly capable of learning many of our human habits, and frequently display characteristics which are strikingly similar to our own. But although we may endow them with human like qualities, they constantly remind us that they still belong to a world from which we humans have become increasingly…
Black Is Back Posted by Geoff on Sep 27, 2016
An article about Italian fashion? Niente affatto! Mr. Black cares nothing for fashion. He wears the same beautiful golden black coat every day … and night. Mr. Black is, in fact, un piccolo gatto nero a pelo lungo (a small long haired black cat) who came to live with us about a year and a…
Rita’s Home Made Nutella Posted by Serena on Sep 23, 2016
In my last post I recounted how my father, un vero gentiluomo all’antica, was given a jar of home made chocolate cream by my friend Rita in return for un baciamano (a kiss on the hand). Today I’m going to give you Rita’s recipe for home made Nutella. Have a go at making it and…
E Allora? Posted by Geoff on Sep 22, 2016
Here’s another small collection of words and phrases that we use all the time in Italy, but which are often overlooked in Italian classes or text books. Learning how and where to use them will make your spoken Italian sound much more natural. Allora is such a habitual word that it sometimes seems impossible to…
A Special Italian Kiss On The Hand Posted by Serena on Sep 20, 2016
It’s September, and, as usual at this time of year, our aia (stone patio) is completely covered with hazelnuts that have fallen from the noccioli (hazelnut trees). Beautiful plump tasty nocciole (hazelnuts), just perfect for making a delicious chocolate spread … if you’re not Geoff, who is allergic to them! The mouthwatering thought of home…
Amazing Bebe Posted by Serena on Sep 19, 2016
Meet Bebe (Beatrice) Vio, a truly amazing person. When she was 11 years old she contracted meningitis, which left her with all four limbs amputated and her face and body severely scarred. Now, aged 19, she’s the campionessa mondiale paralimpica di fioretto (world wheelchair fencing champion). Bebe’s story … in her own words: Sono una…