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Shake Rattle and Roll, Italian Style Posted by Geoff on Jan 13, 2014
No, it’s not another song translation, simply a little blog inspired by our old FIAT Punto. Anyone who has ever owned a Punto, Panda, Uno etc. will know that, whilst generally reliable, they tend to develop their own individual voice which is composed of a range of unidentifiable squeaks, creaks, rattles, and so on. We…
The Italian Mary Poppins Posted by Geoff on Jan 7, 2014
I was just seven years old when my mother took me and my sisters to see the classic film Mary Poppins in 1964. I remember that in those days you could stay in the cinema and watch the next viewing, and that’s exactly what we begged my mother to do. What patience she must have…
Lo Spazzacamino Posted by Geoff on Jan 2, 2014
È solo il secondo giorno del duemilaquattordici e ho già compiuto il mio buon proposito per l’anno nuovo! Sì, dopo diversi giorni con la casa piena di una nuvola di fumo ogni volta che accendevo il caminetto mi sono messo a fare lo spazzacamino. Il caminetto a legna è una bellissima cosa, molto accogliente quando…
Barzellette Natalizie Posted by Geoff on Dec 24, 2013
For your entertainment … a few Italian Christmas barzellette (jokes). Doctor my reindeers are sick … How did you do it doctor? What did you give them? Voltarenne! In Italy we have an anti inflammatory medicine called Voltaren. This joke plays on the words voltare (to turn) and renne (reindeers). Per Natale, Giorgio regala…
A Merry Sexy Christmas Posted by Geoff on Dec 19, 2013
Let’s take a break from all the Italian Christmas stereotypes, il presepe, il panettone, Babbo Natale, la Befana, and spice things up a bit. I found an interesting little article in the newspaper Corriere della Sera which I thought you might enjoy. But first, click on the photo below to watch a video entitled: L’albero…
Facebook – The Top Ten Hot Topics in Italy Posted by Geoff on Dec 13, 2013
Do you use Facebook? Personally, I never touched it until I emigrated to Italy and discovered that it could be an easy, non e-mail (e-mail is for work!), means of keeping up with family and friends. And now that I’ve learned how to block most of the stupid ads, and other rubbish that doesn’t interest…
Present or Future? Posted by Geoff on Dec 6, 2013
“Va bene, adesso prendo un caffè poi me ne vado a casa così finisco di scrivere il blog”. A literal translation of this simple sentence into English highlights a confusing aspect of the use of the present tense in Italian: ‘Okay, now I have a coffee, then I go home so that I finish writing…