Italians have some very peculiar ideas about appropriate behaviour. Especially when connected to the weather. Things that you should be doing at certain times of year are stuck to rigidly, for example, if it is between June 1st and August 31st then it is Summer and you may go to the beach. Regardless of the fact that on September 1st it may 34 degrees centigrade and sweltering. No, I am sorry. By then it is in fact Autumn and to show flesh on a beach would be to expose oneself to ridicule and disgust. If you go to the shops they will be selling pickling jars for all those sun-dried tomatoes you made over the Summer (for it is bottling season) or nice camouflage attire for hunting, but definitely no bikinis.
Mr Bobble and I were in Venazza last week - a Riviera fishing village - and it was 26 degrees and gorgeous when we heard the following exchange (which I have handily translated for you).
Group of crusty old fisherman on a bench to matronly local woman in flipflops, beach bag and smock “Where are you going?”
Old lady (exasperated) “The beach, can’t you see?”
Vociferious main fisherman (scandalised)“But, it’s the 22nd of September!”
Old lady (with wicked smile) “I know, care to join me?”
Gobsmacked main fisherman (further scandalised) “But, it’s the 22nd of September!”
Old lady winks, flounces onto beach and as a parting shot makes the “Facciamo le corne” sign at the Fisherman behind her back; directly at them. Which of course is extremely rude and extremely bad luck for the recipient.
Fishman cry out in unison, like a mantra, at her departing figure “But, it’s the 22nd of September!”
I want to like that little old lady when I’m 70.
September 29th, 2004 at 8:02 pm
Nice story.
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September 29th, 2004 at 8:02 pm
Nice story.
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September 29th, 2004 at 8:02 pm
Nice story.
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September 29th, 2004 at 8:03 pm
I’m loving all this Italian stuff.
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September 29th, 2004 at 8:03 pm
I’m loving all this Italian stuff.
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September 29th, 2004 at 8:03 pm
I’m loving all this Italian stuff.
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September 29th, 2004 at 8:04 pm
This reminds me of fantastic poem I remember reading at school about this women saying how when she’s old she’s going to do what she wants, wear what she wants and bugger everybody else. Read it here http://www.holistichealthtools.com/purple.html it’s priceless. I draw the line at eating bread and pickles for a week though. (how do you put snazzy links in?)
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September 29th, 2004 at 8:04 pm
This reminds me of fantastic poem I remember reading at school about this women saying how when she’s old she’s going to do what she wants, wear what she wants and bugger everybody else. Read it here http://www.holistichealthtools.com/purple.html it’s priceless. I draw the line at eating bread and pickles for a week though. (how do you put snazzy links in?)
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September 29th, 2004 at 8:04 pm
This reminds me of fantastic poem I remember reading at school about this women saying how when she’s old she’s going to do what she wants, wear what she wants and bugger everybody else. Read it here http://www.holistichealthtools.com/purple.html it’s priceless. I draw the line at eating bread and pickles for a week though. (how do you put snazzy links in?)
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September 29th, 2004 at 8:04 pm
Gamba: Thanks I’ve got to get it out of my system now I’m back here for the Winter.
Luda. I will read it, thanks. You need some html for a ’snazzy’ link. Just do an insert link in a blank blog entry and switch to source view to see it in HTML. Copy then paste in your comment with correct website link and text to name it.
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September 29th, 2004 at 8:04 pm
Gamba: Thanks I’ve got to get it out of my system now I’m back here for the Winter.
Luda. I will read it, thanks. You need some html for a ’snazzy’ link. Just do an insert link in a blank blog entry and switch to source view to see it in HTML. Copy then paste in your comment with correct website link and text to name it.
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September 29th, 2004 at 9:00 pm
ooohooo, not just times of year but times of day - ever asked for a capuccino dopo le 11? You gotta be a foreigner then!
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September 29th, 2004 at 9:00 pm
ooohooo, not just times of year but times of day - ever asked for a capuccino dopo le 11? You gotta be a foreigner then!
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September 29th, 2004 at 9:00 pm
ooohooo, not just times of year but times of day - ever asked for a capuccino dopo le 11? You gotta be a foreigner then!
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September 29th, 2004 at 9:00 pm
Lovely.
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September 29th, 2004 at 9:00 pm
Lovely.
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September 29th, 2004 at 9:03 pm
Bobble, if I lived near you would you be my friend and teach me Italian and pasta dishes?
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September 29th, 2004 at 9:03 pm
Bobble, if I lived near you would you be my friend and teach me Italian and pasta dishes?
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September 29th, 2004 at 9:03 pm
Bobble, if I lived near you would you be my friend and teach me Italian and pasta dishes?
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September 29th, 2004 at 9:05 pm
Get in the queue Solis.
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September 29th, 2004 at 9:05 pm
Get in the queue Solis.
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September 29th, 2004 at 9:05 pm
I said it first, sweetheart, back of the line.
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September 29th, 2004 at 9:05 pm
I said it first, sweetheart, back of the line.
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September 29th, 2004 at 10:00 pm
Bog off, both of you - I’m way ahead of you and in possession of 3 of her Nonna’s recipes already. Ha!
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September 29th, 2004 at 10:00 pm
Bog off, both of you - I’m way ahead of you and in possession of 3 of her Nonna’s recipes already. Ha!
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September 29th, 2004 at 10:00 pm
Bog off, both of you - I’m way ahead of you and in possession of 3 of her Nonna’s recipes already. Ha!
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September 29th, 2004 at 10:01 pm
I feel suddenly popular… I may bask a little now.
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September 29th, 2004 at 10:01 pm
I feel suddenly popular… I may bask a little now.
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September 29th, 2004 at 10:01 pm
I feel suddenly popular… I may bask a little now.
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September 29th, 2004 at 10:02 pm
Bask away, honey. Oh - and I tried the chickpea flour recipe. Fab. And gram flour it is …..
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September 29th, 2004 at 10:02 pm
Bask away, honey. Oh - and I tried the chickpea flour recipe. Fab. And gram flour it is …..
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September 29th, 2004 at 10:02 pm
Bask away, honey. Oh - and I tried the chickpea flour recipe. Fab. And gram flour it is …..
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September 29th, 2004 at 10:02 pm
Sling it baby - I’m gonna bling it big style with ma Bobble. In fact, I cooked Sicilian Chicken in your honour Bobber. I removed the Sicilian elements and used fresh Venetian ingredients instead. That’s because I’m dedicated to you - not like these part-timers.
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September 29th, 2004 at 10:02 pm
Sling it baby - I’m gonna bling it big style with ma Bobble. In fact, I cooked Sicilian Chicken in your honour Bobber. I removed the Sicilian elements and used fresh Venetian ingredients instead. That’s because I’m dedicated to you - not like these part-timers.
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September 29th, 2004 at 10:02 pm
Sling it baby - I’m gonna bling it big style with ma Bobble. In fact, I cooked Sicilian Chicken in your honour Bobber. I removed the Sicilian elements and used fresh Venetian ingredients instead. That’s because I’m dedicated to you - not like these part-timers.
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September 29th, 2004 at 10:02 pm
Ooooooh - you turncoat silver!
Ask him where he got the Sicilian recipe, Bobs. Go on - ask him ….
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September 29th, 2004 at 10:02 pm
Ooooooh - you turncoat silver!
Ask him where he got the Sicilian recipe, Bobs. Go on - ask him ….
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September 29th, 2004 at 10:02 pm
Ooooooh - you turncoat silver!
Ask him where he got the Sicilian recipe, Bobs. Go on - ask him ….
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September 29th, 2004 at 10:03 pm
I am suitably impressed Argento.
(and Poglette. Am struggling to Italianise Soli’s name.)
Stylish: Oh yes. After 10.30 in some places. I just stick with my caffé macchiato and I’m fine.
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September 29th, 2004 at 10:03 pm
I am suitably impressed Argento.
(and Poglette. Am struggling to Italianise Soli’s name.)
Stylish: Oh yes. After 10.30 in some places. I just stick with my caffé macchiato and I’m fine.
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September 29th, 2004 at 10:03 pm
I am suitably impressed Argento.
(and Poglette. Am struggling to Italianise Soli’s name.)
Stylish: Oh yes. After 10.30 in some places. I just stick with my caffé macchiato and I’m fine.
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September 29th, 2004 at 10:03 pm
My name is straight from the latin, baby. That’s dedication for you.
Recipes over the internet business, nooooooooo, it would have to be a shared cooking experience in the kitchen dela Bobbolina and trust me, if Portugal actually did nice food I’d return the compliment.
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September 29th, 2004 at 10:03 pm
My name is straight from the latin, baby. That’s dedication for you.
Recipes over the internet business, nooooooooo, it would have to be a shared cooking experience in the kitchen dela Bobbolina and trust me, if Portugal actually did nice food I’d return the compliment.
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September 29th, 2004 at 10:03 pm
My name is straight from the latin, baby. That’s dedication for you.
Recipes over the internet business, nooooooooo, it would have to be a shared cooking experience in the kitchen dela Bobbolina and trust me, if Portugal actually did nice food I’d return the compliment.
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September 29th, 2004 at 10:04 pm
I had some really good food at a Portugese Restaurant round Brixton way, solis. I kid you not. My fave dish was something involving tiny new potatoes, onions and salted cod. Yum yum.
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September 29th, 2004 at 10:04 pm
That bloody salted bloody cod is the staple diet of the (now) well to do Português - though once was the fare of humbler folk. There are reputedly more than 365 dishes meaning it can be eaten every day (perish the bloody thought) and my gran has 366 ways of cooking it really really badly.
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September 29th, 2004 at 10:04 pm
That bloody salted bloody cod is the staple diet of the (now) well to do Português - though once was the fare of humbler folk. There are reputedly more than 365 dishes meaning it can be eaten every day (perish the bloody thought) and my gran has 366 ways of cooking it really really badly.
0 Sweetie(s) given
September 29th, 2004 at 10:04 pm
That bloody salted bloody cod is the staple diet of the (now) well to do Português - though once was the fare of humbler folk. There are reputedly more than 365 dishes meaning it can be eaten every day (perish the bloody thought) and my gran has 366 ways of cooking it really really badly.
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September 29th, 2004 at 10:04 pm
I’m going to miss my traditional “we only eat them at new year” lentils being in New York, now that is tough.
I shall really have to make some mileage out of this and start cooking lessons. And I thought it was just my snaps people liked me for.
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September 29th, 2004 at 10:04 pm
I’m going to miss my traditional “we only eat them at new year” lentils being in New York, now that is tough.
I shall really have to make some mileage out of this and start cooking lessons. And I thought it was just my snaps people liked me for.
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September 29th, 2004 at 10:04 pm
I’m going to miss my traditional “we only eat them at new year” lentils being in New York, now that is tough.
I shall really have to make some mileage out of this and start cooking lessons. And I thought it was just my snaps people liked me for.
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September 29th, 2004 at 10:05 pm
Ooops - sorry solis. But I liked it. Not sure I’d be keen on it every day though.
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September 29th, 2004 at 10:05 pm
Ooops - sorry solis. But I liked it. Not sure I’d be keen on it every day though.
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September 29th, 2004 at 10:05 pm
Ooops - sorry solis. But I liked it. Not sure I’d be keen on it every day though.
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September 29th, 2004 at 11:00 pm
Is that like Baccala Solis? - which I loathe. Ooh cuccina povera has a lot to answer for -take Sardinian maggot cheese for instance.
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September 29th, 2004 at 11:00 pm
Is that like Baccala Solis? - which I loathe. Ooh cuccina povera has a lot to answer for -take Sardinian maggot cheese for instance.
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September 29th, 2004 at 11:00 pm
Is that like Baccala Solis? - which I loathe. Ooh cuccina povera has a lot to answer for -take Sardinian maggot cheese for instance.
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September 29th, 2004 at 11:00 pm
Must be the same thing, Bob, we call it bacalhau (’buck-a-lheeow’, sort of). Salted and dried (Norwegian??) cod that needs to be soaked in holy water for three days before it can be cooked.
Someone tell Granny that, please.
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September 29th, 2004 at 11:00 pm
Must be the same thing, Bob, we call it bacalhau (’buck-a-lheeow’, sort of). Salted and dried (Norwegian??) cod that needs to be soaked in holy water for three days before it can be cooked.
Someone tell Granny that, please.
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September 29th, 2004 at 11:00 pm
Must be the same thing, Bob, we call it bacalhau (’buck-a-lheeow’, sort of). Salted and dried (Norwegian??) cod that needs to be soaked in holy water for three days before it can be cooked.
Someone tell Granny that, please.
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