½ûÂþÌìÌÃ

Been here since Feb 2006, Penny,so a way to go. yet. But have now got my E121 so another trip to Fermo. And dealing with the UK pensions service from abroad has not been easy, and as for the Inland Revenue, another phone call this morning I think.A

I was looking for an old post to add to today on olives, and using the search button it directed me to where I wanted to be, I am the most useless person techy wise, but if you dont know, just post and someone will help you.A

Thank you very interesting, apart from us( and a few others) all the trees are looked after by ½ûÂþÌìÌÃs in Marche, and the yield is bad this year, after the glut of last year, but I am pleased to hear you in Tuscana are doing better than us.And admit that we try but dont always get it right, but rely on our neighbors for advice, their trees are having very bad yields as well, so doubt here it is our inability  to be ½ûÂþÌìÌÃ.A

Well said Gromit, agree yet again, at this rate you will be eating Nutella pizza?A

Just returned from the press to ask if they will consider the paltry amount we have yet to pick this year. They said yes so amounts must be very down on last years as we expected. They sell their own oil (its on the road out of Servigliano towards, Amandola on the left) which seems to work out at 9euros a litre. Last year it was priced at 6euros.A

I think Gromit has summed it up nicely for me.Can I take it Jinty didnt like the hat/picture or whatever she won in the raffle then?A

Hopefully Penny ,Fermo are more clued up, we had no problem with them re our health cover, good luck.A

Good luck, Amanda and Dave, glad to hear you are not leaving us, or Italy?Angie

Its interesting in the use of language,"man enough" and "confront"and that old time Americanism "disrepect", what a load of nonsense.May we return to the real world. I doubt gio that you "know" her or that she/he is a friend. Friendships are based in a real world, with people that we like and support from day to day, and that for me is what this community has enabled me to do.A 

Bet Al didnt expect such a robust response, and interesting to see the disaffected post after a long time to stir up the pot. I think it is difficult to create a virtual community, and it has been easier for members in Marche to take part perhaps as we often do know each other in real life and have formed friendships by way of this community and the other forum.And whilst J&C aka Anastasia did start the fund raising drive, there are also others including the Marche Chapter who carried this through, and I am thinking of Sarah and Mark and Andrew and Jean and Russ. But we saw it as a group project, and something that we were lucky to promote through Italy Mag, so dont knock it, it would have been impossible without Ronald and his team.I am not in favour of  of what some may see as a "lively" debate which is just a disguise for some vitriol and bullying, those days are long gone. There is still room for debate, and perhaps this thread has opened up the opportunity to do that.A