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may I suggest you do a search on this site. Much has been written in the past regarding health care . Try some key words, health,care, pensions brings up previous posts. Also check out previous thread on perscription charges. Happy hunting!

Umm, not a Lynx, and with a short tail not a wild cat, I go for the above post lunch short sightedness!.

I believe that if your land is fenced and posted with no hunting signs (via the comune) then the hunters do not have a right to cross it. And there are also laws which prohibit the discharge of a gun in the vicinity of your home, however these are often ignored. But in the 5 yrs we have lived in rural Marche, we have seen a decrease in the hunters that come onto our land, perhaps it is a dying "art" around here at least, one can only hope so.

Finally had ours swept by our guy in Mogliano, does a good job but is hard to pin down for an appointment, is it cool enough for the stufa to be lit yet I wonder?

Hornets are to be avoided at all cost. Their sting can produce an allergic reaction which requires immediate hospital treatment. The message around here in Marche is if stung go straight to the nearest A&E. They especially like ripe fruit so are found around the grape vines, and at this time of year around fig trees as well. Would doubt that was the creature that stung/bit your wife Fred, but you are forwarned for next time you go grape picking!

Robert has just made an aubergine curry and dhal from ingredients bought in the alhal butchers/mini market in Corradonia, they also sell fresh coriander, but I grow my own from seeds friends bring from the UK. The only disadvantage being that they will insist on talking to him about cricket all the time!

Andrew you should have gone to the superior fish and chip shop in Matlock, what was it called? by Woolworths. I used to work there washing up in college holidays for 2/6 an hr!. Sorry to digress, I use red wine vinegar for my chutneys, and they are very good especially the fig chutney.

Oh my poor chicks, sad to read this thread again. Gilda was taken by a fox, when she was free ranging, in broad daylight, just a few yards from us, so we built a large secure run with a roof. Then Ruby and  Stella were found dead in the coop within 24hrs of each other, we have no idea what caused the sudden death, as they had been fine the previous day. So no more chicks for now, they appear to be very fragile creatures, and become such pets that it is devastating when they die. Perhaps in the Spring as they are so much fun, affectionate and like going for walks.Oh and the eggs are good too.

Agree with the good advice, our farmhouse was restored and livable, but what was intended to be a renovation of outbuildings to realise an apartment , turned into a nightmare of a total restoration. It gave us a much better build in the end and thanks to the efforts of geomatra and architect did not come in at much more cost. But I believe we were the exception to the rule.

We gaze out towards Montegiorgio sprostoni and whilst its a good view there is as yet no link for Fidoka, will be trying the other suggestions , thanks Keith, and Penny for your very detailed suggestions. Funnily enough seems to be working OK this afternoon.