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 Moxie and David, I feel very sad because you are obviously disappointed and you have done a lot for this cause; however, all fundraising campaigns reach a limit beyond which it is practically impossible to prosper. If you have a look at the fundraising effort, the earthquake took place on the 6th of April, the fund was open on the 9th and the majority of the donations, including the largest ones took place between the 9th and the 16th of April. After that, the number diminished and during the month of May, there were only 29 donations and the majority of them came from members who had already contributed to the fund.Large charitable organisations such as the Red Cross and Caritas are also currently receiving very little for the earthquake relief.On the other hand, there are over 40 spots all over the world needing urgent assistance. The most prominent one are the victims of the Swat Valley in Pakistan, where 3.4 million people are suffering enormously, 2.9 million have fled the area and half a million are living in basic tents. And I am not giving figures regarding Uganda or the malnutrition of children in Northern Kenya.For those who regularly contribute to charities, funds are going to move to help those people, particularly if they have already contributed to the ½ûÂþÌìÌà fund. And keep in mind that IM's fund was not the only one raising monies. Concerning people who do not help, they are not going to do it anyway.Perhaps, you will feel much better if you become directly involved with one of the organisations which are helping in the area. You are already doing it but I am sure that there is a great need not only for money but also for volunteers to help.Whatever you decide to do, I am sure that we will all feel admiration for your constant efforts.

 Hi Flyinpigs, good to see you here. Valentina has explained the basics to you. It only takes a bit more time to get used to the format, but you will soon forget the old one. The key to overcoming the initial problems is to participate. So we all look forward to hearing more from you.

A warm welcome, Pauline. Best wishes regarding the sale of your business and your move to Gubbio. We look forward to hearing more from you. Have you heard the story about St Francis of Assisi and the wolf from Gubbio? A lovely story.

 Yes, the Spanish Fort is going to be rebuilt by the Spanish government and there are similar projects that will get the cooperation from other countries; however, the ½ûÂþÌìÌà government declined to accept the help offered by many nations to assist with rescue operations and the victims in general. This sent the wrong message overseas. I feel sorry for the victims and I can only hope that the G8 initiative will help them to get back their lives as soon as possible.

Vernazza is also our favourite, although they are all so beautiful.In Monterosso there is also an "Enoteca" where you can taste the local whites, which are very special. 

 Hi Angie, I will be glad to give any advice from our own experience as buyers and owners. It took us a couple of years to find the right place for us, but Bagni di Lucca was always a favourite. It was just a matter of finding the right property at the right price.We actually found our watermill through one of the agents who advertises in the IM property pages; however, we contacted practically every single agent in the area and I can PM you a list of the ones we found particularly helpful.Also, the region is fairly large and perhaps your friends should look at all the properties not only in Bagni but also in the Garfagnana, the Lunigiana, we also looked as far as Pescia and the surrounding hills.A very important point is to gather as much information as possible about the area and this takes time and effort; however, it saves time and money in the long run.Ask your friends to join the community and also the Northern Tuscany group. There are very helpful people there. The old forum helped us a lot with advice and the new community will continue to do so.

 I have to agree with the views expressed by John and I am very sorry to see the disappointment that this issue is causing to Moxie and David, because you have both been working very hard in this project. Perhaps a small, specific project may get some response, but I think that those who were interested in participating in the fundraising have already done it and perhaps others have done it as well through different channels. There are several charities involved in helping the people from Abruzzo and donations have gone to them according to the particular preferences of the donor. Some people may have contributed to several different funds.Also, and although unfortunately the suffering for the people and animals affected by the earthquake continues and will continue, there are plenty of charities and organisation requesting help for many other worthy causes as well. We all tend to distribute our donations to cover as much ground as possible in a needy world, particularly at a time of crisis.We could add that perhaps the attitude of the ½ûÂþÌìÌà government, rejecting direct help to the victims by many countries who offered it, has not helped any fundraising effort. Overall, what has been achieved by a small group of people is remarkable and we should all be proud of this effort.

These are the two last towns at the southeastern end of the "Riviera di Levante". Both beautiful towns. They are at the border between Liguria and Tuscany. Wonderful places, but then.... the area is pure magic. You can also go by boat to the Cinque Terre and Portofino during the summer months.

 We always drive to La Spezia and catch the train from there and we always purchase the Cinque Terre card. Generally, we go first from La Spezia to Monterosso, walk around the place, go back to the station and catch the next train to Vernazza, go for another walk, then back to the station and the next train to Corniglia, same thing and go to Manarola, have lunch there ("pesce della barca", a beautiful dish of fresh fried fish is strongly recommended, together with the local white wine) and then walk along the "Via dell'Amore" all the way to Riomaggiore, from where you will catch your train back to La Spezia. There are trains every 20 minutes approximately. Fabulous! Then, you can drive from La Spezia and visit Lerici and Porto Venere. A great day. Enjoy!

 An excellent post from Serge with plenty of good advice. I know that your neighbours would say that it is not necessary to use terricio, but I prefer to do it. Good drainage is always the big secret and you have to be careful about this. On the other hand, terracotta pots will help with this, while plastic ones may be a problem. And they are much nicer to look at.