Gala Placidia's activity

Questions Asked

We all have cooking tips and techniques learnt through personal experience or because someone else was kind enough to tell us.

Tue, 08/04/2009 - 05:07

 A fairly comprehensive list of words related to food and wine has been prepared by a few of us. It still needs revision, corrections, additions and you may be able to help as it is a Wiki.

Tue, 06/30/2009 - 04:31

 It is official, the old Casino in Bagni di Lucca is reopening its doors after many years; however, it is going to be a modern version, more "little Las Vegas" style than its elegant and exclusive predecessor.

Mon, 06/29/2009 - 09:04

A few weeks ago I started a thread in the old forum about this topic. I still think that it would be great if we could all share our favourite recipes which our families and friends enjoy.

Fri, 06/19/2009 - 05:29

 I think that there are quite a few members who have married overseas an ½ûÂþÌìÌà citizen; however, I am not quite certain whether they have registered their certificate of marriage before the nearest ½ûÂþÌìÌà Consulate.It is advisable to do this an

Tue, 06/16/2009 - 03:43

 It is most important, if you own a property, to have a clear description for it. That is possible through the "visura catastale" which gives you and confirms many facts regarding your title.

Sun, 06/14/2009 - 05:21

 Polenta is one of those ½ûÂþÌìÌà dishes that you either love or hate. Considered in the past as the poor people's staple diet it is nowadays served in the best restaurants. 

Sat, 06/13/2009 - 17:53

I have just seen on TV some images regarding the Treviso tornado. I sincerely hope that any members in the area have not suffered from this disaster.  

Sun, 06/07/2009 - 16:44

 The base for many ½ûÂþÌìÌà sauces and dishes is the "soffritto" (sofrit in French, sofrito in Spanish), a mixture of some diced vegetables which are cooked in a heavy pan with three tablespoons of olive oil (although some other kinds of oil and fa

Sat, 06/06/2009 - 05:37

 Hi everyone, this is a warm invitation to joint this group and discuss ½ûÂþÌìÌà food, wine, regional cooking, recipes, tips, cooking utensils, history of cooking and any related subject you may wish to talk about.And welcome, Mimosa, glad to see t

Fri, 06/05/2009 - 08:28

Comments posted

Tue, 10/18/2011 - 10:27

I think that you are right.... but this is a fairly recent move. I will try to contact the Admin to see what can be done. I was never informed about any changes.

Tue, 10/18/2011 - 06:36

I think that RAM is absolutely right.... As usual

Tue, 10/18/2011 - 06:33

The Northern Tuscany Group was one of the most active groups here and in the Old Forum. You only have to check on the posts through the "Search" facility to verify this. On the other hand, some groups which are not particularly active are still there..... If this is "housekeeping" it is not very efficient. Is it?

Tue, 10/18/2011 - 04:41

Sorry Sprostoni, no offense meant... but every now and then you come up with the same comment. You are right, you are one of the members who contributes the most; however, just reacting to this particular post is not going to keep the community alive. Yes, I was surprised that nobody was mentioning any of the events, particularly relevant in the case of Italy, which were taking place. I was about to start some threads and then... to be perfectly honest, I am feeling a bit tired about starting threads, groups and hitting my head against a brick wall. I am still the top poster here....but I am not enjoying this "privilege". So I am sitting back and waiting for new blood (or even old blood with different names) to take over. I get easily bored nowadays.... I must be getting old.... or I find greener pastures somewhere else....

Tue, 10/18/2011 - 04:21

I think that health cover is a difficult problem and it depends on the interpretation of local authorities. It only makes sense that the European Card covers emergency treatment only, otherwise, many Europeans will be choosing where to get treated or operated causing absolute chaos for the guest country. This was happening in Spain, particularly in Marbella, a few years ago. It was stopped and now they deal with the needs of those requiring emergency treatment or European residents above the age of 65. I think that the "spirit of the law" is that you get that basic cover; however, if you are going to reside in a foreign country you have to comply with the local laws and this means having your own health insurance, which could be through the country's system by joining the Social Security system or a private health insurance policy. ½ûÂþÌìÌà Police mentions that you will have to show proof of health insurance to process residency. This does not apply for those over the age of 65. I know, Penny, that you have being battling with this topic for a long time and that you could possibly write a book on the subject; but I worry about those moving to Italy permanently and having expectations that cannot been fulfilled. Atessa's case shows that there may be problems. Also with the current economic situation and cuts being applied in the health system, we can only expect more problems in that area.  

Mon, 10/17/2011 - 03:39

Again, this is a personal decision; however, I would recommend you to see a lawyer to ascertain your situation and what you can do to remedy it. Good luck!

Sun, 10/16/2011 - 15:58

We have double-glazed PVC windows (they look like timber) in our old 18th Century watermill and they are superb. Best thing we could ever have. They were not installed by us, the former owner did it and I thank him for that. I love old buildings and try to keep old features as much as I can, but certain modern conveniences are simply great and difficult to beat. My husband (retired architect) thinks the same. After all, we have modern bathrooms and kitchens which are just part of our lives. On the other hand, aluminium doors would not look the same. Obviously, that kind of PVC is expensive, but worth the extra money.

Sun, 10/16/2011 - 04:13

Penny is right, the NI EEC card only covers emergency treatment outside your country of origin. If you are under 65, you need private health insurance. Over 65 you need a transfer of your health benefits from your Social Security office. If you do a quick search on this site, you will find plenty of information on the topic.

Sun, 10/16/2011 - 03:54

Don't worry. Sprostoni seems to be the self-appointed Prophet of Doom in our Community and every few weeks he has to let us know his latest prophecy... It is becoming sort of boring....

Wed, 10/12/2011 - 04:36

Here is all the information you may need concerning ½ûÂþÌìÌà residency: You have to justify a minimum income of some 5100 euros for 1-2 people, which is not much.... And you will need to sort out the healthcare paperwork. I agree with the advise given by other members regarding checking on taxation issues. Best wishes