½ûÂþÌìÌÃ

There has been a concerted campaign (particularly in Rome, and particularly by bars) in recent days as a protest against austerity measures. That the police have decided to align themselves with Berlusconi strikes me as a bit sad.

The whole thing about whether it is 'temporary' is a bit political. Ram is strictly correct (though there are also different rules depending on your comune/land status) but the 'average ½ûÂþÌìÌÃ' will consider the costs of making 'a loggia' legitimately, or throwing up a shade structure and enjoying the shade for as long as it takes some catastal CCTV to challenge it. (The thought process goes "if it costs me a couple of thou I can demolish it to 'clear myself'. If I build it with all the structural cr@p it will cost me twelve thou", and I don't have twelve thou.)

If you could entertain the idea of wooden major support columns it would cost a lot less...you wouldn't need to involve geometras, structural enginers, geologists, the provincia etc etc whose professional fees would far exceed the cost of the proposed loggia! It could also be considered a 'temporary' structure thus absolving you from any increases in ICI or catastal registration fees.

Speaking of 'lack of continuity' (as in jumpers never being washed) I was a tremendous fan of "24" ... and their cell phone batteries never gave up the ghost! Oh please, they don't live on the same planet!! As for expatshield, my antivirus would have no truck with them!

For sure the site loads mega times better than it did 'last week'. Good. But the contemt has not improved (which is down to the users)

I use   it has never given any trouble, like the others it costs a fiver a month or fifty quid a year, and support is instant and helpful. Onlly snag is that they insist on Paypal. The broadband speed is an issue though (especially for watching live). A nice site for testing your speed is at  You'll find that your speed is determined (in the main part) by your ½ûÂþÌìÌà broadband supplier, using the VPN will show you that you are connected to a UK server, and occasionally this is faster than the ½ûÂþÌìÌà server!

This general strike, involving the big union CGIL, seems to be affecting Ryanair and who knows what else - probably any train you had your eyes on.  Best to check before you travel - (though my hairdresser confirms he'll be open so that's fine for me, but he's an unreconstructed fascist.)

The coumune where I live does give a discount (about 20%) on rubbish tax to houses which are 'occasionally occupied'. Maybe they've got used to me dragging in holiday home owners, but they actually ask the question at the outset. Quite what period of time is considered 'occasional' I've never gone into with the comune. It is my understanding that this is not a discretionary discount, but enshrined in national legislation. Of course, if you've fudged 'residency' you are considered to be there full time, so you can't be considered for a discount. There is additionally a discount (for residents only, I think)) if you are a single occupant, although this only applies to the first 45sqm I believe.

I'm sorry I can't point you at the vg article I read a week or so ago about how 'banning shorting' (on bank shares) is simply one of those notions which politicians think might keep the populace content. As we all know, 'there are more ways to kill a cat' and shorting bank shares is a piece of piss whatever the Eurocrats pontificate. It is not an invalid position to take that the markets are a feral casino, (even without delving into 'dark pools').

Clever dog! I'm having a problem (first time ever) with a cat who is simply too hot to wash. She's getting on a bit, and a freindly neighbour overfeeds her so she is a bit fat, but although she continues rolling in the gravel she can't be bothered this week to turn the grey bits back to their original white. With any luck she'll remember about grooming soon as it is getting a little cooler. I have a very slick weather 'app' on the smartfone - but it is ridiculously optimistic about the temperature! 9am it says I'm going to get max 32deg, 10am it says it is 35 and going to be 36, noon it says it's 38 and going to be 39, after lunch it says it is forty. How useless is that..