½ûÂþÌìÌÃ

I'm pleased you are retreating from the infinity arrangement - I bet ianj's photo of his pool persuaded you! You are absolutely right about playing with a ball - just about impossible with an infinity pool - it had never occurred to me. Thanks.

So - you are going to build a retaining wall around the pool. Why? Surely it makes sense to make the pool wall thick enough to perform the retaining role? Of course, this deletes the option of a 'system pool' - whatever 'system' (whether it is galvanised tin or plastic) implies some sort of masonry structure to support the border, (generally this is done by clay tavellone slung onto hastily thrown up masonry pillars). If (as it sounds) you have a good site geologically, why not get a quote for a full masonry solution (lined with plastic, even one of the custom welded liners which you can source in France very reasonably). You've probably got the skills to build this yourself, anyway, and somebody from America will freight you the Hayward bits and pieces for what look like Lire prices. And, to put another spanner in the works, how enthralled are you by the 'infinity' aspect? In my opinion they photograph wonderfully, but apart from that 'wow' factor in the sales brochure, I have to admit I have swum in them, and noticed pools in friends' establishments, and the fact that they were 'infinity' had completely passed me by until they showed me the invoice or complained about the difficulties of overwintering them! (I'd say a tolerance of 2mm was overly generous on an infinity iinstallation, I'd look for half a millimetre.)

Though the plot is a semi-reverse of your recollection, could the film you are looking for be this? It dates from 1950, and is in b+w.

I agree, yer porcospino is a hedgehog, also commonly called un riccio, but yer istrice is a porcupine! Shows how useful Latin nomenclature is. And why do the ½ûÂþÌìÌÃs (and almost every other language) speak of coccodrilli, whereas us Brits call them crocodiles! In that case I think the English got it wrong...

Bertolucci's "Millenovecento", "Christ stopped at Eboli" by Francesco Rosi, "L'albero degli zoccoli" (The Tree of Wooden Clogs), by Ermanno Olmi and anything by the Taviani brothers. These are all concerned with C20th ½ûÂþÌìÌà history, and nothing like life today - (if it was like that today you probably wouldn't want to come here!) Cinema Paradiso which someone else has recommended is a very lovely film, personally I wouldn't bother with Under the Tuscan Sun. 

Jacuzzi is a trade name. I make this point because Jacuzzi the firm have a patent (I suppose it is still in force) on a particular bit of technology which allows you easily to completely evacuate all water from every part of the installation (all the tubes etc., not just the bits you can see are empty). This is a very good thing for an external application, or a hard frost could cause damage, and it's also a nice idea for intermittenly occupied holiday homes where bacteria could be a problem. I've no idea about numbers of jets!

I do so hate these creatures - beautiful as they are - if you get up close they have little pink feet exactly like a human toddler! They are a complete nightmare if they take up residence in a spot which you are trying to garden - when they get really hungry they even tackle spiny agaves, and you can forget spuds or daffodils (which I always thought were poisonous, but clearly not to istrici.) It can be fun getting shot at by a male out on the prowl for a lady friend, but only if you are behind a nice laminated windscreen. One night we were crawling along a rutted track in the car, and boyo porcupine decided we were a rival. So, facing the car, he raised all his big projectile spines (they raise them almost 180degrees for attack mode, so they fire forward) and let fly. He ruined a windscreen wiper and disturbed the windscreen seal.... I think they are fairly widespread in central Italy (maybe all over the country) and they like cultivated land so long as there is a bit of bosco around for cover.

It is entirely feasible to build any sort of pool (infinity, conventional, above/below ground) using the equivalent of 'breeze blocks' - or farm blocks, or timber, or gunnite or whatever is to hand - and then you 'line' it with whatever system you choose. It is your choice. "System Pools" just 'appear' to give you a 'fixed price'. But sometimes they also offer to get it built for you 'with all permissions'. Actually, that's not always true! You must inform youself about what (sometimes ridiculous) 'rules' will constrain your project, and then inform yourself about the technology of infinity pools (with their compensation tanks and pump requirements etc) - but the technology isn't rocket science. Getting the permission can be...(and also the understanding of how this pool  might work on a sloping site, and how much the unanticipated costs of retaining walls etc. might amount to). If you think it through well there is nothing to stop you doing a DIY job.

The stuff I have bought, termed 'stabilizzante' (for a gravel road base) is what in the UK used to be (probably still is) termed hoggin. It's a mix of larger granulates - say stones up to 25mm diameter (though sharp, rather than smooth like river gravel), plus a load of very much smaller grains as in sand or mud or lime. Given rain and compaction this stuff becomes very solid, but it is important that you have the right mix of aggregate sizes. It sounds as if your smaller aggregates are basically lime/chalk (because it is white). Possiby even your larger stony bits are crushed limestone. It may be that the delivery occurred in a very disadvantageous period - too much rain - which would render it temporarily horribly squidgy - but as soon as it dries out a bit and a few lorries/diggers have been on it it should function as intended. Yer old crushed brick hardcore was just as good - but some imbecile in Europe has banned it!

Though I take Allan Mason's point of view that 1 kW of elec, delivered by whatever means, will produce the same amount of heat, unless you are seeking to heat a small reasonably draught proof room (like a bathroom, where a thermostatically controlled oil filled electric rad is a good option) I'd opt for alanh's suggestion of an electric convector radiator. Very controllable - as alan says, you can generally switch these things between 800W up to 2 kW - and they are invariably thermostatically controlled, and cost about the same as an oil filled model but (IMO) distribute their heat more 'efficiently'. It isn't quite as simple as 'paying per kW', there is a measurable 'comfort' bonus which makes the pure equation more complicated. If you consider installation costs, (as in a 'proper central heating' system) and the difference between the costs of elec or gas, and if you don't have the option of (a very economical wood or pellet burner) then realistically electricity is not that expensive to run on a 'lifetime' basis. Pay attention to which tariff you are on - probably one of the tariffs which reward you for using 'off peak' isn't your best option. I personally would not consider a radiant (halogen type) heat source. I'd also keep the convector (or oil filled) radiator on, thermostatically controlled maybe at about 16degC, 24/7 during the heating season.