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A week ago there was a stunning, sunny Spring day. It has been followed by a miserable, wet, cold week. But the weather forecasters assured us, and got it right, that Sunday would be sunshine all day. So perhaps spring is here. Certainly, the flowers in our garden seen to think so. Unfortunately, so do the weeds.
The Lower House of the Italian Parliament is introducing an electronic voting system based on a fingerprint recognition system. The aim is to stop Members of Parliament voting for their colleagues when they are not in the chamber. Currently, at a vote, each member presses a button to vote. If the person who sits beside you is not there then it is possible to reach across and press his button. People who do this are called Pianisti i.e. pianists because its like a pianist moving hands to reach the end of the keyboard.
Sam, the cat, has been off-colour recently. We took her to the vet and they said that her kidneys were not functioning effectively and her gums were inflammed. So for the last week we have been going to the Vet where she receives a drip to help rehydrate her and also an anti-inflammatory injections to help her gums. She is now eating more and is more lively. Also, she is taking homeopathic medicine based on berberis. One web site listed the benefits of berberis as: A remedy for the skins, chronic catarrhal affections, secondary syphilis, hepatic torpor, lassitude and other evidences of incomplete metamorphosis. Other sites, fortunately, mention that it is also good for kidneys, liver and urinary issues. She goes back to the vet in 3 weeks to see how things are progressing.
The Auchan supermarket in Fano has an “ethnic foods” section. This section includes, among other things, baked beans. It also has some chinese and mexican foods reflecting the fact that the ethnic population of the area is changing. Even in San Giorgio I can buy basmatic rice as well as risotto rice.
A wider selection of ethnic food is available in some shops in at area. In Senigallia, which has an “Indian” quarter there is an Asian supermarket. In Pesaro, where there are about 250 Sri Lankan families, there is a shop selling everything you need for Asian cooking. At Fano, near the railway station, there is an African shop catering to the immigrant population. So now, when I need coconut milk for my curries I am spoilt for choice. I will be making an economic decision and going to the African shop in Fano where it costs 1.50 instead of 2.00 a tin.
The “ethnic shops” all reflect some link with the British empire. Apart from selling baked beans, they all sell Birds custard powder, porridge, condensed milk etc. Unfortunately Cadbury’s Fruit and Nut chocolate isn’t available.
Here in Italy they have started to publicise a new skin care product for men called Nivea DNage. According to the advert it is aimed a those men who are 35 and over and who want a toned and wrinkle free skin. As we tick all the boxes we decided to buy some when we went shopping yesterday. We are also hoping that a full head of grey hair may be a side-effect.
Often criticised for his comments about women, Berlusconi has again come in for critcism for comments made during a press converence with the French President Sarkozy. According to some reports, during the press conference he turned to the French President and said “I have given you your woman”. This was a reference to the French Presdient’s Italian wife. Berlusconi’s office denied that he had said this. He had in fact said: “You know that I studied at the Sorbonne”.