Buon Ferragosto a tutti! Today’s a public holiday in Italy, meaning even less gets done than usual. Except at our place, of course, where I’m writing this, then preparing pranzo for Stefi, Roomie, and two of my now-adult offspring (pasta and a pesto made with the rest of our basilico), then cleaning away and washing […]
The Renaissance #15: Emanuele Filiberto di Savoia, il signore del Piemonte
Buondì. Episode 15 of our FREE Summer Series on The Renaissance is ready for you to read/listen to. Do take a look: Il Rinascimento, Episodio 15. Emanuele Filiberto di Savoia, il signore del Piemonte And being #15, out of thirty episodes, it’s a reminder that we’re already at the mid-way point of the series. Doesn’t […]
The Renaissance #14: l’Italia ha troppo Papa e troppa Spagna!
Buondì. Ever heard of the Lanzichenecchi? I came across them years back, in a rather trashy novel about a high-class prostitute who loses almost everything due to the Lanzichenecchi, so has to escape to Venice, where she continues her trade until, well… that would be giving it away. If I could remember the title, I’d […]
The Renaissance #13 / Half Price eBook of the Week Offer!
Buondì. If you are or were a Game of Thrones fan, you might recognise elements from today’s episode of our Summer Series on The Renaissance. That is to say, the gory parts, and the rather immoral approach to public affairs that many of the would-be rulers displayed. It’s rather long, though, so I won’t keep […]
“Last day of school, last day of sorrow” / The Renaissance #12
Buondì. “Last day of school, last day of sorrow” we used to sing when we were kids, excited about the start of the holidays! We continued, with gusto: “One more day of this old dump And we’ll be home tomorrow!” It never occurred to me to ask why my parents didn’t share my joy. But […]
The Renaissance #11 Ludovico il Moro e gli invasori francesi
Buondì. Horribly late today, sorry! Blame the end of the month. For anyone who runs a business, or businesses, the end of the month brings unwelcome extra work. In our case, for instance, we have writers and online teachers to pay, everything has to be checked first, the actual payments made (some idiot has always changed […]
The Renaissance, Episode 10 / 25% Off New Ebook Easy Reader
Buondì. What if your dad was the pope? Then you’d be able to tell people that “papà è Papa” (pa is Pope). And if your dad was the sort of pope that enjoyed spooning mush into the mouths of infants, assuming you were an infant, a vocal one, then you’d be able to yell “Papà […]
The Renaissance #9, The Scandals of Pope Alessandro (Borgia)
Buondì. And here we are at the coast! Hence I’m writing this yesterday evening, so to speak, in anticipation of a Friday morning spent rubbing sun screen on the sensitive parts of small animals, then traipsing back and forth in the burning sun, between ombrellone and mare, carrying a child’s blue plastic watering can. Experience […]
The Renaissance #8, Gli spagnoli prendono il Regno di Napoli!
Buondì. The weather’s finally eased off – it’s cloudy today in Bologna, and not yet absurdly hot. Ironically, we’re strapping Roomie into the car after lunch and heading for the coast, where she’ll be able to romp in the sand and the waves, charming or savaging the other beachgoers, according to her mood. The best […]
The Renaissance, Episode 7 / Half price ‘Ebook of the Week’
Buondì. It’s still too hot, and I still have too much to do. My suocero is coming for lunch, and he’s a man that likes a nice plate of pastasciutta for his lunch, preferably with a meaty sauce of some kind. No messing about with salads, cheeses, and such airy-fairy muck! So as soon as […]
