Buondì. Today sees the start of spring, in the northern hemisphere at least. In Italy it’s tonight, at 10.58 p.m. Central European Time. Think of me at that moment, as I’ll be doing Olaf the Snowman’s song and dance routine from the magical Disney film ‘Frozen’. Which coincidentally the pre-schoolers and I watched a week […]

Buondì (Or should I say ‘Buenos dias’? Duo would be proud.) Yesterday was Thursday, so pre-school day. The sixty-minutes from five-thirty to six-thirty p.m. on a Thursday is the longest hour of my working week. And the one I do most preparation for. Besides shifting the adult-sized classroom furniture, so as to make space for […]

Buondì. This is a follow-up to Monday’s article ‘Make a new plan, Stan‘. First things first, I am no perfect student, neither am I a language-learning genius, nor (fortunately) an idiot savant. However, experience helps a lot. Suppose you’ve already got your driver’s license for a car/automobile? Then passing your motorcycle test is likely to […]

Buondì. Monday morning, 07.55, and I have a relatively quiet week ahead, so plenty of time for language-learning. But also, an article to write for the Club, and no-predetermined topic. A week of study to plan, an article to write… Ah ha! “Make a new plan, Stan” is a line from the chorus of Paul […]

If you don’t use your automobile often, it can be hard to get it started, especially on a winter morning. You turn the key, but instead of the engine roaring into life, there’s only a sickly straining sound from the starter motor. Or worse, just an electrical click, then nothing. You’re going to be late. […]

Thanks in advance to Anne in Chicago, who will no doubt point out that in the USA you say ‘dreamed’. I know that. But people all over the world read these articles, and I have to spell it one way or the other, don’t I? It’s like Catalogue / Catalog – I vary it. Deliberately. […]

Umm… When he or she has a side job, for cash, which he/she isn’t paying any tax on? Thank you, but no. That’s not what this is about. Go on then, when IS an unemployed Italian not an unemployed Italian? So, Friday morning I was at the CUP (Centro Unico Prenotazione) to book blood tests. […]