Update from OIC HQ

Buondì.

Here’s a brief update about goings on at OIC HQ, for those who are interested in such things.

If that doesn’t include you – “I just want the three free exercises a week you promised when I signed up!” – then go here, or here, or here, or here, or here and do something useful, while the rest of us chat.

So, you’ll recall me moaning about lack of sleep?

That was down to Bug, our latest small animal, who came to us when he was a very new creature indeed (hence the name), back at the end of September.

Since then he sucked furiously at the bottles his keepers proffered every three hours – day and night – until yesterday, when he left for a new home, approximately double the size and weight!

The new place is very professional, apparently, so he’ll surely be well-looked after. No, we don’t get to visit. As with last year’s Roomie, who was exhausting in a different way, when they go, they go.

We’ve got lots of photos, though: Bug in bed, Bug on the bus, Bug at the beach, Bug in the bath, Bug in the bar (just kidding…)

Bug and Roomie had a predecessor, who I don’t think I ever wrote about, so he doesn’t have a pet name. Same species as Bug, though. We have albums of pictures, as it was during the pandemic, so there wasn’t much else to do.

Anyway, Stefi and I slept all night, didn’t have to rush this morning, and will now have hours extra each day to work (me) or knitflix (her).

We’re planning a trip to the movies, and maybe a meal out. I might even vacuum, as the HQ is a mess.

E così. All caught up!

A venerdì.

P.S. Grab this pair of seasonal, half-price ‘Ebooks of the Week’!

The current seasonal, half-price ‘Ebooks of the Week’ offer will last for longer than usual, until Sunday 17th December, but why put off grabbing your discounted copies?

Apologies for the price glitch in Monday’s article by the way, and thanks to those who wrote to tell me. Given that these are seasonal ebooks (Christmas/New Year-themed), I’m reusing the marketing texts from last year and, due to lack of sleep, didn’t check carefully enought to notice that ebook prices (like lots of other things) have gone up since then.

Still, £4.99 each? That’s a snip!

N.b. Both titles have sold well on previous occasions, so it’s likely regular ebook buyers will already have them (please check before you buy…)

The first story is Natale a sorpresa, and the level is B2.

Matteo’s supposed to be writing a book – he has a deadline coming up – but he’s suffering terribly from writers’ block. All he can do is stare at a blank computer screen. He’s recently out of a relationship, which hasn’t helped…

Worse, it’s December and Christmas is coming! Normally Matteo spends the festive season with his family, but this year they’re visiting relatives in Australia. So it looks as if he’ll be celebrating alone.

Then he has an idea. He’ll call his best friend Filippo, who’ll surely be able to help! Perhaps they can spend Christmas at Filippo’s place in the mountains, or take a trip somewhere…

• .pdf e-book (+ audio available free online)
• .mobi (Kindle-compatible) and .epub (other ebook readers) available on request at no extra charge – just add a note to the order form or email us
• 8 chapters to read and listen to
• Comprehension questions to check your understanding
• Italian/English glossary of ‘difficult’ terms for the level
• Suitable for students at intermediate level or above
• Download your Free Sample Chapter (.pdf)

Buy Natale a sorpresa, just £4.99! | Free sample chapter (.pdf) | Catalog

And the second?

A week after Natale comes Capodanno (New Year) so half-price ebook no. 2 is Giallo a Capodanno, level B2/C1 (slightly harder).

“Sbrigati Alida, o arriveremo in ritardo alla festa di Capodanno!” ripete nervosamente Martina alla sua compagna di stanza. Alida sta sdraiata sul letto con un libro di Agatha Christie fra le mani. Si toglie pigramente gli occhiali da lettura e guarda fuori dalla finestra: “Nevica ancora, che incubo!”

It’s New Year 1970 and Martina’s all dressed up for the party, determined to enjoy it! But her roommate, Alida is more cynical:

“Ascolta: siamo bloccati dalla neve in un collegio in cui viviamo tutto l’anno. Dei duecento alunni che frequentano la scuola, solo sette (sette, porca miseria!) hanno dei genitori che non li vogliono tra i piedi nemmeno durante le feste. E noi siamo tra questi sette. Quindi puoi anche vestirti come Marilyn Monroe… ma rimani una disgraziata!”

Alida would rather read detective thrillers than pretend to have fun with just six fellow students. But who knows? Perhaps something interesting will happen?

• .pdf e-book (+ audio available free online)
• .mobi (Kindle-compatible) and .epub (other ebook readers) available on request at no extra charge – just add a note to the order form or email us
• 8 chapters to read and listen to
• Comprehension questions to check your understanding
• Italian/English glossary of ‘difficult’ terms for the level
• Suitable for students at upper-intermediate level or above
• Download your Free Sample Chapter (.pdf)

Buy Giallo a Capodanno, just £4.99! | Free sample chapter (.pdf) | Catalog

How do I access my ebooks?

When your order is ‘completed’ (normally immediately after your payment), a download link will be automatically emailed to you. It’s valid for 7 days and 3 download attempts so please save a copy of the .pdf ebook in a safe place. Other versions of the ebook, where available, cannot be downloaded but will be emailed to people who request them. There’s a space to do that on the order form – where it says Additional information, Order notes (optional). If you forget, or if you have problems downloading the .pdf, don’t worry! Email us at the address on the website and we’ll help. Also, why not check out our FAQ?

P.S.

Have you read/listened to Tuesday’s FREE bulletin of ‘easy’ Italian news yesterday?

If not, well, why not find ten minutes today?

Subscribers get three FREE bulletins each week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The idea is that if you make a habit of reading/listening to them, after a few months you’ll notice your comprehension skills improve.

Subscribe here.

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