Lorna at Vicenza

1.The binge drinking that seems to be getting younger and younger.

2. The attitude that "it's my human right". Some of it I agree with. Most of it is just bloody stupid.

3. health and safety. Some of it I agree with. Most of it is just bloody stupid.

4. teenage pregnancies and even older ones - especially those deliberately created for benefits or housing. People who say their 4th, 5th and 6th pregnancies were accidents. I pay for two kids in Italy. I can't afford to raise anymore. I haven't had a single "accident" in the last 10 years! Or Ever !

5. Skimpy clothes in the middle of winter because you have to go clubbing. Now this is not me being a prude or a spoilsport. I had my share of parties and clubbing in the late 80s. We all went out with coats and all the clubs had a cloakroom for about 50p. You never went home or stood at the taxi rank in a bikini top and booty shorts and nothing else. We dressed to look good but we also dressed for the weather in those days. We didn't pub crawl freezing our tits off. We had boots and coats.

Isakat

I will add the 6th thing-uncontrolled immigration

Lorna at Vicenza

I was going to say that too ...... and then I must have got all Italian and afraid of sounding racist when I am too an immigrant. But nobody ever gave me **** all in this country - sometimes not even a smile - and I have always paid for everything I've done here. There never has been any "just turning up and getting stuff" here.

Isakat

I was am immigrant in the UK, Lorna and I never got anything free from the state ( I never asked either ), I have always worked and paid my taxes unlike many who get council houses, family credits, and any other benefit under the sun they can get their hands on...... Nowdays, so many things get swept under the racist flag. Controlling immigration is not racist, uncontrolled immigration breeds racism.

cardi

You obviously didn't live in Newcastle.

covboy

Hey my Mrs told me the other day the Africans over here are given free phone cards to phone home !!!!!!!!!!!!!!,
wonder if i can get one ??
i probably don't qualify as i'm not here illegally and pay taxes !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Juvefan

yeah, this I can't believe! how Italy came so far in the past, and now it takes 1 month to do something which in Germany, or japan or SOuth Korea takes 2 minutes,
"hello, please take a sit and you can pick up your card over there in 5 minutes!"

Italy, "hello, ok, you need this, that, this, that, pay this, come back in 4 weeks, then pay this, and wait, wait more, ok, here you are "

one thing Italy does do well, well for me anyway, is when I am abroad, and I need a new passport, they make me one in less than an hour. which is VERY surprising LOL, but twice now, they just say, take a seat, I will make a new passport, I was thinking OH god how long is this gonna take! 2 months?
no, 1 hour.

cardi

France used to be a place where it was easy to get state benefits. You just filled in the forms.
It was then discovered that some EU immigrants were driving Chelsea Tractors and living in nice houses also claiming RMI (Income Support).
They clamped down on it.
The worst offenders by far were - yes you guessed.
No doubt they spent much of their time on forums and bars moaning about uncontrolled immigration'.

Juvefan

I thought the Italian government gives a lot of subsidies and benefits to refugees, or even immigrants? more than destitute Italians get.
complaint I hear a lot is, the government is taking care of foreigners more than their own.

cardi

What is the Italian equivalent of the Daily Mail?

ononno

Nothing quite so entertaining on the Italian press scene as far as dailies are concerned. But for scandal mag weeklies there are dozens.
I suppose 'Libero' could be compared to a degree. Italian 'free' press is largely controlled either by political parties or big business and banks.
ciao for now,
'o nonno

martine.italy

I love Italy and miss very little about the UK, but as always there is a snake in the grass. I live in a paradise in Southern Italy, with my Italian boyfriend, horses, dogs, cats and chickens. We employed a 'lady' from the village to clean, she has been regularly cleaning out my purse of money. Yes it happens in all parts of the World but I feel devastated that she could come into our home where we trusted her and steal regularly, putting her hand in my bag every morning. After having a telecamera installed we yesterday had her arrested. I have never posted on a forum but am doing this because I find it cathartic. This morning without any telephone call she tried to let herself into our property, we discussed, on my part heatedly what had happened and she turned it around on me, saying that all my eggs that she stole, my homemade salamis, jams etc etc, my cockeral I had reared especially for my 83 year old father I had told her she could help herself. The money was just a moment of craziness, the same old story. The police arrested her with 15 euros stuffed in her bra, and last night really could'nt be bothered taking a statement properly even though we had our solicitor with us. I love Italy, the climate, the sea, our beautifull house in the country, the food that I am growing and rearing myself. Our wine and our own olive oil, that apart I will find it very hard to ever trust anyone else in my home. A bare faced liar who is already managing to get the sympathy vote and an Italian legal system that will probably end up doing nothing. Dissapointing to say the very least and an experience that has soured Italy for me in a big way. Hope this isnt whinging to much

HADENOUGHPIZZA

Hi Martine , thats not really whinging its entirely justified rage ! This woman has taken advantge of you and been dishonest you have every right to be angry .

Juvefan

that's right and this is not just an Italian thing, this is a world problem!

Twinkle Canelli

Not really on topic, but to Martine really... and to restore everybody's faith in human nature...

Quite late last night I drove to a walking place to give the dog a run. As I normally do I swapped the car key and my mobile from my handbag into a bum bag and left my handbag in the car. We walked three kms and it started to get dark so we headed back to the car, only to find that somehow I had lost the car key. We headed back the way we came searching desperately, and at the end using my phone as a torch to see, but no luck. I called my son at home and asked him to bring the spare to me (about 5kms away and he doesn't drive!!). Eventually we met and went to reclaim the car, only to find my lost key looped onto the car door handle. Handbag, ipod, cds, sunglasses and everything all still inside....