Moans, groans, grunts and wheezes...

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Dec 11th 2012, 4:12 pm

#1681

Pica

BE Forum Addict

Joined: Apr 2009

Location: Italy

Posts: 2,669

Re: Moans, groans, grunts and wheezes...

Something simple-cheese and crackers, olives, smoked salmon and maybe some pate-enough, as there are only the 2 of us Plus wine for breakfast, sambuca with mid morning coffee-suits me!

Dec 11th 2012, 5:06 pm

#1682

Isakat

BE Forum Addict

Joined: Nov 2009

Posts: 1,679

Re: Moans, groans, grunts and wheezes...

I am so pissed off. OH rang me at 6.30 pm from work to ask me if I put diesel in the car and that his is empty.
Well, since I do not watch Italian TV, I missed all the warnings about another effing strike tomorrow till Friday

I am sure the red light will come on tomorrow and I have to go and get a few things from the shops, plus do the school run. How did I miss this in the IL Messagero?
Bloody country.

Dec 11th 2012, 5:13 pm

#1683

37100

Concierge

Joined: Apr 2007

Location: Verona/ Nr Turin

Posts: 4,672

Re: Moans, groans, grunts and wheezes...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Isakat

I am sure the red light will come on tomorrow and I have to go and get a few things from the shops, plus do the school run. How did I miss this in the IL Messagero?
Bloody country.

Oh dear.

We filled up today and there was a big queue. There was probably no need because the supermarket one's don't usually strike.

I keep track here: http://www.commissionegaranziasciope...a_sciopnaz.jsp

Dec 12th 2012, 8:12 am

#1684

ononno

BE Forum Addict

Joined: Jun 2010

Location: Disneylandia

Posts: 1,824

Re: Moans, groans, grunts and wheezes...

Good grief, here you all are talking about what you're going to do and what you're going to eat already! Crikey, I'd better go and buy some Christmas cards then. Have already received some from long lost UK cousins, so feel a bit guilty about not having done anything about it. Christmas menù will be the result of a family confab. next Sunday. Christmas pudding for me and a few other connossieurs will feature, as will Christmas crackers for everbody (about 16/20) depending on how many 'fidanzatini' are involved. They all love Christmas crackers with the silly hats and cheapo gifts. They also love watching me set fire to the Christmas pudding with half a bottle of Couvoisier

ciao for now,
'o nonno

Last edited by ononno; Dec 12th 2012 at 8:13 am. Reason: spelling?

Dec 12th 2012, 8:22 am

#1685

Pecora Nera

BE Forum Addict

Joined: May 2010

Location: Close to the wine

Posts: 1,522

Re: Moans, groans, grunts and wheezes...

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonwel

What are you lot going to eat on Xmas Day here in Italy? No turkey'n'trimmings for us because I'd be the only one who appreciated it, but we've decided to put our foot down this year: my ma-in-law has for years objected to candles on the table, saying they remind her of a cemetery... well, this year she's gonna have them whether she likes it or not. Then we're going to have something unrefined (horror of horrors!): brasato con polenta! It'll go down well and then there'll be a few simple antipasti and the usual panettone, torta veneziana, pandoro.

There's nothing in Italy like the stodge of a Xmas pudding or Xmas cake. No mince pies either. Pazienza!

The thing that annoys me most about the Italian Xmas is not so much what they eat as the fact that it all comes down to a lunch! Ask an Italian what they did "at Christmas", thinking of how they spent the Christmas holidays, where they went, what they did, and all they'll tell you is what they ate for lunch!
Che palle!

Two years ago we did the full english christmas dinner for the relatives. They all enjoyed it ... apart from one of the Italian brother in laws who just looked at it and refused to even taste it.

This year we will do the same, and for the brother in law, I brought specially from the UK a can of heinz spagetti.

Dec 12th 2012, 8:38 am

#1686

K in Modena

BE Enthusiast

Joined: Mar 2009

Location: Modena

Posts: 546

Re: Moans, groans, grunts and wheezes...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pecora Nera

for the brother in law, I brought specially from the UK a can of heinz spagetti.

Love it! We're going for simple this year as I doubt I'll want to be slaving over a stove for too long. I think we'll be picking up some tortellini di zucca from the local market (yum!) and perhaps some pre-cooked roast beef or something. With a two-year-old, a massive bump and no mum or MIL to help us out, we're not going to be too ambitious! I've picked up a mini panettone for those who are allowed to eat it and I'll be making some mince pies (might have to cheekily indulge there!) as my mum brought over some mincemeat when she was last here.

Dec 12th 2012, 8:49 am

#1687

MarkRD

BE Forum Addict

Joined: Apr 2009

Location: Ferrara

Posts: 2,497

Re: Moans, groans, grunts and wheezes...

Not sure we're in the right thread here, but anyway we'll be with MIL and other ILs for Xmas, so "moans, groans etc" perhaps is the right thread!
In 26 years we've only ever been in the UK for Xmas twice.
We attempted it two (or 3?) years ago but then there were those massive snow storms and we had to cancel last minute as it was too risky. Lost all our money (bah humbug!)

Yes, it all revolves around the dinner (lunch) table of course with the usual fayre even this will be our first Xmas as full-on vegetarians, but I think I'll have give in to the meat-stuffed capelletti (tortellini) in meat-brodo...

As pagans, we also celebrate Solstice at home so that will def be meat-free!

Mum has sent a parcel, bless, so hope there are some Brit-goodies in there. I forgot to order off those UK foodie sites we talked about and it's probably a bit late now.

Dec 12th 2012, 8:56 am

#1688

HADENOUGHPIZZA

BE Forum Addict

Joined: Dec 2011

Location: Parma

Posts: 1,489

HADENOUGHPIZZA has a reputation beyond repute

Re: Moans, groans, grunts and wheezes...

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkRD

We attempted it two (or 3?) years ago but then there were those massive snow storms and we had to cancel last minute as it was too risky. Lost all our money (bah humbug!).

We were in that too ! spent a night on the floor at Bergamo airport with two children , I have never seen snow like it . We had to spend two nights in a hotel and then Ryanair manged to get us to the UK for the 24 th , I cried when we actually made it home. This experience is one of the reasons we haven't attempted Xmas in the uk since ....

Dec 12th 2012, 8:58 am

#1689

duffer

Pull my finger

Joined: Feb 2007

Location: Vicenza

Posts: 4,064

Re: Moans, groans, grunts and wheezes...

Shouldn't be too late to order the UK food stuff, deliveries are usually 3-5 days.

Dec 12th 2012, 9:06 am

#1690

K in Modena

BE Enthusiast

Joined: Mar 2009

Location: Modena

Posts: 546

Re: Moans, groans, grunts and wheezes...

Quote:

Originally Posted by HADENOUGHPIZZA

We were very, very lucky that year. Got straight on the phone to KLM while standing in the most enormous queue to change tickets and they put us on BA flights instead (the snow had moved on from London and there was room on the flights as there had been a BA strike threat so nobody booked with them) and we just about had time to get to the front of the queue and pick up our new tickets, check in and board. Other people were going home or sleeping in the airport. I can recommend always having the number of the airline and a well-charged phone with lots of credit when flying, just in case!

Dec 12th 2012, 9:44 am

#1691

MarkRD

BE Forum Addict

Joined: Apr 2009

Location: Ferrara

Posts: 2,497

Re: Moans, groans, grunts and wheezes...

Blimey . .we all had our fair share that year then. You can't imagine how p*ssed off I was though .. we didn't even attempt it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by duffer

Shouldn't be too late to order the UK food stuff, deliveries are usually 3-5 days.

I'll hold you to that. Pass the sherry would you?

edit: could someone post those links to UK foody things again? .. I can't find 'em. Thanks.

Last edited by MarkRD; Dec 12th 2012 at 9:48 am.

Dec 12th 2012, 12:08 pm

#1692

duffer

Pull my finger

Joined: Feb 2007

Location: Vicenza

Posts: 4,064

Re: Moans, groans, grunts and wheezes...

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkRD

I'll hold you to that. Pass the sherry would you?

edit: could someone post those links to UK foody things again? .. I can't find 'em. Thanks.

This is the thread -
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=769060

Dec 12th 2012, 12:21 pm

#1693

MarkRD

BE Forum Addict

Joined: Apr 2009

Location: Ferrara

Posts: 2,497

Re: Moans, groans, grunts and wheezes...

Quote:

Originally Posted by duffer

This is the thread -
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=769060

Cheers Duffer .. I couldn't be arsed to look ..

..it reminded me of that place in Sant Agostino which may or may not have survived the earthquake ..

Dec 14th 2012, 5:23 am

#1694

Lorna at Vicenza

MODERATOR

Joined: Apr 2008

Location: Province of Vicenza

Posts: 19,038

Lorna at Vicenza has a reputation beyond repute

Re: Moans, groans, grunts and wheezes...

Lots of bloody snow outside

Dec 14th 2012, 5:53 am

#1695

Isakat

BE Forum Addict

Joined: Nov 2009

Posts: 1,679

Re: Moans, groans, grunts and wheezes...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lorna at Vicenza

Lots of bloody snow outside

I was telling the kids in the car this morning that there will be snow in the North and they were very disappointed that it is raining here. I love snow, but hate that nobody cleans it and we can get stuck in the house.