I woke up this morning to find sheep in my garden and amongst my olive trees. The constant bleating was somewhat annoying. It was a little cheeky I thought letting them graze my land. But hay, this is Italy
Well, no shepherd was to be found, in fact know body at all. I figured, we must have some escapees on the loose, a visit to my farmer neighbour Giuseppe revelled they weren’t his, ‘he didn’t keep sheep, they must be Roberto’s’ so a call was made.

He hasn’t lost any sheep so Giuseppe came down to see the gang of bleaters at first hand, we were soon to be joined by Roberto and his brother, puzzlement was clear despite much animated conversation.. Which in itself, is amazing, as I thought rural Italians know who was who, and what was what in the local area.
We were now joined by two more men, on a passing tractor and then somebody’s wife who had strong opinions on the subject of lost sheep, and joined in, sheep watching, mobile phones were much in evidence, but still no solution was forthcoming or any identity of an owner
The situation was now becoming more than a slight annoyance; I run in to make coffee for the assembled crowd,
I have no intention of keeping sheep, having had past experience with woolly backs the only thing I like to do with sheep is eat them!!!
The police now arrived, our local copper, another Roberto who is generally noted for his originality in facial hair, but in the best traditions of local policing, he had the answer, not that he let on to us and my woolly friends were soon rounded up and marched down the lane, to wherever sheep go in Abruzzo.
It could only happen in Italy

Hi superman2
somebody’s wife who had strong opinions on the subject of lost sheep-you probably need to call little Bo Peep-she'll have the answer

Ciao superman, when I were a lad, it used to happen in North Yorkshire an' all. Both cows and sheep.!
ciao for now,
'o nonno

Typical! Everyone has an opinion but no solution!

[It could only happen in Italy[/QUOTE]
Having read some horror threads from the French and Spanish sites recently - neighbours from hell, etc. - I am tempted to say "good old Italy!"

Yeah shit happens ...... but is it only in Italy that school is law but the books bankrupt you? I keep getting the free advertising pubblicity shit from all sorts of shops in my post box and a bleeding washing machine or new fridge or even a 15" TV can cost less than the frigging school books !!!

Can you all tell that school books are my soap box this month/year?

And the kids aren't in high school yet. And have I ever mentioned uni? Cheaper than Uk uni's, yes, but you have to provide every little thing.

No. Don't tell me.
I'm hoping that the high schools in town will have a better second hand market going by the time mine get there.
The middle school does nothing though.

At Nonna's birthday dinner on Saturday I asked my SIL how much she paid for the school books in her town. She said "160 Euro". I asked her how come her books were so much cheaper. She explained that the school gives out used books and the parents pay 160 euro AND they all have to give the books back at the end of the year. She is effectively paying the school to hire the books. I've never heard of that system before.