F24 payment woes

I have a tax payment to make, only I cannot make this blasted payment; which can only be made via a home banking system now; because my home banking system is not working properly. This is because just about everyone is trying to make tax payments today, because of today’s deadline.  In case you did not know, the legendary F24 is a tax form which you use to donate money to the government.  This form used to be made of paper, but now it is virtual, and all can only be accessed via computer for normal mortals such as myself.

You would imagine in the 21st century that someone somewhere would have ensured that IT systems are bolstered to deal with such ‘deadline’ loads, wouldn’t you? Well, I would. But this is Italy, and ‘unpredictable’ is the best word to describe the way in which things work.

Yes, I could have made this payment before today, but why should I have? I could also have set up an automatic payment for today, but because I am not convinced that the system will work, on account of the unpredictability of things here, I did not. Bad move, I know.

It is not even possible to go directly to my bank and have them make the payment, which, before some far thinking, not, politico changed the rules, was possible, and useful in the circumstances I now find myself in.

Oh well, you live and you learn, and become frustrated.

I shall have a go at making this payment later, or give up and pay the darned fine.

The calm after the storm, and divine, possibly, intervention

Wow! This is a heavy week. I had a long, and quite complex, translation that needed doing asap. I did manage to finish it, but it ate up a lot of time. So much time, that I have neglected my blog, and its readers.

However, this little translating experience sort of restored my faith in the existence of a superior being. Why? Well, on Tuesday I had my usual appointment with my law firm. Now, it just so happens that this group of people cancel once in a while, and I have to admit that I was sort of praying that they would cancel Tuesday’s lesson, as that would have given me a little breathing space. No, I thought, that would be far too much to expect.

Well, as it happens, they did indeed cancel! I just could not believe it. Cancellations are usually a little annoying, but this time I was just about jumping for joy. Someone, or something looked upon me favourably that day.

I’m not great believer in superior beings, but I have to admit after Tuesday’s stroke of luck, I did start to wonder. And should my luck not have been luck as such, but more like some form of divine intervention, I have to say a big thanks!

This little event also got me thinking. I mean, although I am not exactly religious, I do find the argument ’something or somebody must be responsible for the universe’ difficult to refute. Yes, there may be a scientific explanation, but what kicked everything off? This is extremely difficult to explain, and even science has a more than few problems with it. Big bangs, chemical reactions, and things bouncing around the galaxy for zillions of years may explain how we came to exist, but before that? There was nothing, you might retort. OK, fine, I shall reply, but, I will ask, “Who or what turned the nothing into something?”. Explain that if you can. Although nobody can. And even if the religious types out there say, “It was God.”, I may well ask, “But what or who created God?”. Answers on a postcard, please. Although, I won’t be getting any postcards because there is no answer.

Will we ever find out? Possibly, but not for a long time yet, I imagine. And by the time we do, I shall be long gone, of that I am sure.

In the meantime, I will continue to be surprised when I benefit from unexpectedly fortuitous good luck, and I shall hover somewhere between being an atheist and an agnostic, or visa verce. Then again, maybe I should really be an atheist, for I am not sure that whatever or whoever started everything off could or should, of even would want to be considered as a deity.

Exclusive! Full English Breakfast in Milan, Italy!

Yes, it’s finally here! As you can see from the (not wonderful) camera phone shot I took this very evening, the full English breakfast down at the 442 pub here in wet old Milan is about to go live!

Tomorrow, from midday on, this scrumptious brekkie will be ready to be ordered and eaten. And you can pick up a plate of these goodies from noon until two in the morning on both Saturday, tomorrow and Sunday. This probably means that this will be the longest English style breakfast ever! And I will be down there with my wee one, and we shall be tucking in.

Tonight’s trial run was tried and tasted by Chris, all round good bloke, and English 442 regular. His verdict: ‘It’s the best full English breakfast I’ve had outside the UK!‘ – High praise indeed and I agreed with him. Wonderful!

Finally an ex-pat can find a decent breakfast that is a wee bit more substantial, and enticing, than the cappuccino and cake that is the usual offering here. Cholesterol overload, here I come.

The cost of this extravaganza? A mere 10 Euros, and this special offer price, includes coffee, tea, and toast. After Xmas you will still get the same, but the price will be 12 Euros. Still not an exaggeration when you consider that brunches in Milan can cost from 16 Euros up.

And you can blame me for the sausages. Check them out, I don’t think you will regret it.

Be there, or be hungry!

Here’s to the 442 and extended British Breakfast euphoria!

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