Christmas Photo

Here’s something I’m using for this year’s virtual Christmas cards:

Christmas Card Photograph

Oops!

While trying to make my WordPress installation a little more secure, I overdid the security on my .htaccess file.  This caused a few errors to show up on my server log, and may have caused visitors some problems.  Sorry.

This little .htaccess problem has been solved now, but others may be lurking.  If so, please let me know via a comment or the contact system.

I’m not 100% sure, but I think someone has been having a go at hacking my WordPress installation, hence the (over zealous) attempt to bolt things down.

Bribery, corruption, and blackmail

Yes, alas, I have to admit that both my other half and myself are guilty.  Everyday, often several times a day, we find ourselves having to use bribes, corruption and blackmail to get things done.  It’s our own fault, although I believe my Italian other half may have started us down this slippery slope.  Well, she will do anything for a quiet life.

As with many of these situations, things start out in a small way, but then the occasional bribe becomes more regular, and the blackmail becomes something of a way of life. Still, resorting to these heinous techniques becomes a necessity, especially in our household. Only today I found myself having to offer several bribes and use a small dose of blackmail to get my way. It was tough, but at least things went a lot smoother as a result, and, there really was no alternative, I can tell you. The precedent has been well and truly set, and there is no going back. … Continue Reading

Tackling lands of confusion

Whilst trying to stand this sausage thing on its feet, I’ve discovered that it is not all that easy to find the information you need. In Italy, getting the right, well almost, information often means wasting half a day or so in some anonymous public office somewhere, clutching the inevitable numbered ticket. And often these offices are only open for half a day.

On the other hand, get it wrong, and if the authorities do catch up with you, they will stamp on you hard, and you pay for your ignorance in the form of large fines. Explaining that you could not find out where to go to obtain the information you needed, is, of course, no defence.

Still, maybe I’m moaning about nothing. I mean, there are lots of foreigners who set up enterprises around Italy, and I cannot believe all of them are totally without the requisite permissions. Then again, with the right finance, you can hire a decent adviser and get him or her to dig around for you. On the condition that you know what information he or she should obtain for you, or feel that you can trust them enough to ‘get the job’ done.

Hiring someone to prepare the ground for you is an option, but, there are other options. Spending some time on the web can help, but you do need to know the terms you should be searching for, as I’ve been discovering. Once you have the right terms, you can target your search much more effectively. Knowing some Italian does not harm either, as you might imagine.

While Italy is renown for it’s Byzantine, or should that be ‘Machiavellian’, bureaucracy and complex legislation, it is by no means the only country in Europe where finding what you need to know is not easy. Apparently France is the equal of Italy, in terms of trying to set up a business.

Still, if and when you do manage to overcome all the little (!) obstacles, you should feel some sense of satisfaction, although once you are out in the ‘business battlefield’, so to speak, that sense may be rather short lived. In Italy, if you do start making some money, you may well find that the dear old tax man will whittle it all away rather quickly. This is in part why Italian businesses use just about any and every loophole they can find to keep themselves in profit, or it could be argued that it is as a result of Italian businesses exploiting every trick they can, that the dear old Italian tax man takes so much away. Catch 22?

Me, and my partner ‘in crime’, Gaetano, shall keep plugging away, in an attempt to raise our ‘child’ into ‘adulthood’. And as every parent will know, this is by no means an easy thing to do. And juggling other things around at the same time is not going to be easy, either. ‘Why do it, then?’, you may ask. Well, there are lots of reasons. Here are a few: creating something from nothing, being in control, meeting challenges, and, let’s be honest, cash. ‘Can we do it?’. Yes (I am arrogant), and we are sure as hell going to give it a go.

The ball will roll on, but, if it does not end up in the goal, we’ll have to be brave and call it a day. This is going to be the difficult part.

Will it always be Christmas in Milan?

It’s not just me, there are more Christmas lights than ever before here in Milan. Apparently the reason behind this festive splurge on pretty lights is rising crime levels in the city and some kind of pact the city’s politicos have made with the residents. Well lit streets reduce the probability of people ending up being the victims of crime. Yes, I suppose there is some truth in that.

However, this worthy attempt at keeping us all safe during the festive season raises the question ‘What happens after Christmas, when all these pretty safety lights go?’. Post Christmas crime levels may spiral. Unless of course, the powers that be are planning to make Christmas a permanent thing.

This interesting thought begs a few more questions. Such as ‘Will we be subjected to Xmas ads all year round on the telly?’ and ‘Will we get to see a plethora of Santa movies all year long?’. I suppose calming Christmas music could be piped throughout the city in an attempt to keep crime levels down. And ‘Will reds and greens become the next seasons favourite colours of choice for the Milanese fashion industry?’ .

‘Will mayoress Moratti sport a Santa costume all year round?’.

The mind boggles.

End of some frighteningly festive food for thought from me at Blog from Italy. Someone is off their baubles, if you ask me. Too much festive spirit, most probably Grappa.

Sausages, again

Sorry to go banging on about this, but my life seems to be being taken over by the things these days. And the first problem has arisen, thus putting my sausage strategy skills to the test a wee bit.

It had to happen I suppose, after all, that’s business. My sausage supply has gone from sizzling to fizzling out. My friendly local butcher is too tied up with preparing Christmasy stuff to be able to make a few kilos of bangers, and he has lost his main sausage maker. This means that sausage style Christmas prezzies are most probably off the agenda. Shame.

On the bright side, Gaetano, my associate sausage development manager, let’s call him, has most probably set up a meeting tomorrow on the sausage front. I shall be interested to see what comes of it, although I shall keep mum until something really starts cooking. I expect to be grilled about several things, so I’d better be well prepared.

Oops, is that the time. I’ve got to get ready to go. My core business calls. Must go teach lawyers how to use a bit of the old Queen’s English, in the hope of bettering their chances of finding a decent job after their course.

From bangers to lawyers. Isn’t life bizarre at times?

Another madcap scheme of mine will be coming your way soon.  I sure you’ll have trouble holding your breath. Not.