Dtlv74 wrote:You have found a good place for support here. We tease each other without mercy at times but this forum is a very welcoming and friendly place. Several members have been through tough times/difficult experiences and there's not just a load of great training advice here but also a good deal of understanding and motivation... myself and am sure a few others too can relate to a lot of what you say above... and we'll definietly kick your butt if you need to keep going!

seems to me I should start painting targets on my bum should I ever give up!
One more reason to keep fighting, and it's bloody good to find so much support, thank you!!!

Dtlv74 wrote:By the way, where in Italy do you come from?

I was born and bred in Genoa, a port on the north-west coast of Italy (so I am a city product, and a sea product), famous for the aquarium and.... nothing more I'm afraid LOL!
I moved around loads, first for Uni (ever heard of Parma ham? I was there for 5 years), and then to find a decent job with a decent salary...
Before moving over here I spent 3 years near Florence, and that's why I still speak Italian with a tuscan accent, drives my dad crazy

the_cheshirecat wrote:I was born and bred in Genoa, a port on the north-west coast of Italy (so I am a city product, and a sea product), famous for the aquarium and.... nothing more I'm afraid LOL!
I moved around loads, first for Uni (ever heard of Parma ham? I was there for 5 years), and then to find a decent job with a decent salary...
Before moving over here I spent 3 years near Florence, and that's why I still speak Italian with a tuscan accent, drives my dad crazy

Cool! The reason I ask is because i almost moved over to Italy... and still may well end up there. About three years ago i bought a place in Abruzzo... in a little village called Caporciano not too far from L'Aquila. Is a bit rural but that's what i wanted, fresh air, peace, quiet... and lots of outdoors things to do! Unfortunately due to a few reasons i haven't been able to fix the house up and it's condtion has gotten a lot worse... and the cost of repair is getting more and more.

So, am selling up now, while i can still get a reasonable amount for it, but will be combining funds with my girlfriend to buy a place somewhere and it might well be Italy. We both want to move somewhere in continental europe but don't know exactly where yet! I love Abruzzo but, other than Pescara or L'Aquilla, there are not many places with good employment options... am a way off that stage of things anyway though as my Italian is nowhere near fluent!

Dtlv74 wrote:Cool! The reason I ask is because i almost moved over to Italy... and still may well end up there. About three years ago i bought a place in Abruzzo... in a little village called Caporciano not too far from L'Aquila. Is a bit rural but that's what i wanted, fresh air, peace, quiet... and lots of outdoors things to do! Unfortunately due to a few reasons i haven't been able to fix the house up and it's condtion has gotten a lot worse... and the cost of repair is getting more and more.

Sell NOW, no matter how much it'll cost you,SELL and get rid of it!
I understand a need for peace&quiet, but why would you bury yourself in a place so remote???
I take it you didn't notice the difference between the average british "small village" = decent roads, at least 1 pub/restaurant, supermarket, fuel station and the average "small village" in Italy = crappy roads, no essential services, and, in your case, blocked on top of a mountain for n months a year, n depending on the amount of snow and how long it takes it to thaw...
My ex partner, the one who couldn't understand that used socks MUST go in the laundry bin, is from that area, people there laugh their heads off because Brits are buying homes for silly money in places where nobody wants to be!!!
Check the local population: the only Italians are in their 70s (aside from visiting relatives around Christmas, or sometimes in summer when they can't afford a proper holiday), you see "young" people, 9 times out of 10 they're foreigners...
RUN WHILE YOU CAN!!!

Dtlv74 wrote:So, am selling up now, while i can still get a reasonable amount for it, but will be combining funds with my girlfriend to buy a place somewhere and it might well be Italy. We both want to move somewhere in continental europe but don't know exactly where yet! I love Abruzzo but, other than Pescara or L'Aquilla, there are not many places with good employment options... am a way off that stage of things anyway though as my Italian is nowhere near fluent!

Look, I really don't want to put you down, but, unless you specialize in a very specific trade useful for that area, I think that you are VERY wrong re employment in Italy!
The only places where you MIGHT still find something to do are in the north-east, well far away from Abruzzo I'm afraid
And, even if you could find a job, has anybody mentioned the tax rate in Italy? it's about 50% for employed people (plus another 50% paid by your employer); of course it can also be nil, after all about 50% of our economy is based on illegal work, why not join in?
If you are self-employed, the situation is even worse: the so called "studi di settore" nail you to declaring at LEAST a certain amount of money, if you declare less than that you are automatically checked and fined, because you "cannot gain less than that".
I will not specify here what I did for a living, but when I ended up paying 75% of my income in taxes, with an income being about 800£/month, I made different arrangements.
And what do you get for this robbery? NOTHING: our public services are crap, you have to pay an astounding toll on each and every km of motorway you use, there are taxes on stuff you would never imagine (or accept) in this country, and the amount of red tape involved in the simplest things is just out of order.
I would strongly suggest you to try and live in Italy for at least TWO months before considering moving over, then you'll see what I mean when I say that I go there only when my parents hint that they can't remember my face, and even then I stay for 3-4 days tops.
It's my home country, but thinking of how many opportunities I have here, whilst my home country only offered me slow starvation makes me want to send them back my passport

Lol, so you don't think abruzzo is a good idea? Is good to get the opinion of someone from Italy who doesn't have a vested interest.

You'll be pleased to know I am selling... have agreed a sale already and fly over at the end of the month to complete it. I was lucky to buy the place for less than it was valued for and am selling close to the actual value and will make a small profit on it after the sales taxes. The guy buying increased his offer because someone else was interested so I've done better than i first thought i would.

I did stay there for a a few months after i first bought the place and understand what you mean about the infrastructure... services are pretty crap in some places although where i am it's close enough to L'Aquila (about 20 mins) so not so much of a problem. Working has been the main difficulty and i'm aware of the tax situation... not great as you say.

As for where i end up, Italy is nice but i don't think it will be there. My girlfriend is half greek and it seems highly likely we will end there instead as we have solid options for work.

Lol... i can tell you are glad to get away!!! Thanks for your advice, as i said, is good to get your view on it. How long have you been in England by the way? You sound happy and settled here

Dtlv74 wrote:Lol, so you don't think abruzzo is a good idea? Is good to get the opinion of someone from Italy who doesn't have a vested interest.

You are describing the Overlook Hotel!!!
And no, Abruzzo is NOT a nice idea, Italy is NOT a nice idea, unless you go to Florence and you are already a millionaire, in which case I'd be more than happy to show you around and give you a practical demonstration on how to shop properly...

Dtlv74 wrote:You'll be pleased to know I am selling... have agreed a sale already and fly over at the end of the month to complete it. I was lucky to buy the place for less than it was valued for and am selling close to the actual value and will make a small profit on it after the sales taxes. The guy buying increased his offer because someone else was interested so I've done better than i first thought i would.

GREAT!
I see you live in the S&W too...
I was wondering whether you might find some space in your luggage for a couple of items...
Nothing major, just some ingredients I can't find anywhere round here...
And a couple of bottles of "lacrima di morro"... Abruzzo is not Marche, but it's surely worth a try!

(I am smiling and flapping my eyelashes, how could you say no?)

Dtlv74 wrote:I did stay there for a a few months after i first bought the place and understand what you mean about the infrastructure... services are pretty crap in some places although where i am it's close enough to L'Aquila (about 20 mins) so not so much of a problem. Working has been the main difficulty and i'm aware of the tax situation... not great as you say.

See? I am right.
Of course.

Dtlv74 wrote:As for where i end up, Italy is nice but i don't think it will be there. My girlfriend is half greek and it seems highly likely we will end there instead as we have solid options for work.

Look, really, why would you want to go away???
Stay here, be happy, retire and then become a tourist if you really feel the urge to move away, but don't leave safety for trying an adventure in Europe!

Dtlv74 wrote:Lol... i can tell you are glad to get away!!! Thanks for your advice, as i said, is good to get your view on it. How long have you been in England by the way? You sound happy and settled here

4 years and counting...
I am waiting the 5th year to apply for a UK passport, just in case Europe collapses sooner than I think it will...
And you are right, I love it here!
Aside from your ridiculous Highway Code, and the weekly rubbish collection (YUK!!!), things are just perfect!

the_cheshirecat wrote:I see you live in the S&W too...
I was wondering whether you might find some space in your luggage for a couple of items...
Nothing major, just some ingredients I can't find anywhere round here...
And a couple of bottles of "lacrima di morro"... Abruzzo is not Marche, but it's surely worth a try!

(I am smiling and flapping my eyelashes, how could you say no?)

Lol, hmmm... I knew that more female forum members would mean more problems... we struggled enough just to keep GymBummy in line !

Sure, will be happy to help. Don't know exactly when I'm going over yet as the dates have still to be finalised... will let you know when i do and I'll see whet i can do

the_cheshirecat wrote:

Dtlv74 wrote:I did stay there for a a few months after i first bought the place and understand what you mean about the infrastructure... services are pretty crap in some places although where i am it's close enough to L'Aquila (about 20 mins) so not so much of a problem. Working has been the main difficulty and i'm aware of the tax situation... not great as you say.

See? I am right.
Of course.

Well I DO like the province... the food is great and cheap and i like hiking & outdoors stuff and it's a brilliant place for that. My life has changed considerably since i bought the place though and, if i end up starting a family with my girlfriend then Abruzzo definitely is too rural.

the_cheshirecat wrote:

Dtlv74 wrote:As for where i end up, Italy is nice but i don't think it will be there. My girlfriend is half greek and it seems highly likely we will end there instead as we have solid options for work.

Look, really, why would you want to go away???
Stay here, be happy, retire and then become a tourist if you really feel the urge to move away, but don't leave safety for trying an adventure in Europe!

Well am not going to get into all the reasons but i really don't want to be in the UK anymore... being here is not doing me a lot of good. Have been to fair portion of europe and have travelled a lot in the last ten years... getting away from here is pretty important to me.

the_cheshirecat wrote:

Dtlv74 wrote:Lol... i can tell you are glad to get away!!! Thanks for your advice, as i said, is good to get your view on it. How long have you been in England by the way? You sound happy and settled here

4 years and counting...
I am waiting the 5th year to apply for a UK passport, just in case Europe collapses sooner than I think it will...
And you are right, I love it here!
Aside from your ridiculous Highway Code, and the weekly rubbish collection (YUK!!!), things are just perfect!

LOL, yes the British Highway code...we only keep it as it is to confuse foreigners!

simon m wrote:Never a mistake - I like very dangerous women. You know the type, the ones that make Glenn Close in Fatal Attraction look sane!

Hehehehe... you will get on with me then!

Pingu wrote:

simon m wrote:Never a mistake - I like very dangerous women. You know the type, the ones that make Glenn Close in Fatal Attraction look sane!

Hehehehe... you will get on with me then!

and with me too...

Dtlv74 wrote:
Lol, hmmm... I knew that more female forum members would mean more problems... we struggled enough just to keep GymBummy in line !

Sure, will be happy to help. Don't know exactly when I'm going over yet as the dates have still to be finalised... will let you know when i do and I'll see whet i can do

Before you go, let me know and I will give you the list...
thaaaaaaaaaank you!!!

Dtlv74 wrote:Well I DO like the province... the food is great and cheap and i like hiking & outdoors stuff and it's a brilliant place for that. My life has changed considerably since i bought the place though and, if i end up starting a family with my girlfriend then Abruzzo definitely is too rural.

LOL, indeed even trying to use a different word from "rural" is too lively for the place!
But I have to admit that the food is fantastic: my ex, who incidentally was as fat as your average stick insect, always brought back loads of pizzelle, taralli, d'annunzio cake (it's the one in the octagonal blue box... better than sex!), not to mention all the salami, sausages and stuff...
LOL I am drooling now!

Dtlv74 wrote:Well am not going to get into all the reasons but i really don't want to be in the UK anymore... being here is not doing me a lot of good. Have been to fair portion of europe and have travelled a lot in the last ten years... getting away from here is pretty important to me.

I understand what you mean, I felt exactly the same before leaving Italy for good!
Getting used to living abroad is not always easy, I have seen loads of my colleagues giving up after 1 or 2 years, I guess it takes the right mentality and attitude: personally, even after more than 4 years, I can still find something new every day, and I usually love it!
Hope it'll be the same for you!

Dtlv74 wrote:LOL, yes the British Highway code...we only keep it as it is to confuse foreigners!

well, I have kept my reg to confuse the speed cameras, so I guess it's ok with me...