INFLATION, INFLATION, INFLATION....

According to figures published this week, the inflation rate in Italy has increased by 10 times as much as in the other Eurozone countries in the past 5 years. Expenditure on food [up by 10.1%], clothes, shoes and cigarettes has reached record levels whilst higher prices have had to be paid for furniture, household goods in general and leisure and cultural activities. The cost of utility bills is reported to have risen by 20.2% here.

Italy has spent less than its neighbours only on health services, communications and education.

When you look at this, you can see why Italians wanted a change of government - any change.

ANOTHER GEL PICTURE

Regular readers will know that I love gel al limone and I do not apologise for featuring yet another picture of this refreshing dessert. [Of course you have to take in the scent of the lemons to really appreciate how divine the dish is. I would never have believed it possible until I came here!] At the Altro Posto today it was decorated with the peel of green lemons, which are often on sale in Sicily and just as flavoursome as the yellow ones. Looking at pictures of limes with a student today, I had trouble convincing her that she was not seeing lemons!

DAILY DOINGS - 9

We had a Scirocco storm on Friday and ever since then the weather has been cold for Sicily in mid- May. Everyone is still huddled in their padded jackets, no one has made the transition into short-sleeved or sleeveless garments and none of the women is yet tightless. Indeed, I gather it has been warmer in the UK than in Sicily today!

I am glad to be able to report that the rubbish has been collected [for now].

The via Sacro Cuore has been delightfully quiet today as there are roadworks there; at least, I hope it's the road they are dealing with. Someone said they are working on the water system and that idea fills me with horror, lest "modernisation" render the system even less reliable than it is now. Talking of water, we had a delivery on Saturday morning and clever Simi now not only knows when the truck is on its way from the main road, but whether or not it is bound for our condominio! [She has a "special" bark for each case.]

A student came in this evening wanting an "emergency lesson" to help him prepare for a test tomorrow. "I have to study a tense.. quello con [the one with] had.. or maybe it's quello con have", said he, helpfully. As the former could be any of 4 and the latter any of 8, I was a little perplexed, reader. Then I decided that it was unlikely that he would be tested on the English perfect tense if he had not yet been tested on the present perfect, so that's what I plumped for. I hope his regular teacher at day school doesn't have too bad a time day to day, that she has had a rest tonight and had had a rest before that. I also hope that she has not been working too hard recently and had not been doing so prior to that period. I trust that she will have finished her marking by tomorrow and that she will not have been finding it too hard. If I had known exactly which tense was needed today I would have done a better job. I hope the lady has been comforted if she has read this, that she has been reading it as a light article, as was intended and that she will have had a laugh by now. She won't have been offended, will she? Auguri, fellow-professoressa!

So come on, CAE students of mine: which tense is which, then?!

CHICKEN & ARTICHOKE SALAD

I do love revamping some of my stalwart recipes from the UK by adding Sicilian ingredients: thus the addition of a little fresh Sicilian orange juice [as a substitute for flavoured balsamic vinegar which you cannot find here] and some slices of Sicilian blood oranges make all the difference to this salad:

Put 1 - 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts in a bowl. [Here I have used 1 chicken breast plus some chicken thigh fillets, as I had some of the latter in the freezer.] Chuck over about 4 tablespoons balsamic vinegar and the orange juice, if using. Cover and let it marinate for about 2 hours. Drain a can or jar of antipasto artichokes, reserving about 1 tablespoon of the oil. Then, in a small bowl, whisk together about 4 more tablespoons balsamic vinegar, 2 tablesp. honey, the artichoke oil and 3 tablesp. extra-virgin olive oil. Add some dried oregano, season and chill. Heat 2 -3 tablesp olive oil in a frying pan. Add the chicken and cook until there are no pink juices when tested with a fork. [Turn the chicken several times during cooking - about 20 mins in all.] As soon as the chicken is cool enough to handle, slice it thickly and place in a serving bowl with the artichokes, orange slices and a good quantity of interesting salad leaves [include rocket, if possible]. Drizzle the dressing over and serve at once. You need only some good bread to accompany this.

VIVERE

Two of my favourite singers sing one of my favourite songs and I hope you enjoy it, too, reader.

LAURA PAUSINI E ANDREA BOCELLI - "VIVERE"

ROSES AND CAVATIEDDI

My "fairy godmother" friend, who always knows what to say and do, arrived today, bearing roses [the pink one at the back smells sublime] more grapefruits and lemons, the very thin, leafy celery that we get here and lettuces from her garden.

I love Cavatieddi pasta and this plate of the wonderful stuff, served with a tomato, cream and ham sauce was just what I needed at the Altro Posto at lunchtime. Somehow a dish of this pasta smells so inviting and homely. Such a pretty dessert again, too ; the arrival of anguria [water melon ] has always symbolised summer for me in Italy.

Sadly and shamefully, another kind of smell greets one in the streets these days; the refuse collectors are on strike - for the quite valid reason that they have not been paid - and so the bins are overflowing. Let's hope we avoid a Napoli situation!

This week - what's new? - the Water Office are not answering the phone again!

Here's hoping you all have a "fairy godmother" friend in your lives, readers.

A GIFT FROM ANNE AND A MEME FROM LESLIE

I know I keep saying that the friendships you make through blogging are amazing but I do believe it's true: this morning this lovely, clever fridge magnet from Anne arrived and nothing could have cheered me up more. She made it herself and I do envy really creative people. Thank you, Anne.

Leslie has a meme which I found interesting; you have to answer each question with one word only, so here goes:

Where is your mobile phone? Somewhere!
Your significant other? Dog
Your hair? Colourneedy
Your mother? Saintly
Your father? Generous
Your favourite thing? Reading
Your dream last night? Forgettable
Your favourite drink? Cointreau
Your dream/goal? Security
The room you’re in? Booklined
Your ex? Bastard!
Your fear? Dementia
Where do you want to be in six years? Around!
Where were you last night? Home
What you’re not? Conventional
Muffins? Yep!
One of your wish list items? Emerald
Where you grew up? Didn't!
The last thing you did? Cooked
What are you wearing? Lipstick!
Your TV? Off
Your pets? Family
Your computer? Misbehaving
Your life? Busy
Your mood? Changeable
Missing someone? Often
Your car? What?
Something you’re not wearing? Glasses
Favourite Store? Rinascente
Your summer? Hot!
Like someone? Umm...
Your favourite colour? Blue
When is the last time you laughed? Today
Last time you cried? Yesterday

I don't tag but will be glad to read you if you want to do this meme.