NO OMINICCHI IN MY BACK YARD!

This is another of my articles previously published published in Italy Magazine. I think it will interest my readers here.

The 2010 edition of lo Zingarelli , Vocabolario della lingua italiana [ Zanichelli ] Italy’s bestselling Italian dictionary, has been published amid a chorus of controversy over the inclusion of 1,200 recent coinages, 700 of which are new entries. Some of these are Italian coinages whilst others are borrowings from other languages - mainly English - and still others are Italianisations of English words.

The Sicilian exclamation, “mizzica!” [“my goodness!”] is included for the first time and the word “ominicchio” [meaning a mediocre man – “uomo mediocre”] which was coined by the writer Sciascia also makes an appearance. We also have “da acchiappo” to mean a seductive person, “infoetica” to refer to problems created by information technology and the communications revolution and “tvfonino” to refer to a cellphone which can receive TV programmes. An “ottista” is a student who constantly receives 8 marks out of ten in upper school tests. “Ciberbullismo” is listed for the first time, too. From Brazilian comes “Capoeira” and in the political sphere words such as “neocon” and “baathista” now appear. We can also find “antietà” [anti-ageing] “bionaturale” and other words which represent new concepts and ideas.

Among the English words and expressions now accepted into Italian are: chick lit, embedded, social card, pro life, pro choice, chill out, finger food, wine bar, nerd and “not in my back yard”.

The 2010 edition of the dictionary earmarks 2,800 Italian words which the compilers feel should be saved. These words are not particularly archaic but are simply falling out of use as they are replaced by snappier coinages. Among them are “ vaghezza” [vagueness] the elegant form of address “Esimio” [replaced by “Egregio” in correspondence] and “protervia” [arrogance]. Some commenters on various sites which discuss the new dictionary are saying that attempting to save words is a waste of time.

What do you think? Is it worth trying to save the words which are becoming obsolete?

TWO OF LIFE'S SMALL PLEASURES

It's the citrus fruit season in Sicily and I never tire of marvelling at the freshness of the fruit available or at being able to buy it with the leaves still attached:



Last night, as Simi and I were coming home from our walk, Orazio the hairdresser called me and gave me a bag of chestnuts that he had picked. It was such a kind gesture and it really cheered me up on a cold, November evening.

SABATO MUSICALE

Enjoy.

Giusy Ferreri - Novembre

MOUNTAINGIRL'S PHOTO CHALLENGE - CAFE / EATING OUT

It's Friday and once again I am just in time for my friend mountaingirl's Photo Challenge. This week's theme is "Café / Eating Out".

Why, you may ask, would you want a hot croissant at 1 am? Because, dear reader, if you are young, carefree and Sicilian and it is summer, you eat them on the beach at that time.

BLOG BLAST FOR PEACE 2009 - GIVE PEACE A CHANCE

It was Churchill who said,

"Except for brief and precarious interludes, there has never been peace in the world and before history began murderous strife was universal and unending. But up to the present time the means of destruction at the disposal of man have not kept pace with his ferocity. Reciprocal extermination was impossible in the Stone Age."

Sadly, the second half of the twentieth century and the first years of the twenty-first bear him out. My generation, the baby-boomers, now nearing our sixties, grew up in a false sense of security, believing, like our parents, that never again would men and women be stupid enough to allow themselves to come within an inch of annihilation; that never again would the world witness genocide; and that never again would civilian populations suffer as they had in World War 11. My parents' parents, in their turn, had genuinely believed that World War 1 had been "the war to end wars".

We now know only too well what the heroes of 1918 came home to: betrayal upon a massive scale comprising depression both economic and emotional. In Germany the starving children of that period grew up to become the Nazis. Therefore what we do in Churchill's "interludes" of peace matters as much as what we do in war. And I would ask what we actively do to prolong the interludes of peace. Not much, I fear, as I remember how eagerly the flag-waving crowds of Thatcher's heyday saw the Falklands warriors off on their journey to "give the Argies some bargey". Why not "give the Argies some blarney" instead? Thatcher would have been just the person to do it, although not with charm. When the weapons of destruction are so terrible that they can annihilate, surely it is better to go on talking? Churchill again:

"To jaw-jaw is always better than to war-war."

For Churchill, unlike many politicians who send troops into action, had seen the horrors of war. No one, in my experience, hates war as much as a war veteran, so I have never understood why peace demonstrators are often accused of not showing respect for "our boys". Surely not wanting "our boys" to risk slaughter again is the greatest tribute that we can pay them? My grandfather, to whom I have dedicated my peace globe, was blinded at the Battle of Jutland and. as far as I know, did not feel that there was any glory in it. Once when I was on the brink of womanhood I asked my father why nations glorify war: "There is no glory in war but sometimes men do glorious deeds in war", he replied and that is the wisest answer I have ever received to this question.

I am not naive. Neither am I a pacifist. I wish I was. But I cannot honestly say that I believe that we could continue, in this era, without a standing army or that some perpetrators of crimes against humanity can be stopped by anything short of force. The problem is that we are not logical about where, when and how we use that force, are we? If Saddam Hussein's régime deserved to be ended by western intervention, why not Mugabe's? Thus we come to the awful hypocrisy of it: we wage war when and where it suits us and we send "our boys" into unwinnable situations. It makes me sick when I hear a British Prime Minister expressing sorrow over the deaths of soldiers and a few hours later announcing that he is sending more young people to meet the same fate.

Is there a "just war" then? Perhaps the question should be, "Is there a just peace?" for if we could attain this, it is possible there would be no need for war.

Yes, I believe in the "just peace". And I believe that my own country, Britain, that self-righteous old coloniser, could help achieve it. We're a little country. Little enough to do without nuclear weapons if not without our military. Could we not be a brave country once again and take the lead in disposing of the means of "reciprocal extermination"?

All I am saying is, "Give peace a chance".

John Lennon - Give Peace a Chance



Bobby Darin - Simple Song of Freedom


Serge Reggiani - Le Déserteur

AN AIRPORT FOR THE VALLEY

This article of mine was published in Italy Magazine yesterday. As Agrigento is one of my favourite places in Sicily, I am publishing the article here too:

Plans for an airport near the Valley of the Temples at Agrigento were abandoned last year after protests about the amount of destruction of natural features that such a project would entail. It was estimated that around 106 small houses would have been bulldozed to make way for the runway. Concerns were also expressed about moving so much earth in a seismic area as 2,050 million square metres of ground would have been dug up during the preparations. When Enac, Italy’s national aviation authority, halted the project in October 2008, the Provincial President, Eugenio D’Orsi, stated that the airport would be built elsewhere in the area and now it seems that this is what will happen.

Yesterday the Regional Government announced that 30 million euros of European funding have been earmarked for a new airport infrastructure for the Aeroporto Agrigento – Valle dei Templi and this is thought to be largely due to the efforts of the tenacious Mr D’Orsi. Local politicians hope that the airport will end Agrigento’s “geographical marginality”, making it easier for tourists to reach, and bring jobs to the area but the plans remain contentious.

The Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, Sicily is one of the world’s most important and best preserved Greek sites and it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1988.

I'd love to know what readers of this blog think about plans to build an airport so near this ancient site.

WHAT IN SICILY? - 26

What was this used for in days gone by?

Answer in the comments tomorrow.

TWO FEASTS AND A GIFT

Last night in Modica there was a very special party for a very special lady, as my dear friend Linda celebrated a significant birthday. Without further ado, I am going to show you the wonderful, international feast that she and Chiara had prepared for family and friends:

Yes, that's good old British pickle on the left there!



Amazingly light cheesecakes above.

All cakes were lovingly made by Chiara. Mamma mia, what a lot of work!

Tanti, tanti auguri di nuovo, Linda!

So there I am this morning, thinking I mustn't eat again for a whole week after that lot, when my friends Marco and Giovanna phone and invite me to lunch!

First there is homemade pasta cooked with the pumpkin flesh and fresh ricotta.

Then there is orange salad

which is served with cotolette di pollo:



For dessert, Giovanna has made frittelle di San Martino:

Introducing Marley, the five-month-old labrador who has turned the family's life upside-down in the nicest possible way. Just look at those eyes!

Benvenuto sul mio blog, Marley!

And tonight Lucia brought me a present of......frittelle!



Grazie, Lucia!

THANK YOU, SCINTILLA

October was Breast Cancer Awareness Month and some of you may remember that I posted about it here, joining in Scintilla's "post pink" campaign. Now Scintilla has presented a round-up of all the posts so do take a look. She has also offered me this lovely flower from her garden.

But breast cancer does not go away as October ends. So let's do all we can to spread knowledge - in this case, knowledge really is power, for it could save your life - and remain aware throughout the year.

PLEASE MAKE EVERY MONTH BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

SABATO MUSICALE

From Federico Moccia's film of his own book, Amore 14, released in Italy today:

Alessandra Amoroso - Senza Nuvole

MOUNTAINGIRL'S PHOTO CHALLENGE - "PORTRAIT"

It's Friday and that means it's time for my friend mountaingirl's Photo Challenge. This week's theme is "portrait" so here is a portrait of my friend Gino's portrait of a Sicilian man in traditional headdress:

LUNCH WITH MY POET

I'm delighted to be able to tell you that "my poet", Antonio Lonardo, now has a blog. Do go over and say "hello" - he'll like it.

Antonio and Carla invited me to lunch today:


Antipasti of this year's olives, marinated artichokes and gherkins - all patiently prepared and preserved by Carla.


Spaghetti with Carla's tomato sauce


and a main course of polpette, salsiccia and courgettes which Carla had cooked slowly in olive oil with some chopped tomatoes, capers, parsley, garlic and seasoning.

Roast chestnuts and grapes to finish and then it was time for work.

Grazie, Antonio e Carla.

WHAT THE ELLE...?

I'm not usually one to rant about environmental issues but that's what I'm going to do tonight. The November edition of Elle Italia has excelled itself with all this packaging

in order to give you this:



What the elle do they think they're doing?

"TAKE ME BACK TO JAIL - PLEASE!"

This is one of my articles recently published in Italy Magazine. As the events happened in Sicily, I thought that you would enjoy it too:

Last week a Sicilian builder who had been placed under house arrest begged police to take him back to prison instead. 30-year-old Sandro Gambino, a builder from Villabate in Palermo Province, had been arrested when the Carabinieri caught him dumping building materials from his truck and he was subsequently imprisoned. Later the sentence was commuted to house arrest but Gambino found himself arguing so much with his wife, who accused him of not contributing to the upkeep of their two children, that he could not stand being at home. So he fled to the police station and asked the astonished officers to rearrest him and send him back to jail. Gambino’s case was immediately reheard and he was again sentenced to house arrest. The police apparently advised him to kiss and make up.

Gambino is not the only person to have preferred jail to house arrest: Earlier this year 30-year-old Guido Beneventi, a thief from Palermo, left his parents’ home, to which he was supposed to be confined, and ran to a police station where he demanded to be arrested. He said he could no longer tolerate his parents’ lectures regarding his life of crime. He told the arresting officers that they were his “saviours”. And in 2007 Marcello Lazzarra, who was under house arrest for selling counterfeit CDs, called the police and asked them to come and arrest him. Lazzarra, aged 24 at the time and also from Palermo, then went outside to be apprehended for attempted escape. He said that he would rather go to jail than listen to the quarrels between his mother and stepfather.

House arrest is quite common in Italy for minor crimes and may also be used when prisoners are near the end of their term or are too ill to remain in a correctional facility.

SUPPER BY ROSA

I've said it before and I'll say it again: no one makes focaccia like Rosa, who brings me some every time she makes it. She rolls the dough wafer-thin, and the texture is somewhere between that of traditional Sicilian focaccia dough and filo pastry. One day I am going to watch her preparing it and when I find out how she achieves this miracle, I will tell you. Meanwhile, the picture will have to suffice:

And no one makes pizza quite like Rosa either!

MY BED!

'Morning, folks. Simi here!

If my mummy gets new bedding with her supermarket points, it's my job to try it out, right? It's MY bed, after all, though at night I let mummy sleep in it. I must say sometimes a dog can't find room on her own bed at all these days, as if mummy isn't messing around on the computer on it, she's got it covered with magazines and books. Of course, I just chuck them on the floor to tidy up and then she goes crazy. Humans, eh? Oh, sorry, I forgot there are a lot of humans reading this!

Well, I'm off to see what my pals Alex and George are up to now.

Buona giornata, fans!

Love,

Simi xx woof!

THE ARANDORA STAR

From a shameful event in the story of Modica to a shameful and tragic one in British history. I am writing about this episode tonight because a friend in Wales has written to me describing her work to raise funds for a memorial to Welsh-Italian victims of the Arandora Star tragedy, in which a total of 486 Italians lost their lives.

At the outbreak of World War 11 "enemy aliens" living in Britain were divided into three categories: those in class A were deemed to represent a high security risk and were interned; those in class B were "doubtful" and were subject to some restrictions; and those in class C were thought to pose no security risk at all. However, following the Fall of France in 1940 Churchill decided, in his own words, to "collar the lot" and the majority of class B aliens were interned. When Italy declared war on Britain and France on June 10th the internment of Italian males was ordered. Many of the Germans interned had opposed the Nazis or were German Jewish refugees. Most of the Italians interned had lived in Britain virtually all their lives and many had sons who were serving in the British military. Others were in Britain because they had opposed Mussolini and later fled their country in fear of their lives. The majority of the men were detained in internment camps on the Isle of Man or Orkney, where they were treated inhumanely.

A policy of deporting internees was in place and on 1st July 1940 the SS Arandora Star, a converted cruise liner, sailed from Liverpool for Canada with 1,864 people on board. Of these 734 were Italian internees, 479 were German internees, 89 were German prisoners of war and the rest were guards and crew, 80% of the crew having been newly signed on that morning. The internees were forced to sail in appalling conditions, packed onto a ship built to carry only 250 passengers and extended, in wartime, to carry 200 more.

The ship was painted battleship grey, making her look like a troop carrier, and displayed no Red Cross flag, which would have distinguished her as a vessel carrying civilians. On her second day out from Liverpool the ship was torpedoed by a German submarine off the west coast of Ireland. There had been no lifeboat drills, the rafts were immovably strapped to the sides of the ship anyway, and few lifejackets had been issued. In addition, the decks and the lifeboats were separated by walls of barbed wire - a measure which the Captain had protested about before sailing. Most of the Italians did not stand a chance , as they had come from mountainous areas of Italy and had never learnt to swim. Those few who did survive the freezing sea were again harshly treated after being rescued and some were then deported to Australia.

When the British media reported the tragedy, the public were told that Nazis on board had dashed for the lifeboats knocking everyone else out of the way. No mention was made of the fact that respectable people who had made positive contributions to British society had been on board, along with refugees who had risked their lives, in their own countries, for the very freedoms the British now claimed to be fighting for.

No apology has ever been made by a British government.

You can read personal stories regarding the tragedy here and here. The story is also told in Mary Contini's Dear Olivia and features in a novel by Francine Stock, A Foreign Country.

LA PITTURA DI GINO - 5

Here are two more pictures by my friend Gino, this time of houses in the Cartellone area of Modica, scene of a shameful episode in Modica's history: On Assumption Day [15th August] 1474 the "Christians" of Modica, encouraged by fanatical priests, slaughtered about 360 Jews. In 1493 the Jews were expelled en masse from Sicily [under the 1492 Spanish Edict expelling them from all territory controlled by the House of Aragon].

A NORTH-SOUTH LUNCH

To Linda's today for a north-south lunch in more ways than one. First of all the company: Linda from the south of England, her family from the south of Italy, friends from Modena in the north of Italy [a town in which I spent a happy time in the 1980s] and me from South Wales.

Chiara is always thinking up pretty antipasto ideas and today's creation was so simple yet so elegant:



Then we had good old roast beef with Yorkshire puddings,



salad afterwards in the Italian way



and apple crumble!



There was nothing British about the conversation - all about regional food - or the length of the lunch, though. I left there replete at 5.30 pm.

SABATO MUSICALE

Here's one of my favourite golden oldies for you. Enjoy:

Gino Paoli - Prima di vederti