TL;DR? These questions that I want answers for: What's up with all the discounts? Are designer brands worth it? Is "Made in Italy" actually better than "Made in China"? Since I hit 30, I've been trying to buy less but better. It would appear that, by the power of osmosis or some other form of … Continue reading Clothes Shopping in 2018: what’s the answer?
I cleared out the kitchen cupboard this morning. Everything that I can't eat (but my boyfriend can) has been moved to a higher shelf so that they are out of my direct eyeline when I am looking for ingredients. Seeing how bare my section had become, I went to the supermarket. It took me an … Continue reading Day 1 of the Low FODMAP Diet
I've been struggling with my gut over the last few months. What I thought was a relatively straightforward lactose intolerance seems, actually, to be more complicated. Certain foods will trigger unsavoury reactions - sometimes immediately, other times within a half hour. There's no simply identifiable pattern. Cheap bottled beers can provoke a sudden reaction, or … Continue reading Starting a Low FODMAP Diet
There's no point in denying it any longer. The evidence is all there on the top and middle shelves of my refrigerator: I'm a hipster. If you should have the misfortune to open my fridge, you'll see them there as clear as day. Various containers in glass or plastic with a makeshift label. Not only am … Continue reading Strawberry Vinegar Shrub
According to Word Reference, the Italian word "uffa" means "what a bore!" But, as you most probably already know, Italians have their own body language too and when uffa is accompanied by a shrug of the shoulders, maybe a pair of eyes darting up to the heavens, a helluva lot more can be conveyed in those two … Continue reading “Uffa” – essential vocabulary when renovating in Italy
A man turned up on my doorstep earlier today and he asked "is Alessandro home?" "No, he's not back yet," I reply. "Ok, then I'll tell you. Your dog has destroyed my vegetable patch. I saw with my own eyes that your dog was at the vineyard this morning and now I come home and … Continue reading Problems On The Horizon
The wonderful thing about Veneziana flooring is that it's made to order. Each one is completely unique and you can choose the exact composition of the stones. In our case, we went for an off-white base with red gems from China, dark green stones from Portugal, and a little bit of mother of pearl (but that's the most expensive) and some caramel coloured stones to break it up.
The internet, as for most things, is a wonderful source of information but also the origin of much paranoia. Typing "how to prepare an allotment" or "grow your own vegetables..." churns up more questions than answers. I mean, I know the soil is mainly volcanic... but I don't know about the exact pH or the composition of the topsoil. Even then, when I've understood that carrots need sandy soils, chili peppers need sunshine, what about fennel? *cue another Google search...*
We're moving forward with the house renovation! It's all getting rather exciting. As of today, the roof is now finished - new layer of insulation underneath, new tiles, a couple more windows to bring in more light, and the solar panels.... It's taken a while but it's finished and finally the builders are starting to … Continue reading Onwards And Upwards: The Roof And The Walls
"Slowly but surely," is the answer. At the beginning stages of a house renovation, it's completely linear. Just bricks and mortar; walls and a roof. There's nothing else. It becomes frustrating because you can't say "well, these guys for X have been held up on another project so let's do Y, while we're waiting..." Now … Continue reading “How’s The House Coming Along?”
The Burnt Cream Blog 