June Finnigan is an English expat who lives with her man in a lovely old monastery farmhouse overlooking the Chianti Hills, in Tuscany. She is a published Author and her novels, ‘My Father, The Assassin’, ‘The Bolivian Connection’ and ‘The Italian Connection’ are available on Amazon. She is also the lead singer of ‘The Rock Chick Band’ in Tuscany. June also shares more information about life in Italy through her blog.
Welcome and Benvenuti to all my Lovely readers around the World, I am writing to you on 15 August, and it’s as hot and humid as can be. It is also Ferragosta, the festa day when traditionally the Italians would have all gone to the coast or mountains in search of a cool breeze. But … Read more
Yes, the tourists have returned to our little bit of Chianti, although mostly from northern Europe, Dutch, Belgian, German, Polish and Austrian. These are the few that we are aware of, there may be lots more nationalities in Florence and Siena. So, our tourist industry friends are sighing with relief and are even taking some … Read more
Welcome and benvenuti to all my lovely readers around the world. Well, the biggest change since I last spoke to you is the opening of all the borders here in Italy! Yes, it is now possible to travel the length and breadth of Italy as long as you stick to the rules; masks, distancing and … Read more
Welcome and benvenuti to all my lovely readers around the world. Well, it’s a peculiar thing, this semi lockdown time. Here in Tuscany, we are enjoying a second week of phase two, many people have gone back to work and a few more shops have reopened.But it is also a difficult time to write about. … Read more
Easter Weekend 2020 Welcome to my monthly column from Tuscany, which aims to bring you lots of happy news and to remind you just how glorious it is here.Nature continues to erupt into Spring, ignoring all the human problems and suffering around the world. The countryside is a lush green, birdlife is noisy and busy … Read more
Welcome to my monthly column from Tuscany. The Virus and The Italian People There is no getting away from it, here in beautiful Tuscany, we are quite rightly isolated in our own homes, like the rest of the country, until early April. We are allowed to go out one at a time, to buy groceries … Read more
Happy New Year & Buon Anno to all my lovely followers around the world. ‘I’m back, to let you know that I can really shake them down.’ Yes, I know, ancient song lyrics again!As I write my first column of 2020, I can see the sun rising and trying to break through the heavy mist, … Read more
Welcome to my monthly column from Tuscany. Just like most of Europe, our little bit of Tuscany is currently sodden and flooded from the deluge of rain. This has caused landslides, and non-essential traveling is not recommended. As much as we love our adopted homeland, we will never be happy about the poor infrastructure and … Read more
Autumn in Tuscany is arguably the most beautiful season of the year. I love it! By mid-October the grapes have been harvested and the vines are taking on stripes of colour; gold, yellow, orange and red. The sun is lower in the sky and the light creates the most amazing 3D effect across the countryside, … Read more
After ten days in England, it was such a relief to get home to Beautiful Tuscany and to find that our local village of Fiano has won back the coveted banner having been victorious at the annual Calambur event! Bravi to all our lovely Italian friends who participated! This event is a bit like the … Read more