Only in Italy - 2

Dear readers, may I introduce you to the Italian Minister for Equal Opportunities? Being only 33 she has obviously made the most of the equal opportunities afforded her. Her name is Mara Carafagna and she was once a 'showgirl', this being the euphemism Italians use to describe a piece of totty on the telly. He's no mug, Berlusconi, is he?

And this is the over-the-hill, washed-up, well past-it Minister for Education Mariastella Gelmini who at the ripe old age of 41 staggered into Berlusconi's government. As a strict matter of policy he will not have dogs in his Cabinet. Are there any belters in Brown's farcical team? Are there enough pints in the world before you'd give Hazel Blears one?

Yum yum

This was the accompanying plate of nibbles served as an aperitivo with a glass of Gavi di Gavi (not pictured) yesterday evening at a swish bar in town. And jolly nice it was too. Nearly couldn't take a second helping of rabbit at dinner later.

Puffing Away

Here is Claudio on his tractor. Claudio is a pinko and, surprisingly, a nice cheerful chap. As we all know virtually all those of the leftish persuasion are bereft of any manners or sense of humour whatsoever. He works at a local agriturismo. However, Claudio old chap, that's some carbon footprint you're knocking out. For a hippie.

Molto Inglese

I brought back a litre bottle of Pimm's on a recent trip to Blighty and then, at a subsequent evening at Bruno's, introduced a selected group of fellow alkies to the mysteries of this excellent drinky. Pimm's is an unknown quantity hereabouts. They watched with mouths open as I filled the carafe with ice and roughly chopped fruit. "And then you put..... cucumber....?!" Mouths opened even wider. Needless to say it went down a treat, everyone got trolleyed and the hunt was on for a source of Pimm's in northern Italy. Remarkably, a dusty box was found in a local Cash & Carry and the deal was done. This was the scene on Thursday evening. Somehow Bruno knew (maybe it's an atavistic thing) that the addition of a slug of Beefeater gives it more muscle. The sign of a real drinker.