Monday, January 29, 2007
Please help!
I've been priding myself on doing a weekly back-up of my files in the event that the computer crashed and I lost them.
But it seems I don't do them often enough.
My laptop has just had a meltdown and at the moment I don't know whether this is reversible or not - it's currently in for a bit of TLC and emergency repair and I'll know the outcome tomorrow afternoon.
What it does mean is that all emails that people have sent me since Wednesday of last week are currently non-retrievable.
So if you have sent me an email both now and in the past, please send me another email with your contact details so that I can at least reply to you.
Many thanks
Emma
But it seems I don't do them often enough.
My laptop has just had a meltdown and at the moment I don't know whether this is reversible or not - it's currently in for a bit of TLC and emergency repair and I'll know the outcome tomorrow afternoon.
What it does mean is that all emails that people have sent me since Wednesday of last week are currently non-retrievable.
So if you have sent me an email both now and in the past, please send me another email with your contact details so that I can at least reply to you.
Many thanks
Emma
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Blackout
There was utter chaos this morning as a result of the bad weather sweeping Italy.
The whole of the north east of Sardinia was in blackout from sometime in the middle of the night when I stumbled out of bed in the dark for a glass of water to just after midday today.
More than 150,000 families didn't have any electricty - that's a lot of towns affected when you think that Olbia is the biggest town in the area and has just over 30,000 inhabitants.
And it made me realise just how dependent we are on electricity. I couldn't use the kettle, I couldn't use the hob, I didn't have any heating, I couldn't use my computer, my phone or scanner - in fact I couldn't do much at all because we have a basement apartment meaning we don't get lots of light unless it is the summer.
So, I'm now more determined than ever to have an eco-home and to use solar energy and water/wood combination for heating and for cooking.
Anyway, there is news on the home front as we saw the geometra last night. Find out more at Oh dear the roof collapsed.
Emma Bird is the director of www.howtoitaly.com and the co-author of Starting a Business in Italy: how to set up and run a successful business in the Bel Paese
The whole of the north east of Sardinia was in blackout from sometime in the middle of the night when I stumbled out of bed in the dark for a glass of water to just after midday today.
More than 150,000 families didn't have any electricty - that's a lot of towns affected when you think that Olbia is the biggest town in the area and has just over 30,000 inhabitants.
And it made me realise just how dependent we are on electricity. I couldn't use the kettle, I couldn't use the hob, I didn't have any heating, I couldn't use my computer, my phone or scanner - in fact I couldn't do much at all because we have a basement apartment meaning we don't get lots of light unless it is the summer.
So, I'm now more determined than ever to have an eco-home and to use solar energy and water/wood combination for heating and for cooking.
Anyway, there is news on the home front as we saw the geometra last night. Find out more at Oh dear the roof collapsed.
Emma Bird is the director of www.howtoitaly.com and the co-author of Starting a Business in Italy: how to set up and run a successful business in the Bel Paese
Saturday, January 20, 2007
The robbin
The sun is shining and I've just spent the past 10 minutes feeding the robbin that lives in the garden. Just a few weeks ago, he would hop away whenever I came out of the house to scatter nuts and breadcrumbs for him to eat.
But now, he'll happily observe me as I tidy up the garden or hang out of the washing, or simply stop and stare at the seaview which makes my jaw drop always, even though I see it everytime I step out of the house.
And, then, today, the little robbin just hopped nearer and nearer to me and then up onto my hand.
I would have missed that if I'd been working away in the office, so it's at times like this that I'm glad I'm a patio-table expatreneur.
Emma Bird is the director of www.howtoitaly.com and the co-author of Starting a Business in Italy: how to set up and run a successful business in the Bel Paese
But now, he'll happily observe me as I tidy up the garden or hang out of the washing, or simply stop and stare at the seaview which makes my jaw drop always, even though I see it everytime I step out of the house.
And, then, today, the little robbin just hopped nearer and nearer to me and then up onto my hand.
I would have missed that if I'd been working away in the office, so it's at times like this that I'm glad I'm a patio-table expatreneur.
Emma Bird is the director of www.howtoitaly.com and the co-author of Starting a Business in Italy: how to set up and run a successful business in the Bel Paese
Friday, January 19, 2007
A blast from the past
I had the shock of my life the other day.
My old French teacher at school had written to me.
Now, not having been a particularly conscientious student - I was more interested in planning my career in journalism than discussing in French the merits of Albert Camus's The Outsider which is a shame because now it's one of my all-time favourite books - I suddenly rewound 12 years and thought I was going to be told off for having scribbled my homework on the schoolbus.
I was understandably relieved it was nothing of the sort and that his daughter, who was taking a gap year, wanted advice on working in Italy which I was only too happy to give.
Emma Bird is the director of www.howtoitaly.com and the co-author of Starting a Business in Italy: how to set up and run a successful business in the Bel Paese
My old French teacher at school had written to me.
Now, not having been a particularly conscientious student - I was more interested in planning my career in journalism than discussing in French the merits of Albert Camus's The Outsider which is a shame because now it's one of my all-time favourite books - I suddenly rewound 12 years and thought I was going to be told off for having scribbled my homework on the schoolbus.
I was understandably relieved it was nothing of the sort and that his daughter, who was taking a gap year, wanted advice on working in Italy which I was only too happy to give.
Emma Bird is the director of www.howtoitaly.com and the co-author of Starting a Business in Italy: how to set up and run a successful business in the Bel Paese
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Everything happening
Everything seems to be happening here this year:
*I've joined the gym in a bid to meet more people in Arzachena
*A new theatre is starting up in Porto Cervo, so we've just bought season tickets for that
*We've met some Italians our age who have moved from Milan and are in the process of building their home just a few km down the road from us. We've been out for dinner a couple of times.
*I've got some great friends, who are dynamic and go-getting with international experience, to get involved with some informal mentoring I'm doing with high school students in Sardinian schools.
* Lots of How to Clients are busy starting their own businesses and are in contact with each other
What are you doing this year to make your Italy dreams come true?
Emma Bird is the director of www.howtoitaly.com and the co-author of Starting a Business in Italy: how to set up and run a successful business in the Bel Paese
*I've joined the gym in a bid to meet more people in Arzachena
*A new theatre is starting up in Porto Cervo, so we've just bought season tickets for that
*We've met some Italians our age who have moved from Milan and are in the process of building their home just a few km down the road from us. We've been out for dinner a couple of times.
*I've got some great friends, who are dynamic and go-getting with international experience, to get involved with some informal mentoring I'm doing with high school students in Sardinian schools.
* Lots of How to Clients are busy starting their own businesses and are in contact with each other
What are you doing this year to make your Italy dreams come true?
Emma Bird is the director of www.howtoitaly.com and the co-author of Starting a Business in Italy: how to set up and run a successful business in the Bel Paese
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Starting a Business in Italy is now available in US bookshops
As our Amazon.co.uk ratings continue to climb for Starting a Business: how to set up and run a successful business in the Bel Paese, it is now available in other countries, too.
You can order a copy from:
Amazon.com
Amazon.ca
Amazon.fr
Amazon.de
Amazon.jp
Borders in the US is also stocking Starting a Business in Italy. It's not in every Borders yet but you can pre-order a copy online or go into your nearest bookstore and they will order it in for you.
As for Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, please be patient. We're working on this.
And, of course, in the UK, you can get your copy of Starting a Business in Italy, at Borders and Waterstones.
Emma Bird is the director of www.howtoitaly.com and the co-author of Starting a Business in Italy: how to set up and run a successful business in the Bel Paese
You can order a copy from:
Amazon.com
Amazon.ca
Amazon.fr
Amazon.de
Amazon.jp
Borders in the US is also stocking Starting a Business in Italy. It's not in every Borders yet but you can pre-order a copy online or go into your nearest bookstore and they will order it in for you.
As for Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, please be patient. We're working on this.
And, of course, in the UK, you can get your copy of Starting a Business in Italy, at Borders and Waterstones.
Emma Bird is the director of www.howtoitaly.com and the co-author of Starting a Business in Italy: how to set up and run a successful business in the Bel Paese
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Oh Dear The Roof Collapsed blog
Well here it is. The blog detailing our house adventures is at the aptly-named http://ohdeartheroofcollapsed.wordpress.com/.
I'll be adding before and after pics in the next couple of days.
Emma Bird is the director of www.howtoitaly.com and the co-author of Starting a Business in Italy: how to set up and run a successful business in the Bel Paese
I'll be adding before and after pics in the next couple of days.
Emma Bird is the director of www.howtoitaly.com and the co-author of Starting a Business in Italy: how to set up and run a successful business in the Bel Paese
I knew I should never have got carried away.
By the time I'd got to the geometra, I'd practically planned my dream house with its differing levels, verandas, balconies and roof terraces.
So, understandably, I couldn't believe it when he delivered the news that the house would have to be rebuilt as it was before the ODTRC saga.
This is due to planning regulations drawn up in the 1960s when Arzachena was just a tiny village and the Costa Smeralda had just been discovered. As a result, our house must be in line with that of our neighbour.
However, the upside is that although we can't build outwards we can build upwards and downwards - with a basement as big as we want.
I'm starting a new blog on the ups and downs of house building in Italy so if you've got any experiences, good or bad, to share; have expertise in housebuilding (in Italy or otherwise) or are just curious about the whole thing, then pop along and have your say. You'll also be able to check out the photos of the roof as it was and after it collapsed.
I can't access my new blog at the moment for techinical reasons but once it is up and running, I'll post the new address here.
Emma Bird is the director of www.howtoitaly.com and the co-author of Starting a Business in Italy: how to set up and run a successful business in the Bel Paese
By the time I'd got to the geometra, I'd practically planned my dream house with its differing levels, verandas, balconies and roof terraces.
So, understandably, I couldn't believe it when he delivered the news that the house would have to be rebuilt as it was before the ODTRC saga.
This is due to planning regulations drawn up in the 1960s when Arzachena was just a tiny village and the Costa Smeralda had just been discovered. As a result, our house must be in line with that of our neighbour.
However, the upside is that although we can't build outwards we can build upwards and downwards - with a basement as big as we want.
I'm starting a new blog on the ups and downs of house building in Italy so if you've got any experiences, good or bad, to share; have expertise in housebuilding (in Italy or otherwise) or are just curious about the whole thing, then pop along and have your say. You'll also be able to check out the photos of the roof as it was and after it collapsed.
I can't access my new blog at the moment for techinical reasons but once it is up and running, I'll post the new address here.
Emma Bird is the director of www.howtoitaly.com and the co-author of Starting a Business in Italy: how to set up and run a successful business in the Bel Paese
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
Our Bestseller
HowToItaly has moved its blog to wwww.howtoitaly.typepad.com.
Come along and join the fun.
A presto
Emma
It's a brilliant start to the New Year.
Our book Starting a Business in Italy: how to set up and run a successful business in the Bel Paese has officially entered the bestseller section on Amazon for Small Business and Starting a Business categories.
We had no idea what the reaction would be to our book so it's great to see that it's getting the thumbs up from readers and magazine editors - Shelter Offshore, Italy, The Italian magazine and Living Abroad are just some of the magazines to Starting a Business. And remember, if you buy the book then you get to join in one of our monthly Skype chats exclusively for our readers. Co-author and Italian business whizz Mario Berri is also present so you get to quizz us for one hour on anything to do with business in Italy.
And what's more it's totally free. We're doing it to help you as much as we can to help you turn your expatreneurial dream into reality.
Emma Bird is the director of http://www.howtoitaly.comand the co-author of Starting a Business in Italy: how to set up and run a successful business in the Bel Paese
Come along and join the fun.
A presto
Emma
It's a brilliant start to the New Year.
Our book Starting a Business in Italy: how to set up and run a successful business in the Bel Paese
has officially entered the bestseller section on Amazon for Small Business and Starting a Business categories.We had no idea what the reaction would be to our book so it's great to see that it's getting the thumbs up from readers and magazine editors - Shelter Offshore, Italy, The Italian magazine and Living Abroad are just some of the magazines to Starting a Business. And remember, if you buy the book then you get to join in one of our monthly Skype chats exclusively for our readers. Co-author and Italian business whizz Mario Berri is also present so you get to quizz us for one hour on anything to do with business in Italy.
And what's more it's totally free. We're doing it to help you as much as we can to help you turn your expatreneurial dream into reality.
Emma Bird is the director of http://www.howtoitaly.comand the co-author of Starting a Business in Italy: how to set up and run a successful business in the Bel Paese
Great start to the New Year
This post has been a long time coming and it's all due to the ODTRC (oh-dear-the-roof-collapsed) saga and working out what to do next.
What did happen is that we no longer employed the builders to do the rennovations on our house but to knock it down completely. So now we just have a plot of land which all the neighbours like to look at and let us know exactly what we should be doing with it.
On the upside, we are now the proud owners of a pretty granite-brick well that the builders discovered during the demolition.
But after a two-week break back in the UK, we've been drawing up plans for a completely new house and are speaking with the geometra tonight.
Who knows? If my dreams come true for 2007, I'll have the house of my dreams by the end of the year.
Emma Bird is the director of www.howtoitaly.com and the co-author of Starting a Business in Italy: how to set up and run a successful business in the Bel Paese
What did happen is that we no longer employed the builders to do the rennovations on our house but to knock it down completely. So now we just have a plot of land which all the neighbours like to look at and let us know exactly what we should be doing with it.
On the upside, we are now the proud owners of a pretty granite-brick well that the builders discovered during the demolition.
But after a two-week break back in the UK, we've been drawing up plans for a completely new house and are speaking with the geometra tonight.
Who knows? If my dreams come true for 2007, I'll have the house of my dreams by the end of the year.
Emma Bird is the director of www.howtoitaly.com and the co-author of Starting a Business in Italy: how to set up and run a successful business in the Bel Paese
