The U.K. is not like Italy

Italy spends 12.8 percent of its GDP on pensions. The UK spends 4.7 percent.

MartavTaurus

ronib

The Italian state pension is one of the highest in Europe.

My guess is that, like in France, their contributions in Italy are probably a lot higher too?

Hey, I've just thought of another "better" for Italy, they tend to live longer than we do in the UK!! So, at the end of the day, they actually receive far more from their government than we do in our poultry pensions.

And they're better lovers! ❤️ Even Shakespeare would have agreed with that.

And they're better lovers! ❤️
How do you know? 😁

Living longer - according to Tom Conti it's all that fish and olive oil!

Poultry pensions are you saying they are chicken feed? 😀

"The U.K. is not like Italy"

I was interested to see that the Princess of Wales went to Italy recently to explore pre-school innovations there. She visited an pre-school in Bologna, engaging with children up to the age of six. The focus is on environmental and outdoor learning and the scheme, the Reggio Emilia Approach, now worldwide, began there.

When my DGC were at primary school, they spent some time outdoors at Forest School which seemed to be similar, but of course, Italian children perhaps have more opportunities for outdoor learning because the weather is better! Looking out of the window, it's teeming with rain and 9C (feels like 7C).

My brother lives in Italy with his Italian family. Their pensions are 70% of their working salaries.

AGAA4

*Poultry pensions* are you saying they are chicken feed? 😀

😂

As well as their pension contribution level, is there not a much lower rate of people with private pensions in Italy though, and a lot of people on low wages? I’m not sure that you can do a direct comparison like that without the bigger picture, given 70% of a low wage is still a struggle for many I’m sure?

Both the successful Reggio Emilia and Montessori approaches in early education are Italian. I like them because they are child-led and encourage hands on education.

Sorry MartavTaurus I suffer from predictive text too.

you would think we were the amount of unders who 50s serve pasta, pasta, pasta, its all they can cook

That's where you are wrong Whitewavemark2, It maybe so on here, but not everyone is an intellectual with several degrees and an inflated opinion of their own intellectual prowess. We too have opinions, sometimes even valid ones!!

Allira

MartavTaurus

ronib

The Italian state pension is one of the highest in Europe.

My guess is that, like in France, their contributions in Italy are probably a lot higher too?

Hey, I've just thought of another "better" for Italy, they tend to live longer than we do in the UK!! So, at the end of the day, they actually receive far more from their government than we do in our poultry pensions.

And they're better lovers! ❤️ Even Shakespeare would have agreed with that.

And they're better lovers! ❤️
How do you know? 😁

Living longer - according to Tom Conti it's all that fish and olive oil!

From what I understand from my French friends the link between state and occupational pensions is far closer than in the UK, with the points based occupational bit requiring supplementary contributions to the pension.
They were always surprised that my state and occupational pension were separate.
I think it is hard to make comparisons.

For MartavTaurus, YES, Italy is terrific in many ways. However, I'm not sure that the language IS the "most beautiful" -- listen perhaps to some street traders jabbering at each other, several thousand words per minute (?!) and it's not quite so appealing?

Plus, that lovely Catholic Church collaborated quite readily with Hitler in WW2, and Mussolini was very popular until his fans realised that they'd backed the wrong team.

That same racist swathe of opinion can still be seen today, as any team with black players is I'm told more likely to be barracked in Italy than most other countries in Europe ((the former Yugoslavia also fails in that respect, apparently).

Oh, and Venice - lovely as it is -- positively REEKS in the summer! However, if the Italian Tourist Board would like to remind us of the country's many plus points, we'd likely be persuaded by a week or so by Lake Garda or Como?!!

Some interesting points there DrWatson . Hopefully, we'll be excused for straying somewhat from the original intention of this thread. As I said earlier, I have no indepth knowledge of Italy or its history, but often it's beauty in the eye of the beholder that counts for me.

Just taking the comment about the language for example, there's no other tongue I'd rather listen to on both a good or a bad day. Italian is attractive to my ear because of its ‘melody’, like a beautiful song. I think that's because, being a Romantic language, it has lots of words ending in soft vowels, unlike say German which is full of harsh consonants. I'd speak to my grandchild and and to my lover in Italian, but I'd speak to my dog in the field in German, if you get my meaning!

And yes, your comment about jabbering Italian Street traders might have some truth, but isn't that also the beauty of language when it becomes authentically fashioned by those people who need to express themselves to interact in order to survive? I'd find that enchanting too in Italian.

But don't just take it from me. As I said earlier, it's no coincidence that the English writer of all times, Shakespeare, set his masterwork - Romeo and Juliet - with its long poetic monologues - to the backdrop of beautiful Italy.

I'd speak to my grandchild --and to my lover in Italian--

Ooh, you are saucy!! 😲

Allira

^I'd speak to my grandchild --and to my lover in Italian--^

Ooh, you are saucy!! 😲

Arrabbiata is my favourite. It's spicey and fiery!! ❤️ 🔥

BTW, back to the Welsh cheese recommendations. Lots of greats here - but my personal favourite is Harlech. It has a horseradishy tang to it which to my mind sets it apart. Anyone else a fan?

I’m not keen on horseradish, so that’s not for me. Perl Lâs is my favourite, but there are some great others too.

I would love to visit Italy but I do like to get far away during the winter when it is cold in Italy.
Has anyone visited Positano, if so did you like the place?

Yes, I’ve been. It’s absolutely gorgeous, with stunning views, but buses can’t get into the town, and you need to be fit because it’s very steep and there are loads of steps.

Don’t forget that Italian cities often have mile after mile of downtrodden and dispiriting high rise blocks for the less well off citizens.
The language is lovely tho imo.
You can’t beat British cheeses or wonderful countryside.

Jaberwok

That's where you are wrong Whitewavemark2, It maybe so on here, but not everyone is an intellectual with several degrees and an inflated opinion of their own intellectual prowess. We too have opinions, sometimes even valid ones!!

I have no issue with the Eurovision Song Contest. Millions of people absolutely love it. I have no feelings one way or another, it just seems a little bit of fun that rolls around every year, but I really don’t think it is terribly serious in the scheme of things. In fact to treat it seriously would completely ruin it I think.

Where are you thinking of Oreo? I’ve been to Italy quite a few times, and I don’t remember that, the apartment blocks are low rise on the whole, there are definitely less high rises than here. There aren’t any on the Amalfi coast that I can remember seeing, even the hotels are mainly low key, privately owned ones.

Rule Britannia?
🇬🇧👍

Venice is one of the best cities I have visited, ever. The art, the food, the atmosphere. I just fervently wish it was nearer Melbourne!