It’s currently outside the hunting season, so taking a pot-shot at piggy wasn’t an option, though the local farmers – many of whom reported damage to crops and orchards – argued the toss as to what would happen if a shot fired to scare the porker away instead were to kill it.

The kind of hypothetical discussion point that Italians love nearly as much as football.

(Man v Wild Boar. To discover who wins this epic confrontation, click on the main headline title above…)

It was nice to see the swimming pool emerge all blue and reasonably pristine from its seven month hibernation under cover.

It’s one of life’s mysteries as to how come, when the thing’s sealed up tighter than a drum, leaves manage to work their way under the cover and into the pool. But they do and have to be tiresomely fished-out before the summer setting-up process begins.

(And that setting-up process involved Pauline and 200 boxes of salt. Click on the main headline title above to discover why…)

Art treasures, museums, Roman ruins, sweeping country vistas and cities dripping with culture are all very noble and mind-enriching, but on the other hand, let’s not forget either that Italy’s also a country of fashion, flair and fun and that the best way to experience this is to go SHOPPING !

(Retail therapy arrives in Abruzzo. With a vengeance. Click on the main headline title above to find out where…)