La Tosca Gelateria, the scoop.

Ice cream is a funny old business.

2 years ago we laughed when it was suggested we buy this place, we knew nothing about it at all. I knew I liked ice cream, but how you make it, how you maintain it, how you sell it? Not a clue. But I guess you don't pack up your house and move 1200 miles to keep doing what you always did. It is pointless stepping out of your comfort zone if you pack it together with your socks and selected cd's, dust it down and set it on your new mantelpiece ready to be re-entered when the opportunity arrives.

Mind you, lots of us do exactly that, and I think that is why some ex-pats create their own little britain in their backyards. Familiarity is not something to be taken lightly...it is a serious matter...especially when it is not part of your life anymore. Does it breed contempt? No, I don't think so...I think lots of other things do such as frustration, stress and ruts (ones you are stuck in) but familiarity perhaps only breeds boredom.

So here we are. We sell ice cream to the italians. And Germans. And French, English, Australians etc etc. In fact, pretty much everyone except the Japanese. Strange.

Tuscany in July...it is supposed to be so hot you could fry pasta fritta on the strade...okay, it is 32 degrees c today, which is nice, but last year you could safely add 5 or 6 to that and be underestimating.

Being english, the weather is one of my biggest conversation topics. Being english in Italy with a sparse grasp of the language, and being a gelataio (ice cream man) - it is a massive conversation topic. Especially the intricacies which affect my income, which is a daily learning experience.

We shall see how July progresses...