SonoPizzitano
THE BOOK
“Sono Pizzitano” or “Man of Pizzo”
Ever wanted to buy a house in Italy? The author did and in this book he has written the story of his quest and its successful conclusion, along with all the disappointment, joy, frustration and excitement he experienced along the way. Firstly, he describes his motives and background and gives his initial impressions of Italy. The practicalities involved in buying there and his personal reactions and of those close to him are outlined. Read about the problems involved, the people he met and the situations he found himself in, as the search went on for the perfect place and an affordable house, which could meet his needs and those of his family but which also ticked the boxes of his fantasy. In trying out a different lifestyle, at a new stage of his life, he discovers a way to live the dream and banish the doldrums, while having the odd nightmare. His wife and family also experience the search and have to deal with the consequences before enjoying the final result, a house in sunny Italy by the sea, in a “centro storico” among the lively, local Italians of Pizzo. .
Ever wanted to buy a house in Italy? The author did and in this book he has written the story of his quest and its successful conclusion, along with all the disappointment, joy, frustration and excitement he experienced along the way. Firstly, he describes his motives and background and gives his initial impressions of Italy. The practicalities involved in buying there and his personal reactions and of those close to him are outlined. Read about the problems involved, the people he met and the situations he found himself in, as the search went on for the perfect place and an affordable house, which could meet his needs and those of his family but which also ticked the boxes of his fantasy. In trying out a different lifestyle, at a new stage of his life, he discovers a way to live the dream and banish the doldrums, while having the odd nightmare. His wife and family also experience the search and have to deal with the consequences before enjoying the final result, a house in sunny Italy by the sea, in a “centro storico” among the lively, local Italians of Pizzo. .
Follow your dreams
THIS PHOTO IS USED FOR THE COVER OF MY BOOK
Relocating to the sunny side of life a dream? Yes, maybe.. Italy was my dream place. Two years ago I saw a place I fancied. Pizzo is on the sea, an ancient fortress on the Mediterranean, with a historic centre, a castle, a marina, a fine wide piazza and lovely friendly people. The house I decided to buy was in the centro storico and not in great shape. at the time I saw it. But with imagination and a good builder I knew it could become my dream home in Italy and it has. That is not to say it was easy, but after two years it is ours and I spend my summers there now, along with friends and family . Read about how it happened and why, in my new book "Sono Pizzitano", Man of Pizzo. You'll be glad you did,and you too might move to "the sunny side of the street"!
Update on my living in Pizzo
The launch in Italy
I am hoping to get extra copies of the book from Dublin soon and will organise an Italian launch of the book in Pizzo asap. Watch this space for more details as they come to hand. Expect a big party at least. An Italian translation is in the offing also but it will take some time to come to fruition. love all ..........
I am hoping to get extra copies of the book from Dublin soon and will organise an Italian launch of the book in Pizzo asap. Watch this space for more details as they come to hand. Expect a big party at least. An Italian translation is in the offing also but it will take some time to come to fruition. love all ..........
I got the idea for the book on the beach, the day after I arrived in Pizzo in 2008
The book was written mostly in the summer of 2008, when Ireland was awash with rain and impending doom loomed large. The Lisbon Treaty had been rejected by the Irish and the rest of Europe looked on askance at the cheek of the people of the small Emerald Isle thumbing its nose at its benevolent bigger power. I conceived the idea of writing a book, as I lay on a beach, the day after I arrived to find my house not ready for my holidays and not even looking like it. It was 2 June. All that summer besides swimming every day, watching the European Nations Championshipon a tv in the piazza, which Spain deservedly won, and eating and drinking my fill, I checked on the progress on my house and harrassed and cajoled the workers and their boss to get it done and then wrote about the experience and how it affected me and mine. Eventually the house was completed in August, only 2 months late. My family arrived half an hour after my mate, Leon, and I had fitted the kitchen. Since then I have lived in it for weeks and even months and I have finished the book and added to it. It is now ready for publication and it will be launched in December 2009 in Dunboyne Tennis Club, Clonee, County Meath, because I am a member there and the new clubhouse was also finished in 2009. It had also been a project of mine for years. So I have many reasons to be happy. I hope you read the book and it helps you to defeat the cold winter of depression and recession in Ireland, or wherever you are. This has been a dream come true for me, or even two dreams, finding my dream place in Italy and writing and publshing my first book. I hope it encourages you to chase your dreams and maybe even write about it!
The Author, Michael Power, at the book launch. and the following is a short life story.. and a note about his writing and other interests
Michael Power was born in the old Coombe Hospital, in Dublin in 1947. He grew up in Drimnagh, last of 13 thirteen children to P J Power and Hannah Cullinane. They were both very republcan and took part in the War of Independence in Waterford in the nineteen twenties. They moved from Waterford to Dublin in the thirties for education and jobs for their children. Both have left accounts of their acitivities in the struggle for Ireland 's freedom and this may form part of a family history to be written yet by Michael and/or others. He has already compiled a family album of photos and notes of three generations of the family and printed it for them. A writer of letters to national papers, poems, short stories and essays, this is his first book and he hopes to have more. He has five children and two grandchildren. Since finding Italy a wonderful holiday destination, he has looked to buy there and this book tells of his love of Pizzo, Italy, and how he succeeded in his quest. A teacher by profession, he teaches English as a foreign language and loves meeting new people, particularly now that he is in Italy. He used to teach in Irelaand and started an English Conversation Group in Blanchardstown Library (on Wednesdays at 7pm) and which was still going strong after 10 years. He plays tennis and watches football on tv, whether soccer, rugby or GAA, and he himself played into his forties. He was a member of a Cabra writers group as well as one in Blanchardstown, a Dublin 15 writers group which produced "Shades of Scaldwood" some years ago. A former reporter for SVP and a contributor to the INTO magazine, he now has more time for writng and is happy to write for other groups, including Pizzo Express, an English language newslettter started by Calabrian Invest, based in Pizzo. Summer holidays in Pizzo are his favourite time of year but he is still very much an Irishman. He enjoys a good sing-song but laments the fact God did not bless him with a singing voice. However, this does not prevent him singiing songs such as "Raglan Road". He has now relocated to his beloved Pizzo.
"Do not go gently into that good night" is one of his favourite quotes. He wont.
"Do not go gently into that good night" is one of his favourite quotes. He wont.
quiet moment with the book
Colman launching the book with Michael
Kevin O'Malley, an old friend and his wife Frances arrive
FAMILY SLOGAN : "BEIDH LA EILE AG AN BPAORACH AGUS A CHUID" ... remember '98! .... 1916... etc
