I hope everyone is putting a
Submitted by Gail Somers on Tue, 12/11/2012 - 07:52In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
I hope everyone is putting a little something in a Christmas card for their Postina/Postino..... It is expected !!!!
- Log in to post comments
tipping...
Submitted by sebastiano on Tue, 12/11/2012 - 08:56In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
once there were quite a lot of threads about tipping,and yes ,i am conversant with anglo north european habits on this... HOWEVER will not certainly be giving anything to our postina.For the simple reason that it is her job for which she is paid.It is not expected and i have never given postal workers/gas/electric/phone or other personel tips/bonuses for the same reason,actually, she will be receiving two months salary for the month of December.This is not any personal rancour against her despite the fact she tends to wait until there is a pile of post before delivering anything,and despite the fact she frequently leaves post for other people to save her the trip to their houses.Before you go off muttering mean bastard,i add i only tip waiters and the like if they are not family members or the owners of restaurants and then only if they're provided a particularly efficient/pleasant /good service.And i do give to both our employees beyond contractual obligations a christmas bonus...
- Log in to post comments
Expected by who? Italians
Submitted by qui già on Tue, 12/11/2012 - 09:53In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Expected by who? Italians don't do christmas cards or tips.
- Log in to post comments
In reply to Expected by who? Italians by qui già
Next you'll be suggesting tipping the bin men (as I believe is frequent in the UK)! The only beggar who seems to expect to be tipped is the Priest - and presumably it is my tight-fistedness which has resulted in my house not getting blessed every Easter, (or it could be the Black Sabbath artwork on the walls)
- Log in to post comments
I collect vintage ITALIAN
Submitted by Esme on Tue, 12/11/2012 - 11:59In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
I collect vintage ITALIAN Christmas cards - some are well over 80 year old, so who says Italians don't do Christmas cards?
- Log in to post comments
I would'nt mind tipping the
Submitted by pas55 on Tue, 12/11/2012 - 12:23In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
I would'nt mind tipping the bin men they are always there 6 days a week about 6am taking away our rubbish.But,I'm never up that early!!
- Log in to post comments
Never seem to see them in
Submitted by qui già on Tue, 12/11/2012 - 14:15In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Never seem to see them in shops Esme, people in my village seem to give food gifts instead. Oh no.. it's Panetone time. :)
- Log in to post comments
Bought several packets of 10
Submitted by Flip on Tue, 12/11/2012 - 15:15In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Bought several packets of 10 UNICEF cards from Le Clerc S/market for 80 cents each. I think Gail has been duped by her Postino into coughing up a bonus; has he indicated what and acceptable 'donation' would be? I agree with Sebastian, they get paid enough for a cushy little job, and also I know for a fact that they wont make one off journeys to small villages unless there are several people to deliver to, hence our frequent wait for letters from people posted over a week ago from Italy.
- Log in to post comments
Humbug !!!!! If you read
Submitted by Gail Somers on Tue, 12/11/2012 - 17:23In reply to Bought several packets of 10 by Flip
Humbug !!!!! If you read Donna Leon she talks about the woman who was murdered being described as a mean lady because she did not reward her Postina at Christmas !!!
- Log in to post comments
donna leon?
Submitted by sebastiano on Wed, 12/12/2012 - 03:41In reply to Humbug !!!!! If you read by Gail Somers
who is donna leon?
- Log in to post comments
Donna Leon
Submitted by Ram on Wed, 12/12/2012 - 01:43In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
hmmm not really indicative of Italy though is it - i mean taking post round in Venice is a bit different from chucking it in the nearest cassonetta in Campania. And to be honest, not sure how much time Donna spends in Italy - she seems to spend most her life in Manhattan where if you dont tip the postman they kidnap you. So, I ve lived all over the place, never tipped a postman and am still here to tell the tale. Never got a Xmas card from an Italian either.
- Log in to post comments
http://www.donnaleon.net/
Submitted by Esme on Wed, 12/12/2012 - 05:29In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
- Log in to post comments
donna leon...
Submitted by sebastiano on Wed, 12/12/2012 - 10:22In reply to http://www.donnaleon.net/ by Esme
thanks Esme,now i know who she is (gasps), unfortunately, i don't feel she is more qualified than me however(!)i've lived for longer in Italy and not "stuck"in Venice ..you know real "italy" world (get up -go to work-pay taxes-eat- sleep -friends etc)so this author would not change anything for me...........Just to put things in perspective regarding my remarks...i have no problem if someone feels the need or desire to tip someone... however Italy is ( apart from perhaps a few "tourist" restaurants in Rome) refreshingly free from that obligatory -overt - pressure for tips/bonuses/pressies/extras etc i'm sure most would agree with that. i've even had people refuse tips even though they were not "mean" tips..a question of pride i'd say nuff said on this i'd say.........................................
- Log in to post comments
Il Postino
Submitted by Fabbriche on Wed, 12/12/2012 - 07:46In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Aha! Perhaps Gail Somers has a job as a postie!! And,, in response to Flip, perhaps if you DO tip them they might make a special point of delivering your mail! Sorry, it's the Christmas spirit got into me - but we can dream. Merry Xmas Fabbriche
- Log in to post comments
Fiction reading
Submitted by Flip on Wed, 12/12/2012 - 08:38In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
I also read in a book Gail that the World will end on the 21st Dec, so actually no point in giving a tip, as I wont be receiving any mail after then.!!
- Log in to post comments
I wonder if they ever tipped
Submitted by Esme on Sun, 12/16/2012 - 16:22In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
I wonder if they ever tipped Diamond Lil in the Nigerian Social Club on Upper Parliament Street Sebastiano?
- Log in to post comments
wow!!
Submitted by sebastiano on Tue, 12/18/2012 - 03:46In reply to I wonder if they ever tipped by Esme
are you sure it wasn't the SOMALI CLUB in parliament street? ...i used to go there! anyway nigerians-somali's it's close enough for the POOL...NO?
- Log in to post comments
BTW
Submitted by sebastiano on Tue, 12/18/2012 - 03:49In reply to wow!! by sebastiano
How did you know about that? did you know Kathy Freeman by any chance? or Martin Yarker who was part of a kind of punk/rock band in the late 70's early eighties? or are you inside my PC?
- Log in to post comments
Yes
Submitted by Gail Somers on Mon, 12/17/2012 - 14:54In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
I remember it well Esme. Also the Somali club happy days .
- Log in to post comments
I dunno nowt about the Somali
Submitted by Esme on Mon, 12/17/2012 - 16:23In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
I dunno nowt about the Somali club Gail - it was just a "private" joke between Seb and I - from years ago.
- Log in to post comments
Spent the 70's in Liverpool .
Submitted by Gail Somers on Tue, 12/18/2012 - 05:25In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Spent the 70's in Liverpool . Went to all the ethnic clubs.
- Log in to post comments
ok,so we're relatives....
Submitted by sebastiano on Tue, 12/18/2012 - 06:10In reply to Spent the 70's in Liverpool . by Gail Somers
send me a pm.................
- Log in to post comments