Whilst all that was going on I was being an idiot...

...stuck in the Sibilini mountains in a snow drift. Thought I'd try out the new 4x4 Yeti and snow chains on a shortcut unmade road down from Sasso Tetto towards Sarnano (we are in Italy). The road looked OK but what I thought was about 5- 10 inches of hard packed snow and ice turned out to be 3ft deep with an ice crust which I broke through and 'beached' the car.

After an hour and a half fruitless digging I admitted defeat and trudged back to the nearby Ristorante (fortunately only about 400 yards away) and got someone to phone a friend of the owner who had a big jeep with heavy duty tyres. He came out and managed to tow me out after getting stuck himself.

Cost me 50 euro but well worth it as I had the missus with me and she was getting cold. Now cold discomfort with my missus is a logarithmic scale and equates to bad mood. As she got colder the silence became more palpable and the atmosphere in the car was colder than the outside and the snow I was trying to dig my way out of. I fear a lot of Brownie points are needed and a lot of sucking up over the next few weeks before I am forgiven.

Never EVER got stuck in a car before to the extent I couldn't get myself out of it. managed to drive over the M62 in a BMW in heavy snow when they were shutting all the slip roads but the 1st time I have a 4x4 with winter tyres and snow chains I get Stuck!!!!

As Clint Eastwood said "A man has got to know his limitations" and I'll add "and also those of his car". I certainly found mine!!

Ah well off to cook the dinner, iron the shirts, wash up, put the washing in the washer, tidy, vacuum and dust....etc. etc. etc. sigh!!

 

Fantastic post!! I know I shouldn't laugh but I did, a lot!!

 

Feel free - I probably will see the funny side eventually. In the meantime I would rather she had shouted and ranted. It's the silent treatment that 'does for me'

 

If you want my advice on how to get the missus:nails: to forgive (or forget) after ANY incident (let alone that one) forget it.....IT'LL NEVER HAPPEN!!!!!

Every time you need any leeway for anything at all it will be there haunting you. If you die first she'll have it engraved on your headstone "Do you know what he once put me through,.........".



Unlucky

 

Hello Tekky

Glad to hear the move to Italy went well.

Sorry to hear about you getting stuck in the smow. Ah well, at least no damage done to the car, and the wife will forgive and forget, given time!!

Remember me? My brother, who has emigarted to Sologno in Italy (although currently in Poggy), says he hopes to contact you at some stage.

Enjoy your new life in Italy!!!

 

Thanks for that. Sologno is East of Milan and about 5 hours away. Still be good to share experiences though some time. How long has he lived in Italy?

 

He's been having a house built there for about 5 years , and finished now.

He's been living there for about 18 months, but as I say he's currently in Poggy putting his house on the market. My brother read our previous posts and said he hoped to make contact with you (I'll remind him!).

His daughter and son-in-law live there with their two daughters who are now bi-lingual. My brother and his wife, and daughter and son-in-law are quite fluent in Italian too. Apparently the locals respect you for it, and accept you more readily.

 

Hi Tekky

Just realised you've got the wrong Sologno (east of Milan).

My brother actually lives in Sologno, Villa Minozzo, which is due south of Parma (and south west of Modena), and high in the mountains.

If you google Sologno Villa Minozzo, you'll find it.

 

Better than my 1st attempt on Bing maps as it came up with one in France!