Christmas is a coming, the geese are getting fat. Please put a penny in Pecora Nera’s hat.
On the twelfth day of Christmas Mrs Sensible gave to me.
♫♫♪ Twelve blogging buddies ♫♫♪
49 bloggers a blogging ♫♫♪ I couldn’t narrow it down to just 12
On the eleventh day of Christmas Mrs Sensible gave to me.
♫♫♪ Eleven hospital visits ♫♫♪
11 Mrs Sensible and the fantastic bra shuffle
On the tenth day of Christmas Mrs Sensible gave to me.
I should have asked Mrs Sensible, not Mr Cretino to organise my Italian driving licence
On the ninth day of Christmas Mrs Sensible gave to me.
♫♫♪ Nine wines for drinking ♫♫♪
Wine by Marco Bellero, who is a bit of a hero of mine link
On the eighth day of Christmas Mrs Sensible gave to me.
Scary snakes, Gilda, Luigina and our guestaway
On the seventh day of Christmas Mrs Sensible gave to me.
♫♫♪ Seven summer skiers a skiing ♫♫♪
7 Summer skiers a skiing
On the sixth day of Christmas Mrs Sensible gave to me.
OK 5 golden geese and a big brown one.
On the fifth day of Christmas Mrs Sensible gave to me.
5 Pink Elephants
On the fourth day of Christmas Mrs Sensible gave to me.
Hello hello hello, what’s all this then, Mrs Sensible’s mum with a big pen knife?
On the third day of Christmas Mrs Sensible gave to me.
I hasten to add, Italians aren’t scared of trees. Only us poor Englishmen
On the second day of Christmas Mrs Sensible gave to me.
Gosh am I seeing double?
On the first day of Christmas Mrs Sensible gave to me.
♫♫♪ A Scooby Doo in a fig tree ♫♫♪
This is the best picture I could take, Scooby Doo was not interested in being a model.
Merry Christmas to my blogging buddies.
Englishman in Italy 
Have I fallen asleep for about 4 weeks and missed Christmas!? Happy No Diet to you.
Yvonne
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I am getting into the Christmas (grappa) spirit early. Now I need to go and hunt down my lights for the outdoor tree or Father Christmas won’t be able to find me.
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The pink elephants obviously the result of the nine wines… 🙂
AV
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Correct, nine wines = pink elephants
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I sang this song in it’s entirety and people at work have looked at me like I’m insane. They’re probably right! Thank you!
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I have been driving Mrs Sensible mad with my version. When I get to “two fat dogs and a Scooby Doo in a fig tree” she tutts and says “sei proprio scemo”
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Oh no! Now I’m going to be singing it the entire week!
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And a Scooby Doo in a fig tree ♫♫♪
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I’m going to spread the joy. Hopefully this will be viral in a week and everybody will sing it!
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🙂 🙂
Despite the fact I have been singing this all week, Mrs Sensible hasn’t joined in.
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Maybe that’s why people call her Mrs. Sensible 😀
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That could well be the reason.
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Mrs. Sensible not a fan of English humour, then? I always wondered what Italians make of us, humour-wise. Life’s just too mad not to have a giggle or three. 😀
(early) Merry Christmas!
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There is a huge difference between Italian and English humour. I haven’t managed to put my finger on it, but I think Italian humour is more like the Benny Hill style.
Please Italians don’t start berating me over this comment.
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There’s nowt wrong with a bit of Benny Hill! In that case, I’m sure they’d love Captain Alberto Bertorelli from ‘Allo, ‘Allo and his collection of medals for servicing Fiats. 😀
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I knew it was Christmas already! And my husband keeps insisting that it’s even too early for a Christmas Tree! ;p Can you talk some sense into him please?
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Erh! Our tree just appears when Mrs Sensible is out shopping.
I then deny all knowledge of any involvement.
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Oh a magic Christmas tree? I want one too! Hahaha.
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You’re far too early! But I love the song just the same. I might write to Mrs Sensible this year – seems she gives the best presents!
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I like November and December. I manage to merge my month long birthday celebration into my Christmas festivities.
I am taking my Thursday Evening English language group wine tasting tomorrow. just to improve their English skills 😉
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You’re so selfless 😉
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They are a fun lot, we have organised an English Murder Mystery Party in December again just (as an excuse to drink wine) to improve their English.
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Sounds like great fun! I reckon the black sheep did it 😉
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Shhh, don’t tell them.
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Awww, that was lovely jubbly. I was a bit worried about that hospital picture until I looked closer at those pink things. Mental note: buy glasses for self. Or clean up dirty mind. Or both.
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Pink things? Let me go and check.
Toes dear, they are toes. 🙂
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They don’t look like toes to me 😉 By the way, get your editing wand out PN -your title needs “twelfth” rather than “twelve”.
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oops….
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Done 🙂
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Wow, you’re getting into the Christmas spirit early, I’m going to have that stuck in my head all day now! I’m glad to see the diet has been cancelled by the way…
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lol, I haven’t seen one Christmas tree yet. I bet Meadowhall Shopping Centre in Sheffield is like a huge Santa’s Grotto.
I think my outdoor tree will go up tomorrow, just to shock the neighbours.
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I was back in the UK last week and there were lights up everywhere. It’s just wrong…
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I intend to put lights on my outside tree tomorrow, while Mrs Sensible is at work. That is if I can find the lights.
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very cute but you should be horse whipped for posting this before December 1st, pthhp!
just call me scrooge, lol
but I do like the scooby-doo in a fig tree the best 🙂
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It was this or a post on Italian police 🙂
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Well now you’ve piqued my curiousity…you must share 🙂
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I am working on it.. 😉
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I like your more up to date version of the song! Who sees drummers drumming or maids of milking anymore? But then again, who sees pink elephants, hmm? Oh well, most of the days are good 🙂 sounds like you are in for seeing lots more of those pink elephants if you are starting your Christmas festivities so early! Maybe that was the plan all along? I have vowed that I will not begin any Christmas until after Thanksgiving (which is tomorrow!!), so on Friday, up goes the tree! Merry Christmas!
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Thanksgiving, mmm something else I can celebrate, do you drink wine at Thanksgiving?
An early Merry Christmas to you
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Most definitely!!!! Wine goes great with turkey…and sweet potatoes….and stuffing….and pie…and…..
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Seasons greetngs to you too . Ding dong Merrily and all that…..(nice to see the driver’s licence make an appearance)
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I fought long and hard for that driving licence. Merry Christmas to you
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this is lovely, and you are such a natural music talent, that is clear to see. happy christmas to you too ) beth
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Hi Beth, You wouldn’t be saying that if you had ever heard me sing.
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i’ll will believe you are an amazing musical talent if you believe that i am )
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Ok, that is a deal.
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Very clever PN. 🙂
I can only see 4 pink elephants?
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If you are drinking the correct quantities of wine you will see 5
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Ah, so that’s where I was going wrong!
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hey PN this is sooooooo funny!!!! and Elaine above is right, I was wondering where the 5th elephant was, maybe hidden away behind the very big fat elephant? or maybe it is just PN artistic licence… 😉
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When I uploaded the post there were 5 elephants, but I had drunk a glass or three of grappa
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ah that explains it…
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Happy Christmas PN & Mrs Sensible for 2012. It’s never too late to party. 😉 I’ll wait for your 2013 Christmas post next November then …..
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I am now working on my Easter post. It should be up early January 😉
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I am so excited !! I can’t wait !! 😉
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You are as daft as me 🙂
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Now I wonder where you got that idea from ? 😉
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It just kind of occurred to me.
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BTW your lost 5th pink elephant just flew over heading for the Caribbean. It’s probably going on holiday 😉
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Buon Natale and buon appetito!
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🙂 🙂
Merry Christmas to yo too
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Canadian Geese! The latest query on my blog…do you have Canadian geese in Italy?
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We do have geese in Italy, but I have never checked their passports.
But I bet they are Canadian, because they only stay here for around 3 to 6 months, probably something to do with their Visa
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Maybe that’s why our won’t leave…. Can’t get clearance from Italian immigration. Never thought of that
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🙂
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I’ll say “Happy Thanksgiving” for now (although I know you don’t celebrate Thanksgiving in England or in Italy) and give you a “Merry Christmas” later 😉
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If wine is included I am happy to celebrate it. Donna our latest Guestaway flew back to the USA a week ago. To her surprise one of my birthday parties doubled as her Thanksgiving party. 🙂 I think the date was the 9th November.
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Great gobs of goose grease. I like how the way you got Christmas out of the way. I am considdred nuts since I do not like any holiday anymore and don’t celebrate any of them. Too much trouble. I’m “Baa Hamburg.” Age has changed my perspective. 🙂
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I thought I had better do the post now, I may be too busy drinking and eating later on 😉
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YES !!! you/we/they drink WINE at Thanksgiving, and give thanks for we no longer know what, in the USA, but a certain Englishman could give thanks for Mrs.Sensible who is so kind, patient, intelligent, and sensible. E anche bella. Non e’ vero signora?
PS: I thought that I had already told you that THOSE SCARY TREES are simply mulberry trees cut that way so they will be VERY leafy next Summer, or maybe I told the guy in Croatia ?… with so many Englishmen running thru Italy and nearby in blogs who can tell them apart ..?
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It was me, and I put a foot note on the picture to say Italians are not scared of the incredibly scary tree 🙂
Kind, intelligent, patient and sensible… it sounds like you have already met Mrs Sensible 🙂
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So when’s the Pecora Nera Christmas CD coming out?
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Never, I sing like a cat who has trapped it’s tail in the door ;).
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*sigh* Perhaps Bieber would be interested in a cover version.
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What a full Advent calendar you have. I feel I will be checking in often. Lived in Italy for eight years. Can wince along with you 🙂
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Welcome to my little world of Italian madness
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I am glad to hear you are already so full of “Christmas Spirit” that you’re seeing pink elephants.
But have you arranged for a Christmas pudding and some mince pies to be airlifted in from Blighty? You know Christmas isn’t Christmas without the belly ache that can only be induced by overdosing on raisins that have been soaking in alcohol since September.
Panettone is for wimps, and let’s not even mention the fact that Italians don’t even have a proper traditional Christmas dinner. Pasta for Christmas? It’s an insult to santa Claus, that’s what I say.
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Ohhhh! Your driving licence finally arrived! Congratualtion (to you and to Italy)! 😀
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Congratulations*, sorry -_____-‘
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🙂
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Thank you 🙂 🙂
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From a fellow Piemonte expat — I just discovered your blog and couldn’t be happier! Will definitely be checking this weekly. I love a good laugh and your blog definitely promises that. Also nice to see another perspective of an expat not just in Italy, but Piemonte!
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Welcome to my little corner of complete and utter madness 🙂 Mrs Sensible said hello as well.
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hi … I have nominated you for award which celebrates the fact your posts are ‘long enough to cover everything and short enough to keep them interesting’. Hope you can accept. The details of the award are here http://www.sandcastlesinportugal.com – Thank you for my award! All you need to do if you accept is write 8 facts about yourself and nominate 8 blogs that you feel should have this award, and let them know.
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Hi Alicia,
Thanks for the award. I will upload a post as soon as I have had a think about, what I dare tell people about myself 🙂
Merry Christmas from
PN & Mrs Sensible
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