Goulburn or this?

Ever since I first visited Italy in the seventies I had a longing. I wanted to buy a house and live there. But I was turned off by the 'buy cheap and ruin' reality TV shows; crap renovations, swimming pools and the army of British wankers destroying the joint.

I was discouraged by the war stories from world-weary opportunists who had tried and failed.

"Don't think about it, mate," they say. "Too bloody hard. Too much paperwork. Too much bureaucracy."

Guess what. None of it is true ... if you know where to look.

TOTO, I HAVE A FEELING WE'RE NOT IN KANSAS ANYMORE

Now don't get me wrong. I'm not being negative about Goulburn. I've lived 40 kms from there for nearly 40 years. I love the place. It's a good honest country town - good pubs, a train station, two supermarkets, half a dozen service stations, a main street of great shops. Terrific people.

There's a Bunnings and a prison.

What more could you want?

My point is this. Like the rest of Australia, the Goulburn property market is booming. House prices are going up.

But the house market in Italy is depressed. There are literally thousands of country houses for sale. And many at rock bottom prices.

I'm not advocating taking advantage of other's misfortune.

But it's about market forces - and the choices we make.

So I chose Italy, or a small part of it not widely known.

This is what this website is about ... the what and the why. And most importantly, the how.

Food, wine and family-run restaurants

Italian food is all about the ingredients. It's not fancy and it's not fussy. In regional Italy, you can still find family-run restaurants - mum and dad in the kitchen and out-front serving you. I love that about this place.

Corporatism and chain restaurants have no place here.

On your second visit, or your third, to a small local establishment you are greeted like family, or at least like old friends.

Twenty minutes from where I live is a food co-op in Sansepulcro. Fresh produce, chemical-free, grown locally and available at a fair price.

The region is also known for its excellent truffles, chestnuts and walnuts,  and wild boar.

Food is a passion here, like no other place I know.

The emphasis is on the freshness of every single ingredient.

and then there's the wine

It is no surprise that this country is a wine lover's paradise. There's a centuries-long love affair with the grape here and the quality and variety are beyond belief - and all at such prices one can only blush. Then order another bottle.