Well, Hello Everybody!
I'm Advo-Cat, new around here. Perhaps not so new because I've been browsing the forum for quite a while pending our imminent arrival in Santo Domingo some time in the not-too-distant, but I've not actually participated actively until now, just stayed over here safe behind my firewall swotting up on every little thing I can learn about life in the DR without asking any of those irritating FAQ's that have already been answered a million or more times in previous posts.
Oh, and I have visited the DR too, albeit only Sto Do and briefly at that. I've liked what I've seen there and on the forum too. Reading your posts I feel I've already begun to know some of you too, even if sometimes I've felt a little like a spook, kettle in hand, steaming open other people's correspondence and peeking inside without their knowing.
So now methinks it's time to come out of the closet, so to speak, and meet you on your own ground - virtual ground that is, until such time as, protocol permitting, I actually do the migratory thingy.
In for a penny, they say, in for a pound, so bold as brass, I've also started to blog and anyone who feels the urge is invited over to http://dr1.com/blogs/?u=AdvoCat to read and comment.
It's still a little primitivo over at the AdvoBlog, not much furniture and decor yet, no carpet on the floor, no pictures on the walls, but bear with me until I get the blogfeel and we'll soon have the place looking ship-shape and Bristol fashion.
Here's a mini bio for now:
I'm rather rapidly approaching the wrong end of my sixth decade on this mortal coil, but I'm kinda still stuck at thirty-something on the inside.
Born in London just after WWII into a family that emigrated out of Livorno in Italy some 230 years ago with as yet undiscovered, but probably Iberian, geographical, historical and genealogical roots prior to the 17th century.
I left London in my very early twenties and since then have travelled a lot having been all over western Europe and Scandinavia, as well as a few places Stateside, spent a lot of time around the Levant and Middle East, been in Russia and South America too. I once started a checklist of countries trying to get at least one for every letter of the alphabet, but stopped counting a long, long time ago.
For the past few years I've been living here in sunny Roma with the current Mrs Advo, whose transfer to take up a senior post with her organisation is the reason for our impending arrival in the DR.
Don't know yet where we're going to live in Sto Do, maybe down near Mirador Sur to be near Junior's school, or maybe around Piantini to be closer to Mrs Advo's place of work - I'll maybe have an office in Zona Colonial near the port - I like to be able to see the ships from my window.
A marine insurance surveyor and adjuster by profession, I work as a freelance consultant for major players in the world insurance market, something which I intend to continue once arrived in Sto Do.
'Saboutit for the time being, I hope I'll get to know you better as time goes by, I'm looking forward to being able to meet some or more of you too when I get there.
Ciao for now,
Advo.,
I'm Advo-Cat, new around here. Perhaps not so new because I've been browsing the forum for quite a while pending our imminent arrival in Santo Domingo some time in the not-too-distant, but I've not actually participated actively until now, just stayed over here safe behind my firewall swotting up on every little thing I can learn about life in the DR without asking any of those irritating FAQ's that have already been answered a million or more times in previous posts.
Oh, and I have visited the DR too, albeit only Sto Do and briefly at that. I've liked what I've seen there and on the forum too. Reading your posts I feel I've already begun to know some of you too, even if sometimes I've felt a little like a spook, kettle in hand, steaming open other people's correspondence and peeking inside without their knowing.
So now methinks it's time to come out of the closet, so to speak, and meet you on your own ground - virtual ground that is, until such time as, protocol permitting, I actually do the migratory thingy.
In for a penny, they say, in for a pound, so bold as brass, I've also started to blog and anyone who feels the urge is invited over to http://dr1.com/blogs/?u=AdvoCat to read and comment.
It's still a little primitivo over at the AdvoBlog, not much furniture and decor yet, no carpet on the floor, no pictures on the walls, but bear with me until I get the blogfeel and we'll soon have the place looking ship-shape and Bristol fashion.
Here's a mini bio for now:
I'm rather rapidly approaching the wrong end of my sixth decade on this mortal coil, but I'm kinda still stuck at thirty-something on the inside.
Born in London just after WWII into a family that emigrated out of Livorno in Italy some 230 years ago with as yet undiscovered, but probably Iberian, geographical, historical and genealogical roots prior to the 17th century.
I left London in my very early twenties and since then have travelled a lot having been all over western Europe and Scandinavia, as well as a few places Stateside, spent a lot of time around the Levant and Middle East, been in Russia and South America too. I once started a checklist of countries trying to get at least one for every letter of the alphabet, but stopped counting a long, long time ago.
For the past few years I've been living here in sunny Roma with the current Mrs Advo, whose transfer to take up a senior post with her organisation is the reason for our impending arrival in the DR.
Don't know yet where we're going to live in Sto Do, maybe down near Mirador Sur to be near Junior's school, or maybe around Piantini to be closer to Mrs Advo's place of work - I'll maybe have an office in Zona Colonial near the port - I like to be able to see the ships from my window.
A marine insurance surveyor and adjuster by profession, I work as a freelance consultant for major players in the world insurance market, something which I intend to continue once arrived in Sto Do.
'Saboutit for the time being, I hope I'll get to know you better as time goes by, I'm looking forward to being able to meet some or more of you too when I get there.
Ciao for now,
Advo.,
