A technical term...

Polly: Things to remember when shopping for a leather jacket in Florence:

* Firstly, and most importantly, you must remember that the people who work in leather shops are also the children of God, and not just the pushy, overbearing arseholes they seem;

* Whatever price is written on the tag is at least two and a half times more than they expect you to pay - at least;

* The salesmen will remember you, and as much of your life story that they have induced you to share. It is safest to work out different routes home through the market to avoid repeated attacks (although this did prove very handy when Tim and I were separated and the salesman from the day before was able to tell me what direction he went in)

* It appears to be common practice to chase customers through the streets after they have left, having miraculously discovered something in the right size or colour (3 times so far - I even tried not wearing the distinctive orange hat);

[Tim: * If they agree to the price, you paid too much;

* 'Vera Pelle' is not a person - as we first thought - but translates as 'real leather. This is not that same thing as saying it means 'real leather', though...]

Polly: * And, most importantly, remember point one.

P.S. To any of you who take exception to the language in the above entry, I wish to remind you that I have a degree with a major in professional writing and you don't.