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social bonds. A small proportion of raw or 'green' sausages would have been set aside
to be boUed, fiied or griUed during that evening's 'pot night'. Despite their day's hard
labour, the Rodoni family would find the energy to scmb down the tables, clean and
scald the sausage machine and begin the evening meal. A huge log fire would be Ut
and some of the sausages placed in a big iron pot to cook for approximately twelve
minutes. Other dishes prepared would include bowls of minestrone soup and plates of
spaghetti accompanied by thick cmsty bread (perhaps donated by their regular guests
the Vanzettas), a few crisp lettuces and radishes taken from the garden and
home-made wine. After the meal, the fiimiture would be pushed to one side, making
space for the evening's festivities. Marina would play the piano-accordion,
accompanied by another Italian speaker on the violin and everyone would dance.
Sometimes Ferdinando Vanzetta would entertain the gathering with old Swiss songs,
encouraging everyone including the English speakers who stmggled with the foreign
pronunciation, to join in the choms." Andre, the youngest Rodoni son, years later was
still able to recall these songs and, though never having been able to understand their
words, feh they celebrated happier times back in Switzerland. Other musical
numbers which might have been heard during the evening included 'Una Sera a
Settembre' (One Evening in September) and the music from Leoncavallo's opera
Pagliacci, of which Isidoro was especially fond.'** Playing his piano-accordion at the
local dances, Andrew also brought the music of his ethnic group to the ears of the
general community.'*^ Towards the end of the Rodoni 'pot night' EmiUa would make
wine-flips, vigorously beating a dozen eggs in a huge earthenware bowl with a few
spoonfuls of sugar, two litres of sherry and a dash of nutmeg. While Pliny and Frank's
drinking incident perhaps prevented the children sharing in this ritual, they would later
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