Nimrod81, you hit the point. I didn't want to offend anyone.
Simply, in Italy if you aren't very young and/or you don't have the right contacts, you don't have many possibilities.

Of course I could move out of Italy, but it's too difficult for me (new language, new culture, added to the already difficult phd course). Anyway, maybe the whole researcher career was too difficult.

What strikes me is that you seem to regret that you left your PhD mainly because now you don't have "contacts"! In other words as if you saw you PhD as a way to make "contacts" rather than to gain certain skills, increase your knowledge of your topic etc. The importance of networking while doing your PhD (or in general) will never be emphasized too much, but honestly, I think there are better and simplest ways of making contacts than struggling for 3 years trying to produce research.

No, i mean that you need contacts, reccomendations from someone authorative (a university profressor) to obtain a scolarship (fundings) for a phd. If you are an unknown guy, no-one will ever give it to you.

According to this debate. I'm clearly ready for the knackers yard. I'm 33. I think I'll apply for my bus pass tomorrow.

lol @ sylvester. I should have done that last year then. I hope I'm not too late . How about flu jab? Will that be necessary do you think?

ooops! I've read it as 32. I'm 33 too, so I am not too late

Absolutely, a flu jab would be fine. Maybe we can get a winter fuel payments allowance too.

See you down at the Post Office guys, then maybe we'll make the coffee morning at the village hall?