His party appeals to entrepreneurial farmers as well as city businessmen, which is one reason, with a general election next spring, why he has chosen to bunk out of the government: he does not think it has done enough to reinvigorate farming, and one coalition partner is tied to the old collective-farm establishment.

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The Morgan Stanley REIT Index hit a high in late 1997 and then began a slide that, apart from a short-lived rally last spring, has made one-third its value disappear.

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Then I take a last soak in the hot spring tub on my deck (every room has one) and listen to the cicadas buzzing through the pine trees.

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His words had a special resonance, because one Italian politician has just floated the idea of a broad coalition to keep Mr Monti in power after next spring's election.

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"The branch has been identified as one that could potentially be partnered with a retailer between the autumn of this year and spring of 2015, with any change being subject to a six week public consultation to gather the views of the local community, " said a spokesperson for the Post Office.

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