tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65161334274868320642024-03-19T02:11:33.759-07:00local-kiwi-alienBorn in NZ, 45 years in Greece. My photos and babble from a Greek Isle.local alienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586011850451326646noreply@blogger.comBlogger1165125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6516133427486832064.post-22874989815273367972024-03-17T00:11:00.000-07:002024-03-17T00:11:31.513-07:00Octopiii<p> <span style="font-size: large;">Octopii are an important part of the Lenten menu because they have no *blood and can be eaten all through the long fast. They are also an essential item on the menu when visitors arrive in the summer.</span></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTTzD2toyFlhO5jfUeSr-PBaZIkTR9_PvWnwqqgoo70_p01e-d2WS5MNBy-jneCcLI0SJF2lEg6kvtFoY-Dwn2FFK-RVIm8gwzoTifh3yuScur7FLBdx-p_P3ZxzTYPeMGBo3fLOy0q0FDBGEIS4FydFWlUu0m6Y98azezAw9PfoXVV7ENBnS9Rvsqbcfq/s4080/IMG_20240313_103107.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="1780" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTTzD2toyFlhO5jfUeSr-PBaZIkTR9_PvWnwqqgoo70_p01e-d2WS5MNBy-jneCcLI0SJF2lEg6kvtFoY-Dwn2FFK-RVIm8gwzoTifh3yuScur7FLBdx-p_P3ZxzTYPeMGBo3fLOy0q0FDBGEIS4FydFWlUu0m6Y98azezAw9PfoXVV7ENBnS9Rvsqbcfq/w175-h400/IMG_20240313_103107.jpg" width="175" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">We have started filling up the freezer. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX4WS679iC3MqQh6sJ1EIZYUhoh9lrjn4c2dh7NM2u4s2qoyb_Efwk-aWXLHP8DFL-rv4XUPp9hMssH-dSgf7fg-x-R-xN4M1jZZ0RgVbwAwmQAUwCxSP39_O_9zD6nYOU7xFGJrybxpGUZEuJVEY5cyNXgkd1_U-5MvvZ-qPph5TmE7WlSm6K99xM6Lce/s816/IMG-365608c3578ba4bbb4c84b2eaa3e7cb1-V.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="816" data-original-width="612" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX4WS679iC3MqQh6sJ1EIZYUhoh9lrjn4c2dh7NM2u4s2qoyb_Efwk-aWXLHP8DFL-rv4XUPp9hMssH-dSgf7fg-x-R-xN4M1jZZ0RgVbwAwmQAUwCxSP39_O_9zD6nYOU7xFGJrybxpGUZEuJVEY5cyNXgkd1_U-5MvvZ-qPph5TmE7WlSm6K99xM6Lce/w300-h400/IMG-365608c3578ba4bbb4c84b2eaa3e7cb1-V.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">But this one, what remains of it , caught by grandson Jamie with his trusty trident, will be eaten this Monday. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It's a long weekend. Monday is Kathara Deftera, Clean Monday.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">We will be eating kalamari fried and grilled, mussels, crabs, octopus done 3 ways and taramasalata (fish roe dip). </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Each of the men of the family are cooking octopus in their own special way.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Kyriakos makes stewed octopus with vinegar and olive oil. It's tender and tasty and you can dip your bread in the vinegar and oil. Not me though. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">K prefers grilled octopus.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">He dries it first by pegging it out on my washing line. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Octopus bbqed this way is too chewy for my taste.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX4Plye_onm8d1fY0eTeXVtKHoSrOuKGSY8ijQTCmDs2TGFf8G8hRVydNaop5m3pOSScGzlobb5v0dvBFu-GX4creXLGO6_H_6Ng-yqyYoVgQFk2QGfEprpvvjnwDcSBHO2toGnNdwltNF8AuO_GjePJnLQ6h9LI7_N0Vu7ZRtJe00y5nbllP-updhBQZ2/s4000/IMG_20230702_091909.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX4Plye_onm8d1fY0eTeXVtKHoSrOuKGSY8ijQTCmDs2TGFf8G8hRVydNaop5m3pOSScGzlobb5v0dvBFu-GX4creXLGO6_H_6Ng-yqyYoVgQFk2QGfEprpvvjnwDcSBHO2toGnNdwltNF8AuO_GjePJnLQ6h9LI7_N0Vu7ZRtJe00y5nbllP-updhBQZ2/w300-h400/IMG_20230702_091909.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I dont know how Yiannis is cooking his octopus . Maybe with makaroni or with whole onions. Both are popular. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">We will find out on Monday when we all gather for the family feast at my daughter's house.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Meanwhile the word is out and anyone catching an octopus has K's number.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">*Octopii are supposed to have blue blood. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">An octopus has 3 hearts</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">They are super smart</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Excellent at camouflage. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Move by jet propulsion. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">They're found in every ocean in the world. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><br /><p></p>local alienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586011850451326646noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6516133427486832064.post-75094021252813392422024-03-15T02:51:00.000-07:002024-03-16T02:07:27.912-07:0014 March<p> <span style="font-size: large;">Look at this photo. The colours, the clear water, the fearless bather</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOUy3fmAw-Mpvxvwo3DucJnnTBwGyN-vTT8QZjank2XIOSqfQOG5fYsBhuOIPgA4aJfrJKht_49U_Ze9-fw5eCom46tjwVSoaTgZfRDwAWFc4uFw6q7LtEh_lQzqKFC7TBqetuFllBDBu8gSnypcRO9Gh0Vs7e3LQtS5xB3g66KHJ6TXklXvz1VQe7GgPc/s1600/IMG-ae055aded62d4b47237dae869162c112-V.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOUy3fmAw-Mpvxvwo3DucJnnTBwGyN-vTT8QZjank2XIOSqfQOG5fYsBhuOIPgA4aJfrJKht_49U_Ze9-fw5eCom46tjwVSoaTgZfRDwAWFc4uFw6q7LtEh_lQzqKFC7TBqetuFllBDBu8gSnypcRO9Gh0Vs7e3LQtS5xB3g66KHJ6TXklXvz1VQe7GgPc/w300-h400/IMG-ae055aded62d4b47237dae869162c112-V.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div><span style="font-size: large;">Yes, it's Poppi again with Rusty, their cocker spaniel...enjoying a cool winter swim.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">It was around 16oC yesterday. The water? Freezing. I'm sure. </span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Her sister went for a 13 kilometre run instead.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxpZs2PrvjbRHUxkBxVZ8mhexqnY1I6W98C1eNMe9kmT6hyJpDe_pMcrkiHPTcOk0_zgVwQxsug8swlwn1GVQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">She gave us a wave as she passed our cul de sac up in the hills</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>local alienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586011850451326646noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6516133427486832064.post-35877274630800032242024-03-13T00:55:00.000-07:002024-03-15T01:19:00.128-07:00March Meats<p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHukpo3HaTZnLARiNJ-mMGNbZxcR-pO442B6T-lxDjPQo24CGqYXwXowKMSFLwjq0SxADxZLkFbba80_jRhm2KvrD99LiKiXSHqBVyYsa6Mzrowh4tXW6cwp-XgLySNeHJOuXyO5Vz8zJHnCcijlFNPYXRVe8hcae70upeejbbdOJCO4MrNqJ0n8SRCn2d/s3520/IMG_20240311_173024.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3520" data-original-width="1731" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHukpo3HaTZnLARiNJ-mMGNbZxcR-pO442B6T-lxDjPQo24CGqYXwXowKMSFLwjq0SxADxZLkFbba80_jRhm2KvrD99LiKiXSHqBVyYsa6Mzrowh4tXW6cwp-XgLySNeHJOuXyO5Vz8zJHnCcijlFNPYXRVe8hcae70upeejbbdOJCO4MrNqJ0n8SRCn2d/w196-h400/IMG_20240311_173024.jpg" width="196" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">A Get Well </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Welcome Home </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Present</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Thursday was *Tsiknopempti, the last big meat eating day before Lent. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">K was going to BBQ a pile of meat and I had a bottle of prosecco saved just for an occasion like this.... Good food and the company of a good friend.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Jan has been a member of our family for many many years. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Her English wit, perception of Greek foibles and sharp rejoinders have brought me a lot of laughter over those years.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">But, that was the day we learnt of our friend's passing. K, our head Chef, was immediately away to arrange papers and help the family. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">K had done all the preparation the night before, marinating mutton chops, preparing the hamburger 'dough', making pork souvlaki and taking **kebabs from the freezer. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>It was easy for me to ***shape ****burgers and put them in the oven with a few potatoes</span><span>. We changed ovens recently and I'm still not quite up with it's times and temperatures. They ended up a bit overcooked but were fine with some quickly made gravy, tzatziki, Greek salad and the prosecco.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I cooked them 'foreign style'. No lemon juice and very little olive oil. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The main course of the day was catching up on recent events in our lives. In the English language. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It was better K was absent. We don't catch up very often and when we do it's endless chatter in English which K can't keep up with. It drives him mad. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Thanks Jan for the beautiful flower. I don't know what it's called. Anyone got a name for it? </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">She gave me the prosecco too, at Christmas. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Cheers</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">*Tsiknopempti - literally smokey Thursday. The smoke is from the meat grilling on the BBQ </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">**kebabs are long tubes of spicy minced meat</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">***To shape dough is to 'plath' - one of my favourite greek words. It means to shape dough, for biscuits, bread, burgers, with your hands</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I Plath.. platho </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">You Plath.. platheis</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">We all plath.. plathoume </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">****Burgers in Greek are bifteki</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><br /><p></p>local alienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586011850451326646noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6516133427486832064.post-76611764968482809712024-03-10T10:15:00.000-07:002024-03-10T10:15:18.802-07:00Marching On<p> <span style="font-size: large;">Life ebbs and flows. Yesterday we were at a funeral of a close friend.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc-X3ogY0QZ62T7UXOjBlLlHNfyfqPGdr3NTjeCkY1LGcNA7QbhbqAI2Zd_x5JyVuI9qIpu54SGa3lb2RFqjUGJnOO6fKqopNHc6ldQViY6ncHYHqoi4qPKL-KDn_i-fDecwb1BFlBSm6nLB5KrRbQBWF2i_NVsbdzYxP6vqMkpZ1MrnT-_KF621QkfQ2D/s4080/IMG_20240309_150908.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="1780" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc-X3ogY0QZ62T7UXOjBlLlHNfyfqPGdr3NTjeCkY1LGcNA7QbhbqAI2Zd_x5JyVuI9qIpu54SGa3lb2RFqjUGJnOO6fKqopNHc6ldQViY6ncHYHqoi4qPKL-KDn_i-fDecwb1BFlBSm6nLB5KrRbQBWF2i_NVsbdzYxP6vqMkpZ1MrnT-_KF621QkfQ2D/w175-h400/IMG_20240309_150908.jpg" width="175" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">After the church and interment everyone gathers at the cafeteria next to the graveyard, beside the sea, for a small Greek coffee, mastiha liqueur and a sweet biscuit. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I didn't wait around to witness the burial. Arm in arm with my daughter I retreated to the café, out of the cold. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It's a chance for everyone, as they leave the Cafe, to pay their respects to the mourning family and wish the deceased a peaceful ever-after, </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">or a long life to the family that remains that they may keep his/her memory alive.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Those that linger on, close family and friends usually, stay for soup and wine.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sometimes it's meat soup. This time it was fish soup, served with platters of the boiled fish and vegetables. With plenty of wine.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It was delicious but I put too much pepper in the soup and had to wash each spoonful down with some wine. I drank just a little more than I intended. But I'm not on a restricted diet . Just a restricted lifestyle.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The church was freezing and the constant stand-up-sit-down tired me out. Everytime it's stand-up time: for the appearance of the priest from his sanctuary, for the sending of clouds of incense from the big swinging burner, or for a prayer, K nudges me in case I'm inattentive. In the end I decided I was a recovering patient and stayed seated. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">RIP Petros</span></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p>local alienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586011850451326646noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6516133427486832064.post-14253371489030247742024-03-06T07:40:00.000-08:002024-03-06T07:40:06.883-08:00Continuing with March<p> <span style="font-size: large;">What the heck was all that about yesterday with the 'outage' of Facebook and Instagram. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Thank goodness most of it went down during siesta but K was not at all happy to find, when he woke up, that he was blocked from Facebook. He spends hours on it checking up on his friends and the local buzz.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">When it came back I managed to get him straight back in . I couldn't get mine to work till the next morning. Not that it worried me. I only have Facebook so I can use Messenger and follow Poros activity pages.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">They made me change the password . I hate having to change passwords. Who remembers the damn things. Or where I've written them down. Or if I've made a note when I've changed one. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Marching onwards...</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Forgot to add the change to summertime at the end of the month. I don't like changing times but summer-time is preferable to winter-time. It means longer, warmer days. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Granddaughter Poppi was given an award last week for being one of Poros' top athletes. She is on her way upward to the National rowing team, spends hours training every week and races all over the country. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">School trips.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> Two of my grandchildren are in their last year at High School and this is the month they go on their 5 day end-of-school excursion. Then they knuckle down to study for their higher education exams in June.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Jamie is in Thessaloniki (Capitol of the North) at the moment with his class and Poppi will be going up to Ioannina (city in the North west near Albania) next week with her class. Poppi has been there before competing in rowing races on Lake Pamvotida. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_qPkQ728hEKvHex6efOyzMZG6dWt5Fa10dVENlmjdoo_MvIgghVtCC5Rjg9yOAZAAejkpyozhROBEcX6aJyC0edKCHKbvUxqKJHtYRHN_13MfePEywh81clTetFavXDeQOYErgL1xDjwyIFprqiYQY-dc8axssZ5MjhagXXputVjIO44oCu4gp6QAW77l/s2342/IMG_20230416_122040.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2342" data-original-width="1441" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_qPkQ728hEKvHex6efOyzMZG6dWt5Fa10dVENlmjdoo_MvIgghVtCC5Rjg9yOAZAAejkpyozhROBEcX6aJyC0edKCHKbvUxqKJHtYRHN_13MfePEywh81clTetFavXDeQOYErgL1xDjwyIFprqiYQY-dc8axssZ5MjhagXXputVjIO44oCu4gp6QAW77l/w246-h400/IMG_20230416_122040.jpg" width="246" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Jamie and Poppi</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Police chief . The new Police chief is showing his presence handing out parking tickets, performing breathalyser tests and giving fines for motorbike riders without helmets and licences. Hard days for the Islanders who are used to a more laid back regime. But it will probably stop in a day or a week, as he settles into the rythym of island life.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">All our neighbours are busy pruning their olives</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">trees and burning the lopped off branches. The fire ban begins on 1st April.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNPkmINEGi2GkpJhlIwxTkJCAcm6bEI_svhe64jMijVYcqjrWKc3o7zJk4QGoonvnmzlNjbNumKlPcjkdNneHtzxsGn9u1FBEaWUPFNgPwOaVsoRZZOmWT8g6WBWduFgjHrv2se4uy2qkkspkIE1VzCOMqBLTIP7bwuqlMNDyr0NDsEj5YVWVjvqH30RWA/s4080/IMG_20240306_172413.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="1780" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNPkmINEGi2GkpJhlIwxTkJCAcm6bEI_svhe64jMijVYcqjrWKc3o7zJk4QGoonvnmzlNjbNumKlPcjkdNneHtzxsGn9u1FBEaWUPFNgPwOaVsoRZZOmWT8g6WBWduFgjHrv2se4uy2qkkspkIE1VzCOMqBLTIP7bwuqlMNDyr0NDsEj5YVWVjvqH30RWA/w175-h400/IMG_20240306_172413.jpg" width="175" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Piles of vine prunings. We haven't pruned our own grape vine yet but his friends are bringing their trimmimgs to adorn our front yard. K likes to collect them to use on the BBQ</span></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">And then there are name days. Plenty of those in March.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">And then comes April.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>local alienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586011850451326646noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6516133427486832064.post-63647086709168727762024-03-05T10:45:00.000-08:002024-03-05T11:37:51.430-08:00March Merriment<p>- <span style="font-size: large;">Sunday 3 March</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Tou Asotou. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Feast </span><span style="font-size: large;">of the Prodigal Son</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5vtT58m8N4OKwZr48VG4I958kklZ3r3N0oKKZn_XPlUaiQhKNJTySORBpAQC3jq9lSp_lFra0UiCCHEZS4kie5Qe1DOA6_1vDIVdOkxtRSkhz86LdaMnHBnJY_1gfszp9N0v1OQYnG3HQ0SCV4BryXEyP08106ef2bcmOcBUw38kDx39P50J6HFeC-p0E/s4080/IMG_20240303_125206.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="1780" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5vtT58m8N4OKwZr48VG4I958kklZ3r3N0oKKZn_XPlUaiQhKNJTySORBpAQC3jq9lSp_lFra0UiCCHEZS4kie5Qe1DOA6_1vDIVdOkxtRSkhz86LdaMnHBnJY_1gfszp9N0v1OQYnG3HQ0SCV4BryXEyP08106ef2bcmOcBUw38kDx39P50J6HFeC-p0E/w175-h400/IMG_20240303_125206.jpg" width="175" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">K considers this as his personal day of celebration along with all his friends. Naughty boys now grown old and grey and kept under control by their doctors.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">- 8th March</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">International Women's Day. This used to be a huge celebration on the island. The older women would dress up in their Sunday best, joining up with friends. First for a meal and then to dance on tables at the waterfront bars. I went a few times with my sister-in-law but backed out as soon as she found other company. Not my idea of fun. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Nowadays there are still groups of girls and women that gather for a drink and a laugh. However it's nothing like the good old days when Poros women would take over the tavernas and bars and dance all night.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">- Tsiknopempti</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Smokey Thursday. The last big meat eating day before Lent. Next week is Cheese Week and then comes Clean Monday which marks the beginning of the Orthodox Lent. Greek Easter isn't till 5 May this year.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">On meat eating Thursday we will be having a BBQ and eating lamb chops, kebab and sausages with Greek salad, lots of tzatziki and more than a few glasses of bubbly Prosecco.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">- Carnival. Carnival festivities are ramping up . The last weekend before Lent there are huge parades and celebrations of local customs all over the country. Our Municipality organises activities for the local children who all come in costume. The schools put on a masquerade party and bbq in the school yard . </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">- 18 March </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Kathara Deftera. Clean Monday. First day of Lent. The beginning of the long fast.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This is a public holiday and a huge celebration. Hopefully the weather will be fine. It's a long weekend and Poros will be full of Greek visitors. Tavernas will sell mountains of fried kalamari, octopus, shellfish, and sell gallons of wine and ouzo. Ouzo is 'the' drink with shellfish, octopus and squid.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">If there's any sort of a breeze then children, with any adults left standing, will be out trying to fly a kite.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">For the 7 weeks of Lent very strict followers of the Orthodox church will eat no meat, fish, dairy, eggs, drink no wine and on certain days of the week abstain from olive oil as well. Not many follow these rules. My sister-in-law usually does the full fast and members of the family are known to stop eating meat for the duration. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">- March 25th </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span>Church festival and the day marking</span><span> the start of the revolt, in 1821, against Turkish occupation and oppression. There will be church services, the laying of wreaths under the War Memorial, speeches and a parade by school children. Then we usually gather at a family home and eat salt cod, beetroot and garlic sauce. It is one of the few days during Lent when it is permitted to eat fish, and drink wine of course.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">All these plus St Patrick's day and 2 family birthdays.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>local alienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586011850451326646noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6516133427486832064.post-30690763416345791162024-03-01T08:52:00.000-08:002024-03-01T08:52:03.039-08:001st March <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSMoZeT7_aPVTgB-th1pZQCVcq5UB1F53mPZyqEwjL4YltyKYaFL4VGxt40mrNNEcz2n5T0xZKHERs02wQOiU9csbB6GPyQhFitPaAFDaDGr6hZOp0xTkhXkG0fq3DbAOsssdEI0pF0raXMEnC7JhjjrDeD2m76E1YXLogcu1nG2Y9fxFhvsxSZKABEEAo/s1800/IMG-9d87fe3e56add283d7622b06a92ef73b-V.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1013" data-original-width="1800" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSMoZeT7_aPVTgB-th1pZQCVcq5UB1F53mPZyqEwjL4YltyKYaFL4VGxt40mrNNEcz2n5T0xZKHERs02wQOiU9csbB6GPyQhFitPaAFDaDGr6hZOp0xTkhXkG0fq3DbAOsssdEI0pF0raXMEnC7JhjjrDeD2m76E1YXLogcu1nG2Y9fxFhvsxSZKABEEAo/w400-h225/IMG-9d87fe3e56add283d7622b06a92ef73b-V.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;">It is tradition on 1st March to make a bracelet with red and white thread. </span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtHeORAOQHU1JMTpcUbXJWpFLWi462YzrTB-ROGLOuZVgI23fxeOF50W8A73N-dRtxyOqpuVJN_ISxxDwxlHADeXTReuGEfTvTA8paTFp3SNsxStRDRAqVGS27ov00KRI7V88E75jQexnaEOaAz-NvEXtLJWqxb2qD-rypLZM1NLmH7Izpid-RNzhMnsVo/s1800/IMG-3751197a8691e46935f850b4eca980d3-V.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1013" data-original-width="1800" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtHeORAOQHU1JMTpcUbXJWpFLWi462YzrTB-ROGLOuZVgI23fxeOF50W8A73N-dRtxyOqpuVJN_ISxxDwxlHADeXTReuGEfTvTA8paTFp3SNsxStRDRAqVGS27ov00KRI7V88E75jQexnaEOaAz-NvEXtLJWqxb2qD-rypLZM1NLmH7Izpid-RNzhMnsVo/s320/IMG-3751197a8691e46935f850b4eca980d3-V.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Or buy one</span></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><div><span style="font-size: large;">It is worn to welcome Spring but also is said the protect the wearer from getting burnt in the springtime sun which can be stronger than you realise.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">It's worn till the end of March and then hung on a tree so the birds can pick at it and use it for nest making.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Or it's worn till May Day and burnt on a bonfire .</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Or it's worn till Easter and burnt on the coals that roast the lamb.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">In actual fact it gets very tatty very fast and usually breaks or falls off. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCkZNmdfcVIu8RvdZa1L4prG4imIqkWoOhxFbOXejexNMrm43Mcn_lHHuHzSyVv8LSONkbgUVen-9LJzix3LZLpCUMmsoC4daonrOJLry3b2uIKOur_pSIcWYG6AEro57NDrGxGk5fCrWJU4qMlTIogAWmH3mhMAXecnCNLyqD_kw9XZGdaXvpm2p5e05I/s2724/IMG_20240301_175617.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2724" data-original-width="1755" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCkZNmdfcVIu8RvdZa1L4prG4imIqkWoOhxFbOXejexNMrm43Mcn_lHHuHzSyVv8LSONkbgUVen-9LJzix3LZLpCUMmsoC4daonrOJLry3b2uIKOur_pSIcWYG6AEro57NDrGxGk5fCrWJU4qMlTIogAWmH3mhMAXecnCNLyqD_kw9XZGdaXvpm2p5e05I/s320/IMG_20240301_175617.jpg" width="206" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">My crochet effort</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Children plait them at school today out of embroidery cotton. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div></div>local alienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586011850451326646noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6516133427486832064.post-88823810877134460252024-02-28T09:31:00.000-08:002024-02-28T13:38:32.717-08:00It's Over<p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Surgery all done and dusted.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The Greek health system works well. I had excellent treatment in our rural small- city hospital. My stay and surgery was free. I had a sympathetic doctor, nurses who were always cheery and on the ball.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We gave 'thank you' money to the doctor and anaesthetist but neither had their hands out.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Some demand and some don't. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">A year ago I had my cataract operation at this hospital. The eye doctor</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">wouldn't even set a date for my cataracts until he saw that fat little white envelope</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">with a 'deposit'. </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">His manner changed in an instant and my 2 year wait was suddenly over.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It's a corrupt system, illegal, not helped by us. But it's hard to know what to do. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We had a wee upset when getting the once-over from the cardiologist. He told me I was a high risk patient, something to do with 2 valves. He insisted I must have had trouble walking and wouldn't have been able to climb stairs without being very short of breath and dizzy. Whereas I've never felt fitter. My own cardiologist gave me a scan 3 months ago and pronounced me in great condition, and stands by that now . </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The problem would have been with the anaesthesia. The anaesthetist asked me a whole load of questions, said the hospital doc was known to over exaggerate but decided on an epidural drip. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">That's a weird feeling, not being aware of my body below the waist. Listening to doctors and nurses chatting as they take my insides out, snip off bits and pieces and replace it all, correctly.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span><span>The day before my surgery K was sent off to another rural hospital to </span><span>pick up 2 litres of blood.</span><span> My daughters are blood donors and the procedure, on paper, is handled by the local council. </span><span>It wasn't needed but they like to have it on standby. That's the 2nd time he has transported blood in our car. It's usually done by ambulance but they were all tied up.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The gyno ward is in the old part of the building and there were only 2 of us there. An Albanian girl who had a cesarian in one room and me in another. We both departed the same day, leaving an empty ward.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The rooms on this ward are old. No TV because there are no connections. It would have helped to pass the days after surgery, especially for K who sat by my bedside all day. I had a book and both had our phones, and a plug to recharge. The central heating was a bit noisy but kept me warm as toast day and night.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The bathroom was clean but ancient. Toilet bowl without a lid, small basin and a shower head attached to the wall without either a shower tray or a curtain. It would have been a very wet room if I had wanted to use it. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I had a room mate for a few hours on the first day. May the woman live long and healthily, but nowhere near me, please. Ye gods and little fishes. She spoke in a ringing voice to everyone all day long. She phoned all her friends and told them all in detail, and very loudly, why she was there, a minor procedure. She introduced herself, and me, to everyone from the cleaner to the trolley bearer. She wouldn't shut up. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw6a759t15w8IobEwfIx1Ou854dIjJfUh6TOJUd9hmuw2ZarJNf2BiDPc-rWISLcU2Gv3wfDqUJ4QbVLu_oDXpbA8VR9M6JMLVu-h1Ll3O21H4CtKffOpGE9F3wSE_QcwgbrAeFE548Z7s0Hpw0VgfWnVVlvn-H-co-K3XINRjJGkFn-NSimCWvQimSr6p/s4080/IMG_20240226_084712.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="1780" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw6a759t15w8IobEwfIx1Ou854dIjJfUh6TOJUd9hmuw2ZarJNf2BiDPc-rWISLcU2Gv3wfDqUJ4QbVLu_oDXpbA8VR9M6JMLVu-h1Ll3O21H4CtKffOpGE9F3wSE_QcwgbrAeFE548Z7s0Hpw0VgfWnVVlvn-H-co-K3XINRjJGkFn-NSimCWvQimSr6p/w175-h400/IMG_20240226_084712.jpg" width="175" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The only photo I took</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Old hands</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Like most rural hospitals many of the patients are Roma (gypsies). They never come alone. The whole family tags along, from babe in arms to ancient matriarch. They're noisy and the kids run along the corridors, opening and closing doors. At nights when the hospital was on standby duty I could hear them down in the yard yelling at each other. A few months ago there was a gunfight at this hospital when 2 families got into an argument.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">All part of the colour.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Food. I can't complain because I was there for surgery. However, after 2 days of nothing and 3 days of boiled chicken and soupy rice it was getting boring to say the least. The sound of the dinner trolley is the day's excitement. It got to be a joke between us and the trolley lady. Boiled chicken again. On the last day I got roast chicken. What a delight.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I lost 2 kilos.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">So I'm home and recovering.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>local alienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586011850451326646noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6516133427486832064.post-67899839349119209912024-02-20T21:11:00.000-08:002024-02-28T08:21:40.804-08:00Zapped<p><br /></p><p>From a blog post written </p><p>Friday 31 March 2017</p><p>Have you suffered from the evil eye? I have. Sometimes it is a feeling of illness, other times it maybe some sort of accident. </p><p> Once, all dressed up for a wedding, I was told I looked radiant. I stepped out onto the road and fell flat on my face. All was well with the wedding outfit but not my face. No-one noticed how 'radiant' I was looking because all they saw was a big red scab on the end of my nose. </p><p>The evil eye can also be sent by thoughts of envy or just plain nastiness or even unconsciously by someone with blue or green eyes. If looks could kill. The laser-like rays of some glances can cause disaster.</p><p>Soon after we bought our house we came one evening to clean up after the builders and as usual it turned into a semi-party with the arrival of children and grandchildren. As we left we had to pull over to allow our next door neighbour to pass in her car. We still hadn't formally met her though of course she knew who we were and we knew her by name.</p><p>As our cars passed, in convoy, on the narrow lane she gave us a penetrating stare. Lo, but the first car knocked off its wing mirror turning the first corner onto the main road. Our own car developed an oil leak and we only just managed to make it home. As we walked into our old house the hot water pipe burst flooding the kitchen.</p><p>She was also the one who walked into the house just as I took a cake out of the oven. It had risen nicely ...... until a few minutes after she left. The middle of the cake collapsed. It looked like a darn volcanic crater.</p><p>She is such a nice lady but we are always careful now and furtively spit three times when in her presence and 'turn us all about'.</p><p>So have a good day and I spit on you!</p>local alienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586011850451326646noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6516133427486832064.post-67326738000392183522024-02-20T09:54:00.000-08:002024-02-28T08:22:15.241-08:00Evil Eyes <p> <span style="font-size: large;">Eyes have deadly rays that can bring harm to others said ancient Greek writer Plutarch. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The evil eye is a big part of Greek culture. Even the Greek church acknowledges it and has a special prayer to cure those suffering</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">You are afflicted by the evil eye when someone gives you a false compliment, thinks envious thoughts or sends ill wishes. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">In our house, the car, we have blue eye symbols to avert the curse. You can also wear an item of clothing inside out. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Spitting 3 times after giving a compliment will confuse the devil and keep the evil eye away. It also tells the person you're admiring that you're genuine in your feelings.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">What happens when you're stricken? K will start non-stop yawning and he might get a headache and feel nauseous. You just feel unwell and weak.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">When I first arrived in Greece many moons ago all the taxis had blue eye amulets and beads hanging over the dashboard and every donkey had blue beads hanging over it's head or around it's ears.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">If you do receive negative energy and start excessive yawning then the answer is to phone an aged aunt who knows how to remove the curse. They may know a special prayer or use appropriate words over a glass of water with a drop of oil. Another way is to cross your arms, hands under your armpits, and say the Lord's Prayer 3 times.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Either way, spit on yourself 3 times when you're finished and shake yourself to send the evil eye away. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Here are some of the blue eyes and beads we have around us</span></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpZ6YLiP1uNP_C4a1PFAYuair10Xp4X_u94nM0dQrO_eISpvVd7ek5ia29s-gQqRM7zpbUWwxoSX_GRtsBizZFkdVG1ABxjdC64zWLkoy4WsPMm367p5VD8RqmVw3WpRLjC5ey_CnQvjGYlpvYzS_qc8aXl-Y1MBR5dSXOhiDF5fGWpbU_nwzWcKUzNMPI/s4080/IMG_20240125_121430.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="1780" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpZ6YLiP1uNP_C4a1PFAYuair10Xp4X_u94nM0dQrO_eISpvVd7ek5ia29s-gQqRM7zpbUWwxoSX_GRtsBizZFkdVG1ABxjdC64zWLkoy4WsPMm367p5VD8RqmVw3WpRLjC5ey_CnQvjGYlpvYzS_qc8aXl-Y1MBR5dSXOhiDF5fGWpbU_nwzWcKUzNMPI/w175-h400/IMG_20240125_121430.jpg" width="175" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">From the baptism of a friend's baby. Sugared almonds in a blue bag with the eye to keep the baby safe</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj11NG_dUd6XLFBkGvROltAwsK5jCjVSkHzWi4O0pHYY3G9fFVghEEhAC-gEOVViwdTawQwC89-1ZU1dMqBdaZ-zOeqmXq6L_SxQk5ZzoVm4Wfn1yrw6WIzIM0CGUMqCo6je7ioUoUopn1RQ0LFCNmlEeLJzlIEMhvfmfl5190_vOeWWQ4M0S5ZgsSbMqzm/s4080/IMG_20240125_121846.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="1780" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj11NG_dUd6XLFBkGvROltAwsK5jCjVSkHzWi4O0pHYY3G9fFVghEEhAC-gEOVViwdTawQwC89-1ZU1dMqBdaZ-zOeqmXq6L_SxQk5ZzoVm4Wfn1yrw6WIzIM0CGUMqCo6je7ioUoUopn1RQ0LFCNmlEeLJzlIEMhvfmfl5190_vOeWWQ4M0S5ZgsSbMqzm/w175-h400/IMG_20240125_121846.jpg" width="175" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Blue beads and a small eye on my quad bike keys. Along with a kiwi </span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj37ksyoo9utIVeMGRXc07AoERNoxDjoxqgsOOmgYSfqm0_H4SqoRa7HauI8CDDzbykgfRVmPDlQomgrzv4RcjU9EOO4eVfXOZnh3_A7uD09WVYdu6xlL10gD7Fxr-pOfANyNcqcukT2Rj_dwapcx98R14871K_d621cdmGnn8blZg4SEfhgQRzG0wbOwyD/s4080/IMG_20240125_121916.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="1780" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj37ksyoo9utIVeMGRXc07AoERNoxDjoxqgsOOmgYSfqm0_H4SqoRa7HauI8CDDzbykgfRVmPDlQomgrzv4RcjU9EOO4eVfXOZnh3_A7uD09WVYdu6xlL10gD7Fxr-pOfANyNcqcukT2Rj_dwapcx98R14871K_d621cdmGnn8blZg4SEfhgQRzG0wbOwyD/w175-h400/IMG_20240125_121916.jpg" width="175" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">A crocheted eye given to us by a friend</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEjEMDNHE9OvSYlbrZx9zXelSSsqS05jZ4vxKNtBihAe2cKTN1hXCBr4byY4r1p3Yri9hTdzB1ybLWklk5ecFkJigx7oW4e6I5w4ksHhpnsZpvWIdSTuRojYfLmFF0HhROXTkfvsz_ruZ0JoP8dvRQ17IJPpBMNt1U3mGqm9OQ6dcCBDE0XOmr8HBgqxBB/s4000/IMG_20180722_105437.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEjEMDNHE9OvSYlbrZx9zXelSSsqS05jZ4vxKNtBihAe2cKTN1hXCBr4byY4r1p3Yri9hTdzB1ybLWklk5ecFkJigx7oW4e6I5w4ksHhpnsZpvWIdSTuRojYfLmFF0HhROXTkfvsz_ruZ0JoP8dvRQ17IJPpBMNt1U3mGqm9OQ6dcCBDE0XOmr8HBgqxBB/w300-h400/IMG_20180722_105437.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Garlic and fish net hanging over our gate. To stop visitors with ill intent entering....so they say. </span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwfj6VNOFImXSYZIK8dZs3aYQExpJ8HJpEs6EbP5K8_2iuoQZuyW7_sHl8xZPuHiZV_85NaiWK16u8X3t6kaiCoPnc8GjGWU9wQmSSrCKzwHIIoiRY0aT52ZveT0nyryi1HeYWVF4IngxHAMMR3YOhLpA9WTXljmXsivqNomySNSCBgw1G18KZeT5c5kWh/s4000/IMG_20190719_103659.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwfj6VNOFImXSYZIK8dZs3aYQExpJ8HJpEs6EbP5K8_2iuoQZuyW7_sHl8xZPuHiZV_85NaiWK16u8X3t6kaiCoPnc8GjGWU9wQmSSrCKzwHIIoiRY0aT52ZveT0nyryi1HeYWVF4IngxHAMMR3YOhLpA9WTXljmXsivqNomySNSCBgw1G18KZeT5c5kWh/w400-h300/IMG_20190719_103659.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: large;">An evil eye charm for the car key ring. Not quite sure what the elephant has to do with it</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdOYkXb9dk76jW39GUy1Sc5Zpn8o7zigfoyA0IMMlgQ09ifYIBr-MpNn3JNMbdIkKCj1ePKrySFRsfmVzMJqXlGqec6YSs-_AOtLqjJt_Z1LywYXX2LKjYSEdZOE_6ElIjkNbCVxDB71WSlD7lfY-k8qmkXBsD5dmMHcAOE6c3EURgBdO3muu4z5JIDB_L/s4080/IMG_20240215_174510.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="1780" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdOYkXb9dk76jW39GUy1Sc5Zpn8o7zigfoyA0IMMlgQ09ifYIBr-MpNn3JNMbdIkKCj1ePKrySFRsfmVzMJqXlGqec6YSs-_AOtLqjJt_Z1LywYXX2LKjYSEdZOE_6ElIjkNbCVxDB71WSlD7lfY-k8qmkXBsD5dmMHcAOE6c3EURgBdO3muu4z5JIDB_L/w175-h400/IMG_20240215_174510.jpg" width="175" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">A new wine brand with the eye on it's label </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Not cheap! Guarantee of a good vintage? Perhaps</span></div><br /><p><br /></p>local alienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586011850451326646noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6516133427486832064.post-29905725132914514552024-02-12T08:22:00.000-08:002024-02-12T08:22:02.340-08:00Medical Journeys<p><span style="font-size: large;">In the last 2 months I've had medical appointments in the small city of Nafplio. Nafplio used to be only an hour away but because of a rock fall, months ago, which blocked the main 'highway' we now have to climb up through mountain villages and come down a steep mountain road with endless hairpin bends. It takes about 45 minutes longer and is a tedious journey.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">There have been more rock falls, apparently, and the opening of the 'highway' which skirts the sea, avoiding the villages and cutting a journey to civilisation in half, doesn't seem to be on the horizon. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">To reach the city and make it in time for a morning appointment we have to be on one of the early car ferries and take our time climbing up through narrow roads.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">One of the appointments was early January and one of the worst days of winter. We were up early, unable to sleep before the journey, and decided to leave on the earlier car ferry to the mainland. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It was pouring with rain and poured all darn day. We dashed out, only to find a door and a window had been left open. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Our ghost, Baba Lazaros, or a human hand? </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The driver's seat was soaking wet. And of course we had a flat battery.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">There was weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth. And a bit of cursing. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">K, being a man who can fix anything, has a battery charger. He wired up the battery and we waited twenty minutes.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Great sighs of relief when the car started. We made the next car ferry, making sure to let the engine run, which is a usually forbidden when the ferry is at sea. It was wet and miserable and no-one cared. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">What a day . Besides the constant rain, there was fog once we got up into the mountains and negotiating those hairpin bends was nerve wracking (or racking, or even wrecking) . </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">That mountain road has half a dozen road-side shrines marking fatal accidents. Not something you want to see appearing out of the fog. A graphic reminder of the danger. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">But, we made the appointment. And, made an appointment for more tests another day. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">On the way home the fog had lifted but the car kept missing a beat.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The problems of having an old car. We drove home, an uneasy silence in the car till we got down to the plains before Poros. It was fixed a few days later. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">On our next trip to Nafplio for some gynecological tests it was a beautiful day. We even made it to the German giant Lidls for some shopping therapy, a few bottles of French sauv blanc and some decent sausages.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">However we had more problems with the car. The revs wouldn't go down when K took his foot off the accelerator. Another slow and uneasy return journey. Back to the mechanic it went the next day. Got that sorted out. Cross fingers, spit spit spit, it just passed the warranty test and is purring like a cat full of cream. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I've finally got a date for an operation. After 18 months, 2 years? So long I can't remember.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The sooner the better. Moving around is getting to be very uncomfortable and at times painful. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">They can remove all the non working bits of me they want. I'm having a hysterectomy. Hoorah. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The little white envelopes full of 'grease' are ready and waiting. </span></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2LpRcyrgM8uxVzlnq9uMzWQf6MHz74LocQu7ygdCeSngPfBDwcx79uoEePQppO8l-Qaf8ChLsSJBID_0cGQCFPVm4wjm5DX91dxo9C09-ztf5P01ZGe7MZhe7FqeXyvWaRJp6AAgBzRIoM7VMw_XG8s3rfreyt5eCIU4f9XIIIEmbikgLGEC62NJK2hUU/s660/limnoualasa6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="660" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2LpRcyrgM8uxVzlnq9uMzWQf6MHz74LocQu7ygdCeSngPfBDwcx79uoEePQppO8l-Qaf8ChLsSJBID_0cGQCFPVm4wjm5DX91dxo9C09-ztf5P01ZGe7MZhe7FqeXyvWaRJp6AAgBzRIoM7VMw_XG8s3rfreyt5eCIU4f9XIIIEmbikgLGEC62NJK2hUU/w400-h151/limnoualasa6.jpg" width="400" /></a>0</p><p><span style="font-size: large;">One of the joys of the journey. Flamingoes on a local estuary. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Another joy is the city of Nafplio. It's a smaller city surrounded by many ancient ruins, citadels and castles, a picturesque old town and a big twice weekly market. The coffee we have in the centre of the shopping district is almost half the price of a Poros coffee even though it's very touristy. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> K loves the traditional cafenion where the old men congregate. It's got good wine, an excellent selection of traditional snacks and it is right next to the hospital and cheap. I sit and people watch and look for photo opportunities. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Most of all we have to keep the boy happy. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">One sunny day when it's all over we shall have a pleasant outing in Nafplio, drinking capuccino in the old town, wandering through the market, taking a trip on the little tourist train and stopping at one of those mountain villages on the way home to eat grilled lamb chops. Says me. I don't think I'll ever get K on a little white train and he will definitely groan if I mention ancient ruins or a picturesque lane. Unless there's a good place to eat at the end of it. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Maybe I'll get to eat a platter of grilled lamb chops at a village taverna and appreciate small blessings and my good health. </span></p><br /><p><br /></p>local alienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586011850451326646noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6516133427486832064.post-53327410404491977222024-02-04T09:49:00.000-08:002024-02-04T09:49:37.151-08:00All For Poros Strays<p><span style="font-size: large;">Last weekend, before the storm hit, we had a book and bric a brac sale with proceeds going to feed stray cats and dogs and buy medicine for them .</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP8XtRFxl1QaubUfjYd5vj-J55SJ6fABVmoJ2UHPUwHUUBD6u_xMiRATJUwerHbwmpKLBGGsmjIeYgwPgmDyYbXvvAAzg3iH8YSTBV8a1rwn-G0ijFZb87p-nQsbjfAJVWZtjPgNiq_VV8qMXUnbk5kU57jAuuH-1VSprav5z5NFoYCAT78k7JU6V_s_ot/s4080/IMG_20240126_130040.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="1780" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP8XtRFxl1QaubUfjYd5vj-J55SJ6fABVmoJ2UHPUwHUUBD6u_xMiRATJUwerHbwmpKLBGGsmjIeYgwPgmDyYbXvvAAzg3iH8YSTBV8a1rwn-G0ijFZb87p-nQsbjfAJVWZtjPgNiq_VV8qMXUnbk5kU57jAuuH-1VSprav5z5NFoYCAT78k7JU6V_s_ot/w175-h400/IMG_20240126_130040.jpg" width="175" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">These 3 heroines, my daughters, brought 30 odd boxes full of heavy books down a steep flight of steps, loaded up the car and took them down to an office on the harbour. </span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsL7Ev5E04cc_Br-aE9tyaj5_7MaifbigfXHBw0SpXb_sdar7n-ws5UzjzjdzVKpOfsaQ7vPPoYGFe4jUaMuP1l1AEGn6n4WHhFV2aWknlEH1iEMtT-Jk6LU8eJTF30vXa405F3ro4mBbBzv-lHajJIQNCd1POHOmggE8TfKpd5yORYeFHdj5J0gN2E9xA/s4080/IMG_20240126_113018.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="1780" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsL7Ev5E04cc_Br-aE9tyaj5_7MaifbigfXHBw0SpXb_sdar7n-ws5UzjzjdzVKpOfsaQ7vPPoYGFe4jUaMuP1l1AEGn6n4WHhFV2aWknlEH1iEMtT-Jk6LU8eJTF30vXa405F3ro4mBbBzv-lHajJIQNCd1POHOmggE8TfKpd5yORYeFHdj5J0gN2E9xA/w175-h400/IMG_20240126_113018.jpg" width="175" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The books were from the private library of English friends of ours who are selling their house on Poros. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Their book shelves were full of books in very good condition, and a lot were complete sets. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Thanks Judy and Steve. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">There are still some beautiful hard backs up there. They were too heavy to haul around. Tomes of</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> cookery and sailing books, amongst others, full of lovely glossy photos. </span></div><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm1zYPeUA0lV5Bi-K2T45AbTIlgay10NQKJ0SRcBMlKtqIRpZ_6L913D5BTR9Lbj3Vo3wwmYtPXvYre5Ph39ry_BYdBc3AnOYS2AkMAECPcBfQ7GGbzsBiu8P_OjKj9orIDJBq-eylkZnfjR9LIK7ag_KENaMJ4zi1fOXr2Xl3J8-78r4a6oLJhvyFa6M1/s4080/IMG_20240127_103014.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="1780" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm1zYPeUA0lV5Bi-K2T45AbTIlgay10NQKJ0SRcBMlKtqIRpZ_6L913D5BTR9Lbj3Vo3wwmYtPXvYre5Ph39ry_BYdBc3AnOYS2AkMAECPcBfQ7GGbzsBiu8P_OjKj9orIDJBq-eylkZnfjR9LIK7ag_KENaMJ4zi1fOXr2Xl3J8-78r4a6oLJhvyFa6M1/w175-h400/IMG_20240127_103014.jpg" width="175" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This is Isis, our most efficient librarian. She spent one night sorting all those paperbacks into categories and authors and setting them out in the offices of Greek Sails. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">A bit different from her other job of skippering yachts!</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6vTyVzRY2ABotjWL99aublUApERq5CUm1xAW6Oec3TbLifpioi9RTHLnaDBsyWuYmgL6foF9h4dTk2SRwoQQwHqF6GYKl5arRyp4XQszwomLzsOr0aINfAoPZ5Whpm8aGyiEQki5dguKe21TCSpYSD-LgMStSrHRH2Rm8QuUfKTe4yTBgopi79uwDfMgz/s4080/IMG_20240127_110210.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="1780" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6vTyVzRY2ABotjWL99aublUApERq5CUm1xAW6Oec3TbLifpioi9RTHLnaDBsyWuYmgL6foF9h4dTk2SRwoQQwHqF6GYKl5arRyp4XQszwomLzsOr0aINfAoPZ5Whpm8aGyiEQki5dguKe21TCSpYSD-LgMStSrHRH2Rm8QuUfKTe4yTBgopi79uwDfMgz/w175-h400/IMG_20240127_110210.jpg" width="175" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">And Jan who organises fund raisers for local animals and does hands-on feeding and medicating. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Years ago she used to organise bazaars, real bazaars as only the English know how. We used to have such fun rummaging through racks of clothes, books and bric a brac. Then the Greeks took over. They have no idea how a bazaar works and probably can't imagine why anyone would want other's cast-offs. Their bazaars had little of interest and just died out. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTV-WVh7hSAOGtD9gF137UR2xsibCd5_-7vqp04pOK2mzUFGOYWFgV-XNBhFHGOIyoD6e-ZDpTJsroQBpZgXc8lByKqh7l2P2_boe0OIoDvVr1o8-ZwXmJcmXjbkniwywo-f-cNzmyb04iRJIrvNykaTSV5CohIuWQJacL-WkoI3PHgglNBfDo5X4p8uEo/s4080/IMG_20240128_134655.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="1780" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTV-WVh7hSAOGtD9gF137UR2xsibCd5_-7vqp04pOK2mzUFGOYWFgV-XNBhFHGOIyoD6e-ZDpTJsroQBpZgXc8lByKqh7l2P2_boe0OIoDvVr1o8-ZwXmJcmXjbkniwywo-f-cNzmyb04iRJIrvNykaTSV5CohIuWQJacL-WkoI3PHgglNBfDo5X4p8uEo/w175-h400/IMG_20240128_134655.jpg" width="175" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This is Rudi, one of the strays. He needs daily medication and has been adopted by Isis. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">He was the star of the day. Most people coming in knew his story and he lapped up a lot of attention</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFMvfod1pJSaADsq7C2RjvNm7UierJRmjqB12i2W9ScWvEuFO4c-SL4-ZUiy1o3RNFnr8-V7bd4nnNaRDJI-bThU1kQ0Af-DRDGGMtge1RS4EbJ5t-p5894VI3_2VG07qTZJuAcxL8mjvDfYjLuApdm7j5gcBgGMpdrDsV72u_iZm5I4jhrdSV6AL-w4fa/s4080/IMG_20240128_134630.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="1780" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFMvfod1pJSaADsq7C2RjvNm7UierJRmjqB12i2W9ScWvEuFO4c-SL4-ZUiy1o3RNFnr8-V7bd4nnNaRDJI-bThU1kQ0Af-DRDGGMtge1RS4EbJ5t-p5894VI3_2VG07qTZJuAcxL8mjvDfYjLuApdm7j5gcBgGMpdrDsV72u_iZm5I4jhrdSV6AL-w4fa/w175-h400/IMG_20240128_134630.jpg" width="175" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Cecile, another local alien, from Belgian, modelling this fine coat. She supplied the office space, and made coffee and a pot of spiced mulled wine which went down very well with the book browsers. </span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgefdeXHVgxOn8nds1VstrhTqlI_JINaImEgCHDdlMW3p0r8QRTtzqwDQzOZUk6uBi9-iJ3XGXKhGYIxalJsMtdhgBZ_w0TI-44KMQUqGfjDTDCyf26fOr2wBX1LtpwYgeDQ4_8SQYUC5GNmHVGiEXv2XN6Ou7p74TRkSV23Ti_RHFx2eQAT59RfP-z6sus/s4080/IMG_20240127_132323.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="1780" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgefdeXHVgxOn8nds1VstrhTqlI_JINaImEgCHDdlMW3p0r8QRTtzqwDQzOZUk6uBi9-iJ3XGXKhGYIxalJsMtdhgBZ_w0TI-44KMQUqGfjDTDCyf26fOr2wBX1LtpwYgeDQ4_8SQYUC5GNmHVGiEXv2XN6Ou7p74TRkSV23Ti_RHFx2eQAT59RfP-z6sus/w175-h400/IMG_20240127_132323.jpg" width="175" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">One of the white elephant stalls </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I bought 3 salad bowls. Do we really need anymore?? I keep complaining of the 12 we already have! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">These ones are smaller and fit better on a table already groaning with platters and plates. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN-uWIC4GH8NTle-uoRaBinepioTxQOJNyCODhL1LOp8YGt5_KlbH4cNaMex-oJPStKnOlorrtEEBIRvuYMa_yXOVXow6nxh6dGhm3_ll7Orn3FhnYEolHuJ2DdMllU4DhAc3qjY8edOiSXiUvg5fhN9kUjAe52z3BJ8_d8clrL3ggxhTdRBbdifr3K52K/s4080/IMG_20240127_121647.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="1780" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN-uWIC4GH8NTle-uoRaBinepioTxQOJNyCODhL1LOp8YGt5_KlbH4cNaMex-oJPStKnOlorrtEEBIRvuYMa_yXOVXow6nxh6dGhm3_ll7Orn3FhnYEolHuJ2DdMllU4DhAc3qjY8edOiSXiUvg5fhN9kUjAe52z3BJ8_d8clrL3ggxhTdRBbdifr3K52K/w175-h400/IMG_20240127_121647.jpg" width="175" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Cecile chatting in the sun. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">She's an excellent saleswoman, drawing in passers-by and showing off the wares. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I didn't leave with only books and salad bowls. But I would have if she hadn't presented all the other possibilities. I filled up the car with a small table, curtains, magazines, and a few other items. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJnZyYnih5XumO3G9P1bCoClcsQ3Vs-QZgE7ADSVYvzPcE5yYAOwaeJSblaSLglCg3C8TV985gvPi_xn8hwYnzNwAT8lSkalmLKnciUY8DMmou04lrNIFeKYqaFSjWtQ5hZ3fhQEcgFZ9yr8ZZO0hdhsMGGwsQZc2qoCF0WMUV_F5NPsovt01fXH6pquyk/s4080/IMG_20240128_130641.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="1780" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJnZyYnih5XumO3G9P1bCoClcsQ3Vs-QZgE7ADSVYvzPcE5yYAOwaeJSblaSLglCg3C8TV985gvPi_xn8hwYnzNwAT8lSkalmLKnciUY8DMmou04lrNIFeKYqaFSjWtQ5hZ3fhQEcgFZ9yr8ZZO0hdhsMGGwsQZc2qoCF0WMUV_F5NPsovt01fXH6pquyk/w175-h400/IMG_20240128_130641.jpg" width="175" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Jan and Rudi</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Note that fabulous hat!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">We all had a lot of fun besides raising funds. The sale went on for both Saturday and Sunday. They were the best 2 days I've had in a long time. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Isis and Cecile, mother and daughter, are an extremely capable duo and lots of fun too. Many of the English expats came by for a browse, a drink and a bit of chatter. Many were old friends and others just faces I see in the supermarket or on the road. Now I know their names as well. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />local alienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586011850451326646noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6516133427486832064.post-51572530696769354532024-01-30T03:44:00.000-08:002024-01-30T03:44:04.700-08:00Dawn?<p> <span style="font-size: large;">This latest storm sweeping through Greece has been named Αυγη, Dawn. It's the first major storm of the year so it starts with an A. Ok . How about Aglaia (a Muse), Ariadne (famous for helping Theseus escape the Minotaur) , Athena (Goddess of Wisdom and Warfare, Capitol of Greece), Aphrodite (Goddess of Love and Beauty). So many more interesting names, and those are only the female deities. There's Apollo (God of Music, Dance and Healing) , Aries (God of War). Then there are the ancient Greeks Aristotle, Alexander and Atlas.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">And, I've forgotten what I originally started to write about. It wasn't a lesson in ancient Greek.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I was going to complain about the name of this storm. What's Dawn (Avgi) got to do with it. But actually what have any of these storm names got to do with storms. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The British Met office says it's easier to follow the progress of a storm on tv, radio or social media if it has a name.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">They draw a name from a list submitted by the public. In years gone by they have used male and female names alternatively. This year they are using names of scientists, meteorologists and others 'who keep people safe in times of severe weather'. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">So there you have it, if you're British. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">In 2021 Greece, Cyprus and Israel formed an East Mediterranean storm naming group. The first storm name was Athena. Fair enough. She must be the most well known Greek, besides Helen of Troy, and is the Goddess of War.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">At the moment Avgi is bringing snow to northern suburbs of Athens and Northern Greece. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It's a quick storm system bringing a low, for us, of 7oC today. By Friday it will be 15o. So they say.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We are having intermittent rain and sunshine here in the hills of our Greek island. We are sitting in front of the TV seeing the havoc it's causing in other areas and enjoying the warmth of our wood fire. K has heated up his 'patsas', tripe soup, and I have some pork chops to cook on the wood oven.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">K is drinking raki and I have a glass of rosé.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Here's to a new day and a slightly warmer dawn tomorrow. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">30 January is the feast day of the three Hierarchs of the Orthodox church, St Basil the Great, St Gregory the Theologian, and St John Chrysostom. They are the saints of education and so it's a school holiday.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">My grandkids go to school in the morning and are taken en masse to church. At the end of the service, around 10am, they are free to go home or to go out for coffee with their friends .</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">If they don't go, to church, they have an absentee mark against them.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>local alienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586011850451326646noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6516133427486832064.post-42886618747845098282024-01-22T11:04:00.000-08:002024-01-22T11:04:55.301-08:00Glitches and Gardens<p> </p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Whoopee, K not only got the keyboard working but the computer no longer has that nasty glitch which added extra letters, turning for example, 'mobile' into 'mnob/ile'. I can type away happily once again. One problem. The computer room is in the old part of the house, built with breeze blocks. I can't sit there for long. It's freezing. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We have a dehumidifier going all day which reduces the moisture in the air and does raise the temperature a little. Still, it's not a room to linger in. </span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTPuF7y6Y8gCVRRsV8VYpF4Usm1YSuGRaze9ZZSGewOguOL-cXvbPCbj_s56Km0XC35AsQxnzMadTJmvxpyVKFNO3K_wyqtrcc0ihYWdMehMyv7ZgzLNa18E_LIGWFxl6_JH64YMKRaCw5uFBZNLfQlbIt9bmw_BryvcvgJer_NeKyKOLtX9e0p42ylexl/s4080/IMG_20240120_122044.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="1780" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTPuF7y6Y8gCVRRsV8VYpF4Usm1YSuGRaze9ZZSGewOguOL-cXvbPCbj_s56Km0XC35AsQxnzMadTJmvxpyVKFNO3K_wyqtrcc0ihYWdMehMyv7ZgzLNa18E_LIGWFxl6_JH64YMKRaCw5uFBZNLfQlbIt9bmw_BryvcvgJer_NeKyKOLtX9e0p42ylexl/w175-h400/IMG_20240120_122044.jpg" width="175" /></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Gratifying greenery in the front garden</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Some of the nasturtium leaves are as big as dinner plates. They are slowly starting to flower. Soon there will be a symphony of yellow and orange flowers.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUSaql3SiqwC1u16s842Dz3tpss9U6VnhrL5aoMUM0cs9APoPXDp28RphMmXd_4vrAQ9Q1SnXFvU-dty6CjNKxu0b_iyE0-BhzXuFb3ilM4YUXdTMcijcjdBJ7_EuZD7EvNkVk2xJSsJHVRcUZ2qAP4eTZNKgIOClhMoQ0BohZ6C7pIYuW6uA-uXmrqg2A/s4080/IMG_20240120_130055.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="1780" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUSaql3SiqwC1u16s842Dz3tpss9U6VnhrL5aoMUM0cs9APoPXDp28RphMmXd_4vrAQ9Q1SnXFvU-dty6CjNKxu0b_iyE0-BhzXuFb3ilM4YUXdTMcijcjdBJ7_EuZD7EvNkVk2xJSsJHVRcUZ2qAP4eTZNKgIOClhMoQ0BohZ6C7pIYuW6uA-uXmrqg2A/w175-h400/IMG_20240120_130055.jpg" width="175" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Primeval jungle in the back yard.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">You never know what junk is hiding in that knee high wilderness. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The yellow leafed tree is either a pear or an apricot. I hope it's just late changing leaf colour and not on its way out.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZK9aQxSlqEhGttoZLiOb1oE11IYv9zY9Y7gHqP1y6eBmjfdPqStjtNny4HXG3v5sV08lrGCKEsjjuPVmngGDzM3RTb2aui-IbFjkr4yJFamDmjkeI-v8mTlwxlXfofu3EN6xAuYkLc6xyIIrsoTRSO9rnvQAnji-nPZWK7FTyYurgvbF1-GmK1v5dqwmp/s1800/IMG-0187d24cd6706ef61154f18a477a98d1-V.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1013" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZK9aQxSlqEhGttoZLiOb1oE11IYv9zY9Y7gHqP1y6eBmjfdPqStjtNny4HXG3v5sV08lrGCKEsjjuPVmngGDzM3RTb2aui-IbFjkr4yJFamDmjkeI-v8mTlwxlXfofu3EN6xAuYkLc6xyIIrsoTRSO9rnvQAnji-nPZWK7FTyYurgvbF1-GmK1v5dqwmp/w225-h400/IMG-0187d24cd6706ef61154f18a477a98d1-V.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Healthy cauliflower grown on a balcony</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">My daughter Elli has green fingers.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu4Tgt6QSZoNRk-BuuaoQwp39SBokdphn8_geyC18OHhUzvF_xaMLqe4Ge6RFqvEKDTgD_8vbeOor8hs6mhDVmMNW5KDDqFS1uQ_SrRMpHpxgl3slAoQYQBDSUZZIE8juhf6MktVZMiR-gVw_HFM3gHX6M-sWBjnoxakLLpz4os_VmybTlIikBnoW4m6ZW/s1600/IMG-99913ab26aa732f2bde856d80c483bd0-V.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1012" data-original-width="1600" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu4Tgt6QSZoNRk-BuuaoQwp39SBokdphn8_geyC18OHhUzvF_xaMLqe4Ge6RFqvEKDTgD_8vbeOor8hs6mhDVmMNW5KDDqFS1uQ_SrRMpHpxgl3slAoQYQBDSUZZIE8juhf6MktVZMiR-gVw_HFM3gHX6M-sWBjnoxakLLpz4os_VmybTlIikBnoW4m6ZW/w400-h253/IMG-99913ab26aa732f2bde856d80c483bd0-V.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">My pitiful specimen, planted in the garden, ravaged by caterpillars, brown and dry before it's had time to mature</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>local alienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586011850451326646noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6516133427486832064.post-33104630721246510102024-01-19T10:28:00.000-08:002024-01-20T03:53:18.170-08:00Mid Winter<p><span style="font-size: large;">Midwinter. One of my favourite times of the year. Any time but midsummer is my favourite time. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Some days are cold, some days are warm and sunny. Today it's 19o, 9o at the weekend and then we will have a week or two of Halcyon days with warm breezes and sunshiney days. Halcyon days are usual in January, normally a week or so of calm seas and blue skies towards the end of the month.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">My viking-blooded daughter and grand-daughter went swimming yesterday. I think it would be heart attack time if I even poked my big toe in the sea just now.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLPi1aFl296Tq4CzRYywub8WICZ6V-nBsUqHogKOtbt_wEGHlyIlkrgSHW6NadPpZZGxcwSJGLiNXrKirJREzVPAvsNJsoBCzGSV6A61leoZbuzTQTfNS4yjVUpZ1mY4YixxSgLalMmMPwwC1T2j5oPPRx4BWTA2NjB3uPI6Hy4iFWbrMfL16tXAWTCPRU/s4080/IMG_20240119_132730.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="1780" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLPi1aFl296Tq4CzRYywub8WICZ6V-nBsUqHogKOtbt_wEGHlyIlkrgSHW6NadPpZZGxcwSJGLiNXrKirJREzVPAvsNJsoBCzGSV6A61leoZbuzTQTfNS4yjVUpZ1mY4YixxSgLalMmMPwwC1T2j5oPPRx4BWTA2NjB3uPI6Hy4iFWbrMfL16tXAWTCPRU/w175-h400/IMG_20240119_132730.jpg" width="175" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Green, green, my world is green </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The nasturtiums and clover are almost knee high.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">On a sunny morning I throw the shutters open and breathe in the crisp fresh air. Green is good. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2fgb6QlNRconCE8dUcz8Xex2SMawaGywiimh8ey-WQREL6rpDbzAlbhO7xZbk5xvjI9ZpzY9YH8EFeeSLjx3us8qoV8c7TjQVXdCw-QPJRLPlCl38c0ijVpDtoM_NrwXXGV0R7DhWkiVSqOwXsoxu5vlHtP09pcR7IsxeL_VTFeoKLg5EpKDfnlWhk1sa/s4080/IMG_20240119_105657.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="1780" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2fgb6QlNRconCE8dUcz8Xex2SMawaGywiimh8ey-WQREL6rpDbzAlbhO7xZbk5xvjI9ZpzY9YH8EFeeSLjx3us8qoV8c7TjQVXdCw-QPJRLPlCl38c0ijVpDtoM_NrwXXGV0R7DhWkiVSqOwXsoxu5vlHtP09pcR7IsxeL_VTFeoKLg5EpKDfnlWhk1sa/w175-h400/IMG_20240119_105657.jpg" width="175" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Our second tonne of wood (the back of a pick up truck piled high) was delivered yesterday.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Olive and Carob wood.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Hopefully we will have enough wood till the beginning of March.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVC_RhA5J7m1AkngPGtFjV9k66uzaZRTAWm6waAcNeIrBfvyPQrsHGfC5mCks4hhkkvsmPScS9hEqAoeMWhjxpASilLzd93GH7-ckSLXtua0M0J-hlLKKcKv7thRkw1AUbOUPWS5qIjynAHpnvSb7qoIAOu8uQ0qZs9K6jAtC-dE2Ej1i_9RTHELu5a9v1/s4080/IMG_20240119_131840.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="1780" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVC_RhA5J7m1AkngPGtFjV9k66uzaZRTAWm6waAcNeIrBfvyPQrsHGfC5mCks4hhkkvsmPScS9hEqAoeMWhjxpASilLzd93GH7-ckSLXtua0M0J-hlLKKcKv7thRkw1AUbOUPWS5qIjynAHpnvSb7qoIAOu8uQ0qZs9K6jAtC-dE2Ej1i_9RTHELu5a9v1/w175-h400/IMG_20240119_131840.jpg" width="175" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Thanks to another blog...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">https://flissandmax.blogspot.com</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I was reminded that it's marmalade time. In our backyard jungle we have an orange tree, a mandarine tree, a grapefruit and a bitter orange.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">After reading her blog post I ventured out in my slippers to pick some fruit. The bitter oranges (Seville?) are still small and green but I managed to find a few oranges and mandarines . The darn mandarines have more pips than juice. A variety from days gone by. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It's dangerous out there in the jungle. The weeds are so lush I can't see where I'm stepping. I managed the harvest thank goodness without falling face first into the primeval tangle.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Marmalade is done and dusted</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I went and got, what I hope is my last vaccination. In Greek it's called 'erpes ostiras' and thanks to Google translation I discovered it's for shingles.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">There has been a campaign for over 60s to get vaccinated against it and one of Ks friends had a nasty, painful dose which lasted for months.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The campaign has been very successful because there's a shortage of the vaccine. We waited for 2 months till our friendly chemist found a supply.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I hope it's the last 'shot' I have for quite a while. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">My daughter drove me down and escorted me to have the vaccination. While I was being injected she perused the shelves. Did you know caster oil is very good for encouraging growth of eyelashes and eyebrows? And for dry skin. And you don't have to drink the stuff. You just spray it on. My granddaughter will tell us if it works.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Our big computer is playing up. I bought a brush to clean the keyboard and now the keyboard doesn't work. It's got some damn virus anyway. Every time I wrote an email it added extra letters. Every B was followed by an N, every P by an / . My nerves were so much on edge I had to have a stiff whisky. Johnny Walker, with 45% alcohol. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The car has been across to the mainland for a new water tank and spark plugs. Next thing on the list will be a new computer. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">One of my pastimes is writing and that computer is a necessity .</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Cheers Big Ears</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> <p></p>local alienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586011850451326646noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6516133427486832064.post-15763890055512740992024-01-15T08:17:00.000-08:002024-01-15T08:17:27.239-08:00Stuffing<p><span style="font-size: large;">Christmas has come and gone but a good old Sunday roast can be eaten all year round. I thought I'd tell you what I discovered about stuffing. </span></p><p> <span style="font-size: large;">Yes, good old sage and onion stuffing.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">For years we ate pork (at the Greek end of the table) and stuffed turkey (down the other end) for Xmas lunch. Alongside a table-full of other edible goodies. .</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The turkey was a french one, deep frozen with a pop-up thermometer. Cheap and cheery. All the big supermarkets sold them at that time of the year. 3 euros a kilo. And the turkey was around 3 kilos. K tried to persuade us to buy a local one, sold with head and feet, nasty black feathers under the wings. No way!!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Seeing them hanging by the neck in the butcher's shop, with drooping naked bodies and horrid yellow thorny toes was enough to put me off turkey for life.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Our french turkey, like an oversized chook, was stuffed with traditional stuffing, breadcrumbs, lots of onion, a pinch of sage and a little oregano and mint, and maybe an egg. Very nice. And I always made an egg and lemon soup with the carcass.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> But really we all preferred chicken. So chicken it was for a few years . Stuffed the same way. Carcass made into soup.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Once the kids grew up we ventured into new realms. The 'foreign' side of the Greek family did anyway.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Stuffed chicken roll. Deboned chicken stuffed with ham, cheese and peppers. Since then we have stuck with this. Everyone, even a few Greeks, love it. We order it by the kilo ready rolled and stuffed. No fuss, cooks quickly. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">One problem. You can't stuff a chicken roll. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I discovered Americans made pan stuffing, for some strange reason called dressing. Everyone loves stuffing so I made a large dish full. The first year it was ok, but it got better with every try. Plenty to eat and take home.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This year I discovered the Brits make things called stuffing balls. I made a few of these to go with the dish of sage and onion dressing. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">They were a huge hit! Next year I'll double the recipe.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The Brits do a roast dinner best. Spuds, crisp on the outside, soft inside. Yorkshire puds. A good gravy to bind it all together and a few brussel sprouts to give a bit of colour.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We also roast large pieces of orange sweet potato . In our house it's called 'kumara'. Kumara is the name of the sweet potato brought to NZ by the Maori a thousand years ago from the Pacific Islands. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I could buy fresh parsnips from the British shop in Athens but my friend Jan and I are the only ones who have ever eaten a parsnip, and know the taste, so I don't bother. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Do pigs in blankets go with a traditional roast dinner? Small sausages wrapped in bacon for the uninitiated. They appeal to me as an accompaniment but they might be too fussy to put together. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">What else does everyone eat with roast meat?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p> </p>local alienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586011850451326646noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6516133427486832064.post-87362529562991092292024-01-10T08:28:00.000-08:002024-01-10T08:30:08.934-08:009 or 7?<p> <span style="font-size: large;">There is an ancient proverb that says:</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">'A cat has 9 lives. For 3 he plays, for 3 he strays and for the last 3 he stays'</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">In NZ, Australia, the UK or the USA, cats, so it goes, have 9 lives.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">In Greece, Spain and Germany, cats, they say, have only 7 lives.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">In Turkey and some of the Middle East they have only 6 lives.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Cats are supposed to always land on their feet . They're extremely agile, sail through the air to land on a roof, or the top of your bookcase. They squeeze into small spaces, wriggle under our screen door to explore interesting smells in our rubbish bin, survive seemingly fatal accidents, climb tall trees and jump from great heights. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Cats do usually land on four feet . They have the ability to twist in midair, have very good balance and a 6th sense</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Cats survive. Mostly</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Just had covid for the second time. Not much going on around here.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Snowing in the hills north of Athens.</span></p><p><br /></p>local alienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586011850451326646noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6516133427486832064.post-29400833455405950012024-01-03T07:33:00.000-08:002024-01-03T07:54:42.130-08:00New Year<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">There are 10,001 New Year's traditions here, at least.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here are a few we followed this year. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghbSGYzxnHQ1IK-M3t9U2aiA4aHgSvA0JTrR1hr0ugnXPYrV5lPgY77jRpBSM7IdfBGrN4xRZDKt9BbU__vviNBkXbzQCdFyshhMiutxJOZ-F5IYu9DsugXg6zxcnMPg3nmDYxBclFQHBwL4EDsy4aLGiQ7U92metgub9-B1LaUGquyf31ZWMcxgFGgQfy/s3984/IMG_20220130_155433.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3984" data-original-width="1840" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghbSGYzxnHQ1IK-M3t9U2aiA4aHgSvA0JTrR1hr0ugnXPYrV5lPgY77jRpBSM7IdfBGrN4xRZDKt9BbU__vviNBkXbzQCdFyshhMiutxJOZ-F5IYu9DsugXg6zxcnMPg3nmDYxBclFQHBwL4EDsy4aLGiQ7U92metgub9-B1LaUGquyf31ZWMcxgFGgQfy/w185-h400/IMG_20220130_155433.jpg" width="185" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Hanging a squill, big wild bulb, on the front gate</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It was given to us all wrapped, beribboned and with a loop to hang it up.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I've got to the stage of 'if it's not easy then forget it.'</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It symbolises wealth and growth, so they say. Heaven knows why.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I'm all for a bit of wealth coming my way. It can hang there till it doesn't .</span></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH-ODZ1N971D5DTJ_CFNVWYiU2-SkgTERznWERPcA-168v3W7JKcycDDbypcMw7V0Wqj3qSPZTUU2nXMbLpJLYseabf7qbPYBhbNSWZ2jbu30mMxgCrHqG2QNeX75SY1QvlyXgdZOAHZ-OwatMqlbFjl1PH8cvFz4w1s08X37w099UNoMJwLvSzg45Vori/s4080/IMG_20240101_085947.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="1780" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH-ODZ1N971D5DTJ_CFNVWYiU2-SkgTERznWERPcA-168v3W7JKcycDDbypcMw7V0Wqj3qSPZTUU2nXMbLpJLYseabf7qbPYBhbNSWZ2jbu30mMxgCrHqG2QNeX75SY1QvlyXgdZOAHZ-OwatMqlbFjl1PH8cvFz4w1s08X37w099UNoMJwLvSzg45Vori/w175-h400/IMG_20240101_085947.jpg" width="175" /></a></div></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Our poor little pomegranate. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The first footer goes out and smashes the pomegranate against the door. The more the seeds spread out the more luck will come to the household.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The pomegranate (rodi in Greek) was left over from the Christmas coleslaw. I got out the carving knife and made big cuts in the top so it would explode all over the place. Only it didn't explode . It was more of an im-plode.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">It was rotten inside. A few seeds did spill out. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">It was lucky for me. No big mess to clean up this year.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Who really believes in this stuff anyway.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNjEoPdgD_4IjNu_z0YsLPAkhXdq5Qxs-aYkhoRdZ4w7Wj8xqxwfsaweYAwjAYiFQUhmG4RWzyD5a-UHMbI_mbvmOKe_wiwIYzRvimfrjxFRtiGcivsfU8qs_MOzvElEbGjX219XY2O0lsXPlQqLHDd0lb7eNypDGWof1no9auw3qzygN_N_Bk9hd8zzyL/s1800/IMG-e8c60f17bc61a7f8dcb7fad1304e7839-V.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1350" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNjEoPdgD_4IjNu_z0YsLPAkhXdq5Qxs-aYkhoRdZ4w7Wj8xqxwfsaweYAwjAYiFQUhmG4RWzyD5a-UHMbI_mbvmOKe_wiwIYzRvimfrjxFRtiGcivsfU8qs_MOzvElEbGjX219XY2O0lsXPlQqLHDd0lb7eNypDGWof1no9auw3qzygN_N_Bk9hd8zzyL/w300-h400/IMG-e8c60f17bc61a7f8dcb7fad1304e7839-V.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Vassilopita, sweet New Years cake, made by Elli. Really good and beautifully decorated . I forgot about meat eating and ate a big piece of this, and a few chocolates too.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Vassilopita has a coin in it and naturally the person who gets the slice with the coin is guaranteed a year of good luck.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The slices are cut, the first for the house and fields (what fields), the 2nd for the Virgin Mary and then slices are cut for the oldest in the family, going down to the youngest, dogs, cats and the hamster.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">K was the lucky one this year.</span></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDsKwPLqr378EqUv6LOtRaFZ6A8PoIj937jMe7onn0EkxDwWABilwisy_91YRiJ64gmvoxzU20T0j8ukoRSkbe_XKvQvUQsNH9ODCUcKaowoPLdtvFIkGmTnx-YK7b7bHesWvGokeW1QO0GKzNyMQcOKSnPrMCOpUuxbv2BPxSao3_OklTC_GnRzxjUpLu/s4080/IMG_20240101_131651.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="1780" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDsKwPLqr378EqUv6LOtRaFZ6A8PoIj937jMe7onn0EkxDwWABilwisy_91YRiJ64gmvoxzU20T0j8ukoRSkbe_XKvQvUQsNH9ODCUcKaowoPLdtvFIkGmTnx-YK7b7bHesWvGokeW1QO0GKzNyMQcOKSnPrMCOpUuxbv2BPxSao3_OklTC_GnRzxjUpLu/w175-h400/IMG_20240101_131651.jpg" width="175" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">At lunch the New Years bread was cut the same way by our son-in-law. Bread made by K, a great success.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Guess who found the coin. The Patriarch of our Greek family found it again. 2 out of 2.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">What with wild onion bulbs, pomegranates and lucky coins he's in for one helluva year. I hope some of this luck and wealth rubs off onto me.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I'd better be an obedient Greek wife this year, walk 2 paces behind him and nod my head at his wise words . I'm Laughing Out Loud </span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYIWCfYqR_MD4cCC3fQdg-lCjf1VEfW0H8yNw_HM4L8AH5rK4wyCdhdTF-rWlS5BXB-OD6qgUGgP8V5y_XY0RL6offh5nZaKBjQZ-eAMMEmsg1yHsS-Vpt6aJIjD2AA3rm-kuQ8keo-R22LgZZj33u8LZdjd-MG0AYSjnbmg5hoM96wUzSWWCNpD9N3lZD/s2164/IMG_20240103_173626.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2164" data-original-width="1777" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYIWCfYqR_MD4cCC3fQdg-lCjf1VEfW0H8yNw_HM4L8AH5rK4wyCdhdTF-rWlS5BXB-OD6qgUGgP8V5y_XY0RL6offh5nZaKBjQZ-eAMMEmsg1yHsS-Vpt6aJIjD2AA3rm-kuQ8keo-R22LgZZj33u8LZdjd-MG0AYSjnbmg5hoM96wUzSWWCNpD9N3lZD/w329-h400/IMG_20240103_173626.jpg" width="329" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">There is the coin wrapped in silver paper at the bottom of the slice of bread. His win, fair and square. The next slice was mine. Out of luck this time Linda.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8i0maJKiDz4MnkRHX0wwHRvOiTlqHw7wRbyuqm6HHKFqtWe1j6Qri0w2QCe3M1iiFsZAtf90mH3W5Smzl9tYrwW9ciXfC23wuXkSOhpYzLCshWIWj_QPsjcxXLpQa9t5aCjrdGVff6N0Du2BtjDnwAzv4d3FvyYan9Pot8S3P1_apCY7vqeJEo1uVazpV/s4080/IMG_20240101_151247.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="1780" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8i0maJKiDz4MnkRHX0wwHRvOiTlqHw7wRbyuqm6HHKFqtWe1j6Qri0w2QCe3M1iiFsZAtf90mH3W5Smzl9tYrwW9ciXfC23wuXkSOhpYzLCshWIWj_QPsjcxXLpQa9t5aCjrdGVff6N0Du2BtjDnwAzv4d3FvyYan9Pot8S3P1_apCY7vqeJEo1uVazpV/w175-h400/IMG_20240101_151247.jpg" width="175" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">And here he is.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Man of the Year for 2024</span></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span> <p></p></div>local alienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586011850451326646noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6516133427486832064.post-59228759084920618312023-12-31T07:57:00.000-08:002023-12-31T09:14:15.952-08:00Saint Basil's On the Way<p><span style="font-size: large;">January 1st is Saint Basil's Day. He was known for caring for the poor and bringing gifts to underprivileged children. He thus became the Greek Santa Claus. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">He'll be bringing presents to Greek boys and girls tomorrow, although most have already opened their presents. They rip them open the moment their godmother, aunt or fond Mama brings them through the door.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I doubt he will come by sleigh pulled by reindeer and slip down the chimney. Somehow I think that is a Western myth.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixkpOzS7K1ySNdqS8ZS5C4gqDTQI7AMivJW7raDCWu988W82gbSn-DpLBjYB35PZP0NILLuI8e-tzPOr-vyzevF2Bsqrmey-bO5WMpuFAMXqxRg7hUd2tYqwAGVJRZZVZ6uN-NBfmkOWDcqLRVu5YD9OeAHNlRUS0xHmT-HZPjpsfRQg87nh9Xjq-cR-Hj/s4080/IMG_20231231_174257.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="1780" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixkpOzS7K1ySNdqS8ZS5C4gqDTQI7AMivJW7raDCWu988W82gbSn-DpLBjYB35PZP0NILLuI8e-tzPOr-vyzevF2Bsqrmey-bO5WMpuFAMXqxRg7hUd2tYqwAGVJRZZVZ6uN-NBfmkOWDcqLRVu5YD9OeAHNlRUS0xHmT-HZPjpsfRQg87nh9Xjq-cR-Hj/w175-h400/IMG_20231231_174257.jpg" width="175" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The New Years bread is made. The loaf has a euro coin hidden in it. It will be cut up for New Years lunch. Whoever finds the coin will have a lucky year. So tradition says.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We actually watched the countdown to New Year in NZ on the 1 o'clock news. That was the days excitement.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Now we are waiting for New Year to ring in here in Greece. Will I be awake at midnight? Depends on what television has to offer. Last year I think I went to bed at 10.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">- Some 'jokes' from the Christmas crackers. Only they weren't jokes and they weren't written in Greek. On one side of the slip of paper it was English and the other side looked like Chinese. Probably was.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The crackers did contain the expected paper hat and small plastic toy both of which were discarded immediately. It was all about the big bang when we pulled them, holding them around the table.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">- How many animals have stars on Hollywood Boulevard?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">2 - Lassie and RinTinTin</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">- What smell is most recognized by North American adults?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Coffee</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">.........................................</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Wishing you all a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous 2024.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Peace Over All</span></p><p><br /></p>local alienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586011850451326646noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6516133427486832064.post-31521455004516004512023-12-29T07:30:00.000-08:002023-12-29T07:53:09.557-08:00Chatter<p> - <span style="font-size: large;">Today was 'pay the monthly bills day'. All online nowadays. It sure is easier than standing for an hour in the bank. Usually it's a smooth procedure but often there are hiccups. Mostly our fault but the computer and the internet connection are also problematic.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Our phone bill has suddenly increased by 30 euros for no apparent reason. K phoned to politely demand the reason why. Seems we have been receiving messages from 5 digit numbers which we have to pay for, all unnoticed by us. One of those messages was from overseas and cost us almost all of that 30 euros. WT hell. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We haven't been warned of these at all. No messages from the phone company. No reports on tv.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We have now blocked all messages from 5 digit senders.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">- I'm finished with Christmas. If I could I would hide it away in boxes till next year. I have been quietly removing little extras. Remaining are our boats with lights, the Christmas tree and strings of lights along the fence. Someone else is in charge of lights.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">- All my downunder family are in NZ this Christmas. Thank goodness for Whatsap, photos and instant communication .</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I got a phone call from them at Christmas and met all the younger generation via the video phone, exchanged greetings with nieces and nephews, talked of this and that with my brother . Modern communication is amazing. When I first came to Greece I had to go to the telephone company to make an overseas call. I stood in line waiting for a free booth and many was the time I woke my parents at 4am because I had no idea of the time difference .</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Now I have the current time for Auckland, Perth and London just by clicking onto the google clock. And phone calls are free no matter how long I talk. Once upon a time I would watch the seconds tick by and hear the drachma mounting up. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Photos of families, eating, drinking and playing back in the colonies are giving me much joy.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">- K has a new toy. A treadmill. We had one for many years. He bought it after his heart attack and for a few months walked enthusiastically every day, noting his kilometres and his heart rate. Then the novelty wore off. As it does. I walked on it on and off over the ensuing years till it finally expired a year or so ago. A friend of his, another heart attack survivor, was getting rid of his treadmill. Or the wife was. Treadmills take up too much space in these small Greek houses. Now it is taking up space in our house. He has used it twice.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I continue walking outside. Hey ho.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">- I got some very nice presents this Christmas. My Secret Santa gave me a bottle of 0% alcohol gin. Many would say, why drink gin, or wine, or anything alcoholic if there's no alcohol involved ? Well, since I've lost a lot of weight I've had to virtually stop drinking. One glass of wine and I'm tottering even more than normal. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The gin tastes exactly the same to me. All the taste without the totter. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I received a bottle of Prosecco rosé too. That is not alcohol free. I shall wait to share it with a daughter or a friend. Or better still, with both. Good wine and good company we all know makes for memorable moments.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I also received packets of seeds. One of the packets is for all year round lettuce. I see in England it is recommended to plant from March to August, their summer. I shall start them in February I think and plant before the 'big heat' here.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> Another present was a purple cauliflower which is being turned into cauliflower-cheese soup.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1FEKy-9Ceikzfqw598RHQiKbSabUjJA-AgD6eXMY6ipFGO3ZqMES44yBTT83KD4iQmcSn0QGJ0fGdA7IcyZH_RhpSd_ETJAsdDc6FbYZ5u0-z0ltm12d6agVIDlfueYhbGnWIXfX1-dlr_dFmGKbGx561xAI9qYUkPwq8XaYa1kDqa4-eMua53C9ctKhH/s2868/IMG_20231229_170900.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2868" data-original-width="1780" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1FEKy-9Ceikzfqw598RHQiKbSabUjJA-AgD6eXMY6ipFGO3ZqMES44yBTT83KD4iQmcSn0QGJ0fGdA7IcyZH_RhpSd_ETJAsdDc6FbYZ5u0-z0ltm12d6agVIDlfueYhbGnWIXfX1-dlr_dFmGKbGx561xAI9qYUkPwq8XaYa1kDqa4-eMua53C9ctKhH/w249-h400/IMG_20231229_170900.jpg" width="249" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Elli was told, when buying the cauliflower that if you put lemon juice on it the purple would turn red.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I sacrificed a corner of my cauliflower.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">She was right.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The corner turned pink. No doubt if I had squeezed more lemon it would have turned to a darker red.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Greeks love oil and lemon juice on their vegetables. I prefer plain salt and pepper. </span></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>local alienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586011850451326646noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6516133427486832064.post-71979775456323050682023-12-27T09:17:00.000-08:002023-12-27T22:36:30.441-08:00St Stephens Day<p><span style="font-size: large;">26th of December is a public holiday in Greece but is a day of no importance. I see that elsewhere it is St Stephens day. Him of 'Good King Wenceslas once came out on the feast of Stephen'.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">In the Orthodox church, the western Orthodox church, however, St Stephen is celebrated on the 27th December, not the 26th. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">On the 26th we put most leftover-leftovers in tupperware bowls (as all plastic bowls here are called) and stashed them in the freezer. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The girls had taken most of the extra food with them on Christmas night and we sent away a couple of guests with enough rations to last them till New Year. No-one went hungry and K kept face.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We then went down to the waterfront to find a sunny spot for coffee. The harbour was an unusual sight. There were few cars, fewer people, parking spaces everywhere, even in the middle of town. It almost hurt to drive past and and not use those empty spaces. So much choice and no need to park. A once a year phenomenon.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We found a table in an empty but sunny square and had a glass of wine instead of coffee. The next table filled with K's acquaintances and he had a few hours of conversation while I surfed the net and fretted because there was nothing at all interesting to take photos of.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Nothing of interest to write about.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">A few more words about Christmas Day. It was an organised chaos. Everything got cooked. The yorkshire puds rose and browned as they should, the brussel sprouts were not overcooked and mushy. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We finally found fresh brussel sprouts. Tiny wee things, cleaned one by one by Elli. Another vegetable affected by this summer and autumn's strange growing season.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The stuffing was the best I've ever made. I'll write another post on the stuffing. We had a deboned chicken roll ready stuffed with ham and cheese, red peppers and tomatoes. The sage and onion stuffing was cooked separately. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The gravy, made from scratch by Elli from a Jamie Oliver recipe and the tear'n share garlic bread also from Jamie was finger licking good.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Kumara (sweet potato) and smashed potatoes. Thanks Danae .</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">There were 3 dishes of pork. Pork roast with crackling, roast pork and potatoes without fat and skin and wild pig stewed with onions.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Son in law Kyriakos expertly carved all the meat. He's our go-to-man for meat. At easter he debones any leftover lamb so everyone can take home ready-to-eat sliced meat.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgxN-65tOz5h9vLfIpSoPjnOyNT4gI5r12axqbc9R59umIc2madHtXDuKaw158l7BiyP1ldQpKlj6gXgCTT-QgjIWlV4P36KkObrzxBH1RCIceRJl_52FHwYh1ebHPOMXmCSzY24BrpM2QJHUy88m4wqGuQ7OvLsujFgzHymC1gFGElagZx577k10_6kXc/s4080/IMG_20231225_151313.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="1780" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgxN-65tOz5h9vLfIpSoPjnOyNT4gI5r12axqbc9R59umIc2madHtXDuKaw158l7BiyP1ldQpKlj6gXgCTT-QgjIWlV4P36KkObrzxBH1RCIceRJl_52FHwYh1ebHPOMXmCSzY24BrpM2QJHUy88m4wqGuQ7OvLsujFgzHymC1gFGElagZx577k10_6kXc/w175-h400/IMG_20231225_151313.jpg" width="175" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Other son in law, Yiannis, washes dishes and scrubs baking dishes. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Useful sons in law! Thanks boys.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">There was a coleslaw disaster. The glass salad bowl was put on the big table and the table was set, by Luli, with Xmas crackers on each plate. As the wine glasses were artistically arranged by Poppi one hit the salad bowl and broke, leaving glass shards on the table cloth and .... maybe in the coleslaw bowl. So it all went in the rubbish and grand-daughter Nels made another one. Our expert carver carved up another bowl of cabbage. We had all the ingredients, pomegranate seeds, red apple, grated carrot and balsamic vinegar for an excellent sauce. I think the 2nd turned out better than the first.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwZWprbr2octJh3yK6l9NuGFmQCeamRmRnG4DiaEhzaqDXPCYH97xsygqqLF0GEKzvdoSapMdhdAk7A1fUlBRy23wh1QsWczxJCzZzgNV2PlPKuvmQKXmL1pWs_MYLiNi0jV9H6fi8UscpnlQ-mEtrTFb0uouFm1RlHAsUt7dj5tNGhO_own5c9SVjfgjw/s3007/IMG_20231227_190156.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3007" data-original-width="1718" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwZWprbr2octJh3yK6l9NuGFmQCeamRmRnG4DiaEhzaqDXPCYH97xsygqqLF0GEKzvdoSapMdhdAk7A1fUlBRy23wh1QsWczxJCzZzgNV2PlPKuvmQKXmL1pWs_MYLiNi0jV9H6fi8UscpnlQ-mEtrTFb0uouFm1RlHAsUt7dj5tNGhO_own5c9SVjfgjw/w229-h400/IMG_20231227_190156.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Pudding was a chocolate log made for me by a friend and colleague of my daughter. Totally unexpected and so welcome and so scrumptious. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It was all a lot of work but well worth it.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">There was time to sit and chat, have a cigarette in the sun, take the dogs for a walk. Glasses were filled and emptied. Children, young adults, had Christmas stockings to rummage in, maybe for the last time. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Today was clean up the house day. Cleaning the floors mainly and washing tablecloths and t-towels, re-arranging chairs and setting cushions straight.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Christmas is over. New Year will be much quieter. </span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />local alienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586011850451326646noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6516133427486832064.post-77526204987899308232023-12-25T09:39:00.000-08:002023-12-25T09:39:57.293-08:00Christmas Day<p> <span style="font-size: large;">Happy name day anyone named Christos or Christina.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">A very Merry Xmas was had by all in our house. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWci1-5CwWqQkaNQKkxgq6GHoAUlhGX18oPG1161DONbf-Qbqr0E240NNNNkwbcsMkI4FMElXMqZ6tF-JVLgZWw9bgTtBhHKVeLvZBbGSPlnqDR0T3yUnrUiazdRTS1p76B7lSg33zGM-oJrtx830GXnJClFLua1sGxg35EiIt0yD-npT4enZ-R2PcwZXl/s3952/IMG_20231225_145839.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3952" data-original-width="1530" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWci1-5CwWqQkaNQKkxgq6GHoAUlhGX18oPG1161DONbf-Qbqr0E240NNNNkwbcsMkI4FMElXMqZ6tF-JVLgZWw9bgTtBhHKVeLvZBbGSPlnqDR0T3yUnrUiazdRTS1p76B7lSg33zGM-oJrtx830GXnJClFLua1sGxg35EiIt0yD-npT4enZ-R2PcwZXl/w155-h400/IMG_20231225_145839.jpg" width="155" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">We were all good little children and Santa visited with a sack full of goodies</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhghe4vkEFODMPTpsQkNcp3gX6ygn7L0k-PL98tQp4-yIC8bAuqxXLDNEPc0BJlycaaHqUDgj-vWvSI936-K5sm0jBrbghYNq0DRzPuq3D2SfNy_N-4IwcwtZ2_5I1J3QI_awLWog3qRUE9myvS9acoWihGBZkQ0ri72qTaLawKfztQPrzha7nRo77ynR8r/s4080/IMG_20231225_144649.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="1780" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhghe4vkEFODMPTpsQkNcp3gX6ygn7L0k-PL98tQp4-yIC8bAuqxXLDNEPc0BJlycaaHqUDgj-vWvSI936-K5sm0jBrbghYNq0DRzPuq3D2SfNy_N-4IwcwtZ2_5I1J3QI_awLWog3qRUE9myvS9acoWihGBZkQ0ri72qTaLawKfztQPrzha7nRo77ynR8r/w175-h400/IMG_20231225_144649.jpg" width="175" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Secret Santas </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Screams of delight </span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4o9gCSoXYuquvxD_8_iv4eJ6q05vxqCr06ah4_yXJ56JSe1MeIWyHnkraxlj5NAia6r-YLFDeK56jvAQ7871pg4P7alHsmKhdtWrzJWpaQCUu2J7ZGK7JDqNtF9zjJ5ef0jZ_NBYUuVZcmjB80aQ2FPJf3_ePVMfR6OEg_jYg4uSUqfxUJW6-Q9SY-0aV/s1600/IMG-977b1b1518ebc4b57dccac6962f8e601-V.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4o9gCSoXYuquvxD_8_iv4eJ6q05vxqCr06ah4_yXJ56JSe1MeIWyHnkraxlj5NAia6r-YLFDeK56jvAQ7871pg4P7alHsmKhdtWrzJWpaQCUu2J7ZGK7JDqNtF9zjJ5ef0jZ_NBYUuVZcmjB80aQ2FPJf3_ePVMfR6OEg_jYg4uSUqfxUJW6-Q9SY-0aV/w300-h400/IMG-977b1b1518ebc4b57dccac6962f8e601-V.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">A table full of goodness</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Yorkshire puds, the stuffing, tear n share garlic bread, the gravy, brussel sprouts, smashed spuds, kumara and the stuffed deboned chicken, all the important stuff, were the best we had ever cooked.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Washed down with a few bottles of NZ Sauvignon Blanc.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Down the other end of the table there was wild pig and some sort of local plonk.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWOEbf4zb63oIX0SThivPkEDWmcBGcxzeDRJoBTZ0bFDdJ39oxcr_SsxLg8Yweb_WxsRpc4sBXgEOrXT53xMWpFdnYaDGvP76DFiKwaqbj8-NRyN_Jn4ZCFBHiiTu4E1xDczw5xYkH6-pbmBFS3So58a_jPLG4n6IkGY15oX4gLmcGfNi-IEm-CmdAOODB/s4080/IMG_20231225_180121.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="1780" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWOEbf4zb63oIX0SThivPkEDWmcBGcxzeDRJoBTZ0bFDdJ39oxcr_SsxLg8Yweb_WxsRpc4sBXgEOrXT53xMWpFdnYaDGvP76DFiKwaqbj8-NRyN_Jn4ZCFBHiiTu4E1xDczw5xYkH6-pbmBFS3So58a_jPLG4n6IkGY15oX4gLmcGfNi-IEm-CmdAOODB/w175-h400/IMG_20231225_180121.jpg" width="175" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">And the best company ever</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Me and my friend Jan</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Christmas greetings to you all.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p>local alienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586011850451326646noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6516133427486832064.post-5310736238923118972023-12-24T07:46:00.000-08:002023-12-24T07:46:52.114-08:00Christmas Eve<p> <span style="font-size: large;">8am</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSln4fHkqXC8o6TPzfgRaq5Veq8Q2YdixEx22ZKGlz0oYaopH8y7GQZiFLfNVqtDU-BEwcBw_ZNAMZhQmmWeccCjbhVJWIsV7grsTmCk90G7HT0lIGYl763pDlSZbFkSSq3PoGwgH1OvycoDild2sHMQuqlBNTQSeG4F1f-UX02PtduR0qX2JTK1Fnw9lf/s4080/IMG_20231224_082351.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="1780" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSln4fHkqXC8o6TPzfgRaq5Veq8Q2YdixEx22ZKGlz0oYaopH8y7GQZiFLfNVqtDU-BEwcBw_ZNAMZhQmmWeccCjbhVJWIsV7grsTmCk90G7HT0lIGYl763pDlSZbFkSSq3PoGwgH1OvycoDild2sHMQuqlBNTQSeG4F1f-UX02PtduR0qX2JTK1Fnw9lf/w175-h400/IMG_20231224_082351.jpg" width="175" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Christmas Eve preparation begins</span><p></p><div><span style="font-size: large;">Downtown all the kids are going from house to house banging triangles and singing the traditional Xmas Eve carol . These young singers are considered a blessing for the home and they are rewarded with a few euros.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">K always hopes a child or 2 will appear at our door but we are too far away now. He has a few euro notes put aside just in case.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Down on the harbour Poppi's class did the rounds of the shops and cafeterias.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjriUrZM-H_mG0rTkJ8aDKYba5x_4CNdAZA5utZdBQlcxYP9QYwsXrCaIm67fQNzoSxV3OK31T_baX8Ibhm0VU6wVaK1jgDlKb_X8xO11d6gsnlBpx4qSEJ7m9KFwkMFE9gxSmJkfy2-lmV2ArGiSxLPC8CbUf42ID9-EzPrTkohEkO4_T4UoixMCNAT-dP/s1800/IMG-184395024e8bfa79687ce1fa4a6ffcd1-V.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1800" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjriUrZM-H_mG0rTkJ8aDKYba5x_4CNdAZA5utZdBQlcxYP9QYwsXrCaIm67fQNzoSxV3OK31T_baX8Ibhm0VU6wVaK1jgDlKb_X8xO11d6gsnlBpx4qSEJ7m9KFwkMFE9gxSmJkfy2-lmV2ArGiSxLPC8CbUf42ID9-EzPrTkohEkO4_T4UoixMCNAT-dP/w400-h300/IMG-184395024e8bfa79687ce1fa4a6ffcd1-V.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">They are in their last year of high school and are raising money for their big 5 day trip at the end of the school year.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">I missed all these traditional activities, as usual. It would have been nice this morning to sit in the sun, drinking cappuccino watching the passing parade of children warbling away....instead of cleaning and cooking.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwui-U4c2EBjlgpfCIEzJR5_P2lAVYJGqqnm0VofMd2AocFI842qMOT_uU4pvlyR3QHDiMeqw2RCnBPo3kt3XNR9E_3szL3QktzbjTOrUDTdcYMWG0b8sMgvyweKXygpcsJ5hDWpzdf85XEUoVa6zo7FElX3oF9bkWR0kd7JNl9O6bumykd-WmHaFqPNky/s4080/IMG_20231224_135837.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="1780" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwui-U4c2EBjlgpfCIEzJR5_P2lAVYJGqqnm0VofMd2AocFI842qMOT_uU4pvlyR3QHDiMeqw2RCnBPo3kt3XNR9E_3szL3QktzbjTOrUDTdcYMWG0b8sMgvyweKXygpcsJ5hDWpzdf85XEUoVa6zo7FElX3oF9bkWR0kd7JNl9O6bumykd-WmHaFqPNky/w175-h400/IMG_20231224_135837.jpg" width="175" /></a></div><br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Baking the Christopsomo, Christ bread, is also one of the duties K has taken over. If he makes it himself he knows it has been made as his mother used to. No chance of any foreign ingredients tainting the loaf. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">It's your normal bread with some anise, decorated with a cross made out of dough and with walnuts and almonds arranged 'artistically'.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">We were both very busy, hopefully making tomorrow an easier day.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Time for alcohol.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>local alienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586011850451326646noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6516133427486832064.post-71346976196743984772023-12-23T11:48:00.000-08:002023-12-23T22:30:28.870-08:00Sunny Day<p> <span style="font-size: large;">Not much to write about today. Last night I made 2 more fruit cakes to give away and 3 jars of onion chutney to give away. K was bored so I made him cut up the onions and leeks. The onions were strong. Both our eyes were streaming. No substitutes necessary this time for the fruit cake and I followed a recipe for the chutney. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">He wrapped the few Christmas presents we will give this year. Then he humphed because there was nothing else to do. He doesn't read and rarely finds something he likes on TV. These long evenings can be difficult. Thank goodness he has discovered Facebook and loves social media. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Tomorrow serious prep will begin. Making the breadcrumbs for stuffing , slicing cabbage for festive coleslaw and all the other things on 'The List'. MY List. K will be busy prepping pork and lamb and checking the Greek food List, more than twice. He will be plenty busy tomorrow and the next day. No time to get bored.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It was warm and sunny during the day. Good for drying washing. Every day now is a Saint's fiesta day and in olden days you wouldn't dare hang out your washing on a Saint's day. The older generation still goes by that. I'm often told by the elderly members of the extended family that they haven't done any washing, or ironing, or sewing or cleaning because of the old tradition. They're still allowed to cook, serve and wash dishes though.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">24th December is the feast day of Saints Eugenia, Protus and Hyacinth. Never heard of any of them.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Grandson and his girlfriend texted that they would be coming up to see us so that got K into action this evening. Fire was lit. Then we whizzed down to buy pork chops and the beer and wine grandson likes. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Pork and potatoes now in the oven. They'll eat, drink and be merry. Or else.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">They came and ate...... melomakarouna, fruit cake and cheese pies. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Nice of K to cook pork chops for tomorrow's lunch for us 😂</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Grandson told us stories of his days in the army, tramping up to the top of the Acropolis to lower the Greek flag at sundown. Of standing guard in the pouring rain waiting for inspection by the President of the Republic. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">He's having a good time serving his 9 months in the army but can't wait to get out. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">K has just found a programme to watch. The history of one of the 20 Monasteries on Mount Athos. Called the Holy Mountain in Greek it is a peninsular in northern Greece, cut off from the rest of the country and no women allowed.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">And so this day slowly ends. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We need more Brussels sprouts and no-one has found any fresh ones. Someone will have to pick up another bag of frozen sprouts tomorrow. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">One daughter loves them, the other hates them, doesn't even want to smell them, let alone clean or cook them. She posts green faced GIFs on our Viber group every time they're mentioned.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Shops will be open tomorrow here . I doubt we need anything, but sprouts. So much shopping done. So much food to be cooked. As usual.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Goodnight and goodmorning</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>local alienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586011850451326646noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6516133427486832064.post-33191271303253120752023-12-22T12:21:00.000-08:002023-12-22T12:21:02.029-08:00A Pre Xmas Coffee<p> <span style="font-size: large;">Time for a pre-Christmas catch-up, a long chat in English and a steamy hot cappuccino. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQAH85Y0jvH47Og0v58_er1n2SqXRKz_RvWISiHkec638lMaE3BiKxxkg3Jm02Tvj9D5esZo_uFcOeHJr_3Tz8dOksgj2CzFTOtFcfT-VYsg4AQTdShxQM-Z9EyvyDZnYrksXbYquH9TQXJJcUdq3kx-JSA6iHf0WNQnP2fRTLuJYIXOb38LPaVTzShAaA/s4080/IMG_20231222_113258.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="1780" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQAH85Y0jvH47Og0v58_er1n2SqXRKz_RvWISiHkec638lMaE3BiKxxkg3Jm02Tvj9D5esZo_uFcOeHJr_3Tz8dOksgj2CzFTOtFcfT-VYsg4AQTdShxQM-Z9EyvyDZnYrksXbYquH9TQXJJcUdq3kx-JSA6iHf0WNQnP2fRTLuJYIXOb38LPaVTzShAaA/w175-h400/IMG_20231222_113258.jpg" width="175" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I went across on the car ferry to Galatas, the village across the straits.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The sun was supposed to shine today but it was cold and cloudy. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This cafe is right where the car ferry pulls in. It's very popular because there's no doubt about it, they have the best coffee in the county.</span></div><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGIxXCeyJAsFn-9sxrs1SNMQJUprt2NTK8iX8Ba_CYG5IbD_9QxtRl-MmW4cRps6yLeSKI5L_PadWjN4ziDgjYzvGYYiySFSXqwWk09GxsBvMiX0nmS03zwkZD32a0CF1fPkCfLjfO7JMVsc6ToftAdtL2U_BdObVd71ohv9uEuuCV9hP8vheRLVFYSnvA/s4080/IMG_20231222_123525.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="1780" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGIxXCeyJAsFn-9sxrs1SNMQJUprt2NTK8iX8Ba_CYG5IbD_9QxtRl-MmW4cRps6yLeSKI5L_PadWjN4ziDgjYzvGYYiySFSXqwWk09GxsBvMiX0nmS03zwkZD32a0CF1fPkCfLjfO7JMVsc6ToftAdtL2U_BdObVd71ohv9uEuuCV9hP8vheRLVFYSnvA/w175-h400/IMG_20231222_123525.jpg" width="175" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">At this time of the year it is beautifully decorated. It's one of the few places where we can sit in the cosy warmth of the café and enjoy the spirit of Christmas. Perfect for a long coffee and a good gossip.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXdKN0tim5bVcWwCR57EasyzQLkHDz9SDWXCjNC9gLy2eJkwiq3YZoc_j76w7U3g3vcu6PPmbdU0P8WSiaE53iphKtsN75-9yDK8gwZ2N1JIAPIm5db90tNkeSfDLLvUYruUaRuGnzQF25ifxnXjKEptARmBCHfaYoe7FaBKCSpPN9YMCqQVBpPR87twp6/s4080/IMG_20231222_113200.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="1780" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXdKN0tim5bVcWwCR57EasyzQLkHDz9SDWXCjNC9gLy2eJkwiq3YZoc_j76w7U3g3vcu6PPmbdU0P8WSiaE53iphKtsN75-9yDK8gwZ2N1JIAPIm5db90tNkeSfDLLvUYruUaRuGnzQF25ifxnXjKEptARmBCHfaYoe7FaBKCSpPN9YMCqQVBpPR87twp6/w175-h400/IMG_20231222_113200.jpg" width="175" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">There's even a post box for letters to Santa . </span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_zVZQEScYVHD0bHQ11jG-KXk3vdjEHbSG1D0xYPfRBYhvqtqhhh-cJtUJcvKKm20V925KMtLfG0H9LspmqLQrQxyfsp8VQ9RW7cFpNnHxvYTr31wD_UzbPgr4C5QZ31TMiXDjhneWsbHsxYRpQZK2Wd3vggS0kXWlfiJuq797cjXkY5JIT8caIG89Vh8o/s4080/IMG_20231222_113317.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="1780" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_zVZQEScYVHD0bHQ11jG-KXk3vdjEHbSG1D0xYPfRBYhvqtqhhh-cJtUJcvKKm20V925KMtLfG0H9LspmqLQrQxyfsp8VQ9RW7cFpNnHxvYTr31wD_UzbPgr4C5QZ31TMiXDjhneWsbHsxYRpQZK2Wd3vggS0kXWlfiJuq797cjXkY5JIT8caIG89Vh8o/w175-h400/IMG_20231222_113317.jpg" width="175" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">As well as coffee, cakes, muffins and hot flaky, or non-flaky cheese pies they sell freshly ground coffee, small pots of handmade chocolates and biscuits. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It reminded me of a visit many, many years ago to a mall in Athens. It was just before Christmas and I walked in from a cold, wet city pavement to a magical, for me, warm atmosphere with Christmas carols echoing through the speakers, Xmas trees and Santas on every floor.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I suddenly thought, hey, it's Xmas, it really is.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The only other time I got close to that, also many years ago, was the Anglican Christmas bazaar in Athens. English voices, a roving band of carol singers, hot Irish coffee, mince pies, Xmas cards and Xmas crackers on sale and piles of lovely second hand books and clothes to rummage through. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">In days of yore..... </span></div><br /><p><br /></p><p></p>local alienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586011850451326646noreply@blogger.com10