tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73931335899276817442024-03-14T00:18:30.193-07:00Jane's VrahassiLife in a traditional Cretan Village, Greece, written by Jane Sharp. The life and times of Cretan people as observed by an English immigrant.Jane Sharphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17663990279177407508noreply@blogger.comBlogger582125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7393133589927681744.post-64049403667325913502017-08-19T04:39:00.003-07:002017-08-19T04:51:08.034-07:00Angry Poet<span style="font-size: x-large;">Sometimes words just overflow and have to be spoken out loud.</span><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZQN079nXVX4" width="459"></iframe><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US">There’s
good - And there’s bad<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">And there’s angry<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I’m angry<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I’m angry inside<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Deep inside<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Where hurts I never imagined could happen<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Are happening <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Even the infinitesimal spaces<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The cavernous hollows<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Of what makes up me<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Are hurting<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I’m hurting Heather Hyer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I’m hurting for you<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I’m hurting with anger,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I’m livid, incensed,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Fist clenched,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Heart racing,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Teeth grinding<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Fuming to boiling over,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Furious from the inside-out<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">So heated I’m in meltdown,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">And I know shouting won’t help,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Screaming won’t help<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Throwing objects across the room<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Smashing devices<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Ripping up newspapers,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Burning books,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Getting hold of a picture<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Of Donald Trump<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Screwing it up into a ball<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">And setting fire to it<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Won’t help<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">You<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">You haters of this world<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">You nasty people<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">You who like to bully<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">You racist thugs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">You destroyers of lives<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">You vile, offensive,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Nauseating bigots<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">You foul mouthed xenophobic<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Extremist right<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">You Nazi flag flying<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Demolishers of society<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">You<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">You have made me<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Angry<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">And now this<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Innocent people killed in Barcelona<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Terrorists shot dead in the street<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Echos of Westminster Bridge<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Manchester kids blown to pieces<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Sunbathers machine-gunned down<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">German Shoppers annihilated <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Je suis Charlie!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">And this is only a fraction of it<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">This is only recent memory<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">This isn’t going back to bandstands<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">In Hyde Park<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">To double decker buses<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">To underground trains<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">This isn’t going to Syria<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Afghanistan, Turkey, Israel<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Ghaza, The West Bank,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Chechnia, Ukrain, Pakistan<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Yugoslavia, Croatia,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">And when it seemed like the whole world<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Was against Blair going to war in Iraq<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Nothing could stop him<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">No amount of ‘plaques for peace’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">No amount of anger <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">No amount of love<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Well that’s what it feels like now<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Like the love in my body<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Is under attack<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">So get this, body<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Get this world<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I’m telling you to get a hold<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I’m telling you to stop hurting<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">And to replace that rage <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">With something constructive<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Replace the anger<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Replace the clenched fist<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Replace any trace of venom<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">And You<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">What happened to human kindness?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">What happened to a sense of decency?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">What happened to conscience?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Don’t tell me God wants<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">you to be the way you are<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Don’t tell me that<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Figure it out<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">There’s good<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">And there’s bad<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I know where I stand<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;">And now I'm going to bake a cake with lots of </span></span><span style="font-size: large;">love in it. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I'll be right back when I've calmed down a bit.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Love and hugs,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Jane x</span></div>
Jane Sharphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17663990279177407508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7393133589927681744.post-69929057335133028872017-07-13T23:37:00.001-07:002017-07-13T23:37:13.984-07:00Rain in Great Ayton...Well it's not Crete is it.Whilst Crete slumbers in a summer heat wave Jane and I enjoy a bit cooler weather in North Yorkshire.<br /><br />
<br /><br />
<a href="http://jane-sharp.blogspot.com/2017/07/rain-in-great-ayton.html?spref=bl">Jane Sharp - Writer - Poet - Musician : Rain in Great Ayton</a>: I love July! Especially the 10th of July. You see it's my Birthday. Over the years I have seen some wickedly alcofrolic birthdays, in fa...David Sharphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16915631122721622055noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7393133589927681744.post-35269542595198690252017-06-29T13:45:00.000-07:002017-06-29T13:50:37.245-07:00Removing Ear Wax<span style="background-color: yellow; font-size: large;">When we got back from our holidays there was a poster through the door advertising a free consultation with an audiologist who was offering treatments for the removal of ear wax. I thought, God! has it come to this. But I kept the flyer, and re-reading it today, it gave me inspiration for this poem. I do suffer from a bit of tinnitus but I think I'll live with it.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US">‘Every
year in the UK, an estimated 2.3 million people have problems with excessive
ear wax.’<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US">Never
Stick Anything Smaller Than Your Elbow in Your Ear<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">If you’ve hairy canals, or you stick things<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">in your ears, like plugs or phones, or
plastic<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">amplifiers, or you’ve clocked up more years<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">than most and you’re a bit dizzy, it’s wax.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">If it itches, or aches or makes a high<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">pitched buzz-like radio interference<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">or you say ‘pardon’ when shop assistants<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">speak, or hairdressers ask if you want tea<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">and all you see are lips moving sideways<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">as you smile into the mirror, It’s wax.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">You know what they say, never stick
anything<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">smaller than your elbow in your ear, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">So you know the eraser on the end<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">of your pencil, isn’t a good idea<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">and you don’t want to use a cocktail stick<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">for fear of poking a hole in your drum<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">and you’ve just clipped your fingernails
because<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">they’re too long to text, and anyway now<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">you’ve pushed it so far down with whatever<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">you’ve had plugged into your ears it’s
stopping<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">the sound, and at worst is a bung of wax.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Then this leaflet drops through your
letterbox,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Ear Wax Removal. What! Irrigation?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Microsuction? Dry procedures, dissolve<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">and flush out hard, dry or impacted wax.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Oh! Eugh! Disgusting, audiologist<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">not in my front room, you think, Google it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">You read about available products:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><i>Smart Earwax Removal</i> – Insert and twist,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">grooved head collects more wax than cotton
swabs,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><i>Earpal Ear Wax Remover</i> – Unisex - <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I suppose men have bigger ears, more wax - </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">a loop of specially shaped surgical</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">steel which </span>can never perforate the eardrum,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><i>Cordless Vacuum, Ear Wax Syringe, Pick,<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><i>Electric Vibrating Wax Remover,<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><i>Hydrogen Peroxide Drops, </i>with warning - <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">do not use if you have tried to remove</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">any ear wax using your finger nail.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><i>Multifunctional swab </i>– for all functions<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">see a medical practitioner. And,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">if you really want to try something new<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">there’s <i>Thermo-Auricular Therapy</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">where they stick a foot long candle made of<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">linen soaked in paraffin, in your ear,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">set light to one end, and claim negative<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">pressure sucks the wax into the candle,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">it’s called <i>The Chimney Effect</i>, but you
don’t<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">feel the heat because you are listening to <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Zen-music whilst staring at a Buddha.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">And afterwards you’ve got warm, relaxed
ears<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">but can’t hear a thing. You’ve read enough.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">You log out of Google, scrunch the flyer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">into a ball no bigger than your elbow,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">and put it in the bin. You decide the <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">constant music of the spheres in your head<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">is not at all unpleasant, and anyway, </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">it won’t be </span>long before your fingernails grow.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BE34HvfoU4A/WVVeCSVCu0I/AAAAAAAAK4s/iJnAJfCCcygtAMZBu9T50ZBEylGBOBNMgCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BE34HvfoU4A/WVVeCSVCu0I/AAAAAAAAK4s/iJnAJfCCcygtAMZBu9T50ZBEylGBOBNMgCK4BGAYYCw/s400/images.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I think I must have a warped muse working with me at the moment, either that or I'm just not hearing right.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I had a lovely day at the Shortland's Poetry Circle Summer Celebration, at Ripley Arts Centre, Bromley, on Tuesday where the guest poets were Danielle Hope and Michael Loveday. After the reading there was a homemade afternoon tea complete with strawberries dipped in dark chocolate, yummy! It was a good antidote to the terrible sadness of the past couple of weeks in London.<br />
<br />
If you haven't listened to Ben Okri's poem, do it now.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zC9Ni-IPnAc/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zC9Ni-IPnAc?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
So sad, such a brilliant poem and what an accurate account of that terrible scene. My prayers are for both the lost and the living.<br />
<br />
It's a sad note to end on but all those people deserve a minute of our energy to help them get through.<br />
<br />
Talk again soon,<br />
Jane x<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>358</o:Words>
<o:Characters>2041</o:Characters>
<o:Company>JANE SHARP</o:Company>
<o:Lines>17</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>4</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>2395</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>14.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-ansi-language:EN-US;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Jane Sharphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17663990279177407508noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7393133589927681744.post-57127493380156565882017-06-21T03:40:00.001-07:002017-06-21T03:40:16.498-07:00Jane Sharp - Writer - Poet - Musician : : Bedroom Stuff<a href="http://jane-sharp.blogspot.com/2017/06/janes-vrahassi-janes-vrahassi-bedroom.html?spref=bl">Jane Sharp - Writer - Poet - Musician : : Bedroom Stuff</a>: Back in Birdwell after our little sojourn in Crete, I have spent a few days reorganising the house so as to create a working space. I wa...Jane Sharphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17663990279177407508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7393133589927681744.post-71032122640120357412017-05-31T04:52:00.001-07:002017-05-31T04:52:14.540-07:00Jane Sharp - Writer - Poet - Musician : Death on The Happy Train<a href="http://jane-sharp.blogspot.com/2017/05/death-on-happy-train.html?spref=bl">Jane Sharp - Writer - Poet - Musician : Death on The Happy Train</a>: MALIA!!! The weather over the past few days has been a bit grim to say the least but today the sun is shining and I would imagine the b...Jane Sharphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17663990279177407508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7393133589927681744.post-89652448725804018812015-04-07T13:56:00.001-07:002015-04-07T13:56:59.151-07:00Getting ready for easter in Vrahassi <a href="http://www.merambellonews.gr/2015/04/4-5415.html?spref=bl">Νέα του Μεραμπέλλου: Φωτογραφίες από τον εθελοντικό καθαρισμό που οργάν...</a><br /><br />
<br /><br />
Getting ready for Easter in Vrahassi!Jane Sharphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17663990279177407508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7393133589927681744.post-51336751103155017902015-02-15T10:12:00.001-08:002015-02-15T10:12:45.824-08:00Jane Sharp - Writer - Poet - Musician : For Yiorgos R.I.P.<a href="http://jane-sharp.blogspot.com/2015/02/for-yioros-rip.html?spref=bl">Jane Sharp - Writer - Poet - Musician : For Yiorgos R.I.P.</a>: Yiorgos by Jane Sharp You were in your best light that day As you posed with the great curly horned ram Surrounded as you were by ...<br /><br />
<br /><br />
Such sad news today, made even more sad when I found out that Yiorgo's mum passed away last week too. My sincere, heartfelt condolences.Jane Sharphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17663990279177407508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7393133589927681744.post-48260301508150681962013-12-28T02:02:00.001-08:002013-12-28T02:02:14.424-08:00Sudden Death of Local Doctor 43 Year Old.<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Sudden death of local doctor, Yannis Komninos.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">There is much sadness amongst the local community for the loss of the doctor, Yannis Komninos who suffered a heart attack while on duty in the hospital at Neapolis, Lassithi, Crete.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">After being transferred to Agios Nikolaos he lost the " battle " for life. </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Dr Yannis was loved throughout the local community which deeply mourns his loss. He was 43 year old, married and father of a boy 9 years old.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">The funeral will be held today Saturday, at 15.00 at the church Notre Kamariano in New Halicarnassus.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<span style="font-size: large;">I'm lost for words, such a brilliant doctor, such a bright spark. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<br />Jane Sharphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17663990279177407508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7393133589927681744.post-75011030275589131732013-12-24T03:55:00.001-08:002013-12-24T03:55:19.025-08:00'Santa is Coming' Jane's Christmas Eve Poem<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/4QIXp_w25BM" width="459"></iframe>Jane Sharphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17663990279177407508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7393133589927681744.post-88612834299074900952013-11-25T10:40:00.000-08:002013-11-25T10:42:56.710-08:00A Walk Around Vrahassi<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-loqkPunu9KI/UpOPgd_86XI/AAAAAAAAFBk/Hb1o7DeM2cI/s1600/DSCN0871.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-loqkPunu9KI/UpOPgd_86XI/AAAAAAAAFBk/Hb1o7DeM2cI/s320/DSCN0871.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: yellow; font-size: large;">First park the car!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v8TOfHKz62o/UpOPq0dvJ6I/AAAAAAAAFB8/SySDkG0prxc/s1600/DSCN0874.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v8TOfHKz62o/UpOPq0dvJ6I/AAAAAAAAFB8/SySDkG0prxc/s320/DSCN0874.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: yellow; font-size: large;">Find an ancient landmark</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nf-_6hakw84/UpOQplYmjLI/AAAAAAAAFD0/A4FccaRrp_k/s1600/DSCN0890.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nf-_6hakw84/UpOQplYmjLI/AAAAAAAAFD0/A4FccaRrp_k/s320/DSCN0890.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: yellow; font-size: large;"> Stop for a word with the locals!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--0s5VyHN1Lw/UpOQ1qouQiI/AAAAAAAAFEM/OTpaM8a64Zk/s1600/DSCN0893.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--0s5VyHN1Lw/UpOQ1qouQiI/AAAAAAAAFEM/OTpaM8a64Zk/s320/DSCN0893.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: yellow; font-size: large;">Notice the rising street levels! </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GV2KAIPNe5Q/UpORByqbMYI/AAAAAAAAFEc/iPKXVXcN9Yc/s1600/DSCN0896.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GV2KAIPNe5Q/UpORByqbMYI/AAAAAAAAFEc/iPKXVXcN9Yc/s320/DSCN0896.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: yellow; font-size: large;">And spot the demolished house!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MCcQKDrjHYI/UpORTXx_urI/AAAAAAAAFE8/4QD1JtB8lGI/s1600/DSCN0899.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MCcQKDrjHYI/UpORTXx_urI/AAAAAAAAFE8/4QD1JtB8lGI/s320/DSCN0899.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: yellow; font-size: large;">Or buy one that wants demolishing! </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mvZy5nG5KtY/UpORdT-GsRI/AAAAAAAAFFM/nfxF3nFC7hY/s1600/DSCN0901.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mvZy5nG5KtY/UpORdT-GsRI/AAAAAAAAFFM/nfxF3nFC7hY/s320/DSCN0901.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: yellow; font-size: large;">Enjoy the village aromas of oranges and lemons!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--cvgAdRwpkE/UpORfiVa_7I/AAAAAAAAFFU/C16tayKizh4/s1600/DSCN0902.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--cvgAdRwpkE/UpORfiVa_7I/AAAAAAAAFFU/C16tayKizh4/s320/DSCN0902.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VyFyQqlHUyI/UpORhROa0hI/AAAAAAAAFFc/RCtjVYtwjDY/s1600/DSCN0903.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VyFyQqlHUyI/UpORhROa0hI/AAAAAAAAFFc/RCtjVYtwjDY/s320/DSCN0903.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: yellow; font-size: large;">Investigate unusual objects!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K6l1Zp85wsg/UpORk_hd-kI/AAAAAAAAFFk/TPJBqo0aeDE/s1600/DSCN0904.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K6l1Zp85wsg/UpORk_hd-kI/AAAAAAAAFFk/TPJBqo0aeDE/s320/DSCN0904.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: yellow; font-size: large;">And pick up a hire car for the journey home!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: yellow; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: yellow; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: yellow; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: yellow; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: yellow; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: yellow; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: yellow; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: yellow; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: yellow; font-size: large;">This is Crete - would we have it any other way?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: yellow; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;">Is there any wonder that I am inspired to write when I'm here? My new novel is 40000 words in now, first draft, and growing. It is nothing like my first one, </span><span style="background-color: yellow; font-size: large;">Tears from the Sun - A Cretan Journey, </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;">which by the way, you can buy from Amazon, Barns and Noble, or order from your local bookshop or library, no this one is much different, but it still has a hint of Mediterranean. You are going to love it, I know. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;">Anyway, blogging isn't getting my new book written, so I'll say 'bye' and talk to you some more very soon.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Enjoy your week whatever you are doing, and if you want to start earning a bit of extra money, click the link at the top of this page, or better still, try this link: <span style="background-color: yellow;"><a href="http://w4e.davesharpmarketing.com/">http://w4e.davesharpmarketing.com</a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Love Jane x </span>Jane Sharphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17663990279177407508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7393133589927681744.post-86509197627616580192013-11-24T01:43:00.000-08:002013-11-24T01:43:18.994-08:00Russian Tourists Come to Greece<span style="background-color: yellow; font-size: large;">And what do they buy when they come here? Well a good indication is in the number of Russian fur shops that are spreading all over the island. Apparently the Russian people can buy fur coats in Crete much cheaper than in Russia. And there really is a plethora of huge showrooms, with very professional looking advertisements on hoardings, all along the main tourist strip. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: yellow; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: yellow; font-size: large;">Whether it is right or wrong to buy and sell garments made from animals is another story. I personally would not buy one, but then, I don't have to suffer the sub zero temperatures of Russia and beyond. So, while that debate goes on, trade in fur is obviously bringing money into Crete. I only hope that the Russian people also go home with a very rich appreciation of Greek history and culture. </span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-29ppi3mhw08/UpHAI2OlM0I/AAAAAAAAFBU/CMyhqkh7m9M/s1600/59ab3d707953adc6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-29ppi3mhw08/UpHAI2OlM0I/AAAAAAAAFBU/CMyhqkh7m9M/s400/59ab3d707953adc6.jpg" width="266" /></a><br />
<div style="border: 0px; color: #555555; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><a href="http://greece.greekreporter.com/tag/evgeny-pisarevskiy/" style="border: 0px; color: black; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Evgeny</a> Pisarevskiy the Deputy Minister of Sport, Tourism and Youth Policy of the Russian Federation, visited the 29th International Tourism Exhibition “Philoxenia.” During his interview, he stated that Greece could attract 3.6 million <a href="http://greece.greekreporter.com/?s=Russian+tourists&submit=" style="border: 0px; color: black; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Russian tourists </a>in the next 5 years.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #555555; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: white;">He also said that we could announce the year 2015 “as a year of Tourism between Greece and Russia.” The increase of Russians means an important increase in tourist incomes.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #555555; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: white;">Furthermore, he insists that the visa regulations still remain an obstacle and he asked to abolish the visa for the Russian tourists.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #555555; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: white;">He also said that we should create tourist guides in the Russian language in order to attract them. He also added that the great advantage of Greece is its history and especially Greek mythology. He also invited Greeks to visit Russia to see not only the popular sites and cities, but also places which still remain unknown for most people.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #555555; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: white;">From a report by Maria Papathanasiou </span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #555555; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: yellow;">And maybe one day, my book Tears from the Sun - A Cretan Journey will be translated into Russian, and many other languages. That would be good.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #555555; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
So have a great Sunday, everyone.</div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #555555; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Talk again soon,</div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #555555; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Love Jane x</div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #555555; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #555555; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
Jane Sharphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17663990279177407508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7393133589927681744.post-59213875411150620512013-11-21T14:19:00.000-08:002013-11-21T14:19:35.117-08:00My Favourite Church Near Neapolis<span style="background-color: yellow;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sometimes it is good to find a place of peace, and remember those loved ones who are no longer with us. The people who helped to make us who we are, and give us that invisible strength to cope with the demands of life. Please share the moment with me. Love Jane x</span></span><br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/ynKJjEvEPzo" width="560"></iframe><br />
<br />
And now it is the end of another successful day here in Crete. The log fire is burning bright and is very cosy. I have reached the goals I set for myself this morning, and I am looking forward to another busy day tomorrow.<br />
<br />
I am happy to see that my viewing figures are going up, and I wish all my readers, wherever you are, the very best November you have ever had.<br />
<br />
Peace, health and happiness to all,<br />
Love Jane x<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: yellow;">And now for something entirely different!</span><br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/YUhb0XII93I" width="560"></iframe><br />
<br />
<br />
Sorry - no asking you to buy my book tonight, that will come tomorrow. Just be happy!<br />
(Of course if you really can't live another day without it, look me up on Amazon)<br />
<br />
Night, night, Go bless.<br />
Jane xJane Sharphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17663990279177407508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7393133589927681744.post-86420823238755364282013-11-21T00:07:00.000-08:002013-11-21T00:07:10.824-08:00Nostalgia in Vrahassi<span style="background-color: yellow; font-size: large;">I so appreciate Nostalgia cafe bar in Vrahassi. I can sit in in comfortable surroundings, eat Kiria Anna's fantastic food, practice my Greek, and work. It doesn't get much better. I always think of what I should have said on the video, after the event. But here you can share a flavour of my evening in Vrahassi. Today I'm going to Neapolis so I will be reporting from there. I do believe more rain is on the way tonight, so I better get a few supplies in. Talk later. Love Jane x</span><br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/vD-AM8Bi-3E" width="420"></iframe><br />
<br />
Oh, and just to say, I was up till after midnight last night making sure I accomplished the goal I had set for the day. Books don't write themselves you know! And in and amongst it all there is a fair amount of reading. But it's all good fun. I have learned such a lot since writing Tears from the Sun - A Cretan Journey. Which, by the way, you can find on Amazon (in case you didn't already know lol)<br />
<br />
Blessings around the world,<br />
Love Jane xJane Sharphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17663990279177407508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7393133589927681744.post-7297300514084469392013-11-17T10:12:00.000-08:002013-11-17T10:12:13.451-08:00Key for Greece's Economic Recovery<span style="background-color: yellow; font-size: large;">Just found this report and thought it would be good to share it:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: yellow; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family: verdana, helvetica, arial, geneva, Tahoma, 'Arial Greek'; width: 650px;"><tbody>
<tr><td bgcolor="#ffffff" style="font-size: 11px;" valign="top" width="650"><table bgcolor="#ffffff" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%px;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="eelantext" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, 'Arial Greek'; font-size: 12px;"><div class="Atitle" style="color: #003366; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 17px;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 22px;"><b>Export-led growth key for Greece's economic recovery, says American economist Jeffrey Sachs</b></span></div>
<br /><table align="Left" bgcolor="#ffffff" border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" style="width: 452px;" vspace="5"><tbody>
<tr><td align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" style="font-family: verdana, helvetica, arial, geneva, Tahoma, 'Arial Greek'; font-size: 11px;"><span class="signatureW"></span><div class="kbyline" style="color: #660000; font-family: arial, Helvetica, verdana, sans-serif; font-variant: small-caps; line-height: 16px;">
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td align="Left" style="font-family: verdana, helvetica, arial, geneva, Tahoma, 'Arial Greek'; font-size: 11px;" valign="top"><div class="kbyline" style="color: #660000; font-family: arial, Helvetica, verdana, sans-serif; font-variant: small-caps; line-height: 16px;">
</div>
<img alt="" border="0" src="http://photo.ekathimerini.com/kath/engs/img/COMMENT/2013/11/jeffreysachsweb.jpg" width="440" /> <img border="0" height="5" src="http://wwk.kathimerini.gr/kathnews/images/dot_clear.gif" width="440" /><span class="LezantaW"><b></b><i><a class="LezantaW" href="">Economist Jeffrey Sachs, seen here in a file photograph, was recently in Athens on an invitation by the Harvard Business School Club of Greece.</a></i></span><img align="right" alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://wwk.kathimerini.gr/kathnews/images/dot_clear.gif" valign="ABSBOTTOM" width="2" /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
By Eleni Varvitsiotis<br />
“They put the train through the Agora? That’s a little crazy.” Although he doesn’t always seem to grasp how things works around here, Jeffrey Sachs is a big fan of Greece.<br /><br />In an interview with Kathimerini, the American economist and director of Columbia University’s Earth Institute who was recently in Athens on an invitation by the Harvard Business School Club of Greece describes the country as a top global brand. He praises its healthy cuisine and lifestyle, and believes it has huge reserves of talent.<br /><br />The 59-year-old, who is also special adviser to United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, is realistic about people’s suffering as a result of the stubborn recession, but remains optimistic about the not too distant future, provided that policymakers do the right things. The key, he says, is export-led growth. “Growth not from gimmicks of short-term spending, but growth based on real international competitiveness of Greek goods and services.”<br /><br /><strong>The recession is continuing, unemployment is soaring and incomes are going down. What would you say to the average man on the street in Greece today?</strong><br /><br />I think the perception is correct. This has been a very painful period. Greece has seen its living standards decline and had to cut back sharply, unemployment is very high and it has been a very difficult period overall. It has been a sharp and harsh adjustment. But what I would say is that now, realistically, this is the bottom – meaning that now there is the prospect for recovery and for a future, not only for economic growth but for a better life. So this has been a very difficult period and now Greece is in a position, if it does the right things and if its partners give the right help, to start new jobs, to create employment for young people, new business, the basis for new prosperity.<br /><br /><strong>If you could pinpoint three things that Greece should do, what would they be?</strong><br /><br />The basis for Greece’s future growth and job creation would be exports, because the domestic economy will remain compressed. Greek standards have gone down, Greece doesn’t have access to lots of capital, so it’s going to have to earn its way by selling goods to the markets. But I’m quite optimistic Greece has a tremendous amount of talent. It is arguably one of the most beautiful places in the world, it is one of the great tourist destinations, it has one of the healthiest populations and lifestyles in the whole world. It has a world-famous cuisine and diet, so people want to visit and get healthier. Health tourism is high-potential.<br /><br />Also, Greece has enormous untapped energy resources: the sunshine and the wind. In order to tap these resources, one needs investment in a grid that links Greece to the Northern European electricity distribution. So the basic challenge is export-led growth. In order to make that happen you have to identify markets, you need good diplomacy. I recommend that the prime minister sends leading businessmen on trips to the Middle East, Africa and Asia so that businesses abroad and political leaders abroad will know about Greece’s markets, services and so forth – real export promotion.<br /><br />Tax policy should help to promote these new industries, along with special financing for youth employment and startup enterprises. Such a package of measures has been introduced before in other places; it’s time for Greece to do this during the emergency.<br /><br />It has been hard to think of these things because for the last four years Greece [has been trying] to stay alive and the creditors were also thinking short-term and were not giving Greece a long-term perspective. In my view, it is necessary to push for a longer perspective based on growth and not austerity. Growth not from gimmicks of short-term spending, but based on the real international competitiveness of Greek goods and services. I’m optimistic because you can see where this can happen, you can see the interest internationally in these sectors.<br /><br /><strong>You have said in the past that Greece is a good brand.</strong><br /><br />I think it’s the best brand because, first of all, Greece gave birth to Western civilization; everybody knows it and everybody wants to come and see it and to feel a part of that. During a recent visit to the Vatican, I ran to see Raphael’s famous painting “The School of Athens” because for me it’s the epitome of Western civilization and I just wanted to have another look at Plato and Aristotle and Socrates.<br /><br />People also come here for the natural beauty, the islands, they know Greece and they know about the Mediterranean diet, which is the healthiest diet in the whole world. Apart from this marvelous climate and beautiful location, Greece is also a crossroad – in fact, a very complicated one. It has seen lots of fighting, lots of wars, which go back 3,000 years and more. But the fact of the matter is that in a global world, Greece sometimes feels at the end of Europe; it is at the same time at the crossroads for Africa, Asia and Europe. That is a great location, which is why China is so interested in Greece as a place both for manufacturing and for port services.<br /><br /><strong>You said that we keep looking inside, while the EU is not a closed system.</strong><br /><br />Sometimes people say “Germany must do this so Greece can accomplish that,” and some economists say that Germany must spend more domestically so Greece can sell goods to Germany, or if Germany doesn’t reduce its trade surplus then Greece will not be able to reduce its trade deficit. This is a kind of zero-sum mentality that treats the eurozone as a closed system – i.e. what happens inside is the only thing that counts. The fact of the matter is that Europe is part of the world economy and Greece is, of course, part of this world economy so Greece doesn’t need to sell its goods only to Germany or Italy, France and so on. Greece should be looking at the Middle East, Greece should be looking at China.<br /><br />The world economy market is 90 trillion dollars and Greece is a very small part of it. There is a large world market out there that can be the source of prosperity and growth. It is interesting that the largest growing countries in the world in the last quarter century have been the East Asian countries who held the view that export-led growth was the key. Even China with 1.3 billion people – 100 times Greece’s population – went for export-led growth and was able to find a world market, so Greece, with its very small footprint in population, has a large market. If China looks outside with such a market within, it is unbelievable that Greece doesn’t.<br /><br />All the debate about stimulus and austerity based on the Keynesian model is based on a closed economy system vision which has never been true for any country, especially for a small economy like Greece. You don’t have to wait for domestic government stimulus to have demand, the demand is everywhere in the world, you just have to earn the way – that’s the difference.<br /><br />Take a look at Korea. Korea faced a huge crisis in 1997 when the financial crisis hit East Asia, and at that point Korean businessmen told me: “Don’t worry. We will grow out of it.” I don’t know how they were so confident about it. “Don’t worry. Within a few years we are going to have a huge surplus and pay off the debt.” I was rather surprised as it seemed unrealistic at the time. But they achieved everything they said because they had the drive to go out and do it. They have taken the view that they have to be excellent in technology, new markets. Look at Samsung to see how it has taken the world of mobile phones. Who would have expected it? Competing with Apple, defeating Nokia, competing at the very top of the world in the most competitive sector, it’s a good role model and relevant for Greece.<br /><br /><strong>Don’t you think Greece should get a debt writedown?</strong><br /><br />I think the first thing that should be clear to everyone is that if the face value of the debt is reduced or the interest rate is reduced, it means the same thing in real economic terms. The question is what is the amount that Greece will have to pay its creditors over time, and you can measure that in the year-by-year cash flow or in the net present value and that has to come down to reasonable levels, either by the haircut approach or by low interest rates and a long period of retainment. I think it is more reasonable to expect the latter approach for many reasons, political perhaps, even constitutional.<br /><br />Greece’s creditors are less interested in the haircut approach than they are in the low-interest approach. The low-interest approach is close but of course the details matter because an extra point in the interest rates is a big deal. So it is something to negotiate very carefully, and my view in this crisis is that the creditors have the same interest as the debtors in finding a reasonable solution that builds the prospect for economic recovery.<br /><br />Already in 1987 I wrote a paper about the economics of debt overhang and it was about the economies of Latin America. It was the argument that if the creditors are too tough, they lose also. So I showed that a mathematically reasonable compromise benefits both creditors and debtors. It played an important role in resolving the debt crisis in America at the end of the 1980s. Of course, the situation here is different in many ways, but the basic point is that Greece’s creditors have an interest in the country’s recovery and growth, and I think it’s clear. Two years ago there was a lot of misguided talk of a Greek exit. Fortunately that went away, at least for the time being.<br /><strong><br />Do you think that the troika has made mistakes? Do they really get what is going on here?</strong><br /><br />The troika will never define a comprehensive approach. They see themselves more as policemen rather than policymakers, but they often make mistakes, thinking that what they say is the whole story. The only way to take on the troika is through very positive direct and persistent negotiations put forward by Greece itself. In other words, you don’t wait for the outside to get it right; you have to put forward your framework, saying: “This is what we want to do. It fits your criteria but you can’t dictate the micromanagement because we have to do the micromanagement ourselves. It has to be our program, our design, our strategy. You have to give us the space. We are going to be good partners but you cannot define our program.” This is an important point that is repeated over and over.<br /><br />At the same time, however, the Greek government is not following the guidelines so I cannot blame them 100 percent. But the guidelines are not always right. The government should not agree to silly things that it is not going to follow. This leads to more confusion, misunderstanding, lack of trust, ill will. I have spent a lot of time negotiating, not with the troika but with the IMF over 25 years. They often get key concepts wrong although they get many things right. The way to go is not to wait for them to solve it. A good government has to put forward a tough, realistic program and push hard for that, and it’s not guaranteed but it is the only way to find a way. That’s why it is so important for Greece to very affirmatively define the terms. Not to scream, but to be very clear of what is needed for recovery.<br /><br /><strong>Do you feel that the government is headed in the right direction?</strong><br /><br />I think the adjustment so far has been painful but has put Greece in a position that will resume growth. Without more growth, this kind of pain cannot be tolerated and will not work. Growth has to resume and this is the real test coming up – the ability to start creating the new scenario. This has been a very long, deep contraction, extraordinary by historical standards, not normal. In general I resist the word depression. Paul Krugman uses the term depression in the US, which I don’t think is accurate, but for Greece this is depression by standards of economic history: The output is down by a quarter, unemployment is more than 25 percent, youth unemployment is 60 percent. By any standard this is a depression, every bit of unhappiness is understandable, and that’s why it’s so important to find a path out of the crisis.<br /> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-size: 11px;"></td><td style="font-size: 11px;"></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-size: 11px;"></td><td style="font-size: 11px;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family: verdana, helvetica, arial, geneva, Tahoma, 'Arial Greek'; width: 100%px;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="font-size: 11px;"><center>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%px;"><tbody>
<tr height="20"><td align="Left" height="20" style="font-size: 11px;"></td></tr>
<tr height="1"><td align="Left" background="http://wwk.kathimerini.gr/webadmin/woman/gifs/TeleiaGri4x1.gif" height="1" style="font-size: 11px;"></td></tr>
<tr height="25"><td align="Left" class="eelantext2" height="25" style="font-size: 11px;"><a class="can" href="http://www.ekathimerini.com/" style="color: white; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #005689;"><span style="font-family: 'Microsoft Sans Serif'; font-size: 12px;">ekathimerini.com</span></span></a> , Tuesday November 12, 2013 (19:34) <br /><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</center>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Jane Sharphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17663990279177407508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7393133589927681744.post-46892551871568402042013-11-17T09:04:00.002-08:002013-11-17T09:04:22.245-08:00Hospital Visit in Heraklion<span style="background-color: yellow; font-size: large;">Don't anyone ever knock the British National Health Service!</span><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/SRlXOjvbYDc" width="420"></iframe><br />
Be thankful for every healthy day, that's what I say.<br />
<br />
I've had roast chicken for dinner, our log burner is fired up, and we are playing BBC sounds of the 70s.<br />
<br />
It doesn't get much better! Oh, and I've managed another couple of thousand words today.<br />
<br />
Happy Sunday evening to you all.<br />
Love Jane x<br />
<br />
<b>Tears from the Sun - A Cretan Journey is available from Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk, Barnes and Noble, and can be ordered from local book stores. Get your copy in time for Christmas.</b>Jane Sharphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17663990279177407508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7393133589927681744.post-59056487588817747522013-11-16T09:42:00.002-08:002013-11-16T09:42:33.496-08:00Fresh Fish in Vrahassi<span style="background-color: yellow;"><span style="font-size: large;">It was back to our old haunt last night, for a beer and a taste of Crete. We were even treated to a couple of little fish that Panos had caught fresh that morning, and Anna had cooked. It's great to be back!</span></span><br />
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rrna6F0qrEU/UoesliHqQVI/AAAAAAAAFBE/TLEc7oF1MfA/s1600/DSCN0864.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rrna6F0qrEU/UoesliHqQVI/AAAAAAAAFBE/TLEc7oF1MfA/s320/DSCN0864.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PJiNK4Ls4l8/UoeskZDdgmI/AAAAAAAAFA8/p7sv1_5QMjI/s1600/DSCN0865.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PJiNK4Ls4l8/UoeskZDdgmI/AAAAAAAAFA8/p7sv1_5QMjI/s320/DSCN0865.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
With thanks to the fish, of last night's supper.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Love Jane x<br /><br /></div>
Jane Sharphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17663990279177407508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7393133589927681744.post-8163388163370705342013-11-15T08:09:00.000-08:002013-11-15T08:09:07.721-08:00November Rain in Crete<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/lVlWS9cssTI" width="420"></iframe><br />
<br />
Hello dear readers, now you can hear me speak too. Have a good weekend, I look forward to being with you again next week.<br />
<br />
Love Jane x<br />
<br />
And don't hesitate to click the link at the top of the page to get started with the greatest network of all, Empower Network. Start making an income on line today, if I can do it so can you.Jane Sharphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17663990279177407508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7393133589927681744.post-19808943048438747492013-11-13T03:28:00.000-08:002013-11-13T03:28:28.527-08:00Saint Minas Day in Crete<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/6PDStc6Cvys" width="420"></iframe><br />
<br />
<br />
<h1 class="firstHeading" id="firstHeading" lang="en" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 1.6em; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 0.1em; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<span dir="auto">Agios Minas Cathedral</span></h1>
<div id="bodyContent" style="font-family: sans-serif; position: relative; width: 784px;">
<div id="siteSub" style="display: inline; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em;">
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia</div>
<div id="contentSub" style="color: #7d7d7d; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1.4em 1em; width: auto;">
</div>
<div class="mw-jump" id="jump-to-nav" style="font-size: 0.8em; height: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1.4em; margin-top: -1.4em; overflow: hidden; zoom: 1;">
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agios_Minas_Cathedral#mw-navigation" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;"></a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agios_Minas_Cathedral#p-search" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;"></a></div>
<div class="mw-content-ltr" dir="ltr" id="mw-content-text" lang="en" style="direction: ltr;">
<table cellspacing="3" class="infobox vcard" style="background-color: #f9f9f9; border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); clear: right; color: black; float: right; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0.5em 0px 0.5em 1em; padding: 0.2em; text-align: left; width: 300px;"><tbody>
<tr><th class="fn org" colspan="2" style="background-color: lightgrey; font-size: larger; text-align: center; vertical-align: top;">Agios Minas Cathedral</th></tr>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center; vertical-align: top;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Agios_Minas_Cathedral_01.jpg" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="Agios Minas Cathedral 01.jpg" height="175" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/70/Agios_Minas_Cathedral_01.jpg/250px-Agios_Minas_Cathedral_01.jpg" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/70/Agios_Minas_Cathedral_01.jpg/375px-Agios_Minas_Cathedral_01.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/70/Agios_Minas_Cathedral_01.jpg/500px-Agios_Minas_Cathedral_01.jpg 2x" style="border: none; vertical-align: middle;" width="250" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><th colspan="2" style="background-color: lightgrey; text-align: center; vertical-align: top;">Basic information</th></tr>
<tr><th scope="row" style="vertical-align: top;">Location</th><td style="vertical-align: top;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heraklion" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Heraklion">Heraklion</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greece" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Greece">Greece</a></td></tr>
<tr class="note"><th scope="row" style="vertical-align: top;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_religions_and_spiritual_traditions" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="List of religions and spiritual traditions">Affiliation</a></th><td style="vertical-align: top;"><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_Orthodox" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Greek Orthodox">Greek Orthodox</a></td></tr>
<tr><th scope="row" style="vertical-align: top;">District</th><td class="label" style="vertical-align: top;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_Crete" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Church of Crete">Archbishopric of Crete</a></td></tr>
<tr><th colspan="2" style="background-color: lightgrey; text-align: center; vertical-align: top;">Architectural description</th></tr>
<tr><th scope="row" style="vertical-align: top;">Completed</th><td class="note" style="vertical-align: top;">1895</td></tr>
<tr><th colspan="2" style="background-color: lightgrey; text-align: center; vertical-align: top;">Specifications</th></tr>
<tr><th scope="row" style="vertical-align: top;">Capacity</th><td style="vertical-align: top;">8,000</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.4em;">
The <b>Agios Minas Cathedral</b> is a <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_Orthodox" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Greek Orthodox">Greek Orthodox</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathedral" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Cathedral">Cathedral</a> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heraklion" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Heraklion">Heraklion</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greece" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Greece">Greece</a>, serving as the seat of the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archbishop_of_Crete" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Archbishop of Crete">Archbishop of Crete</a>. It was built over the time period of 1862-1895. The construction was interrupted during the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cretan_Revolution_of_1866%E2%80%931869" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Cretan Revolution of 1866–1869">Cretan Revolution of 1866–1869</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-1" style="line-height: 1em; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agios_Minas_Cathedral#cite_note-1" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;">[1]</a></sup> It is one of the largest cathedrals in Greece, with a capacity of 8,000 people <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-2" style="line-height: 1em; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agios_Minas_Cathedral#cite_note-2" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;">[2]</a></sup></div>
<div style="font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.4em;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1q4zVyG2DPw/UoNfIlj7zhI/AAAAAAAAFAg/nU-6b6_ZTU4/s1600/DSCN0860.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1q4zVyG2DPw/UoNfIlj7zhI/AAAAAAAAFAg/nU-6b6_ZTU4/s320/DSCN0860.JPG" width="320" /></a>So, thank you Agios Minas for getting us safely to our destination.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.4em;">
<div style="font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.5em;">
I just love sitting in Neapolis with a cold chocolate, or even a cold beer.</div>
<div style="font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.5em;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.5em;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">You can read some more about that in my book, </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=Tears+from+the+Sun+-+A+Cretan+Journey" style="font-size: small;" target="_blank">Tears from the Sun - A Cretan Journey</a></div>
<span style="font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.5em;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=Tears+from+the+Sun+-+A+Cretan+Journey" target="_blank">Buy your copy now from Amazon. </a> (and I'll love you forever - honestly!)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.5em;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.5em;">Talk soon,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.5em;">Love Jane x</span></div>
</div>
</div>
Jane Sharphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17663990279177407508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7393133589927681744.post-54640077156078017702013-11-04T03:19:00.001-08:002013-11-04T03:19:06.276-08:00Adventures of a Pensioner in Britain: Adventures of a Pensioner in Britain: Getting to K...<a href="http://jane-sharp.blogspot.com/2013/11/adventures-of-pensioner-in-britain.html?spref=bl">Adventures of a Pensioner in Britain: Adventures of a Pensioner in Britain: Getting to K...</a>: Adventures of a Pensioner in Britain: Getting to Know Princess Royal Hospital : So, normal life has not resumed! Just a quick catch up in ...Jane Sharphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17663990279177407508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7393133589927681744.post-9741811440144361172013-10-30T13:59:00.000-07:002013-10-30T13:59:06.179-07:00Ghosts for Halloween!<span style="background-color: yellow; font-size: x-large;">Michael Jackson's 'Ghosts' 1996 with Greek subtitles. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">This film was Michael 's attempt to create something that can surpass the success of Thriller. The result most artistically perfect, is a short film that ranks and category of the video clip. Filmed and aired in 1996 and released in limited editions along with the film Stephen King "THINNER". A year later released worldwide on video and Video CD. The film was screened out of competition at Cannes in 1997. In 2002 he was honored by the Guinness Book of Records as the biggest clips in the history of music.</span><br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/eukxk2m_dZA?rel=0" width="420"></iframe><br />
<br />
<div id="watch-description-clip" style="border: 0px; float: left; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 390px;">
<div id="watch-description-text" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<div id="eow-description" style="border: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Η ταινία Ghosts του Michael Jackson από το 1996 με ελληνικούς υπότιτλους. H ταινία αποτέλεσε την προσπάθεια του Michael να δημιουργήσει κάτι που να ξεπεράσει την επιτυχία του Thriller. Το αποτέλεσμα καλλιτεχνικά πιο άρτιο, είναι μία ταινία μικρού μήκους που κατατάσσεται και στη κατηγορία του βίντεο κλιπ. Κινηματογραφήθηκε και προβλήθηκε το 1996, ενώ κυκλοφόρησε σε περιορισμένα αντίτυπα μαζί με τη ταινία του Stephen King "THINNER". Ένα χρόνο αργότερα κυκλοφόρησε παγκοσμίως σε βιντεοκασέτα και Video CD. Η ταινία προβλήθηκε εκτός διαγωνισμού στο φεστιβάλ των Καννών το 1997. Το 2002 τιμήθηκε από το βιβλίο Γκίνες ως το μεγαλύτερο βιντεοκλιπ στην ιστορία της μουσικής.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">On the eve of Halloween I bring you this absolute must to watch 'scary' movie clip. It's genius is unbelievably great! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">And if that doesn't scare you... take a look at this, it is the house where I was born, and my sister five years later. In those days it was a nursing home. Just a little trip down memory lane. I wonder who else was born there. Let me know if you were.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rTEufQyKWGs/UnFwyWYtrZI/AAAAAAAAFAI/K-On28FgjfY/s1600/Brooklands+postcard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="380" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rTEufQyKWGs/UnFwyWYtrZI/AAAAAAAAFAI/K-On28FgjfY/s640/Brooklands+postcard.jpg" width="640" /></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: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">So, have a good Halloween everyone, wherever you may be. London seems to be swimming in big orange pumpkins. When I was a kid in Long Preston, we had to hollow out a turnip - and that was hard going. Ah, the good old days. Of course, there is no 'trick or treat' in Vrahassi.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Maybe my next book will be a thriller!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div id="watch-description-extras" style="border: 0px; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 0px;">
<ul class="watch-extras-section" style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<li style="border: 0px; clear: both; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px;"><div class="content" style="border: 0px; color: #999999; margin: 0px 0px 0px 100px; padding: 0px;">
<div id="eow-reuse" style="border: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
<ul id="watch-description-extra-info" style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 410px; min-height: 55px; padding: 0px; width: 190px;">
<li class="" style="border: 0px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px 0px 2px;"><span class="metadata-info" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 22px; padding: 0px;"><span class="metadata-info-title" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></span></span><br /><div style="font-size: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<span class="link-list metadata-info offer-links-with-thumbnail" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; margin: 6px 0px 0px 90px; padding: 0px;"></span></li>
</ul>
Jane Sharphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17663990279177407508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7393133589927681744.post-21071293578737307202013-10-28T09:26:00.000-07:002013-10-28T09:29:19.165-07:00'Oxi' Day Remembered<span style="background-color: yellow; font-size: x-large;">'Oxi' Day - The video says it all.</span><br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/OKZthnYooVI?rel=0" width="420"></iframe><br />
<br />
And in Crete today, I am sure there well have been lots of marching. I am also sure that there is a lot of hope for the future. In my experience, the Cretan people, at least, are not ones for sitting back and allowing injustice to get the better of them. Although the video below was filmed in 2010, this annual event does not vary from year to year.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/wYg7RGYDBn4" width="560"></iframe><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: red;">WARNING!!!!!!!!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: red;">ONLY WATCH THIS VIDEO IF YOU a) HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOR AND b)CAN HANDLE BAD LANGUAGE.</span><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.videobash.com/embed/ODA2NzIx" width="480"></iframe><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: yellow;">Well, that's 'Oxi' Day for you. Of course it is not always the best policy to say no, is it? Get a grip on life and give it a BIG THUMBS UP, YES! CAN YOU DO IT? YES YOU CAN!</span><br />
<br />
Oh, and by the way, I'm not anti Italian, or anyone else come to think of it. I'm just reporting what is.<br />
<br />
And, if you would like to look at an alternative way of improving your future, why not start blogging yourself, you will find a link at the top of this page.<br />
<br />
You could of course, always write a book, like I did.<b> </b><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_15/280-8219181-4008959?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=tears%20from%20the%20sun%20-%20a%20cretan%20journey&sprefix=tears+from+the+%2Caps%2C193&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Atears%20from%20the%20sun%20-%20a%20cretan%20journey" target="_blank"><b>Tears from the Sun - A Cretan Journey.</b> </a>If you are interested in all things Cretan, then take a look at my book.<br />
<br />
I wish you all a very happy 'Oxi' Day,<br />
Love and hugs,<br />
Jane x<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Jane Sharphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17663990279177407508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7393133589927681744.post-20061043320116104982013-10-22T16:21:00.000-07:002013-10-22T16:21:06.936-07:00Selene - Who was she?<span style="background-color: yellow; font-size: x-large;">Who was Selene? </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;">When I was born, my grandfather wanted to call me Selena, it was the name of my great grandmother. It wasn't until I traveled to Crete that I realized the significance of that name.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;">Selene is the moon goddess. She is the daughter of the Titons, Hyperion and Theia. One of her lovers was the mortal Endymion, a shepherd boy. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selene" target="_blank">Check out their story here.</a></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EgSnDiVtVyo/UmcCRMLDr_I/AAAAAAAAE_c/zunIAYG1Ke4/s1600/a0e0f5f5-a718-492c-8c71-26178fb83e7b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EgSnDiVtVyo/UmcCRMLDr_I/AAAAAAAAE_c/zunIAYG1Ke4/s320/a0e0f5f5-a718-492c-8c71-26178fb83e7b.jpg" width="292" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #f88000; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.583em;">A Thing of Beauty (Endymion)</span><br />
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14px; margin-top: 20px; min-height: 570px;">
<div class="KonaBody">
<div style="font-size: 1.167em; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 21px; margin-top: 12px;">
A thing of beauty is a joy for ever:<br />Its loveliness increases; it will never<br />Pass into nothingness; but still will keep<br />A bower quiet for us, and a sleep<br />Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing.<br />Therefore, on every morrow, are we wreathing<br />A flowery band to bind us to the earth,<br />Spite of despondence, of the inhuman dearth<br />Of noble natures, of the gloomy days,<br />Of all the unhealthy and o'er-darkn'd ways<br />Made for our searching: yes, in spite of all,<br />Some shape of beauty moves away the pall<br />From our dark spirits. Such the sun, the moon,<br />Trees old and young, sprouting a shady boon<br />For simple sheep; and such are daffodils<br />With the green world they live in; and clear rills<br />That for themselves a cooling covert make<br />'Gainst the hot season; the mid-forest brake,<br />Rich with a sprinkling of fair musk-rose blooms:<br />And such too is the grandeur of the dooms<br />We have imagined for the mighty dead;<br />An endless fountain of immortal drink,<br />Pouring unto us from the heaven's brink. </div>
</div>
<div class="poet" itemprop="author" style="color: black; font-size: 1.417em; margin: 22px 0px 25px;">
John Keats</div>
<div class="poet" itemprop="author" style="color: black; font-size: 1.417em; margin: 22px 0px 25px;">
<b><a href="http://www2.hn.psu.edu/faculty/jmanis/keats/keats6x9.pdf" target="_blank">For the whole poem click here.</a></b></div>
<div class="poet" itemprop="author" style="color: black; font-size: 1.417em; margin: 22px 0px 25px;">
I think I should have liked to have been called Selena, but being a Cancerian, I am ruled by the moon anyway. You can read about the mountain, Selene, in Crete, in my book <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_8/279-7620873-7090362?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=tears%20from%20the%20sun%20-%20a%20cretan%20journey&sprefix=tears+fr%2Caps%2C185&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Atears%20from%20the%20sun%20-%20a%20cretan%20journey" target="_blank"><b>Tears from the Sun - A Cretan Journey.</b></a> Another love story between moon goddess and shepherd. Click the link to find out more.</div>
<div class="poet" itemprop="author" style="color: black; font-size: 1.417em; margin: 22px 0px 25px;">
Love and hugs,</div>
<div class="poet" itemprop="author" style="color: black; font-size: 1.417em; margin: 22px 0px 25px;">
Jane x</div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: #fffdf9; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br /></div>
Jane Sharphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17663990279177407508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7393133589927681744.post-89584360218330044132013-10-21T02:47:00.003-07:002013-10-21T03:21:08.291-07:00Please Help if you Can...<span style="background-color: yellow; font-size: x-large;">The search for the parents of this beautiful little girl continues.</span><br />
<br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family: verdana, helvetica, arial, geneva, Tahoma, 'Arial Greek'; width: 650px;"><tbody>
<tr><td bgcolor="#ffffff" style="font-size: 11px;" valign="top" width="650"><table bgcolor="#ffffff" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%px;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="eelantext"><div class="Atitle" style="color: #003366; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 17px;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 22px;"><b>Roma couple to face magistrate as search for 'Maria's' parents intensifies</b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, 'Arial Greek';">
<br /></div>
<table align="Left" bgcolor="#ffffff" border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, 'Arial Greek'; font-size: 12px; width: 402px;" vspace="5"><tbody>
<tr><td align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" style="font-family: verdana, helvetica, arial, geneva, Tahoma, 'Arial Greek'; font-size: 11px;"><span class="signatureW"></span><br />
<div class="kbyline" style="color: #660000; font-family: arial, Helvetica, verdana, sans-serif; font-variant: small-caps; line-height: 16px;">
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td align="Left" style="font-family: verdana, helvetica, arial, geneva, Tahoma, 'Arial Greek'; font-size: 11px;" valign="top"><div class="kbyline" style="color: #660000; font-family: arial, Helvetica, verdana, sans-serif; font-variant: small-caps; line-height: 16px;">
</div>
<img alt="" border="0" src="http://photo.ekathimerini.com/kath/engs/img/NEWS/2013/10/maria_390_2110.jpg" width="390" /><span class="LezantaW"></span><img align="right" alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://wwk.kathimerini.gr/kathnews/images/dot_clear.gif" valign="ABSBOTTOM" width="2" /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, 'Arial Greek'; font-size: 12px;">
The Roma couple who falsely claimed to be the parents of a 4-year-old child found at a gypsy camp in central Greece are due to face a magistrate on Monday as the international search for the child’s real mother and father continues.</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, 'Arial Greek'; font-size: 12px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, 'Arial Greek'; font-size: 12px;">
Charges of kidnapping and obtaining a false birth certificate will be issued against the Roma couple, who claim that they adopted the baby when it was abandoned by its foreign parents. Police are to publish the photos of the man and woman in the hope that it helps with their inquiries to locate the parents of the girl, who has been nicknamed Maria.</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, 'Arial Greek'; font-size: 12px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, 'Arial Greek'; font-size: 12px;">
Greek authorities have contacted Interpol to help with the search and the children’s organization The Smile of the Child, which is looking after the girl, has received thousands of calls from Greece and abroad regarding Maria.</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, 'Arial Greek'; font-size: 12px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, 'Arial Greek'; font-size: 12px;">
"[Her] reaction was immediate terror: She was terrified because she doesn't know where she goes. She was crying and opposing to go wherever,» said Costas Yiannopoulos, the charity’s director.</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, 'Arial Greek'; font-size: 12px;">
"As soon as she went to the hospital and had a nice bath, and then the next morning our people looked after her. She immediately changed."</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, 'Arial Greek'; font-size: 12px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, 'Arial Greek'; font-size: 12px;">
Police are also extending their searches to hospitals and registry offices to seek information that may point to systematic child trafficking.</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, 'Arial Greek'; font-size: 12px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, 'Arial Greek'; font-size: 12px;">
The girl was found during a raid on a Roma camp in Farsala last week. Authorities noticed that Maria did not look like her supposed parents and a subsequent DNA test proved that there was no match.</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, 'Arial Greek'; font-size: 12px;">
Authorities suspect the pair were involved in human trafficking as records show them having a total of 14 children, registered in three different parts of Greece. However, speaking to Skai TV late on Friday, the couple’s lawyer, Marietta Palavra, said that the pair decided to take on the child after feeling sorry for her. She alleged that the girl’s biological mother, a foreign national, wanted to “get rid” of her child.</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, 'Arial Greek'; font-size: 12px;">
In response to questions about why the couple had registered so many children, the lawyer claimed it was a way of maximizing the state benefits they could receive.</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, 'Arial Greek'; font-size: 12px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, 'Arial Greek'; font-size: 12px;">
The case has received international attention and a spokesman for the parents of Madeleine McCann, a British girl who went missing in Portugal in 2007, said the child’s discovery had given them “great hope” their daughter would be found alive.</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, 'Arial Greek'; font-size: 12px;">
The family of Ben Needham, a 21-month-old British toddler who was abducted from his grandparents’ home on the island of Kos in 1991, have call for further DNA tests as they continue to search for their missing loved one.</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, 'Arial Greek'; font-size: 12px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, 'Arial Greek'; font-size: 12px;">
“Obviously, it's been a strong belief of myself and all my family that Ben was taken by gypsies for child trafficking or illegal adoptions and this case just shows that they can be found,” said Ben’s sister, Leighanna.</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, 'Arial Greek'; font-size: 12px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, 'Arial Greek'; font-size: 12px;">
“I think that would be a brilliant thing to get our DNA out there, even if it's not actually Ben but any siblings or any children maybe of Ben (that are found) then that could hopefully lead us to him.”</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, 'Arial Greek'; font-size: 12px;">
Kerry Needham, Ben’s mother, called for the investigation into her son’s disappearance to be reopened. “We have always believed that Ben's abduction was gypsy-related and have had a long ongoing inquiry in Larissa,” she told ITV. “We hope that the investigation into Ben's disappearance will now be looked at again.”</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, 'Arial Greek'; font-size: 12px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, 'Arial Greek'; font-size: 12px;">
Meanwhile, the Roma community in Greece fears that they will be stigmatized by the case of Maria. «We know these cases exist, but they involve Bulgarians, not Greeks like us. There are no transactions involving children here,» the president of the Roma community in Farsala, Babis Dimitriou, told the Associated Press, adding that the 40-year-old woman, who had registered Maria as her own child, «cared for her even better than for her own children."</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, 'Arial Greek'; font-size: 12px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, 'Arial Greek'; font-size: 12px;">
<span style="color: #005689; font-family: verdana, helvetica, arial, geneva, Tahoma, 'Arial Greek'; font-size: 11px; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: 'Microsoft Sans Serif'; font-size: 12px;"><a href="http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite1_1_21/10/2013_524008" target="_blank">ekathimerini.com</a></span></span><span style="font-family: verdana, helvetica, arial, geneva, Tahoma, 'Arial Greek'; font-size: 11px;"><a href="http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite1_1_21/10/2013_524008" target="_blank"> , Monday October 21, 2013</a> (10:16) </span></div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, 'Arial Greek'; font-size: 12px;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, helvetica, arial, geneva, Tahoma, 'Arial Greek'; font-size: 11px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, 'Arial Greek'; font-size: 12px;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, helvetica, arial, geneva, Tahoma, 'Arial Greek'; font-size: 11px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, 'Arial Greek';">
<span style="font-family: verdana, helvetica, arial, geneva, Tahoma, 'Arial Greek';"><span style="font-size: large;">Please help if you can.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, 'Arial Greek';">
<span style="font-family: verdana, helvetica, arial, geneva, Tahoma, 'Arial Greek';"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana, helvetica, arial, geneva, Tahoma, 'Arial Greek';">My prayers for all those families who have had their children taken from them.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: verdana, helvetica, arial, geneva, Tahoma, 'Arial Greek';"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: yellow;">And talking about help, these people could do with your help too, poor souls, sometimes I think life deals out a very bad hand.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, 'Arial Greek'; font-size: 12px;"></span><span style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, 'Arial Greek'; font-size: 12px;"></span><br style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, 'Arial Greek'; font-size: 12px;" />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 22px; font-weight: bold;">Immigrants’ interest in repatriations growing fast</span><br />
<table align="Left" bgcolor="#ffffff" border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, 'Arial Greek'; width: 362px;" vspace="5"><tbody>
<tr><td align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" style="font-family: verdana, helvetica, arial, geneva, Tahoma, 'Arial Greek'; font-size: 11px;"><span class="signatureW"></span><div class="kbyline" style="color: #660000; font-family: arial, Helvetica, verdana, sans-serif; font-variant: small-caps; line-height: 16px;">
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td align="Left" style="font-family: verdana, helvetica, arial, geneva, Tahoma, 'Arial Greek'; font-size: 11px;" valign="top"><div class="kbyline" style="color: #660000; font-family: arial, Helvetica, verdana, sans-serif; font-variant: small-caps; line-height: 16px;">
</div>
<img alt="" border="0" src="http://sup.kathimerini.gr/kath/engs/img/NEWS/2012/03/migrant_sweep_350.jpg" width="350" /><span class="LezantaW"></span><img align="right" alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://wwk.kathimerini.gr/kathnews/images/dot_clear.gif" valign="ABSBOTTOM" width="2" /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, 'Arial Greek'; font-size: 12px;">
Almost 2,000 migrants in Greece have applied for voluntary repatriation since the beginning of July, largely due to joblessness.</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, 'Arial Greek'; font-size: 12px;">
The Greek branch of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said 15,481 people have taken advantage of the European Union-funded program since it started in 2010. Whereas applications mostly came from Africans and Asians, Eastern Europeans are also showing interest now.</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, 'Arial Greek'; font-size: 12px;">
Since the summer, 832 Pakistanis, 361 Bangladeshis and 142 Georgians have been among those who have chosen to return home. “The people who ask to leave Greece face huge problems,” said Daniel Esdras, the head of IOM in Greece. “Nine in 10 are homeless and have to look for food every day. They have realized they are in a tragic situation, a dead end.”</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, 'Arial Greek'; font-size: 12px;">
Esdras said interest in the program from migrants at reception centers has also risen. Last year, they only made up 5 percent of those seeking to leave. That figure has grown to 18 percent.</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, 'Arial Greek'; font-size: 12px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, 'Arial Greek'; font-size: 12px;">
<span style="color: #005689; font-family: verdana, helvetica, arial, geneva, Tahoma, 'Arial Greek'; font-size: 11px;"><span style="font-family: 'Microsoft Sans Serif'; font-size: 12px;"><a href="http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite1_1_21/10/2013_524008" target="_blank">ekathimerini.com</a></span></span><span style="font-family: verdana, helvetica, arial, geneva, Tahoma, 'Arial Greek'; font-size: 11px;"><a href="http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite1_1_21/10/2013_524008" target="_blank"> , Monday October 21, 2013</a> (10:16)</span></div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, 'Arial Greek'; font-size: 12px;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, helvetica, arial, geneva, Tahoma, 'Arial Greek'; font-size: 11px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, 'Arial Greek'; font-size: 12px;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, helvetica, arial, geneva, Tahoma, 'Arial Greek'; font-size: 11px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, 'Arial Greek'; font-size: 12px;">
<span style="background-color: lime; font-family: verdana, helvetica, arial, geneva, Tahoma, 'Arial Greek'; font-size: 11px;">Love and prayers for the homeless, and for all those who are in a position to help, give food, clothing, and to show these people that someone cares.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, 'Arial Greek'; font-size: 12px;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, helvetica, arial, geneva, Tahoma, 'Arial Greek'; font-size: 11px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, 'Arial Greek'; font-size: 12px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, 'Arial Greek';">
<span style="background-color: red; font-size: x-large;">And on a brighter note...</span></div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, 'Arial Greek'; font-size: 12px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OMnJtufCDBw/UmT8KperzAI/AAAAAAAAE-8/prte7_e2y3c/s1600/Picture-of-the-week-Crisi-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="195" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OMnJtufCDBw/UmT8KperzAI/AAAAAAAAE-8/prte7_e2y3c/s320/Picture-of-the-week-Crisi-001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, 'Arial Greek'; font-size: 12px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, 'Arial Greek'; font-size: 12px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, 'Arial Greek'; font-size: 12px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #666666; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2013/oct/18/big-picture-crisis-wedding-nick-hannes#zoomed-picture" target="_blank">Photograph: Nick Hannes</a> The Guardian Newspaper</span></div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, 'Arial Greek'; font-size: 12px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #666666; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></div>
<div id="article-body-blocks" style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<div style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; margin-bottom: 13px; padding: 0px;">
It's not your typical wedding reception venue, but the warm glow of the petrol pumps, the sturdy dance floor and the soft breeze from the Gulf of Corinth beat a soggy marquee in Surrey hands down. And the view is tremendous: you can just see the spectacular Rio-Antirrio bridge, which links the Peloponnese to the Greek mainland, illuminated in the background.</div>
<div style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; margin-bottom: 13px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent;"> The groom, Christos, had to hold the reception at his own petrol station to save money.</span></div>
<div style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; margin-bottom: 13px; padding: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; margin-bottom: 13px; padding: 0px;">
Well done for Christos and his family. Just because we have less, we can still be happy! And I'm talking from experience here. Happiness is in the mind, not in the pocket. Of course, that doesn't stop us wanting as much out of life as we can get. But we do have to live the moment with as much happiness as we can muster. I'm smiling, are you?</div>
<div style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; margin-bottom: 13px; padding: 0px;">
Great, have a wonderfully happy day,</div>
<div style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; margin-bottom: 13px; padding: 0px;">
Love and hugs,</div>
<div style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; margin-bottom: 13px; padding: 0px;">
Jane x</div>
<div style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 13px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: yellow;">And don't forget, that book of mine will bring a smile to your face, even though the title might make you think otherwise.<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_16/275-3533043-7698606?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=tears%20from%20the%20sun%20-%20a%20cretan%20journey&sprefix=tears+from+the+s%2Caps%2C195&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Atears%20from%20the%20sun%20-%20a%20cretan%20journey" target="_blank"><b> Tears from the Sun - A Cretan Journey Click here for the story line.</b></a> It is only $2.87 as a Kindle e-book. Download your copy now, or buy a paperback, it will make a great Christmas present! Thanks in advance. Jane x</span></div>
<div style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; margin-bottom: 13px; padding: 0px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, 'Arial Greek';">
<span style="font-family: verdana, helvetica, arial, geneva, Tahoma, 'Arial Greek';"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana, helvetica, arial, geneva, Tahoma, 'Arial Greek';"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-size: 11px;"></td><td style="font-size: 11px;"></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-size: 11px;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family: verdana, helvetica, arial, geneva, Tahoma, 'Arial Greek'; width: 100%px;"><tbody></tbody></table>
Jane Sharphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17663990279177407508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7393133589927681744.post-49566770220450020762013-10-17T11:49:00.001-07:002013-10-17T11:54:43.377-07:00Chinese scribes date Minoan Distruction<span style="background-color: yellow; font-size: x-large;">It's all Greek to me! So now we can all speak Minoan if we put our minds to it. lol! Read on to find out what the Chinese had to say about the date of the Minoan destruction.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: yellow; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vjQpxMh-zfE/UmAruICi8HI/AAAAAAAAE-s/Q8BaMoOMcIw/s1600/konoso.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vjQpxMh-zfE/UmAruICi8HI/AAAAAAAAE-s/Q8BaMoOMcIw/s1600/konoso.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: yellow; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #004747; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 1.3em; line-height: 1.6em;">Linear B</span><br />
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em; margin-bottom: 10px; padding: 0px;">
In 1900 the archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans (1851-1941) discovered a large number of clay tablets inscribed with mysterious symbols at Knossos on Crete. Believing he had discovered the palace of King Minos, together with the Minotaur's labyrinth, Evans dubbed the inscriptions and the language they represented as 'Minoan'.</div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em; margin-bottom: 10px; padding: 0px;">
Evans spent the rest of his life trying to decipher the inscriptions, with only limited success. He realized that the inscriptions represented three different writing systems: a 'hieroglyphic' script,<a href="http://www.omniglot.com/writing/lineara.htm" style="border: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Linear A</a> and Linear B.</div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em; margin-bottom: 10px; padding: 0px;">
The hieroglyphic script appears only on seal stones and has yet to be deciphered. Linear A, also undecipherable, is thought to have evolved from the hieroglyphic script, and Linear B probably evolved from Linear A, though the relationship between the two scripts is unclear.</div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em; margin-bottom: 10px; padding: 0px;">
Evans figured out that short lines in Linear B texts were word dividers. He also deciphered the counting system and a number of pictograms, which led him to believe that the script was mainly pictographic. Evans also discovered a number of parallels between the <a href="http://www.omniglot.com/writing/cypriot.htm" style="border: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Cypriot script</a>, which had been deciphered, and Linear B. This indicated that the language represented by Linear B was an ancient form of Greek, but he wasn't prepared to accept this, being convinced that Linear B was used to write Minoan, a language unrelated to Greek.</div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em; margin-bottom: 10px; padding: 0px;">
In 1939, a large number of clay tablets inscribed with Linear B writing were found at Pylos on the Greek mainland, much to the surprise of Evans, who thought Linear B was used only on Crete.</div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em; margin-bottom: 10px; padding: 0px;">
Michael Ventris (1922-56) was the person who eventually deciphered Linear B in 1953. His interest was sparked in 1936 on a school trip to an exhibition about the Minoan world organised by Arthur Evans. For the next 17 years, Ventris struggled to understand Linear B. At first he was skeptical that the language of Linear B was Greek, even though many of the deciphered words resembled an archaic form of Greek. Later, with the help of John Chadwick, an expert on early Greek, he showed beyond reasonable doubt the Linear B did indeed represent Greek.</div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em; margin-bottom: 10px; padding: 0px;">
Linear B was used between about 1500 and 1200 BC to write a form of Greek known as Mycenaean, named after Mycenae, where Agamemnon is said to have ruled. It . The Linear B inscriptions, most of which were accounting records listing materials and goods, are the earliest known examples of written Greek.</div>
<h2 style="border: 0px; color: #003366; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 3px;">
Linear B syllabary</h2>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em; margin-bottom: 10px; padding: 0px;">
<img alt="Linear B syllabary" height="269" src="http://www.omniglot.com/images/writing/linearb.gif" style="margin: 6px 0px;" width="492" /></div>
<h3>
<span style="color: #003366; font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 1.4em;">Linear B logograms</span></h3>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em; margin-bottom: 10px; padding: 0px;">
These logograms stand for whole words and mainly represent items that were traded. As Linear B was used mainly for recording transactions, this is not surprising. Some of the logograms resemble the things the represent, so could be called pictograms. Not all the logograms have been deciphered.</div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em; margin-bottom: 10px; padding: 0px;">
<img alt="Linear B logograms" height="272" src="http://www.omniglot.com/images/writing/linerb_logograms.gif" style="margin: 6px 0px;" width="587" /></div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em; margin-bottom: 10px; padding: 0px;">
Thanks to the website: Omniglot, for the above information.</div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 1.4em; margin-bottom: 10px; padding: 0px;">
<b style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal;"><span style="background-color: yellow; color: black; font-size: x-large;">The following is taken from Charles Pellegrino's Unearthing Atlantis (pages 233-246). </span></b></div>
<b><span style="color: black;">One other piece of the jigsaw puzzle, only recently brought to light, provides a glimpse of life under the pall of volcanic winter, and can be dated with reasonable assurance to the time of the Thera upheaval.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: black;">In China, during the Minoan Linear A Period, records were written on strips of bamboo. Fourteen hundred years later, all such strips that had survived to the reign of Emperor Qin were recognized as priceless treasures and, probably under orders from the emperor himself, were compiled and copied by scribes copied so many times that survival of China's past into its future was virtually guaranteed. The ancient texts state that "in the twenty-ninth year of King Chieh [the last ruler of Hsia, the earliest recorded Chinese dynasty], the Sun was dimmed . . . King Chieh lacked virtue . . . the Sun was distressed . . . during the last years of Chieh ice formed in [summer] mornings and frosts in the sixth month [July]. Heavy rainfall toppled temples and buildings.... Heaven gave severe orders. The Sun and Moon were untimely. Hot and cold weather arrived in disorder. The five cereal crops withered and died."</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: black;">The bamboo annals further record that floods and ice were followed by seven years of drought lasting into the beginning of the Shang dynasty. A great famine broke out, and in the northern provinces man became a man eater. The Chinese scribes did not provide precise dates for these events; but they did footnote their royal genealogies with listings of eclipses and other astronomical phenomena. During 1990 and 1991, NASA/JPL astronomer Kevin Pang carefully tracked China's dynasties backward through time, using as probes the predictable motions of heavenly bodies to derive such precisely dated events as the lunar eclipse of January 29, 1137 B.C.which, though not dated by the scribes, was said by them to have occurred during the thirty- fifth year of King Wen.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: black;">King Chei lived at the same time as T'ang (the first king of the Shang dynasty), which, according to the scribes, was sixteen generations before King Wen. Because the Chinese considered a generation to be thirty years long, one can infer that Chieh ruled about 480 years before Wen, around 1617 B.C., plus or minus a decade or two. Armed with additional eclipse dates for 1876 B.C. (twenty - five generations before Wen) and 1302 B.C. (five generations before Wen), Kevin Pang plotted the eclipses on a graph, fitting a curve through them and locating the point that, according to Chinese history, places Chieh sixteen generations before Wen.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: black;">"We find the date is again [in the range of] 1600 B.C.," says Pang, "plus or minus thirty years. Thus the historical records confirm what was suggested by the ice cores, tree rings and older radiocarbon dates that Thera [exploded] late in the seventeenth century B. C. "</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: black;">Given such evidence, I think the archaeologists will eventually come around. One thing is certain: these are exciting times for astronomers, glaciologists and paleontologists to be poking our noses into the field. Resetting dates tends to ruffle a few feathers, but Cretan and Theran scholars haven't put up any serious resistance. People have not been studying the Minoans for very long: the civilization was only discovered during the past century, and there has not been enough time for opinions to become deeply entrenched.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></b>
<span style="color: black;">I think all of this is very interesting. I hope you think the so too. It makes a change from reading about Greek politicians and what they are doing with other people's money.<b> </b></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: black;"><b>Minoan history is very close to my heart. Of course, I have my own theory of how the Minoan Civilization met its end. <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_16?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=tears+from+the+sun+-+a+cretan+journey&sprefix=tears+from+the+s%2Caps%2C151&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Atears+from+the+sun+-+a+cretan+journey" target="_blank">You can read my theory in Tears from the Sun - A Cretan Journey, which is available from Amazon. Check it out.</a></b></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: black;">And should you have read my book, maybe you would like to follow me on Face Book. Take a look at my fan page, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/tearsfromthesun?ref=h" target="_blank">Tears from the Sun - Jane Sharp</a> and please click 'like' if you do.</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: black;">That's all for today, I'll be back with more Cretan news, tomorrow.</span><br />
Love and Hugs,<br />
Jane xJane Sharphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17663990279177407508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7393133589927681744.post-11860407510939672822013-10-15T12:37:00.000-07:002013-10-15T12:38:58.257-07:00The Church of Greece on its Knees<span style="background-color: yellow; font-size: x-large;">The creation of yet another committee - I think it's time for action, not words!</span><br />
<br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family: verdana, helvetica, arial, geneva, Tahoma, 'Arial Greek'; width: 650px;"><tbody>
<tr><td bgcolor="#ffffff" style="font-size: 11px;" valign="top" width="650"><table bgcolor="#ffffff" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%px;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="eelantext" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, 'Arial Greek'; font-size: 12px;"><div class="Atitle" style="color: #003366; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 17px;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 22px;"><b>Church to draft 3-year plan to curb debt, exploit assets</b></span></div>
<br />
<table align="Left" bgcolor="#ffffff" border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" style="width: 362px;" vspace="5"><tbody>
<tr><td align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" style="font-family: verdana, helvetica, arial, geneva, Tahoma, 'Arial Greek'; font-size: 11px;"><span class="signatureW"></span><br />
<div class="kbyline" style="color: #660000; font-family: arial, Helvetica, verdana, sans-serif; font-variant: small-caps; line-height: 16px;">
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td align="Left" style="font-family: verdana, helvetica, arial, geneva, Tahoma, 'Arial Greek'; font-size: 11px;" valign="top"><div class="kbyline" style="color: #660000; font-family: arial, Helvetica, verdana, sans-serif; font-variant: small-caps; line-height: 16px;">
</div>
<img alt="" border="0" src="http://photo.ekathimerini.com/kath/engs/img/NEWS/2013/05/ieronymos.jpg" width="350" /><span class="LezantaW"></span><img align="right" alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://wwk.kathimerini.gr/kathnews/images/dot_clear.gif" valign="ABSBOTTOM" width="2" /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The Church of Greece is drawing up a three-year financial plan in a bid to determine the size of its debt and to exploit its assets to secure its autonomy, Archbishop Ieronymos told a session of the Holy Synod on Tuesday.<br />
“The situation today is dire,” Ieronymos told clerics, saying that the Church’s debts and the general economic situation “have brought us to our knees.” A three-year program would “present a picture of our debts and our reserves as well as outlining the impact of a new legislative framework on the exploitation of our assets,” he said.<br />
Emphasizing that “without assets we will never have autonomy,” Ieronymos also set the scene for a discussion about a possible change in the relationship between the Church and the state.<br />
“Will we let events overtake us?” the archbishop remarked and called for the creation of a committee of clerics and independent experts to discuss a likely constitutional revision and its implications for the Church.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-size: 11px;"></td><td style="font-size: 11px;"></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-size: 11px;"></td><td style="font-size: 11px;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family: verdana, helvetica, arial, geneva, Tahoma, 'Arial Greek'; width: 100%px;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="font-size: 11px;"><center>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%px;"><tbody>
<tr height="20"><td align="Left" height="20" style="font-size: 11px;"></td></tr>
<tr height="1"><td align="Left" background="http://wwk.kathimerini.gr/webadmin/woman/gifs/TeleiaGri4x1.gif" height="1" style="font-size: 11px;"></td></tr>
<tr height="25"><td align="Left" class="eelantext2" height="25"><span style="font-size: 11px;"><a class="can" href="http://www.ekathimerini.com/" style="color: white; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #005689;"><span style="font-family: 'Microsoft Sans Serif'; font-size: 12px;">ekathimerini.com</span></span></a> , Tuesday October 15, 2013 (20:30) <br /><br />Thanks to ekathimerini newspaper for this article.<br /><br />Well, the earthquake didn't rock much, so I guess it is up to Archbishop Ieronymos to do a bit of moving and s</span>haking. It appears that the Church of Greece also has debts. Let's hope the leaders of the Greek church have a bit more savvy than the priest in the following video.<br />
<br />
I just had to show you this. For those of you who don't speak Greek, the priest is telling his congregation not to buy the 'Furby' cuddly toy, because in his opinion it is the 'Antichrist.' He says it has a microchip inside it which enables it to speak. And that it has the devil inside it. Draw your own conclusions.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/E1dyGK6R8v8?rel=0" width="420"></iframe><br />
<span style="font-size: 11px;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 11px;">And on that happy note, I will bid you a good night.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 11px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 11px;">Keep smiling!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 11px;">Love Jane x</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 11px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">P.S. Hey! Did you read my book yet? There's a wacky priest in my plot, too! <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_22/276-7293316-7075137?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=tears%20from%20the%20sun%20-%20a%20cretan%20journey&sprefix=tears+from+the+sun+-+a%2Caps%2C264&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Atears%20from%20the%20sun%20-%20a%20cretan%20journey" target="_blank">Tears from the Sun - A Cretan Journey. On Kindle at Amazon.</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</center>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Jane Sharphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17663990279177407508noreply@blogger.com1