Nostalgia in Vrahassi

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



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)

Blessings around the world,
Love Jane x

Saint Minas Day in Crete

Agios Minas Cathedral

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Agios Minas Cathedral
Basic information
Location	Heraklion, Greece
Affiliation	Greek Orthodox
District	Archbishopric of Crete
Architectural description
Completed	1895
Specifications
Capacity	8,000

The Agios Minas Cathedral is a Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Heraklion, Greece, serving as the seat of the Archbishop of Crete. It was built over the time period of 1862-1895. The construction was interrupted during the Cretan Revolution of 1866–1869.^[1] It is one of the largest cathedrals in Greece, with a capacity of 8,000 people ^[2]

So, thank you Agios Minas for getting us safely to our destination.

I just love sitting in Neapolis with a cold chocolate, or even a cold beer.

You can read some more about that in my book, Tears from the Sun - A Cretan Journey

Buy your copy now from Amazon.  (and I'll love you forever - honestly!)

Talk soon,
Love Jane x

Ghosts for Halloween!

Michael Jackson's 'Ghosts' 1996 with Greek subtitles. 

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.

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.

On the eve of Halloween I bring you this absolute must to watch 'scary' movie clip. It's genius is unbelievably great! 

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.

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.

Maybe my next book will be a thriller!

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'Oxi' Day Remembered

'Oxi' Day - The video says it all.



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.



WARNING!!!!!!!!
ONLY WATCH THIS VIDEO IF YOU a) HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOR AND b)CAN HANDLE BAD LANGUAGE.


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!

Oh, and by the way, I'm not anti Italian, or anyone else come to think of it. I'm just reporting what is.

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.

You could of course, always write a book, like I did. Tears from the Sun - A Cretan Journey. If you are interested in all things Cretan, then take a look at my book.

I wish you all a very happy 'Oxi' Day,
Love and hugs,
Jane x

Selene - Who was she?

Who was Selene?  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.

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. Check out their story here.

A Thing of Beauty (Endymion)

A thing of beauty is a joy for ever:
Its loveliness increases; it will never
Pass into nothingness; but still will keep
A bower quiet for us, and a sleep
Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing.
Therefore, on every morrow, are we wreathing
A flowery band to bind us to the earth,
Spite of despondence, of the inhuman dearth
Of noble natures, of the gloomy days,
Of all the unhealthy and o'er-darkn'd ways
Made for our searching: yes, in spite of all,
Some shape of beauty moves away the pall
From our dark spirits. Such the sun, the moon,
Trees old and young, sprouting a shady boon
For simple sheep; and such are daffodils
With the green world they live in; and clear rills
That for themselves a cooling covert make
'Gainst the hot season; the mid-forest brake,
Rich with a sprinkling of fair musk-rose blooms:
And such too is the grandeur of the dooms
We have imagined for the mighty dead;
An endless fountain of immortal drink,
Pouring unto us from the heaven's brink. 

John Keats

For the whole poem click here.

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 Tears from the Sun - A Cretan Journey. Another love story between moon goddess and shepherd. Click the link to find out more.

Love and hugs,

Jane x

Chinese scribes date Minoan Distruction

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.

Linear B

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'.

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,Linear A and Linear B.

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.

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 Cypriot script, 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.

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.

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.

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.

Linear B syllabary

Linear B logograms

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.

Thanks to the website: Omniglot, for the above information.

The following is taken from Charles Pellegrino's Unearthing Atlantis (pages 233-246). 

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.

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."

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.

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.
"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. "

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.

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. 

Minoan history is very close to my heart. Of course, I have my own theory of how the Minoan Civilization met its end. You can read my theory in Tears from the Sun - A Cretan Journey, which is available from Amazon. Check it out.

And should you have read my book, maybe you would like to follow me on Face Book. Take a look at my fan page, Tears from the Sun - Jane Sharp and please click 'like' if you do.

That's all for today, I'll be back with more Cretan news, tomorrow.
Love and Hugs,
Jane x

6.3 Earthquake Rocks Crete

Crete was certainly rocking at the weekend, and was even felt as far away as Israel.

Crete rocked by 6.3 magnitude earthquake

An earthquake with a magnitude of more than six degrees struck near the island of Crete, sending items flying off supermarket shelves

This image made available by the US Geological Survey shows the epicenter of the 6.4-magnitude earthquake that struck at a depth of 36.2 kilometres off the western tip of Crete, Greece Photo: EPA

According to the US Geological Survey the quake in southern Greece had a 6.4 magnitude, while the Athens Observatory gave it a magnitude of 6.2.

The epicenter was some 37 miles off the city of Hania in western Crete, the state-run Athens News Agency said.

The earthquake struck at 4:11 pm (1311 GMT) and its epicenter was in the sea, 275 kilometers south of Athens, the observatory said, describing the quake as "strong."

Tremors were felt as far as the Greek capital Athens, some 180 miles away, and across southern Greece, including the Peloponnese peninsula and the Cyclades cluster of islands.

"The quake took place in an area known for its seismic activity. It was strongly felt in Crete but also in the rest of Greece," geology professor Efthymios Lekkas told Skai radio.

• "It was very impressive because the shaking lasted some 40-50 seconds," a woman who identified herself only as Vassia, told an AFP reporter on the island.

According to the Athens News Agency, life in Hania returned to normal a few hours after the quake, which had initially sent people rushing into the streets in panic.

Shops and houses suffered minor damages and local television showed images of items falling off supermarket shelves.

According to Skai radio station, an elderly person was lightly injured while attempting to jump out a window.

Local authorities also rushed to open up roads close to Hania, blocked by fallen rocks.

Greece is one of Europe's most earthquake-prone countries.

On Friday, a 4.4-magnitude earthquake, described as "mild" by the observatory, struck the north of the country causing no damage.

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I am so glad that nobody was seriously hurt. Let's hope that the rattling earth will have settled down for a while. 

That's it for this morning, I have my shopping to do, and a pile of ironing to attack. Then it is choir practice tonight. 

Keep safe dear Cretan friends, and also, dear readers, wherever you are. Have a sunshiny Monday! And if it happens to be raining where you are, you could do worse than curl up with a good book. And you could do a lot worse than to read this one: Tears from the Sun - A Cretan Journey

Lots of love, Jane x

Jane and David Working in England

David and I got together with members of our team, in London, at the weekend. Our team leader, traveled from USA to give his support to our efforts as we go into the launch of the new product, the env2 commonly known as the Blog Beast. 

Our Mission is Simple.

The word "empower" means to give ability to; enable or permit. This is a key element to Empower Network's mission, dedicated to empowering as many people as possible through the network, training, products, support, opportunities and the honest and authentic message of hope and freedom that Empower Network offers.

Founded on the idea that individuals can build businesses and have personal lives at the same time, Empower Network believes that individuals can use the struggles, hardships and experiences they've had in life and turn them into their most empowering assets.

Since Empower Network's founding in 2011, the company has enabled more than 150,000 people to launch their dreams. People who have struggled for years in business are having success with the help of the opportunities Empower Network provides. Customers searching for simple and honest marketing systems and training programs are having breakthroughs and getting results with Empower Network's products. Most importantly, Empower Network's members are finding purpose in business and life through attending our events and interacting with the Empower Network community and leadership.

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I invite you to join our team, you will get all the support we can give. Our new product, the env2 mobile blogging platform is going to take the internet by storm. When you become an Empower Network Affiliate, you become part of our global family. Don't miss this opportunity to change your circumstances. Click the link below to get started. We are here to welcome you to our team.

Love and Best Wishes,
Jane x

Eleutherna, the Heart of Crete

'If you were to imagine Crete as a human being...' Wow! That is a very powerful image. Maybe Vrahassi is part of some geographical ear lobe. It conjures up a very sensual landscape, that can be touched and touches everyone who comes to know it.  

Eleutherna, the heart of Crete By Margarita Pournara “If you were to imagine Crete as a human being, Eleutherna would be its heart.” I am standing with Nicholas Stampolidis, a professor of history and archaeology at the University of Crete, on a small hill overlooking the archaeological site of Eleutherna, some 30 kilometers from Rethymno. From this rise, we can see the entire area of the university’s excavation of the site, which began in 1985. The view is breathtaking, with swaths of olives trees, carobs, oaks, plane trees, laurel bushes and walnut trees across the terraces of the hilly landscape. It is the horizon especially that is most striking. The archaeologist takes me by the arm and turns me 360 degrees so that I can take in the majesty of the peaks of Psiloreitis, Talaia, Aravanes and Tympanatoras, the latter of which took its name from the myth according to which local tribesmen would beat their shields with sticks, making a drumming sound that would cover the sobs of young Zeus so that Cronus would not hear him and devour him as he did his other children. Further away, on the horizon, I can see the sea shimmering in black-and-white tones under the hot, bright sun. I am standing on ground under which one of the island’s most important city-states is buried, between ancient Knossos and Cydonia. The heart of Eleutherna beat for a very long time, from the Neolithic era to the Byzantine period, when it vanished from the map. When the Culture Ministry granted the University of Crete permission to excavate the site, no one could have imagined that it would uncover a palimpsest showing a constant human presence that dates back to 3000 BC, architecture from the late Minoan period, prosperity in Homeric times and a great burst of growth in the Roman era. The decline of Eleutherna was gradual, starting in the 8th century AD and culminating in the 13th century. In the 14th century, the Venetians prohibited the unruly Cretans from living in the fortified city due to fears they would create a rebel stronghold. The excavation has uncovered hundreds of objects and remains of homes, but it has been focused mainly on the rich bounty yielded by a cemetery used from the Geometric period, which, like one end of a piece of string, will lead to more discoveries. Ideal location As we descend toward the imposing yet elegant shelter that covers the excavation site of the cemetery, Stampolidis explains why the ancients chose this particular spot to build their city. “It overlooks the sea, but is also invisible to enemies approaching by boat. It is only one-and-a-half hours’ walk from its port. It is on a hill that can be reached only through a narrow pass, providing excellent natural protection. No weapons during antiquity could shoot this far,” Stampolidis says. “There is fresh running water nearby, as well as woodland that provided lumber, land for farming or grazing, and a quarry. We have found 252 species of herbs and wild greens that were used in many different preparations, and the spot forms a crossroads for those traversing the island either north to south or east to west,” the archaeologist adds. Stampolidis says that there is also ample evidence of lively commercial activity. “Many of the grave offerings we have found were brought from other parts of the Aegean – Cyprus, Asia Minor, Phoenicia and so on – proving that the city had developed commercial ties beyond Crete,” he says. Protecting nature With the modern-day village of the same name behind us, we entered Ancient Eleutherna, which is protected as an archaeological site but also as a natural woodland by law. The excavation teams that have worked at the site have planted rows of trees to delineate pathways, while the site of the museum that will one day house all the finds is just a short walk away, on the other side of the hill. One of the most impressive observations about the site is the care taken by the archaeologists to preserve the natural environment, allowing visitors to take a mental leap back in time and imagine the location as it was when it was first settled – nestled in the protective embrace of the woodland. Stampolidis confirms that preserving the natural environment was one of his team’s biggest concerns. “We are interested in Eleutherna becoming a paradigm of how we can showcase ancient sites. You can’t hear passing cars, and, other than the shelter, all of our interventions are discreet, retaining the purity of the landscape. We used large rocks rather than cement to divert the flow of a stream, the electricity cables are all below ground, thanks to the Public Power Corporation, and all the steps are made of rock and earth. Almost everything here is made by hand, and the best part is that we – the archaeologists and the workers on the dig, which is funded by the University of Crete – did it ourselves,” says Stampolidis. The excavation’s chief archaeologist also explains how the university managed to appropriate the land under which Eleutherna was buried. “I find funding myself by approaching people who love the place but want to remain anonymous. It is thanks to them that we could buy up all the land that comprised the woods in which the site is located,” he explains, adding that the project has also received the full support of the local community. “I think that they have all realized that Eleutherna will never have all the annoyances, say, of Knossos, where there are souvlaki joints and souvenir shops next to the archaeological site. They love the excavation, they protect it and they have supported our work in every possible way,” Stampolidis adds. The Homeric-era cemetery The archaeologist and I walk downhill to the shelter. Nikos Stampolidis knows every rock and tree here like the back of his hand. After all, it was one of the first digs he ever participated in and he was not yet 30 years old when he started. “The broader area of the Eleutherna excavation was separated into three zones. The first picks went to archaeologists Petros Themelis and Thanasis Kalpaxis. I took the zone west of the hill on which the acropolis stood. I had observed that the earth there had a grayish tint unlike the yellow earth in other parts. This often occurs because of rotten leaves, but it could also be attributed to ash from wood fires. The first dig we made revealed finds just a few inches beneath the surface. It was the crematorium. We proved that the ancients used to burn their dead in this spot. We also found that the locals had used a lot of material from the site to build the terraces along the hills,” Stampolidis explains. “Do you need luck in archaeology?” I ask. “Of course. But in which sense? As the piece that completes knowledge. Manolis Andronikos knew where to look for for Vergina, but he was lucky in finding a grave that was intact,” says the professor. We are now standing on a necropolis that dates back to Homeric times, unique in the Mediterranean region. You cannot but feel awed. We see the burial sites, some consisting of large ceramic coffins, funerary monuments and a fascinating maze that goes deep underground, revealing the different chronological periods during which the cemetery was used. “Once the excavation is finished, we will make special cases to house the bones of the dead that are now being examined by anthropologists. They belong here, not in the storage room of some museum. Who am I to disturb their peace?” asks Stampolidis. The archaeologist moves between the graves, talking about some of the most striking finds he and his team have made. The excavation so far has revealed remains ranging from aristocratic warriors to very simple burials. One of his most touching finds was the grave of a 12-year-old boy, whose dog was buried in a small marked grave right beside him. One of the graves that contained the remains of several women from the same aristocratic family also contained ornate jewelry. Prisoners of war The ancient cemetery of Eleutherna also provided the answer to the age-old question that had split Plato and Aristotle – whether the Greeks killed their prisoners of war. “These were not human sacrifices, but the justice of war, ritualistic revenge,” explains Stampolidis. “Beside the funerary pyre of a prince who died in battle, we found the skeleton of another man who we believe had his elbows tied together behind his back. We also found a knife and a whetting stone nearby. Traces of his skull were later found at the prince’s feet and were singed by the fire, suggesting the sequence of events. He was a prisoner of war who was executed in retribution. One of the workers on the dig told me the story of Stefanoyiannis, a Cretan hero who was executed by the Nazis in World War II. His fellow fighters saw who it was who had killed him and stole into the enemy camp at night, kidnapped the perpetrator and killed him on Stefanoyiannis’s grave in revenge,” Stampolidis explains. Every burial site has it own fascinating story. After two hours touring the excavations, we headed back to Rethymno, making a brief stop at the museum, which is currently under construction. In the car, Stampolidis tells me his own story, a kind of epilogue to our tour: “When I first came here as a young man, I told myself that I would dig up all of Eleutherna before I retired. The hill must have heard me and laughed at my plans. Now that I am older, I am better at hearing what the hill has to say.” The museum is a very impressive structure that resembles a shelter of sorts. It is slated for completion in 2015 and so far only the exterior has been completed. It will contain an exhibition hall for the thousands of finds made at the cemetery and in the city so that visitors can see the pieces of the puzzle that compose this fascinating site. From its lofty position atop a hill, it affords a wonderful view of the acropolis and the shelter protecting the cemetery, as well as the entire area where Eleutherna once stood and, of course, Mount Psiloreitis. Plans for the museum include landscaping the surrounding environment and applying some of the latest concepts in museology. The project is moving apace and is expected to be ready on time, while Stampolidis makes certain that, like at the site, every last detail is just right.

ekathimerini.com , Friday September 20, 2013 (11:12)   Thanks to,  Margarita Pournara for this article. And Crete is already beckoning me back. In fact our flights are booked for 11th November, when we shall be looking forward to working from there for a while. Yes, The Blog Beast is coming to Crete. You can find out more about it here. THE MOBILE BLOGGING REVOLUTION 'Watch out for Team Greece - This is the opportunity that you have been waiting for.' Click the link and we'll make sure that you are fully informed. Love Jane x

A Box Full of Cretan Memories

I have only been back in London one day, and already miss Vrahassi. I think it is good, though, to leave the past behind, and move forward into the future. However, by keeping memories within reach, it is possible to open up that box of yesterday, and experience the music and the air of history. Breathe that air with me now as you watch this video, which is a little window on times past.



And looking to the future, I am already planning my return to Vrahassi in November. The pull of Crete is so powerful that I know my destiny is intertwined with the island.

Before I left, I went to the little museum in Vrahassi, and gave them a few copies of my book, 'A Short History of Vrahassi.' I have had it translated into Greek, and one day I will publish it and make it available.

Here in England, I have my Greek music to keep me happy while I create a plan to enable me to fulfill my mission. That mission is to work hard and build my business, so that I can spend more time in Crete, and collect a big box full of Cretan memories.

So, to the future, folks, enough of this nostalgia for one day, I've got things to do, places to go, and a cello that is crying out to be played.

Tomorrow, I'll dip into my memory box and bring you more pictures of Vrahassi.

Bye for now,
Love Jane x

Oh, and for your information, David and I will be hosting a meeting in Heraklion, in November, for all who are interested in joining us at Empower Network. Watch this space for the time and place. 

Gunshot in Vrahassi

It's a little unnerving to hear gunshot, wherever you are, but it is not so unusual in Vrahassi. In fact nobody bat an eyelid when the first three cracks rang out. It could have been murder, someone shooting his dog, a happy raki burst, a funeral or a wedding. In this case it was a wedding, being held in the middle of the village, at one of the small churches. We didn't see any sign of the bride and groom, or hear anything but the gun fire. Otherwise it was a very lazy Sunday afternoon in Vrahassi.



Earlier in the day David and I went to see some friends in Kritsa, another colourful place.

There are still a few women sitting in the shadows with their crochet. This statue typifies the industrious ladies of Kritsa.

And today I am tripping off to Agios Nikolaos, to pay the electricity bill, and to meet my friend, Pauline.

Our little holiday is almost at an end, but the good news is that we shall return in November, when we shall be giving a business presentation of Empower Network, in Heraklion. AND THAT IS VERY EXCITING!

If you are interested in being at our meeting in November (date to be fixed) then please let us have your e-mail, and we will contact you with the details.

Click this link for more information

I am looking forward to being back in Crete in November, and to meeting our new Greek Team.
Bye for now,
Love Jane x

My Book, Tears from the Sun - A Cretan Journey, is climbing in the ranks, have you read it yet?

Working in the Sunshine

Dear Reader,

It's great being able to work in the sunshine. This video is part of my series of 30 which I am making to help people understand the value of being able to work on line, whether it be from home, your office, the coffee shop down the street, or half way up a mountain in Crete.

I know that this sort of work is not for everyone, but if you are that one person who knows, deep in your heart, that you could do great things with your life, if only you had the opportunity, well here it is. David and I are looking for you. This could be your chance to make the money you need to buy the things you want. And the product we are promoting, the env2 blogging platform, is such an exciting product to tell people about, that everyone will want it.

Empower Network has developed this new marketing tool, that can be used by any business, or hobby blogger, in the world. They have invested over $3 million dollars in its creation, and it is now in pre-launch. When it is launched on October 11, people around the globe will be talking about it. In fact very soon the env2 will be available in 5 different languages.

I am telling you all of this, dear reader, because you may be that one person, who is going to excel in Empower Network, and make more money than anyone else. We want to help you to it. This is no joke, this is serious. The team in Portugal is rocking, the team in Hungry is rocking. This is the right time, and you are in the right place. Let's start a team in Greece and show the world what we can do.

Here is were the talking stops and the action starts. Click here

Click here for more information

And tomorrow we shall be in Heraklion shooting another video. 

Bye for now, 

Love and hugs, Jane x

A Walk Through the Streets of Vrahassi

Hello Blog Readers,

As promised here is a video shot yesterday as I walked through the streets of Vrahassi. There wasn't much going on, maybe because it was 1 p.m. and I missed the morning rush hour, but I think you can get a flavour of the place. The temperature is about 28 at the moment, and it's a bit cool to sit out in the evening, but very pleasant if you have a jacket.




Vrahassi has a wonderful charm to it even though there are lots of old buildings that have been left to
crumble. It is a bit like living in the middle of an archaeological site, but all the more interesting for that. The narrow streets are wonderful to explore, and it is not difficult to imagine how life once was when the village was a thriving center of industry: weavers, carpenters, butchers, lots of coffee shops, a post office, and a host of other trades. Now, time has moved on, and we are left with one village shop and a museum. Even so, this is such a special place to visit. You should definitely put it on your list if you are coming to Crete.

As you can see in my video, there is a wonderful internet connection in Vrahassi, and most of the young kids have a computer. It is a strange mix of ancient and modern.

Last night, David and I went down into the square for a glass of wine and food at one of the tavernas. It was a pleasant experience; we talked to a few locals and enjoyed the company. Then it was back home and back to work. In fact, because of the time difference in America, David and I were up at 3 a.m. to listen to the co-owner of Empower Network, on the internet. He was outlining details of the launch of our new product, the ENV2 blogging platform. This is cutting edge technology that will revolutionize blogging, and give every business an edge in the market place, whatever that business is. We are very excited about being able to promote it. And if you don't know about the ENV2, then this is where you can find it. We shall get right back to you.

So, hope you enjoyed a walk with me through the streets of Vrahassi. I'll be back with more Vrahassi news, tomorrow.

Love Jane x

The Secret is Out

And no sooner am I in Crete, than I am whisked away for a romantic weekend at a secret location. But I can't keep the secret.  I have to share it. We went to Tsoutsouros, on the south coast. 

 We stayed at the Edelweiss hotel which was right on the beach. It is run by a lovely family who were always there to serve drinks and see that we were comfortable.

Of course we were straight on to the beach, not before we had checked our e-mails though. The wifi in the hotel came in very useful.

 It's such tiring work, relaxing in the sunshine!

 But we did stretch out legs a little on the hillside. We took the ancient Minoan path up the cliff side, but didn't go all the way to the next village. It was not far, but David's leg is not 100% after his fall last week.

 I call these big rocks, watchers, because they seem to stand sentinel in high places.

 We got in sight of the next village, but decided to turn around there. The lure of a cool beer made the journey back seem very easy.

 Those clouds got very dark, and eventually it began to thunder and lighten. By that time we were safe inside a little bar, with a bottle of Corona each, and a bowl of crisps. (Very unhealthy).

 Tsoutsouros is not very big, as you can see, and a bit concrete-y, but there is a small harbour, a fishing boats were coming and going all day.









Before we headed for home, we went to the ancient Greek site of Priansos, which was one of the 31 cities of the Cretan League. Now there is very little left except this large building. It is supposed to date about 100 b.c.

So, after our little history lesson, we headed back to Vrahassi, via the hinterland of Crete. It was a great little weekend, and today I have been working all day, a bit of housework, and a lot of computer work.

I have managed to make a little movie of the weekend, and I have been on the street in Vrahassi with my camera. So, tomorrow, I will be reporting from Vrahassi.

But now it is time for me to close the computer before it gets so hot that it closes itself down. It isn't the temperature in the house, you understand, it is because it has been running since 9 a.m. this morning.

This is Jane, doing whatever it takes, in Vrahassi. And for those of you who are interested, I have my first appointment with people who are interested in joining our team, at Empower Network, later in the week. The ENV2 viral blogging platform is in demand. http://en.teamtissa.com/zbcd
Better get some sleep while I can!

Talk again tomorrow with an on the street report from Vrahassi.

Love Jane x

Bail of 10,000 Set for Murder Suspect

18 Year Old From Sissi, Released on Bail of 10,000 euros.

The 18 year old boy from Sissi, who was together with two other young men, one from Neapolis, and one from Agios Nikolaos, on the night they brutally murdered an old man in Amigdali, has been released on bail of 10,000 euros

.

He told the prosecutor that he was drunk, and that he was driving the car, the other two asked him to stop in Amigdali  saying they had a job to do. He claimed that he stayed in the car and waited. When the two returned to the car they had blood on their hands, and he says that is when he learned of the crime. He denied having any involvement in the murder.

The 18 year old is restricted from leaving the country, and must appear twice a month at court. Bail was set at 10,000 euros. The other two are up at court on Thursday.

I thought you might like a follow up to what is happening in the murder case which I reported in my previous blog.

I gather there was an almighty mother of a storm in Vrahassi last night. I hope you kept your roofs on! Anyway, now all that is out of the way, and the full moon on the 19th, I recon it will be sunshine all the way for the next two weeks. Yippee! Break out the sun bed, David.

Only one sleep to go, great. Let the next adventure begin. So, I shall be reporting live from Vrahassi in the next few days. Watch this space.

And if you would like to watch a video about the exciting new blogging platform, that is going to revolutionize my blogging capabilities, and let me blog directly from my mobile phone, watch this: 

AND CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT HOW YOU CAN GET STARTED WITH THE ENV2

Can I just say that the co-founder of Empower Network, Mr David Sharpe, is not my David (though I think there is a resemblance) nor is he our son. Our name does not have an 'e' his does. But he is a fabulous guy, just the same as my David.

You should look into this brilliant way to make money on line. It isn't for everyone, I agree, but we are having such fun, and meeting such a great set of people from all over the world, while at the same time, building our business.

Got to go now, last minute packing to do. Bye for now,
Jane x

Children of Vrahassi

My how they have grown!

Children of Vrahassi, five or six years ago, I think. Can you name them?

I came across this lovely photo last week. I wonder what they are all doing now. Maybe you would like to leave a comment on my blog, and let me know.

And here are some more children of Vrahassi. I missed the party this year, but plan to be there in 2014.



On a more serious note:
I was very sad to hear that on September 11th, a 79 year old man in a hill village, was murdered by three local men, a 19 year old soldier, from Agios Nikoloas, a 22 year old farmer, from Neapolis, and an 18 year old, from Sisi. They went to the house to rob the old man, but after beating him to death, they only found a few coins. They then set the house on fire to hopefully cover their tracks. I'm not sure how they were caught, but they are in police custody now. Rest in peace old man.

So, only 4 sleeps to go. This time next week, all being well, I shall be dining by the side of the Mediterranean, listening to all those lovely sounds of Crete.

Bye for now,
Love Jane x

And don't forget, if you want to know how you can make money on line, click here: MAKE MONEY

Will China Save Greece?

Will China Save Greece?

"Everywhere is a business opportunity," says deputy general manager Zhang Anming. "We found one here and we've been successful."

 And it gives China a key access point to Europe.

So, will China save Greece? Who knows?

I particularly like the quote: 'Everywhere is a business opportunity,'

Anyway, here is another snippet I thought was interesting:

The man in charge of the privatizations who has to take the rap for the latest setbacks, is Stelios Stavrides, and architect of the successful transformation of the Athens Water Board, and now chief of the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund.

 Mr Stavrides and his team have just moved into offices once occupied by a news agency. Something of the atmosphere of the place must have rubbed off because after years of resistance in Greece, the agency is keen to be open about detailed progress in freeing Greek utilities, land and resources from the dead hand of the state.

Regional airports are up for sale

Mr Stavrides believes the benefits of private investment and ownership are simply not understood by many politicians or unions who have grown up under an entirely different model.

He says sell-offs are simply the only option if Greece is ever to see some growth. What he implies, but can't quite bring himself to say, is that there is no escaping the immediate pain while you wait for new and more productive jobs to be created further down the line.

However I also read that the Unions are discussing strike action against privatization. There are always two sides to every story, but I think it is time for attitudes to change. People should take more control over their own lives and not expect the state to do it all for them. Just my opinion.

On a personal note, only 6 sleeps to go, then I'm heading for the sunshine. Get the Mythos lined up!

Bye for now, Love Jane x

To take control of your life, and find how you can make money from home, CLICK HERE

New York King of Souvlaki

Finalist, King Souvlaki of Astoria: You Don't Burn, You Don't Learn

Oh, man! Now I'm REALLY looking forward to getting back. Check out the passion this family have for what they are doing: the happiness that it gives them when they know their customers love the quality of their food. So many messages in this wonderful little video. That's the enthusiasm that brings success. 

And what am I going to eat tonight? Well, because I had a piece of the best carrot cake in the world at a little coffee shop in Penge, today, I am going to pass on a cooked supper, and have a couple of crisp breads instead. But when I get to Crete next week, it will be souvlaki, souvlaki, souvlaki, all the way.

Byeeeeeeeeeee, love Jane x

Vrahassi as it used to be!

I love old photographs, don't you?

David is already back in Vrahassi, and I shall be joining him in a few days. I'm so looking forward to the peace and quiet, the fresh air, the griffon vultures circling overhead. Not to mention a 'nothing like it anywhere,' Greek salad.

But tonight I'm listening to the Last Night at the Proms, glass of wine in hand, and the odd police siren in the distance.
So, video camera all charged up and ready to go, and my case almost packed, I'll say, ta ta for now, and look forward to reporting from Vrahassi, very soon.

Happy weekend to all,
Love Jane x

School of Second Chance Opens in Ierapetra, Crete.

Take a look at this excellent website about the School of Second Chance, in Ierapetra. Brillilant!

If you are 18 or over, you can now get further education in Ierapetra.