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

Fresh Fish in Vrahassi

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!

With thanks to the fish, of last night's supper.

Love 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

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.

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Love and Best Wishes,
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. 

October Rain in Crete

It's time to go home, it's raining in Vrahassi. Actually, the rain only lasted about 5 minutes, but it was enough to cause us to sit and have another beer before we trundled up the hill for the last time, this trip.

It would have been good for the olives, but apparently there are no olives on the trees this year. Last year there was such a bumper clop, that the trees are resting this time round. Ah well, all the sand that was dumped on the village from a very murky, yellowy sky, this morning, was happily washed away.

The winds have calmed down now, which is a good thing because high winds and airplanes don't really mix very well.


I think water must have got into the works, or maybe the battery was simply knackered, but there was a clicking and a tapping of the engine. Then the guys of the village got into action and solved the problem. The old, beaten up, pick up truck, was towed away in the direction of a downhill slope. I hope they got it going.

 Well that's all for now, from Vrahassi. I won't stop blogging, but I won't be on site for a few weeks. I will have contact with the village, and I will be keeping an eye on things.

And for reading matter on the plane, tomorrow, I have Antony Robins' book, Awaken The Giant Within. I'm reading it for the second time round, and can thoroughly recommend it.

Bye for now, love and hugs,
Jane x

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?

Heraklion Is Such Fun!

Well, while top political people were being imprisoned in Greece, I was out and about in Heraklion, enjoying the sunshine and the many crafts that were on display at a super outdoor market in the center of town. See if you can get a flavor of my day. Imagine the smell of local cheeses, meats and herbs that filled the air as we walked around.



Please go to my You Tube channel and click 'like' and subscribe.

I only have a few more days left in Crete, so I'm going to make the most of the time I have left. Tomorrow I shall visit Kritsa, and on Monday, Agios Nikolaos. Oh, and I think there is something special going on in Vrahassi tomorrow morning, I hear the village will be full, full, with tourists from a big hotel in Sissi, so I had better get my camera ready, and have a handful of cards to give out. I feel a marketing opportunity coming on! 

Talk some more tomorrow,

Love Jane x

Jane on Crete TV

I love the unexpected, and today as I was walking through Heraklion I was asked to say a few words on camera, for a Crete TV program. David didn't manage to snap me on the podium, but he took this picture of me with the interviewer 'The Saint'. I guess the power of attraction was just too strong, and drew a couple of stars together.

Not to be big headed, but I am feeling particularly successful at the moment. I wonder who I will attract next - are you listening Oprah! Have you read my book, Tears from the Sun - A Cretan Journey? And if not, why not? You can find it on Amazon. (And I'll be in USA at the end of October). 

And what else did I do in Heraklion? I was actually working. And I had an extremely good day.

I have made a little video but it will take all night to upload to YouTube. Frustrating! But I know the Blog Beast, ENV2 is coming, and that problem will be very soon solved.

Of course, David and I had to celebrate our small success.

Talk again tomorrow,
Love Jane x

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

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

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

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

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Sexy Dancers - Not in Vrahassi!

 Goodness me! Look what I've been missing! Looks like Malia is just the place for fun! Ah, hot summer nights. Bring on my holiday in Crete. I don't think there will be many Tears From the Sun, this year. Happiness is the only state to be in!

Looking forward to my next adventure. Hope you are all having a good summer wherever you are.
Love Jane x

Beautiful Crete

Thinking Greek!

I think I aught to try and fit some Greek into my weekly schedule, so to start me off I am reading out loud a poem I wrote in Greek. I am missing my lessons with the lovely Manolis, but I am glad to report that I have not totally forgotten how to speak Greek. I have my text book here in England, so it is just a matter of making time to study. Now let's see, maybe in between, cello practice and singing practice, or how about half an hour a day before blogging, no, wait a minute, I've got it, I'll shop on line and the time I save I will devote to Greek. There is always a solution. Anyway, here is today's effort, just to get me started.



Meanwhile, in Vrahassi, David tells me that he popped down to Yanni's for a bite to eat the other night. All is quiet in the village (nothing new there then) and the sun is shining.

The Animal Protection trans Europe van broke down in Italy, and there is a delay in sending Phoebe to the Isle of Man. David says he hopes it wasn't him that did that, because Phoebe is such good company. I'm sure it wasn't, and I am very sorry to hear of the breakdown. We are so happy to see that Percy and Maisie are so well settled and looking so happy.

And on the arty front, I think this exhibition will be worth taking a look at. I presume the apostrophe 's' in the main body of the report is a mistake in translation, get by it and look at the beauty of Nelly's work.

Out-of-town showcase of Nelly's photographs hits the spot

By Sandra Voulgari

A new exhibition of photographs by Nelly's, organized by the Benaki Museum's Photographic Archive and the Fotograficus art company, seems to have found the perfect loctation in the Long Room, a venue in Pikermi, east of Athens, that resembles a 16th-century monastery and is set amid lush greenery.

Photographs of nude dancers in the Parthenon – which had shocked the public at their first unveiling – muscular athletes resembling ancient Greek statues, details of sculptures and daily scenes from the historical Athenian neighborhood of Plaka are Nelly's signature works.

The Pikermi exhibition, which has been put together by Ioanna Vasdeki and Jeff Vanderpool, comprises some 60 works by the photographer, who is also known by her real name, Elli Souyioultzoglou-Seraidari, making for a comprehensive approach to the body of her work.

Nelly's (1899-1998) came from a wealthy Greek family in Asia Minor and studied photography in Dresden in 1921 beside acclaimed German photographers Hugo Erfurth and Franz Fiedler.

She moved to Athens in 1924 following her family's expulsion from Turkey and focused her lens on themes that she saw as being purely Greek. Her portraits of people from all walks of life, and especially of high society, have provided us with valuable information concerning Greek society in the inter-war years, but her most famous pieces are those of ancient monuments elevated to symbols of magnificence and her bold shots of dancers on the Parthenon, odes to the female body and the embodiment of the classical ideals of beauty and fitness.

In the Greek countryside, Nelly's saw bucolic beauty all around and emphasized the harmonious coexistence of man with nature, while in the United States, where she spent 25 years of her life, she experimented with color and advertising photography.

The exhibition on Nelly's runs through June 23 at the Long Room (Adamopoulou Street, 19th kilometer of Marathon Avenue heading from Athens, left at the Drafi turning). For information, call 211.184.1997. Opening hours are Saturday and Sunday from noon to 8 p.m.

Talk some more soon,

Love Jane x

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

Aren't I just the lucky gal to receive these fabulous flowers. I hope you are all having as wonderful a day as me. I have been relaxing, practicing piano and reading. Just what the doctor ordered. I've been a teeny-weeny bit off color lately, but thanks to pills and potions the docs are sorting me out. I have a barium meal to look forward to on Monday, but it can't be any worse than the camera down the throat job that I had last week. (It wasn't too bad really). 

Meanwhile book number two is with an editor, so early days but it is heading in the right direction.

I shall be playing the organ again at church on Sunday - it keeps me out of mischief!

And apart from that, all is well in the world of Jane. As for news in Vrahassi, I'm not there at the moment but David is keeping me informed. He says it has been cold, damp, a bit dreary (that's cos I'm not there) and quite a normal winter. Neapolis hospital is closing down except for the geriatric wing, and there have been demonstrations, but not as big as the demonstrations in Ierapetra, against the closure of the big hospital there.

I would imagine that most Cretans are hoping for a good holiday season as the economy is very troubled. So, if you are wondering where to go this summer, head for Crete, it is bound to help the people there. I shall certainly be taking my holiday in Vrahassi, I'm ready for a bit of sunshine, though the winter here in London has been a delight. 

Right now it is time for tea, have a lovely evening, I hope to resume blogging on a more regular basis soon.

Take care,

Love Jane x

HELLO FROM BECKENHAM

Hello to all my blog watchers. You may have noticed that I have started a new blog - The Adventures of a Pensioner in Britain. I hope you will take a look, and catch up with my life at the moment. I have not abandoned Crete, rest assured, I will be back. But for now, I have decided that I would rather live in Britain to be near to my daughter, and within striking distance of my son.

So, I can't really comment on Vrahassi at the moment, other than I know that Cosmos bar has closed down, and George is now running Lefteris' bar in the center. That is George who used to run Cosmos bar.

The Greek government got their hand out from the EEC but I doubt that will put any more money into the hands of the Greek people. There are still lots of strikes taking place, though I cannot see what good that is going to do.

Anyway, life goes on. Do take a look at my new blog if you are interested. Oh, and don't forget that my book, Tears from the Sun - A Cretan Journey can be ordered from any good bookshop. It would make a good Christmas present for all lovers of Crete.

Have a good run up to Christmas everyone. Take care, bye for now,
Love Jane x

Meeting of the Environment Committee of the Region of Crete

The story of CRETE TV on yesterday's meeting of the Environment Committee of the Region of Crete about the proposed hydro-electric dam planned for Azilakodasos (The Oak forest) between Vrahassi and Krasi. As you can see the locals are not at all happy, and why should they be. Their land is about to be snatched from them, the total beauty of the place with be ruined, not to mention the destruction of the natural habitat of the Griffon Vulture and other wild birds and animals.