I've just joined Pinterest, the social site for photo postings etc. So I'm going to try and get my head around it today. After cello practice that is.
Well, it's raining in Vrahassi, the mountain is covered in thick cloud, very reminescent of Wherenside on a good day. That is every good day that David and I climbed up there. Yesterday though was wonderful, so we took a little time out and headed for Sissi. We drank a couple of glasses of wine at the Orange Bar, which was very pleasant. We even got talking to a few locals. It was good to be out and about. Then we popped in to The Water Mill, for a snack before heading back to Vrahassi.
It is exercise day today, hoorah! I am really feeling the benefit of the 7 minute workout now. I'm getting stronger and building up to some energetic days ahead.
I'll post pictures later. So ta, ta, for now.
Love Jane x
Monday, March 12, 2012
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Neapolis Cathedral in March Moonlight
Have a good weekend, love Jane x
Friday, March 9, 2012
'THE PLANET CHANGES' Exhibition Gouves
“THE PLANET CHANGES” EXHIBIT
SET FOR GOURNES CENTER
March, 2012
A comprehensive exposition, focussing on Climatic Change: The Threat to Life And a New Energy Future, will open next month at the International Exhibition Center in Gournes.
The exhibit, entitled “The Planet Changes,” has been organised by the Greek Center for Marine Research and the Cretaquarium in collaboration with the American Museum of Natural History in New York. In a space of over 800 square meters, the complexity of the climatic change phenomenon, the most important world environmental problem today, will be unfolded to the public. The exhibit is structured in eight units touching on such issues and subjects as the historicity of the production of energy from hydrocarbons, the repercussions in land and marine ecosystems and the solutions which can be given for a viable future on an individual as well as on a social level.
Particular emphasis is given to the enormous importance of Oceans and Seas in the configuration of world climate. The Cretaquarium, apart from the AMNH exhibits, extends the exhibit with subjects concerning the climatic change in the region of the Mediterranean Sea and in the Greek seas, presenting with current museological approaches the scientific results from research done by the Hellenic Marine Institute and other scientific institutions.
Prior to its official opening, this month specialised personnel from the American Museum of Natural History in New York will arrive in Crete for the preparation and setting up of the exhibit. The exhibit is set to start on April 14 and will remain open until the end of September.
During this exhibit, organized activities and events will be programmed for the public, reinforcing the importance of the area of the former American base in Gournes, combined with the Cretaquarium, as the most attractive area in Eastern Crete.
Information taken from the Khronicles on line newspaper, Crete.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Quit Smoking Now!
My mother died 39 years ago this week at the age of 47. She had a bad heart and lungs that were damaged with cigarette smoke. Every day she faught for breath. The cigarettes finally killed her. She didn't know the damage they were doing to her body until it was too late. There is no excuse now - we all know that smoking knackers your lungs, causes arteries to fur up, and brings on no end of other illnesses. QUIT SMOKING NOW!
Will the Greek people ever stop smoking? It is something that I am very passionate about. Tobacco cost me a lot. It cost me my mother. Every time I go into a bar, cafeneo or restaurant, and see the 'No Smoking' sign I am encouraged, but in the same instant I shake my head, because this sign means nothing. It is just another law that has been passed to appease Europe, another law that will never be enforced by the Greek police. But it is not only the Greek people who put two fingers up to the no smoking laws, it is also visitors to this land, the English, the Dutch, the Germans, and others, who refuse to be responsible citizens and continue to smoke in those public places that specifically announce 'NO SMOKING'. I agree that every person should be given the right to smoke if he or she so wishes, but they should not inflict their deadly smoke on those people who prefer not to gunge up their lungs with tar.
And now, with the state of the economy in Greece, which business owner is going to turn away customers because they smoke? It's not going to happen. Livings have to be made. So people will continue to smoke everywhere in Greece. As for me, well I don't smoke and I never have. And I have choices: I can be a customer at places that tolerate smokers, or I can keep away.
The thing is, for your own sake, realise what cigarette smoke does to your body. Remember my mother, and thousands of other mothers who have died because of smoking. Don't let it be you. Don't leave your children to live their lives without a mother, as I have. QUIT SMOKING NOW!
I mean it!
Love Jane x
Will the Greek people ever stop smoking? It is something that I am very passionate about. Tobacco cost me a lot. It cost me my mother. Every time I go into a bar, cafeneo or restaurant, and see the 'No Smoking' sign I am encouraged, but in the same instant I shake my head, because this sign means nothing. It is just another law that has been passed to appease Europe, another law that will never be enforced by the Greek police. But it is not only the Greek people who put two fingers up to the no smoking laws, it is also visitors to this land, the English, the Dutch, the Germans, and others, who refuse to be responsible citizens and continue to smoke in those public places that specifically announce 'NO SMOKING'. I agree that every person should be given the right to smoke if he or she so wishes, but they should not inflict their deadly smoke on those people who prefer not to gunge up their lungs with tar.
And now, with the state of the economy in Greece, which business owner is going to turn away customers because they smoke? It's not going to happen. Livings have to be made. So people will continue to smoke everywhere in Greece. As for me, well I don't smoke and I never have. And I have choices: I can be a customer at places that tolerate smokers, or I can keep away.
The thing is, for your own sake, realise what cigarette smoke does to your body. Remember my mother, and thousands of other mothers who have died because of smoking. Don't let it be you. Don't leave your children to live their lives without a mother, as I have. QUIT SMOKING NOW!
I mean it!
Love Jane x
Sunday, March 4, 2012
A Message For All Non-Greeks
Ros Grypari puts it in words we can all understand.
A MESSAGE FOR ALL NON-GREEKS... by Ros Grypari
Although I am not Greek, I love Greece dearly and it has been my second home for nearly 40 years. Over the last two years I have watched a lot of finger pointing and accusations being aimed at this unequaled, beautiful cradle of democracy and I have one question for you: How would your country's people have coped, if your nation's history had followed the same path that Greek history has followed?...
Ironically, the Greeks, the creators of democracy, have only been a FREE, "democratic" nation for a mere 38 years, since their infamous junta fell in 1974! Think about it! For over 600 years the Greeks have not had any leaders that they could trust!... They were under a violent and barbaric Turkish rule for 400 years! The only way to survive was by bribery and corruption! Vastly outnumbered, they fought with unparalleled bravery from 1821 to 1829 to overthrow the Turks and they eventually won - but then - in 1831, the three great powers of Europe (Great Britain, France and Russia) decided that the newly independent Greeks should have a monarchy, so they sent them a 17 year old Bavarian/German prince to be their king, accompanied by 3 very austere Bavarian/German advisors! (Sound familiar?)... From 1863, thereon, the Greek monarchy came from Denmark. The foreign imposed monarchy was finally overthrown, after 153 years, by the military junta in 1967, after which the Greeks suffered a further 7 years of terror at the hands of the generals! The monarchy's permanent removal was, unsurprisingly, decided in a referendum by the Greek people in 1974.
Apart from the Turkish rule, the foreign imposed monarchies and a dictatorship, the Greeks also suffered terribly during the German and Italian occupation during WWII, which left them deeply in debt, devastated and destroyed, in spite of their courageous resistance. Once again, the Greeks had an immense struggle, being forced to use whatever means it took, just to survive!... Is it a wonder that they are sick of foreigners interfering with their affairs? What other nation in the developed world has been so oppressed, by so many other nations AND a military junta (which was ALSO imposed by a foreign power!) for the last 600 years?
Understandably, ever since 1974, when "democracy" was finally restored, the Greek people have nurtured a deep mistrust of all their politicians and leaders. Greek citizens rarely get the advantage of tax breaks and rewards for being honest that one expects in a civilized, democratic society. Greek politicians, having been tarred with the same corrupt brush as their tyrannical predecessors, have always stolen from their people and used bribery and blackmail to get them to vote for them! Avoiding paying taxes has, largely, been an unspoken agreement between the RICH Greeks and the politicians, who had a mutual, unspoken agreement to turn a blind eye! But the rich and the politicians are NOT the ones who are paying the punishment for the mess that they have got Greece into! It is the poor, the pensioners and the middle classes who are being forced to pay - and they are on their knees!
The last nail in the coffin for Greece appears to have been George Papandreou, the most recently elected Greek Prime Minister (whose mother is an American!)... Mr Papandreou was born and raised in the United States, not even coming to Greece until 1974! Following his removal, last year, the Greeks have had yet another leader imposed on them by foreign powers!... A BANKER "technocrat", of all people! (There's no need to say whose side HE is on!)
This is a watershed moment for Greece. The Greek people are desperately fighting for change and for survival, yet again - but it is a bloody battle and this time they are up against the EU, the IMF, the ECB AND all the world banks! After all, Ancient Athens wasn't built in a day and modern Athens and Greece will, somehow, have to be re-built out of the ashes, with a new model of honesty, transparency and fairness. The Greeks have a very long and hard road ahead. From where will they find the strength do this on their own, when they have been so defeated and bled so dry? They really can't take any more pain and unless other countries do something to HELP the Greek people, sooner or later, your own country will be the next victim in the bankers' sights, in this sinister war of finance! (NB: The majority of the loans that you hear about, that are supposedly going to "help" Greece, are NOT going to the Greek people - they are going to the world's banks to pay the VAST amounts of interest that have been incurred on the relatively small amount of debt that is owed by Greece!)... It is a country of only 11 million people, so they need a lot of help and support! Capitalism appears to be imploding, worldwide, and it is the Greek people who are paying for it dearly, suffering more than anyone outside of Greece can imagine.
So, to those of you who, mistakenly, think that the Greeks have brought this crisis upon themselves - please think again!... The Greek people are NOT to blame! The combination of hundreds of years of foreign interference/imposition AND the corrupt and greedy bankers, worldwide, are the ones to blame! They have taken advantage of the corrupt government in Greece and have chosen the Greeks as the weakest and easiest victims to prey on for their first meal, using them as an experiment and picking the Greek bones dry in the process! However, there appears to be a tsunami of support building for the Greeks, which is beginning to spread across the world. It could be the last ray of hope for Greece!
Ros Grypari
Although I am not Greek, I love Greece dearly and it has been my second home for nearly 40 years. Over the last two years I have watched a lot of finger pointing and accusations being aimed at this unequaled, beautiful cradle of democracy and I have one question for you: How would your country's people have coped, if your nation's history had followed the same path that Greek history has followed?...
Ironically, the Greeks, the creators of democracy, have only been a FREE, "democratic" nation for a mere 38 years, since their infamous junta fell in 1974! Think about it! For over 600 years the Greeks have not had any leaders that they could trust!... They were under a violent and barbaric Turkish rule for 400 years! The only way to survive was by bribery and corruption! Vastly outnumbered, they fought with unparalleled bravery from 1821 to 1829 to overthrow the Turks and they eventually won - but then - in 1831, the three great powers of Europe (Great Britain, France and Russia) decided that the newly independent Greeks should have a monarchy, so they sent them a 17 year old Bavarian/German prince to be their king, accompanied by 3 very austere Bavarian/German advisors! (Sound familiar?)... From 1863, thereon, the Greek monarchy came from Denmark. The foreign imposed monarchy was finally overthrown, after 153 years, by the military junta in 1967, after which the Greeks suffered a further 7 years of terror at the hands of the generals! The monarchy's permanent removal was, unsurprisingly, decided in a referendum by the Greek people in 1974.
Apart from the Turkish rule, the foreign imposed monarchies and a dictatorship, the Greeks also suffered terribly during the German and Italian occupation during WWII, which left them deeply in debt, devastated and destroyed, in spite of their courageous resistance. Once again, the Greeks had an immense struggle, being forced to use whatever means it took, just to survive!... Is it a wonder that they are sick of foreigners interfering with their affairs? What other nation in the developed world has been so oppressed, by so many other nations AND a military junta (which was ALSO imposed by a foreign power!) for the last 600 years?
Understandably, ever since 1974, when "democracy" was finally restored, the Greek people have nurtured a deep mistrust of all their politicians and leaders. Greek citizens rarely get the advantage of tax breaks and rewards for being honest that one expects in a civilized, democratic society. Greek politicians, having been tarred with the same corrupt brush as their tyrannical predecessors, have always stolen from their people and used bribery and blackmail to get them to vote for them! Avoiding paying taxes has, largely, been an unspoken agreement between the RICH Greeks and the politicians, who had a mutual, unspoken agreement to turn a blind eye! But the rich and the politicians are NOT the ones who are paying the punishment for the mess that they have got Greece into! It is the poor, the pensioners and the middle classes who are being forced to pay - and they are on their knees!
The last nail in the coffin for Greece appears to have been George Papandreou, the most recently elected Greek Prime Minister (whose mother is an American!)... Mr Papandreou was born and raised in the United States, not even coming to Greece until 1974! Following his removal, last year, the Greeks have had yet another leader imposed on them by foreign powers!... A BANKER "technocrat", of all people! (There's no need to say whose side HE is on!)
This is a watershed moment for Greece. The Greek people are desperately fighting for change and for survival, yet again - but it is a bloody battle and this time they are up against the EU, the IMF, the ECB AND all the world banks! After all, Ancient Athens wasn't built in a day and modern Athens and Greece will, somehow, have to be re-built out of the ashes, with a new model of honesty, transparency and fairness. The Greeks have a very long and hard road ahead. From where will they find the strength do this on their own, when they have been so defeated and bled so dry? They really can't take any more pain and unless other countries do something to HELP the Greek people, sooner or later, your own country will be the next victim in the bankers' sights, in this sinister war of finance! (NB: The majority of the loans that you hear about, that are supposedly going to "help" Greece, are NOT going to the Greek people - they are going to the world's banks to pay the VAST amounts of interest that have been incurred on the relatively small amount of debt that is owed by Greece!)... It is a country of only 11 million people, so they need a lot of help and support! Capitalism appears to be imploding, worldwide, and it is the Greek people who are paying for it dearly, suffering more than anyone outside of Greece can imagine.
So, to those of you who, mistakenly, think that the Greeks have brought this crisis upon themselves - please think again!... The Greek people are NOT to blame! The combination of hundreds of years of foreign interference/imposition AND the corrupt and greedy bankers, worldwide, are the ones to blame! They have taken advantage of the corrupt government in Greece and have chosen the Greeks as the weakest and easiest victims to prey on for their first meal, using them as an experiment and picking the Greek bones dry in the process! However, there appears to be a tsunami of support building for the Greeks, which is beginning to spread across the world. It could be the last ray of hope for Greece!
Ros Grypari
Friday, March 2, 2012
Thursday, March 1, 2012
GIVE GREECE A CHANCE
Here is my version of Give Greece a Chance, to get the gist of how to fit the words in, listen to the video below, and sing along, or use my words for your own performance.
Jane x
GIVE GREECE A CHANCE
1…2…3…4…
Ev’rybody’s talkin ‘bout…
REALISM, CENTRALISM, CYNICISM,
GERMANISM, TERRORISM, HEROISM,
BYRONISM, TOURISM, OPTIMISM,
ISM, ISM, ISM, ISM,
ALL WE ARE SAYING IS GIVE GREECE A CHANCE
ALL WE ARE SAYING IS GIVE GREECE A CHANCE
Ev’rybody’s talkin ‘bout…
TWISTERS AND FIBSTERS,
BANKERS AND CANKERS,
GOOD COPS, BAD COPS,
RICH GUYS, POOR GUYS,
CHEESE PIES, FRENCH FRIES,
ALL WE ARE SAYING IS GIVE GREECE A CHANCE
ALL WE ARE SAYING IS GIVE GREECE A CHANCE
Ev’rybody’s talkin ‘bout…
REPROBATION, DEDICATION,
FABRICATION, MEDICATION,
EMBROCATION, ALTERCATION
DELEGATION, RE-CREATION,
ALL WE ARE SAYING IS GIVE GREECE A CHANCE
ALL WE ARE SAYING IS GIVE GREECE A CHANCE
Ev’rybody’s talkin ‘bout…
PAPADEMOS, VENIZELOS,
THE MERKEL CIRCLE,
HOW TO FEED THE PEOPLE,
BAIL OUT, SALE OUT, ALL OUT,
ALL OUT, ALL OUT, ALL OUT, ALL OUT,
ALL WE ARE SAYING IS GIVE GREECE A CHANCE
ALL WE ARE SAYING IS GIVE GREECE A CHANCE
Ev’rybody’s talkin ‘bout…
HAIR CUT, SHORT CUT,
ON YOUR KNEES, TROIKA FEES,
BAN THEM, RAM THEM,
CHANGE THE BANKERS’ POLICIES,
DO IT RENIE, RENIE, RENIE,
DO IT RENIE, RENIE, RENIE,
GREECE, GREECE, GREECE, GREECE,
GREECE, GREECE, GREECE, GREECE,
ALL WE ARE SAYING IS GIVE GREECE A CHANCE
ALL WE ARE SAYING IS GIVE GREECE A CHANCE
(Repeat and fade out)
©Jane Sharp 2012
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