Thursday, 30 April 2026

Spring Is Coming In! 😊

Central Macedonia, recently, was aglow with peach tree blossom – a stunning roadside show! Spring is gradually approaching this year with short, scattered bouts of rain and cooler weather.

And that means nature goes into overdrive and demands hard work to keep things in order. Here we see members of the family, on holiday from Crete, painting the trees with a liquid to protect them from fungus. I imagine that will deter ants and other insects that damage the bark or fruit.

Under the hothouse arches, tomato, cucumber, courgette and pepper plants sit in straight rows. They should see us all through the summer months once they ripen.

The vines have begun to leaf, having been cleaned and sprayed to encourage healthy growth.

Paths and verges look neat after recent mowing and weeding. In our former house, Z had headaches for three days simply at the thought of cutting our grass – a vast expanse that Angeliki called Hyde Park!  It was a two-day task while here within less than two hours, he’s back and smiling because the deed is done! A much preferred option!

 By the house angelica is budding, soon to pervade the area with its intoxicating scent.

The rose bushes are producing coy buds, waiting for more heat before strutting their stuff.                   We greatly look forward to enjoying what these plants have to offer!



  

Friday, 17 April 2026

Unorthodox Easter !

 And so it was Easter! At the spa, one Greek lady remarked it was Catholic Easter. Couldn’t resist asking if we Protestants didn’t get a look-in, to which a friend of hers responded quietly Protestants are heretics. Reminded me of the nun at the nunnery denying us entrance to Heaven! Now I could have informed her that the Eastern Orthodox followers were the first heretics when they broke away from the Catholic Church in 1054. Perhaps she hadn’t heard of the Great Schism?! But when our newscasters claimed it was Jewish Easter (Pesach was celebrated that same week) I realized that the role of an educator has its limits! :0

But to the celebration: wood-fired ovens are heated,


the beastie is hung, and appetites are whetted.


Here the spread included lamb with its rice and liver stuffing, sausage and belly-pork, oven-baked beans, stuffed vine leaves, salads of lettuce, boiled greens, aubergines and a variety of cheeses.

I provided cheesecake and pavlova to finish the meal - and us – off! 😊     


To accommodate family members living in N Europe, that feast was held on the Saturday.

Znme had an invite to ANOTHER on Sunday!! Here we see the potatoes in the oven, lamb atop, and alongside a Thracian haggis-like dish of rice and liver, etc.  Also served: Russian salad, lettuce, and roast chicken. The special request was for me to bring a fruit crumble. Gladly! 😊


Yesterday when I was writing about our experience, I somehow omitted an ‘s’ in error, rendering the word an Eater celebration – think that was correct, after all!

Tuesday, 31 March 2026

Going Green

On our recent trip north we drove past the Saint Dimitrios Power Station, largest of the Greek power plants, generating a total capacity of 1,600 MW. It is easily recognizable with its three 200 metre-high flue gas stacks. Their red and white bands remind me of the patterned stockings worn by Pantomime dames!!

   


Since this area supplies most of the electrical power for the entire country, there are several plants in evidence but most are no longer productive. This is because energy production is undergoing a rapid transitional phase moving towards clean electricity production.


Lignite was traditionally the dominant resource but is now being reduced with a commitment made to phase it out by 2028. Other key energy resources are: natural gas: 36-45%; renewables:40-50% (solar 22.5%, wind 21%). From 2013 solar energy has been making an increasingly significant impact and great swathes of solar panels can be seen throughout the country.


Current goals are for over 61% of the electrical power to come from renewables by 2030  and an overall aim for Greece to be carbon neutral by 2050.

The lowcarbonpower.org diagram below demonstrates the changing face of electricity generation in Greece from 1980 to the present time.


Added to this is another energy-related development: the current EXXON exploratory offshore drilling for natural gas in the Ionian Sea. 


Current findings predict that drilling may begin in 2027. Success in this field could mean Greece would be well on her way to achieving energy sustainability and security. We live in very exciting times! 😊 

Flying High

We live in the eastern region of Thessaloniki and when we need to go to the centre, to avoid parking issues, we tend to use bus services from the local transport hub. We rarely use the Ring Road which in itself is congested at peak times and has a high accident rate. It was built in the 1990s, affording access to the city and the Egnatia Road motorway, which runs west to east across the country from Igoumenitsa to the Kypous border with Turkey.

Much in need of improvement to cater for high traffic volume, the 4-year project, costing around 478 million euros, began in late 2023.

Below is an artist’s impression of the broadened route spanned by an elevated crossing.

Recently, as we headed off for a trip to the north, we were able to see close-up the great progress that is being made.

What were previously little pockets of activity with isolated pieces of structure in evidence, now appear to be joining other disparate puzzle pieces so that we begin to comprehend how they fit into the overall design.


Certainly, local users have been frustrated by traffic flow disruption due to the ongoing work- including old bridge spans being dismantled and requiring total road closure. But their patience will pay off once the eastern section of the 22 km ring road is widened and upgraded. The additional construction includes a 12 km elevated expressway, 9 interchanges, 8 bridges and tunnels and it aims to redirect about 30% of the traffic to this higher level.

The Avax-Mytilineos Consortium, responsible for the major construction work, are to be commended for the efficient and rapid execution of the project which is due for completion in May 2027.

What with our new metro currently being extended, Thessaloniki is eventually moving forward.

 Once this Flyover Project is completed – and doesn’t it look grand above? -   we will really be flying high! 

Saturday, 28 February 2026

Now The Carnival Is Over …

 

Orthodox Easter falls on April 12th, the first Sunday after the spring solstice first full moon, one week after the ‘Catholic Easter’ as they dub it here. We’ve been celebrating the pre-Lenten period with Carnival revelry and fun. Below the locals in the nearby village of Souroti celebrate ‘Clean Monday’ when the 40 days observance begins, running up to Easter.

 



There are specific gastronomic no-nos: meat, dairy produce, fish with backbone – no me, neither :{ - olive oil and wine. This means vegetables and sea food dominate the diet of observing families.

We joined friends for lunch at a local ouzeri and it seemed that ALL the permitted dishes were there: beans, salads, octopus, kalamari, prawns, crayfish, lobster – hardly smacking of abstinence at all as we emptied the plates, downing quantities of ouzo and wine! Then we came back to ours for coffee and a definitely non-kosher cheesecake! :o



As February wanes the weather hasn’t yet settled and can be cool, but the sun is slowly  warming and there are signs that spring is on its way.


The almond trees are flourishing and sleepy bees busy about the blooms. Prunus roots Z planted nearby have taken and are now in flower.

Last night our night sky was a definite ‘red sky at night’- the sailors’ delight!  The carnival is, indeed, over and we must say our last goodbyes to February. Looking forward to new days in a new month with hope.  




Sunday, 22 February 2026

ESTIA

Let me introduce you to the Greek goddess, Estia. Sister of Zeus, she was regarded as the kindest goddess, forgiving, content and, along with Athena and Artemis, was a virgin goddess, who swore an oath of celibacy. She protected the family, the home, the hearth.



The Greek word estia bears a rich semantic load and ‘the hearth’ is probably the sense that it most commonly conveys.


Our recent, dreich, dismal weather does not entice you to move far from your fireside. Cold winds and rain encourage me to produce more wholesome, comforting fare.


This week we enjoyed chicken soup and by the pot is a banana bread mix ready for the oven.


On Burns’ Day I fancied food from the homeland: beef stew, mashed tatties with the nearest turnip substitute I can find – a mix of carrot and parsnip.

Angeliki, our upstairs neighbour, celebrated her birthday with a pavlova I made for her – albeit a bit out of season.

                                              
The left-over cream and strawberries prompted me to bake a batch of scones which cheered up our cold-day breakfast. 😊

These foods I’ve been describing- and readily consuming - could be described as comfort food, childhood favourites representing the warmth of the home, recalling enjoyed and extended hospitality, with the focus on sharing food with others.

The word estia is one I love - with all the connotations of warmth, it even depicts the ‘hob’, another home focus.  It can refer to ‘state-offered student accommodation’ ‘the origin’, ‘the cradle’ – even ‘the epicentre of an earthquake’.

However, my beloved Chambers dictionary sadly let me down. It claims the word comes from the French verb ‘to restore’. Don’t believe a word of it. The derivation is unarguably Greek – ‘estiatorio’- where hospitality is extended. 

So next time you go out for a meal, remember our kindly Estia! 😊

 

 

 


Friday, 30 January 2026

An’ Forward Tho’ I canna See

Having just celebrated Burns’ Day and looking ahead to what 2026 has to offer, the lines,

 ‘An’ forward tho’ I canna see, I guess an’ fear.’

came to mind. Written by Burns in 1785, he bemoans how his plough has rendered the mouse homeless and how unpredictable the future can be.

But, Mousie, thou art no thy lane

In proving foresight may be vain;

The best-laid schemes o' mice an 'men

Gang aft agley,

An' lea'e us nought but grief an' pain,

For promis'd joy!

Still thou art blest, compar'd wi' me

The present only toucheth thee:

But, Och! I backward cast my e'e.

On prospects drear!

An' forward, tho' I canna see,

I guess an' fear!

However, I’m going to change that last thought to something more positive:

‘I guess with cheer.’

2025 had some momentous …. moments that will bridge into 2026.

Below is our much-loved niece, Jen, who recently was promoted to the position of Public Health Principal at Barnsley Council and also gained a much-in-demand place on a course to become an UK Public Health Register Practitioner. All this while bringing up two little ‘uns with a husband who often works away. Awesome – and she will continue to be so!


I posted about bestie, Angeliki’s MA graduation ceremony in Plymouth. Since then she has joined an American college staff, is presenting at an international conference soon, has been asked to convene an professional Special Interest Group, and invited to have an article published in an academic journal. Recently she has gained accreditation as Fellow of the British Association of Lecturers in English for Academic Purposes.

 Flying high, gals – so proud of them both!


This is my splendid teacher, Vasiliki, who accompanies me on the ups and downs of my piano/ music progress. May her patience, passion and humour continue to flow!  😊  


And so to my next ray of hope: literally for years this orchid, a gift from a dear friend, has lain dormant but I refused to pitch it. Imagine my surprise when, before Christmas, it began to produce small shoots. Now I see tiny buds forming. Such a delight!


Planned in 225, table set, food ready - the warmth of friends’ good company saw in 2026.  


Z found the lucky coin in his slice of Vasilopitta (dumpling equivalent) thus hopefully gaining good fortune throughout the year!


So, let’s think positively. May 2026 bring us all health, happiness and peace.