Friday, 31 May 2013
BBC Question Time
Much food for thought in this edition
"On the panel in London are Conservative health minister Anna Soubry MP, Labour's former home secretary Alan Johnson MP, UKIP prospective candidate for European Parliament Diane James, political director of the Huffington Post Mehdi Hasan and Julian Fellowes, the writer and creator of Downton Abbey".
Otis Redding, Ambassador of Soul
This documentary (BBC 4, IPlayer) reminded me just how good Otis Redding was, and the extent of his influence in the UK and Europe. A big man with a lot of soul.
Wish I could have seen the Stax Review when it toured the UK in 1967.
Otis died in a plane crash on December 10, 1967.
Biography
Dreams to Remember (YouTube)
Etta James version
The influence of soul music (Wilson Pickett) in Ireland and the UK, The Commitments, trailer
Wilson Pickett and Bruce Springsteen, The Midnight Hour
Greece: The Problems of Privatising Public Land
Kathimerini article in Greek
On selling State land, and buildings which didn't have clear planning and environmental permission:
Απόλυτο χάος διέπει το νομικό καθεστώς των προς αποκρατικοποίηση ακινήτων του Δημοσίου, που έχει στην κατοχή του το ΤΑΙΠΕΔ, με την πλειονότητα αυτών να διαθέτουν ελλιπή ή ακόμη και καθόλου πολεοδομικές άδειες, σχέδια κ.λπ. Δεν είναι λίγες οι περιπτώσεις ακινήτων τα οποία παρουσιάζουν αποκλίσεις από τα πολεοδομικά ή τοπογραφικά τους έγγραφα, δυσχεραίνοντας ακόμη περισσότερο οποιαδήποτε απόπειρα πώλησής τους. Χαρακτηριστική είναι η περίπτωση μαρίνας, η οποία στον χάρτη υφίσταται... μισή, από το πραγματικό της μέγεθος.
Thursday, 30 May 2013
BYRON, The Poetry of Politics and the Politics of Poetry; and Roderick Beaton, Byron's War
Conference at King's College, London,
July 1-6
and:
Cambridge University Press Bookshop is pleased to be hosting a talk on Byron’s War
Roderick Beaton will be discussing his new book Byron’s War, which offers a fresh perspective on the life and work of the Romantic poet Lord Byron, and in particular his relationship with Greece.
Monday 17th June, 6 – 8pm
Cambridge University Press Bookshop
1 Trinity Street, Cambridge, CB2 1SZ
The talk is free to attend.
“Byron’s War changes our understanding of what Byron was trying to do in Greece, and will be the starting point for all subsequent discussions of the topic.”
Professor David Roessel, The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey
To secure your place, please email ksheldrake@cambridge.org
Wednesday, 29 May 2013
Bank of Greece Report; OECD Reports; Articles and Comments
Report in Greek (pdf), ΝΟΜΙΣΜΑΤΙΚΗ ΠΟΛΙΤΙΚΗ 2012 - 2013
OECD Report, Policies for a Sustainable Recovery (pdf)
OECD, Greece, Statistical Profile
More from OECD
Greek Welfare Index (To Vima)
Update: Comments from Keep Talking Greece
General comments from Richard Pine, Irish Times
An article on privatisation battles, from The Guardian
Pessimism EnetEnglish
Optimism, The Telegraph
Australia the Happiest Nation
I can well believe it - BBC report
OECD Better Life country profile
Create your own index
And they know it! (Great Southern Land)
We've done us proud (Slim Dusty)
In spite of recent riots, Sweden is another lucky country
OECD profile of Sweden
Bloomberg report
"Australia led Sweden and Canada, the Paris-based group’s Better Life Index showed, when each of 11 categories surveyed in 36 nations is given equal weight.
More than 73 percent of people aged 15 to 64 in Australia have a paid job, above the OECD average of 66 percent, while life expectancy at birth in Australia is almost 82 years, two years higher than the OECD average, the survey showed.
Australia, the only major developed nation to avoid the 2009 worldwide recession, remains at the top of the OECD index even as a mining boom powering economic growth crests and the government forecasts unemployment will rise to 5.75 percent by June 2014, from 5.5 percent last month.
“Australia performs exceptionally well in measures of well-being, as shown by the fact that it ranks among the top countries in a large number of topics in the Better Life Index,” the OECD said".
Gateway to Sweden
Greece, Landfill and Waste Management Problem
A perennial problem, not just in Attica
Not just in Greece!
(TIME link from June Samaras)
Landfill, hospital waste
Tuesday, 28 May 2013
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The Science of Music
Professor Robert Winston, BBC 4, IPlayer
"Professor Robert Winston looks at music with a scientist's eye in a series which seeks to fully understand our relationship with the power of sound.
In this programme, Robert Winston explores music and the mind. What's happening in our heads when we listen to music?"
Monday, 27 May 2013
Krf, Kerkyra, Corfu: excerpt from a novel by Borivoje Adašević
Found on a site I follow. In Greek translation, an excerpt from the novel Krf (Kerkyra) by Borivoje Adašević.
Κέρκυρα
Πώς ταξίδευαν στο νησί...
Μπόριβογιε Αντάσεβιτς (Borivoje Adašević)
μτφρ.: Νατάσα Μιγιάτοβιτς
Kerkyra, Stubovi kulture edition, Belgrade, 2011
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*******
Also on this site, David Connolly, Three Greek Poems
About David Connolly
Sunday, 26 May 2013
Sterling Slide, Higher Holiday (and Retirement) Costs; Further devaluation?
According to Moneycorp, the value of Sterling against the Euro is 6% lower than it was 12 months ago.
Express report
It's not easy to forget that from around 2004-2007, the rate of exchange was over 1.5 Euros to £1 sterling...and now another 6% drop since last year!
No wonder there are so many expats' houses on the market in Greece, Spain and France.
UPDATE, 29 May, The Telegraph "Carney will devalue Sterling"
"Mark Carney will try to devalue the pound by as much as 15pc after he takes over as Bank of England Governor in July in a last ditch attempt to cement the UK recovery, Pimco, the world’s largest bond house, has warned".
Greece: Buy a Property-Obtain a Residence Visa, New Law for Non-EU Citizens
Kathimerini
"Less than two weeks after Samaras told a business conference in Shanghai that Chinese entrepreneurs investing more than 250,000 euros in real estate in Greece would get a five-year residence permit, the first major deal has been struck between a Greek real estate firm and a Chinese brokerage, Kathimerini understands".
"The European Commission states that it is the prerogative of individual nations to decide whether to extend residence permits to non-EU citizens. Nevertheless there have been reports of objections to the Greek government’s initiative due to security concerns".
"Strong interest from Russia, China and Arab Countries" (Kathimerini, in Greek*)
After 5 years' legal residence, EU Legislation makes permanent European residence possible for non-EU citizens.
"The European Union (EU) grants European resident status to non-EU nationals who have legally and continuously resided for a period of five years within the territory of an EU country. The directive also approximates national legislation and practices regarding the terms for conferring this resident status and lays down conditions for residence in EU countries other than the one which conferred the resident status".
More on Greece, property purchase, residence permit
Conditions clarified, To Vima
The Tribune, India, on the Spanish residence visa offer.
More on Spain
*
Οι βίζες μάς φέρνουν επενδυτές σε ακίνητα
Η τιμή έχει ορισθεί στις 250.000 ευρώ. Με την αγορά ή τη χρονομίσθωση ενός ακινήτου αυτής της αξίας (και πάνω), «οι πόρτες ανοίγουν». Έντονο ενδιαφέρον από τη Ρωσία, την Κίνα και αραβικές χώρες
Ο στόχος είναι ξεκάθαρος: να έρθουν και να επενδύσουν στην Ελλάδα Ρώσοι, Κινέζοι, Αραβες και όποιοι «τρίτοι» επιθυμούν να εξασφαλίσουν βίζα 5ετούς διάρκειας, με δυνατότητα ανανέωσης και κατ’ επέκτασιν, μέσω της Συνθήκης του Σένγκεν, πρόσβαση στην Ευρωζώνη. Η τιμή έχει ορισθεί στις 250.000 ευρώ. Με την αγορά ή τη χρονομίσθωση ενός ακινήτου αυτής της αξίας (και πάνω), «οι πόρτες ανοίγουν». Ο νόμος έχει ψηφισθεί και όλοι βρίσκονται σε φάση αναμονής για την εφαρμογή του. Οπως πληροφορείται η «Κ», ήδη η πρώτη συμφωνία μεγάλης ελληνικής εταιρείας real estate με κινεζικό γραφείο πρακτόρευσης έχει κλειστεί. Οι ενδιαφερόμενοι θα έρθουν, θα επιλέξουν και αφού αγοράσουν, θα εξασφαλίσουν τη βίζα και τα συνακόλουθα. Το ταξίδι του πρωθυπουργού στο Πεκίνο άνοιξε δρόμους και προς αυτήν την κατεύθυνση. Εντονο ενδιαφέρον αναμένεται και από τη Ρωσία. Περιοχές με ζήτηση; Χαλκιδική, Πελοπόννησος και νησιά του Αιγαίου, για εξοχικές κατοικίες.
More detailed analysis (26 May):
Το κράτος «πουλάει» βίζες στην τιμή των 250.000 ευρώ
Στόχος, η προσέλκυση Ρώσων και Κινέζων επενδυτών με δέλεαρ την πενταετή άδεια παραμονής
Του Ηλια Γ. Μπελλου
Ο στόχος είναι σαφής: να έρθουν στην Ελλάδα, με το κατάλληλο... δέλεαρ, τα κεφάλαια που θα επενδυθούν στην αγορά ακινήτων. Το μοντέλο ήταν λίγο ώς πολύ γνωστό. Το είχαν εφαρμόσει οι Κύπριοι πριν από εμάς, με επιτυχία. Και κάπως έτσι προέκυψε η απόφαση της ελληνικής κυβέρνησης να χορηγεί βίζα 5ετούς διάρκειας, με δυνατότητα αυτόματης ανανέωσης, σε όσους ξένους αγοράσουν (ή χρονομισθώσουν) ακίνητα αξίας 250.000 ευρώ.
Με το ενδιαφέρον των Ρώσων –οψίμως και των Κινέζων– ζωηρότατο και την Ελλάδα μέλος της Ευρωζώνης αλλά και της Συνθήκης Σένγκεν –γεγονός που μεταφράζεται σε ελεύθερη μετακίνηση, εντός αυτής, όσων αποκτήσουν βίζα για την Ελλάδα– οι εξελίξεις αναμένονται ραγδαίες. Τόσο στο μέτωπο της αγοράς κατοικιών και τουριστικών καταλυμάτων, όσο και σε εκείνο των χωρών που διαφωνούν με αυτήν την πολιτική της Ελλάδας.
Ωστόσο, στη συζήτηση αυτή η Ελλάδα δεν είναι μόνη της. Την ίδια πολιτική χορήγησης βίζας σε ξένους που αγοράζουν ακίνητα ακολουθούν και άλλες χώρες. Εντός των ημερών, μάλιστα, η Ισπανία αναμένεται να ψηφίσει νόμο που θα κατεβάζει το ήδη ισχύον όριο που «χορηγεί» βίζες στις 160.000 ευρώ. Διαμορφώνονται έτσι συνθήκες έντονου... ανταγωνισμού για την προσέλκυση αγοραστών ακινήτων στον οποίο συμμετέχουν και άλλοι άμεσα ενδιαφερόμενοι, όπως η Ιρλανδία και η Πορτογαλία.
Ωστόσο, τον δρόμο είχε ανοίξει πριν απ’ όλους η Λευκωσία και μάλιστα με πολύ αξιόλογα αποτελέσματα. Το αποτέλεσμα; Οπως προκύπτει και από διπλανό ρεπορτάζ, πέραν των πολλών Ρώσων που επέλεξαν την Κύπρο και για φορολογικούς λόγους –εξακολουθεί να έχει έναν από τους χαμηλότερους φορολογικούς συντελεστές για επιχειρήσεις και φυσικά πρόσωπα– να αυξάνονται με υψηλότατους ρυθμούς και οι αγορές ακινήτων από Κινέζους.
Συγκεκριμένα, στην Πάφο, όπως αναφέρουν τα τελευταία διαθέσιμα στοιχεία, το τρίτο τρίμηνο του περασμένου έτους Κινέζοι και Ρώσοι αγόρασαν το 90% των περίπου 600 ακινήτων που άλλαξαν χέρια. Και όλα αυτά την ώρα που το real estate στο νησί βρίσκεται σε ύφεση, με τις τιμές να έχουν υποχωρήσει κατά 15% την τελευταία 5ετία.
Για να ξαναγυρίσουμε στα της Ελλάδας, η ανάλογη πρωτοβουλία της κυβέρνησης, όπως είναι φυσικό, δεν μένει ασχολίαστη από τα διεθνή Μέσα Ενημέρωσης. Ειδικά στα βρετανικά μίντια, όπου υπάρχει παραδοσιακά μια μάλλον αρνητική θέση ως προς τη συμμετοχή της Ελλάδας στη Συνθήκη Σένγκεν, σχολιάζουν διπλωματικοί παρατηρητές με τους οποίους επικοινώνησε η «Κ». Χαρακτηριστικές είναι οι δηλώσεις στον Guardiaτου επικεφαλής του Ευρωπαϊκού Συμβουλίου Εξωτερικών Σχέσεων με την Κίνα. Εκεί, λοιπόν, αναφέρεται ότι «δημιουργούνται ζητήματα» όταν οι άδειες διαμονής χορηγούνται από χώρες που συμμετέχουν στη Συνθήκη του Σένγκεν, όπως δηλαδή η Ελλάδα.
Η Κομισιόν, πάντως, διαρρέει ότι η απόφαση χορήγησης άδειας διαμονής σε πολίτες εκτός Ευρώπης αποτελεί ευθύνη της κάθε εθνικής κυβέρνησης. Εκτιμάται παρ’ όλα αυτά ότι είναι ζήτημα χρόνου να διατυπωθούν αντιδράσεις.
Η Αθήνα, όμως, εμφανίζεται διατεθειμένη να χρησιμοποιήσει το «όπλο» της βίζας σε πλήρη ανάπτυξη: ο πρωθυπουργός, κατά την πρόσφατη επίσκεψή του στο Πεκίνο, ανακοίνωσε πως θα χορηγούνται άδειες διαμονής σε όσους Κινέζους αγοράσουν ακίνητα άνω των 250.000 ευρώ, χωρίς άλλες προϋποθέσεις. Και οι Κινέζοι που επιθυμούν να αποκτήσουν ακίνητα στην Ελλάδα αλλά και ανά την Ευρώπη είναι πάρα πολλοί, για δύο κυρίως λόγους:
- Πρώτον, επειδή όσοι επενδύσουν στο εξωτερικό επιτρέπεται, κατ’ εξαίρεσιν του σχετικού νόμου στην Κίνα, να κάνουν περισσότερα από ένα παιδιά.
- Και δεύτερον, επειδή η ανερχόμενη αστική τάξη της χώρας αριθμεί άνω του ενός εκατομμυρίου οικογένειες και πληθαίνει μαζί με την ανάπτυξη της οικονομίας της.
Με την παρουσία εδώ μεγάλων κινεζικών επιχειρήσεων, όπως η Cosco και με δεδομένα τα πλεονεκτήματα της ελληνικής γης, το αγοραστικό ενδιαφέρον αναμένεται να αυξηθεί άμεσα. Οπως συμβαίνει με το έμπρακτο αγοραστικό ενδιαφέρον των Ρώσων που πραγματοποιούν εδώ και μήνες πολλές τοποθετήσεις σε Κρήτη, Χαλκιδική και Πελοπόννησο. Οι πληροφορίες δε, επιμένουν ότι στους Ρώσους και τους Κινέζους θα πρέπει να προστεθούν και Αμερικανοί αλλά και Αραβες.
Ποιοι και πώς μπορούν να πάρουν βίζα
Ο νόμος, όπως ψηφίστηκε και δημοσιεύθηκε στην Εφημερίδα της Κυβερνήσεως (Αρ. Φύλλου 90, 18/4/2013) δίνει τη δυνατότητα σε ξένους που προβαίνουν σε επένδυση σε ελληνικά ακίνητα ύψους 250.000 ευρώ και άνω να λάβουν άδεια διαμονής για τους ίδιους και την οικογένειά τους. Αναλυτικότερα, «με απόφαση του Γενικού Γραμματέα Αποκεντρωμένης Διοίκησης χορηγείται άδεια διαμονής για 5 έτη σε υπήκοο τρίτης χώρας, εφόσον έχει λάβει θεώρηση εισόδου όταν απαιτείται και διαθέτει, είτε προσωπικά είτε μέσω νομικού προσώπου του οποίου οι μετοχές ή τα εταιρικά μερίδια τού ανήκουν εξ ολοκλήρου, κατά κυριότητα, νομή και κατοχή, ακίνητη περιουσία στην Ελλάδα ή έχει συνάψει τουλάχιστον δεκαετούς διάρκειας χρονομεριστική μίσθωση» ή «δεκαετούς διάρκειας μίσθωση ξενοδοχειακών καταλυμάτων ή τουριστικών επιπλωμένων κατοικιών σε σύνθετα τουριστικά καταλύματα». Η άδεια «μπορεί να ανανεώνεται για ισόχρονη διάρκεια, εφόσον η ακίνητη περιουσία παραμένει κατά τους παραπάνω τρόπους στην κυριότητα, νομή και κατοχή του». Με κοινή απόφαση των υπουργών Εσωτερικών και Οικονομικών το ύψος της ακίνητης περιουσίας μπορεί να αναπροσαρμόζεται και θα προκύπτει σύμφωνα με τις αναγραφόμενες επί των συμβολαίων αξίες των ακινήτων ή των συμβάσεων μίσθωσης. Οι δικαιούχοι μπορεί να συνοδεύονται και από τα μέλη της οικογενείας τους, στα οποία χορηγείται, ύστερα από αίτησή τους, ατομική άδεια διαμονής, που ανανεώνεται ταυτόχρονα με την άδεια διαμονής του συντηρούντος. Οι άδειες διαμονής δεν καθιερώνουν δικαίωμα πρόσβασης σε οποιαδήποτε μορφή εργασίας και το διάστημα διαμονής δεν συνυπολογίζεται για τη χορήγηση ιθαγένειας.
Song and Dance from Northern Greece, 1928-1958, Five Days Married & Other Laments
This new limited edition audiophile long-playing record, Five Days Married and Other Laments (Angry Mom Records), is a both a labour of love and a profound work of art. Essential for those who love the irrestible music of Epirus and all music with deep feeling. Brilliant notes and production by Christopher King. Great artwork by Robert Crumb.
My gratitude to Chris King, for discovering, collecting, remastering and sharing these amazing sounds.
Elvis Costello in Mojo (above)
Beyond Rembetika
CD Boxed Set (Amazon)
On Nostalgia
Here's a good discussion of the word, Nostalgia, by Philip Howard, from Saturday's edition of The Times:
When the lute is broken,
Sweet tones are remembered not;
When the lips have spoken,
Loved accents are soon forgot.
P. B. Shelley
Saturday, 25 May 2013
The Real Zorba the Greek
"Zorba taught me to love life and have no fear of death", Nikos Kazantzakis, Report to Greco, translated by Peter A.Bien, 1965.
"In 1917, there was Zorba- Zorba and the famous lignite mine, whose
actual location was not in Crete at all but the southern part of the
Peloponnesus, in Mani, near a stunning bay with fine sand and fresh-water springs spurting in the sea and along a beach...When the mine collapsed, Zorba
and Kazantzakis abandoned it".
Nikos Kazantzakis, A
Biography Based on His Letters, by Helen Kazantzakis, translated by Amy
Mims, 1968.
The mine was at Prastova, four miles from Kardamyli.
"As for us, boss...we have other aims, great ones".
"What are they Zorba?" I asked him.
"It seems we're digging to see what devils we have inside us".
Kazantzakis, Report to Greco.
See also my blog posting, Cacoyannis in Conversation, about the film of Zorba the Greek
Does thie dialogue in this scene sound chauvinistic nowadays (or just downright sexist)?
Further reading:
An article from The Mail Online
Mani Developments
Big Fat Greek Blog
Wikipedia
Alexis Korner, "The Devil's Music", Blues Series
Catch up programme, Episode 1, from 1979- includes Bukka White
Episode 2 - includes Big Joe Williams
Episode 3 - more Big Joe Williams
Episode 4 - Chicago Blues
Alexis Korner, Gotta Move: an all-time great of British R 'n' B (YouTube). Alexis was part Greek by descent. He introduced me to some inspiring jug band and blues music through a series of seminal Kings of the Blues EP records. This is one vinyl record I wouldn't part with for the world; with Noah Lewis on mouth-harp:
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Ripley Blues
I even went to Ripley, Tennessee, because of the haunting music in my head.
Sleepy John Estes was born there.
Gus Cannon's Jug Stompers
Noah Lewis
I even went to Ripley, Tennessee, because of the haunting music in my head.
Sleepy John Estes was born there.
Noah Lewis
A Tale from the Australian Bush, Queensland
BBC Radio 4 (IPlayer)
Programme note:
Alan Dein crosses the world via Facebook and Skype, hearing the real life dramas of random strangers. He never knows who he will be speaking to next or what secrets they will reveal.
Today, he hears a moving story of widowhood from 60 year old Jennie in the Australian Bush. The line is so bad that Alan decides to send her a digital recorder so that she can record herself in quality. What emerges is a bittersweet and intensely personal story but one which also touches on key events in Australia in the post-1945 era, including the Vietnam War and the catastrophic Darwin Cyclone.
She also uses the recorder to capture some of the abundant bird life in her remote and rural part of Queensland.
***
See also my blog post, For Old Friends in Australia
On the Greek Music Industry
New energy (Kathimerini)
"The CD market is alive in Greece because the country has yet to enter the digital age. We are trying to introduce streaming, which will put an end to piracy, but Greeks are not ready to embrace this quite yet.”
Friday, 24 May 2013
British Jazz in the 1950s; Ottilie Patterson; Chris Barber's Jazz Band; Graeme Bell; Lonnie Donegan
Ottilie Patterson sings with Chris Barber's Jazz Band, St Louis Blues , 1955 (YouTube) and Blues Knocking On My Door (from Momma Don't Allow). In the Evening, Lonnie Donegan with Chris Barber on mouth-harp.
Ottilie Patterson with Chris Barber's Jazz Band, Just a Closer Walk With Thee
Lonnie Donegan with Chris Barber's Jazz Band , 1954, Precious Lord, Take My Hand
In fact it all began in Britain with Graeme Bell (the Australian jazzman) in 1948.
I was never a great trad jazz revival fan. I liked Charlie Parker and New York bebop as much as early New Orleans jazz, but this film makes you realise just how much fun the British musicians had, and how much passion they felt for the music. Skiffle was more to my taste than jazz back in the mid-1950s.
BBC programme notes:
Documentary telling the story of Britain's post-war infatuation with old New Orleans jazz. With rare 78rpm imports as their only guide, a generation of amateur jazz enthusiasts including Humphrey Lyttelton and Chris Barber created a traditional jazz scene that strove to recreate the essence and freedom of 1920s New Orleans in 1950s Britain.
While British youth jived in smoky dives, the music itself was beset by arguments of authenticity. Begging to differ with the source material, Ken Colyer embarked on a pilgrimage to New Orleans in search of the real deal while a larger ideological war raged between mouldy figs and dirty boppers- traditional and modern jazz fans. As its popularity grew, commercial forces descended and a 'trad' boom sent the purists running for cover at the turn of the decade - the first and last time New Orleans jazz became British pop.
Featuring Acker Bilk, Chris Barber and previously-unseen interviews with the late Humphrey Lyttelton and George Melly.
Greece, Online Tax Returns, 2013
From To Vima International, 30 June online return deadline
Kathimerini update on delays
Official website
Extension of deadline?
More detail
and more
Important explanation (in Greek)
"Φέτος, υποχρέωση υποβολής φορολογικής δήλωσης έχει κάθε φυσικό πρόσωπο, που έχει την κατοικία του στην Ελλάδα, έχει συμπληρώσει το 18ο έτος της ηλικίας του και δεν αποτελεί προστατευόμενο μέλος".
"This year, any person who is domiciled in Greece, is over 18 years of age and is not a dependent, has the obligation to submit a tax declaration" (auto translation from Kathimerini) .
Phrases in bold italics: need further clarification from a qualified accountant?
More complications
Bank deposit interest
Greece, Land Registry, Expats
From To Vima International Edition
Land Registry calls expats to come forward
Land owners risk losing property to State if they do not register their proprietary rights on time
Friday, May 24, 2013
"The head of the Land Registry Dimitris Kaloudiotis has appealed to Greeks living overseas to take care of their property in Greece, otherwise they risk their property remaining unregistered and being seized by the State in a few years.
In order to avoid any unpleasant surprises and risk losing their property, Greek citizens living overseas must visit the Land Registry website, where they will find the relevant information and instructions on how to proceed is available in both Greek and English.
The procedure is fairly straightforward: the Land Registry announces the areas it will survey and requests land owners to submit their details. Four years later and after the Registry has processed the information, it requests owners to re-examine their data to correct any errors.
At present the Land Register is processing about 22 million proprietary rights, which amounts to about one third of land in Greece. About 16 million further proprietary rights remain to be processed, which is expected to take place between 2014 and 2017".
IMPORTANT INFORMATION (reporter.gr), in Greek, or use Google automatic translator
"The head of the Land Registry Dimitris Kaloudiotis has appealed to Greeks living overseas to take care of their property in Greece, otherwise they risk their property remaining unregistered and being seized by the State in a few years.
In order to avoid any unpleasant surprises and risk losing their property, Greek citizens living overseas must visit the Land Registry website, where they will find the relevant information and instructions on how to proceed is available in both Greek and English.
The procedure is fairly straightforward: the Land Registry announces the areas it will survey and requests land owners to submit their details. Four years later and after the Registry has processed the information, it requests owners to re-examine their data to correct any errors.
At present the Land Register is processing about 22 million proprietary rights, which amounts to about one third of land in Greece. About 16 million further proprietary rights remain to be processed, which is expected to take place between 2014 and 2017".
IMPORTANT INFORMATION (reporter.gr), in Greek, or use Google automatic translator
Thursday, 23 May 2013
Georges Moustaki
BBC, on the sad news of the death of Georges Moustaki
We were listening to a Moustaki album at a friend's house just last week.
Le Meteque
Nous sommes deux
Ma Liberte
En Mediterranee
Tribute video
His parents, Sarah and Nessim Moustaki, came from Corfu.
Global Greek World blog
Blue Flag Beaches, 2013, South West England
BBC Report
South West - Sandbanks, Shore Road, Canford Cliffs and Branksome Chine in Poole, Blackpool Sands, Alum Chine, Durley Chine and Fisherman's Walk in Bournemouth, Southbourne, Carbis Bay, Polzeath, Porthtowan, Gyllnygvase, Porthmeor, Sandy Bay, Salcombe South Sands, Swanage Central, Dawlish Warren, Breakwater, Broadsands, Meadfoot, Oddicombe, Westward Ho!
March 2013 blog on water quality
EU Olive Oil Jug Ban Withdrawn
Kathimerini reports.
EnetEnglish
Truth is, you can't even trust the "Extra Virgin" label on sealed bottles.
Golden Gate Blues! San Francisco, Sebastopol and Demetrius Toteras; Stanford University
Alex, our son, 1998
San Francisco Visit, 1979:
Jim, Jimmie, Amalia
relaxing after giving a three hours lecture/workshop on
The Semiotics of Message Design
(in Intercultural Development Communication)
Jimmie and Bronwen, Sebastopol, 1998:
This year (2013) Bronwen kindly sent me the unpublished texts
of two more extraordinary works by Demetrius Toteras (died 12 November, 2009) -
The Nut Festival and Bitter Tears (A Fictionalized Account of My Korean War Trauma).
I am printing out each section of Bitter Tears slowly. I don't want it to finish.
Another masterpiece from the author of Sunday They'll Make Me A Saint.
About Demetrius Toteras
California Coast (rt. Lone Pine, Seventeen Mile Drive)
Blues Pilgrimages
Strindberg's Ultimate Writing Hut (Kymendö Diktarstuga); Hemsö är Kymmendö; Skärgården
What more do you want?
A small hut on an island (Kymendö), in the Skärgården/Archipelago
Strindbergsstugan/ Diktarstuga
A small hut on an island (Kymendö), in the Skärgården/Archipelago
Strindbergsstugan/ Diktarstuga
Engström liked the open sea,
Strindberg loved the islands round-
Somewhere for his thoughts to settle.
A wooden studio on the rocks:
Atelier, folly or writer's hut?
from Strindberg's Island (Corfu Blues, Ars Interpres, 2006)
See photo Albert Engström's studio-hut, near Grisslehamn
See photo Albert Engström's studio-hut, near Grisslehamn
From Albert Engström, Svensk Natur, Sven Barthel, 1982
Strindberg's Paintings
Strindberg and Paintings
Ingmar Bergman, on the influence of Strindberg
Skärgården
Strindberg and the islands
Bo Strömstedt berättar om August Strindberg och hans relation till skärgården. Hemsö är egentligen Kymmendö. Inspirationen till Hemsöborna är hämtad därifrån. Strindberg skrev även Mäster Olof på Kymmendö.
Spanish video
Hemsöborna
Hemsoborna Part 1
Part 2
From The People of Hemso
About Strindberg
Vågorna sjunga
Det är vi, vågorna,
som vagga vindarne
till vila!
Gröna vaggor, vi vågor.
Våta äro vi, och salta;
likna eldens lågor;
våta lågor äro vi.
Släckande, brännande,
tvättande, badande,
alstrande, avlande.
Vi, vi vågorna,
som vagga vindarne
till vila!
Collected Writings online
For an alternative design (more for animal observation than for writing or painting), how about this hut on stilts in Majella, Abruzzo, Italy? It's called the PineCube.
A writer's shed - Louis de Bernières (The Guardian)
"I’ve got two writing places. There’s a shed, next to the vegetable patch, which is a lovely place to write but I can get uptight about the pigeons and squirrels. I tend to write things in there that don’t need any research because you can’t keep many books in a shed or they go rotten. It’s powered by solar panels, which I fitted myself, and heated by a caravan gas heater".
Strindberg's Paintings
Strindberg and Paintings
Ingmar Bergman, on the influence of Strindberg
Skärgården
Bo Strömstedt berättar om August Strindberg och hans relation till skärgården. Hemsö är egentligen Kymmendö. Inspirationen till Hemsöborna är hämtad därifrån. Strindberg skrev även Mäster Olof på Kymmendö.
Spanish video
Hemsöborna
Hemsoborna Part 1
Part 2
From The People of Hemso
About Strindberg
Vågorna sjunga
Det är vi, vågorna,
som vagga vindarne
till vila!
Gröna vaggor, vi vågor.
Våta äro vi, och salta;
likna eldens lågor;
våta lågor äro vi.
Släckande, brännande,
tvättande, badande,
alstrande, avlande.
Vi, vi vågorna,
som vagga vindarne
till vila!
Collected Writings online
For an alternative design (more for animal observation than for writing or painting), how about this hut on stilts in Majella, Abruzzo, Italy? It's called the PineCube.
A writer's shed - Louis de Bernières (The Guardian)
"I’ve got two writing places. There’s a shed, next to the vegetable patch, which is a lovely place to write but I can get uptight about the pigeons and squirrels. I tend to write things in there that don’t need any research because you can’t keep many books in a shed or they go rotten. It’s powered by solar panels, which I fitted myself, and heated by a caravan gas heater".
Wednesday, 22 May 2013
Cyprus In the Spotlight Again
Transactions (Bild)
The report (pdf, in English)
CYPRUS – EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF CUSTOMER DUE DILIGENCE MEASURES
LEVEL OF IMPLEMENTATION OF PREVENTIVE MEASURES BY FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
SUMMARY REPORT OF MAIN FINDINGS BY MONEYVAL AND THE INDEPENDENT AUDITOR
Summary Report misleading (Kathimerini)
June 28, Kathimerini
Our Family Cars (A Short Illustrated Survey)
Memory Test, and a Memo to Myself
At my request, my brother has reminded me of some of the cars that we had in the family in years gone by:
My father changed his car every year but he usually chose a Ford Zephyr Convertible.
My mother had a Standard Eight, followed by an Austin A30, a Ford Anglia, and a Triumph Spitfire, Mk 1. She had an Austin Allegro for some time, followed by an Austin Metro, a Vauxhall Estate and finally a Suzuki Alto as a little local runaround. Her favourite was the Triumph Spitfire.
My grandmother had a 1.5 litre Riley, followed by a Triumph Herald Saloon, and, finally, a white Estate Herald.
Plus a few family car photos from the more distant past (before I was born).
July 1960
Austin 7, 1934 model, cable brakes,
800cc side valve engine.
My brother bought it for £9.50
Roy with Speedy, en route, Switzerland/Italy
Pipe and Pullover...
On the road, early sixties, with Mike and Speedy
Roy and Mary, MGB, 1973
Can anyone identify this car?
My brother can remember three cars from our Bristol days:
My brother can remember three cars from our Bristol days:
A Ford V8 Pilot- they were built to use up a stock of war surplus engines.
My father also had a Hillman Shooting /Van type Estate car- "quite modest"-
( Roy remembers travelling in that, "as we were hit from behind,
at the roundabout, near the Downs").
My father also had a Hillman Shooting /Van type Estate car- "quite modest"-
( Roy remembers travelling in that, "as we were hit from behind,
at the roundabout, near the Downs").
My father also had a very nice Rover (quick wind-up driver window).
My brother also recalls an Armstrong Sidelley Sapphire, with fluid flywheel.
My brother also recalls an Armstrong Sidelley Sapphire, with fluid flywheel.
Before my time:
Uncle H's car, below:
Uncle H's car, below:
Ken and Nina, 1937:
Nina with her Grandfather, 1920's:
