St. Catherine's Chapel, Abbotsbury, and Abbotsbury Barn

The fourteenth century chapel dedicated to Saint Catherine.

The question is sometimes asked: did Saint Catherine ever exist? Was she invented?

 

""This chapel, built during the first half of the fifteenth century, has withstood for 400 years every gale that has hurtled across the West Bay. Like the chapel on St. Aldhelm's Head, it has been a chantry for sailors, a sea mark to craft heading for the coast, as well as a look-out for the folk of Abbotsbury whence they could watch for the enemy".

Sir Frederick Treves, 1906.

 Walter Tyndale, Abbotsbury Barn:

The Abbot of Abbotsbury

Effigy of an early abbot of Abbotsbury, carved in Purbeck marble (late twelth century). Now in the porch of St Nicholas Church, Abbotsbury.

Chesil Beach, the sound of the sea, Pure Chesil

The best CD I've heard for ages? A 74 minute recording of the sound of the waves lapping on the Chesil Beach and "the soothing drag of the pebbles". Scroll down to Natural Sounds Pure Chesil CD

Or try a similar 11 hour recording on YouTube

                                       

The Dance of Zalongo; The Women of Souli (Suli)

"The fish cannot live on the land

Nor the flower on the sand,

And the women of Souli

Cannot live without freedom."

I have always been fascinated by the stories of the Souliots and the Dance of Zalongo. I have written about them in my book "The Ionian Islands and Epirus, A Cultural History" and I gave a paper on the subject of the Souliots (Suliots) in Corfu at a seminar earlier this year. Update: Now published as a chapter in this book.

I have found a  good YouTube link. The picture I took of three Corfiot guides at the Zalongo monument doesn't really capture the tragedy or drama of the event, but it's a nice photo! Symphoneite?

Felicia Hemans, The Suliote Mother (1825)

The Courage of the Souliote Women 

Alphonse-Marie de Neuville (1836-1885) Courage des femmes Souliotes


Update, Greek Report, December 18, 2017

B. B. King sings James (Jimmy) Johnson

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Although I can't really sympathise with the sentiments expressed, I've always loved this song as recorded by B. B. King. It was written by another James (Jimmy): James Johnson and his recording is credited as by Jimmy Johnson and his band, featuring Hank Alexander (vocal).

I had a chance to have an interesting conversation with BB, the elder statesman of the blues, when he was in Stockholm in 2004 to receive the Polar Music Prize. I met him at the American Ambassador's, no less. I told BB how much I loved his recording and that I had tried to record my own version when in Memphis, as a modest tribute. We can but try.

BB's version has incredible intensity, tension and drama. Beware the green-eyed monster!

Don't answer the door, LIVE at Newcastle

Greek Films

For those of you who speak Greek and enjoy Greek films (old classics as well as others), it is worth exploring this site:

Don't be put off by the home-page and ads!

One of the great Theotokis Corfu stories can be found here, for instance, although you have to click to watch it on Google video.