Mary Summer Rain: Dreamwalker: The Path of Sacred Power What is a Dreamwalker? They are the rare few who, as Mary Summer rain describes them, are "led by the spirit", "have shed the yoke of desire and self-want", and have discarded the need for material gain and all evidence of negative thought. (*****)
Don Miguel Ruiz: The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom, A Toltec Wisdom Book In "The Four Agreements", don Miguel Ruiz reveals the source of self-limiting beliefs that rob us of joy and create needless suffering. Based on ancient Toltec wisdom the Four Agreements offer a powerful code of conduct that can rapidly transform our lives to a new experience of freedom,true happiness and love. (*****)
Mary Summer Rain: Phoenix Rising: No-Eyes' Vision of the Changes to Come Mary Summer Rain's relationship with the old and wise Indian shaman No-Eyes reveals to Mary her compelling visions of the future. From the setting in the simple mountain cabin, No-Eyes takes her on a sometimes frightening journey through time, viewing the upheavals to come through a unique perspective, on timeless paths that few have ever travelled. (*****)
Sir Winston Churchill: My Early Life "Mensa, O Table, is the vocative case", he replied
"But ...why O Table?", I asked in genuine curiosity
"O Table - you would use that in addressing a table". And seeing I did not understand ..
"You would use it in speaking to a table!"
"But I never do !", I blurted out in honest amazement.
"If you are impertinent, you will be punished, and punished, let me tell you, very severely!", was his conclusive reply.
Such was my first introduction to the classics, from which, I have been told, many of our cleverest men have derived so much pleasure and profit
James Thurber: Nine Needles A lathered man whose ear is bleeding and who has four wet needles in one hand and three in the other may be said to have reached the lowest known point of human efficiency ...
A sense of humour may take various forms and laughter may be anything from a refined tinkle to an earthquaking roar, but the effect is always the same. Humour helps us to maintain a correct sense of values. It is the one quality which political fanatics appear to lack. If we can see the funny side, we never make the mistake of taking ourselves too seriously. We are always reminded that tragedy is not really far removed from comedy, so we never get a lop-sided view of things.
This is one of the chief functions of satire and irony. Human pain and suffering are so grim; we hover so often on the brink of war; political realities are usually enough to plunge us into total despair. In such circumstances, cartoons and satirical accounts of sombre political events redress the balance. They take the wind out of pompous and arrogant politicians who have lost their sense of proportion. They enable us to see that many of our most profound actions are merely comic or absurd. We laugh when a great satirist like Swift writes about war in "Gulliver's Travels". The Lilliputians and their neighbours attack each other because they can't agree which end to break an egg. We laugh because we are meant to laugh; but we are meant to weep , too.
The sense of humour must be singled out as man's most important quality because it is associated with laughter. And laughter, in turn , is associated with happiness. Courage, determination, initiative - these are qualities we share with other forms of life. But the sense of humour is uniquely human. If happiness is one of the great goals of life, then it is the sense of humour that provides the key
Example:
How do you get a Scotsman to climb onto the roof of his home? Tell him that the drinks are on the house.
Michalis Hadjiyiannis returns to Cyprus, this time not for a big concert, but for nine performances at the Red Music Stage. Michalis Hadjiyiannis born in Nicosia, Cyprus on 5 November 1979, is one of the most popular singers and songwriters in the Greek music industry. November 29th - December 16th - RED Music Stage, Nicosia
Optimism improves your social life and motivates you to never give up, which turns failures and set backs into comebacks and successes.Your thinking habits can make your life a heaven or hell. And don't forget that failure is an integral part of success. If we never made mistakes, if we never failed, we wouldn't be human and we'd never be successful.
Take a few minutes of your precious time to watch this:
Put them in a pot with about 1 litre water and let boil over medium fire for about 25-30 minutes.
In the meanwhile, wash the seskoula (silverbeet) and tear it in pieces.
Add it to the boiling louvia when they're still half-cooked. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Let boil over low fire (1 to 0 ) for another ten minutes.
Drain the louvia with the lahano (seskoula ) and serve with onion rings(optional), olive oil and fresh lemon juice.
Kali Orexi ! - Enjoy your meal.
Diet Nutrition & Black-Eyed Beans:
Black-eyed beans have a smooth texture, pealike flavour and are good when mixed with other vegetables. Like most beans, black-eyed beans are rich in the best sort of fiber - soluble fiber - which helps to eliminate cholesterol from the body. They are a good source of folate, potassium, copper, phosphorous and manganese. As a high-potassium, low-sodium food they help reduce blood pressure. Not only are they low in fat, but when combined with grains, beans supply high quality protein which provides a healthy alternative to meat or other animal protein. Beans also contain protease inhibitors which frustrate the development of cancerous cells.
"Waste not time searching for happiness. Freeze frame time, Still the moment, and observe the happiness that already surrounds you." ~ Mary Summer Rain
Belonging to myself was what I truly enjoyed at the weekend. Weatherwise it was a scary and stormy weekend and Alkis was away on a business trip. I could have visited my mother but she had already made plans for the weekend and I didn't feel like hanging out with friends. I knew in my heart of hearts that all I really aspired to do was belong to myself and spend a quiet weekend at home. I read "Whispered Wisdom" by Mary Summer Rain and, considering my busy schedule, I was very pleased to finish a book within a few hours while listening to the falling rain. I was captivated by her powerful descriptions of nature, especially the Colorado mountains. "Whispered Wisdom" is a collection of Mary's own photos taken over four seasons in the Colorado mountains, together with her observations of nature in verse, prose vignettes, and sayings. My friend Lizzie from Mitchigan, USA, first introduced me to the amazing wisdom of Mary Summer Rain and I'll be forever thankful.
Painting by : Vasilis Georganos
Class : C1 - Kozani High School , Greece / 2002-2003
On Sunday morning, I went window shopping and was delighted to meet one of probably the last chestnut men known as "kastanades" - a profession to be extinct. They make a coal fire (foufou) on busy streets, they carve their chestnuts and roast them for the passers-by. I got my portion of chestnuts and ate them all on the way home. After all, it's the small pleasures in life that matter. That's what happiness really consists of.
Originally written as the theme song for the film "Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves", (Everything I do) I do it for you was recorded by Bryan Adams in 1991. It was an immediate success and became the best-selling single in the British charts for a record-breaking sixteen weeks, longer than any other song since the chart began. Although the lyrics are simple and similar to many other love songs, the song has a powerful emotional impact because of its extremely strong melody and the haunting quality of Bryan Adams' singing.
The production is pretty clever as the song gradually builds up from a slow and quiet beginning, getting louder and faster with the introduction of more instruments, as Bryan Adams' voice gets higher and more strained. At the end, the instruments die away and the last line is sung slowly and quietly, fading into silence. Although it is a traditional ballad with little new to offer in lyrics or instrumentation, it is a masterpiece of its kind: melodic, emotionally sung and beautifully produced.
EVERYTHING I DO, I DO IT FOR YOU (Bryan Adams)
Look into my eyes - you will see What you mean to me Search your heart - search your soul And when you find me there you'll search no more
Don't tell me it's not worth tryin' for You can't tell me it's not worth dyin' for You know it's true Everything I do - I do it for you
Look into my heart - you will find There's nothin' there to hide Take me as I am - take my life I would give it all - I would sacrifice
Don't tell me it's not worth fightin' for I can't help it - there's nothin' I want more Ya know it's true Everything I do - I do it for you
There's no love - like your love And no other - could give more love There's nowhere - unless you're there All the time - all the way
Oh - you can't tell me it's not worth tryin' for I can't help it - there's nothin' I want more I would fight for you - I'd lie for you Walk the wire for you - ya I'd die for you
Ya know it's true Everything I do - I do it for you
Two days ago, I woke up to yet another sunny day in October. One would think we were in May! Considering my day off on the 28th, I was more than excited as I planned to spend part of that holiday on the beach! But then, in the blink of an eye, something terrible happened! Almost a month after a tornado hit Nicosia, the sun disappeared all of a sudden giving way to one of the most terrible storms the island has ever known. Floods, hailstorms and torrential rain caused chaos in the capital as well as in some parts of Larnaca. Once again, it was a miracle there was no human loss.
Roads and buildings flooded in the Alambra area, while the Fire Services received over 100 calls from distressed homeowners and drivers. Miraculously, there were no injuries. Police blocked off roads – including parts of the Nicosia-Limassol highway – as they had flooded and were deemed to dangerous to use. One woman’s car was swept away by a flash flood on the Mosphiloti-Alambra road and became immobilised by a eucalyptus tree. The car was covered in water, though the driver avoided injury as she climbed on to the bonnet and waited for help. She was saved by firemen and members of the Rapid Reaction Unit (MMAD). In another part of Alambra, disaster was narrowly averted when lightning struck a home and set it on fire while a family was inside. They managed to escape without injury.
And we are in for more bad weather as temperature has considerably dropped from one one day to another!Yet, there is always a silver lining in every cloud. Considering our water shortage problem, the equivalent of one month's rain fell in a matter of hours. That was sheer bliss!
For those who think that Greece today is of no importance, allow me to say that they could not had been more wrong. Modern, just like ancient Greece, has unique importance for everyone who is trying to find himself.
Henry Miller, American writer
When the birthplace of the finest civilization the world ever experienced, the country to which we ought what makes life superior and more beautiful, faces such an attack, the place of all real people is by her side.
William Lyon Mackenzie King, Prime Minister of Canada
Greece gave the example that each one of us must follow, until the enemies of freedom, wherever in the world they may be, suffer their justified punishment.
[A]ll free peoples are deeply impressed by the courage and steadfastness of the Greek nation. ...which is defending itself so valiantly.
Franklin D. Roosevelt, 32nd President of the United States
Without Greek studies there is no education.
Leo Tolstoy, Russian writer
I have never come across someone who could inspire more respect than the Greek philosophers.
Friedrich Nietzsche, German philosopher
If in the library of your house you do not have the works of the ancient Greek writers, then you live in a house with no light.
George Bernard Shaw, Irish-British playwright
It's a shame to be called "educated" those who do not study the ancient Greek writers.
François Rabelais, French Renaissance writer
The world is the expanding Greece and Greece is the shrinking world.
Victor Hugo, French Romantic writer
Though Greece was conquered, she defeated the conqueror and imported the arts in the uncivilised Latium.
Quintus Horatius Flaccus, Roman lyric poet
If there had not been the virtue and courage of the Greeks, we do not know which the outcome of World War II would had been.
Sir Winston Churchill, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
First Greece taught us that free men can be brave, and that no defeat is meant to last forever. This small nation proved to be worthy of its history.
Albert Camus, French author and philosopher
Our country, in which virtue is especially honoured, watches with admiration the struggle of the Greeks in Albania. We are so much touched, that, by letting aside every other feeling, we shout: LONG LIVE HELLAS!.
Mainichi Shimbun, Japanese newspaper, 7 December 1940
The Russian people will always be grateful to the Greeks for delaying the German army long enough for winter to set in, thereby giving us the precious time we needed to prepare. We will never forget.[2]
Joseph Stalin, in an open letter read frequently on Radio Moscow during the war
Historical justice forces me to admit that among all the enemies who stand against us, the Greek soldier above all, fought with the most courage. He surrendered himself only when the continuation of resistance was not possible any longer, and when he had no reason not to... However, he fought so bravely, that even his enemies can not deny their respect for him... Thus, the Greek prisoners of war were released immediately, having in mind the heroic stance of these soldiers.[3]
Adolph Hitler, Reichstag, 4 May 1941
I forbid the Press to underestimate the Greeks, to defame them... The Führer admires the bravery of Greeks. [4]
Joseph Goebbels in his diary, 9 April 1941
The brave struggle of the people of this relatively small nation, for the right to live without interventions by dictatoric states, calls forth the respect and admiration of all the nations who love freedom.
United States Congress, 3 April 1941 Hence we will not say that Greeks fight like heroes, but that heroes fight like Greeks.[5]
Sir Winston Churchill, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom In the name of the captured yet still alive French people, France wants to send her greetings to the Greek people who are fighting for their freedom. The 25th of March, 1941 finds Greece in the peak of their heroic struggle and in the top of their glory. Since the battle of Salamis Greece had not achieved the greatness and the glory which today holds.
Charles de Gaulle, President of the French Republic
If the sharp-sightedness of the Greeks had kept pace with their intelligence, then maybe even the Industrial Revolution had begun one thousand years before Columbus. And so, in our era, we would not just try to visit the Moon, but we would already had arrived on other close planets.
Sir Arthur C. Clarke, English author and inventor
Nobody can say a word against Greek: it stamps a man at once as an educated gentleman.[6]
George Bernard Shaw, Irish-British playwright
Know ye the land where the cypress and myrtle
Are emblems of deeds that are done in their clime,
Where the rage of the vulture,
the love of the turtle,
Now melt into sorrow,
now madded to crime?
Lord Byron, Anglo-Scottish poet
To Greece we give our shining blades.
Thomas Moore, Irish poet[7]
How can any educated person stay away from the Greeks? I have always been far more interested in them than in science.
Albert Einstein, Jewish-American scientist
Of all peoples the Greeks have dreamt the dream of life best.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, German polymath
What a city we have given over to plunder and destruction.
Mehmed II, Ottoman Sultan, 29 May 1453 Greece is the mother of science and the source of knowledge.
Moses of Chorene, Armenian historian. I would prefer to be a Greek, rather than a heir apparent of a throne.
Ludwig I, King of Bavaria.
Greece was the first of civilized nations that presented an example of what man should be.
Thomas Jefferson, 3rd President of the United States.[8]
When I am down, when things just don't go the way I want them to, when I can't see the silver lining in my cloud - however hard I try - here's what I repeat to myself and then I feel great again!
Very often, failure is the surest way to success.
What really matters in life is the journey - not the destination.
Life without pain and suffering would be boring!
Count your blessings, not your money!
Nothing is black in life. It's purely white with just a few ...grey streaks for a highlight.
Forget and forgive.
There is always something positive in every negative situation.
When you believe things will look up again, the sky is the limit.
And never forget that a positive thought a day keeps the doctor away!
Parents are often upset when their children praise the homes of their friends and regard it as a slur on their own cooking, or cleaning , or furniture, and often are foolish enough to let the adolescents see that they are annoyed. They may even accuse them of disloyalty or make some spiteful remark about the friends' parents. Such a loss of dignity and descent into childish behaviour on the part of the adults deeply shocks the adolescents, and makes them resolve that in future they will not talk to their parents about the places or people they visit. Before very long , the parents will be complaining that the child is too secretive to confide in them, but they seldom realise that they have brought this on themselves.
Disillusionment with the parents, however good and adequate they may be both as parents and as individuals, is to some degree inevitable. Most children have such a high ideal of their parents- unless the parents themselves have been unsatisfactory- that it can hardly hope to stand up to a realistic evaluation. Parents would be greatly surprised and deeply touched if they realised how much belief their children usually have in their character and infallibility, and how much this faith means to a child. If parents were prepared for this adolescent reaction, and realised that it was a sign that the child was growing up and developing valuable powers of observation and independent judgement, they would not be so hurt, and therefore, would not drive the child into opposition by resenting and resisting it.
The adolescent, with his passion for sincerity, always respects a parent who admits that he is wrong, or even that he has been unfair. What the child cannot forgive is the parents' refusal to admit these charges if the child knows them to be true.
Victorian parents believed that they kept their dignity by retreating behind an unreasonable authoritarian attitude;in fact they did nothing of the kind, but children were then too cowed to let them know how they really felt. Today we tend to go to the other extreme, but on the whole this is a healthier attitude both for the child and the parent. It is always wiser and safer to face up to reality, however painful it may be.
Alkis and I decided to take advantage of this bright sunny Sunday and spend it outdoors. At the beginning, we thought about going to the mountains as it's a long time we haven't been there. Besides, it would be a nice change from the still summer weather of our area. But as soon as we set off, heading for Troodos, I had a great idea. Why not go to the nearby village of Pervolia located at about 17km from the centre of Larnaca? Alkis was also thrilled with the idea. So..change of direction and off we went. In the past, we used to go there quite often. It was just a very small village then boasting a 4km long pebble beach and crystal clear waters. Apart from a fish tavern or two, the church and the coffee shop, there was nothing much to see in the village. On our way there, we realised that the last time we visited Pervolia was more than ten years ago!
We were surprised to see how much has changed since then! It looks more like a small town now and there are about 1,600 inhabitants. What's more, it's been transformed into a popular tourist destination, especially for families with young children due to the shallow waters but also for travellers who seek peace and quiet on their holidays. There are no huge hotel complexes, just one hotel with bungalows, hotel appartments, and a few villas owned mostly by foreigners. There is also a bank, a supermarket and a sports centre as well as quite a few taverns. And the old light-house, of course, which has been preserved.
We enjoyed our walk through the village; there were only few cars and the only sound heard was the old church clock striking the hours. We had lunch at one of the local tavernas. The food was simply delicious! And good value for money...to such an extent that we thought there was a mistake in the bill. We had a salad and halloumi for starters and a bottle of beer followed by the main course : mixed souvlaki garnished with a salad and chips, a small bottle of ouzo and a big bottle of mineral water-all this for 32 euros. The fruit and sweets were on the house.
Despite the rapid tourist development of Pervolia, the village has preserved its identity and its own very special character. Most importantly, both Alkis and I were struck by the friendliness and the hospitality of the locals who are only too happy to be helpful and welcome visitors to their village.
The bottom line is : we'll go back soon! After all, it's just a short drive away from home.
The headlines below all describe unusual weather conditions from 1987 to 1990.
Worst hurricane since 1703 ravages south and home countries (October 1987)
Island snow astonishes getaway tourists. (February 1989)
Mildest winter for years threatens tourist trade. (Winter 1989-1990)
Severe flooding creates inland sea bigger than Britain.(April 1990)
Elderly victims of sunstroke diein temperatures over 40*C. (July 1990)
Motorways melt in midsummer madness. (August 1990)
African drought and famine worse through long hot summers. (Summer 1990)
And very recently , in September 2009 , here in Cyprus we experienced a powerful tornado. Thank God , no lives were lost. But never before have we experienced such extreme weather conditions in September!
Some more facts :
It has been calculated that if the emmission of greenhouse gases continues at the present rate, the increase in temperature will be enough to cause a rise in sea-level of between 20 and 30 cm by 2030.
If the loss of even the scant annual rainfall of Cape Verde were to become a long-term feature, it is very doubtful whether careful farming practices.....could save a way of life.
If much of Britain were to experience a Mediterranean type of climate, as most greenhouse theories forecast, there would be radical changes in the British climate itself and in the agriculture that would be possible in the country.
If one assumes a growing greenhouse effect of global warming, the Arctic ice cap could have melted by 2090.
We are all citizens of the same planet - possibly the most beautiful in our solar system. It's high time we did something to save our home:
Recycle glass and plastic separately.
Switch off the lights when you leave a room.
Don't litter beaches, forests, lakes, rivers or mountains just as you wouldn't litter your own home.
Tuesday is considered, by many Greeks, to be the unluckiest day of the week. It was on Tuesday, May 29th, 1453 that the city of Constantinople (now known as Istanbul) was besieged and taken by the Ottoman Turks. The loss of life was considerable. Conversely, Greeks consider the number 13 (on its own) to be good luck. Reasons for this vary, including the belief that having 12 apostles of Christ made Christ the 13th of the group. The ancient philosophy of Numerology considers 13 to be "the most selfless of all" and "love for the world revolves around" thirteen. The Celts also considered the number 13 to be related to good fortune. However, the combination of Tuesday and 13 as Tuesday the 13th of the month is considered a very unlucky day in Greek culture.
Today, Tuesday 13th 2009 was a very unlucky day for me. I'm not superstitious and I really don't believe there are lucky and unlucky days. Very often it depends on what WE make of our day - any day. However unlucky your day may be - even on a Tuesday or Friday 13th - a positive thought makes your day!
TODAY
1. I got up late in the morning - very unlike me - and was consequently late for work. Classes begin at 2:30 pm but I must be at the school by 10:00 am and my own boss is pretty strict . Feeling positive, I sang "My Favourite Things" in the bathroom - yes ,don't laugh, it's my favourite song - I only had coffee and a toast for breakfast and I was at the school by 10:25.
2. I planned ALL my lessons on the interactive whiteboard. At 1:30 pm - only one hour before lessons start - the projector of my interactive whiteboard wouldn't switch on! I calmly called the company I got it from, and firmly demanded their technical support BEFORE 2:30. Indeed, a tech support guy came , only to tell me that there was something wrong with the projector and that they would need to send it to Nicosia to see what the problem was. I politely said that I would like to have my projector REPLACED at no cost at all, immediately. Indeed, an hour later the tech guy came back with the new projector.
3. On my way back from work at about 8:30 tonight, I suddenly remembered there was no bread at home. So, I stopped at a bakery and got some.
4. As I was parking the car in the garage, a gorgeous black cat jumped in and comfortably sat at the back seat. Yes, there are a lot of stray cats in my neighbourhood. It took me a while to persuade it to get off my car because I was seriously going to lock her in!
5. Once home , Alkis happily told me about the ..great day he had at work and he had also remembered to get...some bread!
“Fear less, hope more; Eat less, chew more; Whine less, breathe more; Talk less, say more; Love more, and all good things will be yours”~ Swedish proverb
Earlier today, I assigned a speaking activity to my Elementary students (10 year-olds). They had to tell the class about their favourite day of the week. Here are the top ten reasons why Friday is a 10 year-old's favourite day of the week. I'm posting their comments as they were spoken in class this afternoon (no corrections!)
1. My favourite day of the week is Friday because I have English lesson!
2. I love Fridays because this day of the week my mum brings Macdonalds. Wow!
3. Friday, of course, because I sleep at 11 o'clock. Not 8 o'clock!!!
4. Friday is my favourite day of the week because after my English lesson , I can play football with my friends.
5. Friday because I have English and piano lessons!
6. Friday is my favourite day because...because... because ... I can do my homework on Sunday!
7. I love Friday because ...Friday is coooool!
8. My favourite day of the week is Friday because I not worrying about homework, I eat pizza with my friends in my room, we play computer games and we drinking cola!
9. My favourite day of the week is Friday because I can play computer games for many hours, like flashman.
10. I have two favourite days - one is Friday because I have my English lesson and because I can eat ice cream and the other is Sunday because I play basketball with my friends.
Autumn is my least favourite season of the year - I hate all autumn colours, I hate the dead leaves, the unstable weather in my area. You really don't know what to wear! But we've still got our great blue skies and sunny days, we can still enjoy the beach and the sea - early in the morning , it is so inviting. I often have a quick swim before going to work. However, once the sun sets, it's a bit chilly yet, so agreeable to enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner outdors.
In October, I have more than one reason to celebrate:
October 1st - Cyprus Independence Day - a national holiday
October 8th - my wedding anniversary. Can't wait to celebrate my 26th wedding anniversary tomorrow!
October 11th - my friend Mira's birthday.
October 22nd - My friend Tina's birthday.
October 28th - A Greek national holiday celebrating the defeat of Mussolini by the Greeks during World War II
October 31st - My mother's birthday but also my friend Constantinos's birthday!
All of us affect, in one way or another, the people we meet. This happens instinctively and on a subconscious level, through thoughts and feelings transference, and through body language. People sense our aura and are affected by our thoughts, and vice versa. Is it any wonder that we want to be around positive people and avoid negative ones? People are more disposed to help us if we are positive, and they dislike and avoid anyone broadcasting negativity. Negative thoughts, words and attitude bring up negative and unhappy moods and actions. When the mind is negative, poisons are released into the blood, which cause more unhappiness and negativity. This is the way to failure, frustration and disappointment. On the other hand, when the mind is positive, the sky is your limit.
In his ground-breaking book, A Primer in Positive Psychology, Christopher Petersen, PhD, says, "...optimism has demonstrable benefits, and pessimism has drawbacks." He goes on to say, "...optimism...has been linked to positive mood and good morale; to perseverance and effective problem solving; to academic, athletic, military, occupational, and political success; to popularity; to good health; and even to long life and freedom from trauma."
Even if you have been a pessimistic, negative thinker for many years, it's not too late to change your way of thinking and reap the benefits of a positive attitude.
In rocky times, however unhappy I might be , I keep repeating to myself:
This too shall pass - that was what my father always said.
I love myself as I am with all my imperfections - after all no one is infallible.
I feel that every day I am getting better and better.
Perseverance makes success.
Obstacles to my plans often conceal something positive.
My glass is always half-full.
I always manage to see the silver lining in every cloud.
Beyond the darkest of nights, there's always the promise of the dawn, the greeting of the rising sun.
I will never give up on my dreams or my aspirations.
When God closes a door, somewhere opens a window.
“The positive thinker sees the invisible, feels the intangible, and achieves the impossible.”
In Cyprus, souvlaki refers to the small chunks of meat on a skewer, as well as the whole package of it being wrapped up in bread and salad. A large piece of pita bread is used, and it has a pocket in the middle so it is not wrapped around the meat and salad as the traditional Greek souvlaki. This contains , pork or more recently (but not trditional) chicken souvlaki and/or sheftalies, with tomatoes and cucumbers and white cabbage mixed within. Lettuce may be added instead of cabbage for people like me who don't eat cabbage. Raw onion and parsley are very popular with souvlakia in Cyprus, as are pickled green chili peppers. Like all grilled meat dishes in Cyprus, souvlakia and sheftalies (the correct plural) are always accompanied by fresh lemon halves or quarters, and plain thick yoghurt or tzatziki are very popular accompaniments too. It may be noted that the meat is cut into slightly larger chunks in Cyprus, and plenty is stuffed into the pitta- one pitta is a whole meal in itself. The portion sizes are normal and "reinforced"- ενισχυμένη. The Pita in which souvlakia and sheftalies are served is a little thicker than the flat pita available in other countries. You can see that in the photo above.
Cyprus Souvlakia
(serves 4)
Ingredients
1 kg / 1 lb 2 oz pork fillet (psaronefri)
2 tomatoes chopped in small pieces
2 cucumbers chopped in small pieces
2 onions finely chopped
1 cup fresh parsley very finely chopped
4 quarters of fresh lemons
1 cup finely grated cabbage or 1 cup finely chopped lettuce
4 pieces of large pita bread
salt and pepper
Directions
1. Chop the pork in small pieces.
2. Salt and pepper to taste.
3. Put the chopped meat on small skewers and grill for about 30 minutes-preferably on charcoal fire.
4. Put the meat in hot pita bread, add the tomatoes, cucumber, parsley, onions , cabbage and/or lettuce.
5. Squeeze the juice of a quarter of fresh lemon. Eat it like you eat a sandwich!
In the same piece of pita bread , you can also add sheftalies. In Cyprus, you can find them in all supermarkets but as my grandmother used to say ...better make them yourself!
SHEFTALIES
Ingredients: (Serves 4)
800 gr minced pork Salt Pepper Cinnamon 1 onion finely chopped Half bunch parsley, finely chopped 2-3 tbsp breadcrumbs 1 panna (caul fat) Vinegar
Directions:
Wash the caul well with water and vinegar. In a bowl, mix thoroughly the mince meat, salt, pepper, bread crumbs, onions and parsley and mould into small egg-size shapes. Place the mixture over the caul fat and wrap each separately into tight packages. Cook over charcoal barbecue or on the grill until cooked evenly on all sides.
Robert Frost said that good fences make good neighbours and , indeed, the fence that separates my flat from our neighbour's house is a gorgeous range of tall evergreen trees whose name I have forgotten. I am as bad at plant and flower names as I am at numbers! I know that trees can filter noise but when the noise is some loud crazy rock music, I'm afraid no fence is good enough ! Although I am very proud of myself for having the patience of a saint, I felt I was, indeed, running out of patience when that silly, deafening music got louder and louder! I guess my neighbours' teenage daughter was throwing yet another wild party. I could also hear the wild screams of a bunch of wild adolescents as the music got even louder! I can still hear that horrible music! And it's almost midnight!
Alkis is furious! He wants to call the police but it's not midnight yet and he hasn't got a case. I understand him. Unlike most people, he works on Sundays and he really deserves to sleep in peace. I told him not to worry, assuring him that the wild music would soon stop. "How?" he asked. "Trust me!", I replied. "No need to call the police." My reply was ..revenge, pure and simple! I put Rachmaninov's Concert for Piano No2 at full volume. Thank God , it worked! I'm sure all my other neighbours will feel grateful!
1. Models blazed down the runway in a rainbow of neon shades at Marc Jacobs and Michael Kors, but it’s the pink-highlighter hue that works on all skin tones. If you don’t want to splurge on a hot-pink coat or dress, one or two acid-bright accessories work just fine. With color this vibrant, a little dab will DO ya.
2. As Jason Wu—the man behind the gorgeous white gown Michelle Obama wore to the inauguration balls—told us, the one-strap cuts draw attention to the shoulder (an underappreciated erogenous zone) and the face. So if you wear one, smile pretty—everyone will be watching!
3. This fall, trendy types will ditch their dark jeans and slip into a pair of dark leather pants (or recessionista-approved pleather versions). And we’re not talking about boot-cut biker-babe leather pants: The versions Derek Lam, Alexander Wang and Diane von Furstenberg whipped up fit close to the body and—believe it or not—seem to magically erase five pounds. Beat that, David Blaine.
4. While the models at Marc Jacobs and Rodarte walked the runway in Alice Cooper-worthy chain-wrapped black booties, we fell for the ladylike ones Abaeté’s Laura Poretzky whipped up for Payless: Her take is equally as intense but without the scary price tag.
5. Need a little jolt of confidence? Try one of fall’s ’80s-inspired jackets. A little volume at the shoulders can make your posture seem stronger and slims the waist, says designer Phillip Lim, who turned out hip pastel power suits and—our fave—a peak-shoulder peacoat.
6. It’s time to give love to the glove! Patricia Field, the costume designer for Confessions of a Shopaholic and Sex and the City, once told us that she has a lifelong obsession with gloves and that they’re her go-to accessory for instant ladylike elegance. The gloves we saw this week—at Max Azria, Elie Tahari and others—aren’t the kind that just keep you warm and then get shoved into your pocket; these gloves beg to be noticed.
7. Fashion’s big guns—Donna Karan, Isaac Mizrahi and Michael Kors—offered up dresses with big accordion-pleat necklines. So what’s the appeal of this origami-like cut? The tricky folds highlight the sexy décolletage area without revealing too much—making it a DO for both flat-chested and busty gals.
8. While long velvet dresses conjure up images of damsels in distress and Renaissance fairs, the new short velvet versions are cozy and chic. Plus, with a soft touch-me texture, they make a great date outfit idea.
9. Save the skintight bedazzled dress for New Year’s Eve. Instead, take cues from designers like Derek Lam and Phillip Lim, who piled comfy layers over sequined skirts and dresses. The result? A low-key yet subtly glamorous look that would work on any of the other 364 days of the year.
10. When it comes to fur, we tend to say go for faux (or vintage)—it’s more earth-friendly and much, much cheaper. The fun and funky stoles at Matthew Williamson, Thakoon and Dennis Basso came in a broad array of colors and textures and are an easy way to glam up your all-black outfit in one simple step.
I saw this recipe on my friend Heather's blog on Blogger and loved it so much that I thought I'd give it a try. If you have the sweet tooth like me but wish to keep fit, it's a great healthy option and very tasty too! Last Saturday was my last Saturday off work, so I shopped all the ingredients and made the muffins on Sunday. It only took me 25 minutes to prepare and about 20 minutes to bake. Here's Heather's recipe:
Apple Zucchini Muffins Adapted from Easy Gluten Free Baking from Elizabeth Barbone
1 cup white rice flour 1/2 cup of sweet rice flour 1/4 of cornstarch 1 tablespoon of baking powder * Please note that if you are using a mix, or if you are making these using regular flour, this is where you will pick up from
6 Tbs butter (vegan works fine with this recipe)
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup of applesauce, OR 1 egg
3/4 cup of milk (almond, coconut or rice can be substituted)
If you are using large fruit like cranberries, blueberries or raspberries, you will use 3/4 cup If using grated veggies or fruit like apple or zucchini, you will use 1 to 1/2 cups.
For the apple zucchini muffins I added in 1 tsp of cinnamon and 1/2 tsp of nutmeg
Preheat over to 350 Whisk together dry ingredients In a separate bowl, cream together butter and sugar for one minute Add egg or applesauce Blend well Add half of the dry ingredients and mix until dough forms Add milk Add spices of choice
In a small bowl, coat fruit with the cornstarch and fold into batter along with 1/2 cup of oats if desired Spoon batter into muffin tins and either freeze or bake for 15-20 minutes For frozen muffins, the cooking time may be a bit longer
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