Anastasia

Goodbye Teddy

Senator Ted Kennedy died Tuesday night at the age of 77 after a year-long battle with brain cancer. As tributes pour in from across the globe, he's being remembered as a masterful lawmaker, eminent statesman and patriarch of the Kennedy clan. Kennedy is best known for his focus on domestic issues such as health care and education, but his influence was felt on the international scene as well.

Kennedy became a voice for ending the war in Vietnam, and a strong proponent of the Northern Ireland peace process where he played a leading role supporting Irish nationalists.Most notably, Edward Kennedy fought to end apartheid rule in South Africa, and he championed legislation to bring that about.

Those who knew him say Ted Kennedy's opposition of apartheid was a natural extension of what he stood for. He found apartheid as morally repugnant and he wanted to see it dismantled.The anti-apartheid movement in the US took off in 1984. The following year, Senator Kennedy visited South Africa to see conditions there for himself.

"While I'm here in that spirit of open inquiry and cooperation, I must say to you quite frankly, that I also come with an abiding commitment to basic human values," Kennedy said. "High among those values are a belief in the fundamental equality of all people. A belief in the right of all individuals, regardless of the colors of their skin, to social and political justice. And a deep opposition to the entire concept of apartheid."

Later that year Kennedy introduced legislation to impose economic sanctions on South Africa. The Anti-Apartheid Act became law in 1986 after Congress overrode a veto by President Ronald Reagan.Randal Robinson was a prominent anti-apartheid activist at the time. He says Kennedy was absolutely key to its passage, "What we did that resulted in the overriding of Ronald Reagan's veto -- the first time in the 20th century that a foreign policy veto of a sitting president had been overridden by the Senate -- that could not have happened without Ted Kennedy. He was not just a major force, he was the essential, he was the indispensable force."

Goodbye Teddy. May you rest in peace. I know that you will always live in the hearts of those who loved you. In Greece we say : " του ανδρειωμενου ο θανατος, θανατος δε λογιεται" meaning that brave men never die!

Friday's Top Ten

 

Top Ten Favourite Quotes

There are three rules for writing a novel. Unfortunately, no one knows what they are. ~ Somerset Maugham

Always be wary of the Software Engineer who carries a screwdriver.
-- Robert Paul

Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go.~ Oscar Wilde
 

All of us failed to match our dreams of perfection. So I rate us on the basis of our splendid failure to do the impossible.~ William Faulkner

I took a test in Existentialism. I left all the answers blank and got 100.
~ Woody Allen

A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty. ~Winston Churchill

By working faithfully eight hours a day, you may get to be a boss and work twelve hours a day.~ Robert Frost

He who laughs last has not yet heard the bad news.
-- Bertolt Brecht

Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens.
-- Jimi Hendrix

I can resist everything except temptation.
-- Oscar Wilde

Back to Work

Going back to work after almost 2 months wasn't exactly an easy task. Yesterday, I got up with a start at the sound of the alarm : it said 7:03 ! Oh no! I switched it off and went back to my dream : I was lying on a golden beach enjoying the breeze from the sea and iced frappé. Then all of a sudden, the alarm went off again! 7:23. I decided that I hate digital alarm clocks and got up. I had a quick breakfast on the terrace - just one mug of coffee and one croissant with blueberry jam - and then got ready for work. I stopped at the post office to collect my students' exam results: IGCSE, GCE, ESOL. Of course they have already been published on the Internet, and I knew the results almost by heart. Most of my students passed with flying colours and, believe me, that's the greatest reward ever.

Back to the office. I spent practically all morning calling parents to communicate results in case they haven't seen them on the Internet and in the afternoon I spent time practising on my Interactive Board. The new textbooks have interactive board CDs now and I'm sure this will motivate students. I like new things especially when they can help enhance knowledge.

Whoever was it who said: the essence of progress lies in change?

Last Day off Work

It's unbelievable how my summer break has just flown by! Since June 27 when school broke up for the summer holidays, I've hardly had any time for a long holiday. But there were things to be done like renovations at the school which couldn't be done during the school-year. Also my flat needed repainting. Both places were in a terrible mess for a couple of weeks. But now, I do enjoy the new look at the school and the bright creamy walls in my flat!

In addition, Alkis was quite jammed up at work, so we just had 2 long weekends away and, however short they were, we had time to relax and unwind. We might also get away for a couple of days beginning of September - just before school starts.So, today is my last day off work which I have decided to mostly spend online since  I won't have much time to be online as from tomorrow! But I must admit that I have terribly missed my students as well as my free online ESL lessons from my TypePad blog English Today.

Right now .... I enjoy blogging on my last day off work.

Later today .... I will certainly go to the beach and... I might cook something greek in the evening and plan dinner ...al fresco!

Tomorrow .... back to work! 

TypePad and Facebook Connect

I'm sure you'll agree with me. The new TypePad has greatly advertised the great new feature : Facebook Connect! They have also made it very clear that if we go back to the old TypePad, we can't have ..Facebook Connect!  As if the old TypePad is a free blogging site! It's been 10 days now, the Support team cannot solve my problem. And my problem is connecting to the so much advertised Facebook Connect! I will spare you the long history of conversations between the Support team and myself. One said they had received a couple of reports on this issue and please be patient, and another said ..we've never had such reports! They said the problem was my...network! Not theirs! Right.. it's me, the odd-one out!

However odd this might seem to you, on TripAdvisor and Plaxo - both American sites and both free sites, I had no problem whatsoever to connect to Facebook Connect, They did not even ask me personal log in info! TypePad did though. They asked me to tell them my Facebook login info and I did so becaused they assured me that I could change my password after the set-up. Yet nothing worked and I was told by another Support team member that it's ..better if I leave there my old Facebook password!!! Yeah..I know, you will think I am an idiot, but because I trust TypePad, I did so! But ..nothing worked.Then I was asked, again by the  Support team members to provide my ...birthday because Facebook asked them for that! I was very disappointed because I thought that TypePad had my birthday when I first signed up in 2004! I guess I should never expect a birthday wish from them!

Last but not least, most of my friends who signed up to TypePad Connect for free have now been scared away! Because of the fact that everything appears on the dashboard. I would like to take this opportunity and thank from the bottom of my heart all my friends and family who trusted me. I honestly did not know that your comments would appear on a dashboard.

I understand them. On the new TypePad there is NO community. There are just Typepad employees adding others. I guess that's what their boss told them to do and I don't blame them. Maybe that's why I am so glad to be my own boss now!!

What I am unable to understand: How come I can't have Facebook Connect on TypePad which I bought for $299.50 yearly but I can have this in the blink of an eye on other free sites?

Our Daily Bread

I can eat bread with everything! Have you tried garlic bread with pizza, ice cream on toast, a few slices of French loaf (baguette) with spaghetti carbonara, pita bread stuffed with halloumi or feta cheese, tomatoes and oregano, wholemeal bread with some goat cheese and blueberry jam? And I've recently learnt to make quick bread in the food processor! As we all know, bread isn't fattening. It's what we put on it that makes it fattening and surely what we eat it with!

The nutritional profiles for the breads listed below represent average profiles for each type of bread. A serving size of 100 grams is used to show a comparison between the nutritional values of the different breads, but it represents a somewhat larger than average serving size for many of the breads described.

Bread Type Serving Size: 100 grams	Calories	-Total Fat -Saturated Fat -Carbohydrate -Protein	Cholesterol and Sodium	% Daily Value of Significant Vitamins and Minerals
Bagel (Plain)	272	Total Fat = 2g. Sat. Fat = 0g. Carbs = 53g. Protein = 11g.	Cholesterol = 0mg. Sodium = 530mg.	Iron = 20 %
Banana Bread	323	Total Fat = 11g. Sat. Fat = 2g. Carbs = 55g. Protein = 4g.	Cholesterol = 44mg Sodium = 305mg.	Vitamin A = 10% Iron = 8%
Biscuit (Buttermilk)	368	Total Fat = 17g. Sat. Fat = 2g. Carbs = 49g. Protein = 6g.	Cholesterol = 2mg. Sodium = 1056mg.	Iron = 18% Calcium = 5%
Boston Brown Bread	195	Total Fat = 2g. Sat. Fat = 0g. Carbs = 44g. Protein = 5g.	Cholesterol = 0mg. Sodium = 635mg.	Iron = 12% Calcium = 7%
Cornbread	268	Total Fat = 7g. Sat. Fat = 2g. Carbs = 44g. Protein = 7g.	Cholesterol = 40mg. Sodium = 660mg.	Calcium = 25% Iron = 14% Vitamin A = 6%
Croissant	410	Total Fat = 22g Sat. Fat = 12g. Carbs = 46g. Protein = 8g.	Cholesterol = 68mg. Sodium = 748mg.	Vitamin A = 15% Iron = 11%
French Bread	272	Total Fat = 3g. Sat. Fat = 1g. Carbs = 53g. Protein = 9g.	Cholesterol = 0mg. Sodium = 612mg.	Iron = 14% Calcium = 8%
Irish Soda Bread	292	Total Fat = 5g. Sat. Fat = 1g. Carbs = 57g. Protein = 7g.	Cholesterol = 19mg. Sodium = 402mg.	Iron = 15% Calcium = 8%
Italian Bread	270	Total Fat = 4g. Sat. Fat = 1g. Carbs = 51g. Protein = 9g.	Cholesterol = 0mg. Sodium = 587mg.	Iron = 16% Calcium = 8%
Oat Bread	268	Total Fat = 4g. Sat. Fat = 1g. Carbs = 50g. Protein = 8g.	Cholesterol = 0mg. Sodium = 602mg.	Iron = 15% Calcium = 7%
Panettone	383	Total Fat = 15g. Sat. Fat = 10g. Carbs = 60g. Protein = 8g.	Cholesterol = 44mg. Sodium = 200mg.	Vitamin A = 8% Iron = 8%
Pita Bread	278	Total Fat = 1g. Sat. Fat = 0g. Carbs = 55g. Protein = 9g.	Cholesterol = 0mg. Sodium = 540mg.	Iron = 15% Calcium = 9%
Potica	385	Total Fat = 18g. Sat. Fat = 4g. Carbs = 49g. Protein = 10g.	Cholesterol = 13mg. Sodium = 218mg.	Iron = 15% Calcium = 6%
Pumpernickel Bread	250	Total Fat = 3g. Sat. Fat = 0g. Carbs = 47g. Protein = 9g.	Cholesterol = 0mg. Sodium = 675mg.	Iron = 16% Calcium = 7%
Raisin Bread	272	Total Fat = 4g. Sat. Fat = 1g. Carbs = 52g. Protein = 8g.	Cholesterol = 0mg. Sodium = 396mg.	Iron = 16% Calcium = 7%
Rye Bread	258	Total Fat = 3g. Sat. Fat = 1g. Carbs = 49g. Protein = 8g.	Cholesterol = 0mg. Sodium = 662mg.	Iron = 16% Calcium = 7%
Stollen	390	Total Fat = 13g. Sat. Fat = 5g. Carbs = 59g. Protein = 7g.	Cholesterol = 20mg. Sodium = 157mg.	Iron = 11%
Wheat Bread	260	Total Fat = 4g. Sat. Fat = 1g. Carbs = 48g. Protein = 9g.	Cholesterol = 0mg. Sodium = 536mg.	Iron = 18% Calcium = 11%
White Bread	264	Total Fat = 3g. Sat. Fat = 1g. Carbs = 52g. Protein = 8g.	Cholesterol = 0mg. Sodium = 685mg.	Iron = 21% Calcium = 15%
Whole Wheat Bread	244	Total Fat = 4g. Sat. Fat = 1g. Carbs = 45g. Protein = 10g.	Cholesterol = 0mg. Sodium = 524mg.	Iron = 18% Calcium = 7%

Source: Bread Nutritional Facts

Monday's Greek Recipe- Kypriaki Souvla

ΚΥΠΡΙΑΚΗ ΣΟΥΒΛΑ - CYPRUS SOUVLA

The national pastime of all Greek Cypriots is the preparation, cooking process and.... eating of souvla - skewered meats cooked on coal fire. The secret of the success is the choice of prime tender meat, the ideal cuts being the nut of the lean or boned meat of the loin and best end. The preparation and cooking of souvla is usually a man's job, women just prepare the salad and the baked potatoes. Naturally, the cooking on coal fire grill / rotisserie, called foukou, can only take place outdoors!

Ingredients

5 kilos / 11lbs meats lamb and / or pork and chicken

salt and pepper

4 cups olive oil mixed with the juice of 3 fresh lemons

oregano

finely ground coriander seeds (optional)

Directions

1. Cut the meat into big chunks and season to taste.

2. Pass meat evenly through 0. 8meter/2. 5foot long and (2cm) 1/4 inch thick metal skewers so that it won't slip down while on the coal fire grill (foukou). Place the skewers over high fire on the foukou. (see photo below)

3. While the meat is turning brush it with some of the olive oil and lemon juice mixture.

4. Season with some oregano and / or finely ground coriander seeds and continue brushing.

5. Using a BBQ fan or a hair blow drier, keep the coal heat down to medium level until the meats are cooked - they must be brownish.

6. Serve with fresh lemon juice - you will spoil the special taste if you use any other BBQ sauces - baked or jacket potatoes, the traditional Cyprus salad. and some iced cold beer or coke.

Source: Kontoyiannis House

My Cyprus Salad

In a large bowl mix the following :

some rocket

some green lettuce

some cabbage

4 ripe tomatoes

4 cucumbers

1 cup finely cut onion rings

some black olives

 some capers

1 cup crushed feta cheese

Salad Dressing

In the blender mix 1/2 cup olive oil, some vinegar or the juice of 2 fresh lemons, salt and pepper and some oregano.

TIPS

- You will need to prepare the coal fire in the foukou at least an hour before placing the skewers.

- You can place your jacket potatoes just below the meats on the coal as well as sausages, liver or mushrooms. Make sure you wrap them all in aluminium paper.

- Brushing the meats while turning (the foukou is battery-operated) is extremely important.

- If you can't have prime tender meats just marinade them for about 5 hours, before placing them on the skewers, in dry white wine and spices such as dried oregano, black pepper and coriander seeds. Then wipe them with kitchen paper before passing the meats through the skewers.

KALI OREXI - BON APPETIT

 

The Dormition of the Theotokos

The Dormition of the Theotokos (= God-bearer)

The Feast of the Dormition or FallingAsleep of the Theotokos commemorates the death, assumption, and glorification of Christ's mother - Our Holy Virgin - and is celebrated on August 15 all over the Catholic and Greek orthodox world. In Greece and Cyprus, it is the third greatest celebration of the year after Christmas and Easter and is also known as "Summer Easter". 

There we learn that Mary died as all people die because she had a mortal human nature affected by the corruption of this world. The Church proclaims that Mary needed to be saved by Christ just as all of us are saved from trials, sufferings, and death of this world. Having truly died, she was raised by her Son as the "Mother of Life" and already participates in the eternal life of paradise which is prepared and promised to all who "hear the word of God and keep it." (Luke 11:27-28) Finally, we celebrate the fact that what happens to Mary happens to all who imitate her holy life of humility, obedience and unconditional love.

It is important to remember that there are no relics of the Theotokos. Their existence has never been mentioned throughout history. At one time in Constantinople there was a centre of pilgrimage where the belt and veil of the Virgin were venerated.

Following the day of Pentecost, the Theotokos remained in the city of Jerusalem, comforting the infant Christian community. She was living in the house of the beloved Apostle John, later the Evangelist. At the time of her death (tradition states she was in her early fifties) many of the Apostles were scattered throughout the world preaching the Gospel. All but Thomas were miraculously brought to the Virgin aloft on clouds.

As they stood around her bedside, she commended her spirit to the Lord and Jesus descended from Heaven, taking up her soul in His arms. The Apostles sang the funeral hymns in her honor and carried her body to a tomb in Cedron near Gethsemane. Apostle Thomas arrived on the third day and wished to see the Virgin for the last time. They discovered an empty tomb. Church tradition relates that the Theotokos was resurrected bodily and taken to heaven, the same reward that awaits all the righteous on the Last Day.

Today in all Greek orthodox churches we solemnly hear the Funeral Hymns and honor Our Panayia - the Holy Mother.

«Στὴν γέννα σου τὴν παρθενία ἐφύλαξες, στὴν κοίμησή σου τὸν κόσμο δὲν τὸν ἄφησες, Θεοτόκε. Μίσεψες στὴ ζωή, γιατὶ εἶσαι μητέρα τῆς ζωῆς καὶ λυτρώνεις μὲ τὶς πρεσβεῖες σου τὶς ψυχές μας ἀπὸ τὸν θάνατο». (ἀπολυτίκιο Κοιμήσεως)

«Νικηθήκανε τῆς φύσης οἱ νόμοι σὲ σένα, Παρθένε ἄχραντε. Γιατί σὲ σένα παρθενεύει ἡ γέννα, καὶ μὲ τὴ ζωὴ σμίγει ὁ θάνατος. Ἐσὺ ποὺ ἀπόμεινες μετὰ τὴ γέννα Παρθένος καὶ μετὰ θάνατο ζωντανή, σῶζε παντοτινά, Θεοτόκε, τὴν κληρονομία σου». (καταβασία θ´ ᾠδῆς)

Τὴν Παναγία Μητέρα μας ἂς ἑτοιμασθοῦμε κι ἐφέτος νὰ τιμήσουμε καὶ νὰ δοξολογήσουμε στὴν πάσνσεπτη κοίμησή της μαζί με ὅλους τοὺς Ἁγίους, τὶς Ὀράνιες δυνάμεις, τοὺς Ἁγίους Ἀποστόλους καὶ κάθε πιστὴ ψυχὴ δεόμενοι ἐκτενῶς μαζί με τὸ μελωδὸ Θεοφάνη:

«…μὴ ἐπιλάθου (μὴ ξεχάσεις), Δέσποινα, τῶν πιστῶς ἑορταζόντων,τὴν παναγίαν σου Κοίμησιν». Ἀμήν.(Δοξαστικό της Λιτῆς της Κοιμήσεως)


Troparion (Tone 1)

In giving birth, you preserved your virginity!
In falling asleep you did not forsake the world, O Theotokos!
You were translated to life, O Mother of Life,
And by your prayers you deliver our souls from death!
Kontakion (Tone 2)

Neither the tomb, nor death, could hold the Theotokos,
Who is constant in prayer and our firm hope in her intercessions.
For being the Mother of Life,
She was translated to life by the One who dwelt in her virginal womb!

Ammohostos : In Memoriam

A Town in Hostage - Ammohostos means hidden in  the sand. It is a town on the north-eastern coast of Cyprus which has been illegally occupied by the Turkish troops since August 14, 1974.

SAND-SUNKEN CITY

The unquenched mother of the waves

overflows with love for you

Ammohostos

At night I hear the waves of yearning

and the bells of Saint Catherine

in praise

of your beauty

Sand-sunken City

my orange-beloved one

Ammohostos, you flow in the

veins of the sea,

in the veins of my heart,

you live in the light and the fragrance

of the bitter-orange tree and the popinac.

Lemesos, February 1996

By Claire Angelides - former Minister of Culture and Education in the Republic of Cyprus - translated from Greek by Constantinos E. Evangelides

Photo by - Pavlos Pavlides

Paphos - August 2009

PART III

Day 3 - Sunday, August 9

Last day at Coral Bay...it's amazing how fast the weekend flew by! We got up at 8:00 am and after breakfast we packed, put the bags in the car and set off for the Bird and Animal Park situated in Agios Georgios by the village of Peyia,  at about 8km from Coral Bay. This is where the fourth in the world albino wallaby kangaroo was born 8 weeks ago. It's a real beauty and so cute!!! And yes! It's still a baby and needs its mum!

And while the donkey was enjoying the sun .....

 

...the parrots preferred to sit in the shade under their private umbrella! They don't live in cages like the other birds. I guess they're too spoilt to fly away!