Anastasia

Mary Ann Nichol's Ghost

Photo Credit

In the early hours of 31st August 1888, the body of Mary Ann Nichols was discovered in a stable entrance on Buck's Row (now Durward Street). Nichols was the first Whitechapel murder victim of the serial killer known as Jack the Ripper.

On the morning of her death she returned to the lodgings from a local Thawl Street pub called The Frying Pan some time after 12.30am. However she did not have the money (four pence) to pay for a bed for the night and Mary Nichols went out on the street saying she would soon earn enough money for the night's bed. She intended to sell her body and thought that her new bonnet would help attract a customer.

Charles Cross, a carter found Polly at around 3.40am lying in Bucks Row on her back, legs straight out and her skirts raised to her waist. Robert Pal another carter arrived shortly and unsure whether she was dead or not they decided to get back to work and inform a Policeman when they see one.

The carters did not actually raise the alarm to the murder, this fell to Constable John Neil who discovered Mary and her horrific wounds. Mary's throat had been slashed from ear to ear and cut back to the vertebrae. Her wind pipe and gullet had been severely slashed and there had also been extensive slashing and ripping of her abdomen.

There is little left of Bucks row today, on dark nights though the area seems stuck in a time-warp, over the past century there have been numerous sightings of a huddled figure lying on the ground emitting a ghostly green light. The apparition is seen on the same spot that Mary Ann Nichols body was discovered.

via www.ghost-story.co.uk

Now isn't that a gripping tale? Do you believe in ghosts?

Wishing all my American friends a very scary and spooky Halloween.

 

glitter-graphics.com

28 October 1940 - Greece says NO to Axis

All Greeks feel an outstanding movement when they recall in their memory the epic facts of an heroic era: 1940. Indeed, those great and glorious events sealed with indelible glory the historic evolution of the Hellenic nation.

It is true that the nation feels exceptional pride for the great "NO" on the 28th of October 1940, said by the Hellenic people at the very early dawn of that historic day.

"The League of Nations, that supported the hopes of all nations for constant peace, was literally disintegrated and lost any substantial significance, after USA withdrew, in a mood of isolation, from the Organization, followed by Germany in 1939, Italy in 1935, as well as an antagonism in showing "peace loving" attitude by the rest of the Western Democracies, mainly England and France, that could not timely foresee and realize the coming threat of war. "

The Hellenic Epic of 1940, a phenomenon psychologically and historically unexpected for the entire world, was unjustly treated by the events that followed : occupation, resistance, executions, the December 1944 coup, the first post-war years, the outburst of the nuclear era, these were facts that shadowed the previous deeds, sealing, and locking-in that chapter of history, before having the chance to explore its monumental significance, a chapter that was only opened after the country’s liberation from the German boot.

The generation of the '40s proved, once more, that the sacred passion for the freedom of the country is the ultimate duty for all Greeks, who have repeatedly proved it during their age-long existence, and they will not cease to do the same, as long as they live in this beautiful country.

by LTC (Armor) Ioannis Georgoussis
Translated by: Translation Office / HAGS

Cyprus' Contribution to the 1940 Hellenic Epic

• 20,000 Greek Cypriots including 800 women supported the Greek cause against the Axis
• 15,000 wedding rings were given to support Greece's fight for freedom against all-mighty Italy.
• 40 Greek Cypriot students joined the Greek army.
• Turkish Cypriots also supported the Greek cause for freedom.
• Thousands of Greek Cypriots were arrested and captured in Peloponese and Crete.
• 650 Greek Cypriots were killed in the battlefield and buried in 12 different countries.

Information collected from Phileleftheros Online

Monday's Greek Recipe - Glyko Karidaki - Picked Walnuts in Syrup

It's that blessed time of year again when homemade jams  and our favourite "glyka tou koutaliou" or spoon sweets are made in Cyprus - the most popular being "glyko karidaki" 

Photo Credit

Ingredients

1¼ kilo fresh green walnuts
1¼ kilo sugar
3 glasses of water
3 sachets of vanilla
1 tsp lemon juice
Few blanched almonds (optional)

Photo Courtesy of my friend Sophia

Use the tenderest ones you can find, the older they are the harder they tend to be. They are best picked when they just come out.

Directions

1. Wash the walnuts and put into a large saucepan with plenty of water.
(We normally peel them after washing but this recipe does not do that.  It is best to peel the thin outer skin but it’s up to you.  If you don’t the walnuts may be tough.)

2. Boil till soft.

3. Remove from the saucepan and put into a large bowl of cold water..
Leave in the water for 48 hours, changing the water every 8 hours.

4. Put the 3 glasses of water and the sugar together in a saucepan and bring to the boil. Simmer for 8 minutes.

5. Strain the walnuts and insert a half almond.

6. Put the walnuts into the syrup and boil for 5-7 minutes.

7. Take the saucepan off the heat and put to one side for 24 hours.  The walnuts need to stay in the saucepan to cool for 24 hours.  At no time should you put the lid on the saucepan.

8.Put the saucepan back on to boil and boil rapidly, when it is ready (the syrup thickens) add the lemon juice and vanilla, boil for a while and remove from the heat.

9. Allow to cool in the saucepan then bottle in the normal way.

Tips

1.Use about 2-3 kilos of fresh green walnuts for this and about 2-3 kilos of sugar.

2. Use tender fresh green walnuts; the older they are the harder they tend to be. They are best picked when they are fresh.

3. To prepare the walnuts: Thinly peel outer skin but you should wear gloves for this if you don’t want your hands to go black!

Source : Glyko Karidaki 

My Friend Faith

Clifford Stoll writes in Silicon Snake Oil, 1995: Electronic communication is an instantaneous and illusory contact that creates a sense of intimacy without the emotional investment that leads to close friendships

My own personal experience proves this to be completely wrong.  It was through electronic communication that I met Faith almost seven years ago. We have never met in person yet, but I know we will one day. All these years, we've kept in touch through online communication and a few brief phone calls.  Online friends usually come and go as they wish, according to whether they're busy or not, happy or unhappy or just simply bored. Faith makes all the difference. She is the exception that confirms the rule.

Despite her own problems - health problems, work problems, personal problems - she has always been there for me, always supporting me in everything I do - online or offline.  In the course of time, and as our friendship grew stronger, I felt I could always turn to her and every time I did, I knew I could find the reflection of one of the world's most wonderful smiles on her face.... and I now know that that it will always inspire a smile inside me. She has filled my heart with so many thankful thoughts.

We are an ocean apart. Faith is American and lives in Florida, USA and I live in Cyprus. Yet, I often felt she was there beside me, telling me how to deal with a difficult situation. O r simply making me laugh out loud! Faith has a great sense of humour, she is kind and thoughtful and she always has a good word for everyone - even for people who have hurt her. Life hasn't always been a bed of roses for Faith, yet she faces rocky times with a smile. And that's what I admire most in her.

I've learnt so much from Faith - such as talking things over and opening up. But we also share a lot in common. She is an ESL teacher just like me and she loves children and I can tell you that she is the best American ESL teacher ever! Although she hasn't got children of her own, her "kids" adore her. I share these feelings. I miss "my kids" when on holiday and love them when they come back. Just like me, Faith is one of those rare teachers who first thinks of the kids and then of her own income. Although she teaches at a public school in Florida, she hasn't hesitated to buy books for her kids at her own expense! I can relate to that. When I worked for others, they wouldn't allow me to use the school's photocopier in order to photocopy past exam papers. And I had then decided to do it at my own expense. I never regretted it.

Faith is a special friend for me. She feels like family in my heart.

The Dream of Blogging

via www.google.com

I blog for pleasure, yet I do care about your comments and, most importantly, it means a lot to me to interact with you, to exchange views or simply communicate. To me this is the essence of blogging. Do you blog? Why do you blog? What do you expect from blogging?

Our Friends the Donkeys

In 1991  two professional people re-located to Cyprus to live a quieter life. He to write about wine, food and rural life, she to design a home and garden in a remote village. In 2005 they had a 7-day week looking after more than 120 donkeys and coping with thousands of visitors, mostly British, who were totally essential to the survival of their animal sanctuary. In 2007 they were taken over by a Devon based donkey charity 'The Donkey Sanctuary.'




    "Friends of the Cyprus Donkey", is a registered Cypriot non-profit charitable association, started in October 1994 by Mary and Patrick Skinner in Vouni village, when their original family of "pet" donkeys had suddenly developed from three to six. In October 1995 there were 17, a year later 37, in October 1997, 57 and today more than 80. All animals are elderly, frail or simply unwanted, but they form part of a rapidly disappearing part of the heritage of Cyprus.

From a small private endeavour run by the Skinners, with some help from friends, has developed a growingly efficient animal care organisation with full-time carers, a rota of volunteers, weekly farriery sessions and consultant veterinarians. A service of advice, medical and foot care is also offered to owners of donkeys not in the Vouni sanctuary. All this requires an income of at least ST£7,000 per month to meet day-to-day costs and the development programme required to take in more animals.

    "Income comes through many channels", says Administrator Mary Skinner, "We have over a thousand members who pay an annual subscription. Hundreds of children "adopt" a donkey for £5,00 a year. There are a number of generous donors and we also have as many as a thousand visitors a month, who help us financially and buy merchandise from our shop, which has a growing range of good quality products for gifts. Nevertheless, because we are growing all the time, we urgently need all the help we can get: financial; peoples' time, and all kinds of materials".

Animals are resident on four sites. Two are not far from the Skinners' house, "The Home Site". One, with 15 animals is the "Intensive Care Unit" for old and frail animals. Half a kilometre away is "The Stena Site", on which more than 80 donkeys now reside. At Stena are the Association's shop, refreshment facilities and picnic area. More land in the Stena area and elsewhere is being rented to cope with the arrival of more unwanted animals.

 Visitors are welcome from 10.00 a.m. to 4p.m. every day, except Sunday, but in view of the calls upon the staff and helpers, they are requested to phone first to arrange their visit. Groups are very welcome and special programmes can be arranged.

via Friends of the Cyprus Donkey

If you think you can help these lovely, hard-working animals survive, don't hesitate to contact the Skinners through their website. Animals have rights too - including donkeys! 

The Island by Victoria Hislop

via www.youtube.com

l  am profoundly touched and grateful to Victoria Hislop who decided to trust the TV series based on her book "The Island" to a Greek TV channel - Mega Channel. I had read the book while on holiday in Kefallonia 2 years ago and was hooked on it. I finished it in two days. As Louise France says in her review in The Observer: "Her message seems as relevant today as it would have been a century ago. Same prejudice, different disease."  The first episode of the TV series on Monday filled me with awe. Excellent casting and amazing photography. More importantly, I felt that the series conveys all those wonderful messages of love, strength and encouragement that Victoria Hislop communicates through her book. "The Island" is not just another beach book. It's a masterpiece!

Photo Credit

TV Ratings were impressive: 45% in Cyprus and about 72% in Greece. No other TV show or series has ever beaten these ratings before in Greece and Cyprus.

Have you read Victoria Hislop's "The Island?"  Your opinion matters.

10 / 10 / 10

Next time we have such a fabulous date will be on October 10, 3010! Today, I will certainly not feel confused about the American way of writing dates!!! I've done some reading online and here's what I found about my favourite number 10.

  

1. Symbol of the matter in harmony - 4 + 6.
2. Represent the Creator and the creation, 3 + 7, the Trinity resting in the expressed universe.
3. For Pythagoras, 10 was the symbol of the universe and it also expressed the whole of human knowledge.
4. Sum of 5 + 5, the number 10 represents the two opposite current directions of the conscience: involution and evolution.
5. According to H.- P. Blavatsky, the 1 followed by 0 indicates the column and the circle, meaning the principle of the female and male, and this symbol would refer to the Androgyne nature and also to Jehovah, being at the same time male and female.
6. The zero in the form of circle is a symbol of unit, completing then the meaning of the number 1 to show that the number 10 contains all preceding numbers as a whole contains its parts.
7. Represent the first couple, the marriage: 1 = the man, 0 the egg fertilized by the 1. The ten gives the indication of a spiritual regression since the marriage is a consequence of the fall of the man.
   The number ten is regarded as the most perfect of numbers, because it contains the Unit that did it all, and the zero, symbol of the matter and the Chaos, of which all came out; it then includes in its figure the created and the non-created, the beginning and the end, the power and the force, the life and the nothing.
8. It represents the straightness in the faith because it is the first number "in extension" (of two digits), just as hundred and thousand, explains Hugues of Saint-Victor.
9.  According to Agrippa, "ten is called the number of all or universal, and the complete number marking the full course of life." Also he attributes to it a sence of totality, the achievement, the return to the unit after the development of the cycle of the first nine numbers.
10.  Represent the revelation and the Divine Law.
11. At the Mayas, it represents the end of a cycle and the beginning of another. The ten was regarded as being the number of the life and the death.

   
      In China, the cross represents the number 10 - as the totality of the numbers.

Number 10 Symbolism

What's your favourite number? 

UFO Over China (06/10/2010) Marks 8th Time Since June

via www.youtube.com

I have never seen a UFO or had encounters of the third type - or whatever these encounters are called. However, according to Dr Drake's mathematical calculations, it is a 100% mathematical fact that we are not alone in this vast universe. And I will agree. Our galaxy, the Milky Way, is one of trillions of galaxies in this vast universe. Therefore, I think it's very unlikely that living creatures can only be found on Planet Earth. What I can't quite understand is the reason why so many UFO sightings were reported in China within a few months!

Here's what to do if you see a UFO

Photo Credit

The Mutual UFO Network, or MUFON, has compiled guidelines for witnesses to report UFO sightings.

1. Remain calm. But protect yourself from any hazards, real or perceived. Be prepared to take evasive action to get out of the object's way.

2. Be objective. Not every UFO is extraterrestrial; eliminate other possibilities first. Only after that should you consider that what you saw might be a true UFO.

3. Use a camcorder or camera to record the event. Try to keep reference points in the field of view, as this will aid in analyzing the film. If you do not have a recording device, then draw pictures of what you saw.

4. Tape your tale. If you have a tape recorder, record your description of the event as it happens. Include reference points. If you don't have a tape recorder, write down your observations immediately.

5. Get other witness observations. Ask other witnesses to write or record their observations, but do not discuss the event with them until after your observations have been recorded.

6. Leave the area alone. If the UFO left some trace of its presence, do not disturb the area around it and restrict access to the site. Photograph the area around the site before you enter, and note the exact position of everything. Take close-up photos or video of the evidence before touching it.

7. Gauge the size. If the sighting is from a distance, at an arm's length, what would it take to cover the object? A quarter? A penny? A dime?

8. Gauge the distance. Try to judge the distance from you to the object, the object's altitude and its speed. Was it across the street or was it over the next field? Was it treetop level or a few hundred feet up? Did it cross the sky in five seconds or five minutes?

9. Record any encounter. Should you encounter some type extraterrestrial being associated with the craft, be prepared to protect yourself. From a safe distance, in a concealed position, photograph or videotape the being. If you are unable to safely get photos of the being, draw and write down a description as soon as it is safe to do so.

10. Report your experience. Immediately report the event to a UFO research origination for investigation.

www.mufon.com

Pottery in Cyprus

Photo by Anastasia - A jar  (pythari) where wine used to be kept.

The art of pottery-making was developed in Cyprus since prehistoric times. It was one of the most creative fields of ancient Cypriot art with potters of the time leaving us with a heritage of significant work which are the envy of even the best modern artists of this kind.The revealing of pottery during excavations from ancient times is the primary means through which we are assisted in indicating the periods of human mental development and progress. The fame of the pottery and pitharia (jars) of old Cyprus reached Europe as early as 1934. As Gloria London quotes in her book “Traditional Pottery of Cyprus” one traveler of that period wrote that “sweet wine was kept in big pitharia because they did not have any cracks in them.” Elsewhere in the same book, Ms London says that Giovani Mariti, an Italian priest, traveled to Cyprus in 1772 to learn the technique of pithari-making and storing of wine. During the medieval period pottery flourished in Cyprus. Glazed pots were created not only for the local market but also for the neighboring countries of the Middle East.

via Embassy of Cyprus in Washington D.C.