Anastasia

Sunrise

Right after work yesterday afternoon, I felt like taking a short nap. After a hectic week at work, I guess I was fit to drop. My "short nap" turned out to be a deep, three-hour sleep. So, it was 7:00 pm when I got up and, having skipped lunch, I was starving! Alkis was away on a business trip in Switzerland and, as per usual when I'm home alone, I didn't feel in the mood to cook for myself. I had souvlaki delivered for dinner which arrived promptly - 20 minutes after having placed my order. Then I spent an hour or so answering my friends' emails and visiting blogs. But, as I work all day long on the computer typing tests or planning lessons on Microsoft Outlook - not to mention the interactive board in class - I didn't want to put too much strain on my eyes, so I went to bed early and started reading the first chapter of Lena Manda's "To Spiti Dipla Sto Potami"

I must have fallen asleep while reading....I really can't remember when it was the last time I slept 10 hours in one single day! When I woke up, it was 4:30 am! I got up and made breakfast although it was dark outside and I could still see the moon - a beautiful croissant - just like the one I had prepared for breakfast! I must admit, I've never eaten breakfast in the moonlight before! Everything around me was so peaceful and quiet - I could almost hear the silence.

The crack of dawn - Actually it was 6:39 am when I took this picture. My camera is still set at summer time!

Then the silence was broken by the first sounds of the new day: the happy chirping of birds despite the cold, a neighbour's dog barking, a baby crying, the church bell calling for the Sunday Service. 

A new day is born

As Benjamin Franklin said: "Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise."

The Benefits of Red Wine

Does red wine protect against heart disease? Maybe. Many studies investigated the benefits of red wine suggested that moderate amount of red wine (one drink a day for women and two drinks a day for men) lowers the risk of heart attack for people in middle age by ~ 30 to 50 percent. It is also suggested that alcohol such as red wine may prevent additional heart attacks if you have already suffered from one. Other studies also indicated that red wine can raise HDL cholesterol (the Good cholesterol) and prevent LDL cholesterol (the Bad cholesterol) from forming. Red wine may help prevent blood clots and reduce the blood vessel damage caused by fat deposits. Indeed, studies showed that people from the Mediterranean region who regularly drank red wine have lower risks of heart disease

via www.healthcastle.com

I am a great lover of the Mediterranean Diet which is not really a diet but a healthy eating pattern and beyond that it's a lifelong, living style which basically consists in consuming lots of olive oil, fresh vegetables and fruit, legumes, chicken or poultry instead of red meat and 1-2 glasses of red wine at dinner. I love French reds very much - such as Chateauneuf du Pape or Saint Emilion - but I also enjoy great Greek reds by Ktima Hadjimichalis and Chateau Lazarides. Our very own Othello is also one of my favourite red wines. I have recently tried Californian reds such as Robert Mondavi Woodbridge and loved it. Consuming red wine in moderation can help prevent health problems.

Do you like wine? Do you include it - red wine in particular - in your daily diet? If you do, what's your favourite wine?

Halcyon Days

Since the beginning of this week, we've been enjoying what we call the days of Alcyone in my part of the world. They usually begin in mid January and last for about a fortnight. In mid winter and despite the fact that our winters are mild, it is a period of calm weather, sunny days and blue skies. As I don't like winter very much, soon after the new year, I look forward to Halcyon Days.

According to Greek mythology, Alcyone - the daughter of Aeolus, the greek god of winds - was happily married to Ceyx, the son of Eosphorus - also known as the Morning Star. The happy young couple would often call each other Zeus and Hera -  something which gave rise to Zeus' wrath.. So, while Ceyx was at sea, Zeus threw a thunderbolt at his ship. Soon after, Morpheus - the god of sleep and dreams - disguised as Ceyx, appeared to Alcyone and told  her what had happened. Alcyone was so desperate that she threw herself into the sea. But out of compassion, the gods turned her into a halcyon bird (a kingfisher). Halcyon birds lay their eggs on the beach, in winter, so her father Aeolus restrained the winds and calmed the waves so that Halcyon could lay her eggs in safety.  

Apart from enjoying our bright weather, I am also going through a very peaceful period of time in my life. Despite my busy schedule at work, I feel calm and relaxed and hope, in my heart of hearts, that the gods will be more merciful this year and will prolong this bright, sunny interval in the height of winter.

Monday's Greek Recipe - Prasopita - Greek Leek Pie

Ingredients

• 6-7 leeks finely sliced in rings
• some dill finely chopped
• some parsley finely chopped
• some fresh mint finely chopped
• 1 big onion finely chopped
• 3 fresh green onions (spring onions) finely sliced in rings
• 1 packet of  puff pastry sheets
• 400 gr feta cheese mashed with a fork
• pepper
• 1 egg
• just a little olive oil

fyllo pastry-puff pastry sheets

Directions

1. Boil the leeks for about 10 minutes, drain them well and put aside.

2. In a bowl combine the feta cheese, the dill, the parsley, the mint, the onion, the spring onions, the egg and the leeks when they are cold enough. Add pepper to taste. Don't add any salt as the feta cheese is quite salty.

3. Brush a pyrex / ovenproof dish with some olive oil and line it with a pastry sheet. Brush with olive oil, then lay 4 or 5 pastry sheets brushing each one with olive oil again.

4. Spread the filling evenly.

5. Cover it with 4-5 layers of pastry sheets after having brushed each one of them with olive oil.

6. Bake in a pre-heated, medium oven for about 45 minutes.

7. Serve hot or cold - it's just as tasty.

Tip: Carve the pie in portions before baking.

Recipe by : Stefania Charalambous

 

A Valuable Possession

We sometimes tend to amass possessions - often without being aware of doing so. Indeed, we can have a delightful surprise when we find something useful which we forgot we owned. Unwanted objects are left in drawers, cupboards and attics for years, in the belief that we may one day need them. As we grow older, we accumulate belongings for three other reasons:

• Lack of physical and mental energy, both of which are essential in turning out and throwing away unwanted things.
• Lack of time or laziness
• Sentiment

I think I belong to the third category. I won't throw away things which are full of associations with the past - especially those things associated with relatives who passed away. These possessions gradually acquire for me a value beyond their true worth.

This brooch was offered to me by my grandmother a few months before she passed away. It's made of silver and a few semi-precious stones. But that's all my grandfather could afford when he married my grandmother. My grandma had always worn this brooch since her wedding day. And when she gave it to me, I felt I owned a valuable possession.

What's your most valuable possession?

The Future of Computers

The history of computers and computer technology thus far has been a long and a fascinating one, stretching back more than half a century to the first primitive computing machines. These machines were huge and complicated affairs, consisting of row upon row of vacuum tubes and wires, often encompassing several rooms to fit it all in.

As anyone who has looked at the world of computers lately can attest, the size of computers has been reduced sharply, even as the power of these machines has increased at an exponential rate. In fact, the cost of computers has come down so much that many households now own not only one, but two, three or even more, PCs.

As the world of computers and computer technology continues to evolve and change, many people, from science fiction writers and futurists to computer workers and ordinary users, have wondered what the future holds for the computer and related technologies. Many things have been pictured, from robots in the form of household servants to computers so small they can fit in a pocket. Indeed, some of these predicted inventions have already come to pass, with the introduction of PDA's and robotic vacuum cleaners.

Beyond these innovations, however, there are likely to be many, many more. One of the most important areas of research in the world of computers is that of artificial intelligence. When many people think of artificial intelligence, they may picture fully aware machines, complete with emotions, and the problems that can arise from them. Even though this remains the goal of many artificial intelligence researchers, in fact artificial intelligence technology is already in place and already serving the needs of humans everywhere.

One of the most powerful uses of artificial intelligence thus far is in the world of speech recognition. This powerful technology is already in place in call centers, banks, brokerage centers, insurance companies and other businesses throughout the world. While speech recognition is still imperfect, it has improved greatly in recent years, and in the future many routine, and even non-routine, phone calls and telephone inquiries may be handled completely without human intervention.

Robot technology has also come a long way, but it still has a long way to go. Robots in the future are unlikely to take human form, expect in a few specialized applications. Instead, robots are likely to do a great deal of work that is simply too dangerous for humans to accomplish. From spaceflight applications to search and rescue, robots are likely to continue down the learning curve they have already entered, further enhancing human lives and providing valuable services for a fraction of the cost of today's robot helpers.

Quantum computers are also likely to transform the computing experience, for both business and home users. These powerful machines are already on the drawing board, and they are likely to be introduced in the near future. The quantum computer is expected to be a giant leap forward in computing technology, with exciting implications for everything from scientific research to stock market predictions.

Nanotechnology is another important part of the future of computers, expected to have a profound impact on people around the globe. Nanotechnology is the process whereby matter is manipulated at the atomic level, providing the ability to “build” objects from their most basic parts. Like robotics and artificial intelligence, nanotechnology is already in use in many places, providing everything from stain resistant clothing to better suntan lotion. These advances in nanotechnology are likely to continue in the future, making this one of the most powerful aspects of future computing.

And if history is to be any guide, some of the most powerful advances in the world of computers and computer technology are likely to be completely unforeseen. 

 

via www.cbtplanet.com

In the 1970s, an expert on automation, Sir Leon Bagrit, pointed out that it was a mistake to believe that computers could "think" He went on to add that there was practically no possibility that human beings would ever be "controlled by machines". Though computers are capable of learning from their mistakes and improving on their performance, I believe that  they will always need detailed instructions from human beings in order to be able to operate. Whatever the future of the computers may be, they'll never lead independent lives or make decisions of their own. And they'll certainly never "rule the world." As far as I am concerned, I guess I'll always need a pencil and a rubber.

Epiphany or The Twelve Days of Christmas

Photo Credit

On the stroke of January 6th, the "twelve days of Christmas" officially come to an end. This day takes on a special meaning in Greece and Cyprus. All over the world, the Greek orthodox observe the baptism of Jesus Christ by John the Baptist, in the river Jordan. The Greek word for Epiphany is Theophania meaning the "appearance of God" referring to the Holy Trinity: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

In coastal areas, after church, on the morning of January 6, the priest goes to the nearest port or marina. Having blessed  the waters, he throws a large cross into the sea. As you can see in the picture above, a group of young men brave the cold waters and dive into the sea trying to retrieve the cross. The one who gets it is the "winner" and is considered to be the lucky person of the year. You may think that Greece and Cyprus are warm countries but the sea can be really chilly even on a sunny day. After the diving, many fishermen bring their boats to the port to be blessed by the priest. Theophania (Epiphany) is also called Fota meaning light and relating to the day being a Feast of Light since Jesus Christ for the Greek Orthodox is the only true light. 

Many wicked spirits, elves or goblins called kalikantzaroi are said to be active during the twelve days of Christmas and haunt people's homes. Tradition has it that some xerotiana (doughnuts) or sausages are thrown to the roof of houses to banish these spirits for the rest of the year. In many villages children go from door to door singing the Epiphany Jingles and asking for a last holiday gift which is invariably some money - called pouloustrina in Cyprus - and , of course some loukoumades - traditional Greek doughnuts. In Cyprus, Larnaca boasts the best loukoumades and siamishi on the island and everyone must have some after the festive lunch.

January 6th also marks the end of the holiday season and, yes, school starts tomorrow!

 

New Year Resolutions or Goals to Be Attained in 2011

The New Year is usually a time for resolutions. Mentally, at least, most of us could compile overwhelmingly long lists of "do's" and "don'ts". The same old favourite recur year in year out with monotonous regularity. We resolve to get up earlier each morning, eat less, exercise more, find more time to play with the children, do a thousand and one jobs about the house, be nice to people we don't like, and take the dog for a walk every day.

Past experience has taught us that certain accomplishments are beyond attainment. If we remain inveterate smokers, it is only because we have experienced the frustration that results from failure. Most of us fail in our efforts at self-improvement because our schemes are too ambitious and we hardly ever have time to carry them out. Pat Harrington - one of my favourite bloggers on TypePad - writes in his blog FearAlone: "Start small and make a resolution that you can accomplish within 3 months, and then add on to it in the next 3 months.  So, in half a year we get real results that help push us in the right direction." This year, I'll follow Pat's advice. I'll start small - e.g. cut down on smoking instead of giving up smoking. I've already cut down considerably since I read Pat's post last November. I've even decided not to smoke again in the flat - not even in my study- and haven't done so for the last 5 weeks!. In three months, I'll add to it : "Give up smoking by June." Hope this works!

Do you make resolutions or set goals to attain at the start of a new year?