Anastasia

The Royal Wedding

This morning, Prince William, the second in line for the British throne, married Catherine Middleton in an orrnate ceremony at London's Westminster Abbey. The service was led by the Archbishop of Canterbury and attended by 1,900 guests, including foreign royal family members and heads of state. It is estimated that more than 600,000 visitors from all around the world flocked to London to witness the spectacle and participate in William and Catherine's happiness who are now the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.The Wedding of the Century is a landmark in Great Britain's modern history.

As I am still on holiday (last holiday weekend!), I had the chance to watch the wedding live on TV. What impressed me most is that everything was organised impeccably, as planned - the exception being Prince William's slight delay to set off from Clarence House to  Westminster Abbey. He was escorted by his brother, Prince Harry, who was also the best man. Watching them walking down the aisle at Westminster Abbey, I realised how close to one another these young boys must be, especially after their mother's death.

However, the crowds gathered at Trafalgar Square were looking forward to seeing the bride depart for Westminster Abbey. Most importantly, they couldn't wait to see her dress! Soon after Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip arrived at the Abbey, Catherine and her father got into the Rolls Royce which drove them there. We could then only catch a glimpse of Kate's gorgeous wedding dress. When she got off the car at the Abbey, I was speechless! Her wedding dress, designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander MacQueen - the great fashion designer who recently passed away - was far beyond my expectations. It was exquisite! The absolute chic! The media compared her dress to Grace Kelly's wedding dress when she married Prince Rainier of Monaco, but to me, there was nothing to compare.

During the ceremony, the most touching moment was when the young couple exchanged their vows. Catherine could hardly speak - she'd just whisper her vows to the man of her life. I also loved the way she wore her hair loose against the Protocol. Inevitably, there was a comparison between Diana and Catherine. But once more, there was really nothing to compare and, to my mind, that was a very unfortunate comparison. Lady Diana was an innocent girl who had only seen Prince Charles 20 times before she was chosen by the Queen as her son's bride. She had no "say" in her wedding. Cattherine, on the other hand, had a long-term relationship with Prince William. They had been together for eight years before they finally decided to get married. Yet, I feel William must have missed his mum on his special day. But she was watching from above, from the world of angels, feeling proud of her son.

By 1:30 pm - London time - the world was looking forward to the traditional royal kiss from the central balcony of Buckingham Palace. It was a brief kiss and I felt that both Catherine and William blushed! Or maybe it was just an impression.. May their marriage be blessed with joy, faith and love.

All photos:  Associated Press

What I Spend My Money On

I know perfectly well that money doesn't grow on trees but, to be honest, I am not brilliant at saving. I have recently made good progress in this area, though. So, when I can, I spend my money on  various...objects of desire. Here are a few:

1. Perfumes to either use or add to my perfume collection

Angel by Thierry Mugler is one of my most favourite perfumes

2. Original Louis Vuitton handbags and other accessories.

3. Shoes, boots, sandals, trainers, slippers ...all sorts of footwear

4. DVDs which I usually purchase at amazon.com at very reasonable prices.

5. Cadbury Drinking Chocolate for cold, winter nights...and chocolate in general.

6. Being a bookworm, I can't resist buying books.

7. Clothes, of course.

8. French champagne on special occations - preferably Dom Perignon.

9. Perfumed candles

10. Gym equipment for some toning when I can't go to the gym.

The truth is that sometimes I do feel guilty about spending money on "trivialities." The pleasure,though, soon outweighs the guilt  But I'll say more about it some other time.

Now here you go! What do you usually spend your money on?

Greek Easter Customs and Traditions

Easter  is the greatest celebration of the year  for the Greek Orthodox Church . It is the symbol of human rebirth and the promise of life after death. It is the ultimate message of love and forgiveness, it is the time when God and sinners reconcile and spread the love Jesus Christ  taught the world with His death and glorious Resurrection.

A few  days before Easter, housewives do the spring cleaning so that everything looks new and shiny for Easter. The Holy Week begins on Monday following Saturday of Lazarus and Palm Sunday. On Palm Sunday , olive branches are taken to church and left  there for forty days. The  sanctified olive branch is then taken home. The olive leaves are placed in a special pot called “kapnistiri” and are used for incense burning. The smoke from the olive leaves is believed  to remove  all evil and jealousy in the family.

Easter 2006 at Saint Raphael's Church

On Holy Thursday, eggs are dyed red, ready to be cracked soon after Resurrection on Easter Day’s early morning hours.  The icons in our churches are covered with black cloth as a sign of mourning for Our Lord who went to the cross and died in order to take away our sins. The power of death and the reality of evil ruled the world on that dreadful Thursday. Yet, Jesus Christ’s death marks the beginning of the victory of life over death. The solemn service consists of The Twelve Gospel Readings – narratives from the four Gospels relating the events of the Holy Passion and Jesus’ last instructions to His disciples.  After the fifth gospel, the crucifix is adorned with a flower wreath and carried in procession.  Earlier in the morning, the Holy Communion is taken. It consists of a few drops of red wine mixed with some breadcrumbs symbolizing the blood and the body of Jesus Christ.

Good Friday is baking day. The Greek homes are filled with the delightful scents of mastic, mahaleb and cinnamon while flaounes, tsourekia and koulouria (sesame bread) are being baked.  However, Good Friday is also a day of mourning, fasting and prayer.  In the evening, at church, we observe the liturgy of Epitaphios  - a shroud depicting Christ’s sacred body is carried in procession and placed in a flowered bier that represents Christ’s tomb.  With both sorrow and joy, during this solemn and profoundly touching ceremony, we sing along with the priests and choir “I Zoe En Tafo” :

 "In a tomb they lay Thee O Christ the life. By Thy Death Thou has cast down the might of death and become the font of life for all the world"

  

On Holy Saturday morning, we observe the “First Resurrection”, that’s when the news is brought that Christ is no longer in His grave. At about 9:00 in the morning, the church bell rings joyfully, the church doors are banged and the black cloth covering the icons falls.  But the grand liturgy of Resurrection is held at midnight. Everyone goes to church with a candle. At about midnight, the lights go off and the priest solemnly proclaims “Here is the Holy Light” which is actually brought from Jerusalem to the Orthodox world. Then we all light our candles and greet each other with “Christos Anesti” (= Christ Has Risen) to which the other replies “Alithos Anesti” (He Has Risen Indeed). Then off we go home for a midnight supper consisting of magiritsa (Greek Easter Soup) and flaounes, tsourekia and koulouria.

Magiritsa

Easter Sunday is a day of feast, dancing and singing. Lambs are roasted on a spit and a sumptuous Easter lunch is prepared which usually lasts till late afternoon.  Families gather together or go on picnics, both children and adults engage in red-egg-crack competitions. The winner is the one whose egg is left uncracked! Easter Day also reminds us that we should forget and forgive allowing the Holy Light to shine on.

Roasted lamb on a spit

Do you celebrate Easter in your country? Have you got any special customs and traditions?  

Monday's Greek Recipe: Tsoureki - Greek Easter Loaf

Easter is round the corner and all over Greece and Cyprus, it's that time of year again when housewives bake their tsourekia, their flaounes, their Easter cookies and look forward to the greatest celebration of the year. The Greek Easter is filled with all those smells of our traditional Easter cooking. Tsoureki, the Greek Easter Loaf, is something very similar to the french brioche and yet unique. It's our very special Easter treat.  If you are ...patient, it's easy to make.

Ingredients

• 1 kilo (2lbs 4 oz) flour plus 1 extra cup of flour
• 1 cup of lukewarm milk
• 2 sachets instant dry yeast
• 1.5 cups sugar
• cherry mahaleb and mastic or grated lemon rind
• 1 cup vegetable shortening
• 6 eggs
• 1 egg to glaze
• 1-2 tbs sugar to glaze

Directions

• Pour the milk into a deep bowl and add in 1-2 tbs of sugar and the yeast.
• Dissolve the yeast well with your fingers and gradually add 1/2 cup from the 1 kg flour through a sieve mixing with your fingers till it becomes a watery batter. Cover the bowl with foil and wrap it with a warm towel. Leave for 15-20 minutes to rise.
• In the meantime, melt the shortening without browning. Beat the eggs well. Pound the cherry mahaleb and mastic with two tbs sugar.
• In another large bowl, mix the remaining of the 1kg flour with the remaining sugar, cherry mahaleb and mastic. Pour in the melted shortening and knead gently.
• Add the eggs and continue to knead gently. Make a well in the centre, pour in the batter and knead to combine.
• Continue kneading gradually adding  about 1 cup flour to make a fluffy dough. 
• Wrap it with a woolen blanket and leave in a warm place for 5-8 hours or till it doubles in size.
• Knead again. The size of the dough will get smaller.
• Divide into three portions and each portion into another three.
• Roll out into strips of 2cm thick. Plait these strips together loosely. This makes 3 tsourekia.
• Place the tsourekia on a large baking tray lined with non-stick baking paper leaving some space in-between.
• Cover again with a warm towel and leave in a warm place for about 2-3 hours or till the dough doubles in size.
• Beat lightly 1 egg with 1-2 tbs sugar and glaze the tsourekia.
• Bake in a pre-heated oven (150*C / 302*F) for 30 minutes or until golden brown.

Note: The milk must be lukewarm - not hot! Otherwise, the strength of the yeast will be reduced and the tsourekia will not rise.

Recipe by: Sandra Lysandrou

 

 

Conversation with a paper-oriented e-diary

- Hi there! I hope you are still alive and kicking!

- Hi

- Is that all you say to greet me?

- I said HI

- Please don't type in CAPS on the Internet. It's like shouting at me!

- But I am shouting at you! Besides, haven't you already told me that TypePad has me in CAPS in your Categories?

- No! Not in Caps! In Bold.

- I am bold and beautiful, aren't I? This is why you can't live without me.

- You are impertinent!

- Is that a compliment?

- I'm going to delete you!

- Look who's talking! A barking dog never bites!

- See what I mean ? You are impertinent! I've upgraded you and made you electronic. What's more, I've been posting you on TypePad for soon seven years now! You are no longer ...a miserable paper notebook! Count your blessings!

- I don't have any blessings to count! The last time you opened my electronic page was on November 15, 2009! When my pages were made of paper, you used to open them every day!

- True, but there was no Internet then, no blogging, no TypePad, no Facebook.

- Maybe so, but there was TV and all those boring books you loved to read! "Bleak House", for example! But you never neglected me! You always made time for me.

- You are a silly, ungrateful, paper-oriented ediary! I'm tired. 

Till next time.....                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

Being a Teacher

Since I was four or five, I've always wanted to be a teacher. I'd put my dolls in a row and teach them songs, nursery rhymes or I'd just talk to them.about my favourite things. That was back in 1963. A year or two later, when I learned to read and write, I used my dolls to teach them what I had learned at school. My mum would often tell dad: "She will be a teacher one day." My dad would laugh saying that it was too early to say what I'd be one day.

From left to right: Front row: Louisa, Maria, Eleni, Popi. Second row: Marianna, Doris, Katerina

My mum was right. I became a teacher and never regretted it. Even when I worked for others, my students were "my kids" and the school was "mine". But my big dream was to run my own language school - a dream that came true in September 1997, Some friends and family told me then that I was crazy to leave a great teaching job for something uncertain. When I turned down a post at public high schools, they thought that nobody in their right mind would ever do this. But I did. Because I wanted to hold my dream and get the moral satisfaction of running my own language school.

This wasn't always a bed of roses but my love for "my kids" has always been so strong that any other problems looked insignificant. . My kids keep me going and their progress is the best reward ever! Being a teacher is a wonderful journey and a truly amazing experience simply because kids can be so very rewarding in their own unique way.

How do you earn your living? Have you always wanted to do the job you're doing now?

Burning the midnight oil marking homework or tests and filling in 2nd term reports. This is just a quick hi to say thank you for stopping by either here on TypePad or on Facebook. Also, many thanks for your wishes on my birthday. Filakia xxxxxxx

Spring Weekend at Aphrodite's Hills, Paphos

Getting away for the weekend is definitely an invigorating experience and a chance to relax and enjoy the outdoors - especially in spring. Alkis and I had been toying with the idea of spending a weekend at Aphrodite's Hills since early March, but the whims of the weather made us postpone our trip until early April. Ironically, after a gloriously sunny week with temps rising to spring level, yesterday I woke to gloomy, cloudy skies which threatened with rain and reminded autumn more than spring.

It was raining lightly when we set off for Aphrodite's Hills but we were determined not to let the weather spoil our high spirits and great mood. Aphrodite's Hills is a village-style development including luxury accommodation and leisure activities such as a riding school, a tennis academy, the Aphrodite Hill Golf Resort as well as many restaurants and tavernas.  It was built at about 5 km from Petra Tou Romiou (Rock of the Greek) within the area where, according to Greek mythology,. Aphrodite and Adonis used to.roam over the hills and the valleys.

Aphrodite's Hills

The blustery wind and the rain had got stronger by the time we reached the village of Pissouri situated within the district of Lemesos - Cyprus's second largest city. We had lunch at Kastro by Pissouri Bay. The village of Pissouri is built on a commanding mountain side, just off the main road and motorway. Further south of the motorway you drive through one of the best vineyards of Cyprus producing Sultani Table Grapes, and eventually reach the bay. Pissouri has also become a centre for wind and kite surfing.

Pissouri Bay

 
The rain had stopped at last by the time we finished lunch.

Alkis looks great and relaxed!

Soon after lunch, we headed for The Intercontinental at Aphrodite's Hills.We stayed at one of the hotel's loveliest suites.

The bedroom

The living room

The bathroom

Relaxing by our private swimming pool.

 or simply enjoying the splendid view

For the evening, we booked a table for two at Leander Restaurant. I loved the fusion of japanese and european cuisine. The food was just divine! And, as always, Alkis impressed me with his choice of wine - a great French Bordeau - Fleuri. But, most importantly, I had a great time with my significant other!

Just before dinner

At Leander Restaurant - waiting for the first course and having a great time with Alkis

Mozarella Stick - the Chef's compliment

Japanese garden salad for me with tofu, cashew nuts and apple

Maki for Alkis

Such a great fusion of beef "chateaubriand", pepper steak sauce and scampi garnished with mashed potatoes, spinach and mushrooms. Congratulations to the chef! What a gastronomic performance that was!

Today, we woke to a bluer sky and a sunnier day. After breakfast, we went for a walk and to my surprise, I discovered the first spring greeting.

The first poppies!

...and some yellow daisies

We had coffee after this invigorating, morning walk in the heart of Mother Nature.

On our way back home, we stopped at Petra Tou Romiou - the Rock of the Greek or Aphrodite's Rock.

On reaching Petra Tou Romiou, one can see an impressive rock formation with the largest rock close to the beach. According to Greek mythology. Aphrodite (Venus), the greek goddess of beauty and love was born here. She rose from the white foam of the soft waves, floating on a sea shell and came to rest at Palepafos where her temple was erected.

In his Odyssey, Homer writes:

But laughter-loving Aphrodite went to Cyprus, to Paphos, in her precinct and fragrant altars...

The moist breeze of zephyr  brought her there on the waves of the sea, with a noise of thunder among the soft foam....