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'Austerity takes toll on cradle of democracy'
Richard Pine has circulated his latest 'Greek letter' in The Irish Times but writes:I have been unable to create a link to my column in yesterday's Irish Times (Wednesday 18 September). I am therefore...
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Sophia Mae arrives
Lovely news of a baby to Liz and Matt. Conceived in Scotland, perhaps at Brin Croft, only days after mum died, our dearest friend Liz's baby was born yesterday and this morning, at Sally's in Ipsos,...
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My plot in England
Before we left I sent the VJA site secretary a £35 cheque – being the £25 annual rent I pay, 50% reduction as a concession for being over 60, and £10 as my sub to the site association. I have been...
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Green space for playing fields in Handsworth
Looking north across the planned playing fields off Crick Lane, Handsworth Unused green space in cities, land on which no-one has ever raised a building, is always eyed by interested parties. Unsecured...
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Summer Song sails
My sister Bay in a south westerly gale on Hurst Spit Smell is so seductive; evoking, momentarily, a recollection of sight and touch, before capricious memory amends and revises. Daffodils have no...
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Puncture makers
Every time I wheel my bicycle down the public path from Democracy Street, beside our house, to the lower road to cycle south I need to check my tyres for small puncturing thorns – pretty flowers like...
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Cheese dream days
“It’s a cheese dream day” said Lin“Go on”“On days when it rained too much to go out, my mum promised 'cheese dreams'– cheese spread on buttered bread and fried”“Toasted cheese sandwich”“No 'cheese...
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Work
The wardrobe that we are making in our bedroom, from a mix of new and old wood, has been added to. A window frame found by the roadside and stored in our apothiki is now in place. Yesterday I picked...
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Ano Korakiana in relief
After we visited the museum in the village - after a few years waiting and hoping - Angeliki Metallinos followed up our visit last Monday by sending me photos of her grandfather's work. They include...
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A perfect kind of ordinary day
A spinach pie would not taste the same in England, but a cup of tea in Ano Korakiana is as good as one in Birmingham. Come to Greece in October hoping for weather as blue and breezy warm as we've...
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Aristedes Metallinos 1907-1987
Σφηρή και σκαρπέλο Some remnant DNA prompted Arestides Ἀριστείδης Metallinos in the last decade of his life in Ano Korakiana to put aside his cobbler’s last, to obtain marble and Corfu stone, in order...
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Winter in England
I’m starting to imagine myself back to England – cycling into the city centre with Oscar running beside me along the Soho Loop, and the mainline canal towpaths, catching a train to London or York from...
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A day to go north
The terrier's pointing to the wind from the south bringing rain and deep grey sky - the first real signs of winter after a summer reaching into November. This morning as we packed our cases and ticked...
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Dr George Savvanis on the Ano Korakiana website:ΕΡΤέλος...Γράφει ο/η Γιώργος Σαββανής 11.11.13 "Κάποιοι θα ντρέπονται εσαεί και θα λογοδοτούν στις επόμενες γενιές», είπε χαρακτηρίζοντας «ενέργεια...
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Damp and cold
Plot 14, Victoria Jubilee Allotments after 3½ years On Plot 14 Taj has done great work digging in manure, weeding, keeping an eye. There are inviting spaces in which I am planning - on advice - to...
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'…setting the scene...'
Richard Pine loves Greece, lives in Corfu, and is someone whose friendship is a source of pride. His conversation is sparse, amusing, educated and to the point. This article, one of his regular...
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Oliver in the park
Moment of undiluted content, sharing fallen leaves with my grandson in Handsworth Park. These are from our plane trees, broad and brown; good for falling on; being buried and shuffling all over the...
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Wind
The tall poplar at the end of our neighbour's garden seemed, for a moment this morning, to be turning like a carousel, merrily throwing it's last leaves into the sky. I watched the scribble of bare...
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Worse
Richard Pine wrote, in one of his regular pieces for the Irish Times on 11 December:Why Greece’s schools are a shambles and its universities are chaotic I am sometimes asked whether the criticisms of...
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Compost
Worms at work: compost - το κοπρόχωμα για το κήπο - coming along nicely in our garden Compost lunacy! I've learned from various sources in our local council that staff have been told to stop composting...
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