Monday 27 November 2017

HRH The Prince of Wales at Damers School, Poundbury, Dorchester





Meeting the Junior Governors



Photos by JP

The school has 450 pupils, and the capacity for 600


'In a statement, Prince Charles said he was "delighted to announce" his son's news and that Harry had received the blessing of Ms Markle's parents'.

Update, from MailOnline: 'Very happy indeed': Prince Charles says he's 'thrilled' to announce Harry and Meghan's engagement as he visits his model village in Dorchester

Update: Prince Charles visits Poundbury, Dorset Echo, Photo Gallery




Thessaloniki: Plans for a High Speed Train Link to reach a Chinese-built Port in Thessaloniki



On Chinese investment plans to be discussed with 16 East European and Balkan nations in Hungary: a high-speed train link between Belgrade and Budapest, to reach a Chinese-built port at Thessaloniki. BBC News 27 November, 2017, from 3.30 point.

Is the plan to use both Piraeus port and a new port at Thessaloniki?


Chinese premier arrives in Hungary for official visit, China-CEEC meeting


THE 6TH SUMMIT OF HEADS OF GOVERNMENT OF CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES AND CHINA - "Deepening economic, trade and financial cooperation for win-win development, This year, on the fifth anniversary of the formation of 16+1 cooperation, its highest forum, the China-CEEC Summit of Heads of Government will be held in Budapest, Hungary on November 27, 2017, chaired by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán".

Related (from Politico): China hits roadblocks in Central Europe, Tough competition laws and investment from the bloc slow Beijing’s infrastructure push.


From GB Times - EU probe threatens landmark China-Hungary rail project


From New York Times - Behind China’s $1 Trillion Plan to Shake Up the Economic Order


Update, Euronews - China looks to new Silk Road through Eastern Europe


US Ambassador Chastizes Privatization Of Thessaloniki Port! Observing Greece, Klaus Kastner


From Financial Times - EU sets collision course with China over ‘Silk Road’ rail project

'European officials told the Financial Times that the investigation was assessing the financial viability of the $2.89bn railway and looking into whether it had violated European Union laws stipulating that public tenders must be offered for large transport projects. “The commission services are assessing the compliance of the project with EU law. The dialogue with the national authorities is ongoing,” said a European Commission spokeswoman'.

Hungary-Serbia railway launched at China summit, EU Observer


From EuroIntelligence: "Work will start on the Hungary-Serbia leg of a high-speed rail link between Hungary and Greece, in which China is investing - we observe that the EU, by not investing in its periphery, opens it up to foreign investment which it then criticises".

Chinese Investment in Greece and Sino-Greek Relations, Greek Reporter

Updates:

Privatization of Thessaloniki Port postponed as Russian guarantor bank gets bailout, KTG

Kathimerini Report in Greek

Thessaloniki Port Sold to German Fund, Greek Reporter





Prague: Martinu's Epic of Gilgamesh ; Prague Philharmonic Choir/Czech Philharmonic/Honeck







Epic of Gilgamesh, Melvyn Bragg, BBC Radio 4, In Our Time:

"He who saw the Deep" are the first words of the standard version of The Epic of Gilgamesh, the subject of this discussion between Melvyn Bragg and his guests. Gilgamesh is often said to be the oldest surviving great work of literature, with origins in the third millennium BC, and it passed through thousands of years on cuneiform tablets. Unlike epics of Greece and Rome, the intact story of Gilgamesh became lost to later generations until tablets were discovered by Hormuzd Rassam in 1853 near Mosul and later translated. Since then, many more tablets have been found and much of the text has been reassembled to convey the story of Gilgamesh, king of Uruk the sheepfold, and Enkidu who the gods created to stop Gilgamesh oppressing his people. Together they fight Humbaba, monstrous guardian of the Cedar Forest, and kill the Bull of Heaven, for which the gods make Enkidu mortally ill. Gilgamesh goes on a long journey as he tries unsuccessfully to learn how to live forever, learning about the Great Deluge on the way, but his remarkable building works guarantee that his fame will last long after his death.

With Andrew George, Professor of Babylonian at SOAS, University of London; Frances Reynolds
Shillito Fellow in Assyriology at the Oriental Institute, University of Oxford and Fellow of St Benet's Hall and Martin Worthington, Lecturer in Assyriology at the University of Cambridge

Producer: Simon Tillotson.

Brikawood, Small Wooden Houses (Wooden Brick System)



A great idea (YouTube, video, French)

English video


Brikawood: An ecological house built with wooden bricks, from Inspir'action News

Africa: Lake Victoria in Danger; Over-fishing and Pollution; a Ticking Timebomb



Scientists warn Lake Victoria is dying, BBC News

More on BBC News, from 0.58 point


Some background and earlier warnings:


Why Africa’s largest lake is in grave danger, Mark Weston, Slate.com (March 2015).

Pollution of Lake Victoria worsening, Reuters (March 2010)

Sunday 26 November 2017

VOA Issues in the News; David Rennie, Moderator



Listen here, November 24th Edition


Duncan Honeybourne, 40th Birthday concert: two piano concertos in Dorchester, Dorset Chamber Orchestra


Another memorable musical experience! The Dorset Chamber Orchestra conducted by Walter Brewster at St. Mary's Church, Dorchester, with Weymouth-born  soloist Duncan Honeybourne.

Two great piano concertos, by Schumann and Adolf von Henselt, in the same programme.

I am constantly astounded by the quality and convenient accessibility of musical activity in Dorset and Dorchester in particular.

The excellent programme:

Overture ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Mendelssohn

Piano Concerto in A minor – Schumann

Variations on a theme by Haydn – Brahms

Piano Concerto in F minor – Henselt


Fascinating programme notes by Walter Brewster, about the background to his search for and rediscovery of the full score and parts of the Henselt piano concerto, heard last night for the first time in a century.


From programme note by Walter Brewster


Duncan celebrated his fortieth birthday on 27th October.



Arthur Rubinstein: Chopin - Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor, Op. 11, 'Romanze Larghetto'


Saturday 25 November 2017

Greece: Gorgopotamos; 25 November, 1942, Themis Marinos


The 75th anniversary of the Harling Mission (Gorgopotamos Operation).



Themis Marinos, War Hero, at 100, 
on his way to Gorgopotamos 75th Anniversary Dinner
 (Photo Penny Marinou, Facebook)





Australia and the Brexit Trade Plan



From BBC News - Australia knocks UK Brexit trade plan

Australia no longer as optimistic as the Australian High Commissioner, H.E. The Hon. Alexander Downer AC, has been in recent months?

Brexit Britain's 'creeping irrelevance' to Australia hinted at in foreign policy blueprint, Telegraph
Time for another "NewImages" campaign? Not just yet...



Cheer up with Purcell's "Fairest Isle", from King Arthur - "Fairest isle, all isles excelling"

Fairest Isle (King Arthur - H. Purcell) Score Animation


Fairest isle, all isles excelling,
Seat of pleasure and of love
Venus here will choose her dwelling, 
And forsake her Cyprian grove. 

Cupid from his fav'rite nation 
Care and envy will remove; 
Jealousy, that poisons passion, 
And despair, that dies for love. 

Gentle murmurs, sweet complaining, 
Sighs that blow the fire of love 
Soft repulses, kind disdaining, 
Shall be all the pains you prove. 

Ev'ry swain shall pay his duty,
Grateful ev'ry nymph shall prove; 
And as these excel in beauty, 
Those shall be renown'd for love.

******

Other Problems, Possible Solutions?

An Irish border solution offers a template for post-Brexit trade, FT Opinion piece, Niall Fitzgerald


Chinese Art: Ming-dynasty art and furniture



From Christie's - "An introduction to the exceptionally varied artistic production of this golden age of Chinese culture, from its ceramics and metalware to painting and calligraphy".



Corfu, 1940 Bombardment; Greek-Italian War



ΒΟΜΒΑΡΔΙΣΜΟΣ ΤΗΣ ΚΕΡΚΥΡΑΣ ΚΑΤΑ ΤΟΝ ΕΛΛΗΝΟΪΤΑΛΙΚΟ ΠΟΛΕΜΟ
From YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OI4AGD6f7gQ&sns=em

Friday 24 November 2017

The Art of Warren Curry; Corfu and Australia


"Warren has worked as a full time professional artist for over 30 years. His preferred medium is oil paints on canvas and the following gallery represents his traditional style of painting. Warren spends 3-5 months each year working in his studio in the village of Pelekas,Corfu. Many of his paintings from Corfu are featured in this gallery" -  http://www.warrencurry.com/gallery.html


Warren's two homes - The Weekly times

Limited Edition Fine Art Prints

Abbey104 Radio Interview: Jenny Devitt's "Local World"




I had the great pleasure of being interviewed by Jenny Devitt at the Abbey104 radio studio in Sherborne last night, as her 'special guest' for her Thursday Local World programme, from 5-6pm.

I was much impressed by the professionalism of the station, and by the amount of detailed research carried out by Jenny in the weeks before the interview. I would like to thank her and those kind people who made an input, at her request. Jenny is a tremendous and highly-experienced producer-presenter, who knows how to put interviewees at their ease. Laughing with Sir David:


Jenny interviewing Sir David Attenborough 
at Lyme Regis Museum


Related:

An old Cyder Scribes online interview from June 2014 

Re-reading this, I am reminded how some projects have been put on the back-burner,
and others have captured my attention, for the time being at least.

See also, Marshwood Vale Magazine profile, October 2011








Wednesday 22 November 2017

Save Epirus! Σώστε την ήπειρο, όχι στην χερσαία εξόρυξη πετρελαίων! Say No to Oil Exploration!



Message seen on Facebook:

Την Πέμπτη 23/11/17 και ωρα 18:00, στην Ελεούσα, στο παλιό Δημαρχειο πραγματοποιείται Δημοτικό Συμβούλιο, οπου προ ημερησιάς διάταξης θα τεθει το θέμα των σεισμικών ερευνών και πιθανών εξορυξεων υδρογονανθράκων των εταιρειών Repsol-Energean Oil. Καλούμε ολους τους δημότες του Δ. Ζίτσας καθώς και ολους τους κατοίκους των Ιωαννίνων και γενικότερα της Ηπείρου, έξω απο το κτίριο, σε συγκέντρωση διαμαρτυρίας.

Οι φωνές μας πρέπει να ακουστούν Πανηπειρωτικά αλλα και Πανελλαδικά!!! Οφείλουμε και πρέπει να προστατέψουμε την ΙΕΡΗ ΓΗ της Ηπείρου και να πουμε ενα ηχηρό ΟΧΙ στα σχέδια εκείνων που αποφασισαν για εμάς χωρίς εμάς!! Το οφείλουμε στον τόπο μας αλλά και στην ίδια μας τη ζωή!

The difference between Greek and Irish writers


By Richard Pine, The Irish Times


Raul Scacchi, Songs on Soundcloud


A really good selection of Raul's songs, concept albums, collaborations and settings

The Good Samaritan and The Nomad written and composed by Jim Potts (vocals here), arrangements and orchestration Raul Scacchi.

Songs from Neuromantics, a collaborative project, Raul Scacchi and Jim Potts.

The World's Her Oyster, from Failed Expectations, lyrics Jim Potts and Raul Scacchi.

Backstage, from Beyond, Necromantics, lyrics Raul Scacchi and Jim Potts


Jim and Raul (photo J. Gulland)


Lyme Regis - Dorset plesiosaur fossil sells for £90k



From BBC News - 'Rare 3D' Dorset plesiosaur fossil fetches £90k at auction


Sidney Nolan: The Greek Series; Hellenic Museum, Melbourne



"61 works currently on loan from the Estate of Lady Nolan, have never before been exhibited in Australia as a single body of work, making Sidney Nolan: The Greek Series a truly unique exhibition".

An article about the exhibition, by Dean Kalimniou, Diatribe.

Hellenic Museum, Melbourne

"In November 1955, two years after leaving Sydney, and hungry for inspiration after finishing the two iconic series, Ned Kelly and Burke and Wills, Sidney Nolan and his wife, writer Cynthia Reed, travelled from London to the Greek island of Hydra. Immersing himself in the timeless beauty of the Greek landscape and culture, Nolan started a new series of works exploring both the contemporary and mythological world. Staying with Australian friends, authors George Johnston and Charmian Clift, who were at the centre of a creative expatriate circle living on the island, Nolan had intended a brief visit before beginning a scholarship in Rome, however remained in Hydra until the following May".

Sidney Nolan: The Greek Series at the Hellenic Museum, Greek Reporter


Google, some of Nolan's Hydra images



From Sidney Nolan, Such is Life, a biography by Brian Adams, 1987

"The Greek language remained a mystery to Nolan and one of the few phrases he managed to master was the New Year greeting kali chronya, which he used incessantly. The locals put up with it until the following Easter, when finally an old sponge diver pointed out that 1956 was well advanced and it sounded foolish to be wishing everyone  'Happy New Year'."

See also, Warren Curry, another Australian artist with a love of Greece








Monday 20 November 2017

Zagori, Greece: From the Refuge to Drakolimni (Walk); Frances Annear; Exploring Papingo



Sample walk from Frances Annear's Exploring Papingo

The guide-book


Two of my own photos of Drakolomni (Dragon Lake):



Legends of Dragon Lale (Drakolimni) from my own book, The Ionian Islands and Epirus, A Cultural History, Signal Books, Oxford


To Kokoraki, The King's Singers; Traditional Greek Song


Good for Anglo-Greek relations!

Listen here (YouTube) - To Kokoraki - Greek traditional song (arr. Gordon Langford)

This was recorded live on the final night of The King's Singers UK Summer School, July 2017, in a performance for the participants at Royal Holloway, University of London. 

Patrick Dunachie, countertenor
Timothy Wayne-Wright, countertenor 
Julian Gregory, tenor
Christopher Bruerton, baritone
Christopher Gabbitas, baritone
Jonathan Howard, bass




Sunday 19 November 2017

Alphonse "Bois Sec" Ardoin; Cajun Music



From Dust-to-Digital, Facebook, 15th November 2017 posting - Remembering accordionist Alphonse "Bois Sec" Ardoin, born in 1915 in Duralde, Louisiana

Dorset County Orchestra, Autumn Concert, Conductor and Soloist, Arturo Serna


                         
Inside the music

                             
This was an extraordinarily powerful experience, with the Dorset County Orchestra playing with passion, dynamism and obvious commitment, in the Dorford Centre, Dorchester. Congratulations to all the musicians!

Normally I wouldn’t choose to sit so close to a symphony orchestra - little more than a metre from the leader, Bärbel Glaser, and the soloist/conductor Arturo Serna (cello), but this proximity provided total immersion in multi-phonic surround sound, with close-up views of the brilliant and intense cello-playing in Joseph Haydn’s Cello Concerto No 2 in D major.

The sound was not too loud, the balance and instrumental clarity felt just right (sitting two rows further back would have made little difference, as there were only three semi-circular rows of seating available in this contemporary church hall/auditorium, because of the room’s layout and the space required by the orchestra).

Such a seating position might have diminished the overwhelming impact of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 in C minor (Opus 67), but it positively enhanced the excitement and drama of the work. It was an unforgettable participatory musical experience, involving the whole audience, as if we were all playing as members of the orchestra. 

The programme opened with Carl Maria Von Weber’s overture to Der Freischűtz.

An emperor couldn’t have asked for more.






Saturday 18 November 2017

Bridport Today


Bridport Market Day (and Vinyl Saturday)









Pop Art: Why Britain was first to go Pop (Christie's)



From Christie's - "Once regarded as a wholly American phenomenon, Pop art was first explored in Britain some 20 years earlier — albeit via a very different take on the post-war world".



Greece, Traditional Olive Press, Το Παραδοσιακό Ελαιοτριβείο. Olive Groves.



From Ζωή Στο Χωριό, Facebook


The Olive Groves of Greece Through the 4 Seasons, Greek Reporter



European Parliament, Draft Report on the inquiry on money laundering, tax avoidance and tax evasion



From the European Parliament (24 page pdf report)

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/cmsdata/122787/2017-06-30%20Draft%20report.pdf

Conclusions 

The Committee of Inquiry into Money Laundering, Tax Evasion and Tax Avoidance -

136. Concludes that the underlying problem embedded in the Panama Papers is the moving of money between different jurisdictions, both offshore and onshore, and that as long as these practices are tolerated all other efforts will have only limited impact; 137. Finds that through the use of trusts, shell companies, tax havens and complex international financial structures, some multinational companies and high net worth individuals have successfully shielded their fortunes from, for example, the tax authorities and others with legitimate financial claims against them, thereby rendering themselves immune by positioning their wealth in a legislative vacuum; 138. Concludes that the lack of cooperation and coordination on different pieces of legislation with regard to tax evasion, tax avoidance and money laundering is a systemic problem; 139. Concludes that some Member States tend not to provide relevant information in the desired quantity and quality and in general do not seem to exert genuine efforts to crack down on tax avoidance and tax evasion; 140. Recalls that transparency and exchange of information are key instruments in fighting tax evasion, tax avoidance and money laundering; 141. Concludes that the EU legislation in force was not sufficient before the Panama Papers revelations and was not always enforced effectively, thus allowing intermediaries to formally fulfil their duties, such as CDD and other reporting obligations, while circumventing the spirit of the rules; notes that since then a number of reviews have been carried out, for example on the DAC and the AMLD, and that new legislative proposals have been presented, such as country-by-country reporting and the regulation of intermediaries; 142. Concludes in particular that there has been a significant gradual improvement in terms of having a register of UBOs with accessibility based on legitimate interest; underlines that the ongoing AMLD revision aims to enhance the powers of the EU FIUs and to facilitate their cooperation, but that the scope is still too limited and that there is a need to share financial information to tackle all economic crime, but also to trace the proceeds from fraud-linked activities; 143. Concludes that proper identification of UBOs remains a key obstacle to stopping illegal tax avoidance schemes and that the international nature of financial flows and company structures uncovered by the PANA Committee exacerbates this problem; 144. Stresses that the creativity of tax avoiders is faster than the formulation of legislation and that intermediaries and enablers tend to stay on the right side of the law through creative compliance; highlights in this regard the use of regulatory mismatches between countries as a key enabler of such practices; 145. Concludes that wealth management remains a largely unregulated profession and that binding international rules and standards should be established to better regulate and define this group; 146. Notes that taxes should be levied at the point and place of profit creation; concludes that the actions and financial constructions revealed in the Panama Papers successfully circumvent this basic principle and that a ded; 147. Concludes that this was made possible by insufficient implementation of legislation by the Member States and insufficient enforcement by the Commission; 148. Notes that the Commission is not sufficiently equipped in terms of resources to ensure full enforcement of EU legislation against money laundering, tax evasion and tax avoidance; 149. Concludes that FIUs are key instruments to fight money laundering; observes, however, the differing structures across the EU and the fact that they are not sufficiently equipped with personnel to cope with their tasks, including examining the increasing number of STRs driven by new legislation, and that they can deal only with a fraction of the problem; 150. Concludes that sanctions are not always applied or deterrent enough in relevant cases; 151. Concludes that on the basis of the PANA Committee findings, several cases of maladministration of EU legislation can be identified, namely regarding the DAC, the AMLD and the list of third countries with strategic deficiencies in their anti-money laundering regimes; 152. Regrets the lack of cooperation of certain EU institutions with the PANA Committee; believes that this constitutes a breach of the principle of sincere cooperation; 153. Concludes that the closed and secretive nature of the Council’s Code of Conduct Group on Business Taxation is detrimental to the effective and expeditious formulation, adoption and implementation of vital anti-tax evasion legislation within the EU; underlines, therefore, the need for improved accountability and transparency regarding the actions, statements and positions of the Member States engaged in the group; 154. Deeply regrets that a high number of stakeholders have refused to meet with PANA delegations, or refused to appear before the PANA Committee, or did not answer questions in a satisfactory manner; PE604.514v01-00 24/24 PR\1124430EN.docx EN 155. Concludes, therefore, that a number of questions remain unanswered in order to fully ascertain the scale of this issue and the methods employed in these schemes.

Friday 17 November 2017

Mark Allen, A Publishing Life; Mark Allen Group



Mark Allen, chairman of Mark Allen Group, answers questions about his life in publishing, from InPublishing, 9 November 2017.


"Like a sculptor I have carved
my life, but never thought
the stone could be so hard".

From "Illumination", an early poem by Mark Allen, written long before the beginning of his career in publishing.

Updates:


The irresistible rise of UK’s Mark Allen Group, from Flashes and Flames, 9 August, 2018


Mark Allen takes a dive for charity




William Barnes and the Greek Language; Lord Byron's Familiar Greek Dialogues


When reading the Dorset dialect poems of William Barnes, we tend to forget his immense knowledge of philology and foreign languages, including Greek.

From An Outline of English Speech-craft, 1878:



From A philological grammar: grounded upon English, and formed from a comparison of more than sixty languages. Being an introduction to the science of grammar and a help to grammars of all languages, especially English, Latin and Greek, 1854:









William Barnes saw his rural poems as belonging to the tradition of the Greek bucolic poets
 like Theocritus and Moschus.


Lord Byron had a great interest in the Greek language, Ancient and Modern (Romaic)

From the Appendix to Childe Harold's Pilgrimage, Canto II:


Familiar Dialogues:




Dorchester, Dorset: Archaeological Digs and Excavation Works



What is happening? Statement from West Dorset District Council, Dorset For You

"The Dorchester retail proposals for the town centre is underway, with the masterplan being drafted. Each element of the masterplan is being carefully considered and appraised.

We value and respect Dorchester’s history and heritage. While looking to the future, we would also seek to protect Dorchester’s history.

Following discussions with archaeology experts, West Dorset District Council has commissioned some excavation work on the Fairfield Car park site. This will further explore any archaeological interest that may exist there. The excavations, carried out by archaeological firm ‘Context One’ will involve carrying out excavations to sample the site.
Where will it happen?

The trenches will be located at four sites in the car park. These sites have been chosen with the advice of the County Archaeologist to compliment the previous 7 sites dug in 2009. We have arranged the dig in order to minimise the impact on parking and the Dorchester market.

A mechanical excavator will dig below the surface, and any layer of archaeology underneath will then be hand dug. Any archaeological interest will then be recorded and potentially taken for review. The results of this will inform future work on the site.
When will it happen?

Barriers will be in place from Monday 20 November at the sites, across Fairfield long stay car park. The excavation works will be starting on Tuesday 21 November. We expect the work – including re-surfacing the trenches – to take up to 3 working days per site, over the course of about 3 weeks".

Karine Polwart - A Pocket of Wind Resistance; On Collaboration and Cooperation; Man's Dominion



Wind Resistance No. 1, YouTube

Karine Polwart with Pippa Murphy - Lark in the Clear Air

Karine Polwart at "Blågras" 2015

Now Westlin' Winds

Tyrannic Man's Dominion


BBC The World Tonight, 16 November 2017. from 38.55 point



Now Westlin Winds, Dick Gaughan and others

Thursday 16 November 2017

America’s global influence



From The Economist

Losing influence? PRI Audio



Review of Dorset NHS hospital shake-up needed



Councillors urge review of Dorset NHS hospital shake-up, BBC News

'Dorset County Council's health scrutiny committee voted to "refer the matter of the Clinical Services Review to the Secretary of State for Health, pending further consideration by the Joint Committee by 15 December".

Committee chairman Bill Pipe said: "The referral is being made as we have concerns about travel times, reductions in hospital bed provision, reduction in Accident and Emergency services at Poole Hospital and that an insufficient Equalities Impact Assessment has been carried out.

"Members also felt that there has been a lack of integration with the ambulance service and there wasn't a clear financial plan in place."'



Campaigners prepare to take Dorset CCG to judicial review over alleged unlawful decisions, Dorset Echo





Toxic Air Pollution Levels Across Europe; European Air Quality Index; Monitoring Stations


From Mailonline - How toxic is YOUR air? Interactive map reveals deadly pollution levels across Europe in real-time

Air Quality Index

A Stile on a Dorset Walk




Wednesday 15 November 2017

Greece: Deadly floods



The day after we left Athens - Greece: Deadly floods hit Mandra, Nea Peramos and Megara, BBC News


More bad weather forecast as toll rises to 14, eKathimerini


Τραγωδία με 15 νεκρούς στη Δυτ. Αττική - Πλημμύρισαν Μάνδρα, Μαγούλα, Νέα Πέραμος, Kathimerini


Video


Drone footage, Euronews


At least 15 dead in flash floods on Greek coast (Video), Cyprus Mail


More on the tragedy, KathimeriniΤΣ:

«Οι επιστήμονες που ασχολούνται με τα υδατικά συστήματα και τη συμπεριφορά τους θεωρούν ότι η ένταση του φαινομένου εξηγεί μέρος μόνον της χθεσινής καταστροφής. «Οι περιοχές αυτές αντιμετωπίζουν μεγάλο πρόβλημα λόγω της παράνομης, άναρχης αστικοποίησής τους. Ολόκληρες πόλεις έχουν χτιστεί στους πρόποδες των βουνών χωρίς καμία αντιπλημμυρική προστασία», εκτιμά η Μαρία Μιμίκου, ομότιμη καθηγήτρια στο ΕΜΠ και ιδρύτρια του Κέντρου Υδρολογικής Πληροφορίας. «Στη Δυτική Αττική υπάρχουν πάρα πολλά ρέματα, τα οποία έχουν καλυφθεί ή μπαζωθεί στα κατώτερα τμήματά τους και έχουν χτιστεί παράνομα. Μάλιστα, τα τελευταία χρόνια απενοχοποιούμε την πρακτική αυτή, νομιμοποιώντας τα παράνομα κτίσματα. Ετσι, σε συνδυασμό με την αποψίλωση του όρους Πατέρας, σε μια πολύ ισχυρή καταιγίδα κατεβαίνουν οι χείμαρροι και περνούν μέσα από τα σπίτια, όπως συνέβη και στη Νέα Πέραμο. Ακόμα ένα πρόβλημα είναι ο κακός σχεδιασμός των όποιων έργων υποδομής υπάρχουν».



Two Portraits in Athens - An Old Philhellene


Back in Dorset.

My daughter took these two photos in Athens a few days ago. I have already posted them separately, but I still think they say a lot about my love of Greece, Ancient and Modern. I can live with these!

"Portraits of an old Philhellene"
 For the family - thanks Nina



One more for good luck, with George Seferis:






Tuesday 14 November 2017

Greece; Athens: Folk Musical Instruments Museum


A selection of instruments and images from the Museum of Greek Folk Musical Instruments 









Good to see Grigoris Kapsalis playing on one of the videos!










Could the bouzouki on the left (with eight tuning keys)
 really date from the end of the 19th century?