A quick one today. A word that popped up in this article https://www.iefimerida.gr/zoi/tragoydi-me-toys-akatalabistikoys-stihoys about lyrics Adriano Celentano put together in the early 70s. They were supposedly English but, in reality, they were gibberish (ασυναρτησίες). Celentano was trying to prove Italians would buy and buy into any American pop even it was total shit. It’s easy... Continue Reading →
25/002 Life in Northern Greece
12th January: Yesterday was a bright and sunlit like a May day in north Europe. Overnight, cold, wet and wind have taken over. Violence against women is in the news again. This time perpetrator and victim are described as elderly. The husband stabbed his wife in the throat while she was helpless in bed. She... Continue Reading →
25/003 Irish Music in Northern Greece
28th January. Because of the extra material, we did our pre-Christmas gig in three 45-minute sections. This gave the band two 15-minute breaks. It worked well. Our latest gig was two days ago. We reverted to two halves. It went well though, on reflection, I think 3 x 45-minute sections is better overall as it... Continue Reading →
25/003 Greek Word – πατσούρης – a person who has let himself or herself go
An insult. Babiniotis lists the feminine form, πατσούρα, as the headword, and states the following: χαρακτηρισμός για συνήθως γυναίκα μεγάλης ηλικίας με γερασμένο και χαλαρό δέρμα και ατημέλητη. Επίσης πατσούρω έγινα πατσούρα από τη βροχή – my skin shrivelled up in the rain In www.slang.gr πατσούρω is even harsher as it adds ‘ugly’ to the definition. Ιδίωμα... Continue Reading →
25/002 Greek Word – γαλλικά = swearing
When you are about to drop or have just dropped an “F Bomb” in polite company, it is not unusual to excuse yourself by saying, “Excuse my French.” In much the same way in Greek, τα γαλλικά is a foul-mouthed tirade. Babiniotis: βρισιές: “ο ποδοσφαιριστής σε έξαλλη κατάσταση άρχισε τα Γαλλικά προς τον διαιτητή” =... Continue Reading →
25/002 Irish Music in Northern Greece
12th January. Will today be SGZ Day, Session Ground Zero Day? It is very cold, very wet and very windy. I sent a text to rally the troops only to get one confirmed cancellation from one of our most reliable members. SGZ Day is my personal nightmare scenario: I turn up at the Dubliner only... Continue Reading →
25/001 Irish Music in Northern Greece
A Happy New Year to anyone reading this. November was a frustrating month. One step forward, two steps back. We have practiced the new material only once. Ken wants us to play on Dec 22nd, but I am unwilling to perform if we are under-rehearsed. Sunday, 5th January 2025. I am happy to report that... Continue Reading →
25/001 Life in Northern Greece
6th January 2025. I drew attention to two femicides towards the end of the year. On Christmas Day, there was a news report of another incident in West Thessaloniki (code for poor and a high percentage of immigrants) where a man from Sierra Leone attacked his wife in front of their three kids. One wonders... Continue Reading →
25/001 Greek Word – γόμος: stuffing
A seasonal word! My mother-in-law comes up with some gems that are used less nowadays. She meant the stuffing I made for the Christmas turkey. The more common word today is γέμιση. It also means the load you would put on a pack animal or a ship’s cargo. My old Crichton dictionary also suggests it’s... Continue Reading →
24/010 Life in Northern Greece. Metro, dying & murder
30th November. It has finally happened. We have an underground railway, 9.6km long with thirteen stations. I switched on the TV to watch the opening ceremony expecting a quick 20-minute speech from the PM followed by the pressing of a button. It did happen except that there were about six speeches and a religious blessing... Continue Reading →
24/009 Life in Northern Greece – Metroballs
16th November. I can’t believe I haven’t written anything since late summer. Politically, the shenanigans within Syriza have dominated the news. I wonder if the madness is spreading to New Democracy. This morning I said to my wife that the only thing that can undo the governing party is the party itself. Then I wake... Continue Reading →
24/011 Irish Music in Northern Greece
Saturday 9th November. Our November session is tomorrow. We were supposed to have a band practice on Thursday, 7th, but two band members were missing, so I suggested we practise the new pieces for tomorrow’s session. Just as well. It wasn’t pretty! Again, it’s my fault as I have included too many new pieces. The... Continue Reading →
24/015 Greek Word καρατομώ – behead
A word that’s been in the news recently with all the fuss surrounding the dissolution of Syriza. It’s also a timely reminder of the dangers of not digging deep into etymology. I knew καρατομώ meant kill, but I assumed 1) it was in the sense of gutting someone or cutting them into little pieces, and... Continue Reading →
24/010 Irish Music in Northern Greece
23rd October 2024: The session officially entered its fourth year on October 13th. Musically, we were better this time round compared with our September efforts. It was great to see Manos and Ersilia come back. On top of that, we had two visitors from the UK. Dave and Kate had been attending a two-day conference... Continue Reading →
24/014 Greek Word σηκωτός – dragged/marched off/out/away
24th October 2024: A few days ago, a loud-mouthed, self-promoting cretin, Lidia Thorpe, hurled abuse at Charles III during his first visit to Australia as Head of State. The BBC described her as aboriginal. If Thorpe is aboriginal, then I must be from Outer Mongolia and typing this from my yurt. My guess is that... Continue Reading →
24/009 Irish Music in Northern Greece
After listening to James Gavin and Adrian Lever on the 13th, my enthusiasm for our 15th September session began to wane. Also, the usual fears crept in; who and how many would come? It turned out to be a brilliant afternoon – more socially than musically, I hasten to add! Nobody (myself included) had practised... Continue Reading →
24/013 Greek Word γέφυρα – a bridge
You might well ask why I have chosen a common word that has remained more or less unaltered through the millennia. It is a false friend (faux ami) that can confuse the English speaker in one particular circumstance. Between French and English there are dozens of false friends. For example, déception and délai translate as... Continue Reading →
24/008 Life in Northern Greece
Autumn has come early. Today (18th September) is what the Scots would describe as ‘dreich’ – wet and miserable. My wife and I escaped the heat of late summer as we were on the road in Europe on a mission: Operation Odin. We delivered our son’s dog to him in London. Here is the dog's... Continue Reading →
24/008 Irish Music in Northern Greece – Visitors
The summer is over. The sessions resume tomorrow, but it has been a busy week. On Saturday (7th September) Kathleen hosted the session stalwarts and a delightful guest from Malta. Anne Poulhies plays a low D whistle. She’s a Frenchwoman who is based in Malta. Lawrence and Jaqui Porter set up Zoom sessions during Lockdown.... Continue Reading →
24/012 Greek Word απεργάζομαι – to be up to something (bad)
Whenever I see anything with the root εργ (work) in the same sentence with ex-Prime Minister, Alexis Tsipras, I have a little giggle to myself. On the few occasions I have been asked to give my opinion on Tsipras, I have replied, “Είναι ένας άεργος, άνεργος ακάματης.” A workshy, unemployed lazy fuck. His whole life... Continue Reading →