On the plus side, we have been practising and, hopefully, improving. Unfortunately, we have failed so far to attract more interest from other musicians. The session will go ahead as planned on 29th February in Riley's Irish Bar, Peraia, but it looks as if it will be limited to my three comrades and me as... Continue Reading →
Greek word of the week #4
τσίκνα – (tsikna). Today, Thursday 20th February 2020, is Τσικνοπέμπτη (Tsiknopempti). Τσίκνα is the smoky smell that comes from meat roasting on a grill, so today is Smoky Thursday or Barbecue Thursday, and in towns all over Greece you will see plenty of activity around barbecues. The Orthodox Church does not have Ash Wednesday or... Continue Reading →
Greek word of the week #3
γαλαντόμος – (ghalandomos/ghaladomos). I’m very pleased to say this word was said about me. Grateful for every compliment I can get. I like the word because it feels like a borrowing, and indeed it is. Venetians played a major role in Greece’s medieval and post-medieval history and quite a few Venetian words have entered the... Continue Reading →
My fiddle…
... resting in a bar in Bahrain
Irish music scene Episode #3
Now with a playlist put together and two practices done, we are beginning to shape up. As we were previously together in a band, the real challenge is to try to create an open session where other musicians can join in rather than sticking to our old repertoire. I have sent another message out to... Continue Reading →
Greek word of the week #2
φλώρος – (floros) literally a greenfinch or oriole. I’ve only heard this word used by young people. It is certainly not a compliment. It ranges in meaning from ‘ineffectual’ to ‘effeminate’, but perhaps its best translation is wimp or wuss.