In mid-June in Drama, a town about 2 – 3 hours north east of Thessaloniki, a 50-year-old policeman stabbed his 45-year-old policewoman wife seven times before shooting himself in the temple. About two weeks before the murder-suicide, the estranged husband had also threatened his wife with a gun. Two issues come to mind. 1) Why... Continue Reading →
26/005 Irish Music in Northern Greece – the end of an era
June 16th. I had an evening appointment with the surgeon who operated on my knee. For the first time, he was pleased with the progress I was making. So, with a titanium and cobalt spring in my step I made my way to the former Dubliner for a celebratory pint of Lagunitas. Imagine my surprise... Continue Reading →
26/004 Irish Music in Northern Greece – lying fallow
Our May session was even more disappointing than April’s. Five musicians and a near empty bar. After the session, I spoke with the manager, and we decided to kick the June session into touch. So, no more sessions till September. In my last post, I mentioned the need for new blood. How am I going... Continue Reading →
26/008 Greek Word πληροί – fulfils/complies with
It is not often that a Greek word leaves me stymied. It occurred in the following sentence. “Αρχικά, κατά την πώληση ενός μεταχειρισμένου οχήματος, οι έμποροι θα είναι υποχρεωμένοι να προσκομίζουν είτε μία έκθεση αξιολόγησης που να αποδεικνύει ότι το όχημα πληροί ορισμένες προϋποθέσεις για την ασφαλή κυκλοφορία του, είτε ένα έγκυρο πιστοποιητικό τεχνικού ελέγχου και καταλληλότητας κυκλοφορίας.”... Continue Reading →
26/007 Greek Word Ξερόλος/ξερόλα – a knowall
An easy one. From ξέρω + όλα. I was watching Inspector Inspector George Gently the other day. As I’m interested in Greek, I pay a lot of attention to subtitles. Gently’s sidekick, Bacchus, referred to a very able policewoman as an “arrogant knowall”. I didn’t catch if αλαζονική was used for arrogant, but ξερόλα was... Continue Reading →
26/006 Greek Word Παρεμπόριο – illicit trading
In the article below there are details of various fines being imposed on street traders. Παρεμπόριο is a broader term than λαθρεμπόριο (smuggling) in that it covers selling goods without a licence to do so, selling bootleg products, selling products that have not been VAT rated, and selling without a trader's licence. It always amazes... Continue Reading →