A word I didn’t know in either language until the day before yesterday (9th September). A popular Greek singer, 54-year-old George Mazonakis, entered a private clinic in Kolonaki at around 1:30pm. At some point the emergency services were called, Mazonakis was ambulanced to the ‘Ελπις (Hope!) Hospital where he either died or was pronounced dead.... Continue Reading →
26/009 Life in Northern Greece
1st September 2026. Summer was slow to arrive. Now it seems reluctant to cede this month to autumn. Driving back from town yesterday, I was listening to Radio Thessaloniki. Unsurprisingly, the mass return from Halkidiki was causing problems on the roads. As I wasn’t affected by the delays, I paid more attention to the second... Continue Reading →
26/010 Greek Word μπαταχτσής or μπαταξής – a welcher
Someone who is slow or reluctant to pay what he owes, a κακοπληρωτής in more formal Greek. Στα τέλη Αυγούστου 2026, η πρόεδρος της Πλεύσης Ελευθερίας χρησιμοποίησε τον όρο αυτό για να εξαπολύσει σφοδρή πολιτική επίθεση κατά του Πρωθυπουργού. Η Ζωή Κωνσταντοπούλου χαρακτήρισε τον Κυριάκο Μητσοτάκη ως «νοικοκύρη πρωθυπουργό και ταυτόχρονα μπαταχτσή πρόεδρο κόμματος» It... Continue Reading →