Marietta's Blog'n'Roll

Old Kid On The Blogs

2007-12-19T10:38:00.001Z

My God! It's been three months since my last blog.
Gone are the days I used to come in here every day and report my news to you.
I barely have the time to surf, let alone blog. When I finish work and come home (bloody freezing in London at the mo) all I want to do is relax and sleep. I don't watch TV, there are days I don't even switch it on. Instead, I watch Greek movies or series on the net, I read a lot, I work a little bit from home and that's it.

I went to Prague with a good friend in November and had a fantastic time. The city is gorgeous and we were very lucky to see the sunset on the Charles Bridge, a breathtaking spectacle.

It was very cold and on our last day it snowed. Fab! We had a lot of laughs about the service, which is minimal, good food and lots of shopping, as everything is ridiculously cheap...

After returning from Prague and for the next month or so until now, life at work was crazy: phones did not stop ringing, we were getting 10 emails per hour, 50 voicemails per day and endless queues of customers. Non-stop from the minute the store would open, till well after we closed. That's why I could not even think of blogging when I got home. I haven't been on your blogs for ages, only to Rachel's, but without leaving comments. But I have been thinking of you. I reminiscent the good old days when we had the ITA shows and we used to chat online-I do miss that very much.

My plans for Christmas are same as every year: lunch at my best friend's in-laws and recovery the next two days!
Honestly, I have no news to report.

My best wishes for a Bright Christmas and a Fantastic New Year to all of you!

Will visit you very soon.

Lots of kisses.
xoxoxo
M

Boo!

2007-09-20T23:00:00.000+01:00

Oui, c'est moi.
Had a so so summer at Greece, what with the fires all around me and with friends being affected, it was rather sad.
But, the good news is, I fell in love!
Now, before clicking on "post comment" right away, I have to tell you that SHE is a little...bitch. AGAIN, don't go comment just yet... I haven't converted to lesbianism, after failed attempts to find a suitable male companion.
My love is a puppy, called Laura.
And here she is

My sister, who already had two dogs, found her outside our doorstep, and she kept her. We called her Laura, after a friend, or Patatoula, which means little Potato... I was playing with her all summer. Oh, if only I could take her with me here, but due to long hours at work and living in a flat, that's not possible. I have to tell you though that all three of us, my mom, sis and I, were fighting over who's going to keep her, at the beginning. My sister won, as she has a large garden, I lost due to the above facts and my mom due to her two cats (see last year's post about Aris & Zikos). So she is there now and I can hear her every time I call my sister. I miss her...

Other than that, I came straight to work and work long hours again. I twisted my ankle and it hurts badly, I am addicted to greek_movies.com, a website that shows greek movies and series and life is as normal as ever.
I have a holiday in November and I am going to Prague with a friend for three days. I am very excited!!! Will try and take the lapotop with me to write blogs and post photos.

Cheryl Ann has tagged me to say 8 random things about myself. I started writing them, but my life has not been very exciting, so instead (sorry Cheryl Ann) I will write about 8 things I would put in

ROOM 101
and this will tell you a lot about myself...

1) people who only read the sports section of the newspapers.
I find it dull and braineless. Plus useless-they've already seen the games on TV. For me sports are a lot of hard work plus a bit of luck, and it's very visual so no use of either describing or commenting about them. Turn the paper over to the front you bozzo!

2) earthquakes.
The earth has moved for me, several times, literary speaking and it's no fun at all. It is shitty scary and one of the main reasons I left my country and my family.

3) hip-hop and rap.
These cannot be called R&B, these cannot be called music. It's just sampling over men with heavy golden chains who say "Yo" a lot, and women who wail "Heeeee".

4) celebrities out of reality TV
I just pity them and find that they are being exploited. But they deserve it, so less pity and more repulsion. Big Brother is watching you and he is laughing.

5) drunks, beggars and weirdos who disturb my journey home.
There is a certain girl that comes into my train every day, with the same monotonous moaning and limping asking for money, and when she reaches Brixton, she jumps out of the train with a cunning smile. No other comment.

6) people who are cruel to animals.
If I could I would give up everything to help all animals that are being treated savagely for any purpose...

7) religious fanatics.
Any religion, any fanatic. Anyone who preaches passionately or does other more terrible things to force others to join their faith. We don't want to, and whatever you might do or say we don't get the message!

8) those bastards who set fire on my country's forests every year.
If you like fire so much, you can be with it forever at the eternal flames of hell.

If all of the above went to Room 101, my world would be a much better, if not, perfect place.

Tagging is free, so whoever wants to write their Room 101 picks can do so and let me know...

Kisses...

Goodbye Harry

2007-07-23T21:47:00.000+01:00

Hey all, another long interval between my blogs I know, but if you knew my schedule you'd pity me. Working full time, twice a week until 9pm, and barely any time to do anything. I just pop round to Rachel's blog once or twice a week and that's it.
As entertainment or relaxation, I chose to read, I read a lot lately. Read two amazing books lately, one was blink!
The other one, just bought on Saturday and finished a couple of hours ago, was Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
Now, normally, as a serious 41 year old executive, I shouldn't be admitting of reading children's books. I never do, and rarely did in my youth, but Harry is an exception. He captivated me from page one of the first book, and when I finished the last one today I was dizzy with mixed feelings: euphoria, sadness, more questions, satisfaction, confusion, but amazement over all.
It was what I expected and it wasn't what I expected. Few questions remained for me, but a lot cleared.
If you haven't read it yet, relax, I am not going to give any spoilers. That's not my style.
All I can say is that for hours yesterday and today I travelled in the world of magic and mystery, beauty, sadness, joy, laugh, thrill and sheer pleasure.
There is one particular moment in the last chapters of the book, that made me cry as I haven't cried while reading a book. 'Nuff said.
There were some moments in the plot though that I had to go back a few pages, even to go back in previous books. You see, a younger person would remember more details, which I didn't. And if someone is a hardcore fan and has read the books five times, then the last one would close a lot of parentheses. I had to refer to previous books sometimes, but most of the times, JK Rowling's brilliance explained the details I was missing.
It was with a broken heart when I closed the back cover and the realization that that was it hit me...
Goodbye Harry and thank you for endless hours of adventure and thrill. I'll miss you.
Thank you too Jo, this was indeed an amazing journey...

Oh, my God has it been so long?

2007-05-27T11:15:00.000+01:00

Well helloooooo!

I can't believe I haven't blogged since the 16th of April. That is the longest I've been without blogging. Tut, tut, tut.
But I'll tell you what's going on.

My family came here on the 31st of March and we spent a fabulous week going around London and eating in fantastic restaurants. Yum! The weather was unbelievably springy and hot and my sister and nephew had a great time.

After my sister and nephew left, my mother stayed here with me, as she does every year, and I went back to work. We always have great time together, we laugh a lot, eat a lot and of course, shout at each other a lot, LOLOLOL. Love her.
This year I made the mistake to mention a website that shows all the current Greek TV series and that was it! She only wants to watch this, she doesn't even let me take my emails, hahaha.
What torture... While she's watching this, I put my headphones on the TV and watch my shows and DVD's. So no internet, no blog, no emails, hahahaha. Even now as I write this she's over me saying "Let's do this, let's do that, can I watch that?" Oh, come on!

But I can't say no, since I love her dearly and a little accident happened to her about three weeks ago: she was walking down the street holding a bag with clothes she wanted to exchange in a shop and a motorcycle went by, grabbed the bag with the clothes (thank god she was wearing her actual bag across the chest like I've shown her...) and threw my mummy on the pavement.
I was at work and when she came to see me, she said it was nothing serious.
Five days later the pain at her wrist continued and I made an appointment with the doctor (me and my bloody work, I couldn't take her to the doctor earlier....) and then for an X-ray.

After the X-ray was taken the doctor came out and said:
-OK, she will be admitted tonight and the operation will be tomorrow
-Wait, what?
-She will be a d m i t t e d today and the o p e r a t i o n...
-What operation? No, no, no, not my mummy!

Ok, it wasn't like that, but it felt like that. She had broken her wrist, thankfully not severely, and she had to go through surgery. I called work and said:
- I won't be coming for the next two days, byyyeee!
Of course they understood, my bosses are fantastic!

Thank God everything with my mum's operation, went absolutely fine and now her hand is in a cast, which will be removed in a month's time. That means, she's staying for another month with me!!! Hurrah!

Oh, God! One more month of crap Greek TV, LOL.
I really don't care, as long as she's fine, you know.

So anyways, that is why I haven't blogged for so long and it won't be absolutely fully until me mom goes back to Greece at the end of June, sorry my friends...
I hope everything's well with you.

And see you a bit later
xoxoxoxoxoxo
M

Even...

2007-04-16T22:10:00.000+01:00

Even when I have not been in here for a month and a half,
Even when I have the family around and I can't blog or visit anyone's blog,
Even when it's late and I'm tired and I want to go to bed - crying as I do now,
Even when I'm a Greek in London and USA and Virginia is too far away from me physically and mentally,

I can't ignore what happened and not write about how shocked, sad and speechless I am.

To the young people who lost their lives so soon, may you rest in peace.
To their families: may your pain be less by all the world sharing it.

In case you've been on another planet

2007-03-01T16:55:00.000Z

Jimmy and Julia's first dance has been in the papers, on the TV and radio around the world and viewed on YouTube over 540,000 times. Some people have left very positive comments and some have discribed it as cringeworthy and have labelled Jimmy as gay.
The reason? Their first dance wasn't just another traditional slow dance, with the groom feeling a bit embarassed and the bride worrying about her hair and train.
Jimmy and Julia, from Wimbledon, had rehearsed for six months to do the Dirty Dancing routine. A suggestion by Julia, followed by dance lessons and countless rehearsals.

I think it's brave, innovative, fun and they both look beautiful. The video brought tears in my eyes. Does Jimmy have a brother?
Enjoy and tell me what you think.

OSCAR WHERE ARE YOU?

2007-02-26T01:19:00.000Z

Ok, I am VERY PISSED OFF!
Over 40 channels on cable and none of them broadcasts the OSCARS. Not tonight, not any other night.
Boo-bloody-hoo :(

I remember the good old days, when I would make a large pot of coffee, get the video ready and anticipate for
"Live, from the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles is the OSCARS!!"

I have been recording the ceremonies since 1985, when my lovely Amadeus won Best Picture. I was hooked every time.
I don't care about the red carpet, pre-Oscar stuff. Loads of channels show that, including websites. What I love is the actual ceremony.

I love the beginning, the nominations, the clips, the life-achievement awards, the dances and most of all the minute that the presenter says:
"And the Oscar goes to...."

My sister in Greece is going to watch it, through satelite of course. I live in a block of flats and they wouldn't let us put a dish for SKY. But even if I had SKY, SKY 1 is going to show only the highlights, not the whole ceremony. Looks like I'm going to watch the highlights of the highlights on the news. And I'm sure the UK news will emphasize on British winners only...

Torture!
Bastards!
Aaaargh!

Courting London

2007-02-09T00:08:00.000Z

I am having the time of my life!
Only the fact that I can sleep as much as I want is enough. Top it up with some friends, blogging, the unexpected Attic Show and lots of music, then you have my ideal way of fun.
But, this past week has been truly amazing for one reason only: London.
A few months ago I downloaded from iTunes a podcast called London Walks by Robert Wright, with the idea of using them when my mum arrives in April, so we could have a guided tour.
The podcast got updated every week and was silently waiting for me to use it. A few days ago I was mixing and fixing something on my iTunes when accidentally a soft music and a soft voice transported me into inner Kensington... I decided that with my days off coming, I would take that walk.
I did on Tuesday and it was absolutely breathtaking. I didn't know (well, yes of course I did, but not as much) London has so many beautiful buildings. I fell in love all over again. Unfortunately, I didn't have my camera with me, so no photos. But the walk, lasting about an hour and a half was amazing. Little cobbled pedestrianised streets, alleyways, squares with bricked mansions, historic pubs and of course very posh people walking around... The narration and guidance by Robert Wright was so interesting and enjoyable I didn't want the walk to end.

Today I was meeting some friends downtown, so I decided to take another walk, this time armed with my camera. The walk today was Legal London and The Da Vinci Code.
What can I say? It was like a dream. A London I had no idea existed. The architecture and the preciousness of the buildings is beyond description. I went through numerous Barristers' Inns, Chambers and Courts via archways and alleys, I visited Temple Church, but unfortunately it was closed-so only from the outside, I went through the vibrant area of London School of Economics, with students all around and dozens of beautiful pubs. For almost two hours I was oooing and wowing from the unbelieveable sights.
The area is just a treasure, so on your next visit to London don't just go to Buckingham Palace and Picadilly Circus. Go to Chancery Lane and take the tour, with the company of Robert's soothing voice. I highly recommend you subscribe to his podcast.

Here are some pictures so you'll get a small idea of the beauty.
Click on some of them to experience the real thing.

A beautiful stained glass window

The Old Curiosity Shop made famous by Charles Dickens

The Royal Courts of Justice. You can't imagine how huge and majestic is this building!

The flames are burning next to the Royal Courts of Justice...

How old can this building be? And how much the new building is ruining the view...

A plaque opposite Temple Church

Temple Church and two Knights on a horse

Temple Church

A gorgeous archway leading to one of the numerous breathtaking courts

Shadows we are and
Like shadows we depart

The ellaborate entrance to Lloyds bank

And the entrance to one of the Solicitors' courts.

I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.
xxM

Can you believe it?

2007-02-03T23:30:00.000Z

I have two weeks off!!!

Yes, finally I can rest and relax. Sleep late, do lots in the house, maybe a day trip to Brighton or Oxford, or somewhere else nice, BLOG!, finalise the re-mortgage papers, sort out my closet, see friends, go to the movies, listen to the radio all day and not only in the early morning, eat nice home-cooked meals and not junk food, do a bit of yogalates, go for walks around London, or.... do absolutely nothing!
It's the first time after six months I can just chill and enjoy myself. Happy!!!

Only, don't talk to me about the concert of the boys at the Royal Albert Hall. It coincides with the day my family arrives to London from Greece, and they will be knackered, all three of them. And of course, even if they agreed to go, all tickets are sold out. It would be impossible to find four good seats. I am not going and not taking the family if we have seats in the upper circle. And I'm not paying a penny to the b***ards who hog all tickets and selling them three times more expensive on Ebay. No, no, no.
So, unless a miracle happens and Pete invites us himself with four front row (ok second row, I'm not picky) tickets, I'm not going. Shite!

I'm sure I'll see them somewhere around Europe, even in a different London venue some time this year, though. I can always live in hope!

For the moment, let me enjoy my long overdue bliss...

Kisses and hugs to all.

At last! New (good) Blood!

2007-01-29T11:45:00.000Z

Ok, no more gloom and doom.
I cave to Rachel's choices of guests and her new ITA CD on iTunes, which should be fantastic.
There is some good music around and finally, after many years of musical seclusion and refusals, I listen to contemporary music again and to the radio-although mainly Virgin Radio.
Even though I know that rap, hip-hop and the kind of crap so blaspemously call R&B is still around I chose to listen to the new "Indie", "New Wave", "Alternative", "Pop-Rock" combination bands that are storming the airwaves. And I love them.
Some of them were guests in the Attic, like the amazing Razorlight and the incredible Zutons.

They are young people who are inspired by the great music created in the 60's and 70's, gave way to electronica in the 80's, revived in the 90's with Oasis, Blur, Radiohead, the RHCPeppers, and the likes and finally evolved into something really unique into the 00's. There is so much talent around, it makes me very optimistic for the future of music, because before I thought it died in 1989.

The songs currently re-played again and again on my ipod are the following:

(please note: I only download from iTunes or my CD's
and not from free music-sharing sites.
If you call yourself a fan, then support your band to the full and pay for their music.)

The Zutons: Valerie - there is something on the singer's voice that drives me nuts! This tune will take you to the Moon!!!
Razorlight: America - soft and ear-pleasing, melodic and smooth, pure genius
The Ordinary Boys: I Luv You - a bit silly, a bit happy-clappy, but it feels good and the music is excellent. And Preston is sooo cute!
Editors: All Sparks - it was performed in the Attic and it stole my heart. The singer's voice is incredible.

And soon to be added, because it's not available yet: Kaiser Chief's Ruby - which for me tops them all, it is such a powerful song.
Also, just out and just straight to Number 1 from downloads only, MIKA's Grace Kelly.
The guy's a genius and has the hippest website.

Other bands like Franz Ferdinand, Kasabian, Keane, Snow Patrol, the Raconteurs, the Magic Numbers and many many more budding rockers, equally contribute to keeping the music standards high and are always welcome to my ears.

The 3-minute song is back and it sounds good!

Of course, let's not forget the band that in 2006 had a new come-back album and a sell-out Tour and still kick ass and sort of started it all: Take That!

You still alive? LOL. No, of course I meant our boys, the 'Orrible 'Oo, and I don't have enough words to describe the feelings when I listen to their songs. Any of their songs.

In a day and age where reality shows "manufacture" bands and musical styles, when all the good songs are "covered" or "sampled" sacrilegiously, it's very good to see, or rather hear, some original talent, which derives from the original talents of the golden age of music.

Rock On!

Losing the magic?

2007-01-20T01:56:00.000Z

Hello all, it's been a long time.
I am still working like a maniac. I am doing three lates per week now, and rumours are that we will soon be staying open until 9pm, which means I won't have time to do anything, let alone blog.
It's nearly 2am now, but after sorting out some finances (there is no other time!) I decided to visit Rachel's blog to see how things are going on the other side of my La-la-land.

As I was reading Rachel's latest post about the new Attic Jam in Joe's pub in NY and I felt a pang (pung?) in my stomach for not being able to be there again, I couldn't stop thinking about how it was about 14-15 months ago...

we had Attic shows every Wednesday - best time of the week!
we had the chats during the shows - amazingly funny and sweet
we felt close to our Pete, our Rachel, our Mikey, our Simon - but they were still our "idols", a bit unreachable, a bit of a dream...
we were anticipating a live show, just to be there and hear them play
in the Bedford Gig it was a pinch-me moment when I got a photo with Simon
as for the first Attic Jam ever (Basement Jam) it was beyond words to describe, as I shook Pete's hand and them Mark, Jill and I were guests in the Attic! Absolute magic and very special

The Leeds concert was incredible, being at the front row of such an historical event... Our blogger friend Tony (Haribomort) got a pic with Pete and it was absolutely magical.
Then the Attic was flooded by guests... the Eels, the Kooks, the Editors, and many others whom I can't remember. All very good artists, but It wasn't the same for me. I was tuning in to watch Rachel and the gang and not Martha Wainwright (which, I am very sorry to say, I don't like at all). Out of politeness to Rachel and her generous soul I didn't say anything back then, but as time goes by and I see that the shows are more about the guests and not our beloved artists...I don't know, I feel it's losing its magic. But I would never discourage Rachel, if that is what she likes to do, I will listen to 20 Wainwright songs, just to hear one of Rachel's...

Now, about the meet and greet: I'd kill, steal and lie to be in one of them. I would punch people in the face (careful!) to have a photo with Pete, like a lot of you did. But then I would go away and the next person would come to have another photo with him, and I think he would feel a bit like a Tussaud's wax statue????? I am sure that our Attic gang are more than happy to meet their fans. Rachel has been so close to us and I truly appreciate that. Pete has been amazing with all of us. But sometimes I feel like we are asking too much?????? We take it for granted????? We expect it??????
As I said: not magic! "Oh! I got a photo with Pete and Rachel" , "Oh, yeah! me too" "and me" and so on and so on. Someone who did meet him and had a chat with him, was even talking very blazé about it. It got me a bit angry...
I am talking about someone who also deleted one of my comments on her blog, called me "someone" and has not visited my blog ever since... Long story, another time.

Please, please, please don't get me wrong. I am happy for everyone who got to meet and greet and take a picture with our prized personalities. Well done and good for you! I am not writing all this out of jealousy as you might think. I don't want you to think that "hey Marietta, you met them, we haven't so what's YOUR problem?" I am just expressing a concern, that we might be losing the magic here. And I think I agree with Pete's and Rachel's decision not to have a meet and greet this time. Keep the distance a little bit, keep the magic...

I will probably not take part at the competition for the tickets when Rachel launches her album. She will be sooo busy, what with the press being there and the promotion, she won't even remember my name. But, it goes without saying, good luck to all of my blogger friends who will.

I am not losing my faith, I have not idolized them in the point of God-like idols, I don't blame anyone who will go and have a pic with them, I'm still one of you... I hope you understand what I'm trying to say here...

Once again, for all my blogger friends who have met them, FAB!
For those of you who haven't: GO FOR IT!

But for me, it has lost its intimacy.

One last thing: When I was in Hyde Park I didn't manage to go backstage, fair enough... In one of the following ITA's I heard Simon say "Boy, we had a looot of people backstage" and you know what? I was glad I wasn't one of them!

TOO MUCH OF ANYTHING
IS TOO MUCH FOR ME..

Love to all

* HAPPY NEW YEAR *

2007-01-01T21:46:00.000Z

Well the fireworks by the London Eye were amazing last night... I wonder how many thousands of tons that was..
I am still working non-stop, hence my absence from blogland. I have a day off on Thursday and I will probably pop up to say hi.
In the meantime have a fabulous 2007 and may your dreams be my wishes...

Lots of love
xoxoxo
M

The three Witches of Christmas

2006-12-24T18:39:00.000Z

Little Faith pressed her face on the window and stared at the beautiful globe with the three witches that turned and turned. She was holding her mother's hand, both wearing torn gloves that let their fingers out, to be touched by the cold wind. They hadn't eaten for days, and, as it was Christmas Eve, Mrs Hope was going to ask to help Mr Strickland at his gift shop, in exchange for a little money for hers and Faith's Christmas dinner.
"What do you see my darling Faith?" Mrs Hope asked, seeing her daughter's eyes nearly in tears.
"I see that beautiful globe with the three witches. How I wish I could buy it for Christmas"
"I know honey, but at the moment we need food and warmth. So I am going to ask Mr Strickland for a job for today, so we can eat and get a warm room in the shelter. So, I want you to promise me you'll be a good girl and you won't speak to the man, until he speaks to you and also not to touch anything in the shop."
It was known to the whole village that Mr Strickland was a very strange and sometimes mean man. He had never decorated his shop for Christmas and no one had ever seen him smile.

"All right mommy", answered Faith. But she didn't take her eyes off the globe as they were entering the shop.
Mr Strickland, without even raising his head shouted "No beggars, go away!"
Mrs Hope was ready to turn around and go, but she made a step forward, took a deep breath and said "No, we're not beggars. I am looking for a job for today, or any other day until New Year's, so that I and my little girl can have a plate of food"
"Niah, I know what you're like. If I take you in here, the minute I'll turn my back you'll steal my money"
Mrs Hope was ready to say something when she noticed that Faith had gone near the window and had stretched her arm and taken the globe.
"Faith, NO!" shouted Mrs Hope and Mr Strickland plunged at the window and grabbed Faith by the hair. "NO ONE TOUCHES ANYTHING IN HERE, ESPECIALLY YOU, YOU FILTHY BEGGAR!!" and pushed her out of the door.
Faith let a cry and fell on the floor. As she fell, the globe flew out of her hands, and it crashed on the pavement. Faith looked around her and saw she was on her own, her mom or Mr Strickland were nowhere in sight and the shp was shut.
Suddenly, the wind blew madly and everything became misty, as three strands of smoke rose from the globe and transformed themselves into fully fleshed witches, identical to the ones that were in the globe.
"Ah! Free at last!" said one witch.
"Unbelievable, after 260 years!" said another
"Hey, look, the Strickland shop is still here!" said the third.

Faith, with her mouth open stared at the witches. When she finally realised what was happening she asked:
"Are you real witches?"
"Oh, my dear child," said the oldest of the three witches", of course we are. We were cursed by that man's ancestor, Midas Strickland, to live inside the globe, because we punished him for being greedy. I see his progeny is not far better. We've been watching him all these years. Ever since he inherited that shop from his father. He's been a miserable and stingy man, especially after his wife died and left him on his own. I loathe him, but pity him the same time. I'm Fenella, by the way"
"And I'm Prunella" said the middle one.
"And I'm Carmella" said the youngest one and bowed.
"And you, " said Fenella " who freed us, can have a wish. Any wish. What would you like? Wealth? A house? More food than you can ever eat? Eternal beauty? Ask for anything"

Faith thought for a while. "You know what I want?"
"I know", said Carmella. "A doll, as beautiful as...well, me"
"Oh, shoosh Carmella" said Prunella. "Let the child decide. And I think I know what she wants. She wants a warm coat"
"You are both wrong", said Fenella looking at her two sisters dissapprovingly. "I think she wants her mother to get a job. That will be at least useful for longer!"

"Actually..." hesitated Faith, "you are all wrong. What I really want is..."
"Yeah?" the three witches said together with anticipation
"I want ... I want Mr Strickland to be happy...!"

"No, no, no, you don't understand" said Prunella. "The wish is for YOU and YOU only. Whatever made you think you could wish for someone else?"
"Yes, but don't you see?" insisted Faith. "If Mr Strickland was a happier man, he wouldn't be mean to my mother and me, he would have given her the job and we would not be cold and starving tonight. Or ever"
"I think she has a point", Carmella said. "You know for a little girl, you have a very big heart. What is your name by the way?"
"Faith" said the little girl and gave them a big smile.
"Well, Faith" Fenella said and rose her hands to the sky, as did the other two witches.
"Here it is, your wish:
By the enchanting Moon that illuminates the sky
And the stars that are lamps in the night
Make this man named Strickland happy
For ever more, as of tonight!"
And, wooosh, three stars appeared from the sky leaving three bright stardusted tails that lit the night with the brightest lights.

Faith blinked her eyes and when she opened them she was once again all alone. The witches were not around and the shop door was once again open.
"Faith, Faith" she heard a voice. It wasn't her mother's voice. It was a man's. It was...Mr Strickland's!
"Come inside, you'll freeze to death little girl" said Mr Strickland. Faith rose to her feet and went closer to the shop hesitating at the start, but then she saw her mother smiling to her so she ran inside.
"Well, Mrs, erm, Mrs..."
"Hope" said the woman, holding her daughter.
"Well Mrs Hope, I tell you what. It's already after four and I see that everyone's at home, no one will be coming here now. So why don't I shut this place and we all go home and have dinner. My sister sends me a huge meal every year and I can never go through it, so tonight we will share it. What do you say? Heck, it's Christmas Eve, after all!"

Faith and her mother looked at each other. Mrs Hope could not believe her ears. She smiled at the man and said "With pleasure, sir" and they all left to have a warm night and a rich meal.

Mrs Hope started working at Mr Strickland's shop, who gave her and Faith a small room above the shop to live. A few months later he married her and became the happiest man in the world, always smiling and giving a lot of money to the poor.

Mrs Hope could never understand what exactly happened and Mr Strickland changed overnight.
She never learned about her daughter's wish and the three witches of Christmas.
Faith never told her the story. She would never believe her.
It didn't really mattered though.
She kept her secret to herself. And every Christmas Eve she would look at the sky and she would see three stars flickering and smiling back at her.
_______________________________________________

Ok, that's a little story for Christmas I wrote some years ago, for my AOL webpage (which existed before this blog)
I dedicate it to all of you, wonderful people and wish you

A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!
and may you always have
FAITH and HOPE

So tired

2006-12-18T23:26:00.000Z

I haven't blogged since the 3rd of the month.

I went to the ball on Saturday and it was nothing special. I got bored. Same band, same songs, but the food was delicious!
I hated my hair... I went for the "new" and wound up looking like a middle-aged office worker (which I am, LOL). What I mean is, it was like everyday hair, not ball hair, you get it?
Will post photos when I have some spare time.
I am working like a f*$£ing dog!!!

Take care.

You know you are living in 2006

2006-12-03T00:04:00.000Z

I got this on an email recently and it's a lot of fun to read (and freaky too!)

YOU KNOW YOU ARE LIVING IN 2006 when:

1. You accidentally enter your PIN on the microwave.
2. You haven't played solitaire with real cards in years.
3. You have a list of 15 phone numbers to reach your family of 3.
4. You e-mail the person who works at the desk next to you.
5. Your reason for not staying in touch with friends and family is that they don't have e-mail addresses.
6. You pull up in your own driveway and use your cell phone to see if anyone is home to help you carry in the groceries.
7. Every commercial on television has a web site at the bottom of the screen.
8. Leaving the house without your cell phone, which you didn't have the first 20 or 30 (or 60) years of your life, is now a cause for panic and you turn around to go and get it.
10. You get up in the morning and go online before getting your coffee.
11. You start tilting your head sideways to smile.
12. You're reading this and nodding and laughing.
13. Even worse, you know exactly to whom you are going to forward this message.
14. You are too busy to notice that there was no #9 on this list.
15. You actually scrolled back up to check that there wasn't a #9 on this list
AND NOW YOUR LAUGHING at yourself...

I can relate to most of the above, how about you?
I don't have any news... work work and more work (double dose).
The surveyor for the remortgage is coming on Tuesday, which means on my free hours I'm rearranging things, tidying up and cleaning. I sleep at 2am and wake up at 6:30 am. No time to blog seriously or relax. Hectic life, but at least it's a good hectic life.
Sending virtual kisses to all

All's well...

2006-11-23T23:50:00.000Z

Helloooo.

New job is fabulous! I haven't started officially yet, I signed my contract to start on the 18th of December, but for now I am helping them, while training and practising and still doing my old job too at the same time!

I had a lovely walk in Covent Garden today, bought a few books and my dress for the ball! Yes, the Christmas Ball is once again upon us and I can't wait... At the fabulous Grosvenor again. What does the dress look like? Be patient I will take pictures at the ball and you'll see. It's silk!

Well, no more news for now. Just checking in. I will visit as many blogs as possible on Sunday, got lots to do so bear with me and my unsociability (new word?)

Lots of kissy kisses xxxxxx

* * * * * * * * * * SUNRISE* * * * * * * * * *

2006-11-14T22:42:00.000Z

Oh, my Goooood! I got the joooooob!!!!!!

I haven't been so happy since July (Who concert...)

It was a very weird thing today. I woke up with a very bad mood. When I looked at my balance in my account it became worse.
I went out for lunch and it was raining. Bad, bad, bad mood...
Then at around 3:30 my Financial Advisor called me (at work! that has never happened before?!?) to ask me when can he come so I can sign the final papers for the re-mortgage, because it's...looking good! F***ing-A, I thought, this is the best news I've heard all day.
I was wrong.

Less than five minutes later the lady that interviewed me on Saturday came to tell me that they are going to offer me the position! My heart jumped and I wanted to kiss her, but I was cool and I just thanked her with a big smile.

So, two good things in a matter of minutes, when for over two months I was only having bad news....
It must have been all your prayers and good thoughts. Thank you ALL so much! ♥♥♥♥

Life is strange.
Life is w o n d e r f u l.

iMixed emotions

2006-11-12T12:39:00.000Z

Well, helloooo.
Yesterday I had one of the most difficult interviews of the last five years! It was where I work, basically doing the same things I'm doing now, but jumping into a new department, with a little bit more money. I had two people interviewing me, one of them used to be my manager, and they literally asked me about every single word on my CV! God, it was exhausting but I think I gave the right answers and I was pretty cool, so fingers and toes crossed.

Mood-wise it's a mixed bag. On Friday, when they told me I had landed an interview, I was feeling really happy. Yesterday I was feeling scared and insecure again. I receive emails from people who have been in Who shows and Attic Jams, and although I'm so happy for them, I feel like sh*t because I SO want to be there too!!! Talk about mood swings. But when I come in here and write about it, it feels pretty damn good!

In the meantime, when I come home at night I watch my Charmed series (currently on series 7) and love the music they chose. Especially the songs they play after the opening titles, with the best aerial shots of gorgeous San Francisco... It drives me crazy! I had never heard some of the songs before, like the brilliant But I Do Love You by Leann Rimes, and I learned it from Series 5!
That is why I made this iMix with songs from the series and other ones that I think would fit. I dropped a couple of Who songs in it... hehe.
If you have iTunes click the picture above or this link: http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewIMix?id=204827216
and it will open your iTunes so you can see my iMix and download the songs you like. And don't forget to rate my iMix! Oh, what a time waster, LOLOLOL.

Today is one of the few Sundays I'm not working, hurrah! I'm going to cook a delish lunch and watch a movie (the mind-numbing Failure To Launch, but hey, I want to escape) and then, guess what???? I'll come to your blogs!

For the mo,

Muchas kissas xxxxx

Gadgetmania

2006-11-03T15:24:00.000Z

Oh how I love gadgets. With their shiny surfaces, their LCD screens, their special features and their magic that their little microchips inside create. Other women can spend hours in fashion shops, me on the other hand, put me in a Dixon's or PC World and I can just forget myself.

It all started way back in the mid-seventies. Ever since I remember myself, I remember me next to my mom's cassette radio recorder, which looked something like this on the right. I would spend hours taping from the radio. Rewind and tape again. And then a friend of mine lent me her microphone, which I found the most desirable thing on earth. Other girls were playing with dolls, I was making tapes with interviews from my family and friends.

By 1979 we had bought our big stereo. We used to have my mom's turntable, which now is an antic and it's still in my house in Athens. So with the new stereo and a colour TV, a couple of cables at the right...holes and I could record Greek comedies from TV. I would listen to them in my room and I would fall asleep while listening to them. That's how I've come to know most of them by heart, sleep therapy.
I had by now my own tape recorder (like the one on the right) to listen to my tapes and make new ones. Some of these tapes I made with my sister still exist and whenever I listen to them I fall on the floor laughing.

Then the god named SONY invented the Walkman. I nearly fainted when my aunt who lives in New York brought me one from USA. It was the best present EVER! I wouldn't be seen without it. It looked like the one on the left at the picture on top of the blog, it was huge and very heavy but it was the most heavenly thing for me...

Come 1983 and on my behest our household acquired our first VCR, which for me is still the best and most ingenious invention. Not only I could record my greek movies, but also anything else I fancied. I used to have the whole Fame series, until in a "I hate the 80's" crisis I erased them. Tapes and tapes of movies greek and foreign, which are all still intact, some of them here and most of them in Athens.
Of course gadgets like Discman, mini tape recorders and stuff were still coming in, and I had my first computer as a present from my family for finishing school mostly with 'A's! I learned 'BASIC' by myself and a love relationship with computers and software began. I discovered that I have a talent for computers, a rare perception of the world of software, that is why I studied IT for two years and my first job was Software Instructor for businesses. Of course my main studies were Journalism, which I think I chose so I can still keep using gadgets. LOLOLOL.

But, I digress...
After I started working and had my own income it just snowballed. Come the era of the mobile phone and I (and everybody else) looked like out of Alice in Wonderland with those huge Motorolas.
As the mobiles went smaller, so did my pocket. I can't remember how many I've bought by now.

So here we are in the techi 2000's and my house looks like Dixon's warehouse... My latest toy, my beloved Video iPod is in my bag all the time. My mobile phone is as tiny as my (empty) credit card. And my next coveted gadget is a Blackberry. I'm just waiting for the price to go down, hehe.

Before you accuse me of being materialistic, here's what I think about my Gadgetmania: most of the things I buy have to do with preserving life moments: tape recorders, cameras, video recorders, walkman, ipods et.c. I can repeat something I like over and over again, it be a song, a photograph, a movie. If I want to go back to it, I know I can. I can relive the same moment, the same feeling, the same memory. I can watch my Keith in So Sad About Us and still feel thrilled, or listen to Bittersweet Symphony and still want to cry. I have it, it's there. And I can take it with me anywhere.
So, for me gadgets preserve life, and I love them so, because, most of all, I love life.

What's your favourite gadget?

You Beta You Bet!

2006-10-30T22:18:00.000Z

Urgh! I was fed up with the bloody "Publishing now" thingy so I switched to Beta.
So now I can enjoy my beautiful Ballerinagurl's new blog...

So sorry if that is inconvenient for some of you, I think you might need to switch to Beta too, in order to comment here.
Try it, it's cool! Faster.

All's quiet on this front. Quiet and boring, absolutely no news from work. I looked around for other jobs and I discovered that the positions I want (management) need management experience, and the ones I can apply for pay peanuts. Yikes!

I wish someone could offer me the following job:

"Listening to The Who and Rachel all day, writing on your blog and visiting other blogs, and going to all Who/Attic gigs around the world and writing all about it. Two-month holiday, all paid. Shitloads of money to spend on CDs, DVDs and huge salary and bonus. Previous experience on all of the above essential! Immediate start."

Now THAT is a job I can apply and get hired instantly. And then I'll wake up, LOLOLOL.

Your comments on my previous blog were overwhelming, thank you soooo much. The funny thing is that for at least 10 days, Blogger was showing I had only 2 comments, one of which was from me! Yikes! So I thought "nobody loves me, boooohooo". But then one day I clicked on the number and magic unfolded when I saw I had at least 10 comments... I swear to God, I welled up by reading them.

So, this is a present for YOU my lovely friends. The lovely Mr Hugh Laurie, aka Gregory House and the best intro of a song EVER:

House, Series 1, Episode 14 "Control"

I am little by little starting to visit your blogs. Give me a little more time, I try to squeeze everything on my days off.

Love to all,
xoxoxo
M

Beyond The Beyond...

2006-10-10T21:08:00.000+01:00

I haven't blogged for nearly a month.
I haven't been to your blogs at all, I am so ashamed.
I once in a while visit Rachel's blog, but only when I'm free and IN THE MOOD.
What is wrong with me?

Here's the truth: I feel a bit depressed.
I didn't get the job I wanted and those people who are responsible for recruiting the department have treated me horribly. I gave the interview on the 22th of Sept. three weeks ago. Last Sunday (bloody Sunday) one of the managers of the dept. told me I wasn't successful, the reason... I didn't go 'into depth'... I am still waiting, after three weeks, for feedback from the lady who interviewed me and she avoids me. Don't know why. I phoned, emailed, threatened her and still nothing. Fed up!

Along with all that I got a bad report from one of our guest shoppers. I was abrupt and unhelpful. But (are you ready for this?) the damn thing IS NOT for me. I am NEVER abrupt, I'm always smiling, helpful and go the very extra mile for my customers. I absolutely know for whom this report came, but unfortunately, and for reasons I will never know, the description that is on the report is for me... Very strange and mysterious things, very TWILLIGHT ZONE. Beyond the f****ing beyond!

On top of everything, my finances are going from bad to worse. Still waiting for the bleeeding evaluation of my flat, so I can remortgage it. I have to wait the end of the month to get paid so I can do some groceries (HMV, iTunes, Anne Summers...joke joke joke....!)OK not that bad, but nearly there. Double dose of shit with shit relish on top...

And, above all: I MISS HIM! My Sun....
It was exactly Sept-Oct two years ago when everything was rosy and I was feeling like the Queen of the World and every day that passes reminds me of a certain event of that time. It's been over six months since I last saw him and I just want to slash my wrists...

So I pass my evenings and free time either by vegging on past series of Charmed (falling dangerously in love with Julian McMahon who plays Cole/Belthazor - and, yes he plays in Nip/Tuck as well) or going into deep sleep (with nightmares and strange dreams) or reading through tomes and tomes of Poirot cases... And I stopped my diet again and I eat f***ing junk food - again!
I am not in the mood to go online, I am not in the mood of seeing or speaking to other people, so please forgive me for being so unsociable.

I'm sure things will get better. I have to sort out my work matters, by the end of the month I'll know more about my dept.'s future and I'll take appropriate action. I will push and chase my Financial Advisor to finish the procedures for the remortgaging, so I will be swimming in money quite sooon...(ok, let's not get carried away now...) I need to see a WHO show to pick me up, so 2007 here I come!

I am thinking of a lot of you, so I just want to send those quick messages:

Molly - my Ballerina Beauty, love ya like nuts babes and hope I see you real soon.
Anne Marie - you are in my heart and can't wait to meet you again
Dale - always in my thoughts, SKI SLOPES opening soon I think????
Tausha - everytime I hear Pleasure Seeker I see your face, lots of kissy kisses
Mark and Jill - call me soon, (old mobile number) maybe I need a blinner to cheer up!
Brina - Darling DO come to Spetses next year and I'll make arrangements to be there too, to celebrate Armata and your birthday!
Sue - where in the world are you? Taiwan, USA or somewhere else, LOL I've lost track....
Kid Ric - day seven is my next read, after Appointment with Death that is...
Joe Boy - my Keith alter ego! kisses to you babes
Greek Zoe - EXOUME DYO GATIA! my mom reminds me of you, hahahaha. How's Max?
My PT FAN - to how many WHO shows you've been?
Meg - no day passes without thinking of you my darling. Always strong, always fab!
Tomoko - Japan is the plan! Get ready!!! and kisses to Kaye
Ali - my blonde super-goddess! how's the book writing? And your supa Tallulah?
Gary - the amazing songwriter of Blogland: keep on keeping on!
Delbut - my unrequitted love!!! missing how you make me laugh on the chats...
Hola Elena - miss our chats too, and don't be jealous by the above message, LOLOLOL
Last but not least: Koos - Tot ziens and hope you come to the UK v.soon! Lots of kisses to Val...

And to lots of other people who visit and comment... Thank you so much and

I'LL BE BACK!

Now, THAT cheered me up!

Very important news and photos

2006-09-16T10:48:00.000+01:00

Hello to all my sweet blogger friends.

One of the many reasons I have not been able to visit your blogs is because at the moment my life is in a turmoil.
I came home from Greece quite carefree and the only care I had was to put forward the remortgage of my flat. It is a long and painful procedure, for those who haven't done it, and it takes most of my free time.

The other thing that came out of the blue is that I might be changing jobs and be in the jobmarket soon. My department is going to get smaller and we were advised to start looking for alternative jobs. Although I am not afraid, I am very confident that I will find something inside or outside my company (the big H, for those of you who know) I am also afraid that I will once again start from the beginning.

I have been in the same company for seven years and I have built a stable and successful career. Just this week I got a commendation from a customer, which made me very proud.
I am looking for a managerial position now in the company, there is a role for which I drool and it fits me like a glove but there will be harsh competition for it. Although I have experience on the role I have not been a manager and there are other managers which will go after it. Wish me luck!

If that doesn't work and if I don't find a position in the Marketing sector, I am determined to look elsewhere. I am not going back to the shopfloor!!!! I had it for four years and it killed me.
My company is a very big department store in London, the most famous one (there! I said it!) and it's going to be just crazy during Christmas and the Sale and I don't want to be anywhere near the shopfloor. A good 9-5 job in an office in Marketing is where I want to be.
So if not in the big H, then in another company....scary....

Now, for some good news. When I came back from Greece I brought presents for Rachel and Pete. With all this palaver going about me I had absolutely no time to go to the Post Office to send it to them. I felt so ashamed.
But my good friends Mark T and Jill, fabulous bloggers and people both of them, were going to Joe's Pub. So I kindly asked them if they could take them and they kindly replied they could! What a sweet couple they are! Thank you both SO much!!!!!

And here is the proof that they gave the gifts to them! It's the jiffy beige envelopes that Jill is holding in the first two pictures, ready to give them to Rachel. The first two pictures are taken by His Excellence Mr. Ronzi.

And these last ones, most fantastic, are taken by the fabulous Elizabeth Solaka. Thank you both and sorry to steal your pictures, hehe.

You can definetely see Pete holding the envelope and I think you can see a little corner of the env. in Rachel's hands...
Thank you Mark and Jill soooo much!

Back to reality - and it feels good

2006-09-04T16:30:00.000+01:00

You see, that's the thing with me. Ever since I moved to London, I consider myself having a permanent holiday.
So, I went to Greece and had a lovely time, and now I'm glad I'm back to my flat in London. Life's wonderful. If only I could afford (financially and time-wise) a trip to the USA to see my boys and Rachel, then it would have been just perfect. Unfortunately the circumstances, at the moment, stand that this would be impossible. Boo-hoooooooo.

So here are my holiday news:

I went to two islands. Before going to Spetses my sister suggested we go to our cousins who have a house at Chios. Chios is an island famous for its mastic, the substance that makes chewing gum. So, as you can understand, I was chewing all day. The island is very beautiful and the beaches were magnificent. We were staying at a village called Vessa, where all the houses were made of stone, unlike the people who were really kind and smiling. It was a lovely holiday... Click here to see the slideshow from Chios.

On the 6th of August I went to Spetses, where my mom welcomed me with open arms. I have missed her house so much, and esp. the view from her veranda, where every morning we would have breakfast, greek coffee and hours of small-talk. Really relaxing.
The two nights with the full moon were just breathtaking. I couldn't believe how close the moon was, how big it looked. When it peaked out of the beautiful houses we all screamed. That time, I wished that next year I would see this full moon with someone special ;) Not that my family is not special, but you know what I mean, hehe.Click here for the slideshow of Spetses.
One night as we were going home my mom we stumbled on a little kitty cat. He was very thin and dirty, all black and with two beautiful blue eyes. Immediately and with no second thoughts we picked him up and we took him home to give him milk. The next day we were told by neighbours that he was taken from his mother and that he had a brother as well. The same night we found his brother. His brother is a gorgeous ginger cat with the same beautiful blue eyes. We took him in too. Then, after not much thought, my mother decided to keep them! As you remember, her cat died in the winter, so that made her feel really happy again. She called the ginger cat Aris and I called the black one Zikos (Zee-kos). They are two little mischievious adorable creatures.

That's Zikos on the left and Aris below right. Aris was wounded when we found him, but we have heeled him now and he is very healthy!

So that's it basically. I have been away from blogland for quite sometime, but I will visit your blogs as soon as I can. I have so many things to do and so many others that should be done, but in the first instance I will pop round and say hi to you all.

xoxoxo
M

My little place of Heaven

2006-07-28T10:10:00.000+01:00

The Greek island of Spetses is not only very important to the history of Greece, but also a gorgeous little island. Very few cars are allowed in the island, most of them are Taxis. You can walk or cycle around and enjoy a mile long promenade by the seaside.

People who come to Spetses once, they want to come again and again. There is a myth, that there is a flower in the island, called Throubi, that when you go there you smell it, and it makes you want to come again...

Celebrities have come to the island and got inspired by its beauty (the book The Magus by John Fowles is set in Spetses). Brigitte Bardot came in the '60s and fell in love with one of our Spetsiot friends! And of course our Mikey is a regular visitor with his family...
The ultimate celeb-spotting for me was in 1983, when I danced with Rudolph Nureyev in one of the island's discos!(not ballet of course, but it was like ballet with him, lol) How fab was that?

The beaches are just incredible. Crystal blue water, sand, clean and gorgeous. I can spend the whole day by the sea and then go to a nearby café and relax. My favourite moment of the day, if not the whole year!

The architecture of the island is breathtaking. The island structure is protected by law and all the houses have to look the same. If you exclude a couple of ugly hotels built in the ,70s, everything else is very traditional. I have the pleasure of staying in two houses: my mother's mainly, which has a fantastic view of the Old Harbour, and my sister's, which is built in a new complex, that has won awards for its traditional architecture, a very beautiful house indeed. We have been going there since 1970 and although we have travelled around Greece, our hearts are always in Spetses.

The nightlife of the island is very lively. Hundreds of bars, clubs and restaurants. My favourite one is Balkoni, which is right at the front of the sea, plays jazz and serves the best Margheritas.

Every September the 8th, the island celebrates the burning of the Turkish Armata. During the Greek Revolution in 1821, a small boat, armed only with a torch and two very brave men, went very close to the Turkish fleet and set fire into its flagship. The rest of the ships just scattered away out of fear and the island was freed from its conquerors.
This brave incident is celebrated with music, free wine and food, dance and a re-enactment of the burning of the ship. The fake Armata is loaded with pyrotechnics and the night ends with millions of the best fireworks! It is the most joyous feeling.

My dream and plan is when I retire to live in London during the winter and in Spetses during the summer.
But at the moment, I can just enjoy my three weeks and I'll see you at the end of August! I will miss you all very much, I'm sure I'll find some time to say hi from an internet café.

Have a lovely rest of the summer!!!!

Away...

2006-07-25T23:44:00.000+01:00

I HAVE BEEN AWAY

of blogland for a week or so. I haven't visited any blogs, except for Rachel's , which is like a religious thing for me... I apologise for that, I'm terrible!!! It's been nice chatting with some of you on BG's chatroom though :o)

There is so much going on right now. I work the fullest of the times, until 8pm and home by 10 as usual. If I have a day off, I'll be doing things at home, laundry, ironing (quel plaisir...) tidying up my very untidy finances, organising my music on my mp3 (ok, that's not too bad) and getting ready because...

I'M GOING AWAY

for three weeks to Greece. It is my summer vacation, long-awaited and well-deserved after a very hard winter. I will spend a couple of days in Athens and then off to Spetses, which is the most beautiful place on this earth. I have been going since I was a baby, every single summer and I can't get enough of it.
I spend each winter dreaming of this place and finally the time has come.
My mum's house doesn't have a telephone line (how primitive are we?) so I will probably blog either from my sister's house or from an internet café (not so primitive after all). I can't promise regular stops, maybe once a week? So the photos might have to wait...
I promise I will take loads.

I will pop in to your blogs for a summer goodbye and a kiss, and I will post again on Friday.

Good News: We Got A Hit!

2006-07-17T13:41:00.000+01:00

The date: 17th of July, St Marina's Day - a very special day for me, today, even more special.
I'm at home, doing f--- all, this and that, banking, bored, coffee, phone calls, yawn, whatever.
Then it dawns on me: one week before the release of Wire And Glass.... Maybe it's on iTunes.
Yeah, baby! There it is!!!! No second thought, click on 'Buy Album' and in less than a minute (don't you just love broadband?) it is in my Music Library.
Connect the computer to the speakers and let the magic begin...

Sound Round: A thundering drumroll, bringing into mind my Keith, promises an exciting journey into The Who's sound. Rogers voice is fierce and unrepetant (hehe)
Pick Up The Peace: it is so Live At Leeds (2) for me, that was the first time I heard it and loved it. I can just see them in front of me and I'm singing along. It reminds me a bit of Bargain and I'm loving it.
Endless Wire: it has a sweet sound, Pete's voice is intimate (or is it because of The Attic?) it just carries you away
We Got A Hit: this is a fantastic Rock'n'Roll happy theme. Makes me jump around and shout. A song as a joke or a joke as a song?
They Made My Dream Come True: Pete singing my motto? LOL. But they certainly have and this song, although it's very short, is the seal to a unique work of music.
Mirror Door: a screaming crowd, probably from one of the Who's concerts, introduce one of my favourite Who songs. Seeing it live was amazing and this version kicks arse! Roger is fab, his voice as strong as ever and the music is powerful and very catchy. All in all: I'M LOVING EVERY NOTE!

KUDOS-KUDOS-KUDOS TO MY BOYS!!!!!

Meet the Bloggers!

2006-07-11T08:52:00.000+01:00

Clockwise from bottom left: Anne-Marie, Mark, Jill, James, Jonathan and me.

Well, that was pure joy! The Blinner was so much fun. Meeting with all these people at last was really special for me.
The previous day I met with Anne-Marie to watch the World Cup final in a pub in Knightsbridge.
She is hilarious! A fantastic personality, with so many stories to tell that will have you either hanging from her words, or in absolute stitches! I had a feeling she was going to be like this and meeting her was incredible!

So, yesterday after work I made my way to As Greek As It Gets in Earls Court. Our table was waiting and after having a glass of water, whoop! there's Anne-Marie coming, bang on time! A little while later Mark and Jill, who is always a delight to meet, arrived then Jonathan and finally James. They are all such great people! Oh, how can one eat with such handsome men around? LOL! Well, that was about to be found out because the appetizers I've ordered for the group started flowing in. Hunger took over my embarassment and we all dived in! A huge Greek salad, fries with melted feta cheese, all kinds of dips, pitta bread, and booze!

The conversations were all about you-know-WHO and excitement about forthcoming and past shows. Everyone had a little story to tell, plus, I discovered that everyone on that table had a musical talent. Including Steve, who unfortunately couldn't make it, because he was rehearsing with his band. Steve I hope you make it to the next one!
Before even we finished the appetizers, we ordered the main dishes. The catalogue was full of delish things, we were spoiled for choice and everyone was asking my advice on what to order. I wanted only the best for my blogger friends so I made a couple of suggestions, and the souvlaki wraps started coming. The conversation continued between "mmm"'s and "ooooh"'s about the food. I think they liked it, hehe.

After having coffee ( I had two cups of the strong greek coffee!!) sadly it was time to go. We agreed we should do that again. As I said goodbye to Anne-Marie I felt a sadness, I hope I meet her again.

Thanks for coming, everyone, and lets keep in touch!
xxM

Post-Who blues and BLINNER on Monday

2006-07-06T00:28:00.000+01:00

Can't stop singing Mike Post Theme... Can't stop listening to the boys. Can't stop remembering how lovely it was in Leeds and in Hyde Park. The HP concert is my last one at the moment. I can't go to any other dates in July, due to work.
So I feel blue. I don't know if I can make it to US in the autumn, my credit cards are about to explode!!!

But here's something that will really cheer me up: On Monday the 10th of July we are having a BLINNER at the Greek Restaurant As Greek As It Gets. The food is delicious, my pick is always the "spicy souvlaki": Greasy greek-style pitta with pork skewers, onion, parsley, tzatziki and a hint of red pepper. YUM!
Anne-Marie is coming from Canada, James Casey is coming along, Steve H, Mark and Jill, Jonathan Beck and me of course.
And Bex, Rachel's sister might be joining us too! An invitation has been sent to our beloved Rachel, Pete, Mikey and Rene and Simon, hopefully if they are still in the UK can join us. Who knows???

So, THIS IS AN OPEN INVITATION:

If you would like to join, please let me know a.s.a.p. I am booking the table on Friday and would like to know for how many.
Please try and come, the more the merrier!!!!!!

Here are the details

BLINNER:
When: Monday the 10th @ 7:30pm
Venue: AS GREEK AS IT GETS

Address: 233 Earl’s Court Road, Kensington,
London SW5 9AH
0207 244 7777
Tube: Earls Court - take the Earls Court road exit, turn right five minutes walk accross the street.
MAP
To join: Comment here or email me until tomorrow (Thu 6th July) night

Hope I see many of you! It will be a blast!

Sunday, in the Park with my friends...

2006-07-03T22:19:00.000+01:00

44 photos slideshow

My feet are hurting from the blisters, my hands feel like I’ve been lifting weights all day, my eyes are merely open, but I feel very happy. It was a great day all along, it was like going to the park with friends, but with great music too.

Chapter One: The meeting with Tomoko and the Hyde Park

My day started at 12 noon when I went to Bayswater to meet Tomoko and her friend Kay at their hotel. What a delight it was to finally meet her, she is sweeter than I imagined and very pretty too, like a little girl, wearing Who gear all over! We went to Marble Arch to get a cold drink and we chatted and laughed like old friends.

It was time to go to Hyde Park. The heat was something unbelievable, even for my Greek standards. We took a bus, which was useless after all because it left us way too far from the Hyde Park Corner entrance, but we managed to get there. The girls got their tickets from the box office and I put the golden wristband on my hand.
We separated at our respective entrances. I didn’t have to ask or do anything. I just showed my wristband and everybody was letting me in. That’s how I like it baby!
As soon as I found Tomoko and Kay again, I called Mark and Jill to see where they were and after a few minutes we met under the blazing sun. After chit-chatting and taking pictures, Tomoko and Kay left to have a look at the perks of their VIP tickets. Tomoko gave me a little something to give to Rachel and they were off. Unfortunately, I didn't see them again...boo hoo:(

My golden wristband was burning my hand! I didn’t want to leave my friends, but I was dying to see what I can do with it… So I went to one of the security guards and he said that I have access to the Special Guests area. We’re on, I thought!
The special Guests area was a huge place full of tents, right next to the backstage area. I went to the security guard of the backstage area and asked him if I could go in.

He said no.

I explained that the wristband was sent by Rachel and his reply was that if I had her number (which I don’t, of course) I could call her and she could come outside and let me in.

Chapter two: The Waiting

I was ready to faint from the heat, so I decided to have a drink under the tent, until my friend to whom I’ve given the other wristband arrived. So I went to the bar and asked for a Coke.
“Pepsi. £2 please” Swell.

I sat in one of the tables and had my drink, and I felt really pleased for the first time after the big “NO”. There was a cool breeze coming, I was under the tent, sipping my ice cold drink and then one of the bands started playing. I couldn’t see them, since I was at the back of the stage, but I sure could hear them.
I relaxed and waited for my friend to call me. At around 4:45 he called me that he was inside, but went to the main stage to see Ocean Colour Scene. I stayed at my cool place and I bumped into Ron from the Shout and his wife. He suggested maybe to go through the other gates, since the Airstream was a little bit to the left and ask if Rachel has given my name to the guards there. And when I met my friend a little while later that’s what we did, unfortunately with no results.

Our wristbands were only good for that area. We had to have proper backstage passes, you know, the ones you hang from your neck.

Chapter three: The Casbah, The Bex and The Rach!

Well, we needn’t worry for that now, for it was time for THE CASBAH CLUB!
We went to the small tent and right at the front (where else?) where we met Tom Matchett and Sarah Beth. Fab!
Simon and the boys came out, sans Bruce Watson of course, and rocked our socks off!!! I could not stop jumping and singing they were incredible! I observed how fantastic Bruce Foxton was, what a great musician. Simon of course was his own fabulous self, giving us one of the best performances I’ve seen so far. The people screamed, they loved it and so did my friend. I was paralyzed… What a great song Vibrate is. It was for me the highlight of the day so far.

As we came outside of the tent I noticed I had a message from Bex. So I called her and it was really funny because we have never met each other.
Bex: I’m wearing a white skirt.
Me: I’m wearing a white skirt too!
Bex: I see ya!
We hugged each other like long lost friends! She is such a character! We stayed in the VIP area and started talking non-stop. Then she introduced us to her father who has the same amazing blue eyes as his daughters!

While there I saw Noel Gallagher, for whom I have an ongoing crush for ages, with his dreamy little daughter. As I took his picture I screamed “I LOVE YOU! Then, I wanted the earth to open and swallow me.

Just a few minutes before The Who went on stage, Rachel came by and started greeting the people on the table. She was looking stunning! Absolutely gorgeous. I called her name and we hugged and kissed.
She asked me how I was doing with the no-smoking and I said: “I just had a fag now!”

Ok, before you start screaming at me, I needed it, after all this! Just on this occasion, as I said to Rachel… am I forgiven?

She was in quite a hurry. So I gave her Tomoko’s present and she was chuffed, and then a quick photo (Rachel looks gorgeous and I look like my grandmother!) and then she disappeared.

And that was IT! It was time for the main attraction and the main reason I was there…

Chapter four: The Who!

My friend and I decided not to get squashed, so we stayed at the back and right side of the stage, on a high slope, where we had a very good view of the stage. The screens on the stage that is. I could see the band like little ants moving around and a little bit of the background, but what I saw, I saw it mainly from the screens.

For those who didn’t watch the webcast, I have to tell you that the band was absolutely amazing. I have never seen Pete doing so many windmills before. He was playing like it was the end of the world. Roger was great too. His voice blared through the speakers and made my heart jump.
The camera was constantly on Zak, who’s getting better and better and better! Last night he was as furious as Keith. I was breathless.

I joined in with the tens of thousands of people who were cheering and clapping, jumping and screaming. What a feeling!
At the encore at the end, the very last song was Listening To You. Pete wouldn’t stop playing!!! He amazes me every time!

Chapter five: The Conclusion

The best thing, except of course the two incredible bands, was to meet all these wonderful people. I didn’t have a chance to meet Steve H, what a pity, but we spoke on the phone and I’ll see him next week, at the Blinner (see Molly? I am stealing your word and inventing a new one).

It was a lovely day overall. No complaints. The fact that I didn’t get backstage, which would have been a dream, hurt me of course. But I cannot complain. What I lived yesterday cannot be lived by a lot of people. It was truly special and I felt truly privileged. I owe Rachel a lot for that special treatment and I hope I can return the favour one day.

Hyde Park Calling pre-gig meeting

2006-07-01T11:29:00.000+01:00

It's finally here...! (well not really until tomorrow, lol)

So, pleaaaase.
Anyone who would like to meet before the gig comment here. Suggestions for time and place to meet for sandwiches and light (!) refreshments before the gig.
I am meeting with Tomoko from Japan some time tomorrow morning, so if I have more news I will update here.
I think it's safer if we don't post mobile phones here of course. Email me for exchange of numbers, instead.
I am at home today, so I will check for emails and comments regularly.

SEE YA!

In wristband heaven

2006-06-28T22:13:00.000+01:00

Dressed half with work clothes and my pyjama bottoms I hear the bell ring at 8.15.
A-ha! I think. Could it be?
I rush to the intercom and with a hoarse-sleepy voice I say "Who is it?"
"Hi Marietta, it's Rachel and Pete, personally delivering your tickets and passes!"
Ok, that was during my dream. The real answer was
"Postman. You have a Special Delivery"
I open the door and sign with trembling hands. I look at the "from" label, sorry lable ;), and there it was in blue: Eeel Pie!

I take the jiffy envelope to the light before opening it and I see a very long thin thing inside.
????
I open it and I couldn't understand what I was looking at. A gold plastic strip, with holes in it and Hyde Park Calling printed alongside. What is it, God? Have they sent me the wrong thing? I didn't want a suitcase tag, I wanted two tickets with two big fat stickers saying "Guest" like my friend Haribomort had. And it's one. Only one. What am I going to tell my friend? He was so excited... There is no note, nothing, I am so ashamed to bug Rachel again. HEEEEELP!

But, the more I looked at it the more I started to understand. Hang on a minute. This splits. This is two in one. And then I remembered in Leeds people wearing in their hands something similar. And those were the people that went backst... AAAAAAAAAAAAAAGE!
YES! Now I knew...
It took me a while, but it finally dawned on me. These are special wristbands (for special people) that work as passes....................................................!
My God, SHE'S DONE IT!
My sweet Rachel, this wonderful creature sent from Heaven, the most generous lady on earth, has sent me the best gift ever!!!!
I started dancing in the middle of the room, laughing at my naivity and ignorance. And happy, so so happy!

A lot of you understand how much this means to me. It's beyond the beyond!
I immediately sent a comment to Rachel to thank her and sent a text message to my friend that everything is all right, the dream is just beginning...
I had to get ready for work. I couldn't stop smiling. I hopped on the train and looked outside the window, while listening to Rachel's songs. I was in wristband heaven.

Best fucking summer of my life!

Aaah! La musica!!!

2006-06-26T00:47:00.000+01:00

Today I had an epiphany.
I listened to our fellow blogger Gary's song Bermondsey. Not for the first time though.
The first time it was through my laptops little speakers. I liked it very much, I think Gary has a big musical talent.
Today though, after the Attic show and the Who live show, when I always connect my laptop to my 5.1 surround system, I received an email from Claire Eliza to join her group's The Marquee MySpace page. The kids are more than alright!
So, after surfing here and there in MySpace, I clicked on Gary's page.

An amazing music came through my speakers. Loud, clear, terrific! I dropped everything I was doing ( putting the pizza in the oven if you must know) and listened to the song again and again.
It is amazing and has a very beautiful melody.
If you haven't listened yet go now!

So, I decided to create my own IAC station, for fun, but also, to be able to send the link to family and friends to listen to great music. Of course, I have included our favourites, Rachel, Mikey, Casbah Club, Foy Vance, Gary of course, and little by little I will add more worthy artists.
It is called - what else? Panacea Radio.
Click on the image below to go and listen now!

How do you follow perfection?

2006-06-18T20:22:00.000+01:00

I WILL KEEP THIS POST UP, AS LONG AS I FEEL NEEDED, AS A SUPPORT TO THE ONE AND ONLY PETE TOWNSHEND.
I HOPE HE FINDS IT AND READS IT, TO CHEER HIM UP.

PETE, THIS IS ONE OF THE MANY POSITIVE WRITINGS ABOUT YOU.

W E L O V E Y O U !

12o photos can be seen here!

Leeds, 17th of June, 2006

The time is 15:45 and I enter the gates of my University. My body is filled with goose bumps. The first reason was because I was back at Leeds Uni after 13 years. I graduated in 93 and have never come back.

The second reason...you all know now.
My boys were there.
After meeting and greeting with lots of Bloggers and Shouters, I queued up to watch the unveiling of the blue plaque. The heat was sweltering, my mouth was dry and people were coming out of the Refectory, announcing that the ceremony would start soon. At 4:00, the programme said, at 4:30 someone said, then at 5:00.

A little after 5:30 a lot of commotion:
Cameramen getting ready (in front of me, blocking my view!), photographers (ditto) lots of other people and then finally........

MY BOYS!

Roger looking more handsome than EVER and Pete looking smashing, smiling, relaxed.
The people went bananas. So did I...A few welcoming speeches and then the two Men of Honour unveiled the blue plaque. The flashing cameras and the applause were falling like thunder. I managed to get a little footage on my camera, but everybody was blocking me so it is very little.
But I was very happy and honoured to be there.

After chit-chatting with Tony, aka Haribomort, the winner of Rachel's competition for Leeds, I strolled down the road to the Fenton pub, where I met fellow blogger Adam and his lovely wife Gaynor. They are such fantastic people! Lots of other Who fans were there. We drank, laughed and talked about The Who. The excitement was building up.....

THE CONCERT!

The time was 7 o'clock. Adam, Gaynor and I decided to return to the University and go to the Refectory for the gig.
When we arrived the queue was going around the building and then for about four thousand miles or so... "Splendid" I thought. I won't be able to see anything.

Little by little we moved forward. Finally, we turned the corner and we reached the door. I stepped into the Refectory and for my delight, I saw only a small gathering of people in front of the stage. Everybody else was at the bar!!!!
I went closer and I squeezed at the side of the second row. In front of me: two very tall guys. I tapped on one's shoulder and said Hi! He said Hi too. I said I can't see. He said I'll lean over. I said You'll hurt your back. He laughed and did...NOTHING. My mood was ruined.

At 8:30-ish the lights went down and the people went berserk. I could see the tops of Pete and Roger, little bit of Zak, very little of Simon and a lot of Pino (actually the whole Pino)
I can't watch the show like that, I thought, so I took out my camera and re-tapped the guy's shoulder. I showed him my camera. He tried to signal that he will take pictures, but I signaled back "Oh, no you won't" and gestured I wanted to get to the front. The guy behind me showed me a little space just on my right and front. I moved forward.
Before I knew it, another guy stepped back and WHAM! I WAS AT THE VERY FRONT!

I just couldn't believe it... Never before in my life, I have been front row in a Who concert.
I started jumping while snapping pictures, singing, sweatting, screaming.

The boys were unbelieveable!

Setlist:

Who Are You
Can't Explain
The Seeker
Substitute
Wire & Glass
Sound Around
Pick Up The Peace
Endless Wire
We've Got A Hit
They Made My Dreams Come True
Mirror Door
Baba O'Reilly
Relay
Behind Blue Eyes
Let's See Action
Naked Eye
Cry If You Want
Pinball Wizard
Amazing Journey
See Me
Listening To You

Encores:

Eminence Front
Won't Get Fooled Again

They had such energy, I couldn't stop screaming. The people around me were going mad too.
I looooooved the new material. It sounded amazing live and I can't wait to buy the new CD!
Baba O'Riley was great. Cry If You Want, The Seeker, Naked Eye and Relay were fantastic surprises.
When they did the Tommy segment I was gone completely. Sparks was electrifying.
By Listening To You, I thought that I reached God! I was out of my body, out of this world, out of it completely.

Then Won't Get Fooled Again for the absolute climax.
And then it ended.
And we wanted more.
I wanted more.

But it ended.

So, how do you follow perfection?

We'll all find out on the 2nd of July...

LONG LIVE ROCK!!!!!

HERE WE GO!

2006-06-17T00:26:00.000+01:00

That's where I'll be tomorrow baby, and I don't care about anything. Click on the title to see..

Next blog will be on Sunday. FULL REPORT!!!!

If I'm still alive.

LOL

What else?

2006-06-15T19:29:00.000+01:00

I was robbed off my mobile phone today.
I was on the train, going to work and while I was texting a friend, a hand grabbed my phone. I turned around and I saw 4-5 teenagers running off the train. I went to the door and screamed at them, but the doors closed and the train took off. The kids were laughing at me and they run away. I went back to my seat with tears in my eyes.
Thankfully, a few passengers recognised their emblem on their blazers and knew the name of the school. A very helpful fellow passenger called the police and I reported the robbery and then we called the school and I gave them my details.
Then I went to the Transport Police at Victoria and gave a statement. Hopefully I will hear something soon. I also called my mobile provider so they can block the phone. Maybe those kids would phone China or Ghana, more possibly.

I am devastated. I had all my contacts in my phone's memory. I will never retrieve some of them...
I have to wait for a replacement phone now ... Stupid kids, I hope they get punished.

First my computer crashing, now this. What else is there going to happen to me? I am scared.

Brand new start

2006-06-12T22:54:00.000+01:00

I lost all my data today.
Everything.
My music, my iTunes downloads, my photos, my, my, my.

All due to a defective portable hard drive which I purchased only 20 days ago.

Someone has suggested to write a weeping, yet quite assertive email to iTunes, to recover my purchased downloads. I will first of all take my pitiful hd back to Dixons and ask them to find me a solution. Or else.
And if nothing happens with them, then I will write to iTunes.

To tell you the truth, I don't really care.
I spent the day today restoring my computer. All over again, I have a new empty hard disk (not the portable one, the C:/ drive). I have succesfully installed most of my software.
I am actually very happy to see my computer as snappy as it was when I bought it four years ago. I click on something and it actually works. I got rid of all the crappy sub-folders and extensions and plug-ins that clattered my C drive.

I am ready for In The Attic tomorrow! (That was my major concern).
Everything works fine (fingers crossed). The only problem is that I finish work at 6.15 tomorrow, so I'll miss the beginning.

I might see you all at the chatroom, when I get home.

I ♥ technology... when it works.

Can you feel the force?

2006-06-07T00:28:00.000+01:00

It's happening!
It's very near!
We get news every day!
Exciting news!

MY BOYS ARE GETTING READY!!!!

photo taken from Pete Townshend's website

Tracie (Rachel's PA) after the confusion with Spain and several emails has confirmed that she is sending me tickets for Hyde Park Calling. I am so happy about it! I wish and hope I can attend another UK show, but with my work commitments it looks really pale. I am dying to go to the Leeds University gig, since I studied there and it will also be a revival of Live At Leeds. But, again, it's very VERY difficult...

I am taking a very good friend of mine to the Hyde Park concert with me, someone who loves The Who as much as I do (if possible) and who has influenced me a lot about their music.
I owe him a lot and this is the least I could do!

Rumour (very distant and very vague) has it that The Who are playing MSG at Thanksgiving weekend. If that is the case I will do my best to go to USA for 10 days for that show and probably the LA show. I will do my debt, I mean my best, lol.
That means I will finally meet a lot of you. Fingers crossed I'll make it!

The joy that my boys bring me is something I cannot put into words. I listen to The Who every single day, every morning on my way to work, every time I go back home. They make me feel so happy, their music fills me with ecstatic feelings, I fly!
And when I see them live is like I own the world, I don't care about anything else.

I owe Pete, Roger, Keith and John the way I look at life.

Five days in Athens

2006-05-27T13:32:00.000+01:00

Hello all, I'm back! This is long overdue, so many things happened, but I will try to be succinct!

Yes, both to and fro flights were quite pleasant, especially after listening to the Olympic Airlines' English (letse tsetremen=Ladies and Gentlemen), hilarious.
My important meeting went well, but I can't say anything till I have more news...(yes, the mystery continues)
My sister and nephew came to welcome us at the gorgeous Athens airport and the festivities began...

Saturday 20th of May - Eurovision party at my sister's house

My sister's dog, Norma, shows me how much she's missed me

My nephew, Nicholas, me and the dogs, Bruno and Norma

Me, Nicholas and his best friend Andreas. Last summer they were both shorter than me...

My sister, Liana and her sister, Marietta.
The T-shirts were especially made by Liana for the night

Monday 22nd of May - The big 4-0 my God!

My sister bringing the cake. I invited a few close friends to my house and we had a lovely time.

Never mind the candles, the cake was yummy!

Yes, I made a wish before I blew the candles, but I'm not telling you what!

I'm effing 4o, so, what's with the smile?

I managed to see a lot of friends, unfortunately I visited my good friend Martha in the hospital. The best bit was that I enjoyed driving around Athens and listening to my music. I went to the Olympic Village and to the new shopping mall, called...The Mall. On Tuesday I went to the centre of Athens with the cable car and it was like when I was in a different city, not the Athens I once knew and hated.
The heat was something else. A heatwave that made you ill. I wanted to go to the beach but there was no time.
My next trip will be at the end of July, until the last days of August. I will go to Spetses, like every summer and just bask in the sun. That's all I do!

Hope you're having a fun weekend. Off to do some shopping now, there's nothing in my fridge! I will visit your blogs tomorrow.

Love to all

Hello from Athens

2006-05-20T23:24:00.000+01:00

I'm having a great time in Greece.
Today I drove around Athens, listening to my mp3 playlist "In Rachel's Attic" with all my favourite songs and it was fab!
Then I went to my sister's house and watched the Eurovision Song Contest. My sis was giving a Euro party, because Greece was the host of the contest...
I got a T-shirt, many photos et.c.
I even saw all the fireworks...

More details plus photos when I come back, on the 25th.

Have a great week,
sunny kisses
xoxoxo
M

Birthday Boy

2006-05-19T00:00:00.000+01:00

TO:

The Musician
The Creator
The Guitarist
The Poet
The Intellectual
The Entertainer
The Writer
The Genius
The Restless Mind
The Most Beautiful Blue Eyes

To Pete

Happy Birthday
with all my love
and devotion

Greece

2006-05-18T12:48:00.000+01:00

I am going to Greece for five days. My mp3 player, my digital camera and my chargers will be my only luggage, lol. I have plenty of clothes in Greece.

My 40th birthday is on Monday. On that day I'm having a very difficult task, so wish me luck. More when I come back.

I don't know how often I will have the opportunity to go online, but I'll give you all the details of my birthday bash, if any, when I come HOME.

Strange how I consider London my home, Greece is now my holiday place.

Strange...

See ya all on the 25th...
xoxoxo

Old Joke

2006-05-14T09:46:00.000+01:00

Something happened to me.
Twice.
Something that has put me into thoughts and started to make me worry...

First I need to explain a few things:

Until I was around 20-21 years old, I looked very, very young, always years younger than my actual age.When I was 14 and my friends and I went to the cinema to watch Endless Love the cashier wouldn't let me in because I looked like 8 or 10! And so it went all my adolescent life. To tell you the truth, I thought it sucked. Like all the little girls, I wanted to look older. But my mom used to tell me "When you're fourty, you'll look like 25". Blame her then! I grew up with the notion that I will look forever young. Oh, what an illusion...

In the Greek language, the plural but also the form of courtesy of You is Εσείς(eseis). Between friends we call each other Εσύ (esy), which is the regular You. It's like the french Vous, the spanish Usted, the italian Lei.

So here's what happened:
I have a few Greek friends at work. Most of them are in the middle 20s. We are all friendly and none of us ever felt any age gaps.
A few months ago I met a Greek girl at around 19yrs old. I heard her calling me Εσείς. At first I didn't give any notice, I said I didn't hear correctly. Then she repeated it. I looked behind me to see if there were more of us around. No, just me. She said it a third time.

That's when I asked her. "Why are you keep refering to me as Εσείς?

And that's when she killed me: "Because I respect You (Εσείς)!"

And then I met another Greek girl, in her middle 20s. She also referred to me as Εσείς. Oh, come on... I also asked her why and to refer to me as Εσύ and you know what happened?
She completely ignored my plea.

So mom was wrong, wrong, wrong. I turn 40 next Monday. And although I (will always) feel 16, I think I might look a bit older...

The thing is how big is this bit?

Blessed to be there!

2006-05-08T22:55:00.000+01:00

So here we were, mommy and I in Westcliff-on-Sea, in this beautiful hotel. Westcliff is in Southend, just 10 minutes walk on the beautiful promenade you see below. This is actually a Panorama I made from our room window (top middle on the hotel photo)

After a beautiful walk on the promenade we were back to the hotel to get ready for 6pm, when Mark and Jill would come to pick us up (always so nice!) We arrived at the Cricketer's Arms and boom! Tom Matchett (the lovely Mr T, the MC of the Convention) was there, and Ben Reeve and then Charlotte and Cat arrived. Woo hoo, lovely! Such a nice company, and then it got nicer when Mikey and Rene came by and sat with us for a drink! How sweet!!!

Twenty minutes before the show Mikey's family came by. Before I know it, my mom was chatting with Mikey's dad.
I come back from the ladies, and what do I see?
My mom in Mikey's arms! What the?????
Turned out that Mikey with his dad and brother and sis have been going to THE SAME GREEK ISLAND AS US! They have been going for the past six or seven years, we've been going for 35. As Spetses is a small island, we happen to have quite a lot of common friends!
Good God, that's what I call a coincidence!

So here is my mom with Mikey, being old acquaintances, LOL! (this was taken after the show)

But now, it was time for the much anticipated show!!!!

Here are a few pictures of our lovely Mikey singing beautifully his great songs!
I like his voice more and more, his song writing is exquisite and I think last night he gave a tighter performance than the Bedford and Basement Jam.
He gave us 11 beautiful songs and among them, his renditions of Better Me and Clever Girl were amazing.
Also, songs we've learned and loved: We Will Fix It, Tourist, White Stripes, Misery Needs A Friend. There were some people at the back who were rudely noisy, or noisily rude, but when Mikey sang Plasticine they shut up! Hehe...
As a last song Mikey sang Invisible, which I don't think I've heard before and it was a really nice surprise. Overall an honest and very talented performer! (and yes, Mikey, I AM biased, LOL, but I also have very good ear!)

And then Casbah Club came on stage!
Lordy, Lordy! What brilliant musicians they all are! Bruce Foxton was so good, very professional, smiling and feeling the rhythm and also the pulse (huge difference!)
Mark Brzezicki was a master behind the drums, providing great sound.
Bruce Watson was just great! He played lead guitar with such ease and had fun while playing with the band and with the audience. He's so sweet!
Simon was just incredible, so energetic and with that great voice of his!

The songs were all fantastic, I couldn't get enough. They played a couple of new fab songs, and also all my favourites were played: Save Me From Me, Venustraphobia, a mellow Comeback, a rocking (our f...ing b....cks off!) Sex Change, my current fave Vibrate and the highlight for me was when Mark Brzezicki gave a thundering drum solo that led to Any Way She Moves... W-O-O-O-W!

After the show I wanted to say hi to Simon, but our chevalier for the night had to drop us off to the hotel before him and his lovely Jill were to drive back home. I couldn't ask for more from that night, it was PERFECT!
My mom really enjoyed it too, she was dancing and screaming, God!

Thank you to all of you who made this night so special and let's hope we'll all meet again soon!

Two blogs for your pleasure!

2006-05-06T11:54:00.000+01:00

I would like to introduce to you a fantastic blog I found on Blogs of Note:
It's called Mighty Optical Illusions and the above picture is from that blog. You can spend endless hours of fun just browsing through its hundreds of entries, all about optical illusions...
Especially with the one below, I spent hours and hours just to find the 75 bands hidden in the picture, from a Virgin Digital Competition. Click on it to enlarge it and play!

After playing, go to the Mighty Illusions entry for that picture, where you'll piss yourself laughing by some of the answers!

Also, today I am officialy launching my Panacea blog! I felt that I'm not accomplishing my mission I had when I first started blogging, which was to talk mainly about music, but I also don't want to miss this fantastic therapeutic interraction. So Panacea will be my blog to talk about the CDs I have put on my MP3 player and it will be updated at least every week, or whenever I'm in the mood of writing about music...

After copying and pasting my previous entries from this blog, I have started with a fine young fellow by the name of Mr David Robert Jones. I will try and make it exciting, with podcasts, links and videos. Go here to find out more!

Tomorrow I'm going to Southend-On-See to see Casbah Club and Mikey! Hurrah!!!!
I'll be back on Monday evening and I'll blog every detail...

I know I'm beeing a horrible blogger and don't visit your blogs regularly enough, but I promise I will, it's not easy with my working hours and my mom being here.
Life will go back to normal on the 24th of May, when I'll be back from Greece.

Kisses to all,
have a lovely weekend
xoxoxo
M

The marriage of Arnolfini... or is it?

2006-04-30T23:24:00.000+01:00

This is my favourite painting. It is called The Marriage of Arnolfini by Jan Van Eyck. It can be found in the National Gallery in London. I am in awe everytime I look at it, mainly because it has such detailed work with the light and the shadows.
If you go to the National Gallery Website you can zoom on it and see the details. The shadows on the chandelier, the mirror and the reflections in it, plus the little graffiti "Van Eyck was here" above it. Also the stubs around the mirror contain images from the life of Christ. And so many other details... There have been TV programs about it and scholars are still trying to reveal all its meanings.

For all of the above reasons, I am crazy about it!

I was showing it to my ex-flatmate Angela, who has studied Art and she told me that this painting contains secrets! The man on the portrait is not who they claim he is. It is claimed he is really Putin and this painting has hidden prophecies.
If you're not sure take a look at the Photoshoped version below to see the resemblence...

Spooky!

No Comments... Enjoy!

2006-04-25T10:23:00.000+01:00

A rare Who video!

Oh Joy!

2006-04-23T22:37:00.001+01:00

On the Saturday of Resurrection I always feel very excited. First of all, very early in the morning, 7:30-8 am, the First Resurrection takes place… This is the most beautiful and exciting ceremony.Priests sing the most cheerful hymns and when they say, or I should say shout “Christ Has Risen” people knock on wooden blocks, leaves are thrown in the air and the church bells ring.

I've only managed to be in 3 of the "First Resurrections" in my life, it is very early in the morning, but I would recommend it to everyone.... On the night, everyone gathers at the church and if the weather is good at the churchyard.The priests again sing cheerful hymns and do readings from the Bible.The Holy Light, directly from Holy Land, is passed to each others bright coloured candles. These coloured candles are usually a gift from our godmother. At exactly midnight, after an “Amen”, which I always recognize, the most joyous thing happens:The priest starts singing “Christ Has Risen” and everyone joins in. The churchbells ring like crazy. People kiss each other, with smiles, wishes and tears of joy. In the islands ships blow their horns. And the most spectacular fireworks fill the sky.
It is absolutely amazing and I love it!
After church all families gather together to eat the “mayeiritsa” a soup made of the lambs intestines (yuk – I hate it and never eat it), but also to smash each other’s red eggs and drink till they drop!

Last night my mother and I went to the Chapel of the Greek Archbishopry in London. We managed to get in and it was absolutely magical… Before the light was given out all the church lights went out.The priest himself passed the light to us. All the people were really beautifully dressed and even the Ex-King and Queen of Greece were there and smashed eggs with my mother! She could not believe it!!!

On the Easter Sunday in Greece, the roasting of the lamb in the big “souvla”, with songs and dance take place. When the food is ready, and I mean A LOT of food of all delicious kinds, the feast from the previous night continues.Wine, wine, wine, food, food, food and dance, dance, dance.
By 7pm everyone is knackered! It is so much fun though and if the Greek weather is sunny it is an experience that no one should ever miss!

Today I was at work! How lovely…

HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE! HE HAS INDEED RISEN!

Oh, My Sweet Spring!

2006-04-21T19:36:00.000+01:00

Today is Good Friday.
For me is the most solemn day of the year. It's the day I feel closer to Him and think about His sufferings and their meaning.
Today is the day I thank Him for His Sacrifice.

Our Greek Churches are beautifully, but mournfully decorated, with purple ribbons and flowers.
Thousands of people come to bow in front of the "Epitaph" and pray. All the priests and vergers carry the Epitaph around the streets and people, with bowed heads, holding brown candles, follow...
The most beautiful hymn is sung, a hymn that makes me cry every time, ever since I was a little girl...

It is supposed to be sung by the Virgin Mary when she buries Jesus:

All the generations around the world
Are mourning for your burial
And make libations
My Christ

Beautiful girls have rained your tomb
With beautiful perfumes

Oh, My Sweet Spring
My Sweet Child
Where has your beauty gone?

The bells ring once every one minute, like a dying heartbeat.
I absolutely adore being in the churchyard and just listen to the priest's voice, smell the flowers and the candles and completely meditate.

I am going to the Greek Orthodox Church in Bayswater tonight. It is so crowded that you can't go inside, but at least I will hear the people chanting my favourite hymn.
And I'm sure my eyes will fill with tears again...

Tonight He is betrayed

2006-04-19T14:27:00.000+01:00

Have you ever felt betrayed?
Have you felt that you have given a person more than enough and you love them more than you should and never got anything back but bitterness and ungratefulness?
Dishonesty and cheat?
I am not talking only for boyfriends/girlfriends/husbands and wives...The worst betrayal I've felt was by friends. One or two...And the hurt and the crying was more than being punched in the stomach.

Like it must have been for Jesus. One of his trusted pupils, his followers, his friend, had betrayed him. For money.
But, as Jesus did, we sometimes forgive our traitors.
Because they are our weakness.
That is why it hurts so much. That is why we always hope that they will change. That is why we miss their company all the time. And that is why we never stop loving them, even though they betrayed our love.

And now for the Greek Easter

2006-04-17T23:13:00.000+01:00

This week is the Greek Holy Week. This will be the sixth Easter I spend away from Greece and I miss the beautiful traditions more each year.
I am not a very religious person in general, but when Easter comes I really do feel the need to go to Church, to pray, to meditate and to come closer to other Greeks.

Greeks celebrate Easter more than Christmas.
The best thing to do is go to an island: Patmos (pictured) is the "Easter Island", since in it's Monastery's cave, Apostle John wrote the Apocalypse. Corfu has beautiful traditions, bands playing and the famous smashing of jars. And in small islands you feel like Christ has indeed risen on Saturday night, when all the churchbells ring, the fireworks light up the sky and the ships sound their horns...
Absolutely breathtaking!

Holy Week itself, begins after 'Palm Sunday' and runs from Monday, where fasting and observance lead up to the so-called, 'Passion'.
On the Monday I always feel a strange kind of peace, that is brought by the fact that the Holy Week has started. Monday was always the day that school would close for Easter, so that was another reason to feel happy!

My knowledge for all the traditions and religious meanings is not huge, but I will try and explain a little bit about what each day means to me, in the next few blogs...

6-96-2030

2006-04-12T22:26:00.000+01:00

I ♥ BLOGGER

So, I managed to publish 96 blog entries and have 2030 people look at my profile, in the past 6 months! That's more people than the population of a small Greek city! LOL...
I don't know about you, but this fascinates me!
What technology, the internet and just one little laptop with a wire can do...

What have I gained from this experience?

New fantastic friends is the first and best thing!
Few freebies from Rachel is the next one!
Endless hours of fun reading so many interesting blogs, laughing my heart out and putting my mind into deep thoughts. Sometime all at the same time!
And so much therapy, just by writing in here and reading all your kind comments. Beats any shrink!!!

We have been through a lot you and I...

To all who took the time to visit my blog and read my profile, Cheers!

To some of you, to which I haven't visited for a long time and to very few of you to which I have never commented, Sorry! I will soon, it's just those blasted working hours...

And to every new friend that has commented, emailed, called and has met me: I'm so happy to have met you and I treasure our friendship!

XOXOXO
M

The long one for the Who Convention!

2006-04-06T08:12:00.000+01:00

At last, after four days I can relive the magic and give a few details...

So Friday night, after work, I went to the Goldhawk where a lot of Who nuts, as I call them, were there. People with whom I've been communicating through chatrooms and blogs and never met before. People like the organizer, Ron, my friends Mike and Dino, our blogger friend Meg, Paul who gave me my ticket and cool Mr T, aka Tom Matchett, the MC of the Convention. I had a fantastic Who discussion with "Haribomort". Mate, you have to repeat your name, too dizzy that night to remember it!

As the evening went on, I heard that the Who-nut supremo, Irish Jack Lyons was coming and my heart started beating fast. For those who don't know, Irish Jack is a legend among the Who fans: he was and still is the Who's oldest and greatest fan, knowing the group since they were the Detours. He has written numerous articles, books and stories for the Who and Pete has based Quadrophenia's Jimmy on him. He is still a true Mod and I should say quite handsome!!!

So here I am with him...

...isn't he adorable?

Happy people: Paul, my ticket angel is in the middle and our Meg is far right

At around 10.30 the Wholigans did an Unplugged improptu mini-gig. The Wholigans are the longest running tribute band around. I saw them at the 2003 Convention and they were fantastic, couldn't wait to see them again.
They played A Quick One, Substitute and Magic Bus before I left and they certainly set the mood for the next day!

Barry "Roger" and Chris "Pete"

Next day, was no April Fool's. The day of the Convention was here... I was in a daze. I don't know how I got to the Bush Hall. I got in and the Who's Who were doing a sound check, playing Sparks. The hair on the back of my neck were up and I had tears in my eyes.

I met Simon who treated me like an old friend! We talked about the Attic, the contest I won, his fabulous songs and, guess what else? Blogging! He told me that he'll start blogging again before the end of the tour! Hurrah!!!!

I was going to film the action at the Convention, something that made me happy, especially when I was thinking that I would be at the very front!

I got set up and was ready to shoot just when the doors opened... I was on duty!
I started going around filming the place. Bush Hall is very beautiful and it was full of memorabilia, scooters, a replica of Keith's Pictures of Lily drumkit, John Entwistle's bass guitars, signed photos and millions of other things... I tried to capture everything.
Unfortunately, because I was filming all the time I didn't take a lot of pictures.
I had a break for a Coke and at 3pm Irish Jack came on stage and read stories and poems. I got very angry because people at the back were talking loudly, which I found disrespectful. He was saying very interesting stories about, I suppose, their favourite band and for the purpose of their visit, so why didn't they shut up and listen?

The one thing he said that made my heart beat like Keith Moon was hitting it with his drumsticks, was that Mrs Kitty Moon was in the building! I have been wanting to meet her for many years.

So, after Who's Who played the entire Quadrophenia, with their drummer, Paul Kemp, being a Keith very close to the real thing I run upstairs and greeted the sweet lady. She smiled and listened to me patiently... How many people have told her what I was telling her about her son? Thousands I suppose. But she was looking at me like she heard them for the first time.

This picture was taken by Keith's niece!

I also met Keith's sister, Lesley. A lovely woman, smiling, friendly and I should point out, reminding me a lot of Keith. And two girls, Keith's nieces, who were laughing with my silly jokes and listened attentively to my Keith related follies... What a lovely family, the Moons...

Ace's scooter from Quad

Photo taken by Delbut!

At around 5:30 Casbah Club came on stage. I started pointing at my camcorder and asking people to let me go at the front! Move away, Simon's on stage!!! So here I was at the very front! Casbah Club are incredible! The songs are so energetic and I think everybody felt that. Any Way She Moves is just THE song of the moment!

In the middle of their set I heard someone behind me saying "Look who's here!" I turn on my left and who do I see? None other than Mr Roger Daltrey, standing right next to me! I acted professionally of course and didn't scream, and kept on filming. In a few moments Simon called him on stage and all hell broke loose. People went berserk! I have never seen grown up men shouting "I love you" to another man - not even in Mykonos! But all the tough, tattooed, bearded guys were shouting "I love you, Roger" one after the other...

Roger was the coolest of the cool and sang two songs: Behind Blue Eyes and Substitute. He was stunning looking, relaxed, smiling and I loved him even more after that, if possible! Simon was sooo good singing and playing with Roger!

After...recovering and coming back to reality the Wholigans came on stage to finish us off!
Barry asked us "How do you follow Roger?"
Well, I think they did a pretty good job.
Their energy was amazing, all four of them were really into the whole thing. When they sang Shakin' All Over... I was! Absolutely amazing!

I left the place dizzy, happy, amazed and staaaarving, since I hadn't eaten the whole day.
But for me, music is the food of life!!!

A quick one for the Who Convention, more to follow soon

2006-04-03T23:03:00.000+01:00

Ok, this is copied from my account on The Shout, I finished work at 8pm tonight and I have hardly slept for the past three days. I need to get some rest, but little by little I will post pictures and give you more details...

It was U N F O R G E T T A B L E!!!

Well, I'm still amazed by the two wonderful days I had with all of you guys!!!
I had a very busy Sunday today, saying goodbye to some Greek friends, but all day I had images from Friday and Saturday!

Friday night at the Goldhawk was real fun, meeting Meg in person, after blogging and chatting with her in here all these years... Sweet Meg, see you in USA! And of course Mike and Dino, HRH Mr T, Sniff, Pieter and Paul from the Dutch mob, Haribomort and so many others...and - Oh My God! Irish Jack!!!!
The improptu acoustic mini-gig of the Wholigans was a great treat! Unfortunately, I had to catch a train so I left before the second set, but I knew the Convention was going to be awesome!

Saturday morning my backpack with my camera and tripod on my back, jumping from train to train to get to the Bush Hall, I had one thing on my mind: Today is going to be a blast!Ron and

Andy provided me with tapes and I spent all day filming the event. Signore Tornatore eat your heart out!I was on my feet all day, with only a couple of breaks, no food and only a Coke, filming for the DVD. I didn't care, It was fabulous for me! The only thing that upset me was when I didn't get good views...I hope I did a good job.
I had fantastic view during Who's Who - magnificent btw - and during Casbah Club I was very close to the stage and was filming from underneath That was fabulous when Roger came on stage, I got some very good close ups... What a cool guy and what a treat for all of us!

Casbah Club are truly amazing. Any Way She Moves is such a great song. I couldn't get enough of listening to Simon's voice and watching him moving while playing that guitar.

As for the Wholigans ... I have to say they were effing incredible!!!! The energy was amazing. Shakin'All Over - among others - was just unbelieveable! I
hope the film - I was at the side of the stage - captured what great performers they are! Thank you guys so, so much for a fantastic finale to an amazing day!!!!!

One thing that really made my day was meeting Keith Moon's family and especially his mother. I held her hand and told her how much I love her son. It was a catharsis for me, after a very hard winter! She's the most adorable lady with the sweetest smile... And she was very smartly dressed too!
Keith's nieces were very friendly too, one of them - name?- had the same beautiful eyes as Keith. She told me"I'm turning 19 on Wednesday, I didn't know The Who were that big until recently"

Simon Townshend was also very sweet to me, he remembered me from the Basement Jam, we talked a bit about his music (me trying to sing a part of his song) and of course I reminded him that I won Rachel's competition....I also met his daughter Hannah and his niece. Both girls very sweet...

So, more later...! Watch this space!!!

Can I be Mom?

2006-03-26T12:36:00.000+01:00

This is a picture of my mom, back in 1973. She is younger than I am now, in this picture. Isn't she gorgeous? Well, she still is! She's tall, blonde and has green eyes. None of the above have been given to me...LOL.

If I'm not mistaken this was taken in Washington D.C., in front of Capitol?
I was with her that time, a little girl, first time in USA. We went to New York where her sister lives and then to D.C. where we have a lot of relatives. I have about four or five cousins, whom I haven't had news since then! I should get in touch, really, hahaha!

It was mommy's birthday yesterday. Unfortunately I was working, but she came to work and we had lunch and after work we came home and watched Live8! She loved The Who and Pete. She always does. That's why she's my mom and I love her so!!!

On the way home we had the biggest laugh of our lives. I can't explain why, it's very Greek and an inside joke, but everytime we remember it we still are in stitches! With my mom I always laugh the most.
That's why she's my mom and I love her so!!!

I finally managed to visit lots of blogs this morning! The rest I'll do tonight, we're going out now!
I'm happy the time has-a-changed to summer time! Yeah! It'll get dark at 8 now and after May at 10pm! I love it!

I haven't abandoned my album reviews, I'm just thinking of dedicating a whole new blog for them, which will be updated very regularly... I just want to find a cool template backround for it.
Also, I'm thinking of chucking away the Quiiiiit blog, I haven't got anything to write anymore. It's going so well, I forgot about it!

Have a fun Sunday, everyone.

And the winner is...

2006-03-22T23:31:00.000Z

ME!

YES! I'VE WON 2 TICKETS FOR ATTICFEST IN THE STATES!!!!!!

During the Attic show I managed to submit my answer very quickly for this week's competition.

After seeing that mine was the first correct answer I was waiting patiently, while enjoying Mikey singing "A Better Me" - fingers drumming on the table all the time...

After the song, a voice, recognizeable as Pete's voice said

"Looks like Marietta's got it right!" - I NEARLY HAD A HEARTATTACK!

I screamed so loudly my mother came into the room wondering what the heck happened.

Rachel said

"Marietta you totally won!"

I had to watch the loop to believe it! I still can't!

I have never won a competition before in my life and here I am winning the most important and coolest one for me!

I was planning to fly to the States in the autumn for the Who shows, anyway.

Now, looks like I have to!

And it feels bloody great!!!!

YEAH!!!!

La mamma!

2006-03-21T20:36:00.000Z

My beautiful mommy is here!!!
She is going to stay with me for the next two months. We always have great fun and get along wonderfully. She makes me laugh like no one.
Will post pictures of our adventures in London...

Tomorrow I have been asked to co-host the chat at BallerinaGurl's chatroom.
Please go to Rachel's blog for specific time of In The Attic Show. I will be in the chatroom half an hour earlier.
Time zone converter

See you all there!!!

Just Breathe!

2006-03-17T00:02:00.000Z

I have to thank Rachel and Pete once again, they will get bored of hearing me saying that. Or more precisely reading it..
For me nothing cheers me up more than music. And through the rough time I had the last couple of months, Rachel's voice was soothing and so helpful. Listening to Just Breathe, Sunrise, In The Mix and Spin, among others, made me feel so much better. Also Quadrophenia, Who's Next and Simon's songs are constantly shuffling on my mp3 player... All great, all transporting me to dreamland and oblivion...

Heart matters can be very painful, but...educational as well! We learn about ourselves, we find an inner strength that didn't know it existed. We find escapes from the cruel reality and ways to deal with our disappointment. We make decisions not to make the same mistakes - but most of the time we make them again... Still, through the sadness we find peace, and for me this peace came through music.
And work. While I was mourning my lost romantic story, I worked even more and with more zeal than ever before. And that paid off with a commendation from a customer, which made me glow with pride!
I'm not going to talk about my heartbreak for now, maybe in the future I will write a book about it. Accompanied with a box of Kleenex.
By the way, I am surprised and pleased with myself that I haven't smoked for four months, even through these difficult times. Hurrah!!! I hope that answers your question, Dale... :o)

Moving on, moving on!
We have Who concerts coming up, the Convention (still haven't got a ticket, and it's sold out, but I'll go on the day and beg for a ticket!!!!) the fabulous Attic shows and the chats that cheer me up so much.
My mommy is coming on Tuesday, staying for two months, and then I go to Greece in May for my 40th birthday!!!! God! I'll spend 5 days partying!

So yes, life IS good, thanks to beautiful things, like a song, a word, a place, a movie, a comedy, a show, a blog!
I'll be more regular in here, I promise, things can only get better! Thank you so much for your understanding!
Happy St Patrick's day, for all those who celebrate!
And...

Don't forget to vote for Just Breathe!

The last smile...

2006-03-15T15:00:00.000Z

Once again you smiled at me
And my heart melted with love
Once again I touched your hand
And I had back the time that was old

Once again - don't ask me why
My hopes and dreams were back
Once again, I'm going to cry
Reality hit and killed my luck

Once again I'll be the one to cry
To lose, to share, to philosophise
Once again you will not know
I had to compromise

And that smile, that shiny smile
The one that made the night come late
I'm now going to hate
Because your smile , your shiny smile
That had been mine for just a while
Saw for the last time
And now I have to forget.
________________________________________________________

Hi, this was written last week...
I'm feeling better now :o)

See you at the chat tonight and I'll visit your blogs tomorrow!

Spring!

2006-03-01T10:44:00.000Z

It's the 1st of March!
I am happy for many reasons:
a) It might still be freezing cold, but Spring has started, at least in the calendar, hence the blooming almond tree (stolen photo from the web hehe)
b) In The Attic Season 2 starts tonight!!!! I am so happy that everytime I think about it my heart beats fast! I can't wait for 7 o'clock. All telephones will be switched off! And I will be at BallerinaGurl's chat room, I'll be happy to chat with all of you.
c) I have a few days off, which I'm going to enjoy with eating and shopping! Plus, preparing the house for my mom who comes to stay for two months very very soon...
d) It's Roger Daltrey's birthday today! Happy Birthday Roger! Love you to bits! (yeah, like he is ever going to read this, LOL)

I know I haven't been around here since forever, but it's been two hectic weeks. My work schedule has changed and even if I finish work at 5:30, I am not home before 8pm. The other days I finish work at 7:30 and I'm home at 9:30pm - I live further out of London and it takes me 1:30-2 hours to get home... So when I get home all I want to do is eat and sleep.

Also, I had to say goodbye to my flatmate, Angela, this week. She stayed here for nearly a year (50 weeks to be precise) and I'm going to miss her. So during the weekend I had to help her move out and concentrate on the preparations for my mom's arrival e.g.: painting the room, fixing my "hilly floor" and organizing everything.

I still haven't bought any tickets for The Who. I was thinking of going to Leeds, since I know the town from when I was a student there, it should be lovely to go again, plus seeing my boys in the gorgeous Harewood House (pictured right) would be fantastic. There is a but though, I am not sure I can take three days off from work. I'll have to organize it...
I am hoping I can make it, but for me, ideally, it would be great to see them couple of times in London... Also, I am hoping to make it to a New York concert and/or L.A. I am hoping their gigs coincide with my autumn break. Oh, a girl can dream...

I will visit all my blogger friends' blogs little by little. I haven't commented in Rachel's blog either... oooooh, shame! I feel terrible, but now that I have a few days off I'll make up for it :o)

See you all at 7pm, at BG's chatroom and In The Attic!!!
xxx

But…where is she?

2006-02-18T10:39:00.000Z

- Marietta is working and goes home after 8pm.
- Marietta is sleeping early and hasn’t blogged since Tuesday - sorry
- Marietta went to The Vibrants with Mark and Jill (kisses) and loved it! The gig was amazing, the songs truly rocked! More tomorrow.
- Marietta wants to follow The Who and Rachel around the world (oh, yes the recurring “follow The Who and Rachel around the world” dream again…!) Oh, OK maybe I can make it to a couple of countries…
- Marietta is watching religiously The O.C. and wants to go and live there like, totally!
- Marietta is having a very weird week – Sunrise is its soundtrack
- Marietta sends you her love and promises she’ll visit all her blogger friends tomorrow, Sunday.

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

For all young lovers!

2006-02-14T22:30:00.000Z

I spent a few hours preparing this for today. And it's ready just in time for tonight!
This is a mix of three songs by Frank Sinatra. I think no other voice can be more suitable for today.

The songs are
Night and Day by Cole Porter
All The Way by Sammy Cahn and Jimmy Van Hausen
and
It Had To Be You by Gus Kahn and Isham Jones.

So, grab your loved one, click on PLAY and have a
WONDERFUL VALENTINE'S DAY (AND NIGHT)

Tommy, καν γιου χήρ μη?

2006-02-05T23:49:00.000Z

My sister sent me this email today:

In the recent taping of the Oprah Winfrey show her guest was Tommy Hilfiger.
On the show, she asked him if the statements about race he was accused of saying were true. Statements like: "If I'd known African-Americans, Hispanics, Jewish , Greeks would buy my clothes, I would not have made them so nice. I wish these people would *NOT* buy my clothes, as they are made for upper class white people." His answer to Oprah was a simple "YES". Where after she immediately asked him to leave her show.

My thoughts:
a) I never liked his clothes anyway. He'll never be Ralph Lauren
b) Who is his PR Manager?

Tagging along... 5 things you should know about me

2006-01-31T22:40:00.000Z

1. I have never met my father. He died when I was three years old, on the day Man landed on the Moon. He was 39 years old.

2. My idol when I was a little girl was Nadia Comaneci, the Romanian Olympics Champion in Gymnastics. At the 1976 Olympics Nadia made history, becoming the first gymnast to ever score a perfect 10. At those games she received 7 perfect 10s, 3 gold medals, one silver and one bronze. Because of her I started gymnastics, but I had to stop because of back problems.

3. My Bachelor was in Journalism and Theatre, in an American College in Athens. My MA in Television, at the University of Leeds.
4. Pet peeves: I am scared of snakes and mice, hate coakroaches and other huge insects. Plain white milk makes me sick, I only add it in coffee or cereal.

5. I signed the contracts and got the keys to my flat on September the 11th, 2001. My friend was waiting in her car and when I went to meet her she told me "I just heard on the news that there was an air crash in New York!" No idea of what really happened until we got home and switched the TV on....!

DEBUG(GER!)

2006-01-29T23:18:00.000Z

HELP!!!!!

Every two bloody seconds that thing pops up. I tried to ignore it by pressing No and it kept coming back.
I pressed Yes and Microsoft Script Editor started but I had no idea what to do.
So I keep on pressing No and it keeps coming back.
On every page I visit, for the past two days.

Has anyone got any idea how to solve this problem? It has started quite recently, but it used to pop up only on a couple of times, sometimes reading “Syntax Error”. But this today has driven me nuts… It even pops up as I type this... Aaaaaargh!

Can any of you help? I’d really appreciate it!

Thanks :o)

Kitchen photos and Wolfy

2006-01-27T23:50:00.000Z

I fell asleep on the couch last night, I was so tired. No time to blog, to chat, to do anything, I just collapsed on the couch and sweet Morpheus took me in his arms before I knew it... I promise on Sunday I'll come and say hi to all my blogging friends. Tomorrow is the last day of the Sale, FINALLY! Life will be back to normal!!

So here are a couple of pics of my pride and joy. The colour is silver-grey and most of my cutlery and kitchen accesories have a silver-matt look.
Yes, I'm into silver!

I took this first picture in two parts, top and bottom. Then a fantastic Software program called Panorama Maker stitched the photos together!
I love clever programs like that!

Here is the left side of the kitchen. The leak was underneath the sink & dishwasher. And you can see on my windowseal my UK street signs and a little bit of greek colour too! It's not a big kitchen, but for me it's like a little jewel and I adore cooking in there!

My "hilly floor"...

You can't really see how hilly it is, but you can see the gaps between the pieces, caused by the flood...

Enough with the flood! I'm ecstatic as I'm watching Mozart 250 on BBC 4 as I write this. This year is the 250th anniversary of Mozart's birth and there are huge events around the world, but the epicentre of all is Austria and esp. Salzburg.
'24 hours Mozart' is a satellite link up of live broadcasts from Europe, Japan and China, concert recordings, documentaries, music features, short programmes, clips and more from Vienna. It's 24 hours of Mozart's music in celebration of the 250th anniversay of Mozart's birth.
BBC FOUR will be broadcasting highlights from the 24 hours
Tonight I am recording a live six hour program full of concerts and celebrations for Mozart! I'll watch it on Sunday non-stop and couldn't be more happy. Mozart is my favourite classic composer and my favourite movie of all time is Amadeus
so I'm thrilled. My sister and I are planning something for August, maybe go to Musical Salzburg, that would be awesome.
Today (27th) is Wolfy's actual birthday!

Thank God!

2006-01-25T23:42:00.000Z

Well, the plumber did an excellent job!
The problem came from the dishwasher's pipes and he fixed everything. Hopefully the problem is solved!!!
My kitchen was like a construction site after he left and I spent all afternoon cleaning and putting the place back into order. And of course, put the dishwasher on! What a relief...
Now, all I have to do is fix my...hilly floor, but I'll do that in a months time, during my holiday.

You solve one problem and another one is created. Ugh!
My connection was screwed up again... But this time I called AOL nearly shouting at them, but thankfully a very helpful man managed to reconnect me.

Is there anything else going to happen? LOL!

I am tired but happy :o) I'll post pictures of my kitchen and visit your blogs tomorrow...
Good night.

Before the plumber comes, let's listen to some music

2006-01-24T21:09:00.000Z

The Best Sixties Summer...Ever!

Well, what's the use of crying over spilt...water? Let's have some fun, some nostalgia with the next album: A sixties compilation!

I love the sixties! The music was so original, innovative, cheerful, naive... This compilation has a little bit of everything - the innovation and harmonies of the Beach Boys, the cheekiness of The Monkees, mod sounds by The Small Faces, psychedelic sounds by Jethro Tull and the magical Something In The Air, which Pete has produced. 53 eternal songs. I call it HAPPY MUSIC

From this compilation I've transferred the following songs:

Pretty Flamingo - Manfred Mann
Hi Ho Silver Lining - Jeff Beck
Doo Wah Diddy Diddy - Manfred Mann
Bus Stop - Hollies
San Francisco - Scott McKenzie
I Got You Babe - Sonny & Cher
Summer In The City - Lovin' Spoonful
Itchycoo Park - Small Faces
Waterloo Sunset - Kinks
I Get The Sweetest Feeling - Jackie Wilson
Something In The Air - Thunderclap Newman
I'm Into Something Good - Herman's Hermits
Sweets For My Sweet - Drifters
Hello Mary Lou - Ricky Nelson
Breaking Up Is Hard To Do - Neil Sedaka
I'm Alive - Hollies
Daydream Believer - Monkees
Summertime Blues - Eddie Cochran
Sunny Afternoon - Kinks
Love Is All Around - Troggs
We Gotta Get Out Of This Place - Animals
Whiter Shade Of Pale - Procol Harum
For What It's Worth - Buffalo Springfield
Lazy Sunday - Small Faces
Do You Want To Know A Secret -Billy J.Kramer & The Dakotas
Wipeout - Surfaris
Under The Boardwalk - Drifters
Up Up And Away - Johnny Mann Singers
Living In The Past - Jethro Tull

LISTEN TO IT: I can listen to 60s music any time of the day. I work better when I listen to these songs. They make me happy so I would recommend you to listen to it whenever you feel like it. If you feel sad it will make you feel much better, if you feel happy, it will make you feel like a little kid. Singalong is mandatory!

Bloody floody

2006-01-22T00:23:00.000Z

So on Thursday, after I finish work I receive a text message by my flatmate: "Call me ASAP!"
I immediately knew there was something wrong.
I call her and she tells me the following: my downstairs neighbour has come to see me because his ceiling is all dump and this morning it was dripping. Apparently my dishwasher is leaking and has flooded my floor and his ceiling.

When I got home I saw that my wooden floor in the kitchen has a bump in the middle, which means that I have to go uphill while I walk in there. And it also makes a squelchy noise when you step on it, which means there is water underneath it. Marvellous!

I took a couple of plinths out and saw the mess you see above.
But the mess is not coming from the dishwasher. It comes from the right, where all the pipes are. That means two things: either a) my washing machine is leaking which is OK, or b) some pipe underneath the floor has burst.
There goes my kitchen.

I have to explain that my kitchen is the pride and joy of my flat. I designed it myself and it took me quite a lot of research to find the exact units and appliances. I love my kitchen very much and this situation now just pisses me off!!!
The plumber has been called and he's coming on Wednesday. I hope we can repair the leak with the minimum damage.

I decided that if the kitchen has to be ripped, I will take pictures and maybe shoot a home video to make it like a continuing story. I'll call it "The Flood Saga"...

Quelle catastrophe!

Memoirs of A Desperate Non-Smoker

2006-01-18T19:51:00.000Z

What a beautiful movie. I went to see it on Sunday after work and it was the best thing.
Some of you might know my love for Japan and the geishas. For that reason I have read a few books about them and Memoirs of A Geisha had taken my breath away... The descriptions are very vivid and the story is just a pure page-turner.

The movie justifies the book in a beautiful way. It focuses mainly on the drama and less at the rituals and traditions. After reading the book eight years ago, I couldn't wait for the movie.
I was waiting to see the beautifully described ceremonies, rituals and the lavish kimono fittings.
The preparation of Chio to become the Geisha Sayuri is pictured in a quick and powerful juxtaposition, with dynamic music and strong colours, but for me it was too quick. Because it takes a large part of the book I was expecting more. More ceremonies, more wigs, more kimonos, more tea rituals.

That doesn't mean that the movie is poor of lovely pictures. As you can see from the photos I selected, the photography is just magical. Like out of a Japanese painting. On the left is a photo from Sayuri's inaugural performance. The actual scene in the movie is very powerful and Ziyi Zhang is gorgeous and moves like she is made out of elastic.
The scene with Sayuri and the Chairman above was the most romantic of the movie.
But the most important thing of the movie is the casting. Ziyi Zhang is Sayuri-full stop. "Baddie" Geisha Hatsumomo is played by the incredible Gong Li. Mameha is gloriously portrayed by the ex-Bond girl Michelle Yeoh. The Chairman is played by a handsome and very attractive Ken Watanabe. But most of all the performances, the one that takes your breath away is the one by the 12 year old Suzuka Ohdo. She makes a difficult and dark half of the film to flow quickly and easily.

All in all a beautiful film, but not as good as the book. I would suggest you go watch it though, for the reasons I mentioned above. If you haven't read the book, you'll love it. I would definitely recommend the book.
I am going to read it again and wait for the DVD with hopefully lots of extra features!!!

As I'm writing this I'm also watching the first episode of Desperate Housewives-Series 2. I am so happy it started again.

I love the fact it combines mystery, comedy and hunks!

Yes, I know we're quite behind here in the UK, but think of it: in Greece they don't even know about it!
The new episode is already awesome, so many things happening... W-O-W!

Also, I have finally updated the Quiiiiit blog. Every time I do, I will have the following icon pasted on this blog, so you'll know when to visit. So, come on, what are you waiting for? Hit it!

Better mood and...Links!

2006-01-15T00:55:00.000Z

Thank you for your comments on my "Save The Animals" manifesto.
Let us bloggers change the world...!

I am in a better mood and as you can see if you scroll down on the right sidebar I put icons on my links for the websites. It took me three days, but it was fun doing it and thanks to Copy, Paste and a bit of Paint, voilá! Now you can see what you click on!
Tell me if you like it or if you think it's a bit cramped.
All images were uploaded with the help of ImageShack. It's a fantastic and very easy to use service. Take full advantage!

Working almost 12 hours a day, I see little stars as I type this. From next week it will be much better, plus they owe me five days of holidays!

Lots of smiles!!!!

How can we be so cruel?

2006-01-13T15:22:00.000Z

I can't stop crying since last night. I was having my casual evening, blogging, chatting, watching TV, when I bumped into Channel 4's documentary Animals. I just saw one scene, ONE SCENE and since last night I'm crying like a baby. I can't stop!

They were showing a hidden camera report: in a lab a man and a woman were torturing a little monkey. They were pulling its tail, grabbing its head and shouting at it. The woman was holding a needle and was shouting at the little defenseless monkey "You tried to fucking bite me! I will remember that!" Finally they immobilized the poor creature and injected the fucking whatever into it. Sorry, I don't usually swear, but this made me absolutely hysterical with fury.
I wanted to be magically transported over there and blow up this company into dust, after I had freed the animals of course. If your heart can take it you can watch similar reports on PETA TV.

It's nice to have a quiet life, go to work, have a home, blog about The Who, go to my Rachel concerts, be happy and oblivient. Hell, it's the best thing in the world!
But after watching this I want to get more conscious and active, stop buying products that come from companies which test on animals and donate as much as I can afford to organisations like PETA and Greenpeace. Please, if you feel like I do let's all support these organisations and their cause. Click on the links and LET'S SEE ACTION!

I have listened to different arguments here and there:

"Animal testing helps medicine to save human lives" - My answer: These pharmaceutical conglomerates can spend some money to find other ways to test their products.
"People are dying around the world and you care about animals?" (said the fat lady in the fur coat) - My answer: I'm sorry to say that, it may sound horrible, but I think sometimes I care more for the animals than for humans. Animals are defenseless and not as intelligent as humans (although I may start doubting that). Since we humans destroy their natural environments they are OUR responsibility to treat them with respect.

The whales are nearly extinct, they hunt them for leather. People in China eat dogs. Cosmetic companies drop mascara into little rabbits' eyes. Hunters kill beautiful birds to get a kick out of it. Dogfood companies test their foods into dogs who get ill and die. Chicken and turkeys are cramped in confined spaces and massively slaughtered for consuming.

I eat meat.

HOW CAN WE BE SO CRUEL?

Yo!

2006-01-11T21:33:00.000Z

My flatmate was researching for something on the net and she stumbled on that little article from the online magazine Slate.
I am publishing it as it appears on the website, with the links active. The webpage can be found here.
Tell me what you think about it.
I will leave a comment in my comments section...

Hmmm!

Rappers and Bloggers Separated at birth!
By Josh Levin

P. Diddy gargles Cristal as his yacht sails from San Tropez to Ibiza. Atrios stares at his computer screen and ponders the effect of "increased central bank diversification out of dollar holdings." Nelly takes in the NBA All-Star Game from the first row while gabbing on a cell phone made out of a giant shoe. InstaPundit digests the latest developments in the Dartmouth board of trustees race and takes note of an update to C-SPAN's early morning schedule. What, do I need to draw you a Venn diagram? Rappers and bloggers—they're the same!
Those of you obsessed with external appearances may think I'm kidding. What, you ask, could those champagne-swilling, "bitch"-shouting rappers have in common with those Jolt-pounding, "read the whole thing"-writing bloggers?

For starters, both groups share a love of loose-fitting, pajama-style apparel. Still not satisfied? Bloggers and rappers are equally obsessed with social networking. Every rapper rolls with his entourage; every blogger rolls with his blog roll. Women can't win an audience in either profession without raunching it up like Lil' Kim or Wonkette.

And don't forget those silly, silly names. Even if he didn't flaunt his devotion to pimping and pit bulls, you'd probably guess Snoop Dogg is a rapper. And Fedlawyerguy—yeah, probably a blogger. But the "blogger or rapper?" parlor game can stump even the nerdiest gangsta. Does uggabugga hate on wack emcees or wack Charles Krauthammer? What about Mad Kane? Big Noyd, Justus League, Uppity Negro, Little Brother, Cold Fury, and South Knox Bubba? (Answers: blogger, blogger, rapper, rap group, blogger, rap group, blogger, blogger.)

Essentially, blogging is sampling plus a new riff. Political bloggers take a story in the news, rip out a few chunks, and type out a few comments. Rap songs use the same recipe: Dig through a crate of records, slice out a high hat and a bass line, and lay a new vocal track on top. Of course, the molecular structure of dead-tree journalism and classic rock is filthy with other people's research and other people's chord progressions.
But in newspaper writing and rock music, the end goal is the appearance of originality—to make the product look seamless by hiding your many small thefts. For rappers and bloggers, each theft is worth celebrating, another loose item to slap onto the collage.
Rap music and blogging are populist, low-cost-of-entry communication forms that reward self-obsessed types who love writing in first person.
Maybe that's why both won so many converts so quickly. If you want to become MC I'm Good at Rapping, all you have to do is rustle up a microphone and a sampler. If you want to blog as AngryVeganCatholicGOPMom, bring a computer, an Internet connection, a working knowledge
of Ctrl-C and Ctrl-V, and a whole lot of spare time.

Although bloggers and rappers are free to write about whatever they damn well please, they mostly talk to each other and about each other. That's partly because it's so easy to communicate with your fellow working professionals. If Nas disses you for not having a moustache, it's easy enough to come right back and tell him you slept with the mother of his child. When Markos from Daily Kos offhandedly admits that he doesn't read many books, Little Green Footballs steps up to hammer the softball.
But rappers' and bloggers' self-importance also has something to do with the supremely annoying righteousness that rides along with those who believe they're overturned the archaic forms of expression favored by The Man—that is, whitey and/or the mainstream media. Ninety percent of rap lyrics are self-congratulatory rhymes about how great the rapper is at rapping, the towering difficulties of succeeding in the rap game, or the lameness of wanksta rivals. Blogging is a circle jerk that never stops circling: links to posts by other bloggers, following links to newspaper stories about bloggers, following wonderment at the corruptions and complacency of old-fashioned, credentialed journalism.
Sure, there are a few differences between the blogosphere and the blingosphere. Although bloggers have a certain buzz about them these days, they'll never be cool the way rappers are cool. The blogger lifestyle is dangerous—staying up all night and eating Cheetos will eventually kill you—but not sexy dangerous. Rappers can afford to be more conspicuous with their triumphalism because selling millions of records is more financially rewarding than getting millions of hits. But if that blog ad gravy train ever comes in, I guarantee you that Josh Marshall will pick up his mail in a gold-plated tank and Nick Denton will put a hit on any linkmonger who looks at him cross-eyed.
But don't get caught up in those piddling distinctions. Public Enemy's Chuck D once said that rap music was the black CNN. After busting a cap in Eason Jordan's ass, what are bloggers now if not the white CNN? If only the two schools recognized they could inflict more damage with a little teamwork. Today, Mickey Kaus sits alone in Los Angeles, valiantly spewing bile at hidebound East Coast elites. Just think how much more pungent that bile would be with a hot backing track by Dr. Dre. Hey, maybe that podcasting thing won't be totally useless after all.

Related in Slate
If you missed the link, don't forget to check out Slate's own blog, Kausfiles. In 2002, Kurt Andersen and Andrew Sullivan debated whether blogs were changing our culture. Last month, Jack Shafer warned that blogs can't possibly live up to their prodigious hype. David Plotz wrote assessments of Sean Combs, Master P, and Eminem. Josh Levin analyzed the behavior of the hip-hop entourage.
Blogger Reihan Salam is leading the forces of blog-rap unification. Check out his rhymes at Evil Forces.
Josh Levin is a Slate assistant editor. You can e-mail him at sportsnut@slate.com.

Comeback!

2006-01-11T12:49:00.000Z

YES! I AM BACK!

I get knocked down
But I get up again, LOL!

It took me a couple of days, but I went to Dixon's and they suggested I buy a new modem, because it looked like the old one had "shed its feathers" as we say in Greece, LOL.
So £17.95 and two hours of re-installing later, voilá. Last night I was back online!

I created a MySpace account, it's fun! I will add all the...usual suspects from here, and you can add me too. But I will continue blogging here, this is MyFavouriteSpace :o).

I have a lot to do today, but when I return tonight I will post something very very interesting my flatmate found on the net.
Thanks for all your comments on my previous blog, you are fabulous...!!!!

I hate AOL!

2006-01-09T11:30:00.000Z

Hello,

Quick post from work here, I wrote it sneakily as a word document, copied it, pasted it and hit Publish, I’m not allowed to surf as you know, so I hope I won’t get the sack.

I have problems with AOL. Last night I was at Molly’s chatroom and having a great time, when at about midnight. I got disconnected and couldn’t connect anymore. I stayed up until 2:30 am to solve the problem and the problem wasn’t solved.
It won’t recognise my modem, although Saturday I re-installed the drivers and AOL software, because I had exactly the same problem at the same time...???? B&*%£$%rds!

I have to call them tonight when I go back home from work and solve this problem, although I have a feeling they will tell me the same bull I see on their Help section: “re-install software, re-install modem, check the connections, contact your computer manufacturer, jump around the room three times and say KILIMANJARO- KILIMANJARO- KILIMANJARO”

So, erm…I don’t know if you’ll see me again, LOL!

Changes

2006-01-07T14:05:00.000Z

I was getting bored of my blog's colours, never too crazy about green anyway, so I decided to change it. Plus, I spent some time last night playing with this picture for my profile, so that it coordinates with the whole new style of the blog. I love those pastel colours. Tell me what you think....

I didn't blog for almost a week, I 've been working a lot, it was
c-r-a-z-y and I was feeling very tired. But I've been visiting other people's blogs, leaving comments here and there, whenever I wasn't too tired to type, LOL!
Rachel's blog is a must for me, it always cheers me up and it's fantastic what she shares with us. All those free downloads, she and Pete are always too generous. I can't stop listening to Jigsaw, I absolutely love it! In The Mix makes me want to drop everything and start dancing and How About No War is just magic. Without Your Love speaks to my heart so much, I wish I could send it to someone, but I 'm a good girl I am. I love what Tausha's done with Rachel's MySpace, such a good job (kisses baby!)
Also, I've been obsessing with Simon's Flying, if you haven't heard that song you don't know what you're missing. Complete lift-off! And...have you been to his blog lately? Vgdrshkl blrsshekkj ksjfklsj kdsjfoias...!

I watched Celebrity Big Brother the other day. It's Lips-o-rama in there with Pete Burns, Jodie Marsh and another chick from Baywatch, whose name I don't care to remember. Their lips are one straight line from all the surgery, there is no curve at the top. I think they look disgusting. And if I were Pete Burns I would kill my plastic surgeon and never come out of the house. Hideous!

I will chat with most of you on Sunday. I will be working until 6pm, but then I'll come home flying. I'll have to, there is going to be a tube strike and all the buses will be packed, so I'll probably have to grow wings...

Speaking of growing wings, here's something I knew for a few days, but now I feel I can share it with you. My cat in Greece died on New Year's Eve. I only heard about it on Wednesday, my mother didn't want to upset me. This is very sad for me, I was missing her a lot here in London, but now when I go to Greece in the summer I will feel very empty. This picture was taken in Spetses last summer.
My mother couldn't go home for a few days, she was staying with my sister, because the house was so empty and quite.
She was nearly 16 years old, died of old age. She had a full and happy life, and that takes the pain away a little.
Please pray for my cat's little soul and for my mother who's feeling very lonely now.

Goodnight, my sweet Koukou.

A New Year for the New Me!

2006-01-01T21:43:00.000Z

Working on New Year's Day, and bloody hard too, is not very festive. But thankfully, I was home at about 7pm, watched the tape with the Vienna Concert (it was great!) and had a quick dinner. Tomorrow early call again...
Aiuto!

Nevertheless, it is the time to set new rules for the New Year and for the New Me

Well, the first one has usually to do with our health and appearance, so I'll start by saying: since I have already quit smoking I have to keep up the good work and spirit and also keep an eye on my diet and exercise. I love Pilates and swimming so that's what I'll do, until the bathing suit comes out of the drawer and into my suitcase. Now, if only I had a personal trainer and an indoor swimming pool...
Remortgage the house, something I should have done a year ago and I keep postponing it. I have to schedule the following weeks around that goal and then, I'll be much better pocket-wise!
Buy a car! I miss my car and I miss driving. I think this will be the year I buy myself a little something on four wheels. A Ferrari is out of the question at the moment, so I'll settle for a Scoda, LOL. No, not really, my favourite car is the old Mini, but the new one is not bad either. Or a Polo. Or a Clio. Or a Beatle. Oh, what the heck, anything with a good stereo to listen to The Who on the road is fine by me!
Go to as many Who and Rachel gigs as possible. Life is too short and we should do whatever makes us happy. And there is nothing else in the world that makes me happier than music!
Challenge myself a bit and go to the job market to see what's on offer. I love my job but I don't like the retail hours. I'm sure that there's something out there for my experience, knowledge, qualifications, talent, wit, amazing qualities and modesty!
Spend more time with my goddaughter, who is growing up becoming sweet and beautiful and we love each other very much. Unfortunately with me working those long hours five days a week it's not easy, which brings us back to number 5.
Save save save money to make that trip to Japan, which I've been dreaming since I was four years old. And take my lovely mother with me and treat her with the best.
Expand my knowledge in classical music and literature. I know a few things but I'm thirsty to learn more. Buy my favourite operas on CD or DVD and listen carefully...! And read more!
Send Christmas cards and gifts on time this year, pref. at the beginning of November and not in the middle of January as I'm going to do now!
Last but not least: have fun, never cry over spilt milk, stop obsessing over a certain someone and be and feel fabulous!!!

I wish all of you to achieve whatever goal you set yourself on, this year.

Love, happiness and inner and outter peace!!!!!

2005: A ROLLER COASTER OF A YEAR

2005-12-31T19:52:00.000Z

January: My New Year's Day starts fantastically at 2am, with a lovely text message from a beloved person... Things were looking up!

February: The text message was just that, so I tried to move on by going to my hometown, Thessaloniki with my mom and having a lovely time.

Me and mom at Thessaloniki's beautiful sea-side city centre.

March: A very good friend of mine, Angela, moves in with me. I'm her Chandler and she's my Joey, as she is a struggling background artist! We are going to have fun!

April: Easter holidays take me to the Greek Orthodox Church in Bayswater, where I meet a long lost Greek friend!

May: My family comes to London and we paint the town red. On the 21st of May, Greece wins the Eurovision song contest with the song My Number One. (click at the title to download and listen)
On the 22nd, my birthday, mom and I go to Oxford to celebrate!

Helena Paparizou, the winner for Greece!

June: Beautiful summer brings sunshine and new hopes.

July: On the 2nd I am working, but just around the corner, in Hyde Park a big party with the biggest names in music, including The Who, is taking place, for Live8. After work, I take a walk around the park and I can hear Bob Geldoff singing I don't like Mondays.
On the 6th, London wins the bid for the Olympics of 2012. I am happy for my favourite city and tears start to flood my eyes.
The next day I get a text message: "WHOLE TUBE IS OUT. Buses are mobbed" As I reach Victoria station the news starts to unfold: London has been struck by terrorists. There are over 100 victims. I walk to work and I can hear sirens around me. The tears flood my eyes for my city again. "London is beautiful, London is strong", I think. The city comes back united after a few days, only to face another bombing. I keep on going to work by foot. I am scared, but not discouraged.

August: I spend a fantastic summer holiday at my beautiful island, Spetses.
And when I come back to London, things start looking up again...

September: ... but it's only for a little while, it was just an illusion, as the song says.

October: reading Pete's website and through The Shout I find out about Rachel Fuller and her In The Attic show. She also has something called a "blog"???? and Pete has one too, for his novella. I go to their "blogsites" and one night I watch the Attic show. My life will never be the same again.
Before I know it I start sending messages to Rachel, showing my admiration for her talent. Next thing I'm in a club, attending a FREE concert with Rachel, Pete, his brother Simon, the talented Foy Vance and the blossoming Mikey. Happy again!
Two days later I become a blogger myself, mainly to talk about my favourite songs and artists.
But, what amazes me is that blogging makes me feel creative and sometimes confessional, which is very therapeutic for me, plus, I make new friends from all over the world! :o)
The month ends with the cast and crew premiere of Harry Potter and The Goblet Of Fire

November: on the 16th of the month and in a very spontaneous way I make the sober decision to quit smoking! I have never looked back since then and my decision takes me to Amsterdam.
I spend five fantastic days and I even throw my patches away!

December: the month couldn't start better. On the 4th of the month me and another 80 bloggers attend another FREE concert given by Rachel and the Attic stars. I make the decision to approach Rachel, which proves to be most rewarding. Sweet Rachel introduces me to my idol, the man whose music is the best thing I've ever heard, Pete Townshend! I still don't believe it.
After that no matter happens, I face it with a big smile and courage...

So that was the year that was... What remains to be said is just a

VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Thanks, sweet blogger-friends!!!

2005-12-30T20:51:00.000Z

I love this place.
Once someone shows that he or she may have a problem, everyone runs to console...

Thank you for writing such fabulous comments about my, not so serious after all-more sentimental, problem.
Each one of the suggestions is priceless, unfortunately there is nothing I could do, but put the timer on and tape it.
I will be on my way to work when the concert starts, so unless I buy a portable TV -that's an idea that occured to me late last night- I won't be able to watch it live.
I'll think about it...depends on the cost...!

The workload I have is ridiculous. Paperwork weighing a ton to be sorted and put into EXCEL, reports and emails to be sent...don't ask.
Tomorrow I'll be at work at 8am. My choice!
Tonight I'm having a quick dinner, a nice long bath and early sleep.

Sorry, I won't be able to visit your blogs tonight, my dear friends. Thank you for your support and understanding, I'll give you big fat kisses for the New Year, through Blogger, very soon!
A couple of days off are imminent after this crazy weekend, so I'll devote plenty of time to you, my cyber friends.

Also, I need to update my quitting blog, which I have abandoned since the 22nd of the month. Shame on me!
And I'm planning two end-of-the-old-year-beginning-of-the-new posts!!!

WATCH THIS SPACE

Bad mood :o(

2005-12-29T01:36:00.000Z

My bosses won't give in. They want me to work on New Year's Day, which means I'll miss the Vienna Concert, which I've been watching every year, only for the past 25 years, or since I can remember myself.
It's like a tradition for me, like my lucky charm to make it a Happy New Year.
I can time the video to tape it, but it won't be the same.
I always call home when the first notes of "The Blue Danube" are heard and we cry all together, my mother, sister and me.

If you have never watched it before, do it this year. It's around 11 am GMT, most European countries show it at the same time, I'm sure it will be shown in the USA as well some time, look for it!
It is always a live broadcast from the magical Golden Hall of the Musikverein in Vienna, with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by a famous music conductor.
It's a spectacular show, if you have the chance, don't miss it. 'Cause I will...

So back to my miserable New Year's Day. I'll be working from 11:30am to 6pm.
When the concert will be starting, I'll be on the bloody bus to work... Aaaaarggggghhhhhh!!!!
I had asked for the day off a month ago, but they didn't respect my plea.
And today I was explaining that I have plans, that it will be difficult for me to come to work, due to train delays et.c and their reply was:
"Sorry, it's Sale time and we need you..."
Well, I know it's going to be completely dead, no one will come to the store, and they know it too, so I don't know what's got into them.

I've never asked anything like that before. I'm always the last to chose my holiday dates and I would say I'm a workoholic. I'm the first to arrive and the last to go most of the times. And I never complain.
But this time I'm going to nag nag nag them until they give me the day off!
Next year I'll book the day two months in advance...
Because I have BIG plans: if I'm lucky (it's by ballot) I might be in Vienna, in that Concert Hall!!!

Three lovely days

2005-12-27T00:18:00.000Z

CHRISTMAS EVE

I went home after work and cooked spaghetti with tomato and basil sauce. Quick and easy and not very Christmassy, I know, but I make it with three cheeses melted in the oven and it's our favourite food. I also warmed up the Christmas pudding and the custard sauce and left them in the oven to be warm for after dinner.

My flatmate had spent all day cleaning and "licking the floors" so the flat looked gorgeous.

I set up the table with my Christmas tablecloth and lit up four candles around it. I opened a bottle of wine and I put on Classic FM, where there were real Christmas Carols playing and we sat down and had a nice quiet dinner. We were both tired from a crazy week (she works in the movie industry) and we both enjoyed that moment.

It had a kind of magic and I will remember and cherish it for a long time...

CHRISTMAS DAY

My best friend of 27 years has been living in London for eleven years. One of the reasons I came to live here too is because I was missing her. We are more than two sisters now, she's done so many things for me and I think I was there for her too.
I was also chief bridesmaid at her wedding, when she married a good English man and I am the godmother of her daughter.
Every year her in-laws invite me to their home for Christmas lunch, and this year was no exception. They are fantastic people, warm-hearted, cheerful, funny and they have been amazing towards me all those years. They have a gorgeous house near Bromley in Kent, with a beautiful garden and a lovely fireplace.

I was wearing a new skirt I bought the previous day,

which is quite long and it's like a tu-tu

-and it was love at first sight! -

and my silver pumps

which were combined with my silver top

and my long silver cross on the kneck.

So we arrived at the beautiful house at about 1 o'clock, where we were treated with Champagne and hors d'oeuvres and a working fireplace.

The lovely smells from the kitchen were filling my nostrils and making my mouth sallivate! After half an hour or so we sat down at the table and my 9 year old goddaughter acted like our waitress and started serving our food. The turkey was tender, the potatoes crunchy and juicy, the stuffing delicious, the ham succulent, the bread sauce picant and I even had a Brussels sprout for the first (and last) time in my life. All that was washed down with my favourite wine, a Sauvignon Blanc.
Stuffed and happy like a butcher's puppy!

Then it was time to open the presents...
My best friend gave me a fantastic pair of ear muffs where you can put your headphones in, so that I'm not cold when I go to and from work while I listen to my music, a hilarious book called "Is it just me or is everything shit?" and the 2nd series of Little Britain on DVD. Her in-laws gave me these fabulous glasses, from which I've been drinking all day today.

My presents were liked by everyone: books on war for the boys, Gwen Stefani CD and some money for the little one, Korres cosmetics for the lady of the house and a handbag for my best friend.

And after the presents: the dessert!!! A chocolate cheesecake with vanilla ice cream! Yum-my!

The fun started after the dessert when we played "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire" England VS Greece. My friend (Zoe), her daughter (Alexia) and me for Greece and Zoe's husband with his parents for England. Not only did Greece win, but we won the million as well!!!!!

Oh, it felt so good!

Then we became really silly and played Charades with wine-fuelled laughter, until it was time to go. I had a lovely time and I can't wait for next year's lunch!

I hope your Christmas was as lovely as mine and here's to many more!

BOXING DAY

I woke up at midday! Fabulous... Had a great coffee and breakfast and then my flatmate read me my TAROT cards. Exciting things for the future, looks like I'm crossing the ocean to relocate in the following year (???)

The day went quickly after that. In the afternoon I sent a few hellos to fellow bloggers and noticed that EL Wisty recommends Google Earth, a programme where you can see satellite pictures of any corner in the world! Well, I downloaded it and my flatmate and I spent a good three hours looking around the globe and finding our homes in London, in Canada and in Greece. It was quite spooky when we found our house and I zoomed in... I felt a bit weird and scared???? But it was fascinating.

Tomorrow I want to find a quiet time to read Pete's new chapter and back to work Wednesday, when the Sale starts and it's going to be just MAD!!! Who knows when will I rest again...

The New Year is near and it's going to be great, because Pete has announced a new Who Tour and Rachel is going to follow them with the Attic shows! Also, Simon and the Casbah Club are going to be supporting The Who! My excitement couldn't be bigger, I'm smiling like an idiot all the time!!!!!

Have a great week, all of you!!!

2005-12-24T11:08:00.000Z

HAPPY HOLIDAYS, EVERYONE!!!!

LOTS OF LOVE AND KISSES

from

MARIETTA

When will it end?

2005-12-23T00:51:00.000Z

I am so tired.

And I'm working tomorrow

And Christmas Eve!!!!

My bones are hurting, I am half asleep all the time and I have no energy, not even to speak to my family on the phone. They call me to tell me news from home and I hang up on them quickly, I'm not in the mood and I feel so bad about it.

I just want to stay home, drink my hot tea/coffee/chocolate, watch silly TV programmes, listen to my music and blog...

I am behind with my Christmas gift buying, I need to spend some time for my card writing (now!!!???) and there is no time to do anything.

I only write here, because it feels so good when I do, and I do it always before I go to bed... I would like to thank everyone who visits and leaves comments here, I will visit soon too!

If only those hours go back to normal-crazy, because now they are plain crazy!

In the meantime, take care and enjoy the festive week!!!!

More Than You Know: The Best Of Martika

2005-12-21T23:06:00.000Z

Well, it's been some time since my Mamas and Papas CD, time for the next one:
I know what some of you might say: "Marietta, pull yourself together! Martika????"
I agree, she's "bubblegum pop", I am not crazy about her either.
But, again, there is this ONE song that drives me nuts.
It's LOVE THY WILL BE DONE, which is written by PRINCE.
It's absolutely divine, the melody is so dreamy and the lyrics are...yawza!

I first heard it when it was released back in the 90s and I liked it very much. It's much more cheerful than Nothing Compares To You by Sinead O'Connor, another Prince song that makes me want to rip my skin off!!! This one just sends me!

Then, this year, around February or March I was in a very moody situation, didn't know whether I was coming or going and I was at home.
My favourite station is the digital Mojo Radio, which plays oldies, soul, lots of Who and Brit pop, very much my kind of music.
So this song starts playing. I dropped everything and collapsed on my sofa!
I had completely forgotten about it, and it was the perfect song for that time in my life...

The next day I went to HMV at Victoria Station. Thankfully, Martika had probably released this Greatest Hits album quite recently, so there it was.
From that day I listen to the song very often and again, everytime, it sends me...

LISTEN TO IT: It's perfect for that feeling you have when you know you found the one, and you will do anything about him/her. Or if you have the illusion that you have found the one, still works, LOL!

The belle of the fall.

2005-12-19T23:55:00.000Z

It was magical, it was fantastic, the music was great the decorations spectacular, the food delicious and the atmosphere very Christmasy.
When I walked into the Great Room in the Grosvenor House Hotel, everybody was there, dressed beautifully. Long evening dresses in all colours for the ladies, the hair up in complicated signons, jewlery that sparkled, high heels and fancy bags. All the men where very handsome in their tuxedos.
I had my hair down, a change from the past years, where I always had it up. I just had highlights done on Saturday and I wanted to show them off!!!

Some went a bit OTT...!!!

oh... and that's me.

The tables were richly decorated in linen tableclothes and elegant candlesticks, the whole room was illuminated by huge chandeliers and behind the stage there was a black curtain covered in tiny blue lights, giving the illusion of the night sky.
Beautiful, I was so happy.
I was also happy to see that there were instruments on the stage which meant that a band was going to play, and I was wishing it would be the same band as last year.

Me and my colleagues sat down and the food was served. A delicious mushroom and asparagus tart, an "amuse bouche" strawberry sorbet, and as a main course chicken in red wine sauce with potato and ryner beans. The desert was a luscious lemon pie with bluberries, covered in raspberry sauce. I am writing and droolling here...!

And...when the coffee and chocolates were served, the band started playing. YES! The wonderful band from last year was singing "Disco Inferno" and everybody was on their feet.
Before I knew it someone grabbed my hand and took me to the dancefloor. The band was playing "Somebody Else's Guy" and I was flying! It's been some time since I've been out to dance and I've missed it. I was going to dance all night.

The wonderful band: powerful sound and fab songs from ten musicians who know what party means

And then the slapstick comedy started.
Firstly, while I was dancing a lady wearing stilleto heels stepped on me with all her strength.
I swear to God I have a round, 1cm diameter mark on my foot. I screamed and lost my balance. My dancing partner was ready to punch the lady but she apologised right away, and I could see she meant it. She steered clear the rest of the night...

The dancefloor, as you can see in the picture above, was packed.
It was getting hot and stuffy so I went to the bar upstairs to ask for a chilled glass of water.
Then off to the ladies', to check on the lipstick, where a bunch of ladies with their beautiful dresses and their hair up in complicated signons were barfing all over the place! How charming... And it was only 11:30.
I really don't understand why they miss all the fun by getting so drunk. I had a glass of champagne before dinner and a glass of wine during. And no cigarettes of course!!! How boring am I???!!!

It was so mad downstairs so I decided to stay a bit upstairs. I found a couple of friends and we chatted, and then the lead singer of the band, a girl with a beautiful voice, started singing "All I want for Chrismas is you"
The crowd went NUTS!!!
I was on my way to go down the stairs, literally two feet away, when a girl who was going bananas with the song FELL ON ME and dropped me on the floor with all her might!
BOOM!
I didn't know if I wanted to scream or laugh. So I just turned around and looked at her with the look "You stupid drunken cow!".

The poor girl was so in shock that she had put her hand on her mouth and she just stared at me speechless. . She was still in shock when I was going down the stairs to find my friends. Petrified! I think she must have left after that...

When the song finished the band said goodnight and the crappy DJ came on stage. The music he played was absolutely unacceptable so I sat down and gossipped a bit more with my friends.
FINALLY he decided to play some decent Madonna and we hit the dancefloor for the last time.

The beautiful chandeliers which sparkled all night through...

The whole thing finished at 1am. Because I was wearing sandals and I was barefoot, I was freezing, until my taxi picked me up at 1.30. I snuggled at the back seat and almost fell asleep.
I came home happy and put my 3 alarms on because I had to wake up in less than 6 hours...!

So that was the ball for this year.
A bit of glam with a lot of slapstick.
Something like out of Absolutely Fabulous...
And it was absolutely fabulous!!!

I shall go to the ball...

2005-12-18T02:23:00.000Z

It was a fantastic show for those who were able to watch it. I am talking about the Attic Christmas Special of course. And it was so much fun to be once again in BallerinaGurl's chatroom with so many fabulous bloggers.
Some people had problems with the feed, I was lucky to have perfect feed all the time. But it was frustrating to read that they couldn't watch the show. Boo hoo.
Also, during Mikey's song "Torture", completely coincidentally, we were talking about personal problems and the lyrics and Mikey's singing were like the perfect soundtrack, it was pure epiphany!!!

Tomorrow morning I will relax and listen to my newly acquired Casbah Club CD and then get ready for the annual Christmas Ball from work. Every year it's fabulous, luxurious, delicious food and people are dressed up lovely.
The music is usually c-r-a-p, but last year they had a live band which was absolutely incredible and I danced all night.
I hope they will be there tomorrow too.

Will post pictures taken with my new fab camera...

Nothing to report here

2005-12-17T00:54:00.000Z

But, go to my Quiiiiit blog!

Quickly!

More Xmas tree photos...

2005-12-16T00:39:00.000Z

...decent this time with a new better camera!

Yes, gift to myself, from me to me, with love, Marietta. With my December cigarette money of course!

I bought a new digi camera, which they promised me it's the best they can suggest for what I was asking for. Let's see...
At least the batteries don't run out every 15 minutes!

These are a few experimental pictures I took of my Christmas tree.

This is with no other lights on, just the Xmas tree ones

I love my Angels (and The Who on the background!)

and these "tears" or "drops" they are just magic with the lights

and of course the star on top!

If you want to learn about the Greek Christmas traditions scroll down 3 or 4 posts...

Tired from the long hours, I finally have the weekend off and I'm looking forward for the Xmas Special Pay Per View and the chat at BallerinaGurl's on Saturday night!!! Then on Sunday night my annual Christmas ball from work. Glamour, good food and music... Lovely days and nights!

Gorgeous!

2005-12-14T01:31:00.000Z

Here are a few of pictures I found of Halkidiki, the place where Rachel went and "fell in love", as she said.
Halkidiki is a Penninsula at the North of Greece, very close to my hometown, Thessaloniki.

It's breathtakingly beautiful as you see in the pictures, the sea is crystal clear, the hotels are super lux and of course the food is the most delicious on earth!

I've been twice, one for holiday when I was little and one when I was 23, and I was touring with an American amateur theatrical company, giving performances of The Three Penny Opera (Roger D. comes to mind) and Carnival.

Ah, summer nostalgia in the middle of December!

Oh, what fun it is to chat!

2005-12-12T22:37:00.000Z

Event: The Basement Jam Loop Chat
Date: Sunday 11th December 2005
Time: 10.30pm - 02.30am GMT
Place: BallerinaGurl's ChatRoom
Hosted by: KidRic and lil' ol' moi
Special Guests: Rachel Fuller and Stuee Ross!!! - Pete Townshend said hello through Rachel!
Participants - in alphabetical order:
Anne-Marie, Belinda, Ben Reeve, Case Sequence, Claire-Eliza, Dale, Delbut, Denise Purcell (whoiefromstlouie), Jack, Janey, Jlee, KidRic, Koos, Lisa (Nabonidus), Maria(E.L. Wisty), Marietta, Mary, Meg, Michelle (Lifeimmitatesart), Mike, Molly(BallerinaGurl), Pkeets, PTfan, Rai (Andrew - Jack's friend), Sue (Suesjoy), Tausha, Ticharu.
Special appearance: Lexi ( Mollyagain, BallerinaGurl's daughter.)

That was so much fun!!! Thirty of us watching the Basement Jam loop and chatting for four whole hours!

I went into the chatroom at around 10pm. My first question was by Rachel! This made me so happy! Our famous, adorable guest star had showed up!
BRILLIAN!!! (without a T, as Rachel says it, LOL)
I asked Rachel the question I forgot to ask last Sunday, if she's ever been to Greece and she said she's been to Halkidiki and she fell in love... That made me very happy and very proud of my beautiful little country!
Rachel hung around for another fifteen minutes, she said Pete was saying hi to all of us (*faint!*) and sadly she said goodbye. Thank you, Rachel for honouring us with your lovely presence, thank you Pete for acknowledging us!

People had already gathered round, including our host, KidRic and our lady of the manor, Molly. Bloggers were coming from UK, USA, Finland, the Netherlands and Canada if I remember correctly. Fingers were blistered and keyboards were on fire as each one was writing a little something and the lines were disappearing quickly from the screen. ROFLs, LOLs and BRBs were everywhere, :), ;-) and :o) were decorating the chat. Some people were coming and going due to problems with java and other technical difficulties. Talks about music, the show, Rachel, Pete, guitars, jazz, dreams, clothes, travel, invitations to each other's city, this was one fun chat! At some point I was chatting in three different windows! So funny!

So we went on like that for the next four hours. Twenty minutes before the end of the show, Stuart Ross, a.k.a. Stuee, Rachel's bassist came in to the chatroom. He's a fantastic chap, his humour was having us in stitches. And very talented too!!! Stuee, it's been real!

The show was coming to an end and sadly it was time for me to go. It was nearly 3am and I was working early in the morning. I said my bye byes and clicked on the X. I felt sad to leave, but I had a smile on my face because I had a blast!

Thank you Ric, for hosting and Molly for giving us your space! Kisses to both of you! And to everyone who took part: you're the coolest bloggers on the planet!

Please visit KidRic's blog for some hilarious excerpts from the chat.

Also, please do me a favour and visit my Quiiiiit blog . I’m doing a kind of survey and I would like your input. I’ll keep the same post for a couple of days so that I get some feedback…

Thank you!

UPDATE for the LOOP CHAT

2005-12-11T00:26:00.000Z

Event: The Basement Jam Loop Chat
Date: Sunday 11th December 2005
Time: 22.30 GMT - 17.30 EASTERN
Place: BallerinaGurl's ChatRoom
Hosted by: KidRic and little ol' mois
Special Guests: have been invited, watch this space!

Useful links: Towser TV, Time Zone converter

Be at the Chatroom 15 minutes prior to the loop, for canapés cocktails and small talk...

Check here or at KidRic's blog for updates.

MY BIG FAT GREEK CHRISTMAS

2005-12-10T23:30:00.000Z

My Christmas tree this year.
Rather minimal if you exclude the 60 or so twinkling lights. And that's my only Christmas decoration in my house.

I'd love to have a house with a garden and a fireplace and then I would go full deco! The tackiest the better, LOL!

What I'm missing from my Greek Christmas every year:

Neighborhood children singing "kalanda" (Christmas carols) on Christmas Eve and New Years Eve. They knock on our doors every morning, really early and we have to give them money. They compete each other who will be the earliest one.

I remember in 1982, it must have been around midnight, I was home in Greece and my doorbell rung. Back then we were not scared that a serial killer or a burglar would come in to cut us into slices, so after I asked who it was and the answer was "Shall we sing for you?" ("Na Ta Poume?" in Greek) I opened the door. A male choir with all kinds of musical instruments started chanting "Silent Night". It was magical. When I closed the door I had tears in my eyes.
I didn't see them in any of the following years, but I will always remember that night.

The food:

Loaves of "Christopsomo" (bread of Christ), a sweet bread formed into shapes of our choice, absolutely delicious. I can eat a whole loaf by myself!

On Christmas Day we eat turkey as well, but that's an imported tradition, I remember eating mostly veal in the old days.

Melomakarona, I think they are equivalent to macaroons (help me here Greek Zoe!). Scrumptuous cookies dripping on honey with almond meg on top. Mamma!
Vasilopitta, or Christmas cake, right after the New Year has come. We hide a pound (gold coin) into the cake. Whoever finds the coin in his or her piece of cake will have good luck in the coming year. Of course little children are always "lucky". I must have won every year until I was 16 or something... Oh, and this year too :o)

The stories about the sprites, or "kallikantzari" we used to hear when we were kids.
These sprites are known to slide down the chimney between Christmas and Epiphany (January 6) and play mischievous pranks on your family. Now most of the houses in Athens don't have chimneys and the children prefer PS2 games than listening to kallikantzari stories.

The exchanging of the gifts on Christmas Eve in my house. Every year, around 8pm after our dinner we would gather round the tree and give gifts to one another. For me it was always the pleasure of giving rather of getting a present. I would try and find the perfect gift for everybody. I still do. Plus, I'm a professionally trained gift wrapper (yo,yo)!
The only problem is I now have to send most of my gifts, and I don't see the reaction on their faces.

What is the best Christmas gift you ever had? Mine has to be my first video recorder in 1983. My life has never been the same again.

In the old days we did not decorate a tree, but a ship. Greece is a nautical country and Saint Nicolas, or Santa Claus is the patron of sailors. We also call Father Christmas Saint Basil and celebrate his day on January the 1st.

New Years's day we would gather at around 1pm to watch the New Year's concert from Vienna. I still watch it from London, I always call home and we cry together when the first notes of the Blue Danube are heard. Magic!

LORD!

2005-12-10T02:13:00.000Z

I just watched myself on the Basement Jam loop. Reliving the moment was well worth the wait! Can't believe it was me in the Attic with Rachel!!!
No words can express my joy and gratitude!

I had a lot of problems with my computer tonight, it's getting slower and slower. The feed was excellent, but when I tried to jump from window to window it took aaaages.

Working until quite late tomorrow, so I'll post pics of my Xmas decs late at night, and also update the Quiiiiit blog. Doing the advent calendar has given me the chance to find quite interesting things on the net. And quite fun too.

Also, Sunday we'll have a chat over at BallerinaGurl's chatroom, during the loop. I guess 8pm UK time, I'm waiting for confirmation by Kid Ric. I'd love to help with the hosting, Kid Ric, and I'll try right now (2.45 am!) to invite that special someone!!!! Let's hope she says yes! That would be awesome...!!!!

Best Of The Mamas And The Papas

2005-12-08T22:57:00.000Z

Romantic, soulful, melodic, harmonic, mystical.
These are only a few words that come to mind when I think of The Mamas And The Papas.

I have transferred the following five songs:

1. California Dreamin'
2. Monday Monday
3. I Saw Her Again Last Night
4. Creque Alley
5. Dream A Little Dream Of Me - Mama Cass

Again, I have to say that although California Dreamin' is their greatest hit and brings to me certain nostalgia, it's the other four songs on my list that I prefer.

Especially no4, Creque Alley. I first heard it on Mojo Radio. I instantly understood it was TMATP singing. After the second time I heard it I was in love with the song. The tune does something to me. And I love the lyrics at the end: "...and California Dreamin' is becoming a reality"

LISTEN TO IT: in a convertible car, American Highway, sunset, a breeze, your loved one by your side. Or that's where I feel I am when I listen to this album.

Old News...

2005-12-07T23:45:00.000Z

Hey, remember that trip to Amsterdam, couple of weeks ago?
I finally managed to edit a video. It plays on Windows Media Player.
Silvery Moon Flat is just a name I gave to my imaginary production company, LOL.
Ah, one day!

Turn your speakers up to listen to two songs on the soundtrack. First one starts after 20 seconds. I hope you like them, I think they are quite fitting with the atmosphere of the video.

ENJOY!!!

Still there...

2005-12-06T01:08:00.000Z

My head is still full of beautiful images from last night. I want to write poems about it, sing songs (when no one 's around...), dance, scream, shout about it to the world! What these people have given to me. How these two and a half months have been the best of the year!
I've called everyone I know and talked about it of course, hehehe.

Sorry to hear some of you couldn't watch the show. Loop will be up on Thursday, according to Matt Kent on Pete's site.
I need to get some sleep though, I feel very tired. I had a nap when I got home and at about 10pm I started posting comments to various fellow bloggers.
Then Monsieur Bloggeur turned nasty to me again and I couldn't connect to more blogs. So I have posted a comment on my previous post for the people I couldn't visit: Casesequence, Ali, Dale, KidRic, JoeBoy, Mike and Tausha.

I managed to update my Quiiiiit blog and now I can go to bed...happy!

Tomorrow night more updates, more comments, more news and music!!!!

Sleep tight and sweet dreams...

Pinch me!

2005-12-05T03:05:00.000Z

Clockwise from left: Mark, Koos, Jim, Debby, Stephanie, Gary, Jill and me

It didn't really happen...
Or did it?

Was I really there? Did I do what I remember doing?
Or was it all a dream?

No, it was REAL and I have witnesses too!!!

It's 5pm and I'm very cold, I'm walking in Richmond on my way to the Aisla Taverna in the hope that I will find some of my fellow bloggers, before the Basement Jam.

As soon as I open the door, I hear my name. Mark and Jill are there. So is Koos F, who is a boy by the way. Sitting with us are Gary and Stephanie, Jim and Debby, all from the USA, all fantastic. After a while Delbut is there too. This is great!

After a couple of drinks, we head for the Oceanic Studios. It's still freezing. I meet Paul and Pieter from Holland and Andrea from Italy. People start gathering around the gates and the anticipation and excitement are evident from everyone...

Finally the gates open and we go in the basement studio. There are chairs and tables, so we pick one and we sit down. It's freezing because the air conditioning is on.

My heart is beating fast... I'm finally here!

The show starts at around 7:30pm from the Attic.
And then we see Rachel coming down. The applause are bringing the house down. I'm so happy!

Mikey with his lovely voice, which I find more amazing everytime I hear it, sings five beautiful songs, and my favourite Plasticine is among them. In his final song, Pigeon Friend everybody's joining in. This is starting to be a great night!

Simon. Ah, Simon! So happy to see him live again. I love his songs so much, and I was so happy that now I knew all the ones he performed tonight. He perfomed six awesome songs including Save Me From Me, Girl In New York (*sob*) and ending with Sex Change, Simon delivered a brilliant performance. And I was getting warmer...

Then Foy hit the stage. What can I say? I think since the Bedford gig I had the need to see Foy sing again. I absolutely loved the last song Bailie's Blood. Foy's got a unique voice with such feeling. An incredible talent.

During the break I met Mikey who signed my CD and took this picture with me. He's so sweet. Simon was very sweet too to sign my Simontownshendis CD. Thank you both so much, you are so kind!

After the break: RACHEL! Her songs and voice have been the soundtrack of the last two months and for me was like coming home, when she started singing Into My Heart. Her band was incredible tonight! Rachel was amazing! Lovely Spin and Jigsaw made my day!

And then another break. And then something happened, this is where it got surreal. I saw Rachel in front of me, I called her name and I introduced myself. She said hi very sweetly, like she knew me forever and then she said "Marietta, come to the Attic with me"

I was dreaming, right? Mark and Jill came with us and we entered a room, which was probably the control room. A man was standing in the middle of the room and said hi politely. Rachel introduced me, then Mark and Jill, and the man shook my hand. A warm handshake, a warm smile that warmed my heart.

The man was Pete Townshend.

I always thought that if I ever met Pete I would just stare and say something like "bradithn klstewa parlsx". Tonight another Marietta said to him "I am so happy to meet you" and I smiled back at him.

I can't remember how I got in the Attic. By flying? Floating? Dunno. So there we were, Mark, Jill and lil' ol' mois, us ordinary bloggers, with Queen Blogger Rachel, in the friggin' Attic!!!! The very room we watched every week. This was getting too good to be true. And then we were live! I got hyper and I was talking continuously, don't know if anyone noticed, but I feel bad about it now. But it was a magical moment. Rachel is so sweet to invite us. I gave her the Little Book Of Quitting, which I hope it will help her.

Back in the room, I mean the studio, Mr Pete Townshend gave a performance that made me scream, shout, faint, dizzy, all together.

Behind Blue Eyes was just incredible. He was amazing.
Blue Red and Grey uniquely sung.
Pete told us about the history of the studio where we were and he was very sweet and funny, in a great mood.

I had a taxi waiting outside, so I ran quickly to let them know I will be another 20 minutes. The show took another half hour, with Pete ending his performance with a fabulous Let's See Action and then Rachel and Pete together singing amazingly Sunrise and Just Breathe.

The show ended with the whole gang singing Shine, which was fantastic. I don't think I've heard it before, I loved it!

It was time to go. I walked out in the cold, but I was warm inside. My cab driver was waiting patiently for me. I said to him "Sorry to keep you waiting so long. If there's anything extra I'll gladly pay it. In fact, I don't care if you charged me a million pounds, a night like tonight is worth it!!!!"

50th post, Basement Jam and...smenita

2005-12-04T00:43:00.000Z

Hey everyone,

Very quick post because it's late, I've been working until 8pm and I barely keep my eyes open.

First of all, WOW! 50 posts!!!! I've joined Blogger on the 20th of October and I've been trying to write almost every day. It's been great being able to express myself and have such fab comments. The highlight of it all is that I have made lots of new friends through Blogger. Some of them I'll meet tomorrow at the Basement Jam and some others, I hope I meet soon. But even if we don't meet we have great communication through the reciprocation of comments through our blogs, don't you agree?

Speaking of comments. I've been trying to leave comments in various blogs and I was getting the same word verification: smenita and my comment wasn't published. Do you have the same problem? If you do let me know...erm, doh! LOL. Well, I hope it's fixed by tomorrow.

Tomorrow, tomorrow, that is TODAY! Yes the day for the Basement Jam has come and I'm absolutely ecstatic. Rachel's posts excite me more and more and everybody's all happy and as nuts as I am!
I just wish some of the fab bloggers from USA would have been able to be here, Molly, PTfan, Brina, Zoe, Dale, Kid Ric, JoeBoy, Ali, Lisa and Tausha.
I hope you have fun at Molly's chatroom. I'll be thinking of you.
If I forgot anyone sorry, way too tired, I'm typing with one eye open...

I'll update Sunday night as soon as I walk in. I might be exhausted but the adrenaline will still be high and I'll be hyper!!!

LONG LIVE ROCK !

I love December in London!

2005-12-02T23:50:00.000Z

Somerset House

I had to have it!

Glamorous Regent Street

People are asking me if I'll go home during Christmas. The answer every year is the same: No. a) Because I can't, I'm working and b) Because I don't want to.

I love spending December and Christmas in London. The city is so beautiful, full of lights and Christmas trees, red, green and gold everywhere, Father Christmas, gifts, people in coats, hats and gloves, I just love it.

For me and for some other people it's going to be work-work-work for the next two months, but when I come out of work and see the atmosphere around me I feel happy.

I love December in London! I love London in December!

I started writing on my Quiiiit blog again.

I will have something different every day until Christmas day, and after that I might write every now and then, to update you with my progress.
It's going v. well and people still can't believe it!

Click on the advent calendar

to go to my Quiiiiit blog.

You think that's funny?

2005-12-01T17:23:00.000Z

'Cause I do!

Balloon Man

A man in a hot air balloon realized he was lost. He reduced altitude and spotted a woman below. He descended a bit more and shouted,

"Excuse me, can you help me? I promised a friend I would meet him an hour ago, but I don't know where I am."

The woman below replied, "You are in a hot air balloon hovering approximately 30 feet above the ground. You are between 40 and 41 degrees north latitude and between 59 and 60 degrees west longitude."

"You must be an engineer," said the balloonist."I am," replied the woman, "How did you know?"

"Well," answered the balloonist, "everything you told me is, technically correct, but I have no idea what to make of your information, and the fact is I am still lost. Frankly, you've not been much help so far."

The woman below responded, "You must be in Management." "I am," replied the balloonist, "but how did you know?"

"Well," said the woman, "you don't know where you are or where you are going. You have risen to where you are due to a large quantity of hot air. You made a promise, which you have no idea how to keep, and you expect people beneath you to solve your problems. The fact is you are in exactly the same position you were in before we met, but now, somehow, it's my fault."

X-RAYS

What would happen if you had x-ray vision? Click here and then run your mouse over the people on the bus stop. Oh, the humanity!

Beatles For Sale

2005-12-01T09:28:00.000Z

I don't know why they say this was an album recorded in a rush, therefore is not as good as some others.
I find the songs absolutely beautiful, very "Beatle-ish" and true classics.
I have transferred the following songs:

No Reply: I think this song makes me nervous, a "I f...ing text you three times this week, where the hell are you?" sort of feeling! (which never happened to me btw, three times? phah!)
Baby's in Black: it's a cute song, it's different, not very famous and I really like it.
Rock'n'Roll Music: absolutely brilliant, one of my very favourites.
I'll Follow The Sun: I love the Sun, I love this song and I love the Beatles for creating that song.
Eight Days A Week: A beautiful classic Beatles song, from beginning to the end it takes me to another time.
Honey Don't: Ringo singing a Carl Perkins song, George on the guitar, great combo!
Every Little Thing: the melody is fabulous and the lyrics are great, such an uplifting song!

LISTEN TO IT: take it to the park for a walk, to the car for a ride, to the garden for a barbecue or for a coctail during sunset. Whenever you listen to it, it's perfect soundtrack to your day.