I went to the cinema

... like I do very often on Mondays with my friend Voula. The only thing noteworthy is that we went to see a greek film. I don't often see greek films at the cinema - I'm not a great fan of greek cinema (even though on occasion good films are made).

Mavro Livadi (Black Field) is a good film for those who like arty cinema. The photography is magnificent, as are the locations and the music is very well done too. The acting isn't bad either, even though like most arty greek films they hardly do any talking. I'm assuming it won't be shown abroad, even though it's good enough to be.

In a desperate bid to cheer myself up...

I have decided to try and pay more attention to the pleasant things that happen to me each day. So today I counted three pleasant things: 1. I got to wake up one hour later than usual (extra sleep is always a reason for cheer), because before going to the office today I had to go to the town planning office (which is only a ten minute walk from my house). 2. On the bus home from the work this evening the point we crested the hill after the first cemetery and the Acropolis came into view. Sudden glimpses of the Acropolis always make me feel happy and light-hearted! The last couple of years I feel even happier with the view, because somewhere there, under the Rock, is my house! (I love my apartment - small balconies and noisy neighbours and all - and I love my neighbourhood!) 3. During my dance class this evening when I realised that I can now stretch that little bit more than I used to. We have to take our small victories when we can! Well, they're small and pathetic, but they're better than nothing!

Apropos of absolutely nothing...

Just a completely random thought.

I was cleaning beetroot leaves before boiling them, when I was suddenly struck by how beautiful they are. Maybe I liked the look of them so much because I am partial to pairing deep green with scarlet, or maybe I am just losing it. I must be losing it, because I decided that sharing this observation was a good idea. I even took a picture to prove my point!




Please note my lovely marble sink...

I don't know what to do with myself

Usually when I'm depressed I do one or all of the following:

• Read Pride and Prejudice for the 1285th time. (I find it the ultimate feel-good book. I can never decide if I identify more with Elizabeth - too smart for her own good and prone to jump to conclusions and put her foot in her mouth - or Darcy - shy, socially awkward and prone to put his foot in his mouth.)

• Buy and read a new Harry Potter book. (I read the first four books during periods of great depression at university. Unfortunately I have now read all the series and have to find a new series of children's fantasy fiction to fill it's space.)

• Play Belle and Sebastian on repeat (especially Tigermilk.)



• Watch old 80s films like The Breakfast Club or Pretty in Pink or a couple of Dr Who episodes (the new series) while eating chocolate/ice cream.

Only lately I don't feel like doing any of the above, and am feeling quite at loose ends with my depression. I'm trying to fill in the gaps with old episodes of Never Mind the Buzzcocks on Youtube, but it's not quite working.

Wearing makeup in the rain

This year's Carnival Alley Cat Race took place this Sunday.



So I put on my bicycle shoes
got all dressed up

and went!
Even though it was pouring with rain!

Let me tell you this, it's no easy feat riding a bicycle in the rain with glasses, face paint, a ton of mascara and eyeliner and no hat! My brakes got water logged and I could only slow down but not stop! I couldn't see a thing through my rain speckled glasses and my eyes were stinging from the running make up. I think I must be some sort of masochist!

However, despite these overwhelming odds, I made it to the end. Amongst the last as usual.

The itinerary this time was easy (making allowance for the bad weather).
Here it is for all you who know Athens:
Start: Arcade opposite Rex Theatre on Panepistimiou Street
1st checkpoint: Archeological Museum on Patission Street
2nd checkpoint: Propulea (University Building) on Panepistimiou Street
3rd checkpoint: Kallimarmaro Stadium
4th checkpoint: The Fix Building on Syggrou Street
5th checkpoint: The Chinese Arcade in Kerameikos on Pireos Street
6th checkpoint: "Kanaria", a taverna in Metaxourgeio
Finish: Higgs bar in Kotzia Square.

Once we got there, wet and tired, awards were given to the first to arrive, a consolation piniata was broken by the last to arrive (I was amongst them!) and then we partied!

All in all it wasn't too bad.

I tried my best on Saturday, but...

It turned rather a wash out.

It's Carnival season in Greece! Carnival lasts about three weeks, and then it's Lent and fasting (not that many people bother fasting). I love dressing up, so any excuse is good for me!

On Saturday a friend of mine invited me to her dance school's (Gene Kelly) fancy dress party.
I though, what the hell, it's an excuse to get dressed up, and so I went. I decided to go as a 1920's flapper. I had the shoes (dance shoes for traditional dances, yet very similar to 20s shoes, cuban heel and all), the dress (a nice short Custo dress I bought for a cousin's wedding, not exactly correct but a good approximation) and the long gloves. I went and got myself some cheap fake pearls and made myself a head-dress. Even though the head-dress didn't actually go with my hair colour in the end (I have dark brown hair and I used a black ribbon and shiny black feathers with a nice gaudy button with fake diamonds), I had a lot of fun making it. A problem was my hair. I have long straight hair and didn't want to get a wig. I tried doing pin curls, but they didn't have time to dry so they were a failure. In the end I pinned my hair up in a rush and hoped for the best!

Unfortunately it was raining on saturday and it turned my feathers limp. I took the photo the next day.


I was running late and didn't have time to take a photo before I left, so I took one when I got home, at 3.30 in the morning. That's why it's so bad...

After all that, the actual party turned out rather pathetic. I didn't have high expectations, this was a dance school after all!, but it turned out even worse that I thought it would be. Ah well...

Coming up next: what I did on Sunday! (It was a lot more fun!)