Scottish Adventures

[mariads]

Hi Sylvia... thanks for the warm invitation. I can't apologise enough regarding the recipe, however, as I had said: when it rains, it pours...
What I wouldn't give to be able to 'pop over' to Scotland for a week or so... No can do, however, this year.
I've had my share of 'adventures' while on all my trips abroad. One of the most notable moments was at a Tesco store on my last trip to Scotland. This was, to my good fortune, one of the reeeeeally big ones. You name it, it was there. And poor old me with three kids in tow. My two daughters (aged 6 and 15 then) and my niece who also celebrated her 18th in Scotland. The girls were absolutely thrilled at being in a 'consumer's paradise' (including the little one). So you had 4 lively Greeks in a huge Tesco, lots of people around... and guess who were the absolutely ONLY ones that could be heard... Oh, yes, your 4 lively Greeks. It's astonishing, however, to think that so many people in one closed space and so little noise... except for the Greeks... and we were heard quite clearly ACROSS the department store in both languages, Greek and English. People were lovely... and very understanding as soon as they cottoned on to the fact that we were 'decendants of Alexander the Great' and his hoards...

You would not believe some of the mischief I got up to when I was in Rome in November 2006... those are tales for another time. It is needless to say, however, that Greek genes run ferociously in me and mine... we absolutely refuse to be 'disciplined'. And there are even more stories from my trip to Egypt (ah, what and experience!!!!!!) in 2002.
Speak to you again soon,
Yassou my friend,
Maria

[Sylvia]

I really hadn't expected to hear from you soon - absolutely delighted and had a stupid grin on my face whilst reading about your Tesco visit, about time the dreaded supermarket was livened up a bit. As you have probably realized I don't like to shop in Tesco - not one of my favourite places.

I was just thinking back to the eating place (stifado and chips (french fries) for me) we used to go to almost every night, the noise was unbelievable even when there was maybe only another two tables occupied. We really loved that ..well you couldn't call it a restaurant - we'll go for tavern. Ron is not an alcohol drinker or a football fan but ever since then he supports Parathan...kos? and I think he had a few problems coming along the winding road to our apartment on a few occasions. I used to sit on the balcony watching for the torchlight wavering up the lane: a result of the national drink - Ouzo? I think the Greeks are similar to the Scots in their friendliness and welcoming natures. We also have similar nuisances - mosquitoes and the dreaded midges.

Have you observed that the Scots (particularly sober ones) are generally very quiet speakers - sometimes toooo quiet.

Shame you can't make it to Edinburgh soon - the Festival is on and it is like United Nations at the moment. You would be hard pushed to find a Scot on Princes Street in the next 6 weeks.

Lovely to hear from you

Sylvia446

[mariads]

Yassou again Sylvia,
I love the raport in places like this... whether or not I actually have free time... I will always find the time. Happy to hear that I put a smile on your face. It was well deserved after all the time you had been waiting for the recipe! Stifado and chips it most certainly is, my friend... with lots of country bread on the side. What you've described regarding aaaaany Greek eating place is spot on! You can always hear Greeks before you see them. We actually became quite popular at Tesco. Added a bright note to the day. And you are right about Scots being relatively quiet, however, I have had more than just a few experiences with Scots which proved this wrong... perhaps being a loud Greek proved contagious... even without the drinks. But I do love Scots and, yes, there are quite a few things we have in common (aside from the mosies). I can't say enough about how friendly and welcoming just about every Scot we met was. Quiet but extremely warm people. Although quiet is not necessarily the case when you come on holiday to Greek islands... and that is EXACTLY how it should be... go with the flow, so to speak. The Scots are greatly liked here in Zakynthos. And both nations have enormously independent, fighting spirits. Did you know that Scotland was actually baptised Scotland by ancient Greek sailors? 'Scot' comes from the Greek word 'scottos' - darkness... land of darkness because of the short daylight span and the weather (although I'm a sucker for Scottish wet weather!!!).

Ouzo is most certainly the national drink over here although personally I can't stand the stuff. Mind you, I don't drink generally... no alcohol tolerance... add a few drinks to an already 'ephervesant' character... Your husband is a Panathenaikos supporter? Oh, well, we can't have everything. You can pass on a message from an Olympiakos supporter that: to err is human.

I'd love to be able to make it to Edinburgh at ANY time but unfortunately it's not even a remote possibility for a couple of years. My older daughter is off to Athens in September to study choreography and dance. It's been her life-long dream to be a choreographer/dance teacher/dancer. And the dance school is a private institution (Greece is very much behind the times still in the arts)... so we're looking at private fees, rent, furniture, you name it. God bless her... she's promised me a solo with the song 'Flashdance what a feeling' dedicated to me when she gets going. Our kids have priority.

I'll close this with the terrific picture you described of your last Greek holiday. Sooooooo Greek. Please know, Sylvia, that should you ever find yourselves in Zakynthos on holiday, you have a friend here waiting for you.
Speak to you soon,
Maria
P.S. I loved Haggis (although I didn't know I was eating it). It was already well and gone when I was kindly informed of what it was exactly that I had just consumed with so much delight... my face was a picture! My niece, on the other hand, who is way to cunning for her age, wouldn't even take a bite cos she just knew soooomething was not quite right. Me? If it doesn't move and doesn't have any hairs or feathers on it, I'll eat it...

[Sylvia]

Hi Maria,

I sent to your personal email did you get it?

I know exactly what you mean "kids come first", our youngest attended Edinburgh Uni for 4 years. We had to curtail our expenses so that he could go on and do his Honours. Even though we live close to Edinburgh, he stayed in Edinburgh at term times and the cost of accommodation there was crippling.

If it is any consolation - it has been well worth the sacrifice.

Hope you are getting some time to relax a little.

Sylvia446

[mariads]

Hi Sylvia,
Yep, I got your email. Sorry, I tend to fall off the face of the earth sometimes... as I said a while back, when it rains, it pours. Sometimes so many things crop up simultaneously that I am on the pc for literally hours. THAT'S when I do a 'Houdini' for a while.

I know Edinburgh can be very expensive indeed (but what a fantastic city!!!!!!!!!!!!). Isn't that the case with just about all capitals and academically oriented cities? Although I already know it's well worth the sacrifice (can't even see it as that), your words were still encouraging. Thank you. Will reply to both your emails right now.

lotsaluv
Maria

[Sylvia]

Yassou Maria,

It really is strange - here am I 17 miles from one of your favourite destinations the weather is appalling and you would be in your element. And you, you are soaking up the heat that I can only dream of, shame about the mossies. It will be interesting to find out if these plug- in dermatik 6 in one deterrents work - they have done excellent work here in Scotland, usually our biggest problems are spiders and beetles, have only seen one beetle (and it wasn't Paul) ;D and no spiders, they worked in Spain, but the mossies there are softies compared to the Greek ones. Can you give us all a little hint of what you take to keep you going.

I have been buying some wonderful plump sweet cherries recently from our little fruit market in the next village - they are really expensive but by jings they are worth it and of course they are Greek?!! Means that I would have to be Greek bound in July - I DON'T THINK SO!, I'll have to enjoy the imported ones. Did you know that they are a good help for the pain caused by Gout?

As you spent many years in Australia, Nancy has an Australian message board - you may be interested in, if you can find some of that very elusive time.

I'm sure the Landers have a chortle here listening to your vivid and colourful tales of all the visits you have paid to Scotland and would love to hear about your other exotic trips. Tell your widow friend my love and thoughts are with her and her Family.

Must serve dinner Tara for now.

Sylvia446