Ok - let's take this bit by bit.

So, the other day a book arrived for me from Amazon.  It was left in the hallway of my building, on the desk with all the other post.  I'm in a rush to get to work and have a bag full of schoolbooks, aka FULL so I decide against taking said post right now and figure I'll pick it up on my return from work.
Hmmmmm - only to find on return from work, said post has disappeared. 
"Ok," I muse "let's give someone the benefit of the doubt and assume they have mistakenly taken it" (God I am so naive sometimes - but I believe, to some extend, in hope.  Without hope we might as well all jump off the Golden Gate Bridge).

I digress.

Not there the next day.  Nor the next.  It is at this point I am pushed too far and let RIP via various text messages to my poor landlady (a very sweet Greek girl who is quite concerned for me and, I think justifiably, more concerned by the number of 'mad' ranting texts she's receiving from her tenant!)
Anyway, she kindly writes a message in English and Greek about the fact a book was taken, I expect it to be returned to the post desk - if it is not done so I can only assume it's been stolen and involve the police (as if the police here would do anything!  But still, that's not the point...)

And GUESS WHAT??  A week later, the book is humbly returned to the desk - in its cardboard Amazon packaging and re-sellotaped up!  I mean, the person even bothered to re-tape it for me (making it obvious someone'd opened it!)

I am JOYOUS by this stage - openly clutching my package in the hallway, ripping down my messages I posted up and smiling broadly - believing maybe there IS hope in the world. 
A woman sees me doing this and asks me in Greek if it's my book (I assume she is asking this, my Greek is still appallingly bad and I decide she's doing this because she's pointing at my book and at the place the signs were stuck). 
"Nai" I yell happily, "Ego" ("me" is the literal translation and don't forget I have to use pigeon Greek).
She smiles at me, clearly used to seeing people doing this in the hallway (it's amazing what Greeks find odd and find normal) and pats my arm, then proceeds do to the following (try and picture):

Hand extended in a vertical position, fingers apart, hand moved in a circle motion near side of head/brain and the other hand (struggling with the dog's lead) also pointing at the ceiling (with the poor dog almost being pulled up to the ceiling too).  She kept repeating "Tesera" (4) and I can only assume that she was saying some crazy person on the 4th floor nicked my post. 
I just gave a good natured smile/shrug and repeated the eye rolling/hand circle movement and repeating 'Nai' ('Yes') ie; "Yes I agree with you, Greek woman, there is a crazy person in this building who clearly thinks it ok to take post."  Meanwhile I am looking worriedly at her dog - she really is straining its lead by pointing at the 4th floor - until I can bear it no longer and pull her hand down whilst pointing at the poor dog and shrugging helplessly.  She laughs embarrassingly, then does the crazy hand gesture as herself then takes herself off up the stairs (probably to the 4th floor).

Any other hand gestures anyone can think of?  There are plenty in this country - too many for this post alone, but I'm sure we'll have time to discuss them another day.

I was quite happily purchasing a light bulb from my local electrical store (not really significant to the story, but never mind - a bit of detail always helps to add atmosphere).

Old(ish) woman in shop:  "You're English." (statement, not question)
Me:  "Yes"
Her: "You married?"
Me: "No"
Her: "Why not?"
Me: "Err......  (while I'm still pondering this)...
Her: "Never mind, you meet some nice Greek boy"

I had heard friends jokingly telling me that this might happen, but it actually did...yesterday...at 10:30am.

On a seperate occasion a good friend's aunt met me for the first time, just after I had got my first foster cat to look after from NineLives Greece
I'm introduced to the aunt by my friend and my friend explains (in Greek) about the fact I've just got a cat to look after.
Aunt: "You young girls these days.  No men for you, only cats."

The 'good Greek boy:'  OK, for those of you in the know and with experience, you'll probably understand why I choose the company of cats!  Am I destined to turn into one of those women...you know, the type that has 40 or so cats in her home? I bloody hope not - but read this article by Anastasia Barbadonis and you'll understand about 'those good Greek boys.'


Find me one who hasn't been breastfed by his mother up to the age of 30 years (ugh,) and I will happily consider marrying him.

                                               Photo taken from an excellent article by  http://au.greekreporter.com/2010/04/14/greek-background-couples-in-australia-mamas-boy/

...the police have cordoned off the street, stand with their shields in preparation for a demonstration to get 'messy'?


Yes, it's amazing what an everyday life can be like for different people in different countries/continents.
Anyone else have odd experiences that differ from their 'usual' routine? 

Blurred shot of where I tried to capture the guards without them knowing I was taking a photo * Like what you've read?  Then follow me on Twitter and Facebook

Yes, I actually agreed with my dear friend to go and see this movie (you know the correct title guys) yesterday night.  I was REALLY sceptical, having attempted to read the book and not really liking it that much.
But I was pleasantly surprised.  The movie concentrated less on the author's 'me me me' obsession that was a re-occurring theme throughout the book and more, I thought, about actually learning stuff about herself.

The fact that she found a man in the end in Bali - initially I was of the opinion she had sold herself short and stopped trying to find herself.  But the movie deals with it really well with lines such as:
"I don't have to love you to prove that I love myself!"
and
"Sometimes in life, in order to find true balance internally, we need to go off balance through finding love externally."

Most of all, the message I gleaned was DON'T BE AFRAID TO TAKE RISKS!  Most importantly, take risks in love.  First of all by loving yourself, then through loving others.

Now, MY biggest love is my whole life at the moment:  I took a risk, coming out here and then loosing the job before I even started (see previous posts).  Now I love my work, I love my flat, my friends are important to me, I love moussaka and I love Linguine, my cat ( I mean, just LOOK at these pics of him - you're a hard, hard person if you're not moved to feel just a teenie, tiny bit of 'Ahhhhhh!' when you look at him).

And I should be thanking the author of "Eat, Pray, Love" - she has inspired me to attempt to write my OWN book.  I figure I have a lot of international experiences and as my Bio says, all have helped shape who I am today.  So why the hell not?  Take RISKS and this is one risk I am taking.

So if you like my blog, I am pleased.  Look out (probably in the very distant future!) for a book version.

Happy Sunday everyone, wherever you are in the world reading this.  I hope you're loving your Sunday (and your life).  You deserve to.

Yes, apparently I don't get enough human psychos in my life and need an animal one too.  The cat, it has been decided, is beyond 'just a hyperactive kitty' and is bordering on unhinged (the story of  my life!!!)
Well, I guess you'd be unhinged too if someone tried to drown you more than once.

I'm trying to be patient, I really am!  But I might be scarred for life, literally and in the physical sense!  I have so many scratches and bites, I'm loosing count.  I went to the nice Greek//South African pharmacist yesterday to get some antibacterial cream for them and she told me she had a cat once and took him to a cat psychologist (?!).  My guess was this was in South Africa - I doubt cat psychologists exist in Greece!  Anyway, he told her to gently bite the ear of said cat when he does something you don't like (the mother cat does this).   HA!!!  Yeah right!  If I can get my face anywhere near his ear without further lacerations or even having my eye taken out!!!

Any suggestions??  Cat Ritalin anyone??