A sunray.

Our dear friend's dear daughter is getting better and better every day. She started communicating with her mother. We are all very very happy. Thank you all for your prayers and wishes.

Some photos....

...........of what Thessaloniki (especially my neighbourhood) looks like at the time!
Sunday night.Two weeks that the rubbish trucks have not collected the rubbish.
Two huge bins that do not belong to our block of flats but to the two blocks opposite ours are under my balcony.

 Tuesday night.One day after the open air market. Three bins and lots more rubbish. The rubbish trucks did not collect anything.And the whole neighbourhood leaves their rubbish here,under my balcony.I cannot open the doors.

No there is no strike. Simply the Municipality has not paid the gas for the rubbish trucks so they can't move and collect the rubbish.They say it is the previous mayor's fault for not paying the bills but who suffers as always?

Also the majority of the workers were fired as they were not permanent staff.Till they hire more people we are bound to this?I am depressed.

Support Japan!

A group of blog friends have decided to make a sale of their etsy products with the profits going to Japan and its people.
Please have a look at them!
Margie from Resurrection Fern, Sonia from Cozymemories, Jill from Today I saw, Nanou, Joanie of Nini Makes and others are participating in this.Wouldn't it be a great idea to support in such a way?And at the same time purchase some lovely handcrafted items?
I love the dragonfly Margie made for their banner.I love dragonflies and I just found out they symbolise courage,strength and happiness!Exactly what we all need in our lives.

Am I a coward?

Friday morning.Five o'clock.In my sleep I hear two blunt noises and then smashing glass. I ran to the balcony door and see the back of a young man breaking into a shop opposite my house. I rush and phone the police. I continue watching behind the curtains.After a couple of minutes two young men get out of the shop holding something small.I can't see their faces.It is too far away and rather dark.They walk away.The police arrives a couple of minutes later.A neighbour who had probably called the police as well is talking to the policemen.I go out in the balcony.And then go back inside. I can't sleep.I feel such a coward.
Some years ago in a similar situation I screamed and the thieves left!This time I simply got scared. We have been hearing so much on the news about burglars and thieves who shoot eye witnesses!Yes I admit I got scared. I didn't scream. I didn't help out.
Am I a coward or a sensible person?
Still I feel bad about myself.I was thinking about it all day on Friday.
And all day today I am in bed feeling weak.The weather is bad so it is better to stay inside.We even heard our first thunder today!
Anyway it is impossible to walk in the streets and not feel bad. They are full of rubbish.For some reason rubbish is not collected.I phoned the municipality cleaning office and was told they don't have enough personnel.I read in a blog that the municipality has no money to pay for the gas for the rubbish collecting trucks!I don't like this Thessaloniki.It makes me want to get up,collect some rubbish and go and throw it in front of the municipality hall.But I am not doing it.
Am I a coward or a lawful citizen?
Seeing everyday what is happening in Japan and Libya and other countries I simply get back in considering that what I see in my neighbourhood is minor in front of these people's problems.
But shouldn't we start facing the small problems before we face the big ones?

Expected and unexpected mail.

Yesterday I received a print I had ordered from Loja de Estar in Portugal.
It is a print by Nikki McClure whom I admire for her lovely detailed handcut pictures. I had wanted for a long time to get that print called A new Materialism.It is so delicate a design that I want to have it framed the soonest.

Then I got a surprise from a sea glass friend and loyal reader Lisa who thought about me when destashing her cross stitch things and sent me these two lovely kits. I loved their colours and also the one of them has the collibri on it just like my blog template. I hope I will find time to stitch these too.

Lunch at Maria's!

I wasn't going to go but my friend Stella said she would take me in her car so that I don't get tired so I went and I am happy I did!
We were eight of us,from the group of friends I usually have lunch or coffee with!Maria lives on the suburbs so to go by bus to her house would take me an hour and Stella's offer was the best.
Maria had prepared lovely dishes and sweets and we spent about four hours there. The views of her house and the embroidery in her living room was very beautiful!

 

 We gave Maria this lava and coral bead necklace for her birthday.

I'm back!

They decided not to keep me in hospital and I am not yet sure how this will go on.
Anyway,it is good to be back home!
Thank you all for your wishes.It is good to feel that friends are thinking of you!
I also got phone calls from relatives and friends too.
I didn't take any photos in the hospital although I should have to show how bad the situation in Greek hospitals is!
I had to wait for three hours to get my blood test results to show them to the doctor who was going to examine me!Amazing!
But the doctor, a young lady, was good and kind!That's something!
I am closing with something that made me smile today.My friend Angela from Canada sent me some photos of my "niece" Zoe,her dog!
Isn't she a sweetheart?