My lemon tree

This precious stuff makes me dizzy. 

 

She's a star (Nice to meet you, thanks and goodbye)

Some days ago I met a star. Her name is Stephanie. She is 7 years old.

I was in Athens having a coffee with a friend with whom I havent met for ages. Couple of minutes before we left, a young girl approached our table and started to play the violin. We were the only ones sitting outside. Music was awful. She was standing right behind me and I couldnt see her. But I told her ''you know you need some serious practice, right?''. She stopped playing and said ''yes, I know. I am much better at playing the accordion. I am saving money for the conservatoire''. It was hard to say whether she was being ironic, funny or serious about the conservatoire. And there was something about the way she talked that made me turn around to see her. I saw a girl more or less 7 years old. Normally dressed with a warm blue jacket. The violin was a cheap one but she was holding it tightly close to her body. She had dark eyes. For a second I felt bad for having my stupid ironic attitude towards her. 

- So, are you actually saving money to go to the conservatoire?, I asked. 

- Dont know, maybe she said. 

- Sorry I have no money to give you.

- That is fine, she said. 

I wanted to keep the conversation going and I asked the most boring thing you can ask a child. 

- So, what do you want to be when you grow up?

- Err I want to be a nurse and a dancer and a mucisian and an actress and ...

She must have said more than 15 things and made me looking at her puzzled. 

- Ok, but if you had to choose one, what would you do?

- Why would I have to choose one? she asked me.

Her looks revealed nothing childish or naive. She was serious and conscious about her question. 

- Well, you dont have to choose one, I replied.       

- Good. Excuse me for a minute, I have to go in and say hi to the guys. 

She went in the cafe and started talking to them. She knew everybody there. Didnt ask  for money or anything. When she came back we were leaving. My friend however addressed her and asked ''Stephanie, is that you?''. 

- Yes, I am Stephanie. Who are you?. 

- Dont you remember me?

Stephanie stared at my friend for some seconds, she smiled and said 

- Yes, I remember you know now. You have changed your eyes glasses but I know you from Dionisiou Areopagitou.

It turns out that Stephanie is a rising star in Athens. She grew up in the streets where her dad was playing the accordion. He was a regular at Dionisiou Areopagitou street for many years where many street mucisians make a living. Right across the Acropolis. My friend used to walk over there hence she also knew Stephanie. They chatted for a bit. Then, we said our goodbyes and we left. We went to a place close so that I grab some food. Some time later on, Stephanie enters the place, looks at us and asked what we were doing also there. We explained the obvious. She, again, greeted everybody in the place and chatted about stuff. 

- Will you join us for food? I asked her for no reason at all. It seemed like the most natural thing to do. 

- No, unfortunately I have to go back home and see my dad. I would love to though. 

She left me once more puzzled trying to match her small body and age with a natural kindness and certain manners that I have not met before. 

- Well, may be some take away then? I said.

- Yes, that would be appropriate. 

She ordered a kebab and some fries. Then she came close to me gave me her hand and said

- Nice meeting you. I will have to go soon. Thank you. And goodbye.  

She left. I finished my food on my own and I left. I walked in the neighbourhood having nothing to do killing my time. Thats a lie actually. I was hoping i would meet Stephanie again. I did. Found her playing the accordion this time. She was good.

- Are you following me?, she asked.

I nodded yes. I sat by her side. Occassionally somebody would give her some money. She was playing a melody that was very familiar to me. It took me some time to realise that she was playing Coldplay at the accordion. 

- How do you know this song?

- My neighbour listens to this all the time and I like it. 

- And the music?

- I improvised. But I cant sing cause I dont understand the lyrics.

We went to an internet cafe and I found her the song. She loved the videoclip. Watched it 10 times. I wrote down the lyrics in greek and in english. She convinced me to sing it for her. When I finsihed she said

- You know that you need some serious practice, right?

Little bastard. 

She hangs our at Siggrou-Fix metro station. You will know when you come accross her that she is Stephanie. Cause she is a fucking star. And stars glow.

Her song is Coldplay, Paradise

Go on, take the money and run

One day trip at Tilburg, the Netherlands. It is fun searching in the drawers of a hotel room. Experience says that you come up with amazing stuff. This time I found couple of euros. And a Bible. It has been a long time since I found a bible. 

 

I took the money. Left the bible.

Steve Miller, Take the money and run.

Coffee + Cake = Friends

Merry Christmas

Occupy everything [via http://www.flickr.com/photos/duncan/6355596285]

Pollock glows

It is true. His untitled 1948 drip painting glows in the dark; at least the poster I have in my room does.

I wonder whether the original painting glows as well. I think it is somewhere at the George Pompidou Centre in Paris. But who can actually know if it glows but the night guard at the Centre. 

The way it glows reminds me of an old-fashioned american diner where you can have some coffee and apple pie late at night. Maybe because of the neon lights.

Arcade Fire, Neon Bible (live in an elevator)

Jerks & Butterflies

On Battleship Hill (or better late than never)

Almost a week ago I sat a five hours written examination for working at the Humanitarian Affairs department in the United Nations. I did not take it very seriously. I knew that it is related to stuff I was never involved before. But I managed to read for two days before the exams, justifying at least somehow my trip to Oxford. And I have to say I captured a pretty clear and systemic idea of the Humanitarian Affairs work. I think I even stand a chance to pass the exam. I developed persuasively the concepts of chronic vulnerability, natural distaster, conflict, drought, food insecurity, humanitarian crisis, human rights, action plan, death, priorities.

On my way back, on the train, however it hit me. Actually they hit me. The photos from the reports I have been reading. Photos of people giving you somehow context. I went through the reports again, looking only at the photos this time. And I realised ironically enough that this is a job I would like to do.

My ironically late realisation was accompanied by PJ Harvey, On Battleship Hill.

It is song which for some reason speaks to me in a very unique way. The videoclip is also a piece of art. For those who have read Fahrenheit 451 or have seen the movie by Truffaut, if a dystopian future is out there banning and burning songs (instead of books) I would be this song. Literally, like in the book. I would learn how to play the music, memorise the lyrics and practice it every day so that it would be preserved. They would call me On Battleship Hill.

Bleach it

Smokers are cooler. Fact.

Smokers are cooler than the rest of the people. That is a fact. Not to mention all the brilliant ideas you come up with while your brain cells are slowly and happily destroyed. Or the cool, random people you get to know. The more you ban smoking the less cooler this depressing planet turns into.

I have a degree too, you know

I have a part-time job for the last 2 months now. It involves doing research in a library. Most times I will go out at some point and have a smoke. A couple of days ago I went out and found a girl smoking in my spot. She wore very particular work clothes indicating that she is working manually in the library, something like cleaning. She also had a bizarre behaviour, as if she was hidding from somebody. She was smoking. As soon as I approached and started smoking myself, she turned to me and said 'I am sorry'. I was surprised and I asked her what was it that she apologised for. She told me that sometimes in the past people would distance themselves when she would approach this spot. I didnt really understand but I said that there was nothing to feel sorry for. Almost a minute later and being pretty sure by then that she was hidding behind a tree, I asked her why she was doing that. She answered that it was her break but it is not really professional to smoke during your break. I smiled. I thought that my professional integrity should have been seriously compomised as well. Then, she started talking to me. She described many students in the university's library as being very rude and looking down at her. They didnt even say 'thank you'. She mentioned it makes her so happy when somebody would address her and tell her 'have a nice day'. There was something in the way she was talking and her body language that one could see that she was felt really bad and uncomfortable about the situation. At some point she stopped, lighted another cigarette and said 'I have a degree too, you know. I work in education with autistic children. But things are pretty difficult at the moment and I have a young daughter. So I work here. Perhaps I should wear a badge saying ''I have a degree too'''. I laughed. 'What do you think?', she asked. I told her that she was troubled with things and people that didnt worth of her attention. Not for a second. But if she could not deal with this, in any case she should not tolerate such behaviour by anybody and especially by 20 year old spoiled children. She gave some thought to this for a minute in silence while staring at me straight to the eyes. She looked like a person genuinely surprised by what she had been told. She broke her silence and said 'I think you re right'. I tried to recall when was the last time i saw someone so determinative and assertive. But she didnt give enough time to remember. She shaked my hand and told me 'pleased to meet you'. You dont listen to this greeting often nowdays, do you?

Rolling Stones, 'Sympathy for the devil' or 'pleased to meet you'.