Tell me a word, any word and I will show you the root of that word is 'Greek'

'Metamorphosis'. Meta meaning after and beyond.  Morphosis meaning the way in which someone or something changes...'transformation'.

Every living organism goes through 'Metamorphosis,' it is inevitable and often necessary. I particularly like the way the word is used in mythical and magical stories. 

The Nymphs in Greek mythology were responsible for the care of plants, animals and the wild.  They came in the form of 'fairy' like women who would transform into trees and flowers.  The most famous of these is Daphne who was loved by the God Apollo. He pursued her until she became so exhausted she asked for the help of Gaia who transformed her into a laurel tree.   

  

80's child

It’s the eighties...Frankie said we should relax, Eddie Grant walked down Electric Avenue, Musical Youth were passing the ‘dutchie’ and girls just wanted to have fun! 

The aroma in the discos was that of cigarette smoke mixed with ‘Panache’ by Lentheric …the fragrance of the moment for the ladies and ‘Brute' was the favourite with the gents, they splashed it on all over!  The obligatory slow dance at the end meant that you could prop each other up after drinking one too many Campari and Soda’s and chat up lines where all the rage, very acceptable:

If I told you that you had a beautiful body, would you hold it against me?

Would you grab my arm so I can tell my friends I've been touched by an angel? 

Magnum was the thinking lady’s man and Starsky and Hutch set pulses racing on a Saturday night...the throwing of their badges into the ocean scene really affected me.  


Midweek glamour came in the form of Dynasty and Dallas…shoulder pads,Stetsons and stilettos,Bourbon on the rocks,Dex Dexter and the Oil Baron’s Ball an annual event we looked forward to with baited breath.  Miss World was another viewing pleasure, an array of lovely's wanting to help children all over the world.

The buzz word for that time was ‘POWER’.

Superpower, power trip, power walk, power dressing, power ballads, the power of love etc...

Some abused the word but others used it to make a difference to another word which many had just heard for the first time, ‘Famine’.  The power of music was all that really mattered during the 80’s with musicians from both sides of the Atlantic coming together to make a difference. 

And who did us girls have as role models, Margaret Thatcher and Joan Collins. What a contrast!  There can only be one winner, Joan Collins hands down.  A beauty with brains to match…she worked hard but knew how to be a ‘woman’ in every sense. 

The 80’s was full of glitz and glamour but it was also a time when people had the courage to stand up and say we don’t like what we see, let’s do something about it.  

A great decade to grow up in, I'm glad I did!

Mono-brows and Moustaches

‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding’ doesn’t even skim the surface, just a taster of what a Greek girl’s life is really like. These days it’s not so tough for Greek girls, count yourselves lucky.

Way back when in the ‘village,’ you were sent away even if you so much as looked at a boy!  For some passionate Greek girls (and there where many) the urge was too great so they sneaked their way to olive groves for a quick fumble with Yianni, the goat herder.  Yianni and all the other goat herder’s could fumble to their hearts content, after all they were men.

The fight of these women’s lives was to gain their freedom from the oppression that was bestowed on them and the guilt, oh that guilt! 

Baba: “I feed you, I clothe you.  Why are you doing this to ME?

Mama: “Do what he says, please do it for ME”

It’s all about ego. ‘The self’…another great Greek invention!

God forbid you might even be remotely pretty or have the potential to resemble Aphrodite herself.  No, the mono-brow and the moustache have to stay…a form of chastity belt if you will.

Seriously, that’s what father’s thought! Once removed, your virginity is lost forever. The women are dressed in black and whaling, the men are locked in secret talks, a bottle of Johnny Walker and a pile of pistachio nuts to help them come to a decision about what to do with you.  Oh, the shame! 

How things change, the ‘Spartan’ army would go to war on the word of their women and the secret talks included them, their theories where valued.  Women with spirit who knew how to kick ass!

Where did that spirit go? Well we still have it that’s for sure and the removal of facial hair is symbolic of our fight for emancipation.

I remember getting rid of mine.   My first boyfriend wouldn’t kiss me because of the ‘thing’ sprouting from my top lip…mortified I was!  But I wanted my first kiss, or snog…it was the 80’s. 

The mono-brow followed to the horror of my father. Sitting at opposite ends of the dinner table he noticed I looked different.  There was an uncomfortable silence…I thought, “He’s going to kill me”.  I slid down in the chair trying to avoid his gaze.  His raging eyes followed me as I went down further…I’m now on the kitchen floor!

So, the girl in the olive grove or the Spartan wife? 

It’s all Greek to me!

Virtual Love?

Who are more likely to take chances in matters of the heart, men or women?

It’s a question that will be answered very differently by many.  Don’t be fooled into thinking that men don’t feel things the way women do. It’s just that we display our emotions in dramatic fashion…floods of tears being top of the list. This means we care more? Not so.

Men may appear aloof and cold when hurt but that’s a defence mechanism that comes naturally for a male. It’s in their nature, nothing wrong with something that comes naturally.  We sometimes forget that both sexes are made in very different ways. 

Women are a lot more open to taking chances. Even when there is a niggling doubt about a relationship or liaison you are about to begin, we go with it.  We are far more willing to trust the side of that person that is good.  It isn’t always the case that we want to change a man but we are accepting of them…no one’s perfect right?  Usually if you see there is a heart and generosity (and I don’t mean him spending money on you) you feel you have found a firm base on which to start.

Even when a woman has gone through hurt in her life, she will always leave the door open.  Those that say they are done with men are kidding themselves.

When a man’s been hurt, well now we are talking about something completely different.

I have had interesting conversations with men, in particular those who have been through divorces (some more than once) the message is that they have had their fingers burnt emotionally and financially.  Because of this, a meaningful relationship is not in their future plans…or so they say.  Everyone needs that special someone, they or you may not think it now but this all goes back to how we are made and it is a basic human requirement for everyone. 

So what’s the consequence? More women remain single,  good women that men are missing out on and they know it.  So, what would they rather do?

Virtual flirting…that’s what!  Or to be more precise ‘Skype’

Yes people, I know us girls like to chat but this takes on a whole new meaning.  These men are thinking this is easy, have a chat with virtual blonde or brunette on my terms.  No swapping of telephone numbers, no chance of bumping into them on a night out and the only way to speak to them is by firing up the laptop yourself…complete control.  No way of getting hurt again…result!!

Oh fellas!  I’m not knocking it I get it, I understand why. But you are missing out on so much and what’s more so are we.

Some would argue that finding that someone isn’t what will make you complete and I agree with that.  It isn’t, but it is a piece of life’s puzzle that will eventually fit…how would it feel if that were the only missing piece?