Running professional Webinars using Google Hangouts

Running professional Webinars using Google Hangouts

Greek austerity

Look out for an article on how Greece is coping with auterity outside of the big cities...and why it is better equipped than northern Europe to weather the financial storm

Paleochora Christmas Quiz

Yes...it's that time of year already. Bob has been busy putting together a quiz which is guaranteed to elevate your mind and will take the yearly quiz to new heights.

Who will be at the top, be above all others and win the prize?

Who will make head or tail of this....?

To find out what you have to do, head over to Explore! and sharpen your pencil.

Click here to go to the quiz

PS. There is a prize in it for the winner!

Xfactor Semi Final. Some musings...

You know that you are in the final stages of XFactor when the contestants blow the ‘stars’ off the stage.

The other day we were ‘treated’ to a completely underwhelming Justin Beiber and the XFactor judge who looks like a cross between a horse and Lionel Ritchie in drag. Bieber was unconvincing as a pop star and looked a little bit lost on the stage, rather like he had wondered off YouTube and couldn’t figure out why all those people were in front of him. The horse lady just gasped and sweated her way through some impenetrable hardcore dance number which seemed to have no start, middle 8 or ending to speak of. They were both totally weak and the losing contestant sang them off the stage.

Next week we are at the XFactor final and the mega-star act is…Coldplay. Nice accolade for them to be up the pecking order above GaGa and Bieber – and justifiably so. It does show, however, how one-dimensional XFactor is. Why are there no real bands on the show at all…you know…who play instruments…a bit like, eh, Coldplay?. It seems to be limited to just vocalists and probably the weakest area are the ‘groups’ who every year seem to be identikit boy/girl vocal groups. Even a mixed-sex vocal group would be refreshing. Sorry it is dull, dull, dull. Anyway, I am rooting for Marcus and Amelia-Lily. Send the Spice Girl Wannabies home.

Boys Trip To Agios Pavlos Beach

When my wife, Jenny, couldn’t get the time off work, our proposed family trip to Agios Pavlos beach turned into a boy’s only trip. Yes, I was to take my two 9 year old sons on our first ‘male bonding’ camping expedition. A daunting prospect indeed. Especially as I would be having to carry what would have been in Jenny’s pack.

Read the rest of this article HERE

A Fabulous Morning in The Mountains!

I want to thank the local council for putting on a fantastic event which made perfect sense and was heavily supported and attended by local people.

It was the tenth organized walk to promote health and, in particular, looking after your heart.

Greece is becoming a nation of fatties and the benefits of healthy eating, not smoking and regular exercise are all too often either not understood or simply ignored. So anything that promotes the opposite is welcome. Doubly so when it is the local authority throwing it's weight behind it (if you forgive the pun).

We made our way to Kandanos where we were ferried by free buses to the start of the walk. It was an interesting route which followed what used to be the old road to Hania. In fact the first part of the walk was the same route as one of the Explore articles by Bob Tait on The Paleochora Site.

We passed the point where the townsfolk of Kandanos held off the German motorcycle division in 1941 triggering awful reprisals on the town. Eventually after a 7 kilometre gentle hike, we were back down in Kandanos where there was quite a party atmosphere. Free 'Fruit Souvlakis' were being handed out and certificates to say that we had survived the (gentle) walk. We were then treated to some live aerobics with many of the youngsters joining in on the town square.

The weather was perfect, the atmosphere was perfect, the walk was perfect. I, for one, can't wait until next year.

Did I make the right call?

Just got back from a trip to England and an interesting thing happened to me in Heathrow Airport.

I found myself standing next to someone very famous.

Now, I am not a naturally star-struck kind of person. I have rubbed shoulders with a few semi-famous folk in the past and have never been either fazed or sycophantic.

However this happened to be a person whom I hold in very high regard. I would go as far as to say that, in my opinion he is perhaps the greatest living movie actor. One of his movies is in my top 5 movies of all time and there is at least one more in the top ten. A recent movie he starred in and – I think – produced had one of the most impressive opening sequences I have seen for ages and would dearly love to know how it was shot. I am told he makes a good fist of being one of the world’s greatest living stage actors too.

So. On one hand, I had the opportunity to thank the man for the pleasure, entertainment and enlightenment he has given me over the years. To basically add my “applause” verbally and in a very direct one-to-one way. On the other hand I could respect that fact that he wasn’t working, he was making his way through a busy airport and I could respect his anonymity and not needlessly bug him.

As he turned to face me I had to make a decision quickly.

I decided to respect his personal space and only gave a friendly good-morning-like nod which he returned as his eyes met mine.

Throughout the rest of the journey I started to think I made the wrong decision. I started to regret that I hadn’t given praise where it was due.

So did I do the right thing? What do you think?

My first WSO Product Launch

I have put together a new product and I will launch it soon as a Warrior Special Offer (WSO) on The Warrior Forum.

Here is a video explaining a little about the product launch.



Here is where you can keep informed of the launch date so you don't miss a bargain.

Yes, Let me know launch details.

Enter you email to be told when the launch will take place

Email Address

Men in Dresses

If a man in your loacal neighbourhood decided to grow a beard and wear a dress every time he left the house, curtains would twitch and people would talk.

That is why I am amazed that I am the only one here who finds the sight of a Greek orthodox vicar's appearance bizarre, amusing and disturbing all at the same time.

There is a collective blindspot amongst the local population to the man who always wears a dress. Nobody comments or laughs. I really think that people do not notice. Would the same happen if I decided that from tomorrow that I would raid Jenny's wardrobe each morning? Is there some endorsement for cross-dressing I missed in my scant scripture studies at Sunday School?

I must say, however, in defence of the orthodox chappies, that it is quite far thinking of them to allow habitual dress wearers to hold meaningful office. The catholics will not allow anyone in a dress conducting their services.

Olga's Birthday Party - Paleochora 8/12/10

Many readers will know Stephen & Olga.  Here is a collection of photos from Olga's recent birthday party held in Pandelis restaurant, Paleochora.



A great night was had by all - evident from the photos i think,

Happy birthday, Olga, and thanks for a great night!

I find some cool things sometimes...

After self-hosting loads of Wordpress blogs (Wordpress.org), I decided to start one up on the shared Wordpress platform (Wordpress.com) mainly for backlinking purposes.

I have always refrained from going there because, as with these Blogger blogs, you don't actually own your own blog. If you hvae some content or affiliate links on these shared blogs which 'they who must be obeyed' object to or if a competitor decides to call you a spammer to get you out of the way, Mr. Google or Mr. Wordpress can delete all of your work without a by-your-leave.

Anyway, the WP platform does have some SEO benefits for me providing I stay within their silly rules.

So, I set up a blog there and wanted a really flexible theme which would be good for RSS feeds. And I found the coolest of the cool. (The 'what am I doing right now' thingy over on the right is the rss feed from the blog).

Take a look at the developers' video. Its really is very good! http://p2theme.com/

So now when you come here and read a post, you will see recent status updates in the sidebar :)

All of Greece Gets an Election

We just had Mayor and council elections here in Greece.

Bizarrely,  the electoral process seems to have been modeled on the XFactor rules. Totally useless contestants are whittled away and sent home and the two more serious contenders have to come back the following week for a 'Mayoral sing-off'.

Problem is, Wagner keeps winning.

Is this the most tasteless ad you ever saw?

You really have to hand it to the Greeks. Unfortunately, they excel at things like this.  Full marks for having zero consideration.

End of Term atThe Anidri School House Cafe

The season came to a close at the School House Kafeneon in Anidri last Sunday.  Unlike a lot of boring restaurants and businesses in town, here it was celebrated with a wild party. :)

Here I am with most (but not quite all) of my workmates and my bosses at the party.

It was a great season and I felt part of a really good team. Although I am relieved to be having a break and enjoying not having to work at the moment, I will miss the place and the people in the winter.

Last Night at Anidri for 2010

It's the last night of the season at the Anidri Cafe tonight so I wll soon be swelling the ranks of the unemployed a little further.

Looking forward to the rest and a bit of relaxation. Then...its getting jobs done on the house and work, work, work on the 'poota

I have Started the Dukan Diet!

Enough, enough, enough of being a fat bastard! I have decided to draw a line in the sand and get myself back in shape at last.

Going through my wardrobe, I was highly concerned to see my 'Hopeful Section' growing ever fuller. This comprises of the trousers, shirts, Tshirts and jackets that I am 'hopeful of fitting into again'. So I figured something must be done!

John & Cricket were out in the summer and cricket looked fabulous. She had lost loads of excess weight but more than that, she looked really healthy. She told me about The Dukan Diet, where she never has to count calories, never goes hungry and will keep the weight of forever. Hmmm. Sounded good to me!

To cut a long story short, I bought the book and read it through to see if it was do-able for me. I started the diet yesterday and, the reason why I am writing here about it is to let you all know that you can follow along with my progress.

I set up a site with a personal blog detailing my experiences on this diet plan which is sweeping Europe. Check out the site and the blog here:

Dukan Diet

Read my experiences, comment there, encourage me if you want, you can even buy the book there too if you want to give it a whirl yourself too.

Cheap Flights to Chania? Don't think so!

A little strong language...but all of it justified!

Time to Grab Some Freebies

Here is a new site where you can claim free gift vouchers for all major sites and stores just by completing some market research or trial offers.

Marketing folk are always interested in how potential customers view their products and are interested in researching how people think about products and services. They are willing to reward those who provide this information. This site brings the two together and offers a great incentive.

Take a look at this video to see how easy it is:



Here is the link: Free Gift Vouchers

Watch Full Persons Unknown Season 1

Spetsofai - Village Sausages with Onions, Peppers & Tomatoes

So, what did I order for lunch at Anidri Cafe?

Well, it had to be a plate of Spetsofai with some fresh bread & a Mythos.

A recipe for this dish is now available on The Paleochora Site: Paleochora Cretan Recipes