My father always use to say to me “Life is beautiful”.

Our first grand grandchild, ‘beautiful’ Florence, was born six weeks ago. I can’t help it but I went ‘gaga’ when I first saw her perfect little hands. Everything about her expresses her potential for life and living.

Last Sunday was my father’s 40 day memorial. I had asked a friend to organise things for me in a small church about thirty minutes drive from us in Milia (a beautiful Greek mountain village) .  These small community churches are often maintained by the retired ladies of the villages and the local priest revolves around the three communities he serves.

When we arrived there were about a dozen people in the church. I informed the lady who was organising the votive candles at the entrance of the church, that we had come up for my fathers memorial service. She didn’t know anything about it - my friend had forgotten to inform them. My heart sank,  but in a flash the priest was informed, a table was placed in front of the alter and laid the bread, candles and other things we had brought for the service where laid out.

The service was  a moving experience for us, but more so because these strangers had accepted us into their community and made us feel welcome. After the service we went across to the village cafe for breakfast, we offered a local almond liqueur and the villagers paid their respects with the blessing “may you live long to honour the memory of your father.”

My father did managed to see his great grand daughter and although he was unable to physically move, the expression in his eyes and the gentle squeeze of his hand expressed his inner feelings. The circle of life was playing itself out in front of us – one soul leaving, one soul arriving. He was right ‘life is beautiful’ and so, so precious.

We wish William and Kate love and happiness together. Despite all the ’bad’ news we are surrounded by, it is wonderful how the wedding of a young couple can bring so much joy to so many people.

A shared life together requires many skills including compassion, an ability to listen (and really understand) and tolerance. Being in a relationship is very much like having a mirror held up in front of us, but if we stay aware we can learn so much about ourselves. Our partner can be our  greatest spiritual teacher and guru.

Mo-m (the seal conservation group) in Athens are getting excited about the seals spotted here. If we have a group of 4 seals that is already 1 percent of the Greek population.
Tomorrow we are going furhter along the coast to a little village where seals have been sighted swimming in the harbour.

Here is a picture I took today along the Mani coastline of a beautiful and curious Mediterranean Monk seal. Looking into the eyes of this beautiful creature, I felt a wonderful privilege at sharing a moment in it’s life. There are less than 400 – 600 individuals left in the world and of these 250 are found in Greece. I feel a sadness at what we are doing to the real wealth that we possess -the  NATURAL World that supports and sustains us all. Even if I never saw another monk seal again, knowing they are there somehow enriches my life.

Looking into the eyes of one of the most endangered animals on our planet.

According to Mom (The Hellenic Society for the Study and the Protection of the Mediterranean Monk Seal) “…the Mediterranean monk seal is the No1 endangered marine mammal in Europe and it is also in the top 6 list of the most critically endangered mammals on earth and in the top 12 most critically endangered animals world-wide.”

Today is Sunday and local council elections in Greece. People are dressing up in their Sunday best to go to church and /or to the polling station.

I got up early to vote. I followed local tradition and dressed up too.

Greeks are still very serious and passionate about politics. Just like elections everywhere in the world after 12 years of an incumbent Mayor and council, people are beginning to feel it’s time for a change. With that thought of change there is also hope of better things around the corner. I have felt that every time I have voted and a few years later the disappointment sets in. Still Hope is a good thing.
The area of Mani stands at a unique crossroads. An area of extraordinary natural beauty and also an area of potential development for tourism. the two have to be married very sympathetically. Nature and Man a delicate balance. We certainly can not survive without nature. Nature can survive very well without us.  

After voting Tico and Manuk – two young and wonderfully enthusiastic French naturalists - to see some seals! They had seen a family of Mediterranean monk seals rearing cubs in a cave further down the Mani coast. It was very exciting and even though we didn’t see the seals we could certainly smell the fishy aroma that indicates they were there. We are going back soon and I will post some photos – hopefully.

I have been taking multi vitamin supplements and various herbal supplements for many years.Touch wood, I haven’t been to the doctor for many years. Yet our politicians in Europe are determined to ban many supplements in their drive for standardisation and to make many supplements so diluted that their efficacy is zero. Many of Natures natural medicines just work.
They are saying that these because these supplements may cause (very rare) rections in some people they should be banned. So do manufactured drugs (which often have detrimentall side-effects) but those industries are not penalised.
This means that slowly homeopathy, herbalists (what did those ancient Greeks know anyway), ayuvedic healers etc. will become illegal – does this feel like the Spanish inquisition over again. But it will still be OK to drink alcohol, smoke ‘doctored’ tobacco, pop vallium and a host of other pharma cocktails!
If you want to know more read this petition http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/joininghandsinhealth/.

We had our first rain after a very dry summer. It hadn’t rained properly since February, just a few light showers in late April. It only rained for abour fifteen minutes but it was a welcome arrival for everybody as we sat on the balconies enjoying the freshness and the aromas that came from the plants and the ground. The following day it seemed as if the trees and plants had woken up from a deep summer slumber.

The turtles should be hatching within the next 10 days – very exciting.

Figs are ripening on the trees now. So after enjoying a couple of perfect figs its time to prepare breakfast for our guests. Greek yoghurt, fresh fruit and some aromatic local chestnut honey. 

A lot of bad press about the economic situation. But hey, lets get things in perspective. How much is a sunrise that enlightens a new day worth? What about that sunset that takes your breath away – how much is that worth? Breaking some bread, olive oil, olives, two tomatoes from the garden and a little cheese with friends and family – how much is that worth? And what about a baby’s little feet and hands, my dog Jack’s smile, sitting in sangha, a seed bursting it’s leaves through the soil and ………..Priceless?

This is a God given opportunity to discover ourseleves and what things are really important in life.

The turtle nesting site near the Spirit of Life Centre in Stoupa village.

Three days ago a turtle nested on our local beach popular with tourists. In the past turtles and their nests have been destroyed because of a misguided view that they will affect fishing and tourism………but things are changing. There is such a buzz of excitement amongst many locals and visitors. The nesting area has been cordoned off and at the moment tourism and conservation are co-existing.

Today was our celebration of  ‘high summer’ and there is no better way to give thanks for the seasons and the bounty of nature than to immerse ourselves in her. So that is just what we did –  floating in the sea watching the mountains and ever changing sky. Wishing you the best for the rest of your summer.