What a week and what dreadful events have been happening around the world. The focus is on Greece and its referendum, but other situations are crowding in from all sides. The nuclear talks in Iran, the Ukranian crisis, the murders of innocent tourists and others by terrorists, and myriad other problems emerging, Syria and Iraq, the invasion of the Mediterranean by those who are trying to reach Europe by any means ... it goes on and on, and will certainly make 2015 a year to remember for all the wrong reasons.
One approach to all of this would be to adopt the approach of the Stoics, particularly apt for the Greeks sadly. Stoicism is an Ancient Greek school of philosophy, and one of its main tenets is not to worry about things you cannot alter. We, sitting on the island of Cyprus, cannot influence world events and so Stoicism would suggest that we should not worry about them. This does not mean we do not care but we have to accept the status quo. I am aware of Edmund Burke's writing and "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." But I suspect that such universal truths do not always encompass such worldly evil.
Strangely, in my youth, I played cricket for a touring club called The Stoics, and one certainly needed to subscribe to that philosophy when trying to play an off-drive with the mother of all hangovers. At least that was what I was told by my hard-drinking team mates.
Fabulous barbecue and picnic at the Neo Chorio picnic site with our friends Pete and Sylvi. It was good to see them, and catch up with all their news. However I have never heard such a noise from cicadas in Cyprus but I suppose it all added to the local colour. We were sitting chatting when we heard bells and before we knew it there were goats everywhere dropping in for a drink. One little goat couldn't seem to get to the water source, because all the bigger goats were shoving in. Stoical to the last, he waited until they had all gone and drank his fill. Perhaps he subscribes to my blog?
Thank you for continued blog, really enjoying it.
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