#lifestyle news greece

[myoddessy]

out with the old, in with the new | w2s/harry lewis

summary —new accounts, new lifestyle, new clubs every night. an insight into just what—and who—youtube's non-youtuber it girl got up to during her split from harry

*once again following the lead of @whoetoshaw and her bog universe's iconic breakup era ALSO, one of the twitter threads is rlly grainy and I'm sorry abt that, i couldn't properly fix it so you have to just zoom in on it 😭

2023, January

2018, July.

liked by zoeleonards, taliamar, masonmount, and 11, 824 others

yourusername lay all your love on me 🌻🍹☀️

tagged: zoeleonards, chloemitchells

zoeleonards london reality, greece fantasy 💔😞

yourusername ibiza couldn't come sooner!

wroetominter OMGOMG IVE DREAMED ABOUT YOU RETURNING TO SOCIAL MEDIA

ynfan omg shes glowing 🤩🤩

chloemitchells mykonos has never looked better 🤤😍😘

yourusername love u, lover girl 😘😘 ❤️❤️

2018, August.

liked by chloemitchells, tobjizzle, leahwilliamson, and 20,349 others

yourusername snuck behind a dj booth and had a blast, had a few more shots than I should've, fell more in love with my girls. ibiza, you will forever be famous 🍾✨️

zoeleonards it was nice having the hotel room to just myself and Chloe for a bit x 🤣🤭

ynfangirl DOES THIS MEAN THE MASON MOUNT RUMOURS ARE TRUE??

chloemitchells @ynfangirl who's that? never heard of him 🤷‍♀️

ynloverrrr it HAS to be true

freyanightingale beautiful girl ❤️

yourusername ❤️❤️❤️

sidemenfav the way that her, freya, and talia still like each others posts and support each other 💔

liked by yourusername, taliamar, and freyanightingale

ynandharry tobi likes every one of her posts, too. they really are family no matter what 😭

2019, January

liked by pierregasly, zerkaa, mabel, and 30,568 others

yourusername we're able to have semi-classy girls trips, who knew?

tagged: zoeleonards

chloemitchells gutted I couldn't make it, I miss u two beautiful girls 😭❤️

yourusername CHLO!!! it wasn't the same without you, babe xx

zoeleonards I missed placing bets on who y/n was gonna make a move on 💔

yourusername IM NOT THAT BAD ZOË JESUS

chloemitchells yeah, give her some slack... it's usually placing bets on who's gonna make a move on her 😉

ynfanpage queen we need tips on how to live our best lives because you are teaching us all rn

yourusername 1) the only long term relationship you need to focus on is the one with yourself. 2) surround yourself with people you love and support & who will love and support you. 3) learn to not give a fuck what anyone else things because everyone's too busy in their own heads to care ❤️❤️

taliaminterr how is your life so aesthetic?? irl gossip girl vibes!!

yourusername babe trust my life doesn't look like this day to day, I only show the fun bits. rn it's 4am and I've got four day old greasy hair, dried mascara under my eyes (I watched UP without taking off my makeup first), and I'm eating cereal and drinking flat coke zero. I am not the standard you should aim for 😭😭

ynslover I love how open and honest she is about her content. she's actually such a good role model

liked by taliamar, freyanightingale, chloemitchells, and 19,519 others

yourusername apparently people think the party life in my photo dumps is my day-to-day? babes, if I can teach any of you one thing in life, it's that half the shit you see online is fake. half the 'candid' moments are staged, same goes for almost every picture you see. so here's a little dump of my actual reality

zoeleonards yeah guys she's actually so messy it's insane. it makes me want to move out

yourusername SHUT IT. zoë has about three different vases of dead flowers in her room because she forgets to take them out.

zoeleonards that's nothing on the old cups in your room

yourusername BLOCKING U

ynslover how does it feel to be the most relatable influencer ever even though you're not an influencer?

taliamar omg you've still got the vinyls!!

yourusername ofc, babe! I needed something to remember our days of charity shop hopping

2023, January

[richiehugs]

Some of you might have been wondering what has happened to Giorgos and his updates.

On the one hand, I didn't have much free-time to organize. On the other hand, there was really nothing to give you an update about. But here is a little update with some more "successfull" screenshots.

So, he reached his peak of 95 kilos / 210 or so pounds in mid May. But, he was planning to do a trip to the monastery on the Athos Peninsula. He had the trip on the last days of May, walking for hours under the scarching Greek sun, with little food and no alcohol near. Looks like he rapidly lost 5 kilos / 10-12 pounds, reaching his "ideal" weight of 90 kilos / 200 pounds. The first four pictures are from early June, around this weight.

Then, he found himself a new job and passion - construction. That's right, he started to work at his father's housing company, building houses and apartements with his two hands. He also had to move to Athens, but he keeps visiting home back to his village on the Peloponnese. Pictures 5-6 are from this time, late June-early July. New environment, without mama's cooking, and the little time to eat made him lose another 5 kilos / 10 pounds, falling back to 85 kilos / 188-190 pounds. Then he vanished from socials (I thought he had a love affair, but he stayed single whatever happened).

The last four screens are rather recent (mid July). He seems to have accomodated to the new environment, seems to have figured things out, and I'm positive he got confident enough to "care about his body" some more. He is allegedly still 85 kilos, he looks kinda proud of his weight loss (he brags about him to anyone calling him fatty - 10 kilos in less than two month is still quite impressive - I'm afraid he gets too cocky about it and will keep up "dieting"), but he still won't give up on the belly.

To be honest, his ten kilo weight loss hardly shows. Of course, that belly would look a lot softer and a lot more like Giorgos, but he still has a lot of it. He has finally found himself a passion, and hopefully it's just a question of time till the late-night gyro-runs start to show. It's also the middle of the hottest summer ever recorded in Greece, and don't forget that he is a physical worker now - I actually find it surprising he didn't go lower than where he is now, and that he is still looking out of shape. Somehow his muscles don't seem to develop, maybe because of the inappropriate diet he is following.

And you know what this means? Instability. He has no balance. His body knows that it can't go lower and has to keep storing the amount of bodyfat he is having. And I'm counting on that as soon as summer is over, his hunger will grow (as people are bilogically installed to craving less energy during the summer and more in the winter). As we know him, he won't probably be able to hold himself back, especially during the holidays. You remember how he ballooned up to 95 kilos before Christmas? And he didn't even care.

Anyway, this might mean less updates until something interesting happens (e.g. no more constructions for a while / going back to a sedentary lifestyle, getting homemade meals, probably a girlfriend who can cook for him?). I still have some "material" to post if anyone is interested but it would take some time and patience to make it publishable.

[gemsofgreece]

Positive news of the day:

Sklavenitis (big Greek owned supermarket brand) stops the insanity of 6-day working week and switches it to 5-day working week for both part time and full time employees, while motivating other brands to follow the trend.

As you may know, Greece suffers from extreme urbanisation while remote islands and provincial settlements fall into desolation. It is not uncommon to go in villages in Greece and find them entirely empty with only one or two elderly locals trying to keep them alive. The priest of one such shrivelling village in the very mountainous region of Evrytania took the initiative to call for relocation of people to the village, announcing there was a house available for free (or for low rent, not sure) suitable for a family and ensured job for at least one adult. He was aided in this project by the teacher of the village who could not bear see her classes empty anymore. The call was answered relatively fast - a family of Greek expats with six children :) formerly residing in Germany are relocating to the village, aiming for a rural lifestyle far from the stress of Berlin or Athens. This phenomenon is prominent in many regions of Europe and such tactics have been employed in Switzerland, Austria, Northern Italy etc. I hope to see this start happening in Greece as well - despite and against the financial issues of the country - because the population distribution in Greece is HORRIBLE. EDIT: There was interest from 100 families!!!

[growingstories]

Hiding on a Greek island - part 2

Massimo, a 40-year-old ex-special forces operator, had spent his career as a bodyguard for high-level individuals. He was dedicated to protecting his clients and had even saved Eduardo's life after he was shot. they When found themselves in danger, they sought refuge on a secluded Greek island, where they hid in a house.

However, life on the island posed new challenges for Massimo. His usual active lifestyle, focused on fitness and staying in shape, was disrupted. With no gym on the tiny island and the house situated on a hard-to-reach hill, exercise became a rare occurrence for him. On top of that, Eduardo, who was disabled at the time, relied on Massimo for transportation, making it difficult for him to prioritize his own well-being.

To add to the problem, the couple who cared for them, Stavros and his wife, provided ample amounts of delicious food. Eduardo's waistline began to expand rapidly without his usual exercise routine, and Massimo's chiseled abs were concealed beneath a layer of fat. Both men found solace in eating, with Massimo's frustration and boredom driving him to consume even more. Eduardo jokingly commented on his bodyguard's growing waistline, further highlighting the issue.

Eduardo's blossoming romance with Alexios, the baker's son, exacerbated Massimo's weight gain. As Massimo frequently chauffeured the couple around the island, he found himself with ample idle time. Meanwhile, Eduardo and Alexios retreated to their private rooms, leaving Massimo with little else to occupy his time but eating. Alexios made sure there were plenty of pastries, and Massimo indulged to fill the void he felt. As he overheard the intimate sessions between Eduardo and Alexios, he used food to cope with his embarrassment.

Though Massimo's muscles remained intact from years of training, they were merely concealed beneath the accumulating fat, giving him the appearance of a massive bull. However, when he met Alexios' sister, Olympia, who had returned from university, his attention diverted. They struck up conversations and enjoyed coffee during Massimo's waiting time, making the hours feel less monotonous. Olympia made a point to provide him with deablelect pieces of fresh baklava during their interactions, further fueling his growing appetite.

One fateful night, with Eduardo and Alexios in the house, Massimo took the opportunity to secretly go on a date with Olympia. Their evening was filled with passion and excessive indulgence in alcohol, inhibiting Massimo from safely operating his scooter back to the house. They succumbed to the dangers of drunken driving and spent a passionate yet secretive night together. Knowing the importance of his duty to protect Eduardo, Massimo departed early in the morning. Olympia, however, ensured he left with a substantial breakfast for the three men and an additional pastry for Massimo's journey. This clandestine affair continued for weeks without Eduardo noticing Massimo's prolonged absences.

As the weeks passed, Eduardo's weight continued to climb. Despite his cramped polos and snug attire, he relished in the image of being the strong, larger bodyguard. Olympia also found pleasure in her relationship with Eduardo, making certain that her secret boyfriend was never left hungry. Unbeknownst to Alexios, his sister mirrored his actions, ensuring Massimo's insatiable appetite was always satisfied. Consequently, Massimo found himself steadily catching up to Eduardo's weight. The sight of two vain, macho men succumbing to their weakness for pastries thrilled Alexios, encouraging him to keep them coming.

When Massimo deemed it safe to return to Italy, he felt a mixture of sadness to leave Olympia and relief at resuming his normal routine. Upon their return, Massimo yearned for the familiar restaurants he had missed and indulged in his favorite dishes several times a day for a week. Meanwhile, Eduardo decided to return to Greece and open a hotel, whereas Massimo found solace in being back on the mainland. After six weeks of savoring his favorite delicacies, Massimo's weight became noticeably larger. Realizing his need to get back into shape if he were to continue his career as a bodyguard, he attempted to go to the gym. However, after two years away from lifting weights, he quickly grew disheartened and found himself seeking comfort at the nearest bakery, ordering a light version of the baklava he had grown accustomed to in Greece, longing for Olympia's presence.

Feeling lost without a clear purpose, Massimo spent hours on the sofa, binge-watching Netflix and ordering copious amounts of food. His weight continued to climb, and Eduardo began to miss his loyal companion from their time in hiding. Concerned, Eduardo reached out to Massimo, checking in on him. Massimo confessed his struggles with weight gain and his failed attempts to get back in shape. Uncertain of his future now that bodyguarding seemed out of reach, Massimo's spirits plummeted. Eduardo, not wanting to lose Massimo's companionship, offered him a new position on the island as the building and construction manager instead of his bodyguard. Grateful, Massimo accepted the offer and boarded the first boat back to the island, where he was warmly greeted by Alexios and Olympia, who presented him with a hearty lunch. Massimo's heart swelled with joy as he settled back into his old routine, even if he was much larger than before.

Reuniting with Eduardo, Massimo discovered that both had significantly gained weight. Unbeknownst to them, Olympia and Alexios had secretly fostered their lovers' weight gain, acting as feeders to satisfy their desires. Massimo confessed his affair with Olympia to Eduardo, who found the revelation amusing and enlightening. Realizing why Massimo had gained weight so rapidly, Eduardo asked Olympia to be his girlfriend, an offer she happily accepted. The couple moved into a small apartment above the bakery, where Olympia would prepare a sumptuous breakfast for Eduardo each morning and pack a substantial lunch. Eduardo, in turn, would order snacks from the bakery for the workers, and he would return home to a lavish dinner and passionate intimacy as a way to unwind. Their weight continued to climb, but both men found contentment in their lives. They had everything they desired, and there was no limit to their indulgence.

[vixenihy]

Reunion: A Flash Fiction

Summary: October 17, 1963. Mrs. Kennedy finally returns from her trip to Greece, and her husband is waiting for her and ready to welcome her home.

Tags/Notes + Pairing: jfk x jackie kennedy, mentions of past infidelity, improved relationship, loss of child mention, caroline and john jr. are in it too lol.

Word Count: 897 words

A/N: this one is shorter and a bit messier than my last fic :,( i’ve been having quite a bit of brain fog so unfortunately some things may be a little off. sorry guys!! i hope you enjoy it <3 divider was made by @/ aquazero. hope you guys caught the jackie 2016 reference ;)

Jack sits in the backseat of the car, nervously playing with his hands in the darkness. Every so often, he looks out onto the empty runway only illuminated by blinking lights. Jackie will be here any minute now, but why do those minutes have to pass so slowly?

The past few weeks had been awfully rough without Jackie; The depression and headaches he acquired from his withdrawals after finally being able to stay abstinent and cut himself away from the rest of his ‘women’ was rough. He’d been so used to that lifestyle, he never realized how addicted he was until he found himself desperately writing a letter at midnight to a woman he had ended his affair with over a year prior. When he read the letter the next morning, he embarrassingly shoved it in the bottom of his desk with the intention of discarding it.

Having to continue to mourn the loss of Patrick on his own after Jackie left was even worse. Sure, he had dealt with plenty of things on his own before, and Jackie had been there for him up until the day she left; but there were times at work where he felt so alone. He didn’t dare bother his wife about it when she was recuperating from the loss. So when he got off the phone with Jackie, there was no one to call, no one to talk to, and no one to see. Just cabinet members and paperwork. When he cried in his wife’s arms that day, he felt as if his eyes were opened to a new world. To be comforted by someone he loved dearly and not shunned for crying made him feel…loved… Though this was an incredible realization for him, he didn’t feel comfortable opening himself up like that with anyone else; at least not yet. Joan was there for him when he secluded himself in his room and didn’t come out, and he’d gotten a few sympathy calls here and there; but it just wasn’t the same as that morning when he felt Jackie lovingly wrap her arms around him as he let his emotions run like a river.

“Daddy, look!” Caroline exclaims, pointing out the window with that innocent smile she shares with her father. “I think I see mommy!” She continues, climbing over her dad and brother to see the plane landing in the once empty runway. Jack can’t help but smile at her excitement and

“I think you’re right, Buttons! Lets go out there and meet her. But stay close to me okay? Don’t run out in front of the plane before they put the stairs down.” He instructs, opening the car door and stepping out before taking Caroline and John’s hands into his.

“I wanna go on the plane!!” John shouts, pulling against his fathers hand as they approach the runway. Jack does his best to hide his own excitement as the stairs are placed in front of the door. And as soon as the door opens, Jack bends down as best he can.

“Go on, go give mommy a hug.” He tells them before rising and letting them rush off ahead of him and climb the stairs.

As Jack follows his children, he finally comes face to face with the woman he missed so dearly.

Jackie looks just as beautiful as she did when she left, and as she rises from greeting Caroline and John to look him in the eyes, she looks just as happy to see him as he does for her.

Without a word, Jack leans over and takes Jackie in his arms. His back issues and lack of experience in physical contact makes his hugs quite stiff, but Jackie doesn’t mind one bit.

Jackie pulls back slightly and wraps her arm around her husbands neck, pulling him in for a kiss.

“I missed you, Jack.” She sighs, shuffling the two of them away from the open door so that they can’t be photographed by the swarm of paparazzi outside and holding him close.

“I missed you too, Jackie…” Jack smiles, letting go of his wife and glancing at the open door leading out the crowds of photographers awaiting the First Lady’s return.

“You’ve got quite an audience out there…Are you ready?” He asks teasingly, brushing a lock of hair out of Jackie’s eyes.

“Of course, I love crowds.” She replies, her voice laced with sarcasm. She pulls away from her husband and reveals herself to the sea of cameras. They run their films and snap their flashbulbs at the family as they descend the stairs and make their way to the car waiting for them. Jackie is the first to enter the car, then the children, and finally Jack.

“It’s good to have you home, Mrs. Kennedy. Now, why don’t you tell me about Greece. I take it that you had a good time?” Jack teases, reaching his arm over their children clinging to their mother so that he can put his arm over her shoulder.

“You’ll know when we get home….” Jackie smiles back, giving her husband a discreet wink before looking down at Caroline and John, who had managed to fall asleep in their mothers lap. “But first, I think it’s time for bed.” She finishes quietly just as the car comes to a stop in front of the White House…

[charlesslut16]

CHARLES LECLERC

the bold headlines are smut

Morning routine 

christmas wish

healthy lifestyle 

puppy 

forbidden love 

En couple

mine

only him 

-him only (2)

new guy friend 

enemys? 

-enemys?  (2)

-lovers?  (3)

we belong 

swoon 

maybe we will meet again 

charles,a dad? 

in Greece, the magic happens

DEZEMBER MASTERLIST :

Building a snowman 

Cold hands 

Boxing day

Here you can send in requests if you want to loves (: 

[foreverfitnesspositivity]

I have been in Corfu for a total of 10 weeks now - living the life as a Yoga teacher on a beautiful island. How do I feel? This was a fantastic opportunity and I am so grateful for this amazing experience. The island of Corfu is stunning with incredible sea views, a beautiful climate and a wonderful Mediterranean lifestyle 🧘🪷🙏

[whencyclopedia]

Roman Students in Athens

Training in oratory was a crucial part of Roman education; it was associated with a young boy's transition into adult life. As Athens was considered the intellectual centre of the eastern Mediterranean, many students undertook long journeys so that they could attend the best-known specialised rhetorical schools or study at one of several established philosophy centres.

Roman Education

Education was seen by the Romans as crucial to self-advancement. For young upper-class boys, it was key to obtaining an important position in ancient Roman society. Girls from the well-to-do and elite circles tended to be married at a very young age and did not formally advance their studies, although they may have received a sophisticated education from private tutors.

Originally, training in oratory was not provided within a school context but carried out under the tutelage of a famous statesman who would prepare his young pupil for a political career in the Roman government. However, by the 2nd century BCE, Greek culture had a significant influence on the Roman Republic, and the traditional approach made way for the Greek education system. In Greece, specialised teaching centres had existed for centuries, and gradually, schools of oratory became established in Rome, too. Ancient philosophy was divided into three areas; ethics, physics, and logic; pupils wishing to study philosophy could attend centres offering studies in Greek on doctrines such as Epicureanism and Stoicism. Alternatively, the young Roman boy could leave home to study abroad.

Some modern scholars have referred to this period in a young person's life as going to 'university'. However, the word is used loosely as there was no official curriculum and no official degrees. Nevertheless, going to 'university' in ancient times did entail not only advancing one's studies but also leaving one's family for a new environment and lifestyle in which a student could become a part of the culture of a famous intellectual centre.

During the Republic, notable figures were amongst those who travelled abroad for educational purposes including Julius Caesar (c. 100-44 BCE), the politician Marcus Junius Brutus (85-42 BCE) the orator Cicero (106-43 BCE), poet and satirist Horace (65-8 BCE), and son of Cicero. Generations later, we have the writings and correspondences of former students like the Latin rhetorician Aulus Gellius (123-165 CE), the Greek sophist and rhetorician Libanius (314-393 CE), and the Greek sophist, Eunapius (c. 345 to c. 420 CE), who provide valuable insights through their own experiences of studying in Athens.

Continue reading...

[overleftdown]

farleigh start thoughts

this is going to be a very random, very eclectic post. i just wanted to share some stuff that i can't figure out how to post independently. some headcanons, some commentary, some references... who knows. probably just a lot of yabbering.

"keep the rain" by searows. dude. just listen to the lyrics, i swear.

i was wondering about what the cattons really give farleigh. there's kind of... endless possibilities. his family in america is emotionally neglectful, but how do the cattons differ? i can imagine that having felix and venetia, two people of similar ages that he can glue himself to, is important to him. i also think that frederica start is an overlooked aspect of farleigh's character. e.i. he needs to have some semblance of closeness with the cattons if he has a chance at convincing them to financially support his mom. i think his ultimate mistake when confronting felix was perhaps centering himself, when the conversation was originally about frederica. although farleigh needed to finally say what he knew all along; he's different, and he's being treated differently because of it. i digress; farleigh wants companionship, a loud and distracting lifestyle, the security that only wealth can give you, and the possibility of helping his mom. that's how i sum it up, at least.

although farleigh is prone to escapism (into his wealth, into drugs, into his social life, into the games he plays), he doesn't seem as committed to cognitive dissociation as the rest of the cattons. i don't think farleigh is deluded by the wealth and power he has access to; i actually think it's the opposite. he is so hyper-vigilant of what he can lose that he's entirely aware that he doesn't know how to exist without wealth. the rest of the cattons have convinced themselves that wealth isn't an inherent part of them (elspeth with her odd anecdotes that imply she's a worldly woman, felix with his down-to-earth "i'm beyond classism" attitude, venetia with her general boredom of wealth and everything attached to wealth). farleigh never has that attitude. he knows exactly who he is with wealth, and he's terrified of what he will face without wealth. how would he cope with his sometimes-debilitating otherness? how would he have any power, any control, if not wealth and status? (this is a warped perception of reality, but i believe that's the perspective that comes with omnipresent wealth since you were born).

i think that farleigh would smother his room in pictures. i mean all kinds of media. films he likes, artists he likes (beyonce, justin timberlake, gwen stefani, aaliyah, madonna), pictures of new york, polaroids, photo booth strips, favorite travel locations (greece, italy, LA, germany, whatever), chad from hsm because that's his hair inspo, vogue magazine clippings- jesus, dare i say... postcards? i'm picturing anything and everything. but let's say that farleigh is a very private person. i mean, he's a professional hider, secret keeper, "inside thoughts" kind of person. i'm imagining anything just slightly too personal would be kept in a box. maybe that same box he keeps his cocaine! family pictures, baby pictures, personal photography (would it be bold to imagine farleigh as a notorious street photographer?), old knick knacks like his first friendship bracelets or seashells he found on the beach. i'm getting carried away. farleigh seems like the type to consume, linger, consider. i feel like anyone who wears gucci loafers also has an immense amount of sentimental material.

farleigh doesn't like english food that much.

farleigh is clearly able to apply himself in an academic setting, if the tutoring session is anything to go by. he takes a gamble on whether spending time with people is more beneficial than actually doing his work, and maybe he's just a little bit bored by school. but at the same time, he listened to oliver's entire essay and counted each individual time that oliver said "thus." where the tutor wasn't even listening, farleigh made the choice to specifically comment on oliver's rhetorical content because he understands how to apply yourself academically, even if you've yet to get around to the actual assignment. so.

i think farleigh likes to read. clearly felix, vee, and farleigh all made an agreement to read harry potter together. but i'm also imagining farleigh as a sort of classic literature, historical drama, and romance type of reader. i just think he'd get a kick out of it. i imagine his myspace page genuinely contained moments where he shared book plot like it was school drama.

based on archie's information about how he was asked to audition for farleigh, i think that farleigh speaks to his mom less often and very casually. in a few of archie's interviews, he said he was asked to mimic a phone call with the character's mom while he talked about guys he slept with recently. i think farleigh learned to avoid attempting any substantial conversation with frederica from a fairly young age (also from what archie has said about farleigh's dynamic with his mom). there's a level of both maturity and immaturity to farleigh's relationship with frederica. frederica clings to youth and avoids traditional aspects of motherhood. farleigh had to meet her in this odd middle ground, speaking to her like a friend that's similar in age to him. i can imagine that very few people have had any genuine, serious, emotional conversations with farleigh. like archie has said, farleigh and felix's heated confrontation has never happened before. farleigh doesn't say shit about what he's feeling or thinking.

farleigh and the cattons is so GAH. familial but transactional, familial but not quite. the cattons resolutely ignore the massive elephant in the room that is their inability to let go of how they view farleigh. "dad felt so guilty that he agreed to pay for all of farleigh's education," which also implies that farleigh is only living with the cattons because james has roped himself into this odd situation where farleigh is being shipped to england for school. now that he kinda has to stay with them based on that one agreement, it would also be weird if the cattons didn't treat farleigh the same as felix and venetia. i'm getting carried away. supporting a family member isn't supposed to be on the basis of guilt or pity. there is supposed to be... love? like, c'mon. this makes farleigh's relationship with his cousins odd. venetia believes farleigh is spoiled ("talk about biting the hand"), felix agrees that farleigh is there for entertainment. both comments didn't sit very well with me. the normal family dynamic is shrouded in this strange obligatory and transactional attitude. odd. odd odd odd.

YOUR BEST AMERICAN GIRL BY MITSKI

nothing, just farleigh's relationship with sex and how abysmally unhealthy it is, actually. and also the fact that oliver coerced him sexually GAH. i see this character and he makes me insane to be so honest.

he had to mourn both his cousins ALONE??

i hope farleigh eventually does something incredibly sinister and conniving and mean to oliver.

okay i'm done. hope you enjoyed... all of that.

[is-the-19thcentury-man-okay]

I was very pleased with my English 1820s man. I made sure he had enrichment of a scholarly nature, to balance out the Romantic tendencies they have. He took to studying classical history and language, and I confess I was proud to have such an intelligent 19th century man. More recently he took an interest in current affairs but, as he is quite young, I assumed this was a sign of maturing. Then, just like that, he ran away! I went out searching and a neighbour informed me that he'd gone to Greece to fight against the Ottomans! I was horrified and went straight there, but I found him with a pack of Greek 1820s men and he adamantly refused to come home. What should I do? I worry that he will get hurt fighting, or that his constitution will not survive rough living in the Greek mountains. But he's having such a good time. He is learning the modern iteration of Greek (such a clever man), enjoys the local cuisine, and even wants to dress like his new friends. Is he in great danger if I let him stay, and how could I take him home without breaking his heart? (I don't want to risk any of those Greek 1820s men getting angry either, if I take their lucky mascot away.) Many thanks for your advice!

Romanticism and nationalism make for a very potent combination, as you have learned by now, and for many 19th century men of a certain social class and level of education, the attraction of the Classical world adds another layer of mythical folklore; not to mention the allure of pagan ceremony and skimpy neoclassical clothes.

For 1820s-1830s men, the Byronic appeal of exotic "Eastern" nations can be irresistible, and in general you will find a lot of national myth-making and interest in folk costumes.

Lord Byron in Albanian dress, 1813. This man is not Albanian!

You also have to be aware of your 19th century man's possibly very different ideas of national and imperial boundaries. He learns the polka in Bohemia, he wants to fight the Ottomans, he wants to fight in the Miguelite war—he might support Romantic German nationalism! It's not always the national and cultural understandings of the 21st century.

Being British is also not a guarantee of sensible behaviour. You might think that your British naval officer is going to rest on his laurels after the Napoleonic Wars, and the next thing you know, he's leading a fleet in the Chilean Independence movement!

Thomas Cochrane, naval officer for hire.

19th century men are not for the faint of heart. It can be challenging to balance their Romantic desires with a sensible course of action. Since your man has already spent so much time with his new Greek friends and has embraced their lifestyle, you could suggest that it's important that he document his experiences in a travel narrative that will also champion their cause.

As much as possible, you want to convince him that he's very valuable as a writer and/or visual artist giving voice to a cause—too valuable to foolishly risk his life or ruin his health abroad.

[tessa-liam]

🌟 If You Love Her, chapter 13

Marabelle Series

As Drake climbed into his truck and drove on, his thoughts wandered. He found himself wondering how Liam was handling the recent events in his world. He knew that his friend had a lot on his plate, and he hoped that he was taking the time to process everything. Yesterday, he knew Liam felt comfortable with his lifestyle. But today? He was Cordonia's crown prince. Tomorrow, he will be the King. Masterlist

🌟 All is Fair in Love and War, Round 2

Maxwell was lost in his own thoughts when his phone vibrated, signifying a new message. Maxwell picked up his phone and read the text from Daniella. She was inviting him to attend the opening of her new dance studio. Maxwell smiled as he remembered the time he spent dancing with Daniella at the palace. He replied to the text immediately, accepting the invitation.

After replying to the text, Maxwell put his phone away and laid back on the lounge chair. He closed his eyes and let the warm sun soak into his skin. His mind wandered back to his days of dancing with Daniella, and he couldn't help but smile. He had really enjoyed spending time with her, and he hoped that maybe there could be something more between them. Round 1

🌟 A Romance in Greece, chapter 14

Turning the Page Series

The setting was stunning, with the Aegean Sea providing a breathtaking backdrop. The guests were greeted with glasses of champagne, and Riley and Liam mingled with their friends and family.

As the sun started to set, Riley noticed that Daniel and Matteo had not arrived yet. She began to wonder if there had been any delays, but as she was about to text them, the guests heard the sound of a motorboat approaching the shore.

Riley gasped as she saw the two grooms arrive on the boat, looking dashing in their tuxedos. The guests cheered as the two men disembarked and made their way towards the ceremony venue.

Masterlist

📌 @choicesficwriterscreations @cfwcmod-lucy @selina012

📌My tag lists: @bascmve01 @busywoman @kristinamae093 @differenttyphoonwerewolf @kingliam2019 @ao719 @alj4890 @emkay512 @karahalloway @twinkleallnight @malblk21 @tinkie1973 @queenmiarys @emersyn-in-cordonia @dutifullynuttywitch @charlotteg234 @lovingchoices14 @jared2612 @walkerdrakewalker @imashybish @703cowbarn @irisk12 @thesvnsins @fadingreveries @delmissesryanandcassi @rafasgirl23415 @umccall71 @thosehallowedhalls @queenwalton @choicesficwriterscreations

[black-arcana]

NIGHTWISH's TROY DONOCKLEY On Band's Touring Hiatus: 'We Were In Danger Of Burning Out'

In a new interview with Sakis Fragos of Rock Hard Greece, NIGHTWISH multi-instrumentalist Troy Donockley spoke about the band's announcement that it would take a break from touring and not hit the road in support of the band's just-released studio album "Yesterwynde". He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH>NET): "Well, I was part of the decision, as we all were. We weren't forced into the conclusion, but we were pointed in the direction of it quite early on, even before the pandemic. We realized that we were in danger of burning out of doing too much. So we made the decision, and this hiatus, this time off, is for all of us. It has no time limit. We have absolutely no plans at all for when we will bring the band out again to play live."

He continued: "At the moment, we're just trying to, I suppose, personally, for all of us, recapture our balance, recapture, I suppose, our sense of direction for the band. It hasn't been easy — there's been lots of personal problems — but I must stress that we're an unusual beast, NIGHTWISH, in that we actually love being with each other. It's a rare thing for bands. A lot of bands, they'll have separate dressing rooms and all that kind of nonsense, whereas we actually enjoy our own company. And we socially mix with each other even when we're not working. We have fun with each other. Last year, Emppu [Vuorinen, NIGHTWISH guitarist] and Tuomas [Holopainen, NIGHTWISH keyboardist] came over to Yorkshire [England] and we went metal detecting for a week, just for the fun of it. Yeah, that's what we do. And have massive fun doing it."

Circling back to NIGHTWISH's decision to not play any live shows for the foreseeable future, Troy said: "So, it's not terminal. It's an extended time off. But I can envisage some more live work probably in 2027, which is the 30th anniversary of the band. I should imagine we'll do something live to mark that. We might do that."

When Fragos noted that NIGHTWISH's long album-tour cycles must have become more emotionally demanding as Troy and his bandmates kept doing it year after year, Donockley said: "That's a major part of it, but when you take that with six people, all of them feeling the same way, and you take it out on tour for seven weeks, or you travel to South America, three weeks in South America, then you're in Japan, then you're in America for five weeks. And we've all got families — all of us have families. Floor [Jansen, NIGHTWISH singer] has two tiny children. It's gonna cause confusion, with the lifestyle."

"Yesterwynde" was made available on September 20 via Nuclear Blast. It marks NIGHTWISH's tenth studio LP, following on from the release of "Human. :II: Nature." in 2020.

In August 2022, NIGHTWISH announced the addition of Jukka Koskinen (WINTERSUN) as an official member of the band. Koskinen, who made his live debut with NIGHTWISH in May 2021 at the band's two interactive experiences, had spent the previous year touring with NIGHTWISH as a session musician.

In November 2022, Jansen revealed that she was "cancer free" after undergoing surgery to have a tumor removed following a breast cancer diagnosis.

Photo credit: Tim Tronckoe (courtesy of Nuclear Blast)

[acmoorereadsandwrites]

Books to Try if You Loved Lore Olympus

'If You Loved This, Try This' #3 (read here or my Substack)

If you liked the Greek myth elements and the tackling of themes of survivorship, try:

Medusa by Nataly Gruender, an adult grounded historical fantasy

Medusa was born mortal in an immortal family, but is destined to be the most famous of her three sisters. With an intimate look at her life from childhood to death with the occasional POV chapter from other characters, Medusa is steeped in complex feelings.

If you liked Hades and Persephone in an office setting but wanted something more erotic with a smaller cast of characters, try:

The Maiden and the Unseen by Jeanette Rose and Alexis Rune, an erotic adult contemporary fantasy romance

Persephone is a social media manager with a new job, working for Hades, who is financing the lifestyles of the other gods. The two can’t keep their hands off each other and fate has a lot more in store for them than an office romance.

If you really loved the bending of Greek myths and fated love but you want less of the gods and more of a mystery element and some climate fiction aspects or are looking for a Greek myth adaptation from a Greek author, try:

Threads That Bind by Kika Hatzopoulou, a YA fantasy mystery

Private investigator Io Ora is a descendent of the Three Fates living in the sinking city of Alante. When she’s tasked with tracking down why women’s life threads are being destroyed and turned into monsters, she’s forced to team up with Edei, a member of the criminal underworld who is also Io’s fated other half.

If you were really interested in the family drama and the genealogy aspect, try:

Medea by Eilish Quin, an adult ground historical fantasy

From early childhood to her second marriage, Medea has never truly felt that she belonged. After years of studying magic under her father, she’s a knowledgeable magician with great skills, but is still overlooked in favor of her more beautiful sister. When Jason arrives, she agrees to help him, but things don’t always work out as we plan.

If you preferred the parts of the webtoon that took place in Ancient Greece and want a retelling grounded in the historical setting instead of a reimagining with modern elements, try:

Receiver of Many by Rachel Alexander, an adult historical fantasy romance

Persephone is secluded from the other gods, her entire world centering on her mother and helping keeping the mortals fed. Aidon has spent centuries alone in the Underworld, content to live his life among the residents and away from the mess the other gods are making of the mortal realm. But when Zeus sets in motion an ancient prophecy, Persephone will take her rightful place as the queen of Tartarus and Aidon will embrace parts of himself he has long buried.

If you liked the more modern setting and Persephone searching for a space for herself but you wanted a bit less romance, a bit more Gothic and you love art and art history, try:

In the Garden of Monsters by Crystal King, an adult historical romantic Gothic

In Italy in 1948, Julia has the enviable chance to be the muse of Salvador Dali as he works on a piece depicting Persephone. Their host, Ignacio, is withdrawn and rarely seen, but is particularly interested in Julia eating pomegranate seeds in increasingly elaborate meals. Something much older than Julia is at play as she’s pulled into multiple directions by three different men.

If you liked the modern setting, but you want a Sapphic retelling of Psyche and Eros with a fae court feeling, try:

Oath of Fire by K. Arsenault Rivera, an adult contemporary fantasy

Psyche’s career as a therapist is at risk of ending and her main solace is an MMORPG. When she receives a one-time only invitation to a part at one of the Courts, she takes the chance. What she wasn’t expecting was to meet the permanently masked Eros or attract her attention.

If you liked the focus on the goddesses but you want a nonfiction exploring their stories in-depth, try:

Divine Might: Goddesses in Greek Myth by Natalie Haynes, nonfiction

From Athena to Aphrodite to Demeter and Persephone, Natalie Haynes examines their myths, the impact they have had on our world, and ties it to pop culture. Providing her own personal opinions about different goddesses and their situations, she makes an argument for her interpretations but doesn’t demand the reader agree with her.

If you didn’t know a lot about Greek mythology before reading Lore Olympus but are now looking to learn as many stories as possible or want a collection of myths, try:

Mythos by Stephen Fry, an adult collection

The version I recommend is the illustrated version as the art has a very distinct style that utilizes a minimalist color palette. With his trademark humor and footnotes, Stephen Fry gives a very extensive introduction to the world of Greek mythology that feels grown-up

[gemsofgreece]

With all these events that are happening i can't help but wonder about the cycle of rise and fall of civilizations especially for us Greeks

Did the ancient Greeks think it was hopeless when society as they knew it changed and collapsed in front of them? Did the Byzantines thought about the end of times when the Ottomans invaded?

How are many Greeks nostalgic about the past but don't want to make modern Greece better and the cycle repeats.

To be honest, I don't think this way a lot. I think the "fall of a civilization" applies only to people whose culture and identity both faded forever (i.e Hittites, Babylonians, Inca). Other than that, a civilization may diminish or adapt to its times in order to survive. The historian Roderick Beaton says Greeks were at a constant process of reinventing themselves and thus surviving and I find myself agreeing with this perspective. If the Greek civilization had fallen, then there would be nothing for us to hold on to or build our identity on, no language surviving, no Greek Orthodoxy practiced, no extant folklore and legends (modern groups of people who suddenly build up a lore to connect themselves with old civilizations on the basis of fabricated data obviously don't count). Admittedly, to the outside eye those nuances may be hard to spot, I mean, what makes one culture an adaptable survivor or fallen and replaced by a similar yet disconnected one or downright fabricated but either way I don't think the Greek civilization has ever fallen. I think similarly about the Iranians (Persians), the Indians, the Chinese, the Japanese etc None of these cultures are exactly what they were like but they are adapting, evolving and surviving... our era is not an era cultivating cultures after all. Despite their positives, technology and globalisation have caused the dramatic decrease of independent thought and expression.

Anyway, I don't think Ancient Greeks ever thought of a fall of their civilization or an end of an era. Perhaps they feared that during the Persian invasions, however ancient people were far more adaptable and pragmatic than nostalgic - it's no coincidence that the small city states did not oppose much to the Persian forces. It was only a few powerful city states like Athens and Sparta that could "afford" being romantic and organize a defense. But against all odds the defense proved strong and the Persian danger was dealt with.

When Greeks were conquered by the Romans, there wasn't a "change and collapse of the society as they knew it". Of course, it's rarely mentioned by all the Greco-Roman fans but initially Romans caused countless casualties and destroyed many great Greek cities. However, they rebuilt a lot of them and established a lifestyle very similar to the one Greeks already had and the Greeks were free to act exactly as they used to and prosper, so there ultimately wasn't a collapse of the Greek civilization or the society there as they knew it either.

The rise of Christianity would have only been viewed as the collapse of the society as they knew it to those who adhered very persistently to the old religion. But many Greeks also adopted the religion very eagerly. People keep on talking about the persecutions of pagans by Christians, which definitely happened, but they don't talk about why the Orthodox and the Catholic churches are full of proto-Christian martyr saints, aka Christian people who were persecuted, tortured and killed by pagans. A great number of them were Greeks who had eagerly adopted the new religion. The New Testament is proof of the Greeks' genuine interest in Christianity - not only it is written in Greek but a lot of it is the epistles of Paul to various Greek Christian groups i.e Thessalonians, Corinthians, Ephesians, Philippians. Besides, nowadays we tend to perceive these things as one-time shocking changes. But this is not how things happened in reality; changes were slow, gradual, curiosity hand in hand with hesitation, periods of peace switching with ones of persecution from either side. So I don't think there was a certain point in time were Greeks would altogether think of the "fall of their civilization". Again, many of the Greeks wanted these changes to take place anyway.

The one time in early antiquity that could be perceived as a fall was the Dark Ages / the Homeric Age, about which too little historical evidence has been found. And yet I am a little sceptical about this too. The reason of my confusion is that after this 400 years long era of supposed nothingness and regression and civilization collapse the very first thing we get is BOOM! Homeric Epics! How is this even possible? Imagine this in pseudo - evolutionary terms; something happens to a horse and it immediately downgrades to a frog and then BOOM inexplicably it evolves to a chimpanzee! Something's not right there. I think even the Dark Ages were not as dark as historians believe and most of these speculations are caused due to a lack of archaeological evidence (whatever happened to it) than due to the factual fall of the civilization. However, something definitely happened there because there is a sense of nostalgia and admiration amongst the Archaic Greeks for the heroes of old... My personal speculation is that the Mycenaean Civilization was indeed pressed by the change of times, wars, social class revolutions, maybe natural disasters but it did go into a phase of incubation, adapting and reinventing itself, gradually morphing into the culture of Archaic Greece. It did not fall because if it had indeed fallen, then it would be impossible for the first thing to be produced after a civilization's fall to be epic poetry of the highest literary form of the very language the fallen civilization had! Oh, and the Olympic Games too! I don't think that's how civilization collapses work. I don't know why there is a lack of archaeological evidence but I think this very lack is skewing our perception of the Dark Ages, which I thus much prefer to call with its alternative name "Homeric Age". (It's also called "Geometric period" but that's not dramatic enough XD.)

The one time Greeks (or now Romans, but obviously not the Latin speaking Ancient Romans originating from where modern day Italy is, which is why it is so much more convenient to say Byzantines when speaking to foreigners that need to understand you're not talking about Latin speaking Ancient Romans) must have thought the end of an era was coming was indeed during the last years of the Eastern Roman Empire. Not just due to the Ottomans though, but also due to the Latins (Franks, Venetians, Crusaders) who were the ones who actually destroyed the empire and then the Ottomans just found shards to sit on. The last years of the Byzantine era is probably the first time we see true panic and despair and grief in all their majesty in the historical documents. Furthermore, after living in one single state for so long, Greeks had finally developed a communal sense of existing, a nationhood. Based on late Byzantine documents, it seems the Greeks now feared the end of Ancient Greek legacy and Roman / Romaic (medieval Christian Greek) culture was imminent with the emergence of the Ottoman Turks.

This is the one time the Greek civilization came close to fall for good. But it is true that the Ottoman Turks allowed subjects to practice their religion (obviously not in an equally free, safe and unapologetic way as the Muslims could but still) and speak their tongue (obviously not supporting it to be taught in schools - I mean, there weren't schools apart from religion focused very basic privately paid schools here and there, especially in the Greek mainland - but still) and with great difficulties and low odds working in its favour the Greek civilisation persists. Of course it's not the same as it was in 1500 BC or in 450 BC or in 1100 AD but that's not because it has fallen 50 times, it is because all surviving old cultures survived exactly because they were able to adjust according to their times, the changes and the dangers they confronted by adopting what they needed to adopt and preserving what they needed to preserve.

I agree about the Modern Greeks though. The Modern Greeks have indeed lost their focus but I don't think it's going to be forever. The main problem of the Modern Greeks is how they are stuck on reminiscing a past long gone, a past they have not even experienced first hand or even studied thoroughly enough, instead of looking to the future and seing what they can do for it as the independent grown people that they are. They waste time and motivation at always comparing themselves unfavourably to what ancient ancestors would have done, which is an incredibly stupid way to evaluate challenges anyway, because ancestors were a product of their own times and we can not in any way predict how they would act or be like in our times.

By the way, I read a very interesting article about 1821 that I intend to translate in English and post here at some point, and I was thinking, people talk and talk about Greece having fallen, about Greece not being what it was, about Greece having a financial crisis and being weak, and I am just thinking... people have no idea about what kind of leaps Greece has done the last 200 years...

[queereads-bracket]

Queer Fantasy Books Bracket: Round 1

Book summaries below (and bonus article by Sascha Stronach):

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

Greece in the age of heroes. Patroclus, an awkward young prince, has been exiled to the court of King Peleus and his perfect son Achilles. By all rights their paths should never cross, but Achilles takes the shamed prince as his friend, and as they grow into young men skilled in the arts of war and medicine their bond blossoms into something deeper - despite the displeasure of Achilles' mother Thetis, a cruel sea goddess. But then word comes that Helen of Sparta has been kidnapped. Torn between love and fear for his friend, Patroclus journeys with Achilles to Troy, little knowing that the years that follow will test everything they hold dear. Profoundly moving and breathtakingly original, this rendering of the epic Trojan War is a dazzling feat of the imagination, a devastating love story, and an almighty battle between gods and kings, peace and glory, immortal fame and the human heart. Fantasy, historical fiction, mythology, retelling, romance, adult

The Dawnhounds by Sascha Stronach (The Endsong series)

A police officer is murdered, brought back to life with a mysterious new power, and tasked with protecting her city from an insidious evil threatening to destroy it. The port city of Hainak is alive: its buildings, its fashion, even its weapons. But, after a devastating war and a sweeping biotech revolution, all its inhabitants want is peace, no one more so than Yat Jyn-Hok a reformed-thief-turned-cop who patrols the streets at night. Yat has recently been demoted on the force due to “lifestyle choices” after being caught at a gay club. She’s barely holding it together, haunted by memories of a lover who vanished and voices that float in and out of her head like radio signals. When she stumbles across a dead body on her patrol, two fellow officers gruesomely murder her and dump her into the harbor. Unfortunately for them, she wakes up. Resurrected by an ancient power, she finds herself with the new ability to manipulate life force. Quickly falling in with the pirate crew who has found her, she must race against time to stop a plague from being unleashed by the evil that has taken root in Hainak. Fantasy, science fiction, biopunk, adult, Māori-inspired*

*Additional context: I also want to share this article by Sascha Stronach that was posted earlier this week (literally perfect timing). Especially since I'm including words from the marketing copy like "Māori-inspired" on the polls in the hopes that it helps readers find their new thing, it felt important to add the author's own words on the difficulties of working with US-based publishers and the power they exert over the process

[cognitivejustice]

The test is now live in eight European countries: Finland, Estonia, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Greece, Slovenia and Turkey.

The new Lifestyle Test provides tailored suggestions for sustainable lifestyle choices and allows users to build a lifestyle plan to follow their progress.

Test users can take a quick test to calculate their carbon footprint. The test takes no longer than five minutes. It requires no preparation and provides an accurate estimate of your carbon footprint

You can try the new Lifestyle Test here.