On the same vein it would be very easy to say that media, the Guardian included, almost never report on the (weekly or even daily this time of year) rescues that the Greek (and other) navy does successfully carry out. Nor, of course, are the effects of the migration wave ever discussed with appropriate nuance except a one liner under a picture of a local saying “Mr Spyros the baker said he feels for the migrants but he dislikes what’s happening to his neighborhood.”

They only find space on their front page when they can point a finger at some huge disaster with a tragic photo to illustrate and shock normal people.

Pelt me with stones if you must. I am Greek and live in Athens. The amount of people that have come here and are going around downtown and everywhere else with basically nothing to do in their lives and getting by with benefits if they’re lucky (and very often resort to crime as poor people will do anywhere) is unsustainable. If you read opinion polls there is now a very large majority of the population that think this. Even those who vote left have completely come around in the last years. So don’t be too hasty with your conclusions. This is not about lacking empathy or humanity. It’s just realizing the objective reality that has taken shape around you.

Greece has been blamed for this recent tragedy because the land borders are guarded, which presumably leads to people smugglers sending more people on ships to Italy. But what are we even supposed to do? Just let the country become an open air camp of no prospect poor people, while destroying our society in the process? How does this help anyone? Does anyone think Greece, the recently bankrupt economy, can magically provide for millions of destitute people? Or that if the EU for whatever reason decides all are welcome and thus implicitly invites literally millions, it will not result in widespread social unrest? We already see far right gaining almost everywhere. Here we had literal nazis in parliament and they are currently regrouping after being put in jail.

And there are other questions on this whole issue. Look at UN statistics and see that the majority of people arriving here are not fleeing from Syria. They’re from Pakistan and Afghanistan among other places. Why is the answer to those countries’ problems to settle their populations in Greece and Europe? Why is no other place on earth willing or expected to help them? How realistic is this as a solution when the number of people who would like to move to Europe (from Asia, Middle East and Africa) is larger than the population of Europe itself? Also, is Saudi Arabia for example only able to house Cristiano Ronaldo? They have resources and are closer geographically and culturally to a lot of these people.

This is just one person’s opinion (although very common) but uncontrolled migration can yield even worse results (nightmarish in fact) in the long run than what we’re seeing right now. And what we’re seeing right now is already terrible. I wish there was a more viable solution than the people stay at home and make those places better to live in, which is just unlikely.

Movement 3 was my favorite. Like the middle section!

I see you’re quite prolific in composing… Also played Aosta. Because I also traveled there before the pandemic ;) Liked that too, wouldn’t feel out of place as an rpg soundtrack.

Nice! These guys really rock…

Want to share your account? I’d love to check it out. I’m into modern classical stuff too, if that’s what you make.

At least legoman can’t complain about the serving!

I’ve honestly haven’t really put much effort into growing food but always loved the idea and I have been planting some cherry tomatoes, zucchini, cucumber and lettuce. I was lucky that the soil in my yard was good enough to produce medium-good results. I have come to love cucumbers in the late spring and summer, which I used to not really eat before.

Overall I do very little. Mix some compost on top of old / depleted soil and plant young plants I get from the garden centre. I don’t really know what I’m doing to be honest, but I still get to eat my own salads!

Got a suggestion for your wildflower conundrum. Consider creeping plants or vines that flower. Can be quite beautiful and low maintenance. Also rose bushes. Really pretty, really hardy.