Let’s edge our lifestyles towards the Greek pattern
SOME years ago I was invited to go on a wine tour of Greece, visiting wineries on the mainland and on several of the islands. I was amazed and delighted by the wines we were offered. Like so many other ignorant wine lovers I had always imagined that Greeks just drank retsina, which is definitely an acquired taste. In fact we tasted many delicious wines in all styles and I wished they were available back in South Africa.
Apart from the wines, I was impressed most by the Greek work ethic. Greece is a poor country relying heavily on the tourist industry. I met several people who worked only during the summer months, as tour guides, waiters, cooks, souvenir sellers, scooter rental agents and so on, and had to save up enough money during those few busy months to tide them over for the rest of the year.
Many people turned their homes into tavernas and shops during the summer with the family retreating to live in one room at the back in somewhat cramped conditions.
On the few mornings when I was up early I found the shopkeepers already hard at work, getting ready for the day’s trading. They cleaned their shop windows, set out displays and swept the pavement and street in front of their shops.
They did this themselves. There were no municipal street cleaners or garbage collectors. Shopkeepers knew they had a better chance of attracting customers if their shop was in a tidy street, so they rolled up their sleeves and got on with the job.
You might think this hard life would make the Greeks a rather gloomy nation, but they were among the most relaxed and contented folk I had ever met. They worked hard when there was work to be done and they relaxed and enjoyed simple pleasures during the lean months.
We tend to spend our leisure time spending money when we’re not trawling the shopping malls or eating in steakhouses we’re gathered in front of expensive flat-screens clutching the remote control and selecting movies from our pre-paid channels.
Our money is leaking out all the time. In contrast the Greeks seemed to spend their leisure time playing cards or dominoes with friends, usually outdoors at a rough table set under the shade of a fig tree, and enjoying good food from their own kitchens.
They didn’t seem to think it sad that they could earn money only during the tourist summer.
I believe they thought it a privilege to be able to share their beautiful country with their friends and family during the peaceful winter.
I think we should edge our lifestyles toward the Greek pattern. We have the perfect setting for it.
Last Laugh
A businessman came into the pub after work and ordered a double brandy. He downed it in one gulp, took a photograph from his pocket, looked at it, shook his head and ordered another double. When he had swallowed it he took out the photo again, shook his head and ordered a third drink.
He repeated this routine until the barman became curious and asked what was on the photograph. “It’s a photo of my wife,” said the man. “When she starts looking good I’ll know it’s time to go home.”