Sunday 13 July 2014
Thursday 10 July 2014
Friday 4 July 2014
Wednesday 18 December 2013
Monday 9 December 2013
Overdue posts
It would seem my esteemed friend and recent contributor, has fallen asleep at his desk.
The latest instalment of the epic tale, is long overdue.
Sleep well dear friend.... :)
The latest instalment of the epic tale, is long overdue.
Sleep well dear friend.... :)
Monday 14 October 2013
The long way home
A wish is the human natural expression of the will to go further, to break boundaries, to evolve.
This is true for just a simple individual or a family, community and even a nation. The wish of the Romanian people to climb on the ladder of history and contribute to the world knowledge started not in the cold December 1989 when they broke the ties with communism, but long before....
The first steps of Romanians into the great European family started with the very process of the forming of this nation when the Romans conquered Dacia, an independent kingdom north of the Danube that stretched from the Pannonian fields to the shores of the Black Sea where ancient Greeks established colonies in the 7Th century BC.
A country with rich fields, gold stuffed mountains and, as they later found out, some of the best wines in the known world.
After the withdrawal commanded by emperor Aurelian (270-275) the Romans left behind and romanised Dacians found themselves in the posture of the abandoned child. And that's the very beginning of this nations' long way home, to where it truly belongs.
Over the years, every ambitious crowned head that saw a glimpse of the future developed the will to prove to the West that on these foreign lands they have long lost brothers and sisters. Mircea the Elder, who contributed and supported many crusades meant to put a hold to the new fervourish enemy from the east, Stephen the Great, deemed by Pope Sixtus IV "verus christianae fidei athleta" (true Champion of Christian Faith) for defeating the Ottomans on numerous occasions and Michael the Brave who managed to unite for a short period at the beginning of the 17Th century all the Romanians under one kingdom were leaders that kept many ties with the West in order to get recognition.
Their sacrifices and their subjects' sacrifices are now to be found in history books. For many, they are just a simple collection of names and data in chronological order. Sometimes, sadly, history is seen that way.
That's why I dare you on an imaginative journey in which you see the happenings of everyday lives through the eyes of the simple folk. The ones that do not make it into the history books, the ones that, although they make history do not necessarily make it to the memory of a historian or would take too much space on a scribe's parchment.
A nation like that are Romanians. Simple, hospitable and quite well educated. Sometimes way to proud in their culture and deeply rooted into their tradition. To some it may seem like a true 19th century English conservative way but with an exotic twist. All that in high contrast to the cold and high-tech world of the present day West.
Maybe this is what the old continent lacks to regain its balance. The very point of equilibrium in which the East meets the West. Romania is now a full member of the European Union, but old brothers and sisters are not fully unified.
Maybe time will heal what time took away.
History is made every day, see you again soon.....
Author: Ionut
===============
This article was written for me by Ionut, a man whom I have come to respect and admire.
He offered to write some history for me about Romania. I believe it will serve well as the base from which to give a greater insight into the history of Romania, and the every days lives of those born in a land ravaged by many, cherished by few.
My thanks to Ionut, I look forward to the next instalment.
This is true for just a simple individual or a family, community and even a nation. The wish of the Romanian people to climb on the ladder of history and contribute to the world knowledge started not in the cold December 1989 when they broke the ties with communism, but long before....
The first steps of Romanians into the great European family started with the very process of the forming of this nation when the Romans conquered Dacia, an independent kingdom north of the Danube that stretched from the Pannonian fields to the shores of the Black Sea where ancient Greeks established colonies in the 7Th century BC.
A country with rich fields, gold stuffed mountains and, as they later found out, some of the best wines in the known world.
After the withdrawal commanded by emperor Aurelian (270-275) the Romans left behind and romanised Dacians found themselves in the posture of the abandoned child. And that's the very beginning of this nations' long way home, to where it truly belongs.
Over the years, every ambitious crowned head that saw a glimpse of the future developed the will to prove to the West that on these foreign lands they have long lost brothers and sisters. Mircea the Elder, who contributed and supported many crusades meant to put a hold to the new fervourish enemy from the east, Stephen the Great, deemed by Pope Sixtus IV "verus christianae fidei athleta" (true Champion of Christian Faith) for defeating the Ottomans on numerous occasions and Michael the Brave who managed to unite for a short period at the beginning of the 17Th century all the Romanians under one kingdom were leaders that kept many ties with the West in order to get recognition.
Their sacrifices and their subjects' sacrifices are now to be found in history books. For many, they are just a simple collection of names and data in chronological order. Sometimes, sadly, history is seen that way.
That's why I dare you on an imaginative journey in which you see the happenings of everyday lives through the eyes of the simple folk. The ones that do not make it into the history books, the ones that, although they make history do not necessarily make it to the memory of a historian or would take too much space on a scribe's parchment.
A nation like that are Romanians. Simple, hospitable and quite well educated. Sometimes way to proud in their culture and deeply rooted into their tradition. To some it may seem like a true 19th century English conservative way but with an exotic twist. All that in high contrast to the cold and high-tech world of the present day West.
Maybe this is what the old continent lacks to regain its balance. The very point of equilibrium in which the East meets the West. Romania is now a full member of the European Union, but old brothers and sisters are not fully unified.
Maybe time will heal what time took away.
History is made every day, see you again soon.....
Author: Ionut
===============
This article was written for me by Ionut, a man whom I have come to respect and admire.
He offered to write some history for me about Romania. I believe it will serve well as the base from which to give a greater insight into the history of Romania, and the every days lives of those born in a land ravaged by many, cherished by few.
My thanks to Ionut, I look forward to the next instalment.
Wednesday 18 September 2013
I woke this morning with a goal in mind...
I intend to start searching for people, families, community projects and health focused services, who may need my help.
To be clear, I am not a miracle worker. There are clear limits as to what I will be able to do to help.
However, as the Tesco's slogan goes... "Every little Helps!"
So from today I will start a search, in the hope that in some small way, I might be able to improve the lives of others.
With the above in mind, I would like to ask for help.
If there is anyone who may know of a worthy cause, or is themselves involved in worthy causes and could use some help, please do let me know.
I am considering such things as: Financial assistance to a family to help with the education of their children.
I have a lot of ideas, but I do not have unlimited resources. I will do what I can to help, but there are limits.
Monday 16 September 2013
Trying To Make A Difference!
I write this Blog with the aim of giving others an insight into Life as I see it.
This is not an exercise in Vanity, nor is it a marketing campaign to fanfare my business... My aim is help those less fortunate than myself with the hope they then might help others.
I write to blog to showcase the lives of the people I try to help in the hope that others might do the same.
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