In late October, I went on a little trip to Lake Plastira, in Central Greece. I completely neglected to upload photos because Christmas in the magazine intervened and I had to host a fake Christmas party with all the trimmings (photos of that are coming later on).

The Lake is a place of utter beauty and if you are into that, spirituality too. It’s very hard to escape the spiritual side of nature when you are there. It is so animated, every dewdrop is a whole world. You know me, I love big cities. But I felt so protected there and at times the beauty made me feel awkward and puzzled. Should I take photos, should I hug trees (I didn’t, collective sigh of relief), should I get lost in the forest and never reemerge, should I cry?

I was at a loss, most of the time. The photos have been photoshopped (more of them here). But this was not to make them look better. I did that in order to show the atmosphere and communicate the feelings I had. The camera can never capture what I saw, so, maybe photoshop is of help here. What you see is true. I was there.

Some photos from the weekend and the last few days.

These tiles were in the forest. Honestly.

"Key Clinic" or maybe "Key doctor"

Lydia’s tavern in Kaisariani, Athens

"Vraziliana" in Petralona, Athens

"Kappari" in Petralona, Athens

At "Rakaki" in Kaisariani, Athens. It was M’s birthday

Your Hand in Mine: An amazing greek band. Listen to them here.

Monika: She is really lovely, also Greek. Listen to her here.

The recession? Does it scare you? It scares me seeing people losing jobs and homes. Here’s a song I thought very appropriate.

Before the fiddlers have fled
Before they ask us to pay the bill
And while we still have the chance
Let’s face the music and dance

It all started with an article I had to write for the newspaper. As I have said, I wouldn’t buy this particular newspaper even if it gave a free villa in the Bahamas and a luxury yacht with George Clooney as its skipper, with every issue.

But this doesn’t mean I don’t research my articles, even for publications that are meant for glass cleaning instead of reading. The article was about ingredients that go into cosmetics: from mainstream cosmetics, to really expensive ones, to ones that claim to be “natural” (ha), and finally to those you only find in health shops and have sometimes been approved by several organizations.  

Let me jump to the moment I finished the article and went in the bathroom to wash my hair. I don’t know how many minutes I stood there, looking at all the bottles, feeling that every time I wash my hair, a little toxic bomb explodes on my head.

What I decided to do from now on is to take my list of dangerous toxics with me every time I go shopping . I thought, if I am to suffer from degenerative diseases in the future, it might as well be from all the pollutants I breathe daily, or because I smoke (I don’t) or take drugs (I don’t), and not because I want to have clean hair and use deodorant.

 I also don’t trust anybody, because all companies are in the business to make money, even green ones. That’s why I was not surprised when a well known (in Greece) “green” brand, the kind you only find in health shops, the kind that charges 15 Euros for a bottle of shampoo (that was the price for 250 ml) listed “Formaldehyde” in the ingredients. Formaldehyde is a cheap preservative that goes into cosmetics and you can do your own research on what it may or may not do to you.

Finally, I want to explain that I am a big fan of chemistry. Everything that surrounds us is chemistry. Chemical is not opposite to natural, which anyway, does not exist and is a fantasy word like “unicorn”. But because I am a fan of chemistry, I want the people who know how to work chemical wonders, to make a shampoo that won’t kill off my brain cells and a shower gel that won’t alter my DNA beyond recognition.

At a time when we are worrying about the side effects that necessary, life-saving drugs may have on us, it is a bit silly to ignore the side effects of lipstick.

Some interesting links

This is a list of suspicious ingredients. There are more lists out there.

This is a relevant Greenpeace report.(pdf)

This is a WWF report (pdf). If you don’t have time for all of it go to page 19.

These are websites that let you know more about toxic ingredients in cosmetics:

http://www.noharm.org/

http://www.lesstoxicguide.ca/

http://www.notjustaprettyface.org/

Here is a database to find out about particular products that you may be using

Here is an interview with Stacy Malkan, author of the book Not Just a Pretty Face: The Ugly Side of the Beauty Industry. By the way Sprig is a nice site anyway.

                                        The most beautiful duck in the world

                                    High and mighty in Richmond Park                                                                  Hampstead Heath on Easter Sunday                                                                               The view from Richmond Hill I have many many photos to show you. I thought I’d start with these: flowers, trees and pretty things. To celebrate spring that this year won’t pass us by.

Nature, it’s over between us. Because:

a. You are extreme, you were made that way. Too cold, too hot, too wild, too many bugs, rude mice, pronged twigs, thorns, spiky bushes, an assortment of stones, mud, animal poo.

b. You are like a pill some people have to take every morning. It’s not your fault, it’s theirs, I admit that. But they make you look bad, nature. People who HAVE to be out at a certain time, every day and take certain steps and see certain things, because it is GOOD for them, no I can’t stand that.

c. Manmade things appeal to me most. They say you were made by someone cleverer, so it’s no wonder you are so beautiful. But we people are so little and limited and the fact that we were able to make bridges that look like they are hanging from the sky, amazes me more.

d. Okay, because I am lazy. I like what you have to give me (food, I like food) and I respect you and promise to always protect you from harm. I recycle plastic bottles, paper and cans and I sometimes make my own detergents out of vinegar and soap. But being lazy means I don’t like climbing your mountains and walking where there is no clear path and meeting your creepy crawlies, who totally belong with you (not with me though).

e. You are analog. I would love you more if your trees had USB ports.

Scientific Fact: At least I managed to dig out the little evil man who shuts down my computer

He didn’t come. The computer saviour. He said he might come tonight. But it’s snowing and I doubt it. Because when snow happens, nothing else does. So I wrote the article on spring cleaning without toxic substances and found out I have been wasting money and earth resources on detergents when I could really make my own. I’m going to the grocery store tomorrow to buy supplies. Because that’s where you find them: vinegar, baking soda, lemons and maybe some borax are what you need. I’m going to name them Chloe. -Chloe glass cleaner -Chloe floor polish -Chloe general cleaner I’ll let you know if they work. Apparently effervescent denture tablets unblock plugholes in sinks and baths. Did you know that? Well did you? Shame I don’t have dentures I could try it this very minute.

I also rearranged the books. They are not shelved by colour anymore. Thank god, I couldn’t find anything. The last few books I read were all orange because they were Penguins and I knew where to find them.

"Let me say this to you I’ll be steadfast and true And my love will never falter

The sea would crash about us The waves would lash about us

I’ll be your rock of Gibraltar

Sometimes it’s hard And we’re both caught off guard

But there’s nothing I would ever alter

The wind could howl round our ears

For the next thousand years

I’d still be your rock of Gibraltar"

Nick Cave - Rock of Gibraltar

*for all my great rocks

My playlist (always in the car)

1. All My Love-Led Zeppelin

2. Bad Day- Daniel Powter

3. City Of Blinding Lights-U2

4. Dreams-Cranberries

5. Look what you’ve done-Jet

6. Return to sender-Elvis

7. Principle of Joy- Thom

8. Why do you love me-Garbage

9. Deep down and dirty- Stereo MCs

10. Psychocandy-Jesus and Mary Chain