Wealth is everywhere – except on the tax forms
By Helen Grubner. Filed in Uncategorized |
Billy with neighbourhood friend
A quiet day spent here at home in Kastelli Kissamos – unable to wear even sandals today as I await my aloe vera wrapped toe to heal. In any case, not a day for the beach or venturing too far. Rain this afternoon – like everywhere around the world, the weather does not know what it should do. When Dave and I were here 3 years’ ago, it was unbelievably hot for Springtime, hotter than most summers. Fortunately, I will still be in Greece when the summer weather does arrive.
Earlier today I was reading an excerpt from the New York Times News Service Athens dated 22 May 2010 – it read something like this. In the wealthy suburbs of Athens, where summer temperatures often hit the high 30’s, just 324 residents ticked the box on their tax returns admitting they owned swimming pools. When tax investigators studied satellite photos of the area – a sprawling collection of exclusive villas tucked behind tall gates – they came back with a decidedly different number of 16,974 pools. For more go to www.thespec.com/News/Discover/article/773656 and click on THE GOOD LIFE IN Greece.
On the same theme, The News has been reporting at length on the resignation of Angela Gerekou, Deputy Tourism Minister and former actress, after officials said her husband Tolis Voskopoulos, a popular singer and former film star, owes nearly US$7m in unpaid taxes. Furthermore, the Foreign Ministry has named 57 Athens doctors who they believe are guilty of tax evasion.
It is difficult to comprehend all of this when I know that the greater percentage of the 11 million or so Greek people are struggling to make ends meet – I suspect a succession of corrupt Governments and a corrupt minority of greedy people have brought about the current crisis. Today Anna opened her purse – inside only a photograph of Costas, her much loved son who arrived some 10 years after her other four children then was taken at the young age of just 39.
On a lighter note, this Saturday the Eurovision Song Contest final will be televised live from Oslo, Norway. On Tuesday night we watched the first semi final and Greece made it through with their entry ‘Opa’ performed by Giorgos Alkaios and friends. A performance with much energy and the added beautiful sound of the Greek Lyra. Tonight the second semi final will go to air. In New Zealand it means nothing, however, here in Greece it is always a very popular event. Should the Greek contestant do well, we will hear about it continually for days to come.
To save confusion, please note I added no new images to my More Photos page either yesterday or today.
Thursday, May 27th 2010 at 8:29 am |
Good evening Helen its 8.15pm Thursday.
Hope your toe is coming right. It will be a worry for you when you start to move on again if its still troubling you.
Well winter is certainly upon us here today, cold and miserable. Still it had to start sometime soon. 🙁 Tis the season after all.
Bob had his farewell last night, and interesting to hear that one of his colleagues and his partner are heading off in a couple of weeks time to Bangkok, UK and Greece etc
I told them how you totally recommend going to Greece and they were interested to hear that as they are so looking forward to it.
Went out for a quick meal tonight, but it so wintry out there, nice to come home to the heat, although went to ‘the Brick House’ and they had a lovely big open fire going.
Sorry this is a bit brief, not a lot to report really.
Enjoy the rest of your time with your ‘Greek Family’
Take care
Love
Phyl x