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Dragobete is the Romanian version of Valentine's Day celebrated tomorrow on 24th February. It is sooooo much lovelier than Valentine's without all the commercial bruhaha and is steeped in tradition. Dragobete (also named Dragomir), traditionally the Romanian god of love and well-being, was the son of Baba Dochia, the main character in the pagan myth related to the arrival of spring and the end of the harsh winter. The legend of Dragobete goes as follows: Baba Dochia is said to have been a very cruel mother-in-law who never missed... [Lire la suite]

(Photo source) Sorin Antohi is a name that chimes controversy. And a lot more besides. He had what should have been an illustrious career ahead of him, but screwed up bigtime. Born in 1957, Antohi is described by Wikipedia as a 'Romanian historian, essayist and journalist'. He held the position of head of history at the Central European University in Budapest and was an active member of GDS (Grupului pentru Dialog Social). He was also a Securitate snitch and should be shoved in the same bag as the likes of Cornel Todea and... [Lire la suite]

(Photo source) 11th Feb (morning): The "fake beef" scandal which has spread to both producers and consumers in at least six countries - Ireland, Britain, Luxembourg, Poland, France and Sweden - seems to be developing into something more and more appalling. Not only has it raised serious questions on food safety, as well as the possibility of outright fraud in an industry with a history of grave, if episodic, lapses despite efforts at stricter regulation and reform, but I've just read that the "fake beef" could, in fact, be... [Lire la suite]

(Photo source) Okay, the time has come to be politically incorrect because I'm sick and tired of hypocrisy. I'm going to just come out and say it. What is REALLY going on for the anti-Romanian and Bulgarian negative ad campaigns in the UK to have come about? Is it truly about foreign workers taking jobs away from the Brits? I don't think so. It is about finding an excuse because everybody with a ha'penny worth of common sense knows perfectly well that the job situation in the UK is due to government policy and nothing whatsoever to do... [Lire la suite]

(Image source) I'm stunned! Speechless! And in SUCH a good way! Ever since the 'potential' negative ad campaign began in the UK on Wednesday with readers of the Guardian newspaper encouraged to send their suggestions for posters aimed at detering Romanians and Bulgarians from moving across the puddle, there has been a massive - and I really mean MASSIVE - outpouring of the most incredible national pride I have ever seen from Romanians for their own country. EVER. The social networks are full of superb articles from journalists such... [Lire la suite]

(Photo source) Well, it was sure to happen and it has. Hurrah! A very bright Romanian campaign has hit back in style at the proposed negative ad absurdity in Britain aimed at keeping Romanians and Bulgarians OUT. Oh-You-Tee. That's right. OUT. Concerned about a possible (and groundless) influx of new arrivals when immigration restrictions for Bulgaria and Romania are lifted at the end of 2013, the British media is reporting that ministers are considering a negative ad campaign that would dissuade wannabe migrants from heading to the... [Lire la suite]

  (Photo source) Here's a post I wrote back in 2009 on my lesser-used Back in Paris blog. Seems like nothing has changed for the better. Right now, ministers in the UK are trying to come up with negative publicity for living in Britain at an attempt to keep Romanians and Bulgarians away. I'm not sure they have a full understanding of 'what' Romanians and Bulgarians actually are. Only what they presume they are. Here is the post I wrote more than three years ago. Seems the parallels are overwhelming: The other day as I was... [Lire la suite]

(Photo: The Sofia Globe) Today is International Holocaust Remembrance Day across the globe although in Romania, it is observed on 8th October marking the murder of 250,000 Jews after deportation to Transnistria in 1941. I began today listening to THIS beautiful Kaddische by Ravel, played by Steven Isserlis. The morning dawned with heavy, black clouds and torrential rain - very fitting for such an anniversary. As Isserlis played, the sun came out - soare cu dinti - equally fitting. The faint, fragile rays of hope, perhaps...? Back on... [Lire la suite]

(Photo source) I have just seen this post on Norman Lebrecht's blog Slipped Disc written by Romanian pianist Raluca Stirbat on the appalling neglect and frighteningly imminent destruction of George Enescu's mother's house where he spent time during childhood, youth and adulthood, in Mihaileni, Moldova. Please distribute the article below (or any of the others linked) far and wide. If anyone has ANY connections that may be of help in either Bucharest or Brussels, please, please lean on them. Romania's two greatest national... [Lire la suite]

An abuse signed in 2008 for a period of 10 years by the Prefecture in partnership with the BOR, this time in Sibiu, to take money from people sitting their written drivers licence tests came to my attention today. What does the church have to do with drivers licences? Well, it seems that the prefecture rented a space that was property of the Archbishopric. The Archbishopric didn't offer it for free of course, and charged a tax of 5 lei a pop for each candidate, representing 'expenses and upkeep' of the aforementioned space. ... [Lire la suite]