Postcard from Bishkek

The Second Tuesday after Easter is the Orthodox “Parent’s Day”.  It’s not like Mother’s Day or Father’s Day in the the West in that it is a special day for remembering one’s deceased relatives. Apparently, the tradition goes back a long way and there are fourth century references linking it to a spring pagan festival.  [...]

My black tie has been getting an awful lot of use this year. I suppose that my particular annus horribilis, (the Brits, and anyone with a Classical education, will get the reference and understand), started in January when a close friend, Roma, died suddenly.  I was sitting at my computer in my office when I [...]