The Greek President Karolos Papoulias has renewed his country's call for Britain to return sculptures removed from the Parthenon in Athens 200 years ago. Known in the UK as the Elgin Marbles after Lord Elgin, they were sold by him to the British Museum in 1817. He’d removed them from the Parthenon (with permission) when he visited Greece, which was at that time under the control of the Ottoman Empire. The museum has said that there is the potential to loan the marbles back to Greece in order that they be displayed in their correct historical context but only if the Greeks acknowledge UK ownership, which the Greeks perhaps understandably refuse to do.

I wasn’t sure where I stood on this. It’s true that had they not been removed almost 200 years ago that (due to problems with pollution in Athens for many years) they would be in a far worse condition than they are now. It’s also true however that damage has been caused to them whilst in the care of the British Museum, and that new Acropolis Museum would be in a very good position to look after them properly. Having been lucky enough to visit the birthplace of the Olympic Games, seeing the remains of the track and buildings in their original context told a far deeper story than if they’d been relocated elsewhere. There have been moves in recent years for various museums to return artefacts to their places of origin and whilst this has mainly been related to anthropological specimens the movement is growing. Of course you then face the problem that unless you’re lucky enough to be able to visit these places you’re denied the opportunity to see some wonderful objects. How would I feel were the only copy of the Magna Carta sitting in a museum in Lisbon or Adelaide? Or Athens? On balance, some objects are perhaps best kept in their places of origin, or returned there. Whilst each case needs to be looked at on its own merits, I think that it would be a wonderful gesture and the right thing to do, to now return these 2,500 year old works of art to their rightful place. Have your say in the new poll.



Bad news on the injury front. I saw a very nice consultant who twisted and pulled my knee in all sorts of odd directions and watched as I winced and tried to persuade him I wasn’t overly happy with what he was doing. He then dropped into the conversation that the reason it’s less painful this time was due to the fact there is so much damage in there now that half the ligaments have gone completely and he needs to operate. The plan is to use tendons from that leg to repair the damage – basically tie it all together again – and do some work on the cartilage. If that doesn’t work he’ll also open up the other knee and rob a few bits from there to do the job. Which all in all means the best part of a year before I’m back fit. Needless to say I’m not happy with that, but I guess it needs fixing and that’s all there is to it. With luck, determination and bloody mindedness I’ll hopefully be back on my feet quicker than they expect. It’s meant a change or two at work which whilst frustrating is totally understandable and I’ll make the most of the new opportunities that will bring. My various bosses have been supportive and understanding about the whole thing even when it’s been getting me down, and my friends have been simply outstanding. It’s at times like this I realise how lucky I am in the people I have around me.

Back down to Cornwall for a few days early next month with friends although some of the planned activities will have to be scrapped. Never mind – I shall take the cameras and have some fun with those instead. On that front, I hope to be working with some new people over the summer, and have a new shoot planned with a model I worked with before. She has a great look and I’m really looking forward to that.

The lyrical winner this time round was *kinkyk83 who identified the lyric that gave the last journal its title – “Run”, by The Snow Patrol. If you’re the first to identify the song and artist this time round, you get a work of your choice featured in my next journal.

_{Summer Breeze by *kinkyk83}













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