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Happy Birthday, Xronia Polla, stormy weather and a wedding later

It’s Sunday morning now and we escaped the power cut yesterday; other parts of the village and island went without for the morning though.

A group gift.

Friday was Miss DJ’s 50th birthday and the only thing that went wrong with the day was that the internet connection to the radio station didn’t work. That was a shame as she had dedications from many folk who don’t live on Symi and who could only have heard the broadcast via the ANES website. But those dedications and records were played and us with radios heard the show. Actually Neil and I missed the last few minutes as we went down to the taverna to decorate the table. After meeting up at Rainbow, around 25 of us dined at the taverna (which was pretty full already, there were even people filling tables outside).

Everyone wore a ‘Terri’ mask which was a bit weird.

At the appointed hour the cake that Marj had made appeared, accompanied by a suitable tune on the saxophone – much to the delight of the ‘audience’ – and particularly Neil’s sax teacher who, like Terri, was very proud of him. (Two encores from the house.) After dinner the celebrations carried on at Astrid & Alex’s bar and on into the night. I bailed out at around 1.30 but I happen to know that some people didn’t get home until after six in the morning. A great night but only a few printable photos!

Saturday was another clear and chilly day. I nipped down to the harbour (which is never as quick and easy as it sounds, and it’s very hard to ‘nip’ back up again). There was another group of refugees boarding the Proteus. I had a greetings dilemma as I was wandering down. The first person I met I said kalimera to, and they replied with yiasas. The next person I knew quite well so I said yiasou and they replied kalimera; I tried kalimera yiasou combined next and got yiasas. It was much easier when I got to the square where it was simply έλλα φίλε!

We have been invited to a wedding this afternoon and the reception afterwards, but before then there are plenty of household bits and pieces to catch up on. It’s threatening to rain and the wind is up. We actually had the heater on last night for an hour, for the first time this winter, so that’s not too bad I guess.

Things to do on Symi without electricity

If you were wondering… there was no power on the island yesterday. Well, Pedi was still on-line but the village and harbour were without electricity from around 7 in the morning until half four or so in the afternoon; and then again for a couple of hours in the evening. Other parts of Symi were probably ok to but I heard the workmen were going to be at Panormitis today. We are going to a wedding there on Sunday so let’s hope everything is sorted out by then.

It’s interesting to see what you can get done in a day without electricity. Neil went out photographing as there was no point in having the shop open without the computer running. I chopped back the vine for the winter, making kindling for the fire and letting more light into the sitting room. I also cleaned the computer keyboard for the first time in ages so it feels and looks like new now. Though the N is more or less wiped off and the M is starting to go, I must use those letters a lot.

I was in the harbour the other day, briefly, so was able to get a couple of shots of the sea when it was calm. And I’ve added to the ‘spare pics to post’ folder with other snaps that will be coming your way regularly. There is a vet visit going on down in Yialos over this weekend and tonight is Miss DJ’s birthday radio show, followed by a dinner and party for her.

There is also news emerging about some of the village businesses, but no firm details yet so the news must be treated as rumour. There was a story that Syllogos was going to close but I don’t think that’s the case after all. Other businesses may be closing or changing and I know of at least one new one that should be opening in the New Year. More news later. At the moment the usual tavernas and bars are open: Georgio’s, Rainbow, Lefteris, Glaros and Ringo’s, as are the usual shops, so there’s no change there.

But there is a cold wind today and possibly now power tomorrow so I need to get 101 things done before…

Power out, wind and Saxophones; a blustery Symi day ahead

The power is out in parts of the village today as the electricity company is working on the lines. This means there was not much going on at the Symi Dream shop and we’re not going to have our Greek lesson. (Phew, an afternoon off from learning!) I just nipped out to drop the rubbish bangs off down at Campos; the second storey is going on above the supermarket, the work is progressing, and the periptero there is also being attended too. It’s changed hands apparently. It’s still not open but now has a stone floor around it.

Random pics from te spares file today

Passing Sotiris’ supermarket the shop was in darkness, though still open for business, torches provided I guess, and the kafeneion are still working thanks to gas stoves for coffee etc. The power should be back on by four. I saw the men working on the poles outside the Village Hotel and they seemed to be getting on with things. There has just been another announcement but I didn’t catch it all – the wind is strong and blowing noisily around the roof, the announcers voice was being buffeted and carried away too, so I only really caught a few words: tomorrow, the date, a couple of local parish names… So anything could happen tomorrow. It’s probably more electrical work as there are lots of poles lying around waiting to be put somewhere.

Neil’s back from work early which has given him a chance to practice his saxophone. Coming along nicely. It now comes out of its case on most days and most of our friends who have visited us recently have had a chance to try it out. Other people are even thinking about buying one. We shall have a Symi Swing Band in a few years. Mind you, with all the local talent already available we could probably put one together quite easily.

So, a cold, windy day outside. I’m staying in to finish my Symi Visitor piece for December and keep warm.

That was the weekend that was and this is the week that’s starting

Woke up this morning to the sound of something dripping in the kitchen and thought ‘that doesn’t sound good’. I’ve not been able to fix the roof as it’s been raining and there is no point in repainting it while it’s doing that. I think we need new plastic sheeting over the skylight so we may have to pick some up when we’re next in town. That may be Wednesday or Thursday as we still have the dreaded visit to the police station to get a residents’ card hanging over us. It’s just an inconvenience is all – probably more so for the police officers who have better things to do, and it all seems rather unnecessary… for those who live and work legally; but I guess it’s to help prevent false IKA claims and so on, and to keep an eye on who is where. Anyway…

Looking down the Kali Strata

As you’ll see from the rather dodgy photos in this post I took a little stroll yesterday and then joined up with some friends at the kafeneion. Later we had our Sunday dinner party back at home and followed it with an interactive DVD quiz while the wind rattled things and the rain started. The Symi steps are slippery and dangerous and made more so where builders sand gets washed down making the steps slippery when dry as well as when wet.

Looking up towards the village square

I’m sure I felt a tremor just now too, a quiet but prolonged, deep shaking and something rattled out on the balcony, perhaps we’re in for more earth moving…

But today on Symi is ending bright and sunny, if not warm, and the only clouds I can see from the desk are hanging white and large over Turkey. The sea is grey/blue and calm unlike yesterday and the day before when there were loads of white tops to the waves. I’ve been writing all day today and my fingers aren’t going in the right places so I’ll stop and think about having some down time. Maybe with an old film on the TV or a good book. (Am still ploughing through a social history of England from 1066 onwards – the things I do for fun eh?)

Cloud over the hills

Just a couple of Symi photos as it’s Sunday and I’m not really here

It may be snowing in England today but it’s also raining in our kitchen. That’s going to make cooking the Sunday dinner more fun than usual.  But I’m not here at the computer, it’s my day off so I am really out and about taking a walk in the rain.

Re: Radio station
Here’s the latest word from Konstantinos about Symi Radio 107.8

Symi radio - set matter clear

Hi James,

the problem is encircled on the usage of the entitlement of Symi radio name by the municipal radio station, with no firm accord. Hence, Symi radio 107.8 is rendered to be the authentic symi radio station*.

Konstantinos Papatheodosiou

*
For any further explanation please send an e-mail to the below address:

igteipir1979(at)gmail.com (Ioannis Georgakopoulos) Held Responsible for Corresponding Issues