Rain and shopping
Ain’t nothing going on but the rain, as the song didn’t say. Actually, there’s probably lots going on out there, but it’s a case of rain stopped play today. It also looks like we are in for more of the same over the next few days, so apart from a quick trip to collect a package that’s arrived, I think I’m staying in.
What could that package be? A new set of towels I ordered a while ago, a new Irish passport for Neil? Some lights for the courtyard for the summer, or the new trunk/chest of drawers for the bedroom? You may wonder why I don’t go to Rhodes and find these things. Apart from the fact that you can’t pick up a passport in Rhodes, there are other factors which mean shopping online is easier, and cheaper. No disrespect to Rhodes or its shopping, and none aimed at Symi come to that, as there are some very fine shops here, but not a lot of choice. It’s more to do with getting there, getting around once there, and the expense of being there. I’m also much more into shopping online from the comfort of my own sofa while ignoring the television and searching out ‘must have’ deals from Amazon and eBay. Oh, I am also waiting for a book, but that won’t have come by courier and the phone call this morning was from the bookshop. Just where you would expect your delivery to come to. The bookshop by St John’s Church in Yialos is one of the courier collection points, there are a few others, and some will deliver to your house.
But with the wind gusting in from time to time, the rain coming and going, and never knowing how long it is going to be dry for, staying in and watching the weather from the inside out is my preferred option for this morning. Except I really want to see what has arrived down town. While I am making up my mind, I am writing this up ready for posting and keeping one eye on the sea below and the sky above. Both rather grey, but the wind seems to be dying down.
I am glad we didn’t put the cat through a 14-hour ordeal on Wednesday when we decided to stay at home and not risk the journey. It was a very wet day too, and it rained all day in Rhodes, I am told. The boat came and went despite the weather and came back as well; the Blue Star Patmos is pretty reliable. Very reliable actually, and very quick, but it would have meant a long time in Rhodes with a cat in a box and nowhere to go apart from the hotel bars and restaurants. An additional expense to the travelling and shopping.
So, I will post this and then do a literal rain check and see how the land lies. Well, I know how it lies; downhill from here, but uphill from there, and I don’t fancy tackling the Kali Strata when it’s raining as the water teams down up to, and over, your wellington boots at times. A good excuse to be lazy – if I can resist temptation and wait another day to see what has arrived at the bookshop.
