Meanwhile, elsewhere
I’m not here. I am somewhere else and have left a couple of posts for you, though I shall be back by the time the Saturday one pops up. Let’s start yesterday, which is when I am writing this, early in the morning of course, because of the early night/early morning routine brought about by the warm weather. It was 36 in the courtyard yesterday at 4 pm, and not much cooler in the house, so the early mornings are the time to get up and get things done, which is how I like to work anyway. I am having a day off, no long walk, no writing, just a couple of blog posts and then a morning sitting around waiting for the boat and packing a few things into a bag ready for a night at the Savoy. Sadly, not as grand as it sounds, but still, a reasonably priced bed for the night, especially at this time of year here everywhere else in Rhodes new town worth its salt seems to be at least €90.00 or €100,00 plus.
I can’t remember if I told you, but I picked up my Greek driving license the other day. I put in the paperwork in March, and it’s probably been sitting in the KEP office for a couple of months, but I kept forgetting about it. I was surprised it came through at all. My old licence was a paper one (European remake, not the original big green thing), it had my ancient address in Brighton on it from 17 years ago. The name on it was the shortened version of my third name, the name my friends use, and a name that doesn’t appear on my birth certificate, which was needed as proof of who I am when changing the document. Actually, my birth cert does have that half-name on it, but then there’s a second cert with the name expanded to Tobias and no mention of the Toby. Trying to explain that to any kind of authority is a pain, which is why I go by the name that appears first on the thing, James, which is, after all, my real first name. So, with all that going on, the age of the existing document which, apparently, I should have sent back ears ago, and the fact that I don’t have an address as such… You know. I was surprised. But the ladies at the KEP office did a good job in understanding all that, and Lo! There came a plastic, Greek, European card with my photo and signature, and I am legally able to drive again.
What was interesting was that I am no longer allowed to drive long-wheel-based vehicles with trailers. I never knew I could, let alone was allowed to. I am, though, still fine for the standard things like cars and small vans, not that I intend ever to drive again, and I can still drive any size motorbike. I did my stages one and two motorbike test back in London in 1867 or something and used to drive a 500 cc thing around town when I worked there. I always wanted one of those 550 cc machines that couriers drive (or drove, it’s been a long time), but the insurance was too high even then. I’m pleased to say I never had an accident on a bike that was my fault. I got bumped off a couple of times at traffic lights by car drivers not noticing this great lump of metal and flesh three feet in front of their noses, but nothing major. I don’t intend to drive or even get on the back of a motor boke ever again, so I’m not worried, but it’s another form of legal proof of who I am, and there’s a reason I wanted it, which I will explain tomorrow. Meanwhile, I am still elsewhere and by now, should be at my early appointment in Rhodes having shopped yesterday and taken some time off.
