We’ve had some wet weather over the weekend, but so far (Sunday morning), we have escaped the worst, unlike other parts of the country. I wasn’t looking forward to the latest Rhodes trip, because the forecast said it was going to be wet all day, but as often happens, it depends on which forecast you look at, and although there were a few sprinkles in the morning for about five minutes, this was the morning coffee-stop view and later, we had lunch outside in the sun.
The purpose of the trip was threefold. 1) me to see about a root canal, 2) Neil for a checkup, 3) us to have lunch with Harry. So, the Blue Star over — the queue of cars waiting to board stretched back to the main road at one point (Black Feriday traffic, I guess), and a very busy boat, but a very smooth crossing. Then, a gentle walk around from Akandia to Mandraki, coffee, some window shopping, and then off to our appointments. Mine was to a dentist who specialises in root canal work, where I had one done at a very friendly surgery, and came away with a list of instructions on how to behave ‘After your operation.’ One of them was not to eat until all the anaesthetic had worn off, and as I’d needed three deep injections, that was going to take some time.
Met up with Neil afterwards, and we started walking over toward the St Nicholas area at the other end of Kanadas St. A couple of miles, via some shops I wanted to call back into but, quite frankly, couldn’t face doing so with half my face feeling as twisted as the Phantom of the opera without the mask. We arrived at the Harry house, where he’d been entertaining his brother all week while the two of them did some driving school things, and the four of us trundled off for lunch around the corner at a classic Greek taverna called Padelis. ‘Classic’ as in they could rustle up just about everything from burgers to soutzoukakia, and with plenty of chips. Chips I couldn’t eat, but as I’d not had anything since six that morning and as it was, by then, after two and I was in danger of falling over, I risked some soft soutzoukakia, eating very carefully on the other side of my mouth. The conversation went on, there were many laughs, the boys were such fine company, I forgot myself, and at one point, and thought I was eating a chip, but it turned out to be the inside of my mouth and half of my lip. Silly me. Anyway, once I’d stopped the blood flow and quartered the wounds with some table wine, it was upwards and onwards to Pappou with the boys for some shopping hilarity, and then, goodbye, and back to the boat.
The boat back was also busy, and we were all set to walk up when we landed, but we spied Lakis with his bus, and although he was waiting for a private party (I think), he let us hop on, which, with the anaesthetic now worn off, and the wounds coming to the fore, was an offer gratefully received.
More rain on Saturday. We met up with Miss DJ for her birthday, and I managed to get down some mashed-up spag bol, having only eaten half a bowl of porridge, three spoonfuls of mashed potato and a failed soutzoukakia since Thursday night, I was ready for it, but it was like eating razor blades. It still is as I sip my cold tea this morning (still Sunday), and look forward to a roast dinner at Jenine’s later. What a weekend to have all these meals arranged. Still, they smelt nice, and things will improve, but the next time, I will show more restraint after a tooth operation. Mind you, I blame the boys for making me laugh so much that I forgot what I was doing.
Anyway, Happy month to you. I shall be around for a couple more weeks, and then we’re off on our much planned and saved-for trip. Meanwhile, thunder is still rattling the hills as the sun comes up, I can hear the rain, and I need to try a little more porridge so I can take a painkiller. As for this week… Back to our local dentist on Wednesday, back to the Rhodes specialist on Friday, then, soon after that, back to the local dentist to finish the job. And that was only one of a possible three such treatments queuing up in my mouth to bring me joy in the future. Hey ho, and off to work we go.
