It is the culmination of Lent and the celebration of Easter here on Symi and in Greece, but it is going to be quieter than usual, to say the least. We have had a couple of dynamite bombs going off this week, but hardly any hand-thrown crackers, and a lot less noise than usual, for obvious reasons. The services will be held behind closed doors, and many will be relayed via TV or streaming, or whatever can be managed so people can celebrate from the safety of their homes. I will be taking the weekend off from the blog, so will come back to you on Tuesday with any news there might be, and in the meantime, I will leave you with a few recent images. As you can see, after praising the weather, it turned around and slapped me in the face, but it’s nothing unmanageable. Have a good weekend.
There are Greek flags flying in many placesWednesday
A ‘Judas’ plant about to flower.A sunnier day last week.
Well, I spoke too soon, didn’t I? Monday’s glorious weather had turned to rather ‘meh’ kind of weather by Wednesday morning. I was up just in time to see the Blue Star leaving at 5.30, and noticed that the wind had picked up. As dawn dawned, I could see clouds (something we’ve not seen for a few days), and they were grey. A blustery morning with a few drops of rain followed, but at least it wasn’t hideously cold or stormy.
Today’s photos are from the other day and were taken ‘in da hood.’
We had made plans for Wednesday, as much as is possible right now. One of us was going to visit the ATM machine, an exercise which involves exercise because it’s 400 steps down and back, while the other was going to head in the opposite direction for some exercise and then pick up shopping on the way home. However, the slight rise in the wind and a grey cloud resulted in another day at home, with any excuse to employ the sofa, a good book and a few TV shows. We’ll get around to a better routine soon, it all feels too odd right now. Where we should see houses painted for Easter, cars unloading from ferries, and businesses open, we, of course, have none of that.
With Easter approaching, the government are keeping a close hold on what’s allowed, who can be where, who can drive, and are implementing their fines and even arrests as promised/threatened. And, of course, it’s working (2,170 cases as of yesterday; 101 fatalities; 269 recoveries). We’re not politely asked to ‘stay home as much as possible if you wouldn’t mind awfully’, or whatever some other countries are doing. We’re told we can only go out for certain things, and then only with SMS permission, and if you’re caught out… Tough. It sounds a bit authoritarian, but I reckon 95% of the population agrees with it. Greece has won international praise recently for the way it’s handled this crisis so far, and I think some of that praise has come from amazement. I wonder how many other countries immediately arranged for doctor’s prescriptions to be available by email/phone to limit movement and make things easier for citizens? (Just one example of the near-instant measures the country adopted.)
Ah well, I’m rambling mentally as I can’t ramble physically, and so I had better go and think of other excuses as to why I can’t leave the sofa for the rest of the day. The possibility of light fog, perhaps? Or another stray cloud might pour down on me?
Taking advantage of the glorious weather, I took a brief stroll around the empty lanes on Monday, grabbing a few shots as I went. Returning home, I couldn’t help but notice the rose I mentioned the others day, two of its buds now in full bloom. So, below, are a few images from Monday. The good weather was on us again yesterday, and by all accounts, is set to continue. The sea was glassy flat, the horizon clear, and there was no wind, not even a breeze. The courtyard was into the 20s in the shade.
The weather continues to grow warmer, reaching above 20 degrees by mid-morning and much hotter in the sun. The town hall water supply continues to come in on its specific days, so we have been able to water the pots, and the rose has suddenly burst into bloom. I will take a photo for you soon. The other courtyard plants are coming back to life after the winter, and the vine has started to do its thing. The ‘front garden’ has been mown by the mule now tethered there, and there is an unmistakable smell of spring in the air.
That’s outside. Inside and at the desk, the publication of my next Clearwater mystery has been put back by a few weeks while my proofreader recovers and catches up on work, but that’s fine by me. It allows me some time to take another read-through and fiddle with the manuscript. With that series now complete, it’s time to decide what to work on next. I simply enjoy telling myself stories, and I am never out of ideas, but now I have a choice. Without giving too much away to those who have read the Clearwater series, I am left with the opportunity to use some of the same characters differently, though in the same time and setting, or I could start something new. After finishing one book, there’s always a temptation to write a part two for it, a sequel if you like, but that’s usually because I want to know what happens to the characters next. However, Clearwater is the only time I’ve done that successfully, and I’ve often started on a follow-up to something, but never finished it. The Saddling books are an exception, but that started out as one book only, and it wasn’t until later that I decided on adding the Witchling and Eastling stories. I’ve now left tinkering with a part four to round things off, and I have the idea, but it’s strangely similar to another story I just wrote and… Well, and so it goes on. As do I, and I have gone on long enough, so here are a couple more spring related images to see you through the day.
Here in Greece, we can leave the house for exercise (walking) as long as we have sent the necessary SMS to the authorities and received permission. Having done that, last Friday, Neil walked down to Pedi and back and took the camera, so we’ve now got a few more photos that were not taken from the roof or balcony, and you will be able to see these during the week.
It’s Great Week this week, a time when people are usually preparing for Easter and family gatherings, church services and celebrations. This year will be different with only the priest and a few cantors allowed in the church to celebrate, but with services broadcast on radio and television. Perhaps even through the church’s speakers and across the villages, as they sometimes do with music at Christmas. I wonder if there will be dynamite in the hills? There is an unusual (some would say welcome) absence of firecrackers around the lanes, as there is an absence of people, but that has an upside. Two, in fact. Not only are Greece’s strict measures keeping down the spread of the virus, but the lack of people in the lanes and streets has also encouraged wildlife to venture closer.
In the last few weeks, we’ve seen a hoopoe fly past the house, the chickens from up the road have explored beyond their usual neighbourhood, and at the weekend, we had a stray mule in the ‘front garden.’ He’d slipped his tether, and that could have happened at any time, but the same day, I saw a hooded crow on the telegraph pole a few feet from the balcony. I’ve only seen them in Rhodes before, and never that close to the house. We often see and hear ravens, and even they have been venturing nearer to the buildings, as have the sparrows who were having a good old chinwag on our balcony railings on Saturday. Again, the first time I’ve seen them do that. I shall keep my eyes peeled for other unusual sights and keep you informed. Meanwhile, I will leave you with a couple more images from a spring/early summer walk to Pedi (and the visiting mule).
‘Stay at home, we are with you’ a message from the Dimos with advice, phone number and support for those in need – set against a classic Symi wall.
