Boxes, Bits and Bedlam

That was something of a busy weekend. There was a break in the weather long enough for us to take delivery of some Ikea bits and pieces which arrived outside the Olive Tree on Friday afternoon. Here’s a big thank you to Yiannis, Allen and Chris who saw us with the boxes and leapt in to help carry them up to the house. There, Neil and I set about unpacking, counting screws and odd shaped things and following the plans as we put together two desks and a cabinet. The carpet for Neil’s office also arrived (perfect timing), so that was in place. A few hours later and my work station was set up, as was half of his desk but, unfortunately, they had sent the wrong drawers, so we need to sort that out. Very odd for Ikea to get parts wrong, especially when they were mixed in with other correct parts in the same box. I gave up on trying to figure it out, and we popped to Lefteris’ for a glass of wine, before heading to the taverna for dinner.

Wherein lies another winter’s tale. Noufris was very apologetic because he hadn’t been cooking and had nothing to offer us. His usual punters were there, snacking on whatever was lying around and drinking wine, playing cards and chatting, and we were invited to stay for a drink and share some liver as a mezethe. We talked about the winter and how quiet the village is, the weather, and hopes for the summer and before you know it, another jug of wine turns up with some bread but not, as it turned out, with any kind of bill or payment required. All very welcome as just about every part of me was aching by now; it’s alarming what positions one has to get into when putting together a desk.

The next day, Saturday, I was awake up 4.30 having been dreaming about bolts and bits of desks that wouldn’t go together and got back to work. I was able to finish the desk apart from the two drawers, and put together a new cabinet so that by seven, it was all more or less done and we were able, finally, to put things in the right place. The only thing missing from my study now is the curtain (on its way) and the Chesterfield captain’s chair I have ordered, and which will be made to my specs. The delivery for this was meant to cost the same as the chair, so I wasn’t going to bother, but some friends are shipping things to in March/April, and it’s being delivered to them in the yUK and will arrive with their things in a few months. Meanwhile, I have a dining chair to use at the writing desk, and at the kneel-up stool/chair at the computer table, so we’re nearly there.

Godson #1 and his mum came for Saturday lunch/dinner, and we had a great time hanging out at home, playing the piano, watching films, being slightly mad and generally catching up on all manner of things. It’s Sunday now, there’s thunder rolling around, and we’re supposed to be going to a quiz this afternoon. Meanwhile (and somehow among all the above) I finished off a 100,000 word first draft of a novel which Peter printed for me so I can see it in print (always reads differently when on paper), so there’s another thank you, to him for seeing to that at such a reasonable price and so quickly. All in all, a successful weekend.

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Symi Saturday Photos

Some random Symi photos for you today.Some were taken earlier in the year, two were taken yesterday when we woke up to mist. Seems we’re having all kinds of weather this week; rain, storm, hail, wind, a little sun and now fog. We’ve also had a few earth tremors because of some earthquakes off Rhodes, nothing major and no injuries that I’ve heard of. It’s that time of year.

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Stormy Symi

More brighter-day Symi winter photos today as an antidote to the weather. Besides, I’m not going out in this, not even to snap the courtyard, let alone go up on the roof for my usual lazy-shot snaps. I’d end up in the neighbour’s garden.

It’s yesterday morning as I write. I was up early so I have been able to clear my desk of things that need to be done and, after preparing this, can get back to a book. So far, I’ve been up on the bathroom roof to plug the storeroom door with towels to stop the drips in the kitchen (rain gets blown under the door in certain conditions and drips through the floorboards). I’ve also put other old towels down where it blows in under the front doors. The shutters and rooves are holding, and the wind is meant to die down later today but will be back tomorrow, apparently. The schools are closed so children don’t get blown away on their way to them, and although the Blue Star came in on Wednesday, I doubt anyone will be delivering furniture on a day like this.

Thomas a Basket is staying home today too. Home for him being on top of the laundry basket where I have put an old throw to cover the washing so he doesn’t dribble on it, as is his wont, and he looks very comfortable. He’s nothing to do with us, just a homeless tom who has found shelter in our lean-to. He did try sneaking into the kitchen the other day attracted by the smell of cat biscuits we have for the strays, but I raised a pointed finger towards the front door, and he skulked off, muttering under his whiskers. He can go up the road to the food bank like all the other strays and while he is there, keep quiet about the free lodging he currently enjoys; we don’t want to encourage the entire tribe.

Thunder has now added to the cacophony going on outside, so I may have to unplug everything, and I am hoping we don’t have a power cut. I’m expecting a phone call from my investment/pension people later, I just hope I can hear them.

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Gone Tree

Thursday morning, up early after an early night, wind blowing, roof tiles rattling, bits and pieces to do, still waiting for furniture and carpet delivery but the Blue Star was in yesterday, so you never know, today could be the day. Today is, however, the day there’s a showing of ’12 Years a Slave” at Lefteris’ kafeneion (tonight) if you’re around and want to go and see it, and there is a crossword/quiz at the Sunrise Café on Sunday (4pm), so winter entertainments continue.

It’s not all been bad weather as today’s photos, taken on Tuesday show. It’s been warmer, with temperatures up in the mid-teens, but today we have our weekly storm. They’ve become a bit of a feature this winter, a new and named storm every week. I can’t tell you what the sky is like, apart from the fact it’s still dark, the shutters are again closed.

There’s some good news, for us, concerning a tree next door. It’s a large tamarisk tree in a ruin and about ten feet from our house and stands between us and the mansion house beside us. When I heard about today’s storm, where the wind was forecast to be up to force 10, I started to wonder what would happen if the tree blew over, and then decided it didn’t bear thinking about. The next day, yesterday, there were some men in the ruin, and they cut it down. Thought projection? Clearing the ruin for rebuilding? Chopping it up for firewood? Getting rid of it because it breached a sterna, possibly ours? I don’t know, time will tell, but what it also means is no more snow in September. It drops its white pollen or seeds or whatever usually for the whole month of September and last year, for most of October too. Not an issue except for people with allergies and both of us used to spend the months sneezing and suffering watery eyes. All of the above should be written in the past tense as the tree has now gone. I hope someone gets some good use out of the wood. Can’t say I am sad, September and October used to be maddening because of it, and I don’t need to worry about it dropping on the house.

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Symi Travel

Yesterday I opened my study shutters for the first time in weeks just to have a look at the outside world. It was just before dawn, the birds were singing, and the sea was calm. It wasn’t too cold either, and the overnight rain had cleared a little. It was good to get some fresh air in the study if only for a couple of minutes while I snapped two photos. (Must repaint the window frame.) Good to see the fig tree is behaving (or dead) and should no longer pose a threat to our knackered sterna when it gets fixed later this year.

The Blue Star came in on Monday on its way back from Rhodes. I heard it from the sitting room, and also the Spanos catamaran (Dodecanese Express or Pride, not sure which without looking it up). It’s called ‘Spanos’ locally because I believe, the owners also own Spanos supermarkets. If that’s the case, it’s a good job they don’t own a chain of sex shops or something, but the point is, the boats are currently running to schedule. Talking of which… Don’t forget Andy’s Symi Travel Blog if you are planning this year’s trip to Symi. Some of the timetables won’t be released until nearer the summer, but, as Andy’s latest blog post says, “We already have Blue Star’s timetable for the whole year up to the end of October. Yesterday Dodekanisos Seaways released their first batch of ferry timetables for the period after 31 March. These cover days up to 21 April 2019.”

The travel blog is linked over there in the right-hand column of this site >> along with a link to Symi Animal Welfare and the Symi Chat page. If you are coming to Symi for the first time, all three are invaluable resources for questions and information.

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