Window View

Sorry, today’s photos are just (through the) window views; I’m not moving very far from home at the moment. We are sharing this cold, you see. Neil started it off, and I followed one day behind. So, on Monday when he was sofa ridden and wailing like sneezing banshee, I was fit enough to do the chores, go to Yialos and back and so on. Yesterday, it was the other way around, and I stayed home. Mind you so did Neil but then we didn’t need to go out.

Actually, we do, or we did, as I am writing this yesterday… Usual thing; write posts one day and post them the next, so I don’t have to think of something to write at 5.30 in the morning like I used to. Anyway, we are going out later today (yesterday) because it’s Miss DJ’s birthday and we’re meeting for coffee (euphemism) and cake in the square, either at Rainbow or Lefteris’. Possibly Lefteris’ because Yianni Rainbow hasn’t been open in the mornings of late, but Yianni Lefteris has – I know, it gets confusing, stay with it.

There’s that to look forward to and the good-boys coming for tea on Friday, and hopefully some better weather. Not complaining, the sternas, plants, reservoirs and muddy paths need it and it’s not been as bad as a few weeks ago. It’s warm too. It was 14 degrees at six the other morning and then 18 during the day. As you can see from the photos, one moment it’s clear and bright and the next it’s cloudy and dark. All adds to the ‘what’s going to happen next?’ feel of a Symi winter.

Finally quick note: the idea to raise money through the sales of Symi, Stuff & Nonsense and the other Symi books in my collection, is going well. I hope to meet with one of the teachers soon to find out exactly what they need, and then, after Christmas, I can set about buying them. All of my Symi books (including Jason and the Sargonauts, which is a comedy ‘Dan Brown’ set on Symi now and over 100 years ago). You can find all the titles here.

Sneeze

A bit sniffley today; a cold has landed in the house. That will teach me to eat satsumas thinking they are good for me. Joking. It’s not quite at man flu alert level yet, still on a yellow alert but will let you now when we need rescue parcels and so on. Still working, Neil’s in his room next door and it sounds like a farmyard. Hey ho! A few photos and then back to the overdramatic suffering sounds and ‘Do I really have to go to Yialos?’ Answer; yes: parcels waiting and need money. All we need in the village is an ATM, post office and a place for the ferry to dock and I’d never have to go down town.

Some photos of my summer to cheer us up.

Symi Calendar

I just wanted to start the week off with a couple of adverts. Sorry about that. It is getting closer to that time of year, and you may be short of gift ideas. Well, here are two for you; a Symi Calendar and a Symi book.

A Symi calendar with 12 images from Neil. You can only buy this through the link to the Lulu store, but from there you can change your currency and even the shop, to make sure you buy it from the one nearest to you. They usually arrive within a few days, and people love them. You can also see a preview on the Lulu page and flick through before you buy.

The latest book about living on Symi – and other travel tales and nonsense. The link is over there on the right, but it’s also here. The book has only been out a couple of weeks, but the reviews are good, I am pleased to say. A lot of people have commented that they have laughed out loud, hopefully in the right places. Again, the book is only available online but from all Amazon stores around the world.

And back to the day-to-day. A quiet weekend working on the usual things, some shopping in Yialos and a Saturday night out at the village hotspots. Well, a couple of drinks at Rainbow with the regulars, and a choice of background television programmes followed by dinner at Georgio’s next door. You know you’re a local when you’re squeezed inside despite outside being open and a large party due to arrive, no tablecloth (didn’t need it, we’re not posh), and all and everyone seeing to you. Someone cooking your chops on the grill, someone else getting up from the staff table to fetch the wine, young Lefteris (2) was back and helping out, the atmosphere was typical Saturday night and laid back, just as it should be. And the chops were magnificent. I’m not sure which dinosaur they came from, but they were enormous and tasty.

Sunday dawned with a light fall of rain and heavy grey clouds, but not a breath of wind, and it wasn’t cold. Still, Sunday morning is the time for catching up on bits and pieces, doing some shopping at the House of Fun (as opposed to the House of Fraser) by which I mean Sotiris supermarket, and chilling out before slipping back into the usual routine again today. Here’s wishing you a happy week ahead and don’t forget to share this post and links to anyone who might be vaguely thrilled to give a Symi Dream Calendar or a new book to someone else.

A few Symi Photos to see you through the weekend. Taken last week.

Slowly Getting Back To Normal

As you can see from today’s photos, the clean up is progressing remarkably well thanks to the hard work of many people and organisations. There is still brown silt in the harbour and much around the main road through, and I’ve not been further back to see the work there, but the island is getting there. Slowly.

We chatted to one of the shopkeepers when we were down there on Wednesday, and he wasn’t happy. Apparently, although the tax men came over quickly to see what had been damaged (why the tax men? I’m not sure – to see what was to be written off I guess), they have now been told that a further inspection of damage is necessary. The problem is, he was told not to throw anything away until it had been seen. A bit late in many cases, and who wants to keep rotting produce and stock making the premises even worse? There’s a form to be filled out via the town hall, and then an inspector will come to look. This, of course, is taking time and meanwhile, many businesses have to remain closed. Not good news.

It might explain, though, why many places are still closed; the shops from ‘Comfy Chairs’ around the corner to Vasilis taverna, and probably others. Let’s hope they can get back on their feet soon.

As for us up here, it’s back to normal: writing, watching TV, doing the housework and occasionally popping out to take up our regular winter chairs in the Rainbow. The chilli plant is doing well, I think. It’s a race against time to see if the chillies will turn red before the plant’s leaves drop off if that’s what they are meant to do. With the temperature dropping, it could well be a chilly and chilli winter.