The weather is back

As the old postcard used to say, we get some kind of weather here every day. Today (Monday) it’s the sun and very little wind, making it perfect weather for walking, sitting in the courtyard and, no doubt, swimming, for those who go in for that kind of thing. There are taxi boats still going out, the day trips and tours too, and with quite a few northern European visitors on the island, the bars and tavernas are still busy.

‘The 13^th‘ was shown again on Sunday night, there have been live music sessions in various tavernas and bars, and the village is still active and buzzing. Now might be a good time for a last minute getaway before the winter kicks in. Autumn is a very pleasant time on Symi if you don’t like things too hot, but warm enough.

And I have very little other news to impart today. Well, hardly any; I spent most of the weekend asleep, catching up on rest after the busy month before. I have now found time to work on ‘Symi, Stuff & Nonsense’ and it’s coming along. My deadline for completing the text is early October, and we’re still on course for publication sometime in November. More news to follow.

Meanwhile, I am pleased to say that ‘The Saddling’ has been climbing up the rankings on Amazon and has received a few more reviews. It’s the best-selling title of mine this year, outdoing even ‘Symi 85600’, although that title is the best seller to date – mainly because it’s been around for so long. Follow the links if you’ve not yet read the titles, or click to my author page for my full list. There, plug over, now it’s back to working on the next one.

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Symi film news

I am having a very quiet Sunday at home doing nothing, apart from making lunch and posting a quick blog. This is a recovery day after all the excitement of the past few weeks, and three wonderful party evenings in a row. The strong wind has calmed and today is warm again. On Saturday night, I was out in long trousers and a cardigan, which drew some looks from visitors in their shorts and t-shirts. After a long hot summer, you tend to feel the cooler temperatures more keenly.

Here’s a piece of news about films. The Symi International Film festival went well, from what I have been told; I was unable to get there due to being away and then already invited to other engagements. While it was on, we received news that ‘The 13^th‘ had been accepted to the 8th International Film Festival of Peloponnesus “Bridges” – Corinth 12-18/10/17, Nafplio, 19-22/10/17. The thing is, it won’t be screened unless a member of cast or crew is present. It’s still in the running for awards there but not for screening. So, if any of the backers want to be a part of the festival, this is your chance. I shan’t be able to attend, but anyone who backed the film, and is, therefore, a part of the ‘crew’, can. You would have to make your own way there and finance the trip, but if you happen to be in Greece and that area, you only need to be there for a day or two, not for the whole thing. There are some details taken from their email below, and if anything takes your interest, please email me. (Email at the bottom of these pages.)

This year we received over 500 submissions from 65 countries and we are thrilled to recognize your outstanding efforts by accepting your film.  Attached are your Official Selection Laurels. As an official selection, your film is eligible to be screened over the period of October 12-18th in the Flisvos Cineplex in Corinth. Corinth is accessible from Athens Eleftherios Venizelos airport by proastiakos train and from Athens center by buses to facilitate your travel to this historical city. It is only 90 minutes far away from Athens.

Nafplio festival activities and selected film screenings will be held over the period of October 19-22/10/17. Nafplio is accessible from trains and buses to facilitate your travel to this historical and picturesque city.

Please note – although your film is an official selection of the festival, it will not be screened unless you RSVP and a member(s) of your cast or crew attend.  Due to the overwhelming response to our call for submissions, and tributes, we are prioritizing screening of films for filmmakers in attendance.

It is our hope that you will join us to celebrate for the entirety of the festival. You are also automatically shortlisted to be reviewed for the awards process.

C) Don’t miss the open discussion panel of Saturday 21st of October in Nafplio city: “The Importance of Music in 7th Art”.

Costas Ferris the legendary Greek film director, will speak about the Alchemy of Cinema.

D) We strongly encourage you to make every effort, along with your cast and crew, to attend the Golden Pegasos awards ceremony on Sunday, October 22nd in Nafplio city and receive your award should your film receive a nomination.

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Symi to Split

I know, a strange headline, but today’s post is about our honeymoon trip, which is now (partly) organised. We wanted to let everyone know what the plan was so that those wonderful people who contributed to the fund will know that they are responsible for sending us. You can also see that your donations have been used, as promised, on the trip and not handed over in varying amounts to certain bars in the village. Thanks to Expedia, we have arranged the big part of the trip and have a little left over for spending when we are there.

So, we can now say to people that ‘we are going to Split on our honeymoon,’ which is a play on words that appeals to me. We chose it because we haven’t been to Croatia, it looks good, and from there we can spend a few days exploring other parts of the coast. I’ve spent the last couple of days being a travel agent and looking at all kinds of possibilities, finally settling on Expedia to arrange me the flights and a hotel. The trip is from Athens and back because, on the return journey, we want to try the Athens to Symi route on the Blue Star. So, all we need to do now is arrange the flight up to Athens, a hotel there on the way back and then the ferry once the timetable is published and bookable. Helpfully nothing will change, and we’ll have the same timetable as this year.

So, now you know all that, it just remains to say another huge thank you to everyone who contributed and who has made this possible. There will, of course, be photos and blog posts about it when we get back – the trip is planned for next March so that I am there for my birthday. More about all that in due course.

Have a good weekend.

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Back to the usual Symi

With all the guests now left there’s time to settle back into the usual routine. I am just going through our cameras to see what we have on them, and the photos seem to mainly revolve around the Poseidon and various boat trips. Neil went out on it with the family one day, we went to a birthday party on another night, and then the photos are of beaches and days out. It was almost like being on holiday.

We are now heading into the winter season, though no-one has yet told the weather. It’s still very warm outside and sometimes humid, so much so that we were shrouded in mist the other morning and everything outside was wet, as if it had rained overnight. The harbour continues to be busy with up to six day-trip boats coming in, plus the in/out ferries at certain times. There are many northern Europeans and British around the island as it’s a popular time of year for them, and the village is buzzing at night.

As for me, I am today (Thursday) just settling back into my work routine and my writing, seeing to some jobs around the house and preparing for a round of invitations. It’s also that time of year (not complaining) when we find ourselves invited out for meals, or to meet for drinks, and although I’d wanted to get to the Symi Film Festival events and see some films, I have been pre-booked up every night this week, with one night in Rhodes and another returning from it, then three evenings out in a row. Next week looks quieter.

While in Rhodes, we stayed at the Mitsis Petit Palais Hotel as our usual ones were fully booked. This is a great place to stay, and we got a very good price. Half board (or all-inclusive in mother’s case) for €49.00, in September. The hotel is large, and not far from the main attractions in the new town, close to the beach and shops. It was very busy, but the staff were friendly and helpful, though working very hard, and the food was spot on. There was even live music in the bar in the evening. If you stay there, bring your earplugs as it is, like most modern hotels, all tiles and hard floors, and there’s some background noise with people moving about above and below. I put mine in and was out like a light.

Anyway, I’m now getting back into my rhythm and have two books and a screenplay to work on, so excuse me while I go and do that. There will be more of these random photos over the next few days, no doubt, and I will be back to my six random blog posts per week from Symi.

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Thank You

This is the last of my pre-written blog posts concerning our CP and, after today, I will be having a couple of days off before trying to get back to the usual routine. I am away tomorrow which will mean no posts for a couple of days, but keep an eye on this page and I’ll be back with my usual bits and pieces before long. Meanwhile, there are so many people to thank. If I have omitted anyone, I apologise; drop me a line of you think I should have mentioned someone and I will do so in a future post. I’m working alone here and after so much fun and festival, I may not recall everyone. This is in no particular order, but here goes…

The best men for their speeches and other duties. Captain Yiannis, Fotini, their family and the lady who made the cake. Wendy and Adriana for arranging the bus and other things. Racheal and Anna for their work on the translation and helping with the town hall process of registering the CP in the Symi records (the first one ever on the island). The town hall staff.  The Notary for her part in the process and allowing photos inside her office. Jenine for just about everything from planning meetings, to Jumbo orders, becoming ordained (a la Joey from Friends) to holding the ceremony, organising things on the boat and making sure it all ran smoothly. Sam and Harry for looking so smart, carrying the rings, being gentlemen and all their other help. Allan and Julie for the photos before, during and after. The guests who came to the drinks and those who came on the boat. We would have loved to have taken everyone, but that wasn’t possible. Everyone who sent gifts and cards – soooo many of them! And to everyone who gave money towards the honeymoon.

Andy and his team at the Old Markets Hotel for giving us two nights, a champagne breakfast and the best room in the house. Alun for his reading during the ceremony. Louise for the lasagnes and all kinds of other things and for being next door if anything was needed. Steve who arranged the music and light systems. Terri who played the CDs and did the DJ-ing. The Island boys (must discoer their names) who guarded the bay all afternoon and herded goats, tidied up and later congratulated us. Our family members for making the trip, some of them were only on Symi for 24 hours before having to head back for work. Gwen who made the wonderful waistcoats (contact me for commissions). These were lined with each other’s material, so I was blue outside and red inside, and Neil the other way around. Everyone who stepped in to help without question when asked to do something. And Anne, for her hat.

Oh, and Neil of course – and Neil’s late mother who had the good sense to be born in Ireland. I am now married to an Irish citizen and under current EU law can live in the EU by marriage to an EU citizen, no matter what the yUK does. This means, I can now say (by way of celebration) that Brexit-wrexit can chaotically shove itself up its own referendum, I don’t care.

Finally, on a more serious note, I should thank Symi itself. This was the first same sex civil partnership to be held on the island. The law was amended in Greece in 2015 and CPs have happened elsewhere in the country, but never here. The reaction we have had has been amazing. This is, after all, a pretty rural place in a very Orthodox country. If anyone locally hasn’t understood or did not approve, they have not made those feeling known. If anyone wanted to object, they have not. We have been congratulated not only by our British friends and others from Europe and around the world, but by our Symi neighbours in the village, people we hardly know who work or live in Yialos, total strangers and other Symi folk.

What was also special for me, was the way that one local lad of 18 congratulated us, another who is 14, and other young people who wanted to give us their support. Maybe it shows a shift in attitudes which will, in time, filter down to their under-generations and go some way to eliminating prejudice and ignorance (not that we have encountered any on Symi). This, I hope, will make life easier for young people in this country who might desperately want to be accepted for who they are and who they love, but who currently don’t feel able. As I write, there are – there must be – many near us who are in that boat; perhaps our CP on Symi has shown them that they too can be accepted.

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