The Subject of conversation on Symi yesterday, and probably still today was the AOS Symi Football team winning 4 – 3 in the finals against Niki Rodou on Wednesday night. Apparently, it was a nail-biter, but the boys won through. Brilliant news, and watch out Camber Sands where the boys will be competing in an international tournament in a couple of weeks’ time. And congratulations must also go to their coach, Spiros Hatzipetros, and the families and friends of everyone in involved who encouraged and supported. I grabbed this photo from Dawn’s Facebook page, as she said I could.
Symi football champions
I knew when the team was coming home, however, because the Panagia came in with its horns sounding, the church bells rang, the children at the school up here were whistling and cheering, there was a round of applause from everyone down at the harbour, car horns sounded and a flare was lit. The boys, in their kit, received a heroes’ welcome and sang as they marched along the harbour, being congratulated all the way. It’s moments like that that bring a tear to the eye (Neil is still sniffing in the room next door) and remind you why you live in a place like this.
A heroes’ welcomeA heroes’ welcome
Here’s a short video:
Neil will be taking my camera away with him today, so I shall be without it for nearly two weeks. Taking mine means he doesn’t have to take his heavy, long lens, as mine has that super-zoom. He’ll still have his bigger Nikon for general shots too. This means you may have to rely on older images from my archives for the next several blog posts unless I get out and about with the heavy camera and long lens.
new arrivals
Meanwhile, down in the harbour, the work continues on the new jetty, or landing and unloading area for the big boats. The catamaran came in yesterday and I was hoping to see the triumphant football team returning, but they must have been coming on a later boat, as there was no sign of them. There were, though, people getting off with cases and bags, so visitors are arriving all the time.
Still building
Here’s a quick plug for ‘The Judas Inheritance.’ If you haven’t read it, I thought you might like to read it before the film comes out.
As you can see from the photos taken yesterday, the strong wind and grey skies have left. The wind died down on Monday afternoon, and by Tuesday morning, this was the view as the Blue Star Naxos came in. (I assume the Patmos was having a day off.) The last I heard, the ferry strikes are going to be next week. If you are travelling this way, check out the shipping news, or ask a travel agent.
The Blue Star Naxos coming in
Yiannis was on the boat on Wednesday morning, off to see his newest granddaughter over in Rhodes for the day. He left Neil in charge of the bar all day, so he had a pretty long haul, but still not as many hours as Yiannis, and many others put in during one day at work, especially in the summer. In the height of the season, the bars are often open from eight in the morning (earlier in some cases) and stay open until the last customer leaves. This can be like two or three in the morning on some occasions. Yes, I know things slow down in the winter when you need them to be busy, but still, seven days a week, at up to 18 hours per day, for seven months, it’s a hard slog.
Mrs Patterson is not bothered about a different boat
We have more visitors coming these days, though we’ve still not quite hit the start of the summer rush. More regular and long-stayers are coming back, or have come back to open up their houses and be ready for the hot months ahead. The live music nights at various places have started up again, restaurants are open, in fact, I expect they are all open by now, and so are the bars and most of the tourist shops. There’s plenty to do, the island now has three travel agents that I know of, and they organise tours and bus trips, boat trips and other things to do while you are on Symi. There’s no sign of an Olympic rep yet, though there have been Olympic guests here. Everyone else seems to be already welcoming guests and cleaning houses, changing beds and getting back into that summer mode.
Of to Rhodes on a Wednesday
The Symi – Sea Dreams – is just arriving as I write, the Nikolaos X is making trips, the Panagia Skiadeni is running for day trips, and there are then the ‘Spanos’ catamarans coming across regularly too. That’s all from Rhodes. So, the season is showing signs of a good and early start, and the transport is all up and running. Which reminds me, I wonder if the Symi bus still has masking tape holding its windscreen together?
It’s all about wind today. Not the mobile phone provider, nor the after effects of too many gigantes, but the east and east-south-east wind that was blowing on Monday night and into Tuesday (as I write). The sea is churned up, there are white caps on the waves, and sheets of surface water are blowing into the harbour. The day boat has managed to come in and the patrol boat is out, so it can’t be too bad. It is expected to calm down later today and be calm again on Wednesday. It’s not cold, but it’s very noisy. You can see the effect it’s been having on the sea in today’s rather dull photos. All grey and blustery, but still, very atmospheric; something this island manages to be no matter what the weather.
Blowy out there
It didn’t stop the May 8th celebrations on Monday when school children and the military paraded on the harbour front. This year’s parade was very well attended. It did stop me going out for a sunrise walk on both days, however. Well, that and laziness. Maybe tomorrow…
The edge of Nimos
Let’s hope it doesn’t stop the Symi under 11s football team in their final toady over on Rhodes. They’ve stormed up the league to reach the final, and what a great start it would be to their UK trip in a couple of weeks if they won. More news will follow on that when I have it.
Grey but enchanting
The only other news I have today is that the new book has started well for sales, though it’s not in the rankings yet. That’s down to reviews and sales, and the two go hand in hand. I know I keep on about it but, unless you get over 100 reviews for a book, the title stays down there, and Amazon don’t pick it up as something they can make money out of, so don’t promote it. The Saddling has two five-star reviews so far, not too bad in its first week, but it needs loads more to move up its own league table. Broad hint there.
I need to go and sweep the outside from inside the house where it has blown in so I will leave you with this ‘card.’ Feel free to copy and paste, download and share, and do all that kind of stuff to help raise awareness of my new title. Thank you, and good luck today Symi football team.
The news buzzing around the Greek newspapers and info sites at the moment is all to do with holiday-wear. The headline at Keep Talking Greece, for example, reads: “Economic police in shorts and swimsuits to combat tax evasion on Greek islands.”
Now then, I think we’re talking about those who police the economy, rather than low-cost men in blue, but they are, it seems, called ‘economic police’, so that’s fair enough. I have nothing against men in uniform, far from it, and the thought of a policeman in a swimsuit, well now, there’s a thing. ‘Carry On’ jokes about truncheons come to mind, and I won’t mention helmets, but I do wonder where they will keep their warrant cards. Perhaps they will be going for the shorts look, as suggested in the article. Read the full article here.
You never know who may be a tax inspector in disguise
It does make me wonder what the scene would be in the British Police Force should the same kind of measures ever be taken. I assume it’s still called a ‘force’ is it? It hasn’t become all PC and right-on and changed its name to ‘The Citizen Assistant Service’ or something naff like that has it? Let’s say a new department is set up, The TE Squad, that’s tax evasion to you and me…
The top brass comes in wearing flip-flops, a dayglo lime t-shirt and some startlingly revealing Speedos…
‘Right lads, today we’re targeting Bournemouth. PC Stander, PC Mullins, I want you in La Perla Sunlight swimshorts all day. None of that nipping off to get changed into your sarongs. We’re not the bloomin’ Fraud Squad.’
‘Yes, Sarge.’
‘WPCs Paggly and Racey, the Dolce and Gabbana is working, but you still need to bring out the, er, upper storey. Maybe get some cleavage shine. PC Williams can lend you his.’
‘Yes, Sarge.’
‘No, no, Fletcher, this ain’t Baywatch! We are the British Tax Evasion Squad. We don’t wear orange one-piece bathing costumes that push out the boobs like that and shape us into a very obvious V pointing down to your, you know, whistle. We’re Brits, and you’re a bloke, so you shouldn’t be wearing a woman’s one-piece in the first place. Oh, sorry. Yes, of course I respect your right to wear women’s clothing. Hell, we’ve lived it with at the station for long enough. (Aside: Dorothy Perkins, more like.) Alright, you can wear it. But shave before you go out.’
‘Yes, Sarge.’
‘Now then, the chippie on the prom. Been dodging tax for years, now’s our chance to nab ’em. It’s gonna be a sting. Hang on. Where’s the rookie? PC Gunman?’
‘Yes, Sarge?’
‘Hate to say it, lad, but you’re getting a bit too big for your boots. That is, you’re getting too big for your Boots’ Summer-thong line with minimal pouch. Want to find something baggy? What? (Listens.) Yeah, I’ve seen what the Greeks are doing, but this is Bournemouth, not Mykonos.’
‘Right, Sarge.’
‘Chip shop, yeah. Stander, Mullins? You’ll be on topless patrol so watch out for hot fat. PC Stabbings? You’re too fat for Versace. They’ll smell a rat a mile off. We have to blend in people! Questions?’
He listens to a few.
‘Right, Mullins. No, flippers and a mask is not a subtle disguise. You’re kind of missing the point of the blending in, ain’t you? Stabbings? Yes, look normal. You’re a dad on a day out at the beach, the kids are waiting, and you’re bringing the stuff from the car when you want a tea at the café. That’s it. Simple. Go see Smith in props for your pushchair, three beach bags, four ice creams, a pack of baby wipes, the picknick hamper, five towels and the sandwich toaster, alright? Look natural. And, lastly, Gunman, what was it? Oh yeah. No need to accessorise. You’re not really going to the beach. You’re going to catch tax evaders. Got it? Yes, what is it, Mullins?’ (He listens.) ‘Mullins, I would love to tell you where to stick your warrant card, but you’ll just have to improvise. Okay? For *$&@’s sake, PC Studly! This ain’t Brighton, put some bleedin’ clothes on. Thank you. Right. Everyone got sunblock on? Yes, I know it’s Bournemouth, Paggly, but stranger things have happened. Right, now who’s gonna do my back?’
You can’t complain. It’s for the good of the country.
And so on. But, seriously, police in disguise is the way it’s going. It will worry black-market businesses into declaring taxable income for the good of the country.
Ps, if you like a comedy read, don’t forget to pick up a copy of my comedy novel, ‘Remotely’ right here.
We have had a few people asking how they can get hold of tickets for the world premiere of the film, ‘The 13th’ that was shot on Symi and which is showing on Monday 15th May. Basically, you need to contact the box office which you can do online; you order tickets from there. http://www.londongreekfilmfestival.com/boxoffice.htm
A still from ‘The 13th
Some Greek newspapers and online media have picked up on the story of the film. There’s an article here, for example, with a few shots from the film including some local stars. Click here.
The Symi under 11s football team has made it through to the final of the championships this week. As you may have read before, they, and the under 12s team are heading off to the UK towards the end of the month to take part in an international football tournament at Camber Sands, East Sussex. We wish them good luck for this week’s final, and for the tournament too. I have sent a piece to the local paper (Romney Marsh) to drum up some support.
Sunrise
The release of‘The Saddling’ has gone well, and it’s already gained its first review. “Wow, another fascinating thriller from James. Gripping storyline full of intrigue and danger.” Great stuff. Don’t forget to share that link, and write a review if you liked it, and tell everyone to buy a copy; it’s on Kindle as well as in paperback.
There has been a lot of music playing around the village; at the Secret Garden, at Georgio’s taverna, and on Saturday night, at Lefteris Kafeneion where George had set up his mic and guitar. Both tavernas are open now, we went to Zoi’s on Saturday, and very nice it was too. One of the dance schools had its performance in the new sports hall on Sunday. The bars and cafés are all open now too.
Reflections
Vague shipping news: More boats are appearing in the harbour as the season begins. There may be a seaman’s strike on Wednesday so check your travel arrangements. I don’t think the ‘Spanos’ boats will be affected if there is. They are not usually, and the Dodekanisos boats should be running. There have been reports of people swimming, so the sea is warming up. The Poseidon has been going out on around the island trips as long as there are enough people interested in going.
Time off
And close to home, Jack the Alarm cat has been out and about in the ‘hood, had a couple of good scraps, is nursing a limp (no sign of anything nasty, probably strained it giving a right hook) and is otherwise fine. Thank you to everyone who enquires after him. 14 years old and still going noisily. Neil is off to Rhodes on Friday and thence to England to sit his exam and attend the film premiere (on the same day, in two different parts of the country), which means I will be covering the bar for ten days while he is away. And that’s all the weekend news I can think of.
