Symi news catch up
Sunday morning: the soldiers arrived at the clock tower at ten minutes before eight, their truck drove off and they stood there still and silent, waiting for the order. A little before the hour they marched to the war memorial, out of my sight, and there they sang part of the national anthem in their usual, male and slightly bawdy fashion. That duty attended to, I assume they set off back for barracks, or choir practice.

The rain that plagued us on Saturday, falling through a persistent and cooling wind, had left more Sahara dust on the outside furniture, the balcony rail and the ground. More rain was forecast for Sunday but as I write (at just after 10.00 on Sunday), it has yet to appear, but at least the wind has dropped and, when there is sun, it is warm, verging on hot. The rest of the week is forecast for sun, so perhaps now we can say that summer is finally starting to arrive. It does feel like this year’s season is taking a long time to kick in. Perhaps it is waiting for its luggage at baggage reclaim.

The Blue Star Diagoras made its last visit to Symi on Friday night. We watched it come in late in the evening, all lights blazing and looking like a Viennetta ice cream when out at sea. As it left, it sounded its horn and was given a send-off with a fireworks display from the quayside. It was a moving moment; we’ve been looked after by that boat for several years now and, although not always the most punctual of sea beasts, it was sturdy and safe and got us there and back again when needed. We now await the arrival of the next ferry from Blue Star, which is due on Wednesday.

Also on Wednesday is the funeral of our dear friend, Ged Horton who many of you would have known as Wendy’s partner these past several years. Ged passed away in hospital in Crete at the weekend, leaving very many sad family members and friends to mourn his passing and celebrate his life. He was a wealth of knowledge about films, books and theatre. Over the years he had generously donated many of each to us and I will miss our long conversations about ‘movies’ both good and bad, our talks about Irish playwrights, vampire novels, gothic literature and the ghost stories of M R James. He will be sorely missed by all and our thoughts are with his family, Wendy and all who knew him. If you are on Symi, the service is due to take place in Pedi from around nine-thirty on Wednesday. In fitting tribute, his team, Manchester United, won the FA Cup for him on Saturday night.

It’s hard to lift the mood after reporting that but, on the island, death is very much a part of life, and life goes on. For me this means two more weeks of work before I take my break and go on my writing retreat to Tilos. It also means finishing my latest assignment for my scriptwriting course and, for Neil, sending in his first assignment for his IGSC in ‘Global Citizenship.’ (A course which is far more academic and much more difficult than mine.) And so, as I often say, I best get on and get some work done so that I can move on with the next chapter of my next book and have some groundwork done and ready for when I am away.

In favour of Brexit? Don’t read this
Yay! Saturday and the end of another working week for many, but not all. A few more photos from my recent Rhodes trip today.

It’s not like me to get involved in political discussions, I left all that kind of local and wider politics to my father, who was a district and local councillor for years, and my uncle who was alarmingly close to his local Conservative party in South London years go… But this ridiculous Brexit vote is coming closer and I’ve been reading some posts online and hearing some snippets of news – and I’ve come up with an idea.

From what I have read and seen (and I know I have not seen or read as much as many, and I only tend to listen to the European news channels as I don’t like what I hear about the BBC, and since they axed Eldorado in 1993 I’ve never really trusted them), there is one particularly hysterical point of view coming out of Britain. I’ve been keeping an eye on some community groups form various places around the country and have read with interest posts from friends-of-friends and it seems that this focused point, this one stirring issue alone, is that if the UK leaves the EU there will be a huge celebration. Horary! Why? Because no more immigrants will be able out get into our country; thus we will be able to provide homes for all of ‘our own kind’; we will be able to control our borders and stop Johnny Foreigner from getting into our wonderful haven of perfect life; Utopia for all! (As long as you are British; even if you are mixed-race British? Even if you have lived abroad for many years and need to return? Who knows.)

In the words of the younger generation: WTF?

Apart from the fact that there must be more to being in or out of the EU than simply wanting to stop any more people entering the country; apart from the fact that even if you could and did, would that stop those already there popping out four children each and then complaining about lack of housing and resources; apart from the fact that those wanting to leave seem only to be seeing one part of one argument; apart from all that, it feels like everyone in favour of leaving is joyously supporting the extremes of those in power in their country, while at the same time I have all this ‘in-coming’ from the same people about how dreadful those in charge are (the government et al), and yet they blame everyone else for voting them in.

In the words of the younger generation: OMG!

So, leaving the EU will mean no more non-Brits moving in to scrounge off the social will it? Because that, clearly, is what these people think they all do. And leaving the EU will mean no more overcrowding (on an island that is 93% non-urbanised and even those urban areas are 53% ‘greenspace’, but that’s another story). Yippee, problem solved in an instant. There must be other arguments surely? Or has the old country become so right-wing (thanks to the Government that no-one will admit voting for, apart from one brave Facebook friend) that it can only see as far as this one point?

I don’t know, it’s all very confusing and I really don’t want to get into it, but all this malarkey seems to come down to one simple equation in these people’s minds: UK out = foreigners out.

In the words of the younger generation: LMAO

But still, my idea: How about the EU issues passports. Those who want to be European can apply and hold dual citizenship; I’ll be in that queue. Here’s my UK passport for if I ever want to admit to having one again, and here’s my EU one for when I am too embarrassed to say exactly where I am from. And those who signed for Brexit can stay with their limited UK passport and just deal with it.

I’ve got a headache now so I am going to chill out and go and write something amusing instead. Have a good weekend and do what you want while you can as, in the words of the younger generation, YOLO.

Finding Nimmos (in Rhodes)
I was wandering around Rhodes on Wednesday after spending the night there on Tuesday so as to be in time for an appointment the following morning, when I had that thorny problem of where to have lunch. I wanted to go to somewhere I’d not been before but somewhere close to the Commercial Harbour so I wouldn’t have the worry of being late for the boat which was at three. Heading through the Old Town I also realised that I wanted to avoid the busier places, the kamaki and the shouts of ‘Hey mister, do you want to meet my daughter?’ when I remembered a taverna right next to Acandia Gate that I had passed in on my way across on the Tuesday. ‘Not been there before,’ I thought, ‘and it’s handy for the boat.’ So I duly arrived at a new taverna (under new management that is) called Nimmos.

I took a seat, ordered a beer and browsed the menu and then a few minutes later a familiar face popped out from inside; someone I recognised from Symi. It soon transpired that this was Aris who used to work at Manos Fish Taverna. And then another face appeared, George who used to work at the Nireus Hotel, again on Symi. It transpired that both chaps and their wives had set up the new taverna, Nimmos, only this year and were in to month two or three of the new business. We chatted and then I ordered my dinner and very nice it was too. The prices are good as well, only €2.00 for a big beer, €1.00 for a coffee, €1.50 for a glass of wine. I did eat as well, gigantes and a moussaka, both perfect and well-priced (€5.95 for the moussaka, other dishes like giouvetsi are €5.95, a pork chop for €6.20 – you can’t go wrong).

Apart from the good food at sensible prices, the taverna is right by the gate. Hardly any cars came past, a few mopeds, lots of people walking, so there’s lots to see, and it was only 20 minutes after that to walk to the boat. And then only because it was right at the end of the harbour. If you were heading for the Panagia Skiedani it would be even closer. So, if you arrive from the airport and want to eat before your boat, you can eat there and only have a short distance to go afterwards, enough time to recover from the big portions, no ned to bolt your dinner and run, and Aris even offered to give me a lift on his motorbike, though I don’t think that offer is part of the usual meal deal. You will find Acandia Gate on the maps easily enough and Nimmos is just next to it, inside the Old Town. It’s a family restaurant with an upstairs terrace as well, so more views from there. I also thought it would be handy for people on a cruise ship as they are also moored not far away.

There were other interesting things happening in Rhodes: Saffron for a curry with friends on the Tuesday, no need to book at the Lydia – a good room at a low price, holiday makers starting to appear, a bit windy on the coast so the sunbathers were around the other side of the bay, people were swimming and diving and I caught a glimpse of the Blue Star coming over and snapped it just between the famous deer of Rhodes at Mandraki.

And on that note, this weekend marks the last visit of the Blue Star Diagoras to Symi/Rhodes and the Dodecanese. It’s off to work in Morocco, taking trips out to the Canary Islands and the Balearics, according to one source. It will be replaced by another ship, perhaps the Paros (fast and punctual) or the Naxos (don’t know that one) or another. We will find out on Wednesday no doubt. And that should also be my last trip to Rhodes for a while, I hope. Not that I don’t like it, it’s just a bit of an added expense. But next time I am there and waiting for the boat, I know where I will be eating; Nimmos.

I’m not here and neither are the boats
It’s one of those days when I am not here. I’ve left Neil working and gone to Rhodes for a quick check up on my last check up (nothing to worry about) and, by now, I should have had a pleasant night in a hotel and hopefully an Indian meal at Saffron – a bit of a treat. Meanwhile, here is yesterday’s morning view, at six a.m.

And here are lots of shots of the speedboats leaving on Monday. These were carrying doctors who held a clinic, I am told. I hope they had their equipment well stowed as they finally took off at a bit of a speed. They passed the Poseidon as it came back from a trip and I saw it going out again on Tuesday. Looks like the round the island excursions have started, as long as the weather is calm and there are enough people.

I’ll leave you with these images, which are a bit similar I know, and make this a short blog as I’m not really here anyway. I may not be here tomorrow either, we will see.

Kalimera, kaliespera, yasou, yasas or wot?
Normal service has been resumed. After a weekend of rain, sometimes quite heavy, the sun was back on Monday morning when I got up at six. The sterna is now full of free water, the plants have had a watering, not that some of them wanted it, and most of the Sahara dust has been washed away from the roof and courtyard.

It’s back to normal in the harbour as well. I popped down and up yesterday to fetch the rent money and get my tickets for Rhodes. Another day another day-trip for me, this time for a check-up follow-up follow-up. I’m going to go on Tuesday afternoon to save the rush on Wednesday, potter about (perhaps have an Indian meal if the finances will stretch) and then have my appointment mid-morning on Wednesday and come back on the Blue Star in the afternoon, nice and leisurely like.

But, down in the harbour. Work has started to clear the customs house building that went up in flames last week, and the flag is still flying high above it, as it did throughout the fire – very Greek spirited of it I thought. I’m not sure what the rebuild timeline might be, time will tell, but there was a group of workers there working hard as I passed. It was one of those mornings of saying ‘Kalimera’ to everyone; on the steps going down, around the harbour (the new bar staff in certain places have finally realised I am not going away, I’m not a day-tripper and don’t need the ‘please come in’ dialogue). Around to the bank, and passing Takis’ leather shop (six kalimeras needed there to greet all his staff) and up and down the other side of the harbour.

We’re often asked what the greeting should be, kalimera, yasou, yasa, ti kanite, mia xara, ya, kali-something else, and I usually apply the rule that, if it’s the first time I’ve seen someone then it’s kalimera (good day), second time it’s a yasou (or yasas deepening on whether the situation is singular and friendly or plural and polite, higher status or not). I reserve kalispera for after siesta time, kalinixta for on the way home at night, kali messimeri for specifically wishing someone a good lunchtime period, kali doulia for wishing them good work, and so on. I was getting quite pleased with myself and my kali-mera-ing when I noticed that some people got to me first with a yasou, which rather threw the cat among the pigeons of my greetings plan. Thinking maybe it was because the time was moving on towards midday, to the next person I saw I said Yasou! And they replied with kalimera. It’s all very confusing. I think, just say whatever comes out; ya, is a common one (hi), but not to the mayor or a priest. Actually, I think I know the mayor well enough know to greet him with a ‘watcha me old cock,’ though it might confuse him, and some of the priests are content just to slap you on the back and laugh for some unexplained reason.

So, leaving you with all that to ponder, I shall say kalimera (adjust it to your own time of day depending on when you are reading this) and have a quick check over what I have just written to make sure I’ve left some typos in for you – kali-typo! – and head off into the rest of the day. You should find a blog here tomorrow, but maybe not on Thursday, depending on what time I get back from Rhodes and whether I feel like writing something or not. Whatever you are doing, have a kali day.