All posts by James Collins

Day to day on Symi

Symi Dream Calendar (again)

Symi Dream Calendar
I did warn you back on November 19th:
Okay, early and advanced warning that I will be repeating this post in a few weeks as if by magic when I will be away. On the day I am planning to copy this post I should be back on Symi, actually, if all goes well. But still, there is one gap in my scheduled posts list and it’s December 12th so this will still give you enough time to order and receive your Symi Dream Calendar for 2016. Here’s what you have to do:

Head to Neil’s page on Lulu and find his Symi Dream Calendar 2016. (Just click that link.) Then click ‘Add to basket.’ You will need to register for Lulu if you are not already registered. This is quick and isn’t hard to do. You can change the shop you are buying from by using the drop-down up at the top in the menu next to where you see your name (once registered and logged in). Buy from a country near you for a faster delivery. In Greece, I use the Irish site as it shows in Euros. You can change the number you order as you go through the purchase process and postage is then added on. You can pay by card or PayPal.

calendar page
Calendar page at Lulu

There, now you have no excuse not to order a little piece of Symi sunshine to brighten up your winter and every month through next year. The following photos are not from the calendar, but they are Neil’s and from Symi and a bit of a photo bonus for you – they will also reappear on Saturday 12th December (if all goes according to plan) which will probably be your last chance to order a Symi Calendar before THE day. Enjoy!

Symi Dream Calendar 2016.Symi Dream

Symi Greece photos

Symi Dream

Symi Dream

Symi Dream

Symi Dream

Symi Dream

Symi Greece photos

Symi Greece photos

Symi Greece photos

Symi Greece photos

Symi Greece photos

Symi Greece photos

Symi Greece photos

Symi Greece photos

Symi Greece photos

Symi Greece photos

 

Guest posts

The Long and Short of a blog

Something different today – videos, thanks to Roger who wrote:

This is a short and long blog; short as I am a man of few words and long in that it has links to five videos I have uploaded to YouTube – four of the Symi Festival 2015 and one of general views of Symi. Sit back, relax and enjoy.  Part of your one-a-day Symi fix. Roger

 
1) A classical guitar performance by Christos Rossos in the grounds of the Evangelistria Church Symi Greece, Part of the Symi Festival 2015
on the 29th August 2015.

2) Traditional Greek dance and music in the central square of Chorio Symi Greece. Part of the Symi Festival 2015.

 

3) We came across this group playing in the main square at Yialos, but as we had seen no posters and could not understand the announcements, unfortunately we do not know their title.

4) Stefanos Korkolis and Sofia Manousaki in Concert in the grounds of St John’s Church Symi Greece, 3rd September 2015
The Concert was part of the Symi Festival 2015.

5)Random sights from around the Island of Symi. September 2015

Guest posts

The Symi Webcam

(Today it’s about The Symi Visitor Webcam – this from the chap who looks after it:)

The webcam on the offices of Symi Visitor continues to click away taking a new picture of the harbour every minute twenty four hours a day all year round: http://www.symivisitor.com/webcam.shtml

Symi Visitor webcam
Symi Visitor webcam view

 

Being a bit of a geek with time on my hands I’ve persuaded a computer to grab these pictures, produce a daily video from them and upload it to YouTube. The program has been running more or less continuously since early June (which is something of a miracle given my limited programming

abilities) and the videos can be seen on YouTube at: https://goo.gl/BkR5Eb

Early videos were fairly poor resolution but after changing the program at the start of November they look a lot better. Each video lasts about a minute and a half covering thirteen hours of harbour life from seven in the morning until eight at night although these times could change.

If you want to pick a sample video to watch I recommend you try one from a Wednesday when the Blue Star Diagoras docks twice. It’s an amazing sight.

Here’s an example:

 

Guest posts

Favourite Symi things

Deborah wrote in:

A couple of my favourite things, my best beach on Symi and my beautiful 12 year old standard Poodle who we named Symi so that we would be able to say “Symi” everyday. Have a good holiday and thank you for your blog – Deborah Ratcliffe

St Nikolas beach
St Nikolas beach
Symi!
Symi!

I thought that was rather a sweet email (and photo) thank you – thanks to everyone who sent in guest blogs for while I am away. I should, today, be in Belgrade and about to head back to Rhodes. J

Books & writing

Lonely House

Lonely house
I know horror stories are not everyone’s cup of tea, but this one isn’t too bloody. Well, okay, so there are some slightly gruesome bits in it, but it’s more of a thriller than a blood and guts rip’em up horror. I’m just showcasing it today in case you have friends or family who might fancy a copy for Crimbo, something dark and menacing to read by the fire on a cold winter’s night…

Here are parts of some reviews: “Having served up the excellent The Judas Inheritance which has been made into a film set on the wonderful Greek island of Symi, he now invites the reader to the Birthday Party from Hell. This excellent story has a very satisfactory outcome – depending on your moral compass. You will not be disappointed if you are a fan of the macabre.”

“A very good thriller. I loved it.”

“A real page turner and kept me guessing right to the end.”

Full cover
Full cover

Here’s the blurb:

Drover and Pete are two hopeful drifters looking for a better life. Desperate for food, they break into an isolated house deep in a forest. There they accidentally shoot an old man just as the rest of his family arrive for a birthday gathering.

Under intense suspicion from the family, the boys attempt to cover up the accident. But they are not the only ones keeping a murderous secret. Mistrust and deception unearth a primeval ritual as the lies give way to a terrifying truth.

With time running out and a deadly force closing in, Drover and Pete’s survival rests on the strength of their friendship, but they must face some horrific choices in order to stay alive.

Click to buy a copy: Lonely house

Romanian trees, part of the inspiration
Romanian trees, part of the inspiration

James Collins is the author of The Judas Inheritance on which is based the forthcoming feature film The Thirteenth, starring Kurtis Stacey, Rebecca Grant, Wookie Meyer, Richard Syms, and Lorna Doyle. He lives and works in Greece. This is his ninth novel and second horror-thriller.

(BTW: I just checked the 1066 Production website, the company making ‘the Thirteenth’ and it still shows ‘The Judas Curse,’ which was the original name for the film that was based on The Judas Inheritance. I know a lot of people are waiting to hear about the money they gave to this project and are wondering what is happening with it. Last I heard, it was still in post-production waiting for some edits, but the editor they found was working for free and now is on a contract with someone else and hasn’t got the time to finish the final visual edits; so that’s holding up the sound and music process. I suggest anyone wanting to know more contacts 1066 Productions directly as this is all I know. Their contact page is here: 1066 Productions contact.