Sunday morning… Great evening yesterday with guests in the courtyard, lovely night on Friday with guests on the balcony… Off to a party in an hour… Sounds to me like we are having far too much fun!

I have a week of work ahead followed by a slow boat to Tilos on Friday while Neil stays here to carry on working. I, too, shall be working while away, I’m not going for a holiday but I should have time to wander and explore after work in the afternoons. So, there’s that to look forward to. Before that we have some guests coming on Wednesday for drinks on the balcony, oh and we’re being taken to dinner tonight (Monday) so there is that to look forward to too.

Meanwhile: I am awaiting a proof copy of Lonely House and, as soon as that has been double checked, it should be available on line, in paperback, and then a bit later in Kindle format. I’ve said it before, and I will say it again, people often say (not just to me but generally) that Kindle books should be cheaper than print books because there is no pronating involved. In a way, yes, but in a word No. What I say is that the creator (if still in copyright) should receive the same amount per sale of a Kindle book as he does a print book. So, when the pricing is set for my print book of Lonely House, I will see what I am left with (around $.50 cents usually) and apply that as my profit on the Kindle version. After all, it’s the same amount of words, and took the same amount of time and skill to put together and.

If you are itching to spend money now though, you can now order Neil’s 2016 Symi Dream calendar on line from Lulu.com. People have kind of misunderstood how things work and asked us to keep copies for them to collect when they are here. Now then: we don’t have any. There is no shop to sell them from. You have to buy them on line. Follow the link. Use your credit card, or Paypal account and your Symi Calendar will be sent direct to your address. (I know Neil has arranged to get hold of a few for specific people, but that will have to be when we have enough money to buy them and have them shipped here – and that does add on an extra cost, so you’re better off buying online.) Here’s the link: http://www.lulu.com/shop/neil-gosling/symi-dream-calendar-2016/calendar/product-22165801.html

If you were wondering what the glass is all about, it was a housewarming present from Libby, a candle holder. She makes her own glass products such as this one. It’s sitting on another gift we were given, two in fact, and the bust behind it all is Apollo. We bought that when in Symi on holiday back in what? 2000? I think it was. I carried it home to England in my rucksack, and then a year or so later it found its way home again when we moved over here. Everything has a story.

And talking of story, I should get back to my latest. I still have some preparation to do before going away to write a few chapters, and a party or two to attend.

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Here is a quick and easy post: a few photos showing some of the things I saw on my Symi Friday yesterday. We were down in Yialos for late morning/lunchtime.

As were lots of other people who had come over on the ‘Sea Dreams’ Symi.

I like the way you have to slide off on the port side and then swim ashore. Makes sure that everyone arrives clean.

Okay, not the most inspiring image but look at the face over the name – do you think it knows something about the Greek economy that we don’t?

Meanwhile

Meanwhile, the Symi public transport system was in full swing:

It was my step-father’s funeral yesterday. My step-sister had suggested those who could not make the funeral drop a pebble in the sea as a commemoration, so we did just that.

And later, back home, I watched a new barge doing interesting things down below.

So, have a pleasant Saturday and Sunday and I’ll see you next week!

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Yesterday was the name day for Constantin, Constantina, Helen and Nantila, and various variations of the same. I spent the morning watching boats heading to and from Analipsi, Symi, the monastery on the edge of the island over Kokkinochoma Bay, just before you head through Diapori on your way to Turkey, or the open sea – if you head that way. This is a church I have not visited before, though Neil was over there last year to film a festival put on for one of the cruise ships.

So, during the part of yesterday morning, while out walking and while I was working at my desk I saw: The Panagia Skiadeni (The Scooby to its friends) going out at 6.30 and coming back in from Rhodes around 10.30 with its day-trippers, a full taxi boat heading out towards Analipsi, various speed boats, some of those white hired sailing boats coming in and out, and the Sea Dreams, Symi, boat over at Analipsi passing by and blasting its horn for a long while before coming into Symi with its own load of day-trippers. It was actually quite a quiet morning down there, some days it’s non-stop and it is still only May.

The other day the four (or something) most expensive or biggest or who cares, private yacht was in the harbour with some far too wealthy football person on it; a club owner, or owner of the largest shares in Folkestone United or somewhere. Football often passes me by as do the people who earn lots of money from it. ‘The first of the season’s super yachts’, it was being called. Not impressed. Well, you know me. When I see a phrase like ‘Super Yacht’ I immediately think, ‘Anagram opportunity.’ So how about, in future, when we see something like that pumping its fumes out into the atmosphere ten feet away from where 100 homeless and frightened refugees are sharing one toilet, let’s think: ‘Peachy Rust,’ or ‘Pushy Crate,’ or perhaps ‘Pushy Recta…’ And we will leave it there.

I think I might be in a bit of a volatile mood today because my wonderful pay €XX.00 per annum for Microsoft Office package 360 thing is turning out to be an absolute pain the Pushy Recta. It does this every few months, I am convinced of it: It forgets words I have added to the custom dictionary, and it forgets words I have added to autocorrect, so I have to spend hours putting back in my most commonly mistyped words. And, let’s face it, that’s going to be a lot. One day my page is nicely white with nothing underlined in red, thanks to autocorrect and spell recognition of such words as Yialos, Symi, Horio etc. and the next it looks like my old sociology homework. You ring Microsoft for advice and they expect you to pay a further €80.00 before they will even discuss the thing.

Ah well, just look out of the window, take a deep breath, enjoy the view and remember that Microsoft is an anagram of ‘Cost From I.’ (It’s also an anagram of ‘Cost Of Rim’ but that’s something else we shan’t go into.)

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I’m afraid it’s just sunrise pictures today as I had nothing else planned or prepared and we’re just back from a walk/jog up the hill and back, and there’s lots to be done today so I can’t hang around for long.

The weather looks like it is going to be more cloud-free today than it was yesterday. There was cloud cover off and on and the air was even a bit chilly. But that didn’t stop people arriving for the holiday or enjoying the afternoon out and about.

This morning’s walk took us up through the village in the usual way, along through the square, waving to Lefteris at the kafeneion and the fabulous baker boys, their oven blazing away inside, them in their flour-covered vests. Past the closed shops and supermarkets (it was 06:00) and up the lanes via the museum, which is still being renovated. Up into the square just before Ag Triada, where the old house is still being renovated, and on up to the very top road, where the new house is still being built.

From there it’s a fast walk-jog-run-pant thing along to the main road, and that bit is easy after the 200 odd steps up to the top, and then onto the main road. Still walking-jogging-gasping we head for the first corner and a little bit beyond before slowing down; each time I do the route I add a little extra hard work, but I have to say, it’s taking me a long time to get back into it this year. And from then on it’s up and around the bend (well you have to be), waving at the red truck on its way to the farm, then the white one, not waving at the arm truck as that seems a bit too familiar, and then nodding to the solider we vaguely know, on his moped as he rattles off to work at the barracks, and finally reach the Kantina.

Not sure if that’s up and running yet, doesn’t look like it. No chairs outside. But hopefully soon, not that we stop for a souvlaki at 06:20 in the morning. Then, after the obligatory sunrise pictures, it’s back down again. This is either at a walk or a fast walk, or, if the knee feels up to it, a slow jog – it gets you home quicker and by now there’s usually a need for the bathroom. And so on back down the same route and this time running until we reach the new house, adding a little more jogging each time as on the way back the top path to Periotisa has a slight incline up, so it’s like the ‘last burn’ before the warm-down. And then back down through the village.

And there you have it; if you’re in the village square on a weekday at just before six, you can join us, but you’re going to have to keep up. Mind you, with the cat going off at four, whether he’s inside or out, and waking me up, I can’t always guarantee to be there. Sometimes it’s just nice to stay in bed.

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Here’s a short tale of Monday that involves HMV, the helipad, crochet and moussaka, with a few illustrations from the day itself.

It started off a few days ago when Neil saw an old gramophone he liked the look off and negotiated a price with Natasha at the new Art Gallery under the old nautical museum. We decided to pick it up yesterday as we had arranged to meet Trevor and Gloria, visiting from Rhodes – nice to meet you! (Note to self: send Gloria the Symi Animal Welfare contact email as she was crocheting seats for chairs and wanted to send some over for sale or auction to raise money for SAW.)

So, setting off later morning, under the cautious eye of the AC we headed down, via the compulsory Hellooo at the Olive Tree, and met said Rhodians for a drink at Pacho’s. Then to the antique shop to collect the gramophone. And to buy whatever 78s were also available – Turandot, some German Lieder and something by an as yet unknown (to me) composer. Oh, yes and a table for the thing to stand on, and the piece of marble to go on top of the table, and maybe we can come back with a taxi and pick them up after lunch? Yes we can, and so we did.

Lunch – as by now it was too late to get home, eat and get to work, uh hu – was taken at To Spitiko where one of the homemade dailies was vegetarian moussaka, which Neil had. I went for the meaty option which was just as tasty.

And then back to the Gallery in a taxi. We’re just putting the various parts into the car, the turntable, the table, the records, the marble slab and the horn, or whatever it’s called, when we’re asked if we mind taking a detour so we can drop of a lady at the helipad. Why not? Never been up there before. So off we head up the slope towards the cometary and then right past the farm and on and round and through the scrubland to a couple of houses I never knew existed.

Said lady dropped off and very grateful, it’s back down to Yialos, around and up the slope to Horio. Much attention is attracted from the lunchtime diners at Georgio’s, as Neil carries the (light) turntable and 78s and I struggle under the (heavy) marble slab, table and bell-end, or whatever it’s called. ‘Mobile disco!’ someone calls out and Neil stops for an involved chat about his purchase. ‘Yeah, I’ll just hang around with the lump pf marble then,’ I mumble. Marble-mumble I suppose. ‘Just have to show this to Jenine…’ So carry Marble slab towards Olive Tree. Luckily the ladies are outside and can admire the table and the trumpet, or whatever it’s called, from there.

Struggle home with the thing and put it together and give it a play. There’s a need to adjust the playing speed, which can be done, as Nessun Dorma is apparently being sung by a chipmunk on acid. Good sound though and in fully working order, and we were even given free styluses as spares, and a piece of Chopin which played like chopsticks. So, that’s now taken up residence in the sitting room.

Neil went to work, I stayed home, wrote a bit, made dinner and watched the air ambulance do its Monday night practice landings back over there on the helipad – which is what this is meant to be, but clearly isn’t, a very good shot of.

The gramophone is a ‘His Master’s Voice Sound Boy’ and I’ve not yet managed to date it, but could possibly be 1940s, any experts viewing this – feel free to drop me a line, out of interest.

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