There are two things I need to do. One, is to start getting up earlier and doing the blog before half past eight in the morning, and the second is to start reading things properly. I’ve started getting up later in the morning than I used to and I’m quite enjoying it. It’s mainly because I’ve had to cut back on typing time because of the arm, but also because I have less work to do generally, and I have all day in which to do it. As for reading things correctly… Yesterday I was watching an advert on Greek TV when I saw a product called CamelotWater. Now then, legend has it that Camelot stood on a river. Tennyson mentions it in his poem about the Lady of Shalott (1832) when he opens with, ‘On either side the river lie…’ and later, ‘By the island in the river flowing down to Camelot,’ and so on, and yet, no-one ever mentions the name of the river. So, M’lud, surely the advertisement should have been for CamelotRiverWater? However, ‘river water’ instantly sounds yucky, so they kept it simply as CameltoeWater.

At least, that’s how I read it.

Anyway, on this day in (my photographic) history, I came across these oddments.

Romney Marsh in the snow. I must have been publicising my book that is set around Winter Solstice on Romney Marsh: The Saddling.

The second could have been us last night when in fact, it was this night last year. I’ve also got a photo of Jenine’s decorated sitting room also from this day last year. We’ll be there again this evening. Not much changes in winter around here.

Then again, I have this one from a Christmas dinner back in 2016, though I suspect it was taken a year or so earlier. I also suspect there will be more of this foolery, costume, funny glasses and feasting before long. For now, I have the proof layout of my next novel to check, so that’s this morning’s job.

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All quiet. Fireworks to open the Christmas festivities in Yialos over the weekend, a mild thunderstorm last night, nothing too heavy, no reason to go very far from home, got some films watched, did some work on the book, had a day off. That’s about my weekend summed up.

As for my week ahead. Today, after this, I must finish the last proofing of the next book as I want that to be on the virtual shelves by the weekend. The title is a play on words:

(You can find this series and all the others listed on my Amazon page.)

Also this week: two practice sessions with my piano pupil ahead of a short family concert on Boxing Day, my new glasses should arrive today, I have some tidying up to do now all presents are wrapped, some boxes to put in the bin, some others to recycle, a few last, small gifts to wrap. That’s about it. Weather today appears calm and sunny so far, with some clouds swiping the sky as they pass, and that’s about it. Let me put up some random images from the file and then I must run.

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I have one of those mornings with bits and pieces to see to. First, after this, I must take photos of the house for the landlord’s estate agent, because, the landlord says the agent can’t make it across from Rhodes to actually see the property for valuation, so would I mind terribly…? Not at all, though it is a reminder of our precarious position. Before doing that I must tidy up a little and open some shutters to let some light (and cold) in. After that, I have some technical info to source for my financial advisor with whom I virtually met yesterday having remembered to be here at the right time on the right day, something which took four notes, two alarms and an email reminder.

On top of that, I have the final draft of my next book to read through, shopping to do (note: must buy a microwave… and milk), and the washing to put on. All that’s before lunch, after which I am playing the old Joanna for a while before vegging out in front of the TV. At least, until Neil gets home, because he’s gone to Rhodes for the day to invade the shops, enquire about the cost of having a new internet provider, and generally make a nuisance of himself.

Which all means, I must now set about my day, post this and start on my photographing and reading. I shall leave you with a shot of the sea yesterday when the SAOS boat Stavros was coming in, and wish you a merry weekend.

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A trip to the local is never guaranteed to be a straightforward affair. We popped out last night to have a quick drink before supper, only to have supper turn up unexpectedly in the form of a chip omelette made and served by your friendly neighbourhood barman. Well, I’m not saying no, and very nice it was too.

Back home, I’ve wrapped everything that has so far arrived, and hope to have the last wrappables delivered this afternoon when pianissimo comes for his piano lesson and brings them with him. If I’m very lucky, my glasses will be among them, and I’ll have better vision. (Oddly, for a Thursday, I can hear the mains water coming in and filling our tank. Not complaining.) I’ve put my collection of oddments beneath the tree, or next to it, because it’s not a huge tree. We had to call in help when it came to putting the lights on, though.

While out in the street, the square remains mainly empty because it’s not really playing out time of the year for the youngsters. The lanes tend to be very quiet and sometimes even a little eerie at nighttime. It’s not particularly cold, so it’s not that that’s keeping everyone inside. In fact, many people are out and about, especially down in Yialos where the Christmas festivities continue in the main square. Up here, though, you can walk beneath the Christmas lights all the way to the supermarket and back and not see a soul.

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Just a brief chat this morning because I woke up late. Unheard of. I had such a good sleep, I feel like I’m still there, and it has nothing to do with calling into the Rainbow last night to deliver a card. Here are your season’s greetings from Yiannis Christmas.

I had a delivery arrive yesterday which included a couple of lights for under the kitchen cabinets. They’re the easy-to-place sort, with sticky pads to attach them, rather than screws. Trouble is, they wouldn’t stay there and fell off, so I repositioned them to my model shelf, where they seem happier.

And that’s all I have to tell you this morning.

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