Pedi

Here in Greece, we can leave the house for exercise (walking) as long as we have sent the necessary SMS to the authorities and received permission. Having done that, last Friday, Neil walked down to Pedi and back and took the camera, so we’ve now got a few more photos that were not taken from the roof or balcony, and you will be able to see these during the week.

It’s Great Week this week, a time when people are usually preparing for Easter and family gatherings, church services and celebrations. This year will be different with only the priest and a few cantors allowed in the church to celebrate, but with services broadcast on radio and television. Perhaps even through the church’s speakers and across the villages, as they sometimes do with music at Christmas. I wonder if there will be dynamite in the hills? There is an unusual (some would say welcome) absence of firecrackers around the lanes, as there is an absence of people, but that has an upside. Two, in fact. Not only are Greece’s strict measures keeping down the spread of the virus, but the lack of people in the lanes and streets has also encouraged wildlife to venture closer.

In the last few weeks, we’ve seen a hoopoe fly past the house, the chickens from up the road have explored beyond their usual neighbourhood, and at the weekend, we had a stray mule in the ‘front garden.’ He’d slipped his tether, and that could have happened at any time, but the same day, I saw a hooded crow on the telegraph pole a few feet from the balcony. I’ve only seen them in Rhodes before, and never that close to the house. We often see and hear ravens, and even they have been venturing nearer to the buildings, as have the sparrows who were having a good old chinwag on our balcony railings on Saturday. Again, the first time I’ve seen them do that. I shall keep my eyes peeled for other unusual sights and keep you informed. Meanwhile, I will leave you with a couple more images from a spring/early summer walk to Pedi (and the visiting mule).

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Narnia has fallen

Narnia has fallen – a film title popped into my head as I was out for an exercise walk yesterday, a ‘number six’ as it’s becoming known. That’s a number six from the list which came from the Greek City Times on 23^rd March.

1. pharmacy, doctor;
2. basic needs or supermarket that doesn’t deliver;
3. bank if e-banking not possible;
4. helping people in need;
5. funeral, baptism, wedding, or divorced parents’ visitation rights;
6. outdoor exercise or pet walking.

I was only walking myself as we have no pet, and having done a short route, I then continued to do a number two. After three weeks staying in the house, it was good to be out in the fresh air, smell the spring flowers, see the valley, trees, the occasional mule, and a few other people from a distance. A friendly wave from a passing truck or car goes a long way, even if you can’t see who it is because of the glare on the windscreen, and it was good to feel the legs moving and have the heart pumping a little harder.

It might have been that short walk, but I was up for an early night last night and thus, had an early morning today. I stood on the balcony at 4.30 with a cup of tea and listened to the owl pinging like sonar, a few distant cockerels who must have been in a different time zone, and an even more distant helicopter, light flashing and high. Later, a solitary aeroplane, and closer to home, the rustle of leaves as a cat stalked towards the derelict garden next door. With no breeze, there was no sound of the sea lapping at the quayside, and not much else going on, so I came inside and started on my day. No walk for me today, it’s Neil’s turn. Instead, I plan to write, cook and tidy up a little.

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A bit of everything

It’s been an unusual week so far. I just had to check that it was Thursday as I woke up to see the Blue Star calling in, which it usually does on a Wednesday at about that time. Perhaps it was delayed yesterday due to weather. The day started warm and bright, but clouded over later and, in the afternoon, the cloud thickened. The sky was a dull, battleship grey over Turkey, with a sheet of rain obscuring the coast. This gradually inched closer, accompanied by the sound of distant thunder, until we started to see flashes of lightning in the cloud. Finally, we had some rain, but the worst of the storm must have passed by at a distance, though the internet did keep dropping in and out – so maybe there was some local electrical interference.

We had an earthquake rumble past the other day. Nothing huge, but I felt it from my desk, and the floor shook. We’ve also had the odd power cut which I expect was for essential maintenance, plus high wind for one day/night, and a chilly day coming before a warm one… It’s that time of year. Meanwhile, there’s the sound of the road extension being prepared (the sound of rocks being tipped or moved, or blown apart over beyond the new port), and I heard yesterday the main town square is being redesigned to provide an amphitheatre? I’ve not been to Yialos since February, so I’ve not seen nor heard about it, but it sounds interesting.

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Just some photos

A late start to the day today due to… Well, oversleeping, or having a lie-in, or simply not waking up until nearly seven in the morning. At which time I found the sun up, the sea calm and the swallows flitting about over the courtyard. The piece of garden in front of the house, currently untended as no-one lives in the room below us, now has a few poppies blooming, reminding me of what will be growing in the Pedi valley and elsewhere; spring flowers. I thought I would add in a couple of other shots to fill the page, and then try and make up the two hours I lost by having a lie-in. (Some photos were taken a couple of months ago.)

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Artful Deception

I have something to show you today that’s not a plant or a skyscape. It’s a book cover. Well, the first rough draft of one, at least; it looks too modern at the moment. Below, is the idea for a cover for the sixth (and final) Clearwater Mysteries novel, ‘Artful Deception.’ I say ‘last’, but I’ve left the end of the series open for a development to happen if I want to take the characters into the future. It’s taken me a while to get this one ready, and it’s still only in the 2^nd draft stage though must be completed by April 22^nd.

If you’ve not read the series, then you need to start reading in order with ‘Deviant Desire’ as part one. It’s a mystery series with ongoing characters and storylines set in 1888, London. Through the series, the stories involve a range of actual characters (Tennyson, Bram Stoker, the Ripper – but not in the same story), and a team of created characters who progress through the series. They all have twisting and surprising mysteries to figure out, there’s a fair amount of intrigue, plus humour, love and steam trains, and the books tend to be set in a certain ‘world.’ For example, ‘Unspeakable Acts’ (part three) is set in the world of the Royal Opera House, and part four, ‘Fallen Splendour’, concerns a poem, whereas ‘Artful Deception’ features paintings.

Anyway, it makes a change to show you this rather than the weeds in the courtyard or the empty sea, so here it is, with a link to the five available books in the series – so far. It’s an Amazon.co.uk link, but you can find the same in Amazon.com and Australia, Canada, Germany… Lots of Amazon stores. As usual, my books are available in paperback, on Kindle and as part of Kindle Unlimited.

The Clearwater Mysteries

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