Hello everyone. I am going to post a few pictures today and then leave the blog alone until the end of March, or start of April; there is a lot to do.
If you use Facebook, you can follow us on the Symi Dream page where we will no doubt put up a few posts of our travels along the way.
The boat is due on Monday afternoon, the first leg of the journey, but before then, I have at least four chapters of a first draft to finish, so the story is out of my head before I set off. Then there’s the packing and list checking, and all those around-the-house things we thought we’d do before we went that still haven’t been done… So, here are some recent shots and here’s us wishing you a happy month for March. I’ll be back online when we return.
I am once again running down my stock of January/February photos, most of which were taken by Neil when out on a few walks. We’ve not been doing so much of that recently, mainly due to laziness and weather, but as soon as we’re back and we can get out first thing in the morning, then I am sure we’ll be working off the holiday’s excess pounds. I’d much rather go out straight away before I sit down to start writing because otherwise, I feel like I am interrupting my concentration. In fact, the wandering up and down the hills for an hour each day gives me time to plan the next chapter and let my mind reorganise itself. I also feel more awake, mentally and physically. The trouble is, getting out of bed in the cold and dark and then having to wait an hour or two before the sun comes up, by which time the inclination has gone. But enough of excuses… What else is going on?
Well, I noticed in yesterday’s photos that the Panormitis Travel office is now situated beside the Dolphin Pizzeria. Work has begun on the road connecting the new harbour to the main road up the hill to the village. When you’re heading for the Blue Star boats, the café is now open, and the Blue Star ticket office is inside the café, which makes it much more comfortable for everyone. You can always book your tickets online, print off the reference number and then take that to collect your tickets from the office or the travel agents in town who deal with Blue Star. That’s what we just did, so now we have our passes to board the boat next Monday afternoon. They are in my folder along with confirmation of Aegean flights to London, tickets to see ‘Blythe Spirit’ one night and ‘Phantom’ the next, and all the hotel bookings, plus the tickets to see Tutankhamun on the way back.
The middle part of our trip is taken care of for us. All we have to do is meet our tour guide from Great Rail at Heathrow on a certain date by a certain time, and that’s it. Obviously, we are watching the news carefully (and mildly selfishly) and hoping here are no travel restrictions imposed before or during or trip. I’ve seen some people already asking if it’s safe to come to Greece (yes) and showing concern for the summer holidays. Well, it’s a bit early for that, and as far as I see it, at the moment you’ve got more chance of catching ordinary flu, statistically speaking, and, as there is nothing we can do about it, we’re heading off on our trip as planned. As I said yesterday, we will cross any bridges when we come to them. Meanwhile, lots of vitamins to boost the immune system, being sensible, hoping for the best while preparing for the worst, but mainly, accepting whatever comes, we’re starting on our packing and checking of lists.
General views from out and about with not much news from me. Sun shining, 11 degrees first thing in the morning, rising to 16 or so later, in the shade that is, and calm weather all round. The boats have been coming and going as usual, and our internet connection is bouncing around between 20 and 45 Mb. We had it upgraded to the fibre thing, and it’s meant to be at 50 Mb, I think, but as we’re still on copper wires from the box by the taverna to the house, we don’t get the full amount. However, compared to previously when our 22 Mb came out at 12, and before that when we had ADSL at 3 Mb (or something), it’s perfect. Seventeen years ago when we moved here, we had to use Yianni-Roloi’s café, dial-up, 56 kbps internet for our emails, and could only use it if/when he had paid his bill. How things have changed. Things except these views by Neil, who, like them, remains unspoiled as the years go past.
While the sun shines on Symi and the air temperature warms, we are starting to think about overcoats and thermals because our holiday is drawing ever closer. The travel pack arrived yesterday, a brochure each with itinerary, details, instructions, reminders, luggage labels and even a few postcards. All we need to do is be at Heathrow on a certain day by a certain time, and everything after that is taken care of for us. Of course, with everything else that’s going on in the world, we are watching the news and the weather, neither of which we can do anything about, so we’re concentrating on organising ourselves as if there’s nothing to worry about. If anything happens, we will burn that bridge when we come to it.
(There’s a word for that kind of expression, where you mix up two… whatever they are called, but I can’t remember it. As in, burning bridges and crossing bridges put together in one… Thing.)
Anyway… While the house is a hive of activity which mainly centres on ‘I’ll do it tomorrow’, I’ve not been out and about much for photos, so today’s and probably for the rest of the week, will be a bit random and not up to date, but they will be something. There won’t be a blog after Saturday until the end of March, maybe not even until the start of April. We are leaving on Clean Monday, the start of Lent, so I will miss that, but carnival and ‘Sooty Thursday’ have already happened (last Sunday), and stray sheep and goats are wandering the village, brought down for their final grazing and fattening-up. I’ll leave you with that thought, and turn my attention to passports, money, tickets…
The reason we went over to Rhodes last week was to get our annual health checks done. This is a basic check-up we do every year as a preventative thing, and before signing up with AXA health insurance, we used to do it on our own, though not as regularly or successfully. One of the great things about living in Greece is that there are many highly qualified specialist and private doctors running private practices, but also working for the state, I guess. If you feel you want to see a cardiologist or whoever, you can usually make an appointment for the same or next day; at least, soon after and with no need to be referred and wait months as you do in some countries. Obviously, you pay (and the state system is free for those with national health insurance etc.), but prices only tend to be around €50.00 for a consultation.
This is the view from the ‘bicycle café’ as I call it, on the way to Akandia port. Lovely place.
Our annual trip is now part of my health insurance scheme, and it’s all done in one place, Euromedica. This is the privet hospital on Rhodes and is now under new management. I know it was February, but it was quiet, and we didn’t have to wait long in any of the three departments we visited. While I was waiting, though, I was visited by Yiannis, the new Communications Manager for the hospital. He introduced himself, told me his job and was generally chatting to patients to hear their experiences of the place. Like most of the Euromedica staff, he spoke fluent English and was very affable. We were warmly greeted by the receptionist and doctors who know our insurance agent well (our ‘best mother’, according to the staff), and she came with us to see to the paperwork, and so another headache dispensed with.
You can watch your boat arrive.
You can find out about AXA and other health insurance companies online. When I first investigated, I looked to see which ones worked with Euromedica, as it’s our nearest private hospital and followed the trail from their website. Your policy and acceptance will depend on age and state of health, plus other factors, so it’s no use me telling you what I pay as it will be different for each, but I would advise, the earlier you can take a policy, the better. I was 51 when I started, and the amount I pay is equivalent to the amount of IKA that was paid per month when I was working. Obviously, I don’t get pension and other benefits from that as you might with IKA, but I do get worldwide health insurance, and, I must say, a brilliant service. After the end of this year, Brits in Greece will either have to have IKA (or similar state scheme if you are working or already registered here and retired) or private health insurance, so now might be a good time to start looking.
