Meanwhile, elsewhere

I’m not here. I am somewhere else and have left a couple of posts for you, though I shall be back by the time the Saturday one pops up. Let’s start yesterday, which is when I am writing this, early in the morning of course, because of the early night/early morning routine brought about by the warm weather. It was 36 in the courtyard yesterday at 4 pm, and not much cooler in the house, so the early mornings are the time to get up and get things done, which is how I like to work anyway. I am having a day off, no long walk, no writing, just a couple of blog posts and then a morning sitting around waiting for the boat and packing a few things into a bag ready for a night at the Savoy. Sadly, not as grand as it sounds, but still, a reasonably priced bed for the night, especially at this time of year here everywhere else in Rhodes new town worth its salt seems to be at least €90.00 or €100,00 plus.

I can’t remember if I told you, but I picked up my Greek driving license the other day. I put in the paperwork in March, and it’s probably been sitting in the KEP office for a couple of months, but I kept forgetting about it. I was surprised it came through at all. My old licence was a paper one (European remake, not the original big green thing), it had my ancient address in Brighton on it from 17 years ago. The name on it was the shortened version of my third name, the name my friends use, and a name that doesn’t appear on my birth certificate, which was needed as proof of who I am when changing the document. Actually, my birth cert does have that half-name on it, but then there’s a second cert with the name expanded to Tobias and no mention of the Toby. Trying to explain that to any kind of authority is a pain, which is why I go by the name that appears first on the thing, James, which is, after all, my real first name. So, with all that going on, the age of the existing document which, apparently, I should have sent back ears ago, and the fact that I don’t have an address as such… You know. I was surprised. But the ladies at the KEP office did a good job in understanding all that, and Lo! There came a plastic, Greek, European card with my photo and signature, and I am legally able to drive again.

What was interesting was that I am no longer allowed to drive long-wheel-based vehicles with trailers. I never knew I could, let alone was allowed to. I am, though, still fine for the standard things like cars and small vans, not that I intend ever to drive again, and I can still drive any size motorbike. I did my stages one and two motorbike test back in London in 1867 or something and used to drive a 500 cc thing around town when I worked there. I always wanted one of those 550 cc machines that couriers drive (or drove, it’s been a long time), but the insurance was too high even then. I’m pleased to say I never had an accident on a bike that was my fault. I got bumped off a couple of times at traffic lights by car drivers not noticing this great lump of metal and flesh three feet in front of their noses, but nothing major. I don’t intend to drive or even get on the back of a motor boke ever again, so I’m not worried, but it’s another form of legal proof of who I am, and there’s a reason I wanted it, which I will explain tomorrow. Meanwhile, I am still elsewhere and by now, should be at my early appointment in Rhodes having shopped yesterday and taken some time off.

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Panoramic insomnia

I am heading off to Rhodes today, just for one night as I have an early appointment on Friday. The Sebeco at 11.45 going over and the Blue Star at 16:00 on Friday coming back. A night at the Savoy (cos it’s cheaper than the other ones), some shopping and hanging out, and that’s that. I was up the road yesterday after four hours’ sleep, and felt a bit panoramic, so here are a couple of shots I took. They should enlarge (but I am not sure) otherwise they are a bit narrow.

And if you were wondering about the lack of sleep, I put it down to heat and mosquitoes, and the general excitement of being semi-retired and not having to get up early. So I get up early. Bed on Wednesday night at 20:30, awake again at 23:00 thinking it’s a bit soon to be getting up for the next day. Asleep again until 01.30 when I finally gave up and got to work. Neil’s suffering the same, but I actually feel surprisingly good on it, though I do drift off after lunch and go to bed very early. Not sure it will be these same in Rhodes as I will have air conditioning – the sound of which will probably keep me awake anyway.

If you don’t hear from me for the next couple of days, or there are only photos, it is because I am away and have much to do before the family arrive next week.

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Humidity and water

It was very humid yesterday morning as I sat out on damp chairs on the balcony. The rail was dripping and, when the sun came up, you could see why. Cloud across the mountains of turkey, some across Nimos, and you could even smell the humidity in the air. This was after a very warm evening the day before.

Talking of humidity (water), our plumbing has started doing another strange thing. I noticed a drip from the flat-roof overflow on Sunday night. Only a very small one, but still, it was precious water coming from somewhere. I investigated and found it came from the trough beneath the plastic water tank on the bathroom roof. Why there is a trough there in the first place is another mystery, it’s not as of we keep sheep on the bathroom roof – not since the last time – but it’s a three-by-1.5 foot concrete thing and, presumably, served some purpose.

Anyway, the water was trickling from there, across the roof and into the overflow. Now then, when the, um, expert plumbers put in the black plastic tank, they put it directly on top of some black plastic pipes. There was no other way of doing it without rerouting the pipes which in their ‘expertness’ they decided not to do. Now there’s 500 litres of water in the tank (500 kilos, or half a ton), my guess is that it’s pressing down and the heat has made the pipes brittle and caused a split, and that’s why the water is leaking out. One day, the pipe will crack completely, and we’ll have a waterfall. But, as this isn’t coming from our tank but from one of the pipes that does lord-knows-what and goes to anyone’s-guess, and it’s not causing the pump to run, I’m leaving it until there’s another of the landlord’s, um, experts doing something up there. Meanwhile, it stopped on Monday night and dried up, only to start again on Tuesday morning. All very odd, no rhyme or reason, but then what else do we expect from this place’s water system?

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We’re Air B&B now

Sunday night saw the Symi Shrimp Festival in the village square which meant, for us, a disturbed night with children ringing our doorbell at midnight, and playing with stones in the street outside. The music didn’t bother me, it sent me to sleep, but the bell thing gets to be a pain after a while. We ignore it now, so if you’re planning to come and visit us, let us know first. By the looks of the square the next morning, a good time was had by all.

I found my camera the other day and used it to get some distant shots of the fun being had at sea. The large cruise ships, people on that water-boot-thing and on jet skis off Nos, people at Petallo… It’s a good zoom for catching what’s going on that my phone wouldn’t get. It’s also good for catching photos of birds when they stay still.

We were on the balcony the other day, with the breeze coming up from the sea and with it, came any number of insects. At least, I assume that’s what the birds were after. There was a flock of sparrows going mad, and a flock of swallows darting around and coming very close to the house. One even came inside, a young one I think, and having flown in through one of the open windows or doors, then decided the only way out was through the oxeye (closed). I opened the side window to the room and left it alone, and a few minutes later, another swallow flew in, and when I looked, both had gone. I assume it was mum or dad come to pick up the naughty teenager and take it home for its insect tea. That’s why I decided we were for a time, an air B&B – Air Bird and Board. At the same time, we also saw our local blue rock thrush and a younger kestrel hanging on the thermals just overhead, presumably waiting for a younger swallow to swallow.

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Refugees on Symi, How to Help

Here is some information about how you can help the increasing number of refugees arriving on Symi seeking sanctuary. This is taken from the charity website, Next Stop Symi.

The donation page is here: Donate.

The small Greek island of Symi is close to Turkey. In 2019 there has been an increasing number of refugees arriving on the island.

There is a need for-

1 FOOD AND WATER
The most urgent need is for breakfast supplies and water for the refugees. One meal a day is provided by the Greek state in the afternoon.

2 HYGIENE SUPPLIES
Soap, shampoo, toothpaste and toothbrushes, sanitary items are needed.

A special account has been set up with a local business to supply these items, so we need to raise money to help pay for them.

Thank you for checking out my page. Making a donation is fast, easy and secure thanks to Give as you Live Donate. They’ll take your donation and pass it onto Next Stop Symi.

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