That was the week

It’s only Friday as I write, and it’s early in the day, but I’m making the most of the time as we’re going out later. Neil’s brother has been here all week, as I am sure anyone on Symi would have noticed. We’re planning a late morning and a lunch in Yialos later today, followed by a walk up the steps, maybe some time at the bar, and then we have a party to attend in the early evening. Neil has some friends coming from Rhodes too so it could be a busy day, one that requires pacing.

I’ve not done much work on ‘The Eastling’ this week, in fact, I’ve not done very much at all, apart from: lunch on Monday to welcome brother-in-law, a birthday party on the Poseidon on Tuesday evening, watch the football match on Wednesday so I could make inappropriate comments for two hours, and now Friday with another lunch and a party. It’s that time of year where all good intentions are hard to keep; I’ve even had an ice cream.

Meanwhile, the new Symi ferry ran into problems before it could really get started on its itinerary. I heard that they hoped to have it back on track this weekend. Keep an eye on Andy’s Symi Travel blog for details – the link is over there on the right. While you’re there, you will also see a link to Neil’s next year Symi calendar, and some of my more popular books, including the Symi quartet, if you’ve not already indulged.

I am also preparing for my holiday. I’m off on 28^th to the yUK for about ten days. Neil’s staying here as he has to work, but there won’t be a blog during that time. I have all kinds of traveling to do; Symi to Rhodes, docks to airport, flight to Gatwick, night in a hotel there, train to Brighton (on a Sunday, let’s hope it’s all working), train to London for a reunion with old school friend after 37 years, night there, train to Brighton, optician’s appointment, drive to Romney Marsh, lunch, walk, visit ‘Saddling’, three nights in New Romney. Dinner with friends we know from Symi (will be odd but fun seeing Symi folk ‘in the wild’ as it were and in my hometown), visit to old school deputy headmaster, brother, another old school chum on the marsh for a lunch, visit old houses I used to live in, pay respects at churchyard, visit to see nephew in Folkestone and another Sunday train to Stanstead, flight, taxi, hotel in Rhodes, boat and back to Symi on 6^th August. There, now you know what I’ll be up to, but not for a couple of weeks yet, so, I’m taking my camera with me when we go out later and will get more of the same old same old photos to use on the blog next week. Have a good weekend.

Recent photos

Great atmosphere in the square on Wednesday night with both bars busy. There were some disgruntled faces afterwards, but that’s always going to happen. As I’d been to Croatia earlier this year and loved the place, I wasn’t worried who won or lost, and that’s the last to be said on that matter. Today, I’m just putting up a few random photos to keep you amused.

Poseidon by night

I didn’t take many photos in the end, but last night (Tuesday) we were invited onto the Poseidon by Pat and Hazel to celebrate their birthdays. What can you say? Yiannis and his team are the perfect hosts, not only working an extra trip after their gruelling all-day work but remaining charming, professional, friendly and serving up a delicious buffet.

On this trip, we went to Taviri, the landing stage/bay at Nimos where Neil and I had our CP last year. There was a gulet boat in which moved its ropes for us and waved, and then the passengers spent the evening watching football. Our party was more of a party, with dancing, chatting, fun, food and, afterwards, a trip home in darkness so we could all ooh and ah at the display of stars and the Milky Way. [Note, must learn more constellations other than the usual three.]

We passed the new ANES boat which had just come in announcing its arrival with a blast of its horn, replied to by other boats doing the same. The last taxi boat of the day came back in at 18.30, but their work doesn’t stop there. There are then a good couple of hours of cleaning and tidying before the crew can go home, making their working day around 12 hours, I guess. The Poseidon crew must have worked at least 16 or 17, from preparing the boat in the morning to cleaning it up again at night – not that we left a mess, but getting all the salt off and that kind of maritime thing.

I have a bit more time to write today as the booze brothers are in the other room and are going out for the morning and probably the afternoon. We’re meeting up again this afternoon to prepare to go and watch some football match. I am only going for the atmosphere, and because Croatia are playing, and everyone I met there in March was so lovely I want to support them, but don’t tell the English or they’ll call me a traitor and take away my right to vote. Oh, they’ve already done that. Anyway…

Meanwhile… I’m wrestling with two pension companies to try and get my private arrangements sorted and paid and have to go and research a ‘protection certificate’ or something I think I don’t need, but best be sure. So, I’ll head off now and by the time you read this, people will either excitedly be ‘singing’ “Football’s coming home” or singing “England’s coming home” in a manner that suggests “Now shut the eff up about it, you lost, get over it.” Either way, I wish they’d stop doing it.

Brother-in-lore is here. Might get a bit scetchy on the blog for a few days. Keep an eye on the Symi Dream Facebook page for updates about what’s going on on Symi, and I’ll try and put up some photos when I can.

New Boat, New Symi Calendar

Two pieces of news for you today to mix in with some random shots from last weekend. First, a reminder that Neil’s exclusive Symi Dream calendar for next year is now on sale, but only via this link. If you go to that page, you can see a preview of the included images, some of the best we’ve seen on any Symi calendar, even though I say so myself. There are images of many of your favourite places around the island. You can also change the currency of the shop when you get there, and make sure you order from your nearest Lulu.com outlet, so the postage is appropriate.

Secondly today, Andy’s Symi Travel Blog has the timetable and details of the new Symi passenger boat that’s starting service this week – 11^th July to 9^th September. Follow that link to see the timetable which apparently will be for every day of the week. That’s going to be excellent news for people who might otherwise have to stay in Rhodes overnight or leave Symi very early for a later flight. It looks like the Sebeco will be doing:

8.00 depart Symi for Rhodes

10.00 depart Rhodes for Symi

14.30 Symi to Panormitis for an hour, leaving there at 16.00 to come back to Yialos

16.45 Symi to Rhodes

18.30 Rhodes to Symi

So, you will be able to get from here to Rhodes every day at 8.00 and 16.45, and on some days also at 6.45, 7.30, 16.30 and 17.20 on the Blue Star and the Dodekanisos, depending on day – and those times are approximate because I can’t remember the exact times and days of departures, but you can easily look them up. The point being, we’ll be well connected for the summer in this direction. Landing at Rhodes airport after about 17.00 however may still mean a night in Rhodes depending on how quick you can make it to a port for 18.30, or on the afternoon Blue Stars on the days they run. My advice, as always, is to check the boats before you buy a plane ticket, so you know what you are doing.