January thoughts

January is a quiet month for me. On some days I don’t even go outside, and with the shutters closed, there’s not much to look at. I do occasionally pop up onto the roof to make sure the view is still there – it is, I am pleased to say, but otherwise, it’s a commute from one part of the house to the other and back again through the day as I get on with things.

So far today those things have consisted of wiping down the bathroom ceiling to get rid of the condensation, poking my head into the courtyard to see if the washing is anywhere near dry yet, pottering around with some work, trying desperately to think of what to write here and researching, thanks to Louise, a couple of sites about fixing a digital piano without having to send it away for repair. Not that that’s an option. I can imagine popping down to the post office with half a hundredweight of Roland in my arms and plonking it on the scales, asking, ‘How much to post this?’ Not going to happen.

Tomorrow looks to be about the same unless something drastic comes along, and I hope it doesn’t. I’m into editing mode for ‘The Witchling’ at the moment which means a few hours per day reading through and wondering why on earth I wrote ‘his’ instead of ‘him’, or having to look up, for the umpteenth time, the correct use of practise Vs practice, and so on. And on that note…

If anyone out there would be willing to beta read (look for typos) the book when it’s ‘done’, I would be very grateful. This wouldn’t be for a few weeks yet and would be in PDF format. I had some very helpful readers for ‘Symi, Stuff & Nonsense’ and am always happier when a few other pairs of eyes have been over an MS, especially when those eyes are not mine with my dodgy spelling and typos.

And that’s all I can think of today – my mind is in witch hunt mode, Saddling in 1648, and Kentish dialect.

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Monday morning

It’s a cool, clear day today, Monday. The Express has come and gone, but otherwise, the harbour below looks quiet. Up here, the washing machine is churning, the bathroom ceiling needs cleaning of the condensation mould -a common problem at this time of year – and the shutters are still closed against the lower air temperature outside, though it’s not that cold in the sun, quite warm in fact.

I am now back to ‘The Witchling,’ the Saddling follow-up which I have left alone for a few months now to let it sink in. I returned to it thinking it was going to be a mess as it kind of popped out last year, but actually… So far, it’s not too bad, though I am tweaking and correcting as I go and it is a second draft I am now turning into a third draft before having someone else read it. There may be a request for ‘beta readers’ and proofing if anyone would like a free copy before it’s published. I’ll keep you informed.

Otherwise, it’s quiet around these parts. There is rock music at the kafeneion this weekend, we may go to Georgio’s for a meal after payday, but the electricity estimate is in, and I saw the water bill being handed to the landlord the other day so we will have to see. I prefer to stay on top of bills, paying estimates if I can so that the blow is lessened when the real deal comes through a couple of months later. So, that’s it for now apart from these photos taken on a wander around the other day.

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Yialos, Epiphany and things

And off into another week we go. We were down in Yialos on Saturday afternoon, for lunch in Harani, so there are a few random photos from the day out. As you can see, not a cloud in the sky, and not too cold either. I took a coat with me but never had to wear it. Luckily there were taxis about when it came time to head home because the Blue Star was coming in – it doesn’t usually on a Saturday, but there had been some disruption to its timetable that worked in our favour.

We had intended to catch some of the Epiphany celebrations which usually start around 11.00 on the seafront in Yialos, by the clocktower and at Panormitis – and Pedi, I think. But when we got there, it was all over, having happened earlier for the first time I can remember. This was the celebration, the blessing of the sea when after the service, the priest throws a cross into the water and local men swim for it. It’s a great honour to be the one to retrieve the cross, but also an honour to take part.

Everyone is busy taking down Christmas decorations and putting homes back to their usual order after the festivities. We’ve done ours, though there will be strands of silver tinsel about the house for months to come I expect. The sitting room doesn’t look too bare, as we don’t put up many decorations, and, in a way, it’s good to get back to normal.

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Two In The Bush: John Manuel

Here’s a new book you might be interested in. ‘Two In The Bush’ is a new novel from John Manuel. The book is set in Greece and concerns an Englishman who moves to find his paradise, but, “A ‘chance’ discovery of a woman’s body in a quiet location not far from his home starts a chain of events that just may turn his idyll into a nightmare.”

Two in the Bush

“With a plot that twists like series of old olive branches, “Two in the Bush” carries enough surprises to keep you wondering to the last page.”

Read the full details here.

John lives in Rhodes and has published several books, some are novels, and some are about his experiences of moving to live in Greece. You can find a list of all his books on this Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/johnmanuelbooks/

And his Amazon author page is here

And, just to keep your mind on Symi, here are a few random photos for the weekend.

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Standard Symi Winter Day

So, the second quick blog post of the day, ready for tomorrow so I don’t have to worry about being buffleheaded about it in the morning. (For an explanation of buffleheaded, please read ‘The Saddling.’) Gosh, it’s scary how I get a quick plug in the first paragraph.

Having said we’d had only a little rain or something, yesterday morning was a damp one. Rain falling off and on, the gutters dripping, the sky grey and the air cold. It was a bit like August in England. Only joking. It was, though, a quiet and restful day after the last of the Christmas shenanigans – a games afternoon/evening up at Villa Jeanette with friends. Neil was awarded player of the match for his performance in ‘Just a Minute.’ We had the board game version and a timer, our wits, or some of them, and after some quizzing decided to give this game a go. Neil knew it was coming and was worried about it, as he’d never heard of it let alone listened to it on the radio. Turns out, he won.

It was a great night and a not too cold walk home afterwards. I’d not over indulged because I remembered that my door key should be waiting for me in a secret hiding place near the house. Sure enough, it was there. Harry had come earlier to collect his bike, kept with us for now as it’s close to the square where he rides it. We’d had a workshop on how to use the gate (the lock is the wrong way around) and where to store the bike, where to hide the key etc., and he’d obviously listened. Everything was in place, and he’d clearly had no trouble returning it when we were out. That’s what being a boy scout does for a chap.

And so, it’s Thursday lunchtime now, and Neil is rummaging around in the fridge to see what we have to eat. Neither of us wants to leave the house today, but there is the rubbish to take up and maybe shopping to do. It’s a standard winter day here on Symi, and that means writing, and later, films on television under blankets with the heater on. The photos today are rural ones taken recently.

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