Symi Books (1)

While I am away, I thought I’d put up a list of Symi books that you might like to order or read on your Kindle. There will be other posts over the next two weeks advertising my books (‘cos it’s my blog) and all of them are available in print, on Kindle and on Kindle Unlimited where they are free – as long as you have KU.

Symi 85600

A collection of writings that present an honest and often humorous account of two ex-pats’ experiences of living on a small Greek island. This book also contains extracts from the symidream website and the complete guide ‘How to move to a Greek island or other place in the sun.’ “Even if you are not thinking of moving abroad this little collection will entertain and inform.”

“I cannot wait to read it again…..and again…..and again…..I want to be buried with it – which may well be sooner than I think since I nearly died laughing during some of his witty observations!” Amazon review.

Carry On Up The Kali Strata

(Which is like Symi 85600 part two)

Carry On Up The Kali Strata is a collection of articles about living in Symi, Greece. Previously written for symidream.com and The Symi Visitor, here they are gathered together in one volume. If you’ve enjoyed ‘Symi 85600’ you will like to read this follow up; if you’ve not yet discovered Symi island, then this is a perfect introduction.

“Symi is one of the most beautiful and quirky places on earth and we had just got back from two weeks there. Carry on up the Kali Strata took us straight back there with the extra dimension of local knowledge and perception. Beautifully written and very funny.” Amazon review.

More books tomorrow.

Symi Architecture Photos

Some Symi Church Photos

Preparing for the off

Today is all about packing and washing and preparing things for our two weeks away. It’s also about preparing blog posts for that time and so tomorrow’s and Saturdays are going to be photos only. We are catching the 7.30 Blue Star tomorrow morning, so there won’t be time to get anything ready before setting off. I have posts ready for the two weeks after that, talking about books, as I mentioned yesterday, and then from around 1^st April, I shall be back to normal – well, you know what I mean.

It’s going to be odd, arriving back a week before Easter when there will be regular visitors and even some tourists here by then. We’ll be wondering where the winter has gone as we always do when we get to the end of it. When it starts, with a brief autumn at the end of October, we’re usually in that ‘Phew! Sumer’s over now we can stand down,’ kind of mode. There then follows a build-up to Christmas, and then the hangover from that which lasts until around the end of January, and then a cold and dark February and, before you know it, it’s Lent and Easter and, whoops, there goes my winter and ‘Hooray! It’s summer again.’ Mind you, I like both seasons, the winter because I am less tempted to hang out at the bar, the summer because I can.

This winter so far, I’ve published two new books and written a few others or rather, helped a couple of other writers write theirs – it’s complicated. So, a lot of work has been done, and a lot of fun has been had along the way. Now, with a rucksack to pack and a list of things to not forget, I have a day ahead that will probably not be as long as the to-do list I have prepared to fill it with. So, I’m just going to prepare Friday and Saturday’s photos and get them ready to auto-publish, and then it’s back to the decision over what coat to take. I want to wear my Crombie because I think it looks smart and when I take it off, the red lining tends to dazzle. It’s the right thing to wear to make an entrance, but it’s not the kind of thing to wear with a rucksack on your back. My other coat will probably be too hot and bulky, and I don’t have an inbetweener. Anyway, that’s between me and my dresser, and I better go and see to it now, leaving you with a ‘Bye, and see you in a couple of weeks.

Whether to risk the Weather

I am looking out at a great day today, in contrast to Monday morning when it was glorious weather again. Things are set to change, and strong winds are forecast for Sunday when we were planning to go to Rhodes ahead of our trip. We may have to go before then, to be sure – another ‘Symi winter’ thing you need to be aware of if you’re heading this way in winter or spring. The wind and weather can affect the boats, and if you have a flight to make, you need to be sure you’re on the right island. Better to spend four nights in Rhodes so that you don’t miss the flight and the follow-on connections.

We shall decide today what we’re doing as there are no boats this Saturday. Well, there is, but it’s a complicated one. The Dodecanese Pride is running, Rhodes – Symi – Kos – Symi – Panormitis – Kos – Panormitis – Rhodes. So, if we wanted to go from Yialos to Rhodes on Saturday we could get on at 13.30, have a vada at Panormitis twice (once for two hours, once for five minutes) and Kos, and end up in Rhodes eight hours after we set off. We’ll not be doing that, though the 19.35 sailing from Panormitis is not impossible.

Anyway, that’s all for later in the week. Yesterday and the day before, I spent a few hours putting together some posts for while I am on holiday. They will start self-publishing from Monday until the end of the month. They are about my books, so it’s a sales thing really, but there is some other info in the posts about the books and the writing of them, and on Saturdays, you will still have the usual Symi photos. (Today’s are from  Sunday.)