Yesterday
It was a little windy as I headed down to Yialos on Wednesday, and I took the camera to get you some images of the grey day we were having. It’s been windier, but every now and then a gust came along to help me on my way.

I popped out for a drink at Rainbow on Tuesday late afternoon, met some friends and was treated to two glasses of wine by Yianni, as a way of celebrating the start of the winter season, perhaps. Afterwards, we went to Georgio’s for something to eat. It’s always good to go there out of season, sit inside and listen to the local gossip (from the staff) and feel warm. The menu is a bit reduced as you’d expect but there was still chicken in the oven, liver and chips, pork casserole and other dishes on the go and, as we were early, there was the BBQ later too. Thing is, I’m going there again this evening (Wednesday), and I wonder what will be in the pot tonight.

Meanwhile, in the harbour… Takis was moving shop. He’s closing down his older/original part of his long fontange and moving everything into the right-hand building; a way of cutting costs I think, after a difficult summer for everyone. I did what I had to do, went to the bank and the post office – where I collected a second marriage certificate for Neil. We only need one for his passport application, but they’ve sent two by mistake. I contacted them later and they assured me that the divorce cert I was expecting had also been sent, so this must have been an admin error. We’re only waiting for that, and the man himself to return with his photos and a couple of other pieces of paper, and I’m hoping we can get the application out next week.

After that, I called into the newsagents to pick up a Speedex delivery, as you do. There were some gypsies there (the local term) asking for money form everyone and being told, politely and firmly, that there wasn’t any to give. These folks must travel around on the inter-island ferries, spending a day here and the next day there as they go about their business. I woke at six yesterday morning to see the Blue Star leaving, it was either on a slightly changed schedule or running late; I guess they sailed in on that.

Then it was a walk back up the Kali Strata (must do it more often) and home for lunch. The afternoon was spent writing the next book and preparing for a social evening ahead. And that was my day. Hope yours was as fun-filled and action packed as mine.

Jets, cat’s ears and other matters
With all the celebrations going on over in Panormitis, I spent a very quiet day at home yesterday, working. Looking out from the balcony (the day was warm a little humid and very pleasant) the harbour was like a ghost town, I only saw a few people moving about. The bus was running though. The village was quiet, apart from a few people passing the door on their way to a festival somewhere no doubt.

Mind you, we had a bit of shock when a fighter jet flew low overhead on Monday afternoon, doing barrel rolls and, I assume, wishing the island well for the festival. Crickey those things are loud.

So, a Xronia Polla to everyone celebrating their name day at this time and maybe I’ll go to the festivities next year. I have to say, it has been nice to spend the time at home, with peace and quiet, getting on with what I wanted to and needed to do, though tonight (Tuesday as I write) I may pop out for a drink at the Rainbow just to set eyes on other living beings. The only company I’ve had for a while has been Jack. Mind you, that’s often enough.

I’ve been looking at his ears and his slowly growing skin cancer. We may have to take him to the vet before long and have his ears taken off. Yesterday he scratched off one of the black scabs and left the skin exposed and bleeding. I’m keeping an eye on it for infections and I can, if I am very sneaky, get some cotton wool and dab on some antiseptic but, if you’re ever tried putting cream on a cat for any reason, let alone on an open wound, you can imagine how traumatising it is – and the cat doesn’t like it much either. Every now and then I see a blood splatter along a wall, or over the floor and wonder who has been murdered, but then realise it’s just the cat scratching his ears and then shaking his head. Ah well, a little warm water and a sponge and all evidence is removed.

So, apart from corrupting crime scenes, risking life and limb with some Savlon, or similar, and listening to the eerie silence of an apparently empty village, these last couple of days have been very productive. Not with walks and new photos for the blog, hence the old ones, but with words and stories. Perfect.

Panormitis day – Symi sky
Photos of the sky today, taken from a house in the middle of the village on Sunday afternoon. While there, we also saw a buzzard flying overhead with alpine swifts and some black redtsarts, all too far away to get photos with my small camera. We also saw the buses heading up and down the hill, to and from Panormitis as the festival is well underway now.

I doubt I shall be going to any of the events this year, sorry, but my writing project is fully occupying my head and my time. But I have been offered a lift, so you never know, I may suddenly drop it all and head off for a couple of hours away from the desk. It’s one of those things that not many people understand, when you have a whole novel, musical, script or whatever in your head and can’t put it down. It does tend to make me uncommunicative at times, sorry about that too; I’m not ignoring you if I’m quiet, it’s just that there’s a whole world going on inside my imagination and it rather takes control. Still, if I don’t get to the festival this year I will see if I can borrow someone else’s photos and share a couple with you over the next few days.

I’ve attended the festival and various others held on the feast day (today) in the past. We’ve walked up to Kokimides above St George and stayed for lunch, we’ve walked to Roukouniotis and eaten there, joined in the celebrations, and we have also walked to Panormitis, as we did last year. If you enter ‘Panormitis’ into the Search Symi Dream search engine (over and own on the right) you will find several posts by me and others about the festival, such as this one https://symidream.com/still-walking-to-panormitis-4/ from our walk there last year.

Meanwhile, it’s back to the desk for me to get this MS done and dusted before my deadline.

Symi Saturday photos
A brief post today (a whole day working on the book is planned and I am keen to get started). So, just a few photos for you today to show you views from up here on Friday and Saturday morning. Sunny one day, a little cloudy the next with a gentle fall of light rain this morning. Have a good weekend and, if you’re celebrating, watch out for those fireworks.

Boats and cats
I was going to give you a breakdown of the boats to and from Rhodes – Symi – Panormitis for the forthcoming week, then I looked at the schedules and thought: there’s for too much there and you’re better off going straight to the websites and getting the latest accurate information, But suffice to say, there are lots of crossings to and from Rhodes, Symi, Panormitis, Kos and other islands coming up. Check out Dodecanese Seaways at http://12ne.gr where you can have the site in English.

Also check out the Blue Star line http://www.bluestarferries.gr/en and run a search under their Timetables – Reservations section (scroll down a little) and there you will see that there are boats on Friday and Wednesday, leaving Rhodes at 19.00 on 4^th, 16.01 on 7^th, 17.00 on 9^th and 19.00 on 11^th – lots of varying times there including the rather precise 16.01 – so double check. From Symi to Rhodes it looks like the routine will settle in to 5.00 a.m. on Wednesdays and 7.45 on Fridays, so that’s easier.

For more boat and travel info check out http://symivisitor-accommodation.com/blog/

As you can see, not much news to share and I can’t stay long. Michaelis from the pet shop just rang to say he is on his way shortly with the latest delivery of Jack-cat food; a whole box of the stuff which will probably last the Master only a few days the rate he’s been going. He’s bored, I reckon, and as he doesn’t/can’t go out (for fear of endless chases around the village with a cat box) he spends his mornings bothering me for repeat bowl excursions. The afternoon he spends on the sofa and the nights in the laundry, until around 4 a.m. when he does his business. I read that cats go a bit happy and loopy after a good… download, and run around. Jack doesn’t run very often so he celebrates his… achievement with a big yowl and a lot of shouting. He does this regularly at 4 a.m. I’ve noticed. He’s obviously up and bored then as he ‘goes off’ several more times until I finally give in around six and get up.

Anyway, that’s what I must go and deal with now; the aftermath of his four-a.m. triumph while waiting for his delivery. Everyone is quite right, this cat like many others, doesn’t have an owner, he has staff.