Yesterday was a varied one spent trying to finish a first draft and dithering about the ending, taking a walk around the lanes to clear the head (unsuccessfully), fiddling with some new technology in the afternoon to bring my book covers to life (that’s weird, see below), and then, rounding it all off with a fabulous evening with friends. The taverna (Georgio’s) was its usual self. You know, you have a meal, you get the bill, then the waiter rushes over and apologises for having to charge you and gives you a discount. All very Greek. There are ever increasing numbers of visitors up in the village which was reasonably busy last night despite the strong wind (not mine) which has all but gone this morning.

My walk was a standard one for me, up to the top and down the road. Or, up to almost the top, as I came out at Lavinia Studios as was, which is where I stayed when I first came in 96, and then, I walked back down via the road as per usual. Nothing very special to report from that other than it’s a pleasant walk, once you’ve found your way up to the top. If in doubt, keep climbing, because you will reach the top of somewhere at some point. It’s like when people say they fear getting lost in the lanes and not being able to get back down. Just head downhill. You will eventually end up at the sea somewhere. Best do it via a path or road, but otherwise, just be careful.

And as for today? I have something to collect from the courier, but that can wait until tomorrow as I also have piano today. I have this draft to finish, and I reckon I am only a few paragraphs away. Then, I can start writing it all again. It’s the eight book in a series, and here’s what I was experimenting with yesterday, the cover of the first book in that series. I’ll leave you to marvel, or not, at the wonders of modern technology. (There’s no sound.)

Click here for the book

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I seem to have entered a phase of quietness on the ‘news’ front. A lot of staying at home working on the next book, and seeing friends in the late afternoon, and that’s about it. I can tell you the dust cloud has moved on, the sun is back and it’s getting warmer by the day, the day-trip boats continue to come in (though there was no activity on Friday at all), the work to the power lines had been continuing, and that’s about it.

I managed to get to see ‘The Life of Pie’ via the National Theatre at Home app yesterday. The whole company came ’round and gave us an incredible performance. (Us being me and Harry because some other poor soul had to go to work.) I particularly wanted to see this version having read the book and seen the film, but more than that, because me old school bestie composed the music (for which he was nominated for an Olivier Award). Look him up on IMBD.

As for out and about photos this week, they’ll have to be a little out of date as I’ve not been out and about much recently. I dug out some from earlier in the year, though. A door detail (there are lots of unusual knockers around the village and town if you take the time to look), a shot of the harbour after walking down the main road, which affords some great views but is a bit bumpy underfoot as the footpath doesn’t seem designed for feet, and one of the inside of Niki’s Kitchen’s new upstairs dining area which we visited in the depths of winter, and very nice it was too. This traditional taverna adds to the complement of others we have in the village making six places you can come and eat at, and they are now all open.

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We’re heading into a day of planned power cuts and high winds with boat disruption thrown in for good measure. I’m planning to stay in, keep warm and remain un-windblown, if there is such a word. I’ll have four hours on the laptop battery if needed, I’ve a book draft to read and edit, and some research to do, and that’s about it. With nothing much else to say, I’ll leave you with some shots of the island, including the ATM machine in the village (next to the clinic) and the museum – in case you were wondering what those buildings were.

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I’m expecting to suffer from wind. I had it yesterday, and tomorrow will be worse, but so far today, things are calm. There’s been a warning that high winds tomorrow have already stopped the Sebeco and Dodekanisos boats, so they won’t be sailing (unless things change). If you’re intending to come to or from Rhodes tomorrow, check with your ferry company.

Oh, and be careful if you are going near the sea too, because there’s going to be a tsunami… there isn’t. There wasn’t, but it’s interesting how quick the services are to give out warning these days. Yesterday, there was an earthquake somewhere the other side of Karpathos which could apparently be felt for some distance as it was a six pointer, and people reported receiving tsunami warnings within a few minutes. This is a good thing, no doubt. Some people were also reporting earthquake warnings a few seconds before the tremor, and I, like them, wasn’t sure how that worked, but it was pretty impressive if a little pointless. ‘There will be an…’ Crash. We also get weather warnings here when there’s no sign of bad weather (but there is elsewhere in our region), in the same way we might suffer a ban on shipping on a perfectly calm day, because there’s a storm raging further up the island chain.

It’s good, in a way, but does remind me of the current trend for what are apparently called ‘trigger warnings.’ Now, I’m not putting anyone down, but when a total stranger writes to me to accuse me of not putting trigger warnings with my book blurbs, I tend to take exception. ‘All books should come with trigger warnings, you might cause someone upset!’ Ms Outraged of Wherever writes, to which I reply, ‘Your sensitivities are not my responsibility.’ I mean, honestly. The blurb makes it clear that there will be a murder in the story, it’s talking about the East End Ripper killing people. The blurb makes it clear there’s one of those hideous gay characters Ms Outraged doesn’t like, that’s the whole point of the… Never mind. I often wonder what ‘trigger warnings’ would go on famous titles. ‘Dracula,’ warning, this book contains descriptions of vampiric activity, blood transfusions, and Victorian women fainting. (Oh, btw, there’s also a stabbing and a big dog.) The Bible, warning, this book contains scenes of wife beating, torture, murder, revenge, violence, judgemental characters, mass flooding (worldwide genocide), and more than a little carpentry…

I mean… Tsunami warnings by all means, but otherwise…? If you feel obliged to pander, make it clear in your titles, covers and blurbs.

By the way, it’s interesting that when I use the instant thesaurus built into the Word program, and right click over the word tsunami, the synonyms suggested include eager and bore, and as I feel I am now being eagerly boring, I’ll sign off.

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