Winter on Symi – it’s getting closer every day.

Spending a Sunday morning doing some bits and pieces around the house. Neil’s hoovering, I’ve tidied up the courtyard and swept, and have some washing on the go, we’ve had breakfast, that’s all cleared away and washed up and even Jack has been helping by doing his fire-scape officer duty…

When he is not being kept devilishly busy with that position of responsibility, he is also to be found helping the coastguard by keeping a vigilant lookout for refugee boats that might be out in the bay…

Talking of refugees… we did our session at the aid centre on Saturday, though there were no refugees on the island that morning. We tidied up the balcony area and tried to weatherproof some of the supplies that live out there; moved them away from the open side, put down plastic bags to protect things from a damp floor, and also on the walls, organised what was there, labelled it and covered it. We also sorted out some more bags of donated clothes: to have them come in ready washed, sorted and labelled is a great help. We also did a bit of general tidying ready for when the rooms are needed again, I checked the medical room was clean and tidy (that’s becoming one of the regular weekly jobs I set for myself) and basically did what we could. After that it was game on for (possibly) our last lunch out for the season, another trip to Meraklis which was almost full with day-trippers wearing their all-inclusive arm bands.

The two boats when out on Saturday, the Poseidon and then the Diagoras, we were having coffee at Roloi when they passed us within about ten minutes of each other. Roloi, by the clock tower (the names means ‘clock’) is one of the bars that stays open in Yialos through the winter. It, like several others, drop down plastic sheets to protect the inside from the elements. And talking of plastic sheets… That’s one of our pre-winter jobs. We need to find four bricks, some rope and some plastic sheet so that we can safely dispose of a body in the sterna, weigh it down and then put the lid back on so no one will suspect. No, actually, I was just seeing if you were awake – it’s so that we can put the outside table up on bricks away from the rain, and then cover it with plastic for the same reason, tie it all up and hope for the best. Rain is expected next Wednesday with storms on the way.

We also need to gaffer tape the plumbing so that when it rains the water-collector-pipes don’t let water spurt out through their cracks and more rain water gets into the sterna. There’s the oxeye window to get re-glazed, or rather have some Perspex put over it as the existing glass doesn’t quite fit the north facing hole and there’s a large chunk missing. So, we’re borrowing a ladder, one of us is going up and we’re going to measure what’s needed, make a template and then, hopefully, get something made up. We then need to find some wood to fit between balcony door and shutters where there’s a gap, again facing north, and then find a curtain rail and curtain for the main front door, put up the outside curtain to keep the draft out of that direction and then… Well, that’s a start and it should help keep us a bit warmer. You see, winter, on Symi, can be a pretty cool place to be.

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Back to Symi and Greek living with a bit of a bump. It was rent day yesterday and that reminded me to take a look at the electricity bill situation again. Pretty boring stuff, but this might be of interest to folk wondering what it’s like to live in Greece, so bear with me…

I might have mentioned that we had a problem with the water pump and electricity bill recently. The pump was sorted and that’s all now fixed and paid for. But while that was going on we also sorted out the correct electricity bill for the house. We’d been paying our landlord’s house bill and someone had apparently been paying ours. Thing is, the estimated bill is worked out on last year’s consumption – or something – and as the house was not really occupied last year the bill is set at only a few more units over what it was when we moved in…

So, what’s happened now is that we’ve found the right bill for our house and it’s actually in credit. But it shouldn’t be. That aside, what’s now the case is that the reading on the bill is 3,000 units lower than it should be and the guy didn’t turn up on the stated day to read the meter for real. So, yesterday I sent off an email to the electricity company to let them know the reading (you can ring them up, but me and phones don’t get on) and to ask them if they can figure out what the next bill is likely to be, just to lessen the blow. I am expecting it to be around €1,000 but that’s a guess based on how much we used to pay per month (on average) at the old house and doesn’t take into account how much you used, when, the rate rises, taxes that have been added on and so on.

So, we’re expecting to have a bit of an electric shock followed by a pretty lean Christmas this year and to have a pretty lean trip to Europe next month – tickets and trains all paid for so may as well go and just hope it’s cheap to eat there. I haven’t heard back from the electricity company as yet, but I have had a message to say my mail, in Greek and English, has been delivered and sent to the right department. Either way, we should get an electricity bill in a week or so, though it’s not going to be the right amount.

So, that’s that story semi-told; there may well be an update in the future if you can stand the wait. Meanwhile, the season is slowing right down and has almost come to a halt. The taxi boat is still going out, I’ve only seen the one from my window, and the day trip boats are coming in, though not as packed and not as frequently. A taxi driver in Rhodes told me that a lot of Rhodes hotels were staying open and there were at least another 60,000 guests expected there in the next couple of months. I wondered if that was due to the cruises, but apparently not. It seems Rhodes is aiming to extend its season, and why not? There are plenty of things to see and do apart from lying on a beach: Castles, ruins, old towns, museums, aquarium, art galleries, restaurants and walks. A bit like here on Symi.

So, Neil probably only has a few more days at the bar to work, Zoi’s Taverna has closed, others will close soon though Georgio’s stays open, as do the bars and shops up here, and some places in Yialos have also started to close. The weather is cooling down but clinging hold of the sun, so will be great for walks when I get back into my routine next Monday – or possibly Tuesday as we’ve been invited out for dinner on Sunday and that usually means a slow start to the next day. I’ll leave you with all that and the photos and see you next week.

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Thursday afternoon, back home, holiday over, back to normal (from tomorrow), missing the family already but strangely looking forward to not eating so much.

The weather here is fab again. I got back from Rhodes, walked up the steps and was sweating all the way. The sun is out and the sea is calm. It was pretty warm over in Rhodes too and I didn’t need to wear my hoodie or the long trousers I took with me. We stayed at the Lydia who did me a good deal on a room. I usually do a Trip Advisor review of places where I’ve stayed but I’ve already done two for this hotel; I wonder, what is the acceptable number of good reviews to give one place?

On Wednesday, my nephew and I went into the Old Town and had a look around. George was able to shop and we both fended off the ‘Yes please, nice tables, something to drink? Yes please, very nice,’ brigade of café and bar owners. I know where I head to when lunch beckons in Rhodes Old Town, Boukia Boukia! You walk up the main drag from Socrates Square and take the first, or second, can’t remember exactly, narrow lane on the left. There is a sign for the public toilets there so you can’t miss it. Head down there and you will see a couple of tavernas on the left (and the public loos on the right). Boukia Boukia is one of them.

This is a place where you can still look around the kitchen and see what is available, it’s all homemade and a very good price too. Two plates – turkey and lots of it, oven potatoes, fresh green beans x 2 except George had rabbit, wine and water – for just over €20.00. Well worth a visit. After that we did some wandering around and rested up before heading back to the airport – we’d already dropped mother there in the morning. It was a long day.

And so, just dashing this off quickly to let you now I’m back and back to normal and then going to get the washing done and some other homely bits and pieces. I might have to open the window or get the fan out again. It’s very warm!

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We went down to see about the boat trip on Sunday morning and Yiannis explained that it was too rough on the east side of the island that day, he might go around to the west if there were enough people but Lukas was going to Toli at 11.00 if we wanted to do that. In the end that’s what we did do and there were only about 20 of us on the boat, a marker to show how quiet the season is now that it is just about over. Mind you Sunday was also a windy day as some of these photos show, so perhaps people stayed close to home.

The boat ride was fun, calm enough for most of the time but out in Symi bay going to (and later from) the sound between Symi and Nimos, the wind caught the waves at the perfect angel and the wake was blown back aboard. On the way back it was blown back and onto me as the photo below will show you. Got a laugh from the family mind you and some comments at Pacho’s when we went there afterwards, but I don’t think the chap sitting next to me was best pleased. This, however, was not my first ‘Symi soaking’ though I’d not been on a taxi boat for years and it’s funny how you miss the fun things, like being drenched.

Later still we were invited to the Old Markets Hotel for a drink on the terrace with Andy and his family and that was a lovely couple of hours and later-later we ended up at Georgio’s for a dinner. I popped home to change and get warm and dry first. Again, a quiet evening as the season really is slowing right down.

As I write, on Monday, we are preparing to get to Rhodes on Tuesday for a night there before heading to the airports, twice, on Wednesday. Sarah has to be at the airport at 10.30 in the morning so we are going a night early; no point risking the Blue Star being late on Wednesday morning though I am sure it will be in good time. You don’t want to feel like you are having to rush while you’re worrying about missing a flight. Best to be in Rhodes the night before and enjoy an evening there, have a leisurely breakfast on Wednesday (at The Lydia Hotel) and then a comfy cab to the airport.

After that, George and I will spend the day in Rhodes, perhaps in the Old Town, before heading off for his flight in the evening. And then… Then we shall be back to normal until it’s our turn to go on holiday in November/December. But more about that at a later date. For now, I’m going to sign off and leave you with a few Toli photos (wonderful day out, great taxi boat, great beach, good food, wish I could get there more often) and I should be back with a blog on Friday, all being well.

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The family visit is still going well and we’re all having a great time with far too much eating and drinking and having fun; not that you can ever have enough fun. We went to the Solidarity Symi thank you party and fun-raiser fund-raiser on Friday where €2,000 was raised to help the refugees and other local community projects.

After that we headed to The Secret Garden for the music (and Neil’s dancing) and had a great time there.

Saturday was volunteer day so we did some tidying up, sorting out and aid station manning while taking a few basics to the newly arrived refugees at the port police station. We had 20 at the police station and 20 new arrivals on the other side; some manged to get through in time to catch the afternoon ferry onwards to Rhodes. And then, after lunch at Merakils, it was onwards and upwards to the house to entertain drinks guests in the evening (thought they entertained us) followed by some social time in the square.

And now, Sunday morning, we’re considering the ‘round the island’ boat trip. Saturday was calm and sunny and perfect sailing weather – for those of us who are not sailors – and Sunday has started with the sea a little ruffled, the balcony doors blowing shut, the sun warm, but the wind a bit chilly… We’ll head down later and as Captain Yiannis how he thinks the day will pan out and then decide.

There, another quick blog I know, but normal rambling service will be resumed soon but not until the end of this week. Wednesday and Thursday blogs probably won’t happen as I shall again be in Rhodes, and the other days may be short and snappy as I spend time with the family. Remember, if you do enjoy reading these blogs and want to know more about what life on Symi is like all year round, you can read 2013 on Symi in one volume: ‘Village View – a year on Symi.’ Simply click that link for more details. Print and Kindle versions both available, though photos may not work so well in Kindle.

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