Definitely sizzling on Symi
Oh boy, it was a warm weekend. Sunday afternoon and the temperature is up in the mid to high thirties; 34 in the shade in our courtyard, with a gentle breeze doing its best to help out. We sat and watched a film last night, fan on, windows open, sweat pouring and I think I’ve been through six bottles of water in under two days. Perfect for holidaying as long as you are sensible. The cat’s a bit grumpy about it though we brush him and remove some of his fur for him. Accuweather and Windfinder are giving a very conservative estimate of the temperature in the high twenties, but the thermometers on Symi itself are definitely above 34.
We took a walk into Yialos on Saturday and ended up having lunch at Meraklis this time; a very nice chicken souvlaki and a chicken with mushrooms and cream, and all at a very good price. On Sunday I did some work on the next book after ‘Remotely’ which is to be called ‘The Saddling’, as you might have read before. It’s interesting to be writing a Gothic horror set in the marshes of Kent in December when it’s so hot outside; that’s where the imagination comes in I suppose. But I am getting on with it and had a very productive morning while Neil worked on his course and the cat mumbled about being hot.
One of our plants has flowered. We bought this from the garden store next to the town hall last year and this is the first time it has flowered. It’s called, so I am told, a Fruit Salad Frangipani, also known as a Pulmaria. The first sounds like a dessert and the second sounds like a character from a Vincent Price film. (See ‘The Abominable Dr Phibes, 1971, a camp horror directed by Robert Fuest, and the sequel, ‘Dr Phibes Rides Again’, 1972, same director, similar story, just different ways of killing off the cast. His great love was called ‘Vulnavia’ which I think doesn’t flower until the autumn. Joking.)
The donut was in use out in the bay on Sunday afternoon. Say what? The rubber ring that people sit in and get dragged around in and eventually fall off. There were several people having fun at Nos beach. From up here we saw water skiing, jet skiing, the donut and swimmers, plus some speedboats, sailing boats and the usual taxi boats. It’s all go down there and I often sit up here in weather like this wondering why I am not down there in the sea which is, at the moment, about the only place to keep cool. And it’s still only June.
After the delightful madness of last week and the several invitations, we only have one so far this week, which will give me lots of time to be at home and work on the various projects, I hope. Meanwhile, village events continue with live Greek music at Georgio’s on a Friday night, live Greek and Turkish music at Syllogos on a Friday night (and Thursday and Saturday, apparently, check the posters) and live jazz/rock/blues on a Friday night at The Secret Garden. Friday night is clearly music night in Horio. I am sure there are music events in Yialos as well and if I hear of any I’ll let you know so you can plan your eventing on Symi ready for when you arrive. I trust you are coming to Symi this year?
I’ll leave you now and get back to you tomorrow with any more non-news that I may have.
