Again, the weather is the topic of conversation today. Yesterday, the forecast told me we would have no rain, only clouds, yet we had a few drops of rain in the morning. The same one told me there would be no rain today, but now tells me we can expect it to be heavy this afternoon, so who knows what’s what? Except to say that we’ll get some kind of weather, and the current image shows we’re in for a wet afternoon unless things change, which they probably will. Mind you, clouds make for more interesting photos. (These three were taken yesterday morning.)

The downside, of course, is that with colder weather and the possibility of rain, people have to have a wet break time, as we called it at school, and lying on a beach to sunbathe is not pleasant. The upside is that a wet break time means a busier time for bars and cafes, and yesterday afternoon was by far the busiest in the village square that we’ve seen for a long time, possibly all year. Both bars were full up during the usual afternoon quiet time. We were out for dinner last night too, and luckily, we went early. By eight, people were waiting for tables at Taverna George & Maria, and the Kali Strata restaurant next door was also full. The advice to book a table before you arrive to eat remains.

Hunting season also started yesterday. At least, I heard it going on for the first time this year. Hunting isn’t just for sport around here, it’s to keep down the partridge population and thus protect the sown and growing crops from the birds, so that goats and sheep will have fodder over the winter. It only happens away from the settlements, out on the hillsides, so no-one is in danger, but don’t be surprised if you hear shotguns in the distance; no need to panic. (Unless you are a partridge.)

So, fair to say that, up here at least, we’re now in the busiest time of the season for returning visitors, and it’s great to see so many people meeting up and catching up, and relaxing back into their ‘Symi family’ way of life, at least for the time being. As for me, I have another couple of days of editing the next novel, ‘Journeyman Joe ’, which Neil has just finished reading and story-checking for me, and that is going off to be proofread next week. In the meantime, we’re starting on our fourth week without a hot water tank, with no news on its replacement, and the air is definitely getting colder. For now.