Today looks like it’s going to be interesting and varied. Apart from my usual work at the typowriter, I’ve a music lesson to see to this afternoon and a name day party to attend this evening, and I’ve just read we’re in for a power cut from 7.30 to 12.30. I’ve no idea why, but probably maintenance or upgrading, but there’s been a warning sent out, so I’ve put the phones on charge and have my real book ready to read if I run out of things to do. Unlikely, as it’s only when there’s no power that I get on with those niggling bits and pieces around the house that can usually wait for another day. If the power is off for five hours, a lot of dusting and tidying up might get done.

I might sit at my proper desk and write up my notes from previous novels, or plot another one. I might sweep the courtyard or start cutting down the vine which is starting to die off. There are kitchen cupboards that need tidying, things to put away, my winter clothes to sort out and swap for my few summer ones, and a whole long list of other things that can be done without electricity. Then again, I have four hours on my laptop battery, so I can always type if I don’t fancy writing by hand, and I have lots of data on my phone, so I can scroll through the news and social media if I want a complete waste of time, or use my data on my tablet and play my video game. What I can’t do is play the piano, watch TV, cook, boil the kettle, hoover (yay!), or use the water pump. (Note: fill up a bucket to use in the loo before the pump goes off.)

I’m sure the already packed and varied day will get more interesting during the morning, at least for a little while. Often, when we have power cuts in the winter, the electricity isn’t off for as long as the notice states, but you never know. As soon as I read the notice this morning, I went to charge the battery lantern we have, and then realised it wasn’t going to be dark between half seven and midday, so charged the tablet instead.

If you were wondering about the photos today, Neil took them last week. As you can see, it’s sunny, and it’s also still warm. There was some cloud about yesterday, but nothing with rain in it, and there’s been very little wind. All rather pleasant really, but we’re expecting the temperature to drop before long, so maybe sorting out the winter wardrobe is the thing to do this morning if we are without power. We’ll see, but before then, I should get on and do my online work while I can.

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It’s that time of year. The time when we gradually start adjusting from summer to winter. I’ve heard people say there are only two seasons down here in the South Aegean, but I’m not so sure. Yesterday morning, the air smelt spring-fresh and warm, then later in the day, autumnal and humid. It was warm enough for short sleeves when out and about, but not warm enough to do without a blanket on the bed at night. Admittedly, it is warmer than usual for the end of October, then again, it can be this warm, just as it can also be cold and windy. One year, in early October, I was playing for a ceilidh (pronounced something like ‘kayley’, Irish round dances and quadrilles) at what’s now Scena. The party and musicians were outside, and I was in an overcoat, thick jumper and fingerless gloves.

While the weather is doing all that, the tamarisk tree next door is shedding its white stuff, leading to ‘Oh, my nose’ season within the house where the pair of us take it in turns to sneeze, sniff or generally grumble, ‘Oh, my nose’, and then ask each other to remind each other we said we’d remind each other to take an ant-allergy tablet. That done, I promptly fall asleep for two days, so I avoid them when I can. Yes, even the non-drowsy ones do it. Meanwhile, we gradually winter-proof the house; paint the flat roofs, prepare spare towels for the leaky windows, reluctantly turn on the hot water for 15 minutes a day, and dig out bags of winter clothes to replace the summer ones, putting them away to a safe place where they will remain lost for two years.

Part of the adjustment is also home time. This isn’t such a change for me as I work from home every day no matter the season, but now Neil has finished his summer job at the bar, his routine needs to adjust back to winter. For him, this means studying an online course, going to the gym, doing just about all of the housework while I hide in my study allegedly writing (but actually drinking Ovaltine and reading newspapers), and tapping his fingers through the afternoon because he’s not at work.

For some businesses, it means clearing away the tables and chairs, cleaning down kitchens and bars, packing things away and closing shops. For others, it’s business as usual because contrary to Facebook group know-it-alls who categorically state everything shuts and you can’t find a crust of bread for six months, core businesses remain open throughout the year. The island isn’t just here for the holidaymaker, not even if you come twice a year or used to travel with Laskarina. Supermarkets, grocers, DIY shops, clothes shops… Well, you don’t need me to tell you. It’s the same as where you live, I imagine.

And talking of the weather, as I wasn’t, yesterday was 28 degrees, I am told. There’s no or very little wind which helps keep the cold blasts away, and the sea was again dead calm. All very pretty, and quiet; even the day boats are not crammed with visitors at the moment. So, with that nonsense stated, I shall carry on carrying on with my usual routine – today to be upended later by a visit from the ‘family’ where Neil has promised Yorkshire puddings. Madness and mayhem around the kitchen table. Now, that’s what the winter season is all about.

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It was another quiet weekend for me working on an article and a new idea for a ‘Christmas special’ for my series of novels set in Victorian times.

I’ve asked the followers of my Facebook page to have input into this by suggesting up to five characters who’ll find themselves together sharing a story each from their lives. Anyone who leaves a comment goes into a draw to win a Clearwater calendar, and in return, I’ll have a book of five short stories ready for Christmas. Members of my private group will get a free digital copy, as will anyone who is on my newsletter mailing list. (Just click any of those links to join in.)

So, that’s that, and this is now: early on Monday morning with a new week to look forward to, the article to finish this morning, work on this new idea (or/and the next book in the Delamere series), take a short walk around the village, give a piano lesson and get on with the other usual things that happen on a Monday around here. It might be Neil’s last day at work for the season, it depends on how busy the bar is, but at this time of year… hardly busy at all.

We still have day trip boats coming in, and the little train is still running, but I think today is the last Around the Island boat excursion for the Poseidon (I’m not sure about the others). I went to look up the Blue Star timetable for November onwards as I am thinking about the return from our Athens trip, but the schedule is not up there yet, apart from the Sunday sailings from Piraeus, so I can’t book that part of our ‘family’ trip just yet. Hopefully, the schedule will be available shortly.

The village tavernas and bars remain open, though there are fewer and fewer people about, and it already feels like we’re getting back to winter normal which is: permanent residents only, warmer clothing, popping to the shop in your slippers, trying to remember where you stored the heaters, considering the warnings about rises in electricity prices, thinking about organising your annual health checkups in Rhodes, and ordering daft items for fun Christmas presents. Actually, we’ve just found this site called Temu.com which looks to be part Jumbo, part ‘Chinese clothes shop’, and part Innovations catalogue. It has all kinds of things you didn’t know you couldn’t do without. I ordered some dafties last week, and apparently, they are here already. I can’t wait to see if my bathroom fixture has arrived and if it works. This is a thing you add to your WC bowl. It lights up and shines a colourful light around the pan to make it easier to see in the dark. No, I couldn’t believe it either, nor could I pass another day without seeing if it worked. Apparently, it’s ‘motion activated.’

I’m not making it up. I’ll give you a full report if/when it arrives, we test it and it’s been passed by the management. Until then, you’ll have to hang on and hope for good news. Meanwhile, here’s a photo from the site to whet your appetite.

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I was just wondering what I could tell you this morning, and coming up with nothing, so I have a photograph of some chickens and a panoramic view from the balcony. It makes it look like it’s an odd shape, but the plan was to show you the clear October skies and flat sea. What we seem to have are a lot of buildings and a bent balcony rail. Hey ho!

It’s been a week of the usual for me, with the added attraction of a rainstorm that watered the sitting room quite nicely because the shutters weren’t shut, and left the air crisper, though it was still 18 degrees in the courtyard this morning at four. Neil was let off the island to go to Rhodes, where he had a successful day, and I’ve published another book in my new Victorian mystery series, The Delamere Files.

I know that some readers of this blog are also readers of my other-name novels, the Clearwater Mysteries and the Larkspur Mysteries, and for that, I am very grateful. Those readers, though, may not follow my Facebook page (for Jackson Marsh), so may not see what I am about to post there later. Therefore, I’ll put a similar note here, so if you are interested, you can contact me and join the fun.

My idea is to produce a short novella in time for Christmas, and this will be given away to everyone on my newsletter list long before I publish it, if I ever do. What I am thinking of is a collection of five characters gathered together, each one telling a short story about themselves. We’ll end up with five short stories set inside another one where these five characters are together for some reason. The whole thing stays within the Clearwater world, and the characters can be whoever you want. Doesn’t have to be one of the principals, it can be one of the minor ones, like Mr and Mrs Killhaddock from the Larkspur series who are as mad as hatters, or one of the real people who make cameo appearances like Bram Stoker, Tennyson, or Henry Irving. It could even be one of the villains. So, the question to you is this:

Which characters would you like to see appear in this novella? You can select up to five from the Clearwater, Larkspur or Delamere series, and I’ll pick the most popular.

Obviously, if you’ve not read the series, then you’re on a sticky wicket, as Doctor Markland would say, and you’ll either need to read all 20 novels in the next couple of days, or not join in. But if you do know what I am talking about, drop me a line through the email address (at the bottom of this page), or by whatever means you usually contact me, and I’ll note your suggestions.

There, that’s something for us all to think about over the weekend, during which I shall be continuing with book three of the new series while trying to promote all the others, sweeping up the leaves from the courtyard, drying towels, and generally looking forward to not much else. I’ll see you back here on Monday. Oh! Here are the random chickens, plus a bonus cat.

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