Sunday morning catching up

Sunday morning, early, and it’s raining again. It’s not getting light until around 6.30 to 7.00 these days, by which time I am into my working day. I still can’t get out of the summer habit of waking up at 3.00 or 3.30, although the other day, I did manage lie-in until 4.00, which was very exciting.

As promised at the end of last week, I have several more photographs Neil has taken when he has been able to go out walking. First, though, this is what I have been up to over the weekend. Finishing off my Invisible Man model. There is still some touching up to do, but he’s almost there. This was a detailed model. All those books on the shelf, for example, had to be individually painted, and all the tiny bottles stuck together. I put washing up liquid in one, and in a beaker, for realism. The figure is about 10 inches high, and if you look closely, his left arm is indeed invisible between glove and shirt cuff. A neat trick, I thought.

I am waiting for The Phantom of the Opera (glow in the dark re-mould) to arrive from America so I can build him after Christmas, and in the meantime, must source some paints and tools from somewhere in Europe. We have no model shop near us, and even if there was one on Rhodes, I can’t get there at the moment to ask an expert or buy supplies. So, like everything else, it’s a case of ordering online. (Our bookshop does have artists’ equipment, but not the paints suitable for these kits.)

Anyway, a few more images of winter on Symi to keep us on track.

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Weather, Free books, New books and an invisible man

Today, I have some of my photos taken during the last week. As the old postcard says, ‘We have some kind of weather here every day’, and during the past few days, we’ve had sunny days at 16 degrees, colder evenings, wet days, some with hail, a thunderstorm or two and some high winds. We have also had our fair share of rainbows and double rainbows.

I’ve been promoting my new novel, ‘Banyak & Fecks,’ a prequel to the romantic Clearwater Mysteries. This isn’t like the others in the series as it’s not a mystery. It’s about a Ukrainian refugee and an Irish immigrant meeting in the slums of London’s East End in 1884 and the friendship that develops. The story takes you from Ukraine, via a long walk to Genoa and by ship to London, and from the Wirral to the East End where the pair meet. From then on, it delves into ‘Dark London’, slumming tours, street workers, slums, and the workhouse. But, honestly, there are lighter moments, some drama and excitement, some ‘ahh’ moments and, in the end, I hope, a good feel-good ‘kind of’ ending which leads into book one of the series. That’s set at the time of the Ripper murders, and apart from a lot of research and the inclusion of facts, the novel also incorporates some newspaper reports of the early Ripper murders (with the names changed to suit my novel).

I have also been running a free book giveaway on my Jackson Marsh Facebook page. I know several Symi visitors have supported my pen name novels and read quite a few of them, and this competition is open to all. It’s a simple case of checking my page each day, and, if you can, identifying a new quote. These are all from the books or their descriptions on Amazon. So even if you’ve not read the books, you can work out some of the answers from those pages and have a go anyway. We’ll draw one entry on Christmas Eve and whoever that is will be sent a signed copy of ‘Banyak & Fecks.’ With a new quote every day, you’ve got plenty of chances to win. Check out the page here, and even if you don’t enter, a like and share would be appreciated.

While doing that, I have been making the Invisible Man. Well, a model of him at any rate, covering the kitchen table with paint pots and glue, pieces of plastic and instructions, and the thing is almost finished.

That’s my ‘me’ update for now. Next week, we’ll have a set of images from Neil taken on one of his many morning walks which he has been doing when the weather allows.

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The chapel of St Vasilis

Today, I thought I’d post some photos of St Vasilis. This little chapel sits on the rockface above St Vasilis Bay. You might have stopped off there on one of the ‘around the island’ boat trips. The boat doesn’t pull in but stays out at sea, though you can swim ashore. If you want to, you can walk there via the main road or the donkey path out of Horio, head to Xsisos, and follow a rough path that starts near the end of the road. It winds around the hill, through a wood, and comes out above the chapel. From the chapel to the beach is a bit of a slide-and-scramble affair, but well worth it. Mind you, I’ve not done the walk for a few years so things may have changed. The last time I went, it was February and a clear, cold day. We were sitting on the chapel wall watching the empty sea and empty bay when one solitary boat came chugging in. There were two people aboard, and one of them was our next-door neighbour. I mean, of all the isolated, faraway places, the only person you see is one you wave to most mornings. On that day, Neil also went swimming in his underpants, but that’s kind of standard behaviour. Enjoy the photos.

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Wintery lockdown

A few wintery shots from Neil’s collection today. It’s raining (Tuesday), and although we need shopping, I’m staying in and holding out for a break in the weather when I might make a quick dash to Sotiris’ supermarket. The supermarkets are about the only things open on Symi right now, everything else is ordered to remain closed as Greece has now extended its lockdown to January 7^th.

I hope he doesn’t mind, but I found a great post on FB yesterday written by a Symi resident. It succinctly outlines our lockdown rules, and I thought it worth sharing.

Just in case you are feeling sorry for yourself in the UK, this is how the Greek government are dealing with Covid 19.
Our lockdown has been extended for a third time, this time until January 7th.
All bars, cafes, restaurants and churches remain closed. As do all non-essential shops. Large supermarkets have vast areas cordoned off, for products you cannot buy.
You must wear a mask at all times when away from your home. To leave home, you must get permission via SMS from a government number.
Also, we have a night-time curfew between 21:00 – 05:00.
People may be disappointed but understand it is for the greater good. No complaints from us.

There may be some lightening of restrictions announced at a later date, but that’s how it stands for now. Of course, we’re hoping we may get a Christmas reprieve, at least on the islands where there are no cases, and no travel between prefectures is allowed, but we will have to wait and see. If not, we’re all staying home for Christmas as opposed to ‘driving home for Christmas’, or whatever that song was.

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A rare photo

I have a rare photo for you today; Paddington Bear on his way to the bay of St Vasilis. Neil went for a walk there recently, taking the bear with him, and there are other photos from that trip which will be posted in the days to come. We’re still mainly enjoying good walking weather, and people are making the most of it, bears are too.

Also, in today’s images, one of the sea that shows a particular kind of light we enjoy in the winter months. The Turkish hills appear pink, the sky coral, and when it’s calm, the sea is a mix of grey and blue.

During the later parts of the morning and into the afternoon, the sea returns to its usual colour, depending on the cloud, and the sky has a wash of lighter blue. The air is clear, and there is less haze because it’s not as hot, and you are often treated to fine, crystal-clear views across the water. From the right location, you can count the individual wind turbines along the hills by Datca.

Also, on his walks, Neil has been to Nimborio and visited the mosaic and catacombs there, and I’ll put up some shots of those sites in due course. Meanwhile, I’ll leave you with a shot of the church at St Vasilis.

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