Easing

For me, the easing of restrictions since Monday as made little difference to our current way of life. The only thing that fees less restricted is not having to send an SMS or have permission to go out; it feels easier to take a walk now, and you’re less guilty when you go shopping. I’ve got a mask in my bag in case it’s needed, along with passport and proof of ID, residency card and Greek driving license, but then I carry those things with me whenever I go out anyway. Yesterday, I went for a wander up the hill, so my usual shoulder bag also contained a small bottle of water. Today, I have to go to the bank, so everything is coming with me, including mask as I have to go inside the bank and pop in to see the accountant if I can. So far, it looks like a cloudy start to the day, but hopefully, that will clear, otherwise, if it rains, I shan’t be going anywhere – but then we’re used to that.

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Random Tuesday

Random, as in: a few photos taken at random from the collection of images in the folder, that kind of thing. I woke up a bit late this morning and had promised myself I would get lots done today, so I can’t hang around. On the list are the usual morning ‘at the desk’ duties, a walk, some shopping, possibly visiting the bank to pick up papers needed for a tax return, though that may wait until tomorrow, and then some more writing. Also on the list are at least 30 minutes of housework in some form or another just to keep on top of things, another episode of ‘Hollywood’ on Netflix, and something else, but I’ve already forgotten what that is. Perhaps I should put ‘make to-do list’ on my to-do list, as I’m sure it was reasonably important. Never mind. Here are the photos.

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And on the way back

We’re on the way back from Nimborio today. Well, Neil was. I’ve not been there since last year, and the photos were taken last week, but… Yesterday started sunny, but by half-nine, when I was writing this, the clouds had come over, and the sky was grey. We are planning to raid the bank later, see if there’s anything at the post office, try and track down three missing phone bills, and do some shopping. Hopefully, if it doesn’t rain later, we can sit in the courtyard at a distance from a couple of friends and catch up over a glass or two of wine. It’s a BYOHS gathering, that’s: bring your own hand sanitiser. There will only be four of us, and we will no doubt feel strange, but whatever must be must be for the sake of all.

So, with no other great news, here are a few photos taken on the road back from Nimborio.

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Nimborio

Let’s get the week off to a start with a few more of Neil’s photos taken while on a walk to and from Nimborio. As you can see, we had lovely weather towards the end of last week (followed by a damp weekend), which was good for the plants. Lockdown restrictions begin to ease from today, with the proviso that they will come back in immediately should numbers start to rise. Masks must be worn in certain areas, and there are other measures too. Here’s a link to an article in Keep Talking Greece which gives an outline. I can’t find the link to the official government site in English right now, but this gives you the gist. I doubt we’ll see much change here as people adjust to the new rules, the main difference for us is that you no longer need SMS permission to go out, so taking a walk will feel less naughty, and that may entice me to get off the sofa or away from the desk and start taking off some of these lockdown pounds. A walk around Nimborio will help, so let’s set off…

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New ferry service

Kalo mina! (Happy first of the month.)

Wondering who was blasting their horn, we looked out of the window yesterday evening to see a ferry coming into the harbour and found the Stavros, a ship of the SAOS Ferries line pulling into Yialos. It backed up to the clocktower, stayed a few minutes and went again. Later, we found out that it’s a new connection, calling a couple of times per week, and next time will call in at the new jetty where the Blue Star docks. I need to go to the Symi Tours page on Facebook to find out more details, and I expect Andy will have something on his Symi Travel Blog when there are more details. I saw a couple of comments about ‘Why now?’ and ‘Is it needed?’ and so on, and another that told me the route/ferry was highly subsidised and so is more or less being paid to call in. I’m sure there will be clearer details in time, but as things start to open up again and travel becomes easier for those who need to, a couple of new crossings to Rhodes and back per week will be a help.

In other news, as they say… Some lockdown measures start to be eased as of May 4^th (and we’ve done the “May the 4^th be with you” gags early this year, so thanks, but no need), and already I’ve seen more people out and about, at a distance, and adjusting back to liberty. However, it is to be highly restrained liberty and could go back to square one at the drop of a hat if the number of cases starts to rise. And in other-other news, Neil walked to Nimborio and back the other day, so I have some photos to show you and, as we’re heading into the weekend, I thought I’d put a few up here to see you through.

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