Easy like Sunday morning

Easy, because it’s Sunday morning and I have a day to do what I want. That’s once I’ve done this, so I don’t have to do it on Monday, leaving me time to do Tuesday’s, and so it rolls on until Saturday when I don’t have to prepare a blog for Sunday. And today’s doing what I want, I hope, will include finishing off the first draft of a book and painting a plastic horror model kit, as you do. The book, a pen name one, is 90k words and I’ve ‘done’ the first three drafts and some editing. Now, I have a long list of things to check and alter, and that means search and find, find and replace and read again. I want to send that off to the printer next week. The printer, btw, being Peter who gives me an A4 printout of each MS so I can read it (again) on paper and mark up the MS for final edits before sending the digital file to the proofreader, and so that process goes around like the writing of this blog only longer.

The model kit was a birthday present from Neil. I used to make the glow-in-the-dark versions of these when they were available in the 70s. They are classic characters from Universal horror films, and at one point I had them all, and most of the Aurora prehistoric animals collection too, which didn’t glow in the dark. I have Dracula waiting to be made (it’s a remake from the original mould/design but not a glower), but I also have four or five others in my cabinet unmade. Two of them are the original deal and still in their boxes, so they will never be made, the others are remakes so not as valuable but still collectable. I was waiting for the paints to arrive from Germany, which they now have, as there’s no local craft shop that I know of that sells them. I am sure it’s going to look terrible when I have finished and, having just remembered that I don’t have any thinners and it’s a Sunday, I may not be able to start until Monday anyway.

Meanwhile… Back on Symi. Saturday, I had an appointment in Yialos for some paperwork which gave me a rare opportunity to be down there as the sun was going down and see the hillside and houses changing colour to that golden yellow as the fading sun hits them. While I was there, a Blue Star ferry came in, and I immediately thought it was Friday, which confused me for a while. Then, a few hours later on Sunday morning, another one arrived. I’ve not looked at that timetable for a while, but clearly, we have more Blue Star ferries than we know what to do with – not knocking it, it’s a great service and the more boats, the better. I also watched the Sebeco heading off to Rhodes, another handy service, delivered by ANES this time. Anyway, that was a brief explanation of my Sunday and today’s photos. Now, I am going to do my editing and then paint Dracula’s face (which isn’t a euphemism), as long as I can clean my brushes with washing up liquid, or find some old turps under the laundry sink. I know I had some somewhere once upon a time.

And your Sunday bonus, the last of my photos from Wednesday, before, during and after the parade in Yialos.

May 8^th Parade part two

A few more photos from Wednesday – there will be more tomorrow (a Sunday bonus!).

May 8^th Parade

There was a big parade on Wednesday, May 8^th, including the schools, Women’s Institute, army, navy, a band, local politicians, the church, scouts, Red Cross and others. A few hundred people lining the road, the laying of wreaths at the war memorial, a celebratory atmosphere and the sun was shining. Godson #1 was leading the parade, carrying the flag and, of course, I missed him when he passed. I was expecting him further down the line with his class, but he was also hidden by the flag. Ah well, we saw him afterwards looking very smart, and the parade was a joy to watch. I remember the first time I saw the May 8^th parade. I’d just started working for Takis Leather in 2003 and was outside the shop when everyone marched past. I remember feeling proud for a reason I couldn’t explain, it was a moving sight to see, it always is, and Wednesday brought the same emotion.

I have a few photos, and they will be on the blog today and for the next couple of days. Pictures painting a thousand words and all that.

Random thoughts

Wednesday 8^th May, and there is a parade and celebration in Yialos today (yesterday). We’re going down to watch because godson #1 is carrying the flag. That’s an honour which, I believe, used to be awarded to the top pupil in the class or year. Now the pupil is chosen at random, I’m told (but still believe the original idea because Godson #1 is very academic). I’ll see if I can get any decent photos.

Also, randomly thinking… I notice that the yUK is going to be taking part in the upcoming EU elections and that the Brexit party is set to do well. At least, that’s what the fake news Mail and other ‘newspapers’ on the right of Atilla are spreading around. It may be true because there are a few sensible, non-Brexit parties but not one cohesive party, so their votes will be spread, and of course, no-one with any self-respect would vote for the two main parties slowly disintegrating around the country’s ears. But my wandering thought was, how stupid it is for anti-Brexit people to vote MEPs into an organisation they don’t believe in or want, and which the country will probably be out of soon anyway. It’s like buying a ferry ticket for a destination you don’t want to go to and on a boat that probably won’t make it there. I know, it’s a protest, but it’s all making for great entertainment over here where the rest of Europe is hiding its laughter behind a look of ‘get on with it.’ Moving on…

Another random thought, slightly related, is my driving licence. If you were following this one a few months ago, you will know that I took my old paper yUK licence into the KEP office to have it changed to a Greek one. I can’t remember exactly when that was, but I think it was early March, about two months ago. A friend called into KEP the other day and while there, asked about progress. Apparently, the process is taking much longer than expected because there are so many people changing their licences, so I should expect to wait another month at least. I don’t intend to use the thing, but you never know, and it is another form of ID.

Yesterday, I was up in time to see the Blue Star come at go at 5.00, taking with it the class of godson #2 (who is really the other godson #1 as they are equally important). The 15/16-year-olds are off to Santorini on a school trip for a few days, and I am assuming the scene inside local houses at 3.30 yesterday morning was something of a trauma for all concerned. Raising a teenager from slumber in time for school at eight is bad enough. Then again, there is a trip involved, and they’ve all worked very hard raising the money, so I doubt anyone got much sleep and, as I write, the teachers are enjoying some peace as their group dozes on the boat, hangs around Rhodes for five hours and then gets on a plane. Actually, I doubt they will get much peace at all, but I can say from experience, Greek school children are among the politest I’ve encountered when travelling. We were in Belgrade one winter and bumped into a large party of Greek teens visiting St Savas’ Cathedral – perfectly behaved. We also met another large group on Kos once, and they couldn’t have been more polite and helpful. Around here, if you walk towards a group of teens ‘hanging out’ after school, you know you’re likely to be greeted with several pleasantries, whereas approach a group of teens in the yUK… Well, you may well want to cross the street. Sorry to generalise, but experience provides the only comparison I can make. I am babbling now so I’ll go and have breakfast.