Getting too old for this

(Random photos today, from December.) We were a bit calmer yesterday after Monday’s heavy wind and non-stop rain, so that made a nice change. I am currently in locked-in mode, not venturing outside very much unless it’s for a lunch invite, the shopping or, in extreme cases, having to go to Yialos to the bank or post office. You’d think this would give me enough time to sort out a few things at home, but the hours just slip by, even when I get up at 5.30.

I did start looking into the online UK government site, to check out pensions and things, just out of interest. I’ve been in the Greek system for years now and, to be honest, can’t get my head around it all. So, I thought I should have a look and see what I need to do to top up my UK pension. So, I went online… As Frances Fisher says in ‘Titanic’, where she plays Rose’s mother, Ruth DeWitt Bukater and is talking to others about sending out wedding invitations, ‘My dear! Let me tell you what an odyssey that was.’

First, I set up a new account, email address, password etc., and reached the point where they send you a text message security number. All fine. Would you like to set up an alternative just in case? Okay, so that was an automated phone message too. All done and dandy. Now we need to check who you are, so what’s your national insurance number? Got that. And your name? Got that, and… No, we can’t find any record of you. Page after unhelpful page later, having found out nothing of any use, I started again and used my ‘other’ name (Toby) which isn’t really my name. It only comes in third on my birth certificate although it was number one for many years and the certificate has an amendment changing it to Tobias, but neither has even been my first name. Anyway, I tried my NI number with that name and lo! I was acceptable. So, onto stage two…

I checked out my pension contributions to see what I needed to pay, to top up, before 2098, or whenever I might be allowed to officially retire and, once I had picked myself up off the floor, decided there was nothing I could do about that. There will be some made up from the Greek system, maybe, if there’s still a system by then and all that jazz (and thankfully, for those concerned, I do have a decent private one as backup). So, I thought I’d better check my address and name and so on, just to make sure everything is tidily up to date. Well, not quite…

Despite having been in PAYE employment until 2000, and registered self-employed since, despite having a very good accountant and filling out forms and receiving letters from the darlings at the Inland Revenue, or UNHCR, or ACDC or whatever they are now called, and despite a vague recollection that I did all this a few years ago… I discovered I am still living in Dalston, London, under the name of Toby, where I haven’t lived, or been knows as, since 1997. At this point, I gave up. I have written them a message, just for fun, but reckon that by the time I get this sorted out, it will be 2098 and far too late anyway. Still, things improved when Asif dropped off a huge bag of cat biscuits courtesy of Symi Animal Welfare for us to feed the strays with, to go with the huge bag Michaelis dropped off last week courtesy of Evangelia who feeds them in the summer. And so, life returned to normal.

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As it’s another cold and wet day today (Monday), I thought I would upload some photos taken during last year when there was a bit more sun around. I was up at 2.30 last night, fumbling about in the dark in my dressing gown and slippers, crossing to the workhouse via a porch-puddle to unplug the phone and internet. You can’t be too careful. The thunder had passed by six when I was more awake and ready to start the day, but so far the rain has been on and off again. And that’s enough weather for the day.

So, a few photos to remind us of what the sunshine looks like, and back to work.

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My Symi News Update

Here are some bits and pieces of (my) Symi news to bring you up to date.

The winter season continues to be changeable, with rain at times and sunny and clear on other days. It rained heavily last week, and the rain brought some of the mud and topsoil down from the hills again, coating the harbour square roads in a little sludge. We were there on Friday, and it was being shovelled away. Not as bad as before but it’s interesting to see how easily the soil is now moved following the storm last November, I guess it will take a while for it to settle down.

In my writing news, ‘The Witchling’ is out with my beta readers. These are people who volunteer to read the most recent draft at a point when I think it’s ready as a story, but where I may still make a few minor changes – depending on what third parties think of it. It’s mainly about looking for typos and anything obviously wrong or repeated. Meanwhile, my cover designer is working on a cover, so I hope to have a cover to show you before long. I was hoping to have the book out there before we head off on holiday in March, but it may come after we return.

We were ‘lads’ on Saturday. Having done the shopping in the morning (two massive pork chops and two huge double chicken breasts from the village butcher, €14.00, and having bought several bags of vegetables from the greengrocer, €6.00, there’s enough there to last us several days), we realised in the evening that we needed butter. Found one at Sotiris, counted the change from my pocket on the freezer outside where George was standing, found the correct money, and just handed it to George – what you might call a ten items or less express checkout. Stopped at Rainbow for a glass of wine on the way home and ended up having a couple more as the AEK supporters arrived for a football match on the television. Always great fun watching football in there in the winter, I almost got into it.

Last Friday, after raiding the bank, paying the rent, checking the post office and stopping at Pacho’s, we decided to treat ourselves to lunch in the harbour. Giros and chips, very nice, and, what’s better, there were taxis available so didn’t even have to walk up. The rest of the time, I’ve been at my desk doing what I do and playing with some writing. 10,500 words written on Saturday. It’s amazing what you can do when your husband cooks dinner and brings you endless cups of tea, and you don’t doze off after lunch.

It’s Sunday now, still early as I’m in the routine of waking up at 5.30, a bit cloudy, more rain forecast, and an invite to lunch in upper Horio later on. I think I’ll post this ready for Monday, maybe fiddle with a chapter of something and then tidy up the house a little before psyching myself up for a shower. Not as pleasant as it sounds and involves a quick dash from one room to the other and finding a towel that had somehow managed to dry out.

And then it’s off into the week with another lunch invite in the diary for Tuesday… And that’s it. So, there you are, that’s my news, and I will leave you with the best news which is Adriana is back from her break and back at her blog, which you can find here.

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Symi Saturday Photos from Neil

Today’s photos were taken in the last week or so, on one of the sunny days we have been having between storms. Have a good weekend.

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Blackout and showers

I heard the ‘bing bongs’ from the town hall on Wednesday, but didn’t hear the announcement, because the shutters were closed, and I was working. That’s why I had no idea the power was going off on in our part of the village on Thursday. I assume that’s what the announcement was. Luckily my laptop has a four-hour battery so I could carry on doing some work.

So that’s what I am doing now (Thursday), sitting in the semi-gloom with the shutters by the desk open so I can see to write. The sea is blue-grey with white caps, and the clouds are grey and varied, being blown about in wind that’s forecast to get up to force seven later this morning. As soon as I open the shutters, I can feel the drop in temperature as the wind blows through the closed window. It fits well enough, but the glass lets through the chill, not that it’s that cold.

We had a spare gas canister that we bought for just this kind of event and went to change out the old, empty one so that we could boil water. The canisters are easy to manage, you simply put them in the plastic base of the camping stove and twist the base back to the top and burner. Only, this one must have been faulty. As soon as the tin was pierced by the burner, there was an enthusiastic escape of gas, followed by a great outpouring of liquid gas and the accompanying smell. A quick dash outside with a leaking gas can followed by opening windows and doors and everything was back to normal except without a hot drink.

Ah well, a trip to the shop later may be needed. It’s raining now, with a hint of hail, though Harani below is well lit, so there is also some sun, and I’m going to save this and then upload it later when the power comes back on. Meanwhile. It’s back to that good old fashioned way of writing; pen and paper.

Later: just back from a visit to the corner shop and discovered that the power will be out in a line from the windmills to just up the lane from us, until 1pm. The laptop has two and a half hours battery left so I might be able to get something written before…

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