Symi coincidence

A very early morning Sunday morning blog today. I am preparing this at half seven before setting out on what looks to be another wonderful day here on Symi, and it’s a day that brings a coincidence. It’s not such a surprising one really, considering we live in a small village.

I’m out later this morning, taking the old piano down to the Well Being Centre for a private party where I am accompanying a birthday-party-celebrating singer who is doing a few numbers for her guests. After that, we’re bringing the piano home (by car, don’t worry) before heading to the wedding of our next-door neighbour’s son. The party, or the groom’s side of it, is meeting at the house beside ours at four, and we have been invited to attend. Let’s hope the piano carrying doesn’t get caught up in the celebrations or procession as that’s the same time as we’re due to bring it home.

The coincidence is, the wedding is between our neighbour’s son and the daughter of our last landlord. Like I said, not such a coincidence as it’s all village-based, and although it’s big, it’s not that big a village. But the house that the newlyweds will be moving into is the house we moved out of three years ago to move into this one, right beside (in fact joined to) the groom’s house. I feel like I am part of the family, and yet have no connection at all apart from the properties.

This reminded me to tell you that there are loads of coincidences like this that crop up on the island. Back in 1998 when we were here on holiday, we were at a bar late one night when I met someone who lived 100 yards away from me in Dalston, London in the early 90s, whose partner used to use the shop in Buckinghamshire that Neil’s parents owned. So it was a double coincidence. There are many other Symi coincidences too, you often hear people meeting up who live in the same village or knew each other from a time before, just happening to meet here on holiday. In fact, another one happened when a friend of ours was staying and found himself sitting at one table at the bar when on the table next to him, he met up with an old college friend he’d not seen for ten years.

And so it goes on. So, that’s me, typing this out quickly and bunging in a few random photos before I go and do a few scales and arpeggios to get my fingers working. Before I go, just to say, ‘Symi, Stuff & Nonsense’ is ready to be published, I am just waiting for the final cover edits which should be back with me this week. Watch out for more news, but it looks like this fourth book about living on Symi (which also about travel tales, funny blog posts and thoughts and other adventures) will be ready to order for Christmas presents. The print and Kindle should both be available in the next week, two at the most.

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Symi Saturday Photos: The Maltese Falcon

Actually, these are from Friday when The Maltese Falcon was in the bay. This boat is “a full-rigged ship using DynaRig technology, which was built by Perini Navi in Tuzla, İstanbul, and commissioned by her first owner, Tom Perkins. She is one of the world’s most complex and largest sailing yachts at 88 m (289 ft).” (Wikipedia)

Of course, I read that as ‘Diana Rigg technology’ which threw me for a while, but the size and luxury of it might explain the extended firework display set off at the new jetty on Thursday night. I was up before six on Friday and so saw it leave; very quiet and majestic. I wonder who was on it? Anyway, not great images as it was dark (you will have to look closely), but there you go. Oh, and some images of the sunrise that morning and of a few chillies we finally have on the chilli plant; just hoping they have time to grow a bit before the winter weather sends the plant to sleep, or whatever it does in the winter when the chilli gets chilly.

Before you go… As you know we didn’t make it to the Panormitis festival this year, but Adriana did, and you can see her photos at her regular Symi blog, Symi – a Greek island diary.

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Symi Weather Today Yesterday

Today I thought I would show you what Symi looked like yesterday, at least, my view of it. As you can see, calm and clear, blue and tranquil. A few clouds were came over later in the morning, stray, white fluffy things over the hills of Turkey.

We are waiting for one of those weather fronts to come in. You know the sort. Promised a week or ten days in advance and due to arrive on Wednesday/Thursday. Then something happens, and it gets shifted to a later shift, and the forecast sites promise Friday through to Sunday instead. Someone has to go off sick, and it’s needed elsewhere, so it then gets a day off, and Saturday is clear, but we are to expect it on Monday, with the chance of overtime until Wednesday. Whatever it’s arrangement, the weather front has not materialised yet.

The variation in forecasts might come from the fact that there is no weather station on Symi unless someone has a private one. Most people around here look to the Vigla and, if the cloud is coming over it, then they say to expect rain. Others probably tell by the behaviour of cattle or the way certain fish gather in certain places at sea. Others have aching bones to tell them that bad weather is on the way and some, apparently, have water to feel these things in. Me, I just look out of the window and deal with whatever comes along.

Another weather chat, I know, but there you go. Today (and I do mean today) I am mostly writing. Having said that, I may have to break off to finalise covers and things, but that’s an excitement more than a chore. Otherwise, my weekend looks to be all about writing, apart from Sunday when we are invited to a party. I will have to play for my buffet, which is being supplied by The Olive Tree, so I am looking forward to that. In fact, I know I will have to play because that’s what I am there for. My singing pupil is holding a birthday party and giving everyone a recital. Which means I may have to forgo the writing after all and set about some piano practice.

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A quick catch-up

The sun is shining, the weather is calm, the sea flat, it’s warm out there, over 20 degrees and the village is quiet. That’s all be because today (Wednesday) most of the islanders are down at Panormitis for the island’s saint’s name day and the famous Panormitis festival. If you want to see photos, check out our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/SymiDream/ if you use Facebook. These are photos there that I’ve been able to share from people who are able to get to the festival. (Todays are of the Pedi Valley and windmills.)

Up here in the village, the computer on the desk is fair steaming. I have managed to get a screenplay first draft finished within my self-imposed deadline, the next book is nearly ready to go (Symi, Stuff and Nonsense) and the one after that is ready for its next draft. The house is prepared for winter – and we are expecting more rain in a few days’ time – and things generally are settling down into the winter routine. That for me means loads of time at the desk doing what I like to do most; making up stories and putting them out there. I can add on to that, walking in the hills and chilling out in the café, when I get around to doing those things.

We sat at Rainbow Bar on Tuesday evening, on the way back from shopping, and it was warm enough to sit outside again, so we made the most of that while we still can. The harbour is very quiet below because most of the boats are coming and going from Panormitis this week, though I was up in time to see the Blue Star come and go just before six on Wednesday. If you are heading this way anytime soon, then check the boat timetables as they have changed, and may change again as winter settles in.

There, a few more words than yesterday, but still not much to report as I’ve been deadlining it these past few weeks, and there are more to come. Well, that’s my excuse for not getting out and about much. I am sure something more interesting will come along soon…

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Just photos

Just photos today. I’ve nearly at the end of the screenplay draft I am working on, but if I don’t prepare a post before lunch, I tend to forget and then have my morning routine upset the next day. I will tell you that it’s beautiful weather here today, 20 degrees and calm. Excellent weather for the Panormitis Festival.

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