A couple of quiet days at home means not much news to tell you. Having said that, I am writing this with the window open, at 12.41 pm, and the office door has been open all morning, which says something about the weather – still warming, and managing to stay dry.
For want of something to say today, or should that be, for lack of something to say today, I went through my photos and sought out those which I still had that showed the variable weather over the winter. That’s all I can think of for now. Oh, most were taken in February.
After the rain daysCool walking daysRainy daysCloudySunnyMistyBright daysWet and windy days (and nights)
Today we have a quick tour around the estate, as we are about to prepare it for the summer. The estate being our rented house, you understand and ‘prepare it for the summer’ means painting the bedroom, and throwing away the old outside table that has a broken leg and that is listing like the Titanic at 12.30 a.m. on April 15th, 1912. We will also get around to painting the courtyard one day before too long.
Perfect weather for a ‘green’ walk
Outside, the chilli plant is coming on nicely and has survived the winter, unlike a few other things. Something got eaten by a locust that came to live with us for a couple of months, and something else looks a bit done in but should recover as it’s already starting to grow back. The vine has started to sprout, and I am hoping the new courtyard fairly lights arrive before it takes over, as they are intended to go above the vine and shine down through the leaves. The lavender has woken up, and there are some pretty yellow weeds doing something in a planter in the corner. Neil’s frangipani (not an Italian dish) looks like it’s given up the ghost and doesn’t look well at all. The rose isn’t even thinking about doing anything, and there are several other pots that once contained ‘things’ that seem now to be dead. The bushy thing that was a gift is doing okay, though. As you can see, I’m not very good with plants.
Spring plants
We have a new light up in the kitchen so we can dispense with the anglepoise that has been lighting us, slightly, since the old light fitting blew up. Only taken two months to get that done. The shutters are now more open than closed, except when it’s windy, and the sterna is now full of rainwater after the storm a few days ago. Most winter clothes have been put away, and the summer ones brought out and tried on. Last year’s shorts still fit me, in fact, a couple of pairs are too big. Would love to know how that’s happened.
Colour is the new black
Our landlord is back from his extended leave and seems to be well. He’s already back to his usual routine of being up early and pottering around with useful bits of building, adding a bit here and there to his house over the lane. Good to see him back and back to his usual self. Outside in the big wide yonder (the village square), we sat chatting to a few visitors and what you might call ‘stayers’ who are here to check on their houses and have a holiday. So, it’s starting to feel like winter is coming to an end and, before we know it, everyone will be saying ‘It’s hot, isn’t it?’ as they do as soon as the sun comes back. Looking forward to that.
Spring blossom
And that’s all I can think of today. My head is into another idea for a book, the details of which I might bore you about another day. We are still heading downhill to ‘The Saddling’ publication date, ‘The Judas Inheritance’ has its new cover as you know (and another five-star review on Amazon), I have ‘Symi, Stuff & Nonsense’ in draft one form to consider when the weather is better and ‘Saddling’ is out there. Neil has just phoned me, there’s a frappe in the offing at Rainbow, so I’m off out now. Back tomorrow.
I must fill you in on the weekend. Now then, what happened…?
Well, I approved and uploaded the new cover for ‘The Judas Inheritance’, and you can see it below. Amazon is still showing the original cover as it takes a few days for the changes to filter through their system, but new copies ordered after, say, Thursday, should show the new cover – and that goes for the Kindle version as well. When I can afford to, I will probably also change the covers for ‘Lonely House’ and maybe ‘Remotely.’ I proofread some more chapters for The Saddling, and we are now definitely looking at a release date in May, earlier rather than later, I hope. The cover is done, we are just proofing the final 20 chapters, and then will work on the final layout and uploading. More news will follow on that, of course.
Symi windmills
We also went to a barbeque, where it was hot in the sun but cooler in the shade when the sun went down. This was one of those wonderful events where everyone takes something to eat. I was cooking gigantes from nine in the morning, and also added a mushroom quiche to the table; Neil made his famous garlic dip and some fairy cakes for afters.
A restored house in the upper village
I spent the weekend up in the village, even finding the time to pop out for a coffee at the Rainbow in the morning. As I tend to work in the mornings at home, I don’t often get out and about before lunch and yet I should. It’s always a treat to walk around the village and see it in morning mode: the bakery being popular, people shopping on their way back from church, men working on repairs and the outside of buildings, in this case getting them ready for summer. There are also the smells of cooking wafting from houses, always a treat. It’s always calm and quiet. Unless you go to the supermarket where things can get a little noisier. I was in a queue at one the other day, the proprietor was chatting on at great length and with great passion about the painting of the steps behind one of the churches. The lady he was talking to had her shopping piled up on the counter, as is usually the case, and neither showed any signs of slowing down or bringing their Great Matter to a conclusion. I was aided and abetted by the assistant behind the deli counter who tried his best to interrupt on my behalf (I only needed a dozen eggs) and, together, we managed to get there in the end. I handed over my couple of euros, and I was on my way, leaving the great debate to rumble on.
Inside a Symi parish church
A while later, I was having the coffee when the assistant drove through the square carrying four packs of water we had ordered the day before. He gave me a toot and a wave, and I knew exactly where he was going. Others joined me at the table and, after a couple of drinks, I finally got home to find the water waiting on the step. We’ve often found it there after ordering it, sometimes a few hours after it was delivered, and it’s always still been there. That’s one of the good things about living on Symi; your shopping is safe if left outside your door – unless it’s something that might go off in the sun.
The new ‘The Judas Inheritance’ front and Kindle cover
So, basically, I had a very pleasant weekend. Some work, some socialising, some sitting and watching and thinking of the next book (loads of ideas, nothing yet that grabs me and drags to towards plotting, as the three recent novels have all done) and some sitting in the sun too. This afternoon (Monday) I may be going for a walk through the Pedi valley if only to get some photos. I’ve not been that way for a couple of weeks and I/we want to see the flowers before they start to fade. Others will take their place, and the valley should be green for a while yet, but soon the summer will start proper and time will slip away, as it does.
A quick visit to Yialos on Saturday confirmed that the summer season is poised on the edge of ‘ready to go.’ Almost.
Tables and chairs are being made ready, bars and tavernas tidied up, dusted down, cleaned again (they are usually cleaned up at the end of one season and again at the start of the next, even though they have not been used). New parking restrictions are already fighting valiantly with parkers on the front, deliveries are being made and painting is being seen to. There was a long line of cars heading over to Rhodes on Friday on the Blue Star. I guess people are shopping for supplies, seeing to the endless paperwork, settling bills, debating others, seeing officials over in Rhodes to make sure all licenses are in order, that kind of thing. I wonder what new processes there will be for those who work in cafés and restaurants this year. The usual health checks that include chest X-rays and blood tests (and others I shan’t go into), health and safety exams, books to be signed and photos to be provided for new workers. Some of the tests and exams last for several years — or used to — and there are papers to complete for those on IKA and other insurances. It’s a busy time of the year.
Village view
There were at least two tourists on Saturday. I know they were tourists because they were wearing the uniform, backpacks, shorts and t-shirts. There were other Saturday visitors from Rhodes too, and it was good to see that Meraklis was open, in its usual place. The rumours of it moving or closing were unfounded then. It’s all starting to ‘kick off’, as they say.
Greece is ready to welcome you
The same goes for the village where, although there may be news about some places not opening this year, others are preparing for Summer. Georgio’s has been redecorated inside; all the photos were off the walls, and the walls have been painted. The outside has been stripped and re-rendered and undercoated. Lefteris’ kafeneion has been painted and has some extra netting up in the square to help stop the footballs from coming over, providing the children with a decent goal to aim at. Taverna Zoi was being painted and tidied ready for opening at some point, a forklift was in use to bring supplies to Sotiris’ supermarket, and the new pie shop and bakery has been open next door all winter.
Across the village towards Nimos
There is a feeling of hopefulness in the air. Yiannis Rainbow is away next Friday but, as there are now visitors here and some day-trippers, he has asked Neil to start work on Friday and man the bar all day. We sat there on our way back up on Saturday and chatted to two American tourists who had come over for the day; the start of the usual afternoon conversations. The weather is warming up, but we have had some rain and a thunderstorm, and I have seen electricians and plumbers, decorators and so on preparing properties.
How green is your Pedi valley?
So, it looks like Symi is almost ready to welcome arrivals and visitors, day trippers and those with properties who come for longer periods of time. The party is just about ready, and all we need now is you.
And a couple of bits of news. First of all, I have a new blog post on my author’s blog. If you are interested in cover design and how to get one done without paying a small fortune, that’s what this post is all about. Here’s the link. Book Covers: Worth The Money
Please don’t forget to like and share and all that jazz, if you do like it and want to share it.
Secondly, the post shows off the new cover for ‘The Judas Inheritance’ as promised. I’m going to upload this new cover over the weekend and so any future copies of the book should, no will, come with this new cover. Take a look at the blog to see it, and the full back cover too.
That’s the news from me, here are the photos from Symi to give you something to look at with your Saturday morning coffee. Kalo mina and have a good weekend.
A valley viewProfitas IliasNow then, I’ve seen the Blair Witch Project so I’m not going up this hill at night.Zoomed into the valley from up topWas struck by the shapes hereOne of the many side alleys in the villageSpring flowers outside a village house
