The dust seems to have settled somewhat. Scroll down to see yesterday’s view, and then compare it with today’s. Much clearer and calmer…

Which means I might be able to get out for a walk later this morning. I’ve stayed in as much as possible these last couple of days to avoid getting the dust up my nose (and failing most of the time), but today, like the sky, it is somewhat clearer. This leaves me free to push on into chapter 16 of the first draft of the next story in the new series which, I am pleased to say, is doing rather well. If you’re not sure what it is, you can find out more details here: The Delamere Files

There are three books in this series so far, each with a mystery, though the first book’s mystery is more of a setting-up of things to come. The second one takes old-school ties as its under-theme, and the third is set around the music halls. The fourth is called ‘Where There’s a Will’ and is about one of the two main characters, called Will, and his detective brother being called to the reading of a will. All are set in 1892. Which is handy, because I have a short book of short stories titled ‘1892’ and the journey six characters find themselves on happens not long after ‘Where There’s a Will.’ ‘1892’ is a good introduction to some of the characters from my Clearwater world of Victorian mysteries, should you be interested. {Click here} And yes, that is Jenine and Neil on the front cover.

Meanwhile… back at the real-world ranch, I’m off to tidy the kitchen table which is currently covered with half-built model cars, and my ‘book nook’ creation which is nearing the final stages of completion. Photos to come one day.

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This morning, it was 20 degrees at 7.30, with 70% humidity. Maybe that’s why today’s view looks something like this:

It could also be dust, but we do have days where there’s so much mist you can’t see Nimos – just like today. You can see other things, like cats strutting the streets and looking mean…

(Photo by Neil)

If you were to bring a picnic and a folding chair, set up a flask, and settle in for the day along our lane, you would, eventually, see all kinds of things pass by. Cats, of course, and in our case, chickens as both felines and foul live by the bins. You’d see a goat now and then, and/or a sheep that’s slipped its mooring. You might find a mule passes you by, someone’s dog perhaps, plenty of sparrows, swallows at this time of year too, and other birds; owls, ravens, kestrels, and if you are very lucky, a hoopoe. You would also see rubbish that’s escaped the bin cart, tin cans kids and adults alike throw to the verge, sometimes small bags of rubbish because the owner couldn’t be bothered to walk a few feet to the bins, and other nasty stuff, but mainly, you’d see the wildlife, mopeds and view. You may even catch sight of…

If you ask me, it’s all far too complicated for a Thursday morning, a day which includes a music lesson, and a fair amount of this as we approach the end of the modelling season.

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Today, there is a report in The Guardian titled, ‘Athens swallowed up by orange haze from Sahara dust storm.’ This is one of the images:

Photo from the Guardian

It’s true, we are currently under a cloud of dust from the south, as are other parts of Europe. We get this every year and often more than once a year, though spring is the most common season. If it rains, we call it ‘red rain’ because it leaves behind a layer of red/orange dust. We haven’t had rain since last weekend, but we have had and still are having very high winds. They are blowing the dust everywhere, so the washing is drying inside, and my nose is completely blocked and has been for some time. Because of the wind, there was only one boat yesterday, and the Blue Star didn’t run from Piraeus until nine hours after it was meant to set off, assuming it did. Boats have also been stopped today (though it’s not that blowy out there right now), and the Blue Star won’t be coming through until the afternoon, before doing a quick turnaround in Rhodes and leaving there tonight at 17.30 – at least that’s what I read on their site last night.

Yesterday, the house was vibrating under the strength of the wind, the air conditioning unit on the roof was humming, and combined with the other activity, produced a weird and very deep sound. It reminded me of the story told in the book ‘Dead Mountain’ (by Donnie Eichar) where Russian students go hiking and camp beneath Dead Mountain, only to flee during the night. Later, they were found dead in strange places and poses having seemingly run from an avalanche. The book suggests it was the sound of the wind through the pass, vibrating so low as to cause disorientation which led to panic. It’s a fascinating book – the film version takes a more Hollywood path and involves a Philadelphia Experiment kind of ending, but… Hey ho!

Hatches will remain battened today.

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Another windy day today, with predictions of force seven or eight in some parts later. For me, another day at home is planned as I plough on through the next draft chapter of the next book, and in the evening, maybe another couple of Hornblowers. We stumbled across the 1999 British series last night, thought we’d give one a go, and really enjoyed it, so we watched another. Apart from everything else, it’s a good game to say, ‘I recognise him…’ then spend ages trying to remember where and in what. Failing, I end up looking him up on the internet, and that usually comes with a, ‘Well I never!’ or words to that effect. For example, I recognised Hornblower from… Oh, where was it…? I’ve definitely seen him before… He’d be quite a bit older now… And went and looked him up. Well I never! Of course it is. I didn’t know that… he was Officer Lowe in Titanic, and also Reed Richards in the Fantastic 4, among many other things. Then there was the chap who turned up later as Ivy’s father-in-law in Downtown Abbey. So it is! Good Lord.

That’s for this evening. For now, to cheer up this blustery and grey day, how about a couple of random shots from my ‘top post one day’ folder?

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Here on Symi, we are back to having weather. Cloudy today, sunny/cloudy yesterday, wet and wild on Saturday morning but the rain was/is much needed. There is a short article in Ekathimerini talking about how Europe is suffering its biggest drought in 500 years, and how Greece is facing a ‘high risk’ drought, or will be soon. I’ve heard that Rhodes is having trouble meeting its own demands, and can no longer send water out to us and the other smaller islands that have no natural water. (We have a few underground springs, but they’ve all got church complexes built on them).

It’s important to remember, when coming to Symi, that you need to do all you can to save water. Shower on, get wet, shower off, get soaped, shower on, wash off, shower off. Shouldn’t take you more than two minutes, only during one of which should you have the water running.

However, a little rain on Saturday morning didn’t deter our two intrepid god boys from coming up to dinner. Neil and the eldest cooked, while H and I watched an hour of Victor Borge and fell about the sitting room laughing. Dinner was a hoot as was the card game afterwards – the boys were in a ‘mother-free environment’ as it was a boys’ night, and suffice to say, there were manly discussions, rude jokes, and a certain degree of air pollution. Sunday was a quieter day, though the weather was slightly better.

Neil’s working back at the bar now, and the summer chairs are out. Apparently, according to those in the know (in other words, everyone who tells you anything), things are going to get very busy from next week. We’re coming up to Easter, so that’s one reason, and there’s a regular birthday party not long after, and it’s a special one this year, and then, before you know it, it’s June which is always very popular with northern Europeans and the British. Let’s hope the weather cheers up a little before then.

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