Symi 2016
Here we are at the end of another year. I always think that I will put up a summary of the past 12 months on my final blog post of the year but I can never remember everything that’s happened. But, here are a few of the things that have made 2016 memorable for me. (And some random images I’ve not used yet.)
Obviously, the Brexit thing was a biggie and something I am totally against. I was against it from the start mainly because the advisory vote was swung by a tiny percentage of the population who were misled completely as to what it was all about. And I mean that on/by both sides. This only served to fuel my distrust of certain British newspapers which are the things, it seems, that are running (and ruining) the country. But enough said about that. The second major world disaster was the similar thing that happened in the USA – and I won’t go into other political disasters around the world; we can only watch on with horror as the fallout from all of that works itself out in the future.
But, on a happier and more personal note: Neil and I decided to be married after 19 years. About time and many people thought we already were because we were ‘married ‘ at Machu Picchu back in 2007, but this will be a Greek civil partnership in September with a celebration to be held here on Symi. More details will follow once we have sorted out the legalities early in 2017. Along with that came the news that Neil is able to apply for an Irish passport, which is currently in the process of being administered; no final news on that yet. Next year will also see the 15th year anniversary of us living on Symi, another cause for celebration.
During the year, we had family visits, from Neil’s brother, my nephew, my mum, and also from many friends both new and old. It’s always good to see returning visitors coming to the island to chill out, get their ‘Symi fix’ and help the island along in these difficult times. I went to Tilos for my ‘writing retreat’ and had a good time, wrote lots and ate lots. I was able to work hard on ‘The Saddling’ which should be out in a few months.
That one follows on the heels of ‘Remotely‘ which is still doing well and has already gained several five star reviews on Amazon; all very rewarding and I’m just glad I got that story out there and that so many people seem to be enjoying it. I was also able to get some work started on ‘Symi, Stuff and Nonsense’ a new compilation of travel tales and ‘moving to Symi’ tales which should be out later in 2017. In other creative news, there’s still no news on ‘The Thirteenth’, the film that was filmed on Symi three years ago now. The final cut was achieved in the year and the production company are now trying to find a distributor to take it on and sell it. Maybe we will hear more during the year.
There were many other memorable days and times through the year: boat trips and evening excursions, long walks (not as many as in previous years), dinners with friends, trips to Rhodes for medical adventures and a trip with the cat, seeing people off at the airport, welcoming others. Hot days trying to keep cool and now cool days trying to keep warm, birthday parties and name days, singing sessions and new glasses, lunches and work, passing a scriptwriting course (with a distinction), Neil starting on his O Level (or whatever they are called in these modern days) and many other good times I have this moment forgotten but which will come back to me later and stay with me.
And blogging, of course, trying to think of something interesting and vaguely Symi related to say each day even if it’s only to say that I’ve spent the day at the desk, which I do a lot of these days. I will attempt to keep that up as we go into 2017 and hope I won’t bore you too much with my random rambles. I shall, naturally, endeavour to keep you amused with my dreadful typos; my typing is getting so bad now that I have over 2,000 autocorrect words in my custom autocorrect thing so all I am really doing is thumping keys and hoping they fall into some kind of readable order.
So, on into 2017. Thank you for bearing with me and returning to the blog. Remember that if you want to support it you only need to buy a book or click one of the few adverts we have at the bottom of posts, spread the word about Symi to everyone and help us bring a few more visitors to the island to keep it all going. I will leave 2016, and you, with the one simple rule of life which, if we all stuck to, would ensure a peaceful and happy life for all: be nice.
