A bit of a bird day yesterday in that I found two sparrows eating our succulents, and a couple of young doves came to the taverna in the afternoon. Meanwhile, the swallows and suchlike are still whizzing around, I heard the owl in the evening, the chickens continue to fuss around the bins, and the morning chorus has been joined by a thrush and blackbirds. I tried to catch the garden raiders in the act, but they were too fast and all I ended up with was a picture of a window that needs cleaning.
Later in the day, these two doves came wandering down through Lefteris’ Kafeneion, through the Rainbow and were on their way to Georgio’s when they were interrupted. I assume they are young collared doves because their collar wasn’t prominent, and I also assume, they were able to wander so closely to us because there was nobody else around as it’s been quiet in the village of an afternoon.
The same thing happened during Covid, not that I am comparing a quiet afternoon in the village these days with that time. However, when everyone was locked inside their homes and there was very little outside life, no bars, no cafes or socialising, it didn’t take long for nature to start reclaiming the area. We had wildlife around the house that we’d only seen before in the mountains. Hoopoes, for example. I’d only ever seen one or two far from the roads and civilisation up in the hills, but they came calling in 2020.
Anyway, the bother-in-law popped in last night and is on his way this morning, taking the early Blue Star to Rhodes and then onwards. I have the usual on my plate this morning, some piano this afternoon, and still nothing else planned apart from one dinner out, which, with this nose, is probably quite enough. ‘Argh, my nose,’ becomes the June/July mantra in this house with all the dust, pollen, and tamarisk tree right next door. The doctor’s advice when talking about it? Move house. Yeah, right. I’ll invest in Sotiris’ bargain tissues packs and, when I fancy a couple of days off, take a non-drowsy antihistamine and be drowsy for 48 hours. (Sneezes.) Ah well.
