We’ve had a few explosions already, I’ve heard some random bangers going off, and a few short fizzles from fireworks, all in the leadup to Easter. So far, it’s not been as noisy as previous years. Maybe everyone is saving the costly SFX for later in the week when we will once again be rocked by dynamite, bells, and joyous celebrations.

Before then, we have normal life to be getting on with, which includes model building (nearly finished my latest project), writing (nowhere near finishing the current project), walking (not as far or often as I projected, but better than nothing).

With little other news to impart, I scrolled back through my photos to this time four years ago when we were under strict orders not to socialise, but where we could go out walking. The weather then was as it is now, warming up of the summer, and there were some regulars around who are still here now, namely this chap…

… who I can hear singing outside as I type, and this one:

It’s been a while since I’ve been down to the sea, but I must make the effort to walk down to Pedi one day. I prefer to walk uphill for my necessary exercise, and often walk up through the village to the top, and then either one or two more corners up the road if I am feeling up to it, or down to the church and out onto the hillside, or, simply down the road again. The shortest trip I do is 1.2 miles, and the longest is three miles, it depends, but half of every walk is uphill. You do have to walk uphill when coming back from Pedi, but I’d rather get the slog out of the way first so once I’ve done half my walk, the rest is all downhill. I use these strolls to plot and plan the next chapter, and I must get one in today. Maybe, I’ll get to Pedi one afternoon.

Share on Facebook

Today is the start of ‘Great Week’, the week leading up to Easter at the weekend. In case you didn’t see Jenine’s photo that did the rounds on social media the other day, here’s her view of the Blue Star Patmos last Friday afternoon before leaving Rhodes.

There was a big football event on Kos involving many schools, the Wednesday boat had been delayed, so some people were catching up on things they couldn’t do then, and it was the end of the week before the week before Easter, so something of a getaway. Sam told me that the only way his friend’s father could get across to Symi was by booking a cabin. All economy seats were sold out, and I guess, so was the availability of the airline seats. Crickey.

Things got busy in front of the house yesterday too when a cockerel and two hens ventured down for a rummage. You can’t see them very well in this photo, maybe, but they are there. The visit reminded me of the time a couple of years ago when a hen brought three chicks down and then discovered they weren’t big enough to jump back up the steps, so they moved into the wasteland. We fed them from our balcony until they were old enough to make their way elsewhere.

And the weather looks like it’s stopped playing up, for the time being at least, and it’s calm and sunny. We were taken to dinner last night, and Georgio’s Taverna was busy, as was the square before and for a while after, and we’re expecting more regulars to arrive this week in time for Easter. So, the harbour is busier than this shot from yesterday afternoon makes it look.

Share on Facebook

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.

One of Neil’s arty shots from the other day.

Share on Facebook

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…

A cat about to play the double bass

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.

Share on Facebook

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.

Meanwhile, essential bike repairs take place behind the bike shed… I mean the kiosk.

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.

Homemade furniture for our little square – the cosy corner.

Share on Facebook