Sunday 19 to Sunday 26 June 2011
We said goodbye to everyone at breakfast on Sunday, drove to Manchester Airport, dropped off the hire car, caught a late flight, got to Preveza about 9 pm, drove back to Nidri, and settled down in the Tree Bar to wait for George's college friends, arriving on the late bus from Athens.
George, with devastating style, had had his passport stolen on Saturday, so his friends were travelling without him, and so we had to wait up to help them find the boat and get them set up for the night in an unfamiliar environment ('how do you turn on the water/lights/flush the loo?'). They arrived at 1.30 am.
Before we left for the UK, we'd spent the Saturday and Sunday before the flight trying hard to rat-proof the camper van, and were feeling exhausted, but marginally hopeful, as we set off for the airport, hastily packed. On arrival, thinking through the week ahead, I realised I'd forgotten to bring the driving licences - a bit crucial, given our hire car plans. We were very early, but already through security. So we made a frantic phone call to Rob, and he leapt into action. Getting hold of a driver, scootering them up to Goat Bottom, finding the licences and then driving to Preveza. In one of those surreal sets of coincidences it had not only become stormy with lashing rain and lighting, but we were informed by the airport reps that the Olympic Flame was being carried through Lefkas Town that evening en route for the Special Olympics in Athens, causing traffic congestion. With great dramatic timing, Rob arrived just as the last few people were going through the departure gate. Clutching the paperwork, we turned to board the plane as he cheerfully called after us - 'By the way, I saw your rat!' Instant misery.
While in the UK, I'd had a few texts from Alison and Michael from the Winnebago, they'd twice found a rat in the glue traps and dispatched both, so we hadn't excluded them. We had no idea what we were coming home to. And at 2.30 am, having explained the boat to George's friends, we were too tired to take on what might be there. We went for a very late beer in Biblos, and slept on the boat, too.
It wasn't so bad, when we got there the next day, but we scrubbed and bleached and cleaned, and found that white spirit dissolves the smears of glue. Then we went back to the boat and moved George's friends onto the Skorpios pontoon, where they had showers and loos.
Tuesday, George begged me to go to the doctor and provide a note that would give medical reasons for him being issued an emergency passport. By now, it was fair to say I was suffering stress and anxiety, which George turning up and taking his friends away sailing would go a long way towards alleviating. By the time that was faxed it was seriously hot, so we had one of our rare trips to the beach, where we promptly fell asleep in the shade.
On Wednesday, I drove to the bus station and picked up George, who had travelled all night. He went for a happy reunion with the friends, while Dave and I made a few last minute repairs to Tropi.
On Thursday, I got on with my writing box.
I originally wanted a proper hipped roof, but decided that a quick fix would be this big garden umbrella, which I'd shot off to Lefkas for, one evening. I lashed the umbrella to the framework, and then started stapling insect netting all round.
Somewhere around then, our neighbours gained a pony, Belladonna, which they asked if we'd mind having tethered in the field. Always willing to accept a source of manure, we agreed.
After the net, I put up bamboo matting to shoulder height, for privacy and to protect the netting, while not obstructing the breeze. I also needed extra matting on the West side as the evening sun came in under the umbrella.
Then I built a door, out of leftover floorboards, under extreme conditions. The horseflies were at their worst, it was hot and sweaty and I was covered in an itchy layer of sawdust and insect repellent. But the door was the final frontier. Once that was on, the flies were OUT.
Unable to wait a moment longer, I turned out the contents of the storage trailer, uncovered the desk and chair and installed a few home comforts. Looking good! The umbrella is too light, though, and I had to hang fabrics to try to minimise light reflecting on the screen.
Done. With a 'window' panel cut out in front of the desk.
Unfortunately this overlooks the horse, which is a bit of a distraction when she's being tended to. There are also a couple of black and white swallowtail butterflies living in the tree directly ahead - another distraction: I love watching the way they move on the wind.
The writing box is not waterproof. It may be showerproof, but I've got to get a proper roof on before it rains - hopefully I've got a couple of months yet.
We said goodbye to everyone at breakfast on Sunday, drove to Manchester Airport, dropped off the hire car, caught a late flight, got to Preveza about 9 pm, drove back to Nidri, and settled down in the Tree Bar to wait for George's college friends, arriving on the late bus from Athens.
George, with devastating style, had had his passport stolen on Saturday, so his friends were travelling without him, and so we had to wait up to help them find the boat and get them set up for the night in an unfamiliar environment ('how do you turn on the water/lights/flush the loo?'). They arrived at 1.30 am.
Before we left for the UK, we'd spent the Saturday and Sunday before the flight trying hard to rat-proof the camper van, and were feeling exhausted, but marginally hopeful, as we set off for the airport, hastily packed. On arrival, thinking through the week ahead, I realised I'd forgotten to bring the driving licences - a bit crucial, given our hire car plans. We were very early, but already through security. So we made a frantic phone call to Rob, and he leapt into action. Getting hold of a driver, scootering them up to Goat Bottom, finding the licences and then driving to Preveza. In one of those surreal sets of coincidences it had not only become stormy with lashing rain and lighting, but we were informed by the airport reps that the Olympic Flame was being carried through Lefkas Town that evening en route for the Special Olympics in Athens, causing traffic congestion. With great dramatic timing, Rob arrived just as the last few people were going through the departure gate. Clutching the paperwork, we turned to board the plane as he cheerfully called after us - 'By the way, I saw your rat!' Instant misery.
While in the UK, I'd had a few texts from Alison and Michael from the Winnebago, they'd twice found a rat in the glue traps and dispatched both, so we hadn't excluded them. We had no idea what we were coming home to. And at 2.30 am, having explained the boat to George's friends, we were too tired to take on what might be there. We went for a very late beer in Biblos, and slept on the boat, too.
It wasn't so bad, when we got there the next day, but we scrubbed and bleached and cleaned, and found that white spirit dissolves the smears of glue. Then we went back to the boat and moved George's friends onto the Skorpios pontoon, where they had showers and loos.
Tuesday, George begged me to go to the doctor and provide a note that would give medical reasons for him being issued an emergency passport. By now, it was fair to say I was suffering stress and anxiety, which George turning up and taking his friends away sailing would go a long way towards alleviating. By the time that was faxed it was seriously hot, so we had one of our rare trips to the beach, where we promptly fell asleep in the shade.
On Wednesday, I drove to the bus station and picked up George, who had travelled all night. He went for a happy reunion with the friends, while Dave and I made a few last minute repairs to Tropi.
On Thursday, I got on with my writing box.
Then I built a door, out of leftover floorboards, under extreme conditions. The horseflies were at their worst, it was hot and sweaty and I was covered in an itchy layer of sawdust and insect repellent. But the door was the final frontier. Once that was on, the flies were OUT.
Unable to wait a moment longer, I turned out the contents of the storage trailer, uncovered the desk and chair and installed a few home comforts. Looking good! The umbrella is too light, though, and I had to hang fabrics to try to minimise light reflecting on the screen.
Unfortunately this overlooks the horse, which is a bit of a distraction when she's being tended to. There are also a couple of black and white swallowtail butterflies living in the tree directly ahead - another distraction: I love watching the way they move on the wind.
The writing box is not waterproof. It may be showerproof, but I've got to get a proper roof on before it rains - hopefully I've got a couple of months yet.
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