Off to Corfu

22 - 24 September 2014

Jonathan returned to the UK on Sunday, but Rob, Tanya and family, who had come out for Regatta, were still around, so we went out for a day's fishing on Monday (but didn't catch anything).  Fuelled by a few beers, we took the sudden decision to join them in Corfu on Tuesday night (mainly because there was a rare Liverpool - Middlesbrough football match on the telly).

We stayed with the lovely Nina at Takis' in Kontokali, watched the match (which was phenomenal, going to an unheard-of 14-13 on penalties) and had a lovely day pottering our way to the ferry and then back home via the Springs of Acheron on the mainland.

Regatta 2014

14 - 21 September 2014

Back in Greece, with Jonathan and an enormous box full of mountain bike, we joined Dave in 'Tropi' (minus the bike) and set off for a week of yacht racing.

 The first evening was very jolly, with traditional costume Greek dancing and the lads from the shanty choir giving an impromptu performance.

I don't seem to have taken any photos while actually sailing - too intense and focused, perhaps.   So the next images I have are from Jonathan's five star hotel to which he retired on day 3 after concussing himself on the boom.  Dave and I with Naomi and Pete who crewed with us for the Regatta joined him for a swim on Friday.  We did rather well in the regatta, coming joint 2nd in our class, but due to an input error that affected our handicap, this wasn't recognised on the night and we missed out on our moment of glory at the prize-giving.  

Much-needed relaxation for our over-taxed skipper!

Whistlestop UK

7 - 14 September 2014

My Mum was moving house on the 9th, so I left for the UK on Sunday 7th and stayed a week to help.

 The old place all emptied out ...

 courtesy of the removal team

 and set up in the new house by the evening, with Jonathan, the new landlord!

 Dad and Nick came to inspect the premises.

 Then on the last Saturday, we had a day out to a lovely garden near Salisbury, with Jonathan who had come to collect me for the airport on Sunday.

Saying goodbye on the doorstep, sniffle x

Grout

30 Aug 2014

Finished grouting the tiles around the kitchen.  Able to move the cooker into position and use the sink with impunity!  Lovely to have a functional kitchen at last.

Bonny tiler

26 - 29 August 2014

So, now there's enough varnish on the sink surround, I can put in my little mosaic of broken tile bits along the 8cm gap between worktop and window sill.  This needs sealing to protect the wood, and I thought it might be interesting to use up broken pieces here.

 Thursday night, Pete and Naomi came up for supper, and we sat out watching for shooting stars - something we don't do often enough.

 On Friday we had a tiling extravaganza.  Tiling is too fiddly for Dave, so he was on tile-cutting duty as the cutter is tough on my elbow.  We had originally bought a couple of m2 of the greyish tiles in the middle of the picture, but found them to be very cheap and too grey.  So we went back for plain white tiles, as the tile stockman had given us a selection of odd or damaged tiles which provide a random splash of colour.  This corner will be behind the cooker, so we used up the grey tiles where they won't be very visible.

 And this is where the washing machine will go, so we used the rest of the grey tiles here. Dave came in and said, 'That's bonny, pet.' - which gave us 'bonny tiler' (apologies to the singer)!  Just the grouting to do now.

This was an exciting moment - a friend who also can't eat wheat had been staking out a Lefkas baker who will make gluten free bread if enough people are interested.  We'd placed an open order for 3 loaves any time, so Dave got a call and rushed down to meet at the by-pass for a bread hand-over.  It is delicious - real, fresh (warm) crusty bread, indistinguishable from the wheaten type.  High tea with bread and jam was called for.

A tiny-mini-break

Monday 25 August 2014

We were invited to a pool-and-barbeque party by Mad Robbie and Sue, at a villa they look after and had permission to party at.  It is up the hill behind us, in the village of Neohori, which is all precipitous windy roads, so we took an overnight bag.

 Fabulous view, with the islands all spread out and the mainland mountains turning pink in the reflected sunset.

 Here's us, after a romp in the pool playing cheating volleyball and waiting for the barbeque to fire up

 We found a tiny baby scorpion in our bath - anyone who doesn't like spiders, take note!

Next morning, we were up early, had another swim, then walked up the track behind the villa, finding this little church nestled in the hillside.

Funnily enough, this little evening/morning out felt like a real, if short, holiday.

Varnishing

23 - 24 August 2014

Something spurred us into a new burst of activity, so we got the varnish out and put a few more coats on the plywood work surfaces in the kitchen over a couple of days.  I want to start tiling to protect the plasterboard and make it easier to keep clean.

Dave, meanwhile, has his own troubles.  At a rehearsal on Tues 19th, Mark and Geoff were saying how they'd like a guest guitarist to do the fancy bits in a couple of numbers at the regatta.  This felt disloyal, and Dave was hurt, so he has stepped down from Steamboat Rooster to let them have the guitarist they want.  In many ways he is happier, playing music he enjoys, but he does miss being in a band.  Hopefully the universe will quickly send him another one.

Sleepy but musical August

13 - 22 August 2014

Well, I have absolutely nothing to report for these 10 days.  I think I spent most of it asleep due to my various medications.  It was swelteringly hot, temperatures in the 40s in the sun, so we just stayed inside and read books.

We have started taking singing lessons with Rosa, who studied a music degree and runs various choirs out here.  I can't handle choir singing - too insecure, but she is willing to come to the house and struggle to teach me (and Dave when he's here) how to hit some notes.  It is great fun.

Time for the youngsters who are off to study in other countries to leave.  Ciara who has been singing with Steamboat Rooster is leaving for the UK to study performing arts.  We'll miss her.  There was a tearful leaving night at the Tree Bar, and Ciara and her sisters all sang together.

 Meanwhile, in the UK, Richie was leaving to do an exchange year in California, lucky dog!

More troubles

Early August 2014

Just at the end of July/early August I found a couple of bites on my right calf had become very swollen and hot - the skin felt so stretched it was uncomfortable to put weight on that leg.  The doctor said it was infected, and gave me antibiotics and other medications.  I was already taking muscle relaxants and painkillers for the tennis elbow, and definitely feeling sorry for myself.

Then on Sunday 10th, Dave had just come back after another week's skippering, and we returned after a day at Nisos to find that the chicken had disappeared.  She had just started laying eggs again, we'd treated her for worms and she'd perked up hugely and was producing an egg four days out of five.  We miss her, she was a character (if a nuisance) and hope she went quick.

 Notso (stupid)'s final legacy

Glass in the kitchen window - how smart is that?

Kitchen developments

Thursday 31 July 2014

Last day of July and we had a little burst of energy. 

We got stuck into the pile of bales and moved the ones nearest the kitchen back up the pile to create a fire-break (hopefully).  Then I got the staple gun out, and as best I could left-handed, I stapled up insect netting as a fourth wall for the kitchen.

Dave, after doing most of the heavy lifting with the bales, moved on to painting the window frames so that the glass can be fitted soon.