The village square has seen some party action this weekend. I assumed it was something to do with the carnival held just before Clean Monday, but then Clean Monday isn’t until March 18th. The Patras Carnival apparently started on January 20th and runs until March 17th, which seems like a long day out, but I’d not heard of any arrangements for our festivities here. Perhaps it was a birthday or other party, as last night, the kafeneion was blasting out up-to-date music (Boney M and La Bamba). There were paper streamers everywhere, and signs of a silly-string fight left behind as evidence of a good time had by all.
We passed through as the whatever-it-was was winding down and made sure we turned off our doorbell when we got home, so littluns weren’t tempted to press it as they passed. That happens a lot if we leave it on because there’s a light on the button and a handy escape route via steps over the road. The game is to see if you can press the bell and make it to the corner before the grumpy old foreigners come out to shake their fists in the manner of a comic book neighbour. We don’t, actually, we ignore it while one of us says, ‘I’ll turn the alarm off,’ and we call it the alarm because that’s what Neil calls it. It’s like the landline phone we no longer use. If anyone wants to phone, they have to use the mobile numbers or email, and if they want to call in, they have to message first so we can leave the gate open. Either that or rattle the doors. Anyway…
Weather check. Wet and stormy on Friday, so bad that there were no boats, so I was right to change my appointment in Rhodes; I’d never have got there in time. Better over the weekend, but still cloudy, warm, 80% humidity on Sunday morning, though a bright and clear day, and the wind dropped. Today’s tasks include buying boat tickets for Wednesday, only €11.00 return with the Blue Star after my discount, and with my M.A.N. card, I’ll eventually get some of that back into my bank. The doctor’s checkup will cost me €20.00 under my insurance, and if I have a giros for lunch and do nothing for the rest of the day but walk, the whole day away should cost me no more than €40.00. You can bet it will, though, because it’s a 10-hour day from getting on the boat to getting off, and all for a one-hour appointment, if that, so what else can one do but shop? I can’t even do that as funds currently don’t allow, so I intend to wander as I wait for the day to pass.
But that’s for Wednesday when I shan’t be here, I’ll be there. As for the rest of the week, today it’s piano and model building, as it will be on Thursday, and maybe a couple of walks now the weather looks more outdoor friendly.
