But what goes on, on Symi, in the winter?
To answer this oft-asked question, here are a few views of what’s going on in the village this week. From these images, you might think ‘not a lot’ but actually… The bus is running up and down on its usual route and winter timetable, there is building work going on (when it’s not raining), people are at work in their shops and at their businesses, the taverna is open and hosting name day parties and other events on top of its usual service, there is live music being played at various venues, the cinema shows films on a Sunday, there are church services and festivals in the village, the harbour and all over the island, and people are also at work on their farms, smallholdings and allotments. So, I suppose there is quite a lot going on.
Fishermen are going out of a morning and bringing their catch back in the afternoon, or late morning, and selling it on the streets and the quayside. The inter-island ferry comes and goes bringing some post and supplies, the catamaran comes in four times per week with some Greek day trippers from Rhodes, and the taxis are running up and down the hill and across the island as needed. The church bells ring, the town hall makes its announcements – the main road has been closed for a couple of days for work – the new jetty is now expanding and they have started excavating for the road link (I think that’s what it is) and there are fitness classes and yoga and other classes going on, including free Greek language lessons organised by the Dimos (Town Hall).
Back up here in the village, we’re getting on with our usual day to day, I’m almost done on draft five of my next book and thinking about a cover design. It will still be a while as it has to be laid out and made ready, finally proofed (each time I go through I still find odd typos that three readers and I so far have also missed), Neil is working on his course, we are saving as much as we can for the year ahead – travel to the yUK for Niel’s exam and a wedding, and our own celebration in September. I will soon have to start arranging our annual health MOT in Rhodes, get my passport renewed (before December) and, as soon as the book arrives, start teaching myself the concertina – don’t hold your breath for sea shanties anytime soon; it’s not as easy as it looks.
So, when people ask, ‘What do you do in the winter on Symi?’ there are a few answers for you. About the only things we don’t do is sit in the sun or go swimming but then I don’t do that much in the summer either. We do spend a lot of time cleaning up the courtyard after downpours and we still have the vine and a fig tree to cut back before they start growing again. The inside of the house could do with a coat of paint and a spring clean throughout (I must remember wher I left the vacuum cleaner) and then there’s always the next story to write.
Putting your feet up for the six months of the winter season? I don’t think so.
