Definitely autumn
Delightful weather, all rather peaceful, quiet in the village in the afternoons and yet busier in the evenings. There are several homeowners here at the moment, coming for an end of season holiday and to check their properties before preparing them for the winter months. Checking the weather-proofing, tidying up, putting things away and making sure everything is in place so that their houses are looked after during the coming months.
There are also several long-stayer preparing to head home after a summer on Symi. That must be a very difficult thing to do, to say goodbye to your second home for a few months. But, as I always say, you have to leave in order to come back.
As for us, we’re falling into the pre-winter routine: up early still (a huge array of stars from the balcony at 5.30 this morning), work in the morning, and afternoon actually, a pause for lunch, Neil still guarding the bar for a couple of hours, a drink or two there before home for a film, or friends for a dinner, that kind of thing. The shorts have gone back into the wardrobe unless we’re out in the sun in the mornings, but we’re not yet in full winter garb. That will come later. The courtyard is tidy, the flat roof cleaned ready for a coat of waterproof paint, the barbeque still needs to come inside to go into hibernation in the spare shower room, but other than that… Oh, the chilli plant has now decided to flower, so we’re hoping it stays warm enough for those buds to turn into chillies. Seems a bit late, but then, what do I know?
The day boats are still coming in, though numbers of day visitors may be falling. A couple of tavernas have closed for the season, but I still see taxi boats heading out. The Poseidon is finishing its trips this week unless the weather holds, the licence runs on, and there are enough takers for a trip. So, you can safely say, it’s definitely autumn here on Symi.
