It was another quiet weekend for me working on an article and a new idea for a ‘Christmas special’ for my series of novels set in Victorian times.
I’ve asked the followers of my Facebook page to have input into this by suggesting up to five characters who’ll find themselves together sharing a story each from their lives. Anyone who leaves a comment goes into a draw to win a Clearwater calendar, and in return, I’ll have a book of five short stories ready for Christmas. Members of my private group will get a free digital copy, as will anyone who is on my newsletter mailing list. (Just click any of those links to join in.)
So, that’s that, and this is now: early on Monday morning with a new week to look forward to, the article to finish this morning, work on this new idea (or/and the next book in the Delamere series), take a short walk around the village, give a piano lesson and get on with the other usual things that happen on a Monday around here. It might be Neil’s last day at work for the season, it depends on how busy the bar is, but at this time of year… hardly busy at all.
We still have day trip boats coming in, and the little train is still running, but I think today is the last Around the Island boat excursion for the Poseidon (I’m not sure about the others). I went to look up the Blue Star timetable for November onwards as I am thinking about the return from our Athens trip, but the schedule is not up there yet, apart from the Sunday sailings from Piraeus, so I can’t book that part of our ‘family’ trip just yet. Hopefully, the schedule will be available shortly.
The village tavernas and bars remain open, though there are fewer and fewer people about, and it already feels like we’re getting back to winter normal which is: permanent residents only, warmer clothing, popping to the shop in your slippers, trying to remember where you stored the heaters, considering the warnings about rises in electricity prices, thinking about organising your annual health checkups in Rhodes, and ordering daft items for fun Christmas presents. Actually, we’ve just found this site called Temu.com which looks to be part Jumbo, part ‘Chinese clothes shop’, and part Innovations catalogue. It has all kinds of things you didn’t know you couldn’t do without. I ordered some dafties last week, and apparently, they are here already. I can’t wait to see if my bathroom fixture has arrived and if it works. This is a thing you add to your WC bowl. It lights up and shines a colourful light around the pan to make it easier to see in the dark. No, I couldn’t believe it either, nor could I pass another day without seeing if it worked. Apparently, it’s ‘motion activated.’
I’m not making it up. I’ll give you a full report if/when it arrives, we test it and it’s been passed by the management. Until then, you’ll have to hang on and hope for good news. Meanwhile, here’s a photo from the site to whet your appetite.
