Rubbish and updates
Took a little walk on Monday afternoon and topped up the file of ‘photos to be posted.’ It’s now completely full (not) with about 20 images, so my plan is to get out there and get some more and really stock up the file. So, on this walk…
We stopped to feed the cats at our feeding station and then walked around the road to the back of the village, passing the other group of strays at the other bins. The bins don’t look that glamorous on Symi, it must be said and there’s no such thing as a recycling area with different coloured tubs for different things. Not like in some places I’ve been to recently, like airports, where each set of bins numbers about 15. Green for papers, yellow for plastics, red for ammunition, pink for unwanted child’s toys (unless 100% plastic in which case in the yellow one), a rainbow painted one for pure linen, plaid and anything from Marks & Spencer, paisley for all other material, white with a hint of apple for paint pots and a bastard-amber one for everything else. Yes, I’m all for recycling but there’s so much choice. Unless you’re on Symi, where you have a skip or a wheelie bin and make do. And yes, bastard-amber is actually the name of a colour, I quote: “Bastard-amber is the name of an amber-coloured spotlight used in theatres to produce a warm peach or pink glow on stage. It’s often used to recreate sunlight, or to give the illusion of dawn or dusk.”
But that’s how it is and that’s how it goes. You find all kinds of interesting junk at the bins too. I’ve known people restore furniture and build new pieces from what’s been found at the bins. They get emptied at least once a day and the area gets tidied up too. I often see the guys early in the morning when I am on my early walks (summer). I hate to think what time they start in the mornings, I’m often out at about at 5.30 and they are coming back from the tip (and recycling plant, as I was told there was some kind of recycling going on up there).
Anyway, I didn’t start today’s blog in order to talk rubbish, though I am sure there are critics out there who say that’s all I write. And talking of writing (rubbish or otherwise, time will tell) the new book ‘Straight Swap’ is now in what’s rather trendily called ‘the beta stage.’ I have no idea what that really means but for me it means it’s being proof read and also, chapter by chapter, being sent to the editor – finally. Mind you, he just had a huge computer disaster and loss and is rebuilding, so he may not be able to start on the edits just yet. Meanwhile…
Meanwhile, next on the list is now ‘Shocking the Donkeys’; the book version of the film script. Not quite a novel, not a screenplay but a mix of both, I aim to get this out by mid-next-year, as it’s a smaller project than a full novel. It will depend again on the editor. This is the story of Greece’s first gay wedding – not the actual one that took place on Tilos and was immediately annulled by Church and State alike (a few years ago now), but a made up one set on an island not unlike Symi. Now that the Greek Government have been kicked into line and forced to allow civil partnerships between same sex couples, the ‘Donkeys’ is slightly out of date, so will be updated. That’s next on the table, so keep your eyes peeled. Meanwhile-meanwhile, it’s back to work for me and have a nice day!
