Sunday
Good morning. I am writing this yesterday so as to have a blog post ready to launch on its own while I am doing other things on Monday. It’s been quite a busy weekend, and to intersperse the news, I’ve added some of Neil’s recent pictures taken on his island wanderings.
We had our first vaccinations on Friday. It was all very well organised and easy. The surgery rang the day before with an appointment time, only, they rang Neil while he was in Panormitis, the connection wasn’t wonderful, and he’d just found out that there was no bus that day and was wondering how he was to get home. Because of all that, I wasn’t sure if my time was 10:00, 11:00, 10-to-11:00 or 11:10, but it had something to do with the numbers ten and eleven. So, I was there at ten to ten just in case and found out my appointment was ten to eleven. I wandered to the bank to find both ATM machines being serviced, sat on a bench for a while, and appeared at the appropriate time for my jab. Lovely doctors and nurses, speaking English for me until I spoke Greek and then it all got a bit complicated, but we managed. I answered the questions and had my jab, waited until I was released and headed home. Neil was at the more definite time of 12.30, and he was done and home within the hour.
I must admit, my arm hurt like crazy on Saturday, and I sneezed and groaned my way through the day with what felt like a heavy cold while I finished my beta read of my next book. After that, I made a nest on the sofa for the rest of the day, and woke on Sunday feeling much better.
Sunday morning was taken up with bits and pieces of work, followed by the final gathering of paperwork for today and my biometric card interview/visit in Rhodes. This has involved arranging paperwork, chiefly, for me, my passport and two colour copies, four photos (thanks to Panormitis at Smart Symi) and their CD, two copies of my blue card (2008) and the original, five years’ tax returns (I have ten just in case), and the email to say I’ve paid the fee of $16.00. They are one set of documents, but to be safe, I have also included my house contract, my health insurance from AXA, proof of address from my UK banks, my Alpha bank books, my IKA stamps and book dating back to 2002, a copy of our civil partnership and the town hall registration of it/marriage, my bank books since 2002, and an affidavit to swear I am who I am and I live where I say I do as I don’t yet have a utility bill in my name/address. I am sure there are some other things in the folder which I’ve forgotten about, and I won’t need most of it (I hope), but just in case…
Oh, yes, I also have my permission to travel form from KEP. I have filled out my pre-boarding health questionnaire and one for the return journey and have spare copies of my last tax form and house contract in case the Rhodes police don’t believe I live on Symi. What could possibly go wrong?
And so, while you are reading this, I should be in Rhodes, as long as I woke up at 3.30, met the family at 4.30 and we made the boat at 5.00…
