Sunday Morning
Here’s a Sunday morning roundup for you. We had a fair old strong wind at the end of last week which delayed the boat from Athens for about 16 hours, meaning some people had to change flights and make alternative travel arrangements. The weather’s calm again now (not that I can see it with all the shutters closed) but it looks like we’re in for more wind and rain this week. The rain will be good for topping up the sterna. On which note…
The story has moved forward a couple of paces and back one. I called on our landlord on Friday to explain the problem we’re having. Andreas speaks less English than I do Greek but he speaks more local dialect than I do, of course, and has a strong accent which can make it hard for me to grasp everything he says. The other way around, I speak Greek with a horrible accent, and he is a little deaf, but together, we managed to shout and signal back and forth what we think the problem is. Roots or a crack in the sterna, allowing the water to escape somewhere into the ground until the level falls below that of the problem and we’re left with some water, but very little – and I don’t want to drain the tank dry and risk messing up the pump that’s down there. So…
It was arranged that he would call a mastoras (μάστορας), translated as a skilled worker, or more locally as a ‘master’ as in master builder, or by some as simply an odd job man. Whatever, it was a step forward, so I left it with him. He called over to us (he lives opposite) later in the day to let me now the plan. The mastoras would come at three the next day and take a look. He will have to open up the wall above the sterna and drop a ladder down, go down and assess the situation. Not a job I’d like to do, descending into a wet and slimy, cold hole, but it’s what must be done. The mastoras would be coming at three/three-thirty, Saturday. Andreas also checked that we had water, and I told him we had a limited supply. He then said that if we run out, we should let him know as he has a tank he can put on the roof and ‘wire up’ so we can fill that from the mains and have some water while we are otherwise without, which I thought was a very decent thing to offer. The thing is…
He was the head teacher of the technical college, so I am told and taught many of the men and youths who now work in building, plumbing, etc. In fact, he is known locally as ‘Daskalos’ (teacher). An interesting word as it can also mean ‘pedant’ so it could apply just as well to me. The story took a mild but not unexpected twist on Saturday afternoon when the only people to ring our bell were Harry come to collect his bags for a sleepover at a friend’s house, and Asif come to deliver several packs of water. No sign of the mastoras as yet, but it’s meant to rain later, and Monday is fill-up day anyway. Meanwhile, we’re using a friend’s washing machine down the road, and I have an excuse not to have to suffer a shower in the cold bathroom – not until completely necessary. I’ll let you know how it goes as it goes, hopefully, it will have gone in a week or so – it can take a long time to fix things like this so stay tuned.
