So what’s new and what went on last month?

Well, big news in the village square: the Rainbow Bar now has three fans! Not the scarf waving, anthem chanting variety - I’m sure all the bars up here have those kinds of fans, but I mean the electric variety. Yianni has also put up some bamboo screens to shield punters from the late afternoon sun. All in all, the place is much more comfortable and you now wonder how you ever survived without these latest mod-cons.

In the gallery we have new exhibiting artists, local folk of course, Greek and non-Greek, which is great. We are still working on the hangings - of the paintings I mean - and have received advice and picture hooks from mother in Penzance who knows about these things. We’ll get around to it some day but meanwhile you can still view the artwork for free and even buy some original work if you wish.

The World Cup did not go unnoticed of course and we’ve had regular football nights not only at Jean’s but at the Rainbow and Lefteris’ kafeneion too. The final was particularly busy apparently, (I was at home watching My Fair Lady as I have to write a comedy sketch about footballers’ wives - see July’s Village View.) So great times have been had by all… football fans at least.

Oh! More exciting news in the village: the new stationers shop now sells foreign language newspapers. I don’t mean the Sun and Sunday Sport, though they do seem to be written in a completely alien language these days, (what are Wags, Chavs etc.?) but quality papers. I spotted a Times and several other sensible looking, non-English publications. The new shop is just up the lane from the square heading towards Zoi’s Taverna. The building has been brilliantly restored with some of the finest wood carving we’ve seen on the island.

As if electric fans and foreign newspapers weren’t enough advancement for the village/island, get this: we’ve now got ADSL internet connection. Before we were stumbling along on ISDN at a whopping 64 kbs a second + dial up fees. Now we’re on the basic ADSL package at around 400 kbs at a set fee each month. No need to worry about what time of day you check your emails or upload your website now, you can stay glued to your browser all day if you want.

But why would you when you have the whole island, the social life, the characters and the sea at your disposal?

The festival has started with a gala performance (see Symi Visitor for the news factor) and a fabulous firework display - don’t you just love election year, no expense spared. Neil’s children visited for a two week break and charmed everyone, so I was busy in the shop while they holidayed on boats and beaches.

Although July is traditionally a ‘quiet month’ the day boats have arrived with regularity bringing people over from Rhodes and there are enough visitors staying in the village to keep everywhere more or less busy enough. Things tick over as the temperature stays relentlessly high and ‘zesti pali’ becomes a daily exchange. (Hot again.) We look forward to August…