A quick list of what went on in May:

Koukoumas happened up at St. Thanasis church in the village – (the unmarried girls of the village traditionally discover their future husbands by way of singing, dancing, silent water, a ring and a dream. It’s a long story.)

Neil got the gallery up and running and he’s now exhibiting at what I call the “Symi Modern” with three artists currently exhibiting there.

The Windmill restaurant reopened under new management – it’s now a mezethes restaurant, serving individual and very tasty dishes. It has been very busy and is a great success, and I know that because I am working there and have lost almost a stone in weight already due to the running around!

The season is up and running and it’s work, work, work for all of us! But there is also some social time as old friends return and new friendships are made. I had 11 people on the village walk last Tuesday, braving the unusually hot May weather. (Even the weeds in the garden are struggling.)

We’ve had live music at Lefteris Kafeneion, the first of the ‘posh yachts’ in the harbour – a government minister has visited already – the Mayor of Kos has been for a drink at the Rainbow Bar, the birds have had babies and the air is filled with bird song.

The apricots are almost ready, maybe another three weeks, figs are starting to come out on the trees in the ruins, the cats are finding new and various places to doze in the shade.

We’ve had lunch at Taverna Zoi, live bands at the new Aletheni club, real SAGA-nauts at the Pedi Beach hotel and artists painting on the steps outside the shop. Basically everything is back into summer mode and winter seems like a distant memory already.