These are just a few days in October:

            I was getting desperate for stock, paper, ink etc. and so, as I’d heard from the supplier in Rhodes that my stock order had arrived, I went over. No stock. Twice this had happened within a week and I was getting really desperate as I had ‘the wedding of the year’ to photograph on the 8th of October. I got another phone call on the 5th telling me my stock had mysteriously arrived for the third time in a week, so on the morning of the 6th I dubiously set off on the Dodecanese Pride. I had a strange feeling something was going to happen that day but didn’t know what. I shook the cobwebs from my head and wiped the sleep from my eyes as we arrived in Rhodes harbour.
            As everybody walked off the boat I started to text James and, not really noticing anybody, I disembarked. I heard somebody in Greek asking people if they needed a room for the night but I didn’t really listen properly. I heard another voice beside me and assumed it was somebody asking me if I needed a room. I mumbled a quick ‘no’ as I was still trying to text James. The next minute the man had pulled me back forcibly by grabbing my rucksack and waving an identity card in my face.
            ‘I am the police,’ he said.
He was in everyday wear. He asked for my passport and went through my bags with me watching. He even asked to look in my cigarette packet. I was polite to him the whole time; well you would be wouldn’t you? After a while he let me go and I carried on my way as I was in a hurry. After I had actually got my stock Told you something strange was going to happen) I text James and told him what had happened and that I felt as if I was being followed. I’ve never felt like that before and it made me feel strange even though I knew I hadn’t done anything wrong. I tried to put the feeling out of my head but it just kept nagging away. After a couple of hours I needed the toilet so I rushed off to the old market place. As soon as I came out of the public toilets I saw the policeman who had searched me earlier speaking on the phone, he looked away quickly. I had done all my shopping by now so I went to a bar and sat outside in the open. I didn’t see the policeman again but it had left me feeling I had done something wrong, even though I knew I hadn’t. I got home later that day and had just enough time for a shower and a quick bite to eat before James and I went to a meeting of ODAS, the creative people of Symi. I took the minutes of the meeting but we had to cut the meeting short as it was Ian’s stag night that night and there was no way we were going to miss it.
The stag night was hilarious as the other men made Ian go round in a white, revealing dress all night. James was sensible and went home about midnight. At 8 o’clock in the morning Ian, his best man and I got home. What a night.

The Wedding day, 8th October

I arrived, (after spending the previous day in bed with major hang over,) at Jenine the bride’s house at 9 o’clock in the morning. She was a picture. Curlers in her hair, and a nightie on. I could see why Ian was marrying her. The morning continued as people kept coming and going and making sure that nothing went wrong for Janine. At 12.30 I rushed with James to the house Ian had been staying in and took even more photos then a quick rush back to Jenine’s to take photos of her now fully dressed and looking spectacular in her wedding dress.
The wedding party walked down the Kali Strata with two musicians leading the way.
            When Jenine and Ian met on the bridge down in the harbour I found it hard to keep my camera still as tears were threatening to overspill. It was a lovely, though quick, registry do and afterwards the 110 or so guests boarded a couple of taxi boats and went to St. Nikloas beach. There Ian and Jenine were ‘blessed’ by James in a humanist ceremony (he had got himself ordained especially for the occasion). The whole day was perfect and we all ended up in Blooms night club and danced the night away. We wish them our deepest, heartfelt congratulations. They are a fantastic couple.
            There I said it. Jenine now owes me 20 euros.

Monday 9th

After telling everybody that they could come and see the photos from the wedding on Monday evening I went to work early and worked on them all day and only stopped for one hour’s break for something to eat. James had to take over for a couple of hours as it was election week and, as I was the photographer for the party opposite the mayor, I had to go to every meeting and photograph it all. Got back to my shop with a pile of orders which had to be ready by Tuesday night as a lot of the wedding party were leaving on Wednesday. Closed the shop at 9.00 pm and went straight to the Rainbow bar and started work straight away as it was heaving with wedding guests. ‘Phew!’

Tuesday 10th

Another day of non-stop work trying to get everybody’s orders ready as well as the photos from the meeting the night before. Worked at rainbow bar again but not quite so busy.

Wed 11th

More orders from the remaining guests left on the island and another meeting in the evening. This time it was down in Yialos and it really was something that wouldn’t be out of place in the west end of London. It was a great show.

Thursday and Friday:

More orders and the atmosphere on the island is becoming electric with election fever. Also found out today that there had been a photograph of me in a big national Greek newspaper. It’s been a good week.

Sunday 15th. 
           
I had the morning off work and James went to the shop instead, but I still got out of bed at 6.30 in the morning. I pottered round the house and at 11.30 thought I would make something good for dinner. We had been so busy we’d completely forgotten to go shopping. There was no food in the house at all. I made a quick phone call to James and half an hour later the shop was closed and we were at Filos restaurant. It used to be To Klima.
We noticed the rainbow bar was closed so we knew straight away we wouldn’t have to work there that day. A lot of our friends were drinking outside Bullmas so we decided to join them as the weather was lovely. Two drinks later and James and I, followed by Terri went to the local school to vote. Five minutes later and we were back at Bullmas: They had run out of envelopes at the polling station. Half an hour later we went back and put our votes in. We felt really pleased with ourselves for doing our duty and guess where we went afterwards? Back to Bullmas.
Later we went to Terri’s house for an ouzo and a game of Trivial Pursuit, (no S). We were really having fun when we noticed the time. I had already planned keeping the shop closed that night but we were late for a party and they were holding off the champagne and caviar until we got there. Later that night, on the way home, dynamite rocked the island and fireworks filled the sky. The elections were over and Lefteris, the mayor, had got in again for another four years.
            What a week on this small quiet island.
Life is great!