Good morning, and welcome to the almost end of September. Already? I know! So, what can I be telling you this morning… Well, for those who know him but don’t already know, yesterday, the mayor made Hugo an honorary citizen of Symi at a ceremony at the cultural centre in Yialos. As if by happy chance, Horio celebrated with a rock and roll evening played in the kafeneion in the square. Also on Sunday, we had the first of (I am sure) many picturesque sunrises to come as we head into winter.
It’s not winter yet, but it’s heading towards that vague kind of autumn time, when the vine starts dropping leaves (it’s been doing that all year), the air is cooler, and the weather less predictable. For a while now we have been in the halfway limbo where, for example, we have a duvet cover on the bed, but no duvet, and use it when the fan is on because that makes what was too warm too cold, so you need the duvet cover, unless it’s a warm night, when you might not – unless you put the fan on. I am wearing a shirt this morning, you will be pleased to know, but may not need it in the house in the afternoon. The drying up is taking longer to dry, as is the laundry, which, in summer, dries in minutes; now it’s taking a few hours. Soon, it will have to dry inside the house.
The boats are still coming in, people are still coming and going on their holidays, and everywhere is still open, so don’t get any ideas about things closing just yet. Another couple of weeks or so, and the taxi boats will probably stop as the six-month licences run out, and then, the beach places will close, apart from those with road access, maybe, and slowly, island life will transform from summer to winter mode, via this vague kind of autumn time. And during all of this, the chilli plants continue to thrive.
