You might remember that last year I set about reorganising my ‘study.’ Well, the last part of the refurbishment arrived on Sunday, and there’s a photo of it below. On one side of the room, out of shot, I have my typing desk, a corner pod that now holds my laptop with the printer beside it and a modern, Ikea cabinet for files and folders. Under the window in the middle, I have my old trunk and an antique looking box which is also a filing cabinet, and the window now has a green velvet curtain held back with a red and gold tassel. On the other side is what you see in the photo. My father’s old desk, my new chair, the lamp and my leather-bound notebooks. I use this desk for reading and writing by hand, feeing suitable old-fashioned and almost Victorian. The floor is now covered by a deep, red carpet that almost reaches the walls. I should have gone for the full fitting as the carpet was cut to order, but left a border as the walls in Symi houses don’t always square up. Anyway, it’s done now – apart from the bookcase which is white and needs either painting a darker, natural colour or replacing with a wooden one when/if I can afford it.
The tankard is for display only
Yesterday, rather than spend the day in the chair, I went for a walk up to the old cantina overlooking Horio. A rainbow greeted me as I turned a corner on the road, though it wasn’t raining at that time. It was a pleasant morning for walking, and I didn’t need a coat. I was traipsing 1.5 miles uphill and then down again, so I was warm enough.
These walks are not just for exercise and a vain attempt to keep the weight down. (I have had to loosen the belt a notch over the winter and it’s now on hole two. Last November it was on hole three, an inch away, so I want to get back to that level at least.) These walks are also an opportunity to clear my mind and then refill it with ideas for stories, or to simply lose myself in the music I listen to and enjoy the rural scenery. Yesterday that included not only the grass and greenery now abundant on the island, but goats, sheep, dogs, chickens, a horse and the birds, ravens overhead and in the bushes. It’s also pleasant to wave at people you know as they pass in cars and on bikes. It all gives you a sense of belonging.
Back at the pod as opposed to the desk at nine, and the rest of the day is mine to create.
Happy first of the month to you, kalo mina, in Greek. It’s been a bit of a fun-house/mad-house weekend up here. It started on Friday when we went to Yialos to buy a few essentials we have lived without for several years. Though it about time we had some decent weighing scales in the kitchen, a mixing bowl, a hand-held mixer and other things now considered basics. We found everything we wanted, brought them home and eagerly unpacked to set about using the scales and whisk to prepare for a dinner on Saturday. Now then, it’s been a while since I’ve used an electric/digital weighing scale. We used to have a mechanical one, and it was a simple ‘put the thing in the bowl, watch the scale move’ event and hardly taxing. Apparently, things have changed somewhat since 1978, and the simple machine now comes with full instructions, as you will see…
Continuing to feed the strays up at te bins.
The instruction booklet is neatly set out with six main headings, To replace battery, To operate scale, To convert weight unit etc. It even has an alarm on it, presumably to remind you to stop tipping flour into the bowl after half an hour, I don’t know, but another of the instructions concerns the ‘Zero’ function. That, to me, sounds like the British government (which is very alarming, let’s face it) which also seems to suffer a zero function as in, does absolutely zero for its citizens living in the EU, but let’s not get into that mess of cabbage so early in the week. Here, after this next random shot, are the instructions for the “Zero or Tare Function.”
Thomas a Basket continues to make himself at home.
Condition 1: “ZERO” function. When total sum of all loads on scale ≤ 4% of scale’s max.weight capactity. (4%=80g when capacity is 2kg; 200g when capacity is 5kg) LCD will show “—-” or “0g” each time Z/T is pressed. “—-” means not stable, please wait a moment. “0g” and meanwhile an icon “ZERO” on lower left corner of LCD mean “ZERO” function is active. Max. capacity remains unchanged.
As do the snails and slugs at this time of year.
I kid you not. I was amused to read that “Zero means zero” and, at the end of it all, everything remains unchanged. (Ring any bells?) The scales are strong and stable, unlike you know what, so that’s a good thing, and it’s also a good job I remembered what that symbol (≤) meant although I had to go back 40 odd years to my CSE grade 2 maths to recall it. I have no idea what I am going to do with my Zero function, but I can always play with the new electric whisk.
That glorious machine helped Neil make a very tasty Bakewell tart, and it should no longer take me three days of hand whisking to make a chocolate mousse. That’s despite its instructions, which are available to me on a wall-planner sized, fold-out instructions sheet that’s mainly in Arabic but also in German, Dutch, French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Greek, Russian, Ukrainian, KK and FA (I’m not sure what languages they are). There’s also an English version, phew, but I did wonder what will happen after April 12th, May the whatever-date or 2020 onwards. Will such instructions on European bought devices no longer be printed in English? That’d be fun. Luckily, I have a photo of the Rosetta Stone, so I have a translation guide on hand. For my part, I just stick the thing in the mixture and press the button. Can’t be ≤ the difficulty of using the scales, can it?
And I think I need to get dusting.
Anyway, my early Sunday morning ramble (as that’s when I am putting this together) followed the baking-supplies shopping spree, an evening with godson #1, a morning in the kitchen and a dinner with friends where the tart (Bakewell) was well received, and where my chicken curry didn’t do too badly either. Now, it’s on with the week ahead and… yay! No plans, dates, dinners or anything strenuous so far arranged. It’s on with the writing, and now that the weather is better, back to the regular walking.
Here’s a quick summary of how to get to the village from Yialos, for anyone who is heading this way this year and isn’t too sure how to do it. There are various ways including the taxis and the bus, the main road walk and a variety of paths and steps that join the Kali Strata, the main steps leading up to the village square. There are around 400 of them, so be prepared.
Start by the souvkali shop in the south-west corner of the harbour – towards Harani Bar (on the right), Vapori Bar and the fruit stallRight at the jewellery shopAt the start, past the Kalodoukas officesLeft at the pet shop/vet’sJust follow the widest stepsSteps then flat, makes it easierRemember to look behind and to the side for the best viewsnot far nowTowards the last pushStop on the corner for the famous ‘Kali Strata Bar’ view. (The bar is gone, but there’s a bench.)Down with your head, up with your heart and you’re skimming over the top in a jiffy. (A quote from ‘Blythe Spirit’)Near the topFinally, a rest at one of the village square cafes
If you want to buy the book with the same title as this post, then check out Carry On Up The Kali Strata (my series of living on Symi, book two). Here’s the dot-com link, but you can find it in all Amazon stores so order it from the one most appropriate to you.
A day for a mix of photos and not a lot to say. Except… Easter is approaching, and I’ve had a couple of messages recently asking me what there is to do on Symi at Easter. Perhaps it’s because Easter weekend is fairly late this year (April 28th is Easter Sunday) that more people are thinking of taking a holiday here at that time, hence the questions. Usually, at Easter time, several cafes and restaurants that have been closed for the winter are reopened, so there should be no shortage of places to eat out. On which note, I’ve heard that what was Manos’ Aris restaurant is now to be opened (as something else, I assume) by Stavros, Pantelis is taking over the roof garden and… Well, it’s all gossip really, as I’ve not heard anything from the parties involved, but the point is, there are places open to dine.
A typical spring day
The beach tavernas probably won’t be open, it might depend on the weather which, in April can be changeable. Check your boat connections with Dodekanisos Seaways and the Blue Star Line, and maybe nearer the time, ANES if they are running a service again this year. You will find or have found by now, hotels and apartments ready for occupation so accommodation shouldn’t be an issue – as long as you book ahead.
The weather can change quickly
When you’re here, you will find that Great Week, the week leading up to Easter, brings a strict fast of Orthodox believers, though it doesn’t necessarily limit what the tavernas sell, and that there are church services just about every day. There are many church events, such as the Good Friday, dark and sad morning service, the parading of the biers, and the evening service where congregations move from church to church. There is the midnight service on Easter Saturday where the lights are turned out, and the flame is passed from one person to the next and, traditionally, folks write X A (for Xristos Anesti, Christ has risen) beneath the lintel of their gate or front door. This service is usually accompanied by fireworks and dynamite, so expect lots of noise. In fact, kids and adults alike are prone to setting off loud bangers at all and any time of the day and in any place. Expect sudden, loud noises.
Not all churches hold all celebrations. Ask around.
Also expect sheep wandering the village lanes, let off the hillsides to be closer to homes and eat the weeds, fattening them up for the ‘silence of the lambs’ which happens on Saturday. At least, that’s when I’ve noticed it. After a few weeks of localised bleating and random sheep noises, you’re suddenly aware of the silence, broken now and then by a distant gunshot as another one bites the dust. I’ve seen neighbours gutting the carcases in their courtyards ahead of preparing the Saturday night fast-breaking ‘entrail’ soup, which I’ve never tried.
Spring
On Sunday, there is a family day atmosphere as there is on the Monday, and on the Sunday, there’s the traditional ‘burning of Judas’ (effigy) in the town square, with wine, music and more bangers. Monday is a bank holiday, so make sure you’ve got your shopping in – shops tend to be open on the Saturday at Easter, but probably not the Friday when, according to tradition, you’re not meant to use any tools or eat with cutlery.
Pedi valley in spring
Everyone is welcome at the church events no matter your denomination, lots of people throw fireworks about and there’s no point complaining about it or worrying, as it happens here, and that’s that. Around all this, the bars and cafés will be open (or at least some), ditto tavernas and shops. Taxi boats? No. Taxis? Yes but best to book. The tour buses to Panormitis? Yes, and the main town bus yes but not a Summer service, and I don’t expect any of the transport services will be operating on Easter Friday night, Sunday and possibly Monday. You have the walks, the spring on Symi is perfect for birdwatching, and the Pedi valley and other parts of the island offer butterflies and wildlife walks and views. Oh, and although the Noddy train is once again parked by the clock tower, I’m not sure if it will be running by Easter. So, not much to say today apart from: There’s a lot going on for Easter on Symi, you’re welcome to be a part of it, or watch/listen from a distance, but you have to be aware of a few things: Some shops/transport etc., close on certain days, the weather might disrupt your boat crossings, it might be cold at night, the weather changes and there’s lots of dynamite and bangers which would make an H&S officer pass out. If you’re happy with all of that, come on over.
Actually, I don’t have to recover as much as I thought I would following a birthday day of basically hanging out with friends. I took a few snaps along the way. A visit to the post office (thank you for the DVDs, mother! Looking forward to them), a quick shop for birthday essentials (bangers and mash supplies), a beer at Pacho’s watching the parade flags being taken down and the army passing by, a taxi home, stopping briefly along the way, the bangers and mash, a granddad doze and back to Rainbow for the afternoon/evening which included blue cheese and Branston pickle.
Birthday morning view
Thank you to everyone who sent messages and cards. Collette, for the Brexit T-shirt, and Neil for the Brexit activity puzzle book perfect for the bathroom or other idle moments, the bottles from Miss DJ and Anne, the curtain pole from Jenine and the card from the boys (I am now officially Sam’s best granddad, apparently – I think his mind was elsewhere when he wrote it, lol), and all the good wishes. Obviously, I need to change something as gifts were strangely Brexit and wine flavoured, but now the day has passed, I can get back to the walks and less wine, and I may even be able to see my cheekbones again by the summer – if I am very good, which I rarely am.
Taking down the flagsArmy passing by
Back in Symi mode now and the week ahead which is already filling up with invitations and get-togethers. We’re expecting some bad weather today and tomorrow, and we’ve not had news on our health MOTs yet, but I don’t think it will be this week. It might have to be after Neil has started work which will mean he’ll get a day off, the only one of the season, I expect. But that’s all for the future. For now, I’m going to carry on chilling.
