Symi Sunday Ramble

Sunday morning at either six thirty or seven, depending on which clock I am looking at and which one I’ve remembered to alter by an hour, and the ground outside is wet. I was woken at 2.30, or actually 1.30 by then, by a thunderstorm which I heard even through my earplugs. I thought I should go and unplug everything vital, just in case, and check the windows where we’d not closed the shutters. I put a few towels down there just in case, wondered about staying up and getting some work done and then decided against it. I fell back to sleep with thunder rattling in my ears, and the room being lit up in flashes like a scene from a horror film.

The annual Oxi Day parade and church services took place on Saturday. Neil was down in Yialos early and took some photos of the morning before everyone arrived. The school paraded, the music played, and the commemorations were held. You can see that things were still a bit damp following rain on Saturday as well. The wind was low, nearly non-existent actually, and it was warm enough to have the balcony doors open during the day. I spent most of the weekend at the ‘typewriter’ as is my way, and only really saw the outside world on Friday night when we were taken to Georgio’s for dinner.

There are very few visitors around now. We met a late-season couple on Friday night, there are some sailing boats still in the harbour and out at sea; I often see quite a few in November, it must be a good time for sailing. Otherwise, the village is quiet, slowly settling back into its usual winter routine, as are we. Fewer invites and appointments mean more time for tapping away at the old keyboard and doing what I do, and the next big festival to look forward to is that at Panormitis on November 6^th, 7^th and 8^th. I’m not sure yet what we are doing for that. Previously we have walked across the island to the main festival day, been to Kokimides a couple of times, Roukouniotis, and have stayed at home or simply been around the village. We have also been away for it, holidaying at Marathounda for a few days over the three-day festival. That was several years ago now (10 I think) and the time I went swimming in the sea at seven in the morning… in November. It’s possible. In fact, some people swim every day through the year, including the winter, as long as it’s safe to do so.

Anyway, that’s a quick Sunday morning ramble ready to start our week today, and Neil took the photos. Now, I must return to the usual work routine. I love Sundays, they feel like free days where I can do anything I want. I look forward to a whole day of uninterrupted writing, and then think, ‘I must just prepare a blog… And maybe attend to my author blog (not done that for ages)… And then check my listings on Amazon and see if I can drum up any sales… And then I should think about putting the wedding photos into a book… I need to read through ‘Symi, Stuff & Nonsense’ one more time… And check if the cover designer has got back to me… Oh, and the courtyard needs sweeping, must get some shopping, better stop for a coffee on the way back… And before you know it, it’s Monday.

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Symi Saturday Photos

Let’s round off the week with our usual Symi Saturday Photos. This week has given us rain (yippee! Say the plants), Neil’s last day of the season working at The Rainbow Bar, my wonderful editor finishing off the interior of ‘Symi, Stuff & Nonsense’, me making progress on the screenplay commission I am working on, a football tournament for our youth teams, a last lunch of the season (for us) at Meraklis – it’s open until mid November, Vasilis tells me – sunny days, some warm evenings with the windows still open, and the first of the Christmas shopping orders arriving. So, before you head off into your weekend, here are a few photos from this week. Have a good one, as they say, rather vaguely.

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And back to the sunshine

As it turned out, Wednesday brightened up to the point that I was sweating after I’d been to the bank. Not because I’d done anything dodgy, or had to pay a huge bill (luckily) but because the bank is on the south-facing side of the harbour and it was hot. That side of the harbour, I mean, not the bank. There were tourists in shorts wandering about, having come off the two not-so-full day boats, and even sitting in the shade at Pacho’s was warm enough just for a hoodie, jeans and trainers – gone are my sandals and shorts, you will be pleased to know.

The bright day turned to afternoon, and we sat at Lefteris’ kafenion for a while because Rainbow is now shut in the afternoons. Neil has finished work for the season. We did pop down there afterwards though because Yianni had come back for the later shift and waved us over for a freebie while he negotiated the terms of Neil’s release. He’s very kind; he worries that Neil finishing work will leave him destitute when, in fact, Neil is more than happy to have the whole day back to himself after working seven days per week for seven months.

There were clouds about in the evening, but impressive ones, and here are a few shots from Wednesday to keep you going until tomorrow when, no doubt, there will be more.

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Still raining

As you can see, the rain is persisting. It’s Wednesday late morning as I write, and I am about to venture into Yialos, probably to buy an umbrella. The Blue Star came and went, the Express too, and the Sea Dreams has just come in. It will be interesting to see how busy the town is this morning, and how many damp visitors we have. I’ll go and check that out and leave you with these shots from yesterday.

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First Decent Rain of the Winter?

I like it when it rains. I know, some people hate it, but after so many months of hot weather and little rain, it’s good to get a downpour. As of 10.15 yesterday morning, I am still waiting for the promised heavy rain. We’ve had a few showers wander past and dump on us, but not for long. Various weather sites were predicting a storm and high winds, but so far, they have not materialised. I may be speaking too soon, of course, but I’m just going to check with http://poseidon.hcmr.gr/ to see what they predict for the next 24 hours. Hold on…

According to their site, the biggest fall was due at nine this morning (Tuesday), and we did have a suspicion of a downpour. After that, it looks clear (of rain, the cloud persists) until around six on Wednesday morning when it could get heavy. The wind also looks to be pretty calm for the next few days apart from a few dodgy, but short, moments. Over in Rhodes this morning, they had thunderstorms. I am not jealous. Each time there’s a storm I have to unplug the internet and computer, just in case of a power surge.

But it is still warm enough to be working with the door open, even if particular shutters have to be shut depending on the wind direction. The sound of heavy rain in the courtyard is a strangely comforting one and helps me concentrate. It’s also good to hear the runoff gushing through the downpipe and into the sterna; free water. Which reminds me:

If any helpful Symi dweller is reading this, can you let me know if/when you are expecting to have your water meter read? Ours has only been read once in the last two and a half years and the last bill came in at €10.00, which was clearly wrong. Our meter is inside the courtyard, so can’t be read by George as he passes by. (Is it still George?) I know I can take the reading to the town hall and let them know there, but I always forget to do that. If George comes around the Syllogos part of the village on a certain day, can you let me know? I’ll make sure the courtyard gates are open.

Anyway, sorry about that, it was all a bit weather and water-related today, but, as that’s what’s currently falling on our heads (another short downpour at 10.22 precisely), and possibly dripping into the bathroom, I’d better go and check.

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