5, 4, 3, Two, 1

 

It’s no surprise but I feel super blessed that I have so many kind and helpful friends supporting me. There has been no “I told you so”,  moments, just kind and thoughtful supporting words. So although I still feel anxious, I do feel that it’s transitory and it will go away at some point. 

So a South African couple who are coming to the party, asked me if I was going to have music at the party? Well I must admit it had not crossed my mind, and I said so, so they are bringing some speaker thing, that connects to Spotify. I left the music choice down to them. I saw them going to the Henley Rewind festival Sunday. Vintage music by the banks of the river Thames. Human League were one of the bands playing. My neighbour, whose daughter is making the two cakes for the party, popped over Sunday, he kindly is giving his daughter some money for the cakes, I have given some money to a charity, close to her heart. This neighbour is hosting a Ukrainian family. He, his wife and family are doing a super job of looking after the family, he says they are both lucky. I hope they will all be coming!

As I am hoping there will be lots of dogs appearing on the first, I did try and get a dog agility company to setup a course on St George’s field. Alas no one seems able to do so. You can buy kits to use at home, but they don’t look like they would stand up to the punishment, this gaggle of dogs who appear might impose on it! I am looking into other alternatives. I am going to be dog sitting before I go, to help a friend out, in Shurlock Row. It’s a super place with a swimming pool, paddock, the works. Sadly the local pub is a posh surf and turf place and the meal prices are out of my range. I am not that keen on steak anyway. I start the day I publish this latest post.

I have sent the Real Estate agent in Greece an email, asking about the infamous contract. Amazingly, I now have a new one, with both typed and hand written text. Google translate does a half decent job of translating it, even if there are more questions resulting from it still!

Because of the new dog sit, to help an overworked pet care friend, I have had to stop working at the horticultural shop on Sundays. It’s a pity, I could have done it, but I had agreed to do a walk around Waltham St Lawrence with a lady and her dog, who I was going to dog sit for, while she went to Sifnos. Sadly she was one the many who had their holiday flights cancelled. So I am going to do the walk I used to do with Neville, with her and her dog, and the one I am dog sitting. Her dog is calm and will be ok with one I am looking after, who is a bit nervous. 

There is a new cafe in the village, has a lovely name “The Cosy Nook” and it does amazing baguette and wraps. On Sunday  I had a falafel wrap, I thought it was a bit too spicy for the Labrador I was sitting. The food and service were exceptional. It has been recommended many times. 

The village Fete was a success. The vote for your favourite classic car had forty owners with classic cars turn up and enter and we got lots of votes. I was out there trying to lure the punters in, having a super friendly chocolate Labrador made that a lot easier.  She was very patient, she did get to play with various dogs who were there with their owners, at the end we met two friends in the beer and food tent, the owner gave her two vegetarian sausages which slid down beautifully. Here she is with a Fiat 500, used for weddings. We made £250 for local charities.

So I have met the owner of the dog I am looking after in Shurlock Row. In fact it’s also a cat and three chickens I am looking after too! It looks like I will get three eggs every day which  I am meant to use! It’s a super place, I had seen it before, but I should be able to relax while looking after this mini menagerie!

A less successful time relating to my medication. Because my anxiety has come back, I hoped for a bit more flexibility in terms of ongoing medication. But no, for a whole raft of reasons the reduced prescription stands,  I do understand their reasoning, but I do feel a bit cast aside and hope I can make some headway in Greece, but am not over hopeful! A quick check online shows the prescription I need is available in Greece.

So ferry booked for the 12th September, I have details of the internet service Mike has suggested as an alternative to the forty Euros per month landlord supplied offering. Hazel is booking me a room at Faros, in Piraeus, the hotel we both use when going back and forth to the Cyclades. I met two of my neighbours Thursday, and went over what we are doing with the house, water off, heating very low etc. our other neighbour and one of her sons have agreed to have part of the fence between us replaced, hopefully before I leave. I have bought some hook eyes and wire to help secure the plants that are creeping up the pergola now. I have bought some canes and other items to help make a dog assault course for the party. Video to follow next time.

Finally this week, I took the Cocker Spaniel to the pub that his predecessor Neville used to love, mainly for the sausage sandwich! Walter seemed to love it too. We then did the three mile walk around the village, as I used to do with Neville. Walter is much better in the car, he just lies down quietly. It was a lovely moment, one I won’t forget. I am glad I did it before I left.