Sunday, the day of rest

Sunday 18th September Hora

So after yesterday’s exertions I decided today should be a quieter day. I had a look at a typical weather pattern for the island, focussing on the winter months. So there are going to be days when I am not going to want to get wet walking to Livadi, slipping over on those steps. The bus doesn’t run as often as it does now. This slow but inevitable slowdown in island life is happening now when I discovered last night, that the Taverna next door closes next week!

Before I went next door, I had a surprise call from my dog Walker friend in Twyford. It’s too easy I suppose to struggle on and send texts or emails, whereas the whole communication thing could be better using our voices. When I get back from Syros, I am going to try and have a few calls with people. You have been warned!

I had a lovely evening next door, I had a Greek salad with local cheese and Mousaka, which doesn’t sound very exciting, but I like it and you don’t get it made as nicely as you do over here. I had some bread too, I wonder if they use the local bakery. After a table full of people left, before the table was was cleared I took this photo.

After I left I had a look into at what Jupiter is doing visible in our night sky, I had missed that there was a planet conjunction in June, I guess the planets are moving away from that, which is why the sky tonight app showed Saturn was in the sky last night, but I could not see it. I had a chat with Hazel last night, going over our plans for Monday. She also told me Mike is going to bring his car with them when they come here later  on their way to the mainland holiday. That solves the Ronnie taxi problem and if he can add me to the insurance, I can drive Ronnie around the island and go for some nice walks, weather permitting. What we have also agree is I will keep him on his lead, to avoid him wandering off! He is almost certainly going to want to lie on the sofa , so they are going to bring towels to cover it. I am also going to provide them with a shopping list for here, so they can get me  things I need in Sifnos and bring in the car.

Going back to Mondays meeting with the policeman, whatever the outcome, I alone will have to return to Syros to pick up the five year permit card. If they accept my application, I will be given a piece of paper indicating this is so, and the Schengen restrictions come to a halt for me. If it’s rejected, Schengen still stands and I can only hope I can reissue what they need before I have to go back under Schengen to the UK at the end of October. I can then return in January. The ferry schedule and possible cancellations will be worse then.

I think the bush telegraph has been working overtime here and why not! Whenever I explain where I am living, they all know the property and the fact that Ionassis which is Greek for John I think owns the  property which is.

So a bit of listening to podcasts, The Rest is Politics, The Rest is History and the inevitable Greek chapter two, again I don’t seem too bad in the morning but in the afternoon I seem to struggle. The bread I froze in slices made a nice lunch and there was time to give the house a clean, it doesn’t take long. I am going to have to try and rig up a washing line on the roof area, just to hang sheets on. Let’s hope it’s always windy, even without sun, as that will dry things out. In my little trough with the rescued plant, there are a few seedlings coming up, but they aren’t spring onions. I don’t recognise them from their primary leaves so far. 

I will have a shower, and walk down to catch the bus, it gets down at Livadi quite early so I have time to have a wander about before the ferry arrives. It will be late when we get to Syros, then an early start. All being well I can report a successful interview with the policeman!