Last walk with the Catsitter

Wednesday 7th December 

This is a section of my walking map of the island. I am still highlighting the paths and tracks I have successfully walked. Unfortunately yesterday, I had left this map in the persons house who left for Athens yesterday. As can be seen, there is a black line crossing the path we were on yesterday. This was were the fence was. We would have still walked along the path, but at least we know the barrier is on the map. We don’t know why though. 

So I agreed with the cat sitter to meet up at Marinos for a coffee before we went on the reservoir walk. I had fed both sets of cats beforehand. Unfortunately the one called moma wasn’t there again today. I hope she is ok. I walked into Marinos, the priest who did yesterdays service was there and a guy I recognised I thought. I must ask people’s names! I got told off again for having shorts on, although it was going to be warm. I think my choice of cold coffee also intrigues him. The cat sitter arrived and we enjoyed our coffees. A guy popped in selling Serifos calendars, the must buy purchase for this house I think.

Our coffees came with what can best be described as little cookies. These are for Christmas I was told. They were very nice.

We had a chat with the priest and the guy sitting by him, he said July and August are terrible here, it’s gridlock. Sounds like I have made a good choice. I asked the priest about the service, said how much I had enjoyed it. He said he knew all the words. I decided to take my calendar home before we started the walk, at the house, I remembered I had two carrots, the guy with the horses was nearby, so I brought them down with me. I asked him if it was ok to give them one each, these were fully munched. Before we left I got a quick course on the  Greek handshake unlike ours, the arm is bent and the thumbs take a more prominent role.

We left and started our walk. Before we did so, the priest appeared at the back of Marinos. There is a toilet at the back, I never knew that! Before we left Hora behind, there was a guy cleaning a picture frame, he had another frame with four little paintings in it, he said they were for sale, might be worth a look another day. When we started to go down I spotted a few more narcissuses in someone’s garden.

However we were in for a bigger shock. At the first proper field, we saw a whole load of these flowers, I don’t think they will be out by Christmas, but soon after I think. So they probably are native here, but flower earlier. Soon after a dog met us and gave us a half hearted bark.

When we got to the church, we had one last look for turtles. There was a big one there, but unfortunately by the time the cat sitter had the phone ready, the turtle had disappeared. At least it was seen. Opposite a little further on, it looked like three mature olive trees had just been planted. I wondered if these were the ones I saw on the back of a lorry. A lot of branches had been cut back , but the root balls looked huge. We carried on to the reservoir. When we got there, it looked like it is fuller than it was. We continued onto Livadi. As we walked along the beach, it looked like it was sports period for the school. A mixed set of children were playing football and opposite, there looked like a set of children were swimming. No need for a pool then. 

I went to the chemist and got my prescription, we had lunch at Passaggio’s, I booked my haircut for Friday, I then walked back up, the cat sitter took the bus. I saw Chris from Grans a couple of times, on his bike and this lovely rose just as I was leaving Livadi.

I then walked up the steps and saw this horse enjoying the clover in a small field. There is loads of it about, it’s a pity there aren’t more animals to eat it, trouble is in the summer, there is nothing to eat.

I carried on home and had a rest, before feeding the cats again, last time for the ones I have been doing for a while, the others I will be feeding until February. I am helping the person the cat sitter has been working for when they get back tonight, to get their cases up to their house. I might be having lunch with them both tomorrow, haven’t decided yet, will check the weather first!