My first rainbow

Sunday 11th December 

I had a lovely evening last night. The kind new couple who I met a week ago, invited me to dinner and I had an amazing three course meal. Unfortunately I have forgotten the name of the starter, it may have been fava, with home made bread, which was kneaded by hand, not by machine. There was a beautiful salad with it too, then a main course of what we would call cauliflower cheese, following that a lovely chocolate cake which was lovely and sticky inside like a brownie, but loads nicer! All in their lovely house, which was built as two, knocked into one before they bought it. Where the kitchen is, six miners slept. The beds would have been stacked three high, to fit them in. It has a lovely outside with steps curving down and round the building, done like that to direct rain water away. 

I think I got home at one am, we had some interesting conversations, they are leaving soon, when they get back, we have plans for walks, somehow I need to make them a nice meal. I have a few months, to think about that. Oh did I not say they were French? Well neither of us, were particularly bothered about football, the best team  should win, that’s all I have to say on it! These kind folks have been coming back here for years, know the paths, and I can go with them knowing I will be in good hands! They are keen bird watchers, they showed me the bird book they use, they have seen Cranes and a Flamingo  if I remember correctly! There are a lot of migratory birds, they might just spend a few hours here, so you have to be quick I think ! On the way there, the moma cat tried to get in the house, one of my new friends is severely allergic to cat fur, so we had to keep her out. On the way back Souvlaki the other adult stray cat I was looking after until last week, followed me home, and wanted to get into this house.

Photo interlude - David Bowie and another cat cuddling up against the wind today

There was meant to be about fifteen millimetres of rain today, if we get one, I would be surprised. ( I was wrong ) I had a big lay in this morning, I did not get up until nine. I finally got up and cleaned the house. There is a pallet of bags of cement outside the house, there are two  separate building projects going on next to me, the plastic covering the bags had become loose, so I re secured it. I decided when the predicted time of rain passed, I would walk to Livadi. I have fed the new stray cats. I have also corrected the error in yesterdays blog title, the word anything in the title has been changed to something. Thank you to the two people who told me of my error! I have had an Christmas news email from one of the people who are on the Twyford Horticultural Society, I am going to do a Christmas message to people, as we don’t collectively plan to send cards this year. 

Photo interlude - lovely shop in alleyway in Livadi

As I got into the town a guy spotted me pick up a plastic bottle and commented on the state of litter here. I said in some ways it’s the same in the UK, but fly tipping is worse here and nothing is done to clear it up. He spends time in the UK and is looking after his dad here. I asked his name and wrote it down for reference. As Grans and the other bakers I use are closed Sunday, I went into the Captains bar. I must see if I can use my own mug at these places. I treated myself to a caramel muffin. Sitting out on the concrete apron it suddenly got dark and I went into the passenger shelter. The sea is a lot more active today and waves are being washed up onto the area where the ferries arrive. 

Photo interlude - Taverna beach area, now deserted 

So the rain finally arrived. Sifnos that you can easily see from the port has disappeared in a cloud of murk. The lights by the passenger area have come on, it’s now so dark. It looks like the Christmas ones have clicked on too. The rain finally relented and I decided to walk to the far end of Livadi beach, which is quite a long way. I saw the mini supermarket owner who gave me the cakes yesterday, it was a bit showery, but with the sounds of the sea and wind, it was very invigorating! The slip road entrance by the beach is flooded again, another high tide, maybe. It was lovely just having the beach to myself. I saw these mushrooms growing on the beach, no idea if they are edible or not!

I carried on back to one of the bakeries I use and used their Wi-Fi to have a chat with one of my Sifnos friends. Eventually it looked like the skies were clearing and I decided it was time to start walking home before it got dark. As I started along the straight road before climbing, a rainbow appeared. First on one side, it never really got its full span, but it wasn’t bad for a first attempt! 

I carried on along the long straight road towards the track. At the far end of the road, there was a nice view to the left, the sun setting behind the mountains. You can see one of those dovecote buildings in the trees and a church I visited, not long ago.

As I climbed it got windier of course and darker. It wasn’t cold even with the wind. Last photo is at the top of the track, where I rejoin the Hora/Livadi road, for the final ascent. There was a little illuminated tree by the sandwich shop.