Spin dry for Serifos

1 December 

After all the rain, the island feels like a sponge being wrung out. There are little streams coming down mountains and hills, they are not as vigorous, as they would have been when it rained. As you get into the centre of Livadi, there is a stream still running off the hill, and then finding its way down the road, as there doesn’t seem to be any drains.

In the middle of what is a roundabout, where the bus stops in Pano Hora, is a huge taverna. Unfortunately it is closed and has been so,  since my first visit here. A little way down the hill towards Livadi, is another permanently closed one. The one on the roundabout has inside and outside seating, and features a blue and white colour. I will have to ask someone like Marinos or Den, to if they remember anything about it. The sign on its wall is in the photo above. 

We had more heavy rain last night, it is said we had twenty five millimetres over the last twenty four hours. I think that is a pessimistic estimate. There will be a few rock falls, mud  and rubbish on the roads  I imagine. Talking of plants, there was this pretty flower just by the house this morning.

Talking of water the hot water wasn’t very hot last night, so I turned the heater on for thirty minutes. When I had my shower, it was piping hot. This morning it was hot enough, as it’s sunny again today it will be interesting to see how hot the water gets today. It’s going to be in the high teens. I have paid my landlord his  monthly rent, I let him know we had a bit of water come through the door during the storms, I will send some money to Blue Bird also for the car rental. I checked my food spend for the last two months, and it’s about the same. 

Photo interlude - lovely house on the path down to Livadi.

We walked down to Livadi today, I think the paths and tracks on the hills, need to dry out before we use them, tomorrow the plan is to do the miners track from here and show it to my friends. I have left my leaky boots outside to hopefully dry off in the sun. I walked down to Livadi with the cat sitter, on the way down  Panagia Xekourastra Church was open, we took a look inside, it was being cleaned by a lady and I got a photo of the inside.

I had a chore to do on route, that is try and find a nut and bolt to replace a rivet holding part of the aluminium clothes line together, which had broken off. I had the rivet, I had translated some words, and before long I had in my hands, a single nut and bolt, price twenty cents. I only had to buy one and it did not come in plastic bubble wrap, that you see in the UK. I had a call from a friend in the UK, sadly a close relative of theirs has died. It was expected unfortunately. I find myself feeling so helpless in these times, what can you say or do? But I had a chat and sent my condolences, regards, and a virtual hug.

Photo interlude - How green, things are now

We met two other friends in Livadi and went to Passaggio’s for a coffee and cake. I ordered my first Frappe, it’s a bit complicated, as there are various ones, with and without sugar etc. I think I might have the mixer in my cutlery draw to make my own here. Our two friends told us that on the first of the month that kalimera can be replaced with a kalomina, which is literally good month. There are several other greetings to learn  of course! I had a question about my online course that I am doing. It’s all about the word that meets going. There are several versions of it, depending on if it’s means I am going, you are going etc. one of the sample sentences had what I thought was a rogue  “eisthe” word (that means “you are” ) in it. They agreed. 

Photo interlude - a view of Hora from the harbour

As we were enjoying our coffee and cake, a guy wizzed by on a motorbike, holding a toilet. It was unclear wether it was an old or a new one, either way, falling off might be the end of it! My cat sitter friend had a question of his own, about what we have seen on lorries with the word Serifou on it. Was that another word for the island? Apparently not. It’s a bit like saying the business is on the island, in this case the wording on the lorry was  “Express Serifou”, in the UK it would be like London Express. When these two friends go, I am going to loose a fountain of knowledge of all things Greek, I am sure we will stay in touch and I can ask them questions, when I get stuck.

We parted company and I had a wander round the harbour and port area. I was very hot, long trousers not needed down here! I have seen this little vehicle with the guy driving it on the road, but never managed to photograph it. What I had not realised was that he had a dog, you can see it looking out the back. 

I met my cat sitter friend again and he said Grans had no zambontryopita, I suggested a couple of other places that might have it. I actually found one in a bakers I have not used before and I had it with a coffee.  I then walked back to Hora. When I got back to the house, I fitted the bolt to the washing line device and it’s all fixed now.