Friday fun

Friday 3rd February 2023

After feeding the cats, in the car park, I went to Marinos. It’s interesting listening to them talk, I wonder sometimes if I am reading too much into what I think I hear. I did ask Marinos the other day about a pile of rubble by my friends house, I have seen him mention their name gesticulating towards where it is. So the name of my friend cropped up again today. I got to know another guys name in the cafe, I think he is retired. I showed Marinos on Google maps, where I went yesterday, he said it’s name, he knew it, it’s  not on the map, and I showed him my photos and my wonky video. It was quiet in there today, again I am sure I heard him say so. He mentioned Vasileas, maybe he thought some of his customers were there? . I am also trying to remember my numbers, and listen out for them when people talk. I heard the word for three I am sure. When I left I told him I was going to Passagios with another of my friend today. 

Before I left to walk down, I swept the concrete track. It might seem an odd to do so but after rain you get lots of stones, that underfoot can be like marbles. I also remove some grit as well. It looks a bit better now. I tried the air conditioning as a heating device the other night. What I found was that it heated the immediate area but not near me, it’s by the TV! 

On my way down the so called donkey track I saw the younger donkey man emptying bags of rubble off his animals into a skip. This is the first time I have seen a skip in use here. I have one of the animals a rub on its head. As I walk down the path where they were strimming yesterday I get that smell of newly mown grass that you get in the UK. I decide on the way down to take the alternative path, that starts half way down that goes past a pretty church with lovely views around. Above me I see a bird of prey, which I am not able to photograph. 

At Livadi I met a friend of mine, and we have a nice chat. It’s sunny but the claws of a fresh breeze are out there. I go into Grans and despite going for a meal soon, I order Bugatsa. I tell them in Greek where I am about to go and who with, and amazingly they understand! I do my one to ten, I get one letter slightly wrong. I have to keep doing a “ssh” to the older lady, much to the amusement of the younger girl. I eat and drink my refreshment in the sun and do some refresher Greek. The Marine Watch shows the Adamantus is heading in and when I go to the port I can see it. It does its three point turn and two small ropes are thrown off it and caught. These are the leader ropes to secure the vessel to the port. The men on the back door which is fully open look like matchstick men. 

People get off first, cars next and then goods are passed over to people who waiting like couriers. Eventually the two Serifos Express lorries go on and pull out three trailers. After this cars go into the bowls of the ship. There is a warning over the vessels tannoy that they are about to leave, the ropes are let go and off the vessel sails. I did not see my car hire guy get off the boat, so I sent him a text message asking about the car.  The wind has picked up and with it the waves on the sea. It’s not nice enough to sit out on the concrete harbour apron, but it’s still sunny and the bus shelter protects me from the worst of it. Soon after my friend arrives in their car and we walk off to Passagios. As usual we get a lovely welcome there and he has a sheltered area but still outside, my friend orders the meatballs I had last week and me the burger. The meals arrive and they are both really good. We have the usual cat presence, I give one a bit of the  bacon off my burger. After the meal, the owner shows me how they make the Greek coffee over a little gas burner.

It’s now distinctly chilly and despite the early morning sun, I am regretting not having a jacket. Luckilmy friend can take me home. They have a few chores to do including some more cat food for the Souvlaki cats. As we drive up the hill towards Hora, the wind picks up, as it always does and it’s now raining. My friend on Sifnos says we might see snow early next week!