Itisallgreek2me

Agios Dimitrios Church – Spetses

Saturday, 29 November 2014 – just up from my afternoon siesta, a lovely institution in Greece, especially in summertime when everyone retires during the hottest hours of the day.  Costas has lit the fire, just as he has been doing for a week now.  The days and nights are cooler, although I would not say cold.  This week some light rain (not enough to cause problems with our leaking house roof), very little sun, calm … rather bleak and damp – the reality of living on a Greek island.  The fire serves to keep our home dry as much as it does to keep us warm.

My first task each morning is to pick oranges off our tree, enough to make two large glasses of freshly squeezed juice … to quote Costas “Mana from heaven”.  At 1230 hours, the newspapers arrive at the news agents (unless the hydrofoils are on strike or they have forgotten to throw the bundle off on to the jetty).  Unfortunately, Costas preferred publication The Guardian is no longer available, however, he buys The Times daily and often my first glimpses of it are over coffee in the Dapia … such civilized living.  Up until the weather changed, we were enjoying lovely afternoon walks of around two hours in duration.  One day to Kouzinos Beach, another to Garyfolos Bay and the small seaside church of Agios Dimitrios, another day up into the hills as far as Gorgoepikou Monastery.  Stinging Nettle grows prolifically on the island … that day I saw, growing under pine trees, a huge area of Stinging Nettle, lush and green, with the biggest leaves imagineable.  We pulled a handful of Throubi plants too to pot up in our garden.  Throubi, or Winter Savory, is a herb similar to oregano and thyme and is indigenous to the island.  The honey produced locally from the wild Throubi is wonderful.  I especially like a big dollop of it on my Greek yogurt.  Occasionally when we are given fresh eggs by a local who have their own chickens … I love to make them into an omelet.  We had been waiting for Olive Oil to be delivered.  It arrived yesterday … new season’s, green, thick, cloudy.  A huge can of it for 60 Euro.  Unfortunately, I cannot take either Throubi, honey, eggs or this particular olive oil back to New Zealand.

In the main, our evenings have been spent quietly at home.  Scrabble is once again our preferred past time … last night we played two games, I won both of them.  The night before three games – a win each and a draw.  With my level of skill now greatly improved, we are very evenly matched.  Friday night a week ago, we did meet Roger and Denise for dinner at Argyros Restaurant in The Square then we two went on to Balkoni for a couple of quiet drinks.  Of course, Wednesday night was Pool night at Point of View.  John and Costas were the only two players to turn up … I sat and watched them play then we left for home, via Balkoni, of course!

Last week finally saw the guys coming to clear our garden for the winter.  All the trees, excluding the orange and the lemon, have been thrashed … now the light and sun will be able to enter the house over the winter.  One of our greatest joys are our cats … Oliver, Bob, Sydney and Larissa.  All rescued from the streets around six years’ ago, there is no doubt that they all had a tough start in life, especially our little girl Larissa who has always been so timid.  However, each visit I have seen her slowly but surely making progress until now, where she comes voluntarily up on to our bed, enjoys our company and for the first time last night, I heard her purr.

Tonight we are returning to Akroyialia Restaurant for dinner … just the two of us.  We will leave Spetses late morning next Thursday on the Flying Dolphin to Piraeus for a two night stay in Athens.  Sadly, on Saturday, we will say our fare wells, Costas will return to the island and once again I will begin the long journey back to New Zealand.  As always, I am looking forward to seeing family and friends.  Hopefully the summer weather will have arrived, Christmas will not be too far away and of course, I must work, with a goal and a dream to be back here again … sooner rather than later.

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