Month: February 2018

Matthew was 50 today. It makes me feel a little old as I remember teaching him in the Lomas building at Priory. Tony and Ursula have made it to Athens despite the adverse weather conditions at Gatwick. Ursula even managed to get in a bit of fitness whilst waiting for the flight. I can assure…

Marina arrived with a huge bag of tomatoes last evening just as I was preparing my supper. Some of the more battered tomatoes went into the supper and the others I have inspected and washed today. I decided to freeze two containers from yesterday so as to concentrate on the present tomato glut. I shall…

We were out on time but it was raining lightly. I disappeared into the large cave and let the dogs run around to amuse themselves. After ten minutes the rain almost stopped so I thought I might even get my run done. Sure enough, it stayed fine long enough for me to run, get the…

For a change, it wasn’t raining this morning and there were even a few stars. Not that they hung around for long. We walked and I ran 4.2km again. Then I took Boris for a leisurely amble before going into Paleochora. Not to Petrakis as it’s Sunday but just for the exercise. I decided to…

I was on the point of getting up when…down came the rain. Previously, I’d gone out to remove Boris to the storeroom on account of the approaching thunderstorm. We seem to be blessed with frequent morning storms at present. I was, once again, back in bed when I discovered Πέντε had popped out to the…

A peaceful night once I’d given Fido a collar to keep him company. He derives joy at barking at Albanians and gunshots. Albanians are fair game but there can be quite a few gunshots so it gets a little tedious. I don’t think he is afraid of the gunshots just uses them as an excuse…

Today it didn’t rain! It was warm and mostly sunny with a few clouds. I took Boris for a walk not wearing a coat. I wore a coat when I took the others afterwards. This morning we walked, ran and walked as usual. I rode to Paleochora to Petrakis to pick up some beers for…

Just as I was about to leave my pit the sound of rain could be heard above my head so I waited. I finally got up to take the dogs out at  07:30 after 14mm rain. It was pretty damp and miserable outside and there were a lot of clouds about. I walked them, fed…

It was around 04:00 that the rain started to fall with varying intensity. I’d been woken by the lightning and decided to put Boris in the storeroom as I had a feeling there was thunder on the way. The rain continued well after the normal getting-up time so I was able to have a lie-in…

Some fireworks from distant Paleochora didn’t last very long but made their presence felt. Georgia’s dogs were particularly vocal and some of mine felt they should join in. Very early on, Fido received the collar award and Charlie and Luis seemed to have fallen out over something. Usually, Luis moans a bit but Charlie is…

As I had no need nor desire to cycle to Paleochora, I decided to go for a bike ride amongst the greenhouses. I headed out to Kountoura having put my washing in the machine. Boris, Charlie, Oskar and Obi had been out for the Boris walk and I could see I was going to struggle…

I made a delicious spinach and rice creation using Yannis’ recipe. I’d bought a lot of spinach: I guessed it would last for two meals so doubled the quantities. It’s amazing just how much a load of spinach disappears down to almost nothing when cooked. It was very nice but I suspect I may have…

The morning walk was dry as was my run and the Boris/Oskar/Charlie/Obi walk. My cycle into town was not! But I was only a little damp around the edges. I bought spinach at Petrakis as it was green and fresh. I also bought some huge beetroot, however, the leaves were missing. Back at Grammeno, it…

It rained in the night and the forecast promised rain for most of the day. It was cloudy but not raining when we ventured out. I wanted to do the walk and my run before the rain. Half-way through my run I decided it was too damp to continue so we sheltered in the lee…

It was a sudden strong wind that woke me with the flapping of the awning tent. I guessed something was on the way. I got up to close the door of the awning tent. No one mentioned anything about thunder and lightning in the weather forecast. I heard an alert on my iPad warning of…

I spotted a little white rental car together with a small tent as I came back with the dogs this morning. The customers arrived at 22:00 last night and fortunately, they ignored the notice on the reception door which has my telephone number and annoyed Georgia instead! I would not have been amused at 22:00…

  Watching an exciting episode of Silent Witness last night, my viewing pleasure was interrupted by the sound of barking dogs and a plaintive voice calling my name from outside the gate. Marina, Dina’s mother (AKA Tina the cleaner) was without power again. I grabbed my keys and wandered with her up towards her room…

I awoke to the sound of rain pattering on the roof above my head. It was 05:25. The desire to extract myself from my pit evaporated so I slumped back under the duvet. Not a lot of activity from Obi or Πέντε either for that matter and not a sound from outside. I lay in…

The day started off ok but quickly deteriorated, however, Boris and his Henchmen got their walk before the rain began. With wind gusting to Bft 6 and rain, a cycle to Paleochora was not on my list of favourite activities. I amused myself clearing up from the night before and making breakfast whilst listening to…

We were lucky to get the morning walk done, Boris +2 and my trip to Paleochora out of the way before the rain came. It was not strong rain but persistent in nature. The dogs retired to the comfort of their houses apart from Princess and Pea who decided to remain outside for whatever reason.…

Boris has been suffering from the rubbery leg syndrome but seems to be improving. I’m not sure if it is because I have transferred him to the remains of the Dave special diet food, the phase of the moon or what. It could also be that he has been going on more tranquil walks on…

Woken at 04:00 as there was thunder so decided to move Boris into the storeroom just in case. Got back to bed to hear another dog scratching to get out. Let Princess out so she could do what a dog has to do. The rain came accompanied by some thunder and lightning so not so…

I woke early so we were out early and the day took on a hint of earliness. After the morning walk, I cycled to Paleochora more for the joy of it returning to find Xanthippos hard at work repairing the shading next to my compound. His rantings lead me to believe that he was unhappy…

I left Boris behind this morning as he seemed to be struggling a lot yesterday. He protested a little but not with any conviction. I took him out once the others were fed after their walk. Oskar and Charlie accompanied Boris as outriders and only stole his ball once. After my second walk, I rode…

Last night I watched ‘In the Heat of the Night’ starring Sidney Poitier and Rod Steiger. I’d even forgotten who dunnit but that’s not really what the story’s about anyway. It’s hard to think that it was released over fifty years ago! A strong easterly gust of wind woke me up in the night so…

Last night I didn’t turn on the heating! I was in bed before 22:00 although I spent a little time with my laptop on the Internet. My slumbers were ended with Fido making squeaking noises at 05:00. I’d had enough sleep by then so went back to my laptop before getting up at 05:55. There…

The mild weather continues although the wind is getting up as I write. Wind is forecast for tomorrow and possibly Sunday. It is not cold and, last night, I was in shorts all night. I must admit to a little heating though. This morning, like the remainder of the day, was cloudy so moonless and starless.……

It was a little cloudy as we fumbled across the beach from the camping gate but it was still light enough to see where we were going. The sky gets a little brighter each day and I can start running just that little bit earlier too. Boris was awake so he joined us and managed…