Happy Birthday, Eleanor!

Following my early night I was awake and ready to go before it was light but managed to sleep on nevertheless. I checked the outside temperature before going out to discover it was 6℃ which felt like 4℃. I concluded that a second pair of socks might be a good idea – one pair for my feet and one for my hands.… Read the rest

Restful day

I was awake before the alarm and surprised not to hear the tapping of claws on the wooden floor. I was up and putting on my trainers when I hear a light scratching on the living room door. Καλή had decided to spend the night on the sofa in the living room. Eleanor assumed she was with me and I that she was with Eleanor.… Read the rest

Καλή and the poo pat

Damp and gloomy were the conditions as I peered out of the ground-floor bedroom window at the back garden. It was 05:30 when I prised myself from my bed and got prepared to run. Καλή had joined me the previous morning and appeared promptly as I was putting on my trainers. We set off together down Glebe Close towards Bell Lane.… Read the rest

Golly, it’s chilly!

I woke up to use the loo in the night and it wasn’t long before I was joined downstairs by a small, white dog. She wanted to share my bed but I wasn’t really up for it as she has a nice bed of her own upstairs. She reappeared later when she heard me getting up just after 05:30 (07:30 EEST).… Read the rest

End of stint

I was up until nearly 01:00 sorting out camping customer monies and paperwork. I put it into plastic folders ready to be taken to the office the following morning. I was not long in bed as a result since I was awake just before 05:00 and out of bed shortly after. I turned on the water heaters and could see the washing machine poised to commence the wash for the Swiss.… Read the rest

Maria, where is she?

It’s 22:30, Tuesday has passed and still no Maria. She asked what time I plan to leave tomorrow when she emailed earlier and I told her 10:00. She said she was travelling the other day when I spoke to her and Olivia thought that perhaps she was swimming from Athens. Olivia fears being left in charge of the camping over the holiday weekend.… Read the rest

Micro phone

Xanthippos came to show me his new micro phone. A miniature mobile phone which he says has a battery life of nine days. Apparently, he’s been showing off this new acquisition to anyone who will listen. It looks cute but the sort of thing you’d give to a small child as it looks a little out of place with an adult.… Read the rest

No longer the ‘pukemobile’

I’ve just finished cleaning out the pukemobile in preparation for the possible arrival of Steffie in May and so that I don’t have to drive myself to the airport in a skip on wheels. I gave it a going over back in the winter but the transportation of Princess and Pea to Maleme and then to Souda took its toll in a serious way.… Read the rest

Door open tonight

Perhaps summer will be with us at last. Today has not been too warm although the top temperature is 21C which hardly compares with the high of 28℃ in Lewes today. Apparently, much of southern Europe is cooler at the moment. At least it was warm enough to get all of my washing dried and folded up today.… Read the rest

Happy Easter!

The most notable event of the day was the wonderful meal prepared by Ursula and consumed chez moi. The loveliest Thai curry I’ve had for a long time. Ursula loves to experiment with recipes and this one was wonderful. Thank you Ursula!

A cold northerly wind accompanied us on the Promontory this morning so I found Ursula lurking in the rocks sheltering from the wind when I returned from my first circuit.… Read the rest

Winter again?

We’ve come back to the camping after a pleasant meal at Houmas restaurant which we discovered has been open since last Saturday. The wind was pushing against the plastic blinds which, during the summer, are wound right up to provide a wonderful view over the bay. Tonight, the weather is far from summery with a northerly wind blowing cold and hard.… Read the rest

Happy Birthday to me!

Out in good time this morning having turned on the water heater to ensure there was hot water for my shower. The number of customers has decreased as four left yesterday and two more today. Tomorrow I need only concern myself with five showers so can turn off the power sooner as the sun will take over the water heating.… Read the rest

Almost full moon

Both the Moon and Venus were present this morning. The Moon having to compete unsuccessfully with some fluffy clouds. I didn’t need my torch much anyway. We walked and finished off with a trip over the rocks. Back at the camping, Ursula did her Pilates and I went for a run.

After my run and shower I went into Paleochora for some shopping otherwise breakfast would have been a little sparse.… Read the rest

Better weather from now on. Hopefully…

My day started at 05:00 but I quickly fell back to sleep until 05:25 when the pressure to rise was upon me. There was a setting moon however I failed to see it as it was blocked from my view until too late. Full moon is Friday so, from then on, we should have light mornings which will be helpful.… Read the rest

Back again

Olivia phoned to say there was a motorhome coming into the camping. Only when I saw Anja that I realised they had been away for around a month. They went to see Stavros at Maleme to get additional vaccinations for Muffin their dog. What they didn’t realise was that it would take a two weeks for the results to come back from the labs in Athens.… Read the rest

Notre Dame is burning

Sad to see that Notre Dame is burning. The fire was caused during some repair works. I hope the contractor has plenty of insurance.

I’ve just come back from Chez McGeorge as it seemed more sensible for me to go to them as Ursula was cooking this evening. A most excellent meal as usual in the convivial surroundings of their ‘shed’ as we affectionately call them.… Read the rest

A battery day

My van batteries are probably around nine or ten years old and have lost the will to live. I reconfigured them a few weeks back but the remaining ‘good’ battery was registering only 6v last night and the lights were so dim I needed a head torch to see. My UPS backup device was beeping when we returned from the Early Walk around 07:10.… Read the rest

Grey and gloomy – as for the weather…

One of the German couples with small child and dog left this morning but I’ve just received a phone call to ask me for details of a vet in Chania as their dog has injured a claw while chasing after goats or similar. I’m not sure the goats will have been too chuffed either. They said they found the camping via the Google site and read the reviews.… Read the rest

Friday night is customer night

Sitting enjoying a cup of tea and cake with Ursula and Tony when Xanthippos called over to tell me a couple had arrived. They turned out to be from Strasbourg in France. A holiday offered as a sixtieth birthday present by friends. The couple are halfway through their two-week tour of the island. They have a tent and a rental car.… Read the rest

Chilly start

After 05:00 the temperature dropped down from 14℃ to 9.8℃ which was why we found it so brisk when we left for the Early Walk. We were just behind Ursula and Heidi as we headed south down the Promontory. I let mine off and they soon caught up with Heidi. It was dark this morning although first light is now around 06:00 when Venus is just above the horizon.… Read the rest

We didn’t get wet

A little later out this morning as I needed to send a couple of messages before leaving. There was an enquiry for Matthew’s bathroom hut yesterday and I needed to finalise the meeting arrangements. eBay filter their messaging system so that you can’t send your details, email address or a web link. This is to ensure that the sellers and buyers complete the transaction via the eBay environment so that eBay can collect a hefty 10% commission on transactions.… Read the rest

They’re here!

Ursula, Tony and Heidi arrived at the camping this morning after a brief stop for coffee in Paleochora. The ferry deposited them in Souda Bay bright and early then they made their way over the mountains. I’ve not driven over the mountains since our trip to Maleme the last time they were here in February. I understand there are several locations where the mountains have been washed away due to the heavy rains over the winter period.… Read the rest

Will Olivia receive yet another chance?

Olivia was waiting outside the linen store when I went to the office to drop something off. I definitely received the cold shoulder and I could see that she was anxious about the outcome of her meeting with Georgia. Xanthippos was telling me he thought she’d blotted her copybook once too often and there would be a replacement.… Read the rest

Busy, busy, busy…

The five young Germans decided to stay on for another night despite the weather forecast which turned out to have been rather pessimistic: it was more pleasant than was made out. They went fishing by all accounts but will not be having fish for supper tonight. They are off to play nicely on the Promontory where they will light an illegal fire and sing jolly songs.… Read the rest

45mm rain since 10:30 yesterday

No record I grant you but enough rain seeing the day is not yet done. Since midnight 40.4mm precipitation has descended on us. It was forecast to come mostly in the night however the bulk came a little later during the morning and early afternoon.

The Early Walk was a little later than usual as it was raining as I returned from the loo so I waited.… Read the rest

Yucky weather again

More wind and rain for this weekend! The forecast was talking about 42mm rain for tonight. Hopefully that will not come to pass.

At least it was dry for me to walk and run this morning. I contemplated a few extra laps as insurance against not being able to go out in the evening but I’ve walked around the camping a lot today so that made up for it.… Read the rest

Hottest day of the year

To make up for the grotty weather throughout the winter we seem to be enjoying some lovely days. Fresh though it was this morning, the sun soon warmed up the day, the insects are out, the bees are buzzing and spring might at last have sprung. The cups of my anemometer are turning slowly and the sea is almost flat calm.… Read the rest

Ursula, Tony and Heidi are still in France due to weather

Ursula was hoping to arrive in one of her staging points in Italy this evening however the weather turned pretty nasty making driving difficult so they have decided to call it a day and stop. They are heading to Ancona for the ferry to Patras and then to Athens before Crete.

The couple who I picked up in Paleochora yesterday evening decided not to stay more than one night as, without transport, they feel the camping is too far out of town.… Read the rest

Cleaning lady

There were lots of stars early this morning however the moon, what remains of it, was still in bed. Venus had a head start and was shining brightly. The moon eventually joined in the game.

Venus is left above the moon. Bottom right is the harbour light in the distance.

We walked around as usual finishing off with a trip over the rocks just as it was becoming light enough.… Read the rest

April Fools’ Day

Yesterday afternoon, I reset my alarm to get up at 05:30 on Monday morning. 05:30 is still only 04:30 as of last week but at least I had an entire week to gradually move and not have to complete the hour in one day. The moon is in the final quarter so rising quite late and Venus even later.… Read the rest