Alex has been clearing the soil washed down by the rain which has accumulated around the small cabins Ξ1-2, Manolis has been getting on with his removal from the building shell and Georgia has been rushing around being the boss. Manolis came to see me before 07:00 to ask if I would leave the workshop unlocked so that he could collect tools to assist in his removal activities. I’d not long returned from walking the dogs, turning on the hot water and feeding the cats. The large tom is still coming for food in the mornings and is very friendly towards me. But then he would be as I’m feeding him! Georgia told me her cat, who I dislike, was being given a hard time by another [female] cat with a bushy tail. She has since confirmed the culprit is the Large Tom who she has it in for. He doesn’t bother my cats and they all appear to get on very well so he’s not causing me any problem. The fact that he gives her cat some grief is of some comfort to me since she is aggressive and a real bully. With him around, other cats will not come to the camping however I don’t see Georgia understanding such a complex arrangement. A bit like Dane Gelt or paying for ‘protection’ I suppose.
The Early Walk was via the field as I noticed the absence of sheep and the open ‘gate’ (gate = hole in fence blocked by some wire mesh). Going via the field is not only shorter but cuts out the possibility of premature discharge in the camping and on the road as well as getting past any cats which might be lurking beneath the Ferrari or in the storeroom. It was a moonlit walk with occasional absences due to scattered clouds. It was cool but not cold and quite clear with a good view of the stars. I left Luis and Oskar tied to a root and went round with the others before swapping them over for the second and taking the entire crew on the final lap. We walked the rocks and passed the causeway with dry feet before returning to the Collection Point not to have biscuits as I forgot them because of the change in Morning Protocol.
Back at the camping, I turned on the water heater, fed the cats and changed for running. No need to stop at the bakery today so we ran on regardless. There was a brief pause at Vlisidis supermarket not to buy bananas as they open at 08:00 and I wasn’t about to wait twenty-five minutes. The water for my shower was hot and I soon had breakfast on the go.
There was little activity before the weekly call home and I might even have drifted off in the warm sunshine. Despite Luis’ snores beneath me! The call terminated itself after exactly two hours and I had a little something to eat. This was followed by some small tasks which included fastening down the cover over the van windscreen which tends to get caught by northerly winds and ripped out of the awning rail. Some repurposed washing line left by summer visitors was used to provide additional fastening. The front cover is designed to attach to the side window covers which I have repurposed to cover the rear window of the van. In the winter, the covers keep the heat in and in the summer they help to keep it out. It’s surprising just what a good job they do considering how light the material is. It’s all in the construction. These are the covers which Eleanor sent out to me in 2014 or was it 2015.
Ursula, Tony and Heidi arrived in Piraeus early this morning and I have a photo of Heidi enjoying her walk on the beach. They will be staying with Tony’s sister and brother-in-law before catching the ferry from Patras to Ancona for the trip across Italy and thence to France where they will be taking the Shuttle back to the Land of the NeverEnding Brexit.
I had tea around 16:00, in accordance with accepted practice, then soon it was the hour of the Evening Walk. The Promontory was deserted and all dogs, barring Obi and Skinny was allowed their freedom. We all returned nicely to the camping, via the field, for supper, some telly-watching then bed.
Another day done!
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