Month: March 2020

There was rain forecast for the following morning which arrived earlier than expected. The original plan was for it to rain in the early hours which I didn’t really want. As it happened, the rain came in the evening which was much more convenient. It turned out to amount to only 1mm which fell over…

We were up a little later this morning having adjusted the alarm. A little too late as it turned out as I found myself running around the Promontory later than I would have wanted as I could do without being spotted. The walks went as they did yesterday, without incident. IZO only protested very briefly…

I entertained myself yesterday evening watching the pilot episode of Open All Hours with a very young David Jason. I followed that with the initial episode of Porridge and then season one episode two of Spooks. I really needed Dr Who and the Daleks to round it off but might not have coped with all…

I was falling asleep in front of the box so went to bed to fall asleep there. I was probably asleep before 22:00 but awake again just before midnight only for a short while. The dogs were a little restless which may account for me waking again around 03:00. My alarm was set for 04:25…

It started to rain and be miserable so it was not long before we all, including Obi, excepting Isabella, retired inside. In fact, as it was only 17℃ I even put some heat on. Always fatal as it pretty much guarantees I’ll fall asleep after eating. Food+Comfort+Warmth=Sleep. I woke up to see the credits roll…

The rain started as expected and carried on throughout the night continuing beyond Early Walk time. Once it finally stopped, I managed to get all the dogs out for two trips around the Promontory and had set off with Skinny and Isabella to complete at least two more. The weather forecast had warned of rain…

I had a long three-way conversation with Maria and Georgia last night. Georgia had received a command from on high that the camping must close by 26 March or opt to be the one that remains open in the Chania Province. Georgia didn’t want the responsibility of remaining open during the virus outbreak so the…

The water pressure was very low yesterday evening probably as the result of one of the highway technicians severing yet another water main. I happened to be cycling past to see floods of water pouring out accompanied by lots of shouting. The pressure was still extremely low early in the morning so I filled up…

Another alert message arrived on my phone with its usual noisy fanfare. Poor Skinny was definitely unimpressed. The lockdown has entered a new, more determined phase as it would appear that others have not been taking the matter seriously. We now have to produce a document stating the reason for our journey which must be…

To my mummy:I hope you had a happy mother’s day despite your self-isolation! Fido went walkabout so I was up earlier than anticipated. Next weekend, the hour will have changed. We’ll still be doing our own thing as usual, just the time will be different. By next weekend I will have moved back one hour…

04:40 came abruptly when my alarm sounded. I lay motionless for a few moments to work out who I was, where I was and what I should be doing. Skinny putting his paws on the edge of my bed and stuffing his nose in my ear reminded me. He’d taken himself for an extra walk…

Fido had to have a wee in the night as I didn’t shove him out at bedtime to perform. He didn’t stay outside too long as he probably discovered it was cooler. It was 8℃ when I got up to take out the dogs. The first visit to the Promontory was fairly energetic as we…

It was only when I’d harnessed the dogs ready to go out for the walk that I noticed the cold wind, absent the previous day, had returned with a vengeance. I went back inside and put on a windproof coat. I’ve been wearing it for most of the day. The walk took place under the…

There was no wind when my alarm roused me at 04:45. Still a few gusts as I discovered later but it was warmer so no need for a coat. The Early Walk went without incident and was conducted almost identically to that of yesterday except that I put Isabella with Skinny and the five other…

It was windy in the night so it was fortunate that I’d carried out some drastic trimming to the carobs which grow near to the upper, metal roof. There was still some bashing by some branches during the more powerful gusts but it was generally survivable. It seemed a lot calmer at getting up time…

The forecast wind got up in the night and greeted us in the morning as we got up. It wasn’t too blowy out on the Promontory however the dogs were less than energetic so I was relieved when we completed the second lap and the first lot could go back to the van to watch…

The day started in the usual fashion with The Early Walk which was uneventful. Skinny and Isabella had a lot of fun on the second half and we returned as usual. I took my bike for a ride up the mountain and then to Krios. It was clear and cool with a terrific view. There…

The alarm has moved to 04:45 so that I manage to avoid a big change in two weeks time when the clocks go forward. It’s nicer to go back by five or ten minutes than an hour in one hit. It will be good to be out later in the evening as the present walk…

The day started off as expected and the walk was exactly like the previous day. The moon was virtually overhead so I didn’t need my torch except to bury the odd deposit in a shady location. Saturn, Jupiter and Mars were all out and about too. I came back and went off to Paleochora for…

The Early Walk was dark, dry and uneventful. We did as yesterday with 7/2 but the first round of the second half was strict walking on the lead so as to speed things up and give Isabella practice at walking nicely. Skinny has already mastered that art so long as he’s not allowed a long…

I was out of bed before 05:00 as there was no rain, only a few clouds which eventually blocked the moon. Our walk was 7/2 with the full quota of circuits. Isabella and Skinny had good fun together and we were back in the camping by 07:00. I fed the cats then prepared my bike…

At 04:55 today it started to rain so I set a timer, consulted the weather forecast then went back to sleep. It was sometime later that we left for the Early Walk. It was not entirely dry even then however we managed two circuits with everyone and a further one with Skinny and Isabella until…

Rain was falling throughout the night with some 20mm by dawn. It was too wet and thundery to take the dogs out so I contented myself with a lie-in. I dragged myself out around 07:30, the time I’ve usually come back after the second walk. It was still raining so I made some tea and…

I was up before 05:00 which is the new alarm time. The clocks go forward in a few weeks so I’m working my way back so that the jump ahead leaves me where I was before the change. I get back to the camping around 07:30 at present which would become 08:30 when the clocks…

I was awake before the appointed time but then fell back to sleep again. It wasn’t cold or blowy but became blowier as the day went on. The walk was as the previous days. The short walkers were very keen to get back to the van and the other three were more active, especially Isabella…

No wind and quite mild when we went out into the field. The second wave had a less relaxing time as Isabella was full of energy. It was worth it because she remained reasonably quiet for the remainder of the day. I went on a cycle ride which started out to be to Krios and…

The forecast was for rain but none came despite the clouds blocking the stars. All went twice round then the other three came out again. It was looking a little grey but I went to Krios on a route which took me up the mountain and along the top. Georgia was sitting with her two…

I was dressed when it started to rain so I lay back on my bed until it stopped. It started again as we went out but I ignored it and told the dogs it wasn’t raining. They were enthusiastic to come back to the van so I did one trip around with all then went…

I watched the remainder of the film ‘Call Me By Your Name’ so was later to bed than usual. It was one of the set which Erica wished me to transfer for her so I thought I’d give it a go. I enjoyed it and it was worth a couple of hours of my life.…

I was tired so went early to bed last night. About 21:30 if I recall correctly. We were out at 05:35 under a clear sky with a fine array of stars and planets. The dogs seemed less than enthusiastic so I took them all around twice then back to the camping. I then got on…

There was a wonderfully clear sky as we marched towards the Promontory. I could see Mars, Jupiter which was shining brightly and Saturn. The moon is not around in the morning at this time. The walk was conducted differently today, a kind of fusion of other techniques. I wanted the dogs to be tired as…